Chapter 640: You Still Have the Nerve to Come Back?

Changbai Mountain.

Mountain Peak!

"Such leisurely days truly suit me." Ming relaxed in the courtyard, enjoying his own company. There wasn't wine in his cup, but tea. A single tea leaf floated within, its fragrance permeating the surroundings.

"Ming…"

Just then, a voice called out.

Ming found the voice familiar. A flicker of recognition sparked in his mind, and he slowly turned his head. As he saw the familiar figure, the air seemed to solidify. The mountain birds, sensing danger, timidly hid amongst the branches.

Gradually, Ming's breath quickened. He abruptly stood up, pointing at Lin Fan, "You… you dare to come back…"

His final words were deafening, his voice cracking, resembling the high-pitched screech of an aging eunuch from the imperial palace.

"Ming, what's wrong?"

Lin Fan didn't understand Ming's agitation. It was as if some unpleasant event had transpired between them.

He thought carefully…

But nothing came to mind. Previously, they had been quite friendly, their conversation full of laughter.

Seeing Lin Fan's face, Ming's mind flashed back to the moment he emerged from his dwelling, only to find his land stripped bare, even the grass uprooted. His heart bled, the dripping echoing like a drumbeat.

He wanted to explode with rage, but Lin Fan's calm demeanor, that serene aura, somehow affected him. Truthfully, anyone else witnessing such a scene would undoubtedly be furious.

But Ming wasn't just anyone. He was a powerful figure, possessing both status and composure.

"You've truly outdone yourselves," Ming said.

Lin Fan smiled, "Thank you for the compliment. You're quite something yourself."

Eh…

Ming felt a twinge of annoyance. Why did that compliment feel unpleasant? Had he done something wrong, or was it them? How could they be so outrageous?

They had stripped his home bare. He wouldn't be this angry if they had left even a single blade of grass.

But they were truly ruthless.

"It wasn't a compliment. I have to say, you're quite heartless. The first thing I saw upon waking was my home completely empty, not even a blade of grass remaining." Ming laughed, but his smile was twisted, laced with displeasure.

"Ah?" Lin Fan thought carefully, and suddenly, it dawned on him. "Misunderstanding, it's all a misunderstanding. I remember you saying you wouldn't entertain us any longer and that they could take whatever they pleased. Seeing your hospitality, they didn't hold back."

"You're not such a petty person, are you?"

Lin Fan felt a bit embarrassed. He hadn't taken anything himself, but he had heard those words clearly. He hadn't misremembered. After all this time, he could still recall Ming's words. It was truly remarkable.

Ming nearly choked on his own blood.

Listen to this!

Were these words a human could utter?

Truly.

Anyone, regardless of who they were, would be infuriated upon hearing such words. They had taken his belongings without a word, and now they questioned whether he was petty.

Anyone with a shred of empathy wouldn't say such a thing.

But…

Lin Fan's words struck a chord.

He had indeed said those words.

But at the time, after sparring with Lin Fan, his spirit had been slightly injured. He was dazed and just wanted to sleep and recover. Moreover, he wanted to save face. He couldn't admit his weakness.

He had brought this upon himself.

A smile bloomed on Ming's face. "Of course not. I was just speaking casually. Mere worldly possessions, I don't take them to heart."

At this moment, he appeared magnanimous, giving off the impression that all material things were but fleeting clouds and dust to him.

"I thought so too," Lin Fan smiled. "You don't strike me as that kind of person."

Since things had reached this point, Ming naturally wouldn't say anything more. It seemed Lin Fan knew how to flatter him.

"Please, sit!"

He gestured, and two cups of tea appeared on the table.

These were for Lin Fan and Old Zhang.

Just as Lin Fan sat down, Ginseng snatched Old Zhang's seat.

Ming shook his head and another cup appeared on the table. This Ginseng was truly interesting. Its entire being was a treasure; why would it care for tea? It seemed to have cultivated a divine path.

It was indeed a rare occurrence.

Throughout history, there had been precious treasures like Ginseng, but most were seized by powerful individuals and consumed directly. Rarely were they given the opportunity to cultivate.

The Evil Chicken had no such privilege and could only stand on the ground.

However, for the rooster, this was precisely the desired effect. Remaining inconspicuous and acting low profile was the key to longevity.

Ming asked, "You wouldn't come here for no reason. What brings you to my…humble abode?"

"You call this place your humble abode?" Lin Fan was curious. He had assumed it was simply the peak of Changbai Mountain.

Ming, who was about to take a sip of tea, paused slightly and looked directly at Lin Fan. "Do you think you're humorous?"

"Thank you for the compliment. I think I'm alright."

Old Zhang added, "Our Lin Fan is exceptionally humorous."

"Damn!"

Ming no longer felt like conversing with Lin Fan. He felt there was something wrong with this guy. Was that even a compliment?

"Let's talk business."

He was accustomed to living alone here. After the previous incident, he didn't want to entertain anyone. Those things that were taken were gone; they weren't that important.

Lin Fan said, "I hope you can leave with me and come to Yanhai City to help me protect a place I care about."

"?" Ming frowned, not quite understanding. Protecting a place Lin Fan cared about wasn't necessarily something he cared about.

"I've grown accustomed to this place."

He didn't want to leave Changbai Mountain for the time being.

The great change had begun.

The Starry Sky Clans were already making their moves.

He only needed to remain here.

Lin Fan said, "I know you're accustomed to this place, but I hope you can help me with this. I need to leave and search for my daughter in the outside world. A while ago, the Dragon God and Little Rulai told me about a place called the Starry Sky Forbidden Zone. I want to go there and look."

For Ming, no matter what Lin Fan said, he wouldn't agree.

However…

When he heard Lin Fan mention the Starry Sky Forbidden Zone, his expression noticeably changed.

"What did you say?" Ming was shocked. The Starry Sky Forbidden Zone had existed for a long time. The dangers within were unimaginable. Even the ancestors of the Starry Sky Clans wanted to explore it, but who dared to enter?

The danger was unimaginable.

Even for ancestors, what could they do?

The likelihood of perishing was extremely high.

"What's wrong?" Lin Fan asked.

Ming asked, "Where did you say you were going?"

Lin Fan replied, "The Starry Sky Forbidden Zone. It's a place I haven't explored yet. I've followed my daughter's aura and searched many places, but I haven't sensed her. I think my daughter might be there."

These were all his conjectures.

Was the dream real?

Even he couldn't say for sure.

But he hoped it was real. Only then could he find his daughter.

Ming didn't speak.

He was lost in thought, as if pondering something. Then, he raised his head and looked at Lin Fan with burning eyes.

He had been to the Starry Sky Forbidden Zone before and knew the dangers within. Even now, he hadn't considered stepping foot inside again.

The man before him was powerful.

Much stronger than him. He felt a flicker of excitement, a desire to accompany Lin Fan into the Starry Sky Forbidden Zone.

"How about I go in with you?" Ming slowly suggested.

Lin Fan shook his head in refusal. "I want you to protect the place I care about. I didn't intend to invite you along. After I find my daughter, I can go in with you."

Ming felt a bit helpless.

Was this a direct rejection?

From the beginning, Ming had wanted to explore the Starry Sky Forbidden Zone, but he lacked the confidence to go alone. If he were to seek help, besides the ancestors of the great clans, no one was qualified. But those ancestors varied in strength, and he didn't trust them.

If they encountered danger…

He feared they would sell him out in an instant.

But Lin Fan gave him a strange feeling.

A feeling of trustworthiness.

Although their acquaintance was brief, the feeling was profound, difficult to articulate. It was purely based on intuition.

"Alright, I can help you guard the place you need me to guard, but I hope you can bring me something back from the Starry Sky Forbidden Zone," Ming proposed a trade, a fair exchange.

Lin Fan smiled. "Certainly. What do you need?"

"Soul Source Stone."

"Soul Source Stone? I don't know what that is. Do you have a picture? If I encounter it, I can bring it back," Lin Fan said.

Ming sighed inwardly.

Brother, are you truly that one-in-a-million peerless expert?

You don't even know what a Soul Source Stone is?

Ming waved his hand, and an image appeared before them. "Look, this is a Soul Source Stone. It emits a green aura, as if a soul is pulsating within. If you see it, bring it back for me."

"Alright, no problem," Lin Fan agreed.

If he encountered it, he would definitely bring it back. There was no doubt about that. He was a man of his word. Since Ming was willing to protect Yanhai City for him, how could he disappoint him?

Yanhai City!

One-Eyed Man's heart pounded in his chest as he looked at the man before him.

He was nervous.

The way the man looked at him seemed to convey a special meaning.

Why would the powerful figure residing in Changbai Mountain appear here? Although nervous, he wasn't afraid. After all, Lin Fan was here, his greatest backer.

As long as Lin Fan was present…

Who could touch him?

Let anyone who disagreed step forward.

"Are the things useful?" Ming asked with a smile.

One-Eyed Man replied, "Thank you for those gifts. They are quite good."

He still felt a bit awkward. He knew the extent to which they had stripped Ming's home bare. It was equivalent to leaving him with absolutely nothing. Anyone encountering such a situation would surely break down.

Yet, Ming could still converse calmly.

It showed his good mentality.

Magnanimous!

Generous!

Later, when One-Eyed Man learned that Lin Fan had invited Ming to help protect Yanhai City, he was truly shocked. What was Lin Fan planning?

Then, he learned that Lin Fan was going on a long journey to the Starry Sky Forbidden Zone. The name itself suggested danger. He felt worried. Why would Lin Fan go to such a place?

Upon learning that Lin Fan was going to search for his daughter, One-Eyed Man was completely dumbfounded.

Daughter?

I don't even have a daughter, yet you're telling me you have one. What's going on? Previously, he had thought Lin Fan's condition had improved, even becoming quite normal.

But now…

It seemed to have worsened.