The Whole Family Evacuates?

"But... Senior Chen, Feng Household spies are probably everywhere in Chi City right now. Leaving the city now might be..."

Shen Yuniang looked at Lu Fan with some concern.

Lu Fan did not answer. Instead, he looked at Qin Yaxin.

"Do you know where Zhou Haiyan is?"

"Miss Zhou? Yes. After the last mission ended, she said she would be staying at Drunken Dream Inn for a while."

Qin Yaxin answered at once.

"Good."

"The people meeting you will arrive soon."

After saying that, Lu Fan turned and was about to leave.

At that moment, Shen Yuniang hurriedly called out to stop him.

"Senior Chen."

Lu Fan stopped and glanced back at her.

"Please be very careful."

Shen Yuniang pursed her lips, a faint blush appearing on her face. "We still haven't repaid your life-saving grace."

"So please, make sure you stay safe."

Hearing this, the corners of Lu Fan's lips lifted slightly. Naturally, he caught the deeper meaning in Shen Yuniang's words.

"Mm."

Lu Fan gave a slight nod, pushed open the door, and soon vanished into the night.

On the third floor of Drunken Dream Inn, inside a luxurious private room.

Zhou Haiyan, deep in sleep, suddenly sensed a terrifying presence at her bedside.

She nearly sprang upright, instinctively clenching her fists.

"Who's there?"

However, when she saw that familiar Cracked Mask in the moonlight,

the vigilance in her heart dissipated by more than half.

"Old Chen?"

"Miss Zhou, there are a few people I want you to help escort out of the city."

Lu Fan did not waste words and went straight to the point.

He was racing against time now. If Feng Household discovered Li Xiao's death and immediately chose to seal the city, things would become far more troublesome.

Who knew whether Feng Household still had any Transformation Force martial artists?

If another Transformation Force martial artist emerged, even if he could escape, Zhang Yao and the others would certainly die here.

"Escort people? Mm, I understand."

Zhou Haiyan was stunned at first, then quickly guessed what had happened.

She had naturally heard about Feng Household surrounding Qin Household during the day. Although Feng Household had not announced anything yet, anyone could tell that Qin Household had likely already been destroyed.

Then Feng Household's next target would surely be Blackstone Martial Hall, which had allied itself with Qin Household.

"As it happens, I accepted an escort job headed toward Lidu, and I was already planning to leave Chi City soon."

After saying that, Zhou Haiyan seemed to think of something and looked at Lu Fan again.

"Then, Old Chen, when should we leave?"

"Tonight."

"Tonight? All right. I'll make arrangements now."

Although Zhou Haiyan was somewhat surprised by the urgency, she did not ask any unnecessary questions.

Those in their line of work all understood one principle: don't ask what should not be asked.

"Then, Old Chen, are you leaving with us as well?"

"No. I'm staying."

Lu Fan shook his head, then added,

"There's one more person. I'll have him wait for you at the city gate."

"All right."

Zhou Haiyan nodded, then went to make arrangements.

Meanwhile, Lu Fan left through the window and disappeared into the night.

Before long, he returned to his shabby little house.

After removing his mask, he carefully looked over the house before him, weathered by time and covered in mold stains, his heart filled with endless emotion.

After decades of companionship, he had thought he would end up dying a mediocre death in this house.

But now, it seemed he had not yet reached the point of accepting fate.

He packed a few clean sets of clothes, then slung the pot beside the door onto his back.

That pot had not only been his old companion for decades, but was also the symbol of his identity as a cook. Naturally, he had to bring it.

After taking those things with him, he bid farewell to the home he had lived in for decades, then headed straight for the city gate.

After arriving at the city gate, two carriages slowly approached before long.

Walking beside one of them was Zhou Haiyan.

The moment Zhou Haiyan saw Lu Fan, she ran over.

"Are you the old gentleman Old Chen told me about?"

"Old Chen?"

Lu Fan pretended not to know what she meant.

"Yes, the one wearing a mask cracked over the right eye."

"Was he the one who told you to come here?"

Zhou Haiyan immediately explained.

"Ah, yes. That man suddenly came to my house and told me to bring my luggage and hurry to the city gate."

"He told me the Hall Master was planning to move to another city and had specially sent him to notify me."

Lu Fan spoke nonsense with a perfectly straight face.

After all, no one could verify whether it was true.

And at a time like this, no one would care whether it was true or false.

"All right. Hall Master Zhang is in the carriage behind us. Get on quickly."

Zhou Haiyan nodded and immediately called to the person handling the carriage, sending Lu Fan aboard.

After he got into the carriage, the gazes of the people inside snapped onto Lu Fan.

"Hm? Why did this old fellow come too?"

Shen Yuniang frowned deeply, her expression somewhat unsightly.

"Old Lu? You're all right? That's wonderful."

Much calmer, Qin Yaxin looked at Lu Fan with joy on her face.

Zhang Zhi only glanced at Lu Fan when he got in, then continued wiping the sweat from her father Zhang Yao's forehead.

"Madam, Miss Qin, what happened to the Hall Master?"

Lu Fan put on the appearance of someone learning of the situation for the first time.

"Hmph. Just sit there and keep your mouth shut. Don't ask what you shouldn't ask."

"Honestly, at a time like this, Zhang Yao still insisted on bringing along an old fossil like you."

Shen Yuniang curled her lips in dissatisfaction and glared at Lu Fan.

"Yes." Lu Fan immediately lowered his head obediently, sitting honestly in the corner without another word.

After he sat down, Qin Yaxin's brows lifted slightly, and she could not help glancing his way.

She stared for a long while, but eventually withdrew her gaze.

Could that Elder Chen Liu wearing the Cracked Mask be... Old Lu?

No, how could that be possible?

How could the two of them possibly be the same person?

Even their auras were completely different.

Qin Yaxin quickly suppressed that flicker of doubt in her heart.

What she needed to think about now was how she would... take revenge after leaving Chi City!

Only she remained of Qin Household now. Everything would have to be handled by her alone.

Perhaps only at this moment could she still think so leisurely.

Feng Household estate.

"Hm? Li Xiao still hasn't returned?"

Feng Jiaqi frowned deeply as he looked at Ma Sheng in the distance.

"Yes. After that guy went to Blackstone Martial Hall, there has been no news from him for a long time. What should we do now?"

Ma Sheng nodded, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth before looking at Feng Jiaqi.

"Maybe that guy never took you seriously, Young Master."

"Shut up."

"Go check immediately!"

After berating him, a trace of gravity appeared in Feng Jiaqi's eyes. He had an ominous feeling.