A Biao glanced at Zhang Fan, his eyes filled with unwillingness and a trace of undisguised shock. He truly couldn't comprehend how this young man possessed such immense strength!
Though he had only used fifty percent of his power, he had a premonition that even using a hundred percent would not have yielded a different outcome.
"Could he be an acquired martial artist who has cultivated true qi?" A Biao mused. He himself was already a master of Inner Strength Completion. The only ones capable of breaking his arm with a single punch would likely be such acquired masters who had cultivated true qi. As for innate grandmasters? He dared not even consider it. A congenital grandmaster so young was unheard of in the entire history of China.
"You are indeed a formidable fighter, but there are those even more so within the Qin family than you. I am merely a minor bodyguard for Madam. For Miss's sake, I will offer you a piece of advice: unless you possess truly overwhelming power and influence, it is best not to provoke her. Otherwise, your end will be dire."
With that, A Biao, enduring the pain and clutching his somewhat bent and twisted arm, turned and left.
A Biao's words cast Zhang Fan into a moment of silence. He thought to himself, "If I were still an ordinary person, my end would indeed be grim." Just like the Zhang Fan of his previous life, who was unceremoniously thrown into the bottom of Kunlong Valley by a less than formidable suitor of Qin Luoshui, utterly defenseless. But in this life, it would be his enemies who would face a grim end!
"Let's go, I need to heal your father," Zhang Fan snapped out of his ethereal thoughts, looking at the somewhat stunned Lin Yueru.
"Mhmm, let's go." Hearing Zhang Fan's words, Lin Yueru finally snapped back to reality. Her gaze towards Zhang Fan had also shifted.
She had initially believed he was like herself, having only practiced martial arts for a few years. Now, it seemed this young man was far more than he appeared. With that display just now, his strength might even surpass that of her father.
Simultaneously, she felt a surge of relief. The stronger Zhang Fan was, the greater the likelihood he could heal her father's injuries.
As the two departed, the surrounding tourists erupted in renewed excitement.
"Is that a legendary martial arts master?" a young man stammered.
"So amazing! So, martial arts masters really exist in this world? To break that strong man's arm with a single punch at such a young age, what else could he be but a martial arts master?" a middle-aged man next to him exclaimed.
"Where is he? I want to become his disciple."
"Disciple of whom? You're already over forty, your bones are set. You have no chance in this life. Try again in the next."
"I'm only in my twenties!"
"What have you been through? You look so old."
"My nutrition hasn't been up to par lately..."
...
In the parking lot at the foot of Kunlong Mountain, Zhang Fan slid into a bright red Mercedes-AMG sports car.
"I didn't realize you were a little rich girl," Zhang Fan teased.
"My Uncle Xu gave it to me," Lin Yueru replied proudly.
"Oh?" Zhang Fan was slightly surprised. Although he hadn't bought such a luxury car in his past life, he recognized its value. This Mercedes-AMG series sports car easily cost over a million. It was a gift? It seemed his Uncle Xu was no ordinary tycoon.
"Uncle Xu is my father's best friend," Lin Yueru explained, sensing Zhang Fan's bewilderment.
"Mhmm, let's go." Zhang Fan nodded, not particularly bothered. In his previous life, as an immortal emperor of the human race, he ruled countless life-bearing stars and was a super-rich individual in the vast cosmos.
Once one has seen the boundless sea, the rivers are insufficient. Once one has seen the heights of Wushan, other mountains are mere clouds.
Having witnessed the vastness of space, the currency on Earth now was merely a string of numbers in his eyes, holding no interest whatsoever. His sole current interest lay in the celestial treasures of Earth – artifacts that could aid his cultivation.
The sports car roared to life, its engine a deafening thunder that echoed through the entire street, drawing the attention of many tourists. Even in Donghai City, known for its affluent residents, a luxury car worth over a million was a rare sight.
The sports car sped along the highway. In less than an hour, it entered the outskirts of Donghai City. Along the way, Zhang Fan learned some basic details about his father.
Lin Yueru's father, Lin Dahai, was a martial artist. He was injured in a fight arranged to contest business with his good friend Xu Tianlei. The opponent had hired a master, and Lin Dahai was reportedly wounded in the lungs, coughing up blood incessantly, to the point where hospital surgery could not help. Lin Yueru, upon hearing from someone that celestial herbs could heal injuries sustained in martial combat, had rushed to Kunlong Mountain in desperation, hoping to try her luck.
"You truly have good luck," Zhang Fan remarked with a smile after hearing the story.
"Yes, I never expected I'd actually find a spiritual herb," Lin Yueru agreed.
"Nonsense!" Zhang Fan declared. "I said you were lucky not because you found a spiritual herb, but because you found me."
Hearing Zhang Fan's words, Lin Yueru's hands on the steering wheel trembled slightly, and she shot him a glance. She had never met anyone so brazen.
...
Donghai City was vast, considered a major city nationwide, divided into four districts: East, West, North, and South. Zhang Fan's school, Donghai Seventh High School, was located in the Northern District. Coincidentally, Lin Yueru's father also resided in the Northern District of Donghai.
The red Mercedes sports car drove directly into a quiet villa district – "Donghu Lijing." Zhang Fan was familiar with this area.
"Donghu Lijing" was a renowned villa district throughout Donghai City. Its residents were either exceptionally wealthy or influential. Even ordinary billionaires wouldn't qualify to live there, as they couldn't secure a spot.
Traditional courtyards and Western-style villas, harmoniously blended by a master designer, created a striking aesthetic.
"Yueru, you're back." As soon as they entered the courtyard, Zhang Fan saw a girl in a white tracksuit emerge from the villa and call out.
"Mhmm." Lin Yueru smiled and nodded upon seeing the girl.
"Who is he? Why is he dressed so shabbily? Is he your friend?" The girl in white spotted Zhang Fan and her words almost made him choke.
Though his current attire was indeed humble, especially after a night spent traversing the mountains, making him appear somewhat disheveled, to be so directly pointed out felt rather disrespectful.
Did he have no pride?
Zhang Fan carefully observed the girl in white. She appeared to be around twenty years old, with fair skin and delicate features. Despite wearing a white tracksuit, her shapely figure was evident.
In all honesty, Lin Yueru was also a beautiful girl. While not breathtakingly stunning, her features were well-balanced, creating a pleasing appearance.