Farewell

Chen Fan nodded solemnly at Li Linliu.

"I'm willing to go to Yan Capital City, but I still have some trivial matters to handle in Flying Spirit County, including my family and friends... It may take a day or two."

Naturally, he could not say that he was unwilling to go to Yan Capital City. He had only just agreed to become a retainer of the Bao Clan, and there were also matters concerning his sister-in-law and niece. He could not simply leave!

Li Linliu nodded with a smile. "Those are all minor matters. I'll stay at the branch academy for a few more days. Come find me anytime if you have any problems. There should be nothing in Flying Spirit County that I can't handle."

Chen Fan hurriedly nodded in excitement as well.

After bidding Li Linliu farewell.

A crowd gathered around Chen Fan.

Most of the disciples, whether they knew him or not, crowded around to congratulate him.

Even Li Wen and Lin Qingyu, the two martial sisters and the two flowers of this martial competition, stepped forward on their own initiative to congratulate Chen Fan on winning the championship.

It took quite a while before Chen Fan managed to squeeze out of the crowd and meet up with Bao Tianyou and the others.

Only then did Bao Tianyou and the rest surround Chen Fan and leave.

Naturally, they dragged Chen Fan off to Jiangshan Tower to celebrate...

This martial competition had not seen such a scale in years. Chen Fan had defeated powerful opponents and claimed the championship at such a young age, making it well worth celebrating!

At the same time.

The participating disciples from the various martial academies were also heading home amid lively discussion.

Chen Fan's name became the central topic of discussion among nearly all the martial academy disciples.

His performance in this martial competition had simply been too outstanding!

In comparison, Yan Lincu's endlessly regenerating blood-and-qi physique was even more remarkable, but unfortunately, he had lost to Chen Fan in the final match...

Black Tiger Gang.

"Gang Leader, this is the information on that brat Chen Fan that you asked me to gather!"

A refined man dressed like a scholar handed a document to You Shahu.

You Shahu frowned as he looked at the document before him, his expression filled with bewilderment.

"This Chen Fan is actually from territory under our Black Tiger Gang? He joined White Cloud Martial Academy less than three months ago? No one had ever seen him practice martial arts before that. How is that possible? Could he really defeat Feng Yuancheng and Yan Lincu after practicing for only three months? That's far too absurd!"

The scholar gave a bitter smile and shook his head.

"That is indeed the truth. Chen Fan came from an ordinary family. Both his parents had died, and his only older brother disappeared some time ago. Before this, the boy worked as an accountant at the Great Passage Trading Company. They said he was quick-witted and fairly capable, but no one expected his family to be able to afford the exorbitant tuition of White Cloud Martial Academy..."

After Chen Fan won the championship, he naturally drew the attention of the major martial academies and aristocratic families of Flying Spirit County. Long ago, someone had thoroughly investigated everything about him.

And that investigation uncovered many astonishing questions...

Before joining the martial academy, Chen Fan had worked at the Great Passage Trading Company. He left early and returned late every day, leaving him no time at all to practice martial arts. Even earlier, he had followed his older brother around doing odd jobs, which likewise left him no time to practice martial arts.

"Could Chen Fan be like Yan Lincu, possessing some special physique and born powerful? That shouldn't be right either. If he had been naturally powerful, he should have shown signs of it long ago..."

You Shahu frowned as he carefully flipped through the information in his hands, but soon paused.

Because he saw a particular name.

Pi Liu.

"This boy has a grudge against Pi Liu. This..."

A flash of insight streaked through his mind like brilliant light piercing a hazy fog.

"Could it be..."

But he quickly shook his head again.

"Something's off. The timing doesn't match. Chen Fan was still working at the Great Passage Trading Company then and hadn't joined the martial academy yet. How could he have killed Pi Liu and the other man? Besides, Chen Fan was only a thirteen- or fourteen-year-old boy. He might not even have had the courage to kill..."

Some common strength-training manuals were not rare. Even without joining a martial academy, there were always ways to obtain them. But he had never heard of anyone becoming skilled without training!

Chen Fan's talent for idle cultivation naturally became his best cover.

Though he dismissed his own suspicion, You Shahu did not simply do nothing. Instead, he turned to the scholar.

"Call a few brothers for me. Pay Chen Fan a visit, and have someone keep an eye on him while you're at it. See whether he has any secrets..."

Though he found it hard to believe, he still had to investigate before confirming anything.

Jiangshan Tower.

At the banquet.

Chen Fan naturally told Bao Tianyou that he would be leaving Flying Spirit County with Li Linliu, and expressed regret that he could no longer become a retainer of the Bao Clan.

Who would have thought that Bao Tianyou would burst into laughter and directly reject Chen Fan's words?

"The position of Bao Clan retainer will always be reserved for you, and your monthly stipend will be paid as usual. Whenever you return, you can begin your duties then! Of course, if junior brother becomes an expert at the sixth or seventh level of martial arts in the future, you may not even think much of this minor empty post in your senior brother's household..."

Chen Fan could not help but sigh upon hearing this.

He naturally understood that Bao Tianyou was trying to win him over, yet he had to admit that he found it very gratifying!

This time, Bao Tianyou had also bought plenty of good wine and thoroughly plied Chen Fan with drink.

The wine was certainly expensive, but these wealthy young masters naturally did not care about the cost.

It was not until night had fallen that Chen Fan was sent home by servants from Bao Tianyou's household.

Chen Fan's blood and qi were strong, after all. Though he had drunk quite a bit, it did not affect his thoughts in the slightest, and he was not at all clouded by alcohol.

That very night, he found his sister-in-law and told her that he would be going to Yan Capital City. He asked for their opinions and whether they wanted to go with him.

His sister-in-law shook her head and refused.

"Little Fan, you're pursuing martial arts. What would it mean for the two of us burdens to follow you? Besides, your elder brother will return sooner or later. If I stay here, I can wait for him..."

His sister-in-law was a very traditional woman, and she was still waiting for his elder brother to return.

A pang of sorrow rose in Chen Fan's heart, but in the end, he did not tell his sister-in-law the truth.

Little Chen Xi's eyes reddened with reluctance. "Little Father, Xiao Xi doesn't want you to leave..."

Chen Fan picked up the little girl and said, "Little Father isn't never coming back. Yan Capital City isn't far from Flying Spirit County, and Little Father will come back whenever I have time. If anyone dares bully you, go to the Bao Residence and ask Uncle Tianyou to help you! Understand?"

Given the Bao Clan's power in Flying Spirit County, Chen Fan was not worried that the mother and daughter would be bullied.

The little girl nodded again and again, holding back her tears as she obediently looked at her uncle.

Chen Fan pinched Chen Xi's little cheek. "When Uncle comes back, I'll definitely buy Xiao Xi lots and lots of gifts!"

That night.

Chen Fan once again wore the ancient ring and climbed onto the roof, still gazing at the star map in the heavens.

But he still did not begin idle cultivation of the Stellar Body Tempering Art.

Instead, he set the additional moves he had comprehended in the arena to idle cultivation one by one.

He had developed additional moves in more than ten martial arts techniques. It would take at least nearly a month to complete them all!

"Tomorrow, I'll make one more trip to White Cloud Martial Academy, then I'll leave Flying Spirit County!"

He silently watched the familiar stars in the night sky. His feelings were complicated, but his resolve became even firmer.

He was still filled with doubts and unfamiliarity toward this world of martial arts. He only knew of the so-called ten levels of martial arts and knew of the vast, expansive Great Gan Empire. Beyond that, he knew nothing.

What was this world truly like? At last, he had the chance to find out for himself!