194: The fallen strong man?

Lin Fan's mood at this moment was beyond words.

He just felt that Zhang Dabao's skin was even thicker than his own.

Zhang Dabao was just about to use his eloquent tongue again to curry favor with this mysterious old man and get a bit closer.

The words were on the tip of his tongue, but they were abruptly blocked by a calm glance from the old man.

That gaze carried no Killing Intent; it was just a casual glance.

Yet, Zhang Dabao felt as if he no longer wanted to speak.

"Littlebaby."

The old man slowly began to speak while applying herbs to Song Buyu's wound.

His gaze lingered curiously on Lin Fan, looking him up and down.

"There's something very strange about you."

Lin Fan's heart tightened, but his expression remained unchanged.

"I've lived for so many years, and I've seen more people than you've eaten salt," the old man continued, his movements unhurried. "But someone like you, whose body is completely empty, unable to sense even a trace of Internal Skill, yet still gives me a feeling of... unfathomable depth, this is the first time I've encountered it."

These words.

To Lin Fan's ears, they were no less than a clap of thunder on a clear day.

He started to get nervous again.

"Senior must be joking."

Lin Fan forcibly suppressed the nervousness in his heart, squeezing out a "simple and honest" smile, and began his specialty of fabricating stories.

"Junior has been weak since childhood and unable to Cultivate Internal Skill. I could only find another path and practiced some rough external martial arts to temper my bones and muscles. I've made Senior laugh."

This explanation was seamless.

Ordinary Martial Artist would probably believe it upon hearing it.

But the old man just chuckled, and his laughter was full of amusement, as if saying, "You little brat, keep making things up."

He didn't press further.

"Your external martial arts, however, are quite well-practiced."

Upon hearing this, Lin Fan could only give two dry laughs, not daring to respond further.

He knew that the more he spoke in front of this old fox, the more mistakes he would make.

He tried to change the subject, respectfully cupping his hands towards the old man: "May I ask for Senior's esteemed name?"

"Just a country bumpkin, what esteemed name could I have?" The old man waved his hand, directly interrupting him.

"The Ancient Tomb you just entered was Yuan Wudi's Ancient Tomb, wasn't it?"

Lin Fan and Zhang Dabao immediately bristled.

Zhang Dabao asked curiously, "Senior knows this too?"

"That kid's Ancient Tomb is the only one around here."

...

Lin Fan could no longer restrain himself and asked urgently, "Senior knows Yuan Wudi?"

"More than just knowing him." The old man sighed, his old eyes filled with vicissitudes. "That was... a long, long time ago."

He seemed to be lost in distant memories, his voice lingering.

"That kid, back then, was the most dazzling Genius in the entire Yuhua Imperial Dynasty. His Dragon Python Soul Severing Spear was used with unparalleled skill. He killed a hundred thousand enemies in the northern borders, watered his horses in the vast sea, and erected a monument at Juxu Mountain. How high-spirited and vigorous he was!"

"What a pity..." He changed the subject, a hint of sorrow entering his voice. "His achievements overshadowed his lord, and he was ultimately envied by villains and harmed by treacherous officials. In the end, his entire family was executed, and his home destroyed."

"If he hadn't been so lucky, he would have long become a ghost under the blade."

These words were identical to the notes Lin Fan had seen in that Ancient Tomb.

"Then... then, Senior, do you know if he... if he had a younger sister?" Lin Fan's voice carried a hint of doubt and curiosity.

This was his biggest question!

"A younger sister?"

The old man was first stunned upon hearing this, then shook his head with some confusion.

"Never heard of one."

"That kid, I know his family better than anyone. His parents died early, and he was the only child. Where would a younger sister come from?"

"Impossible!" Lin Fan exclaimed in surprise.

The inscription on the coffin, the uncorrupted female corpse, could it be... all fake?!

"Senior, please think carefully again." Lin Fan was unwilling to give up.

However, the old man waved his hand, a hint of impatience on his face.

"If I say there isn't one, then there isn't one."

"You little brat, why are you talking so much nonsense?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Fan's heart sank, knowing that asking further would likely yield no results.

He was silent for a moment, then finally mustered all his courage and asked the last question, and the one he most wanted to know, to the unfathomable old man before him.

"Senior."

He took a deep breath, his gaze burning.

"What... what Realm are you exactly?"

As soon as these words came out, even Zhang Dabao, who was still spectating, couldn't help but prick up his ears.

The air seemed to solidify in that instant.

The expression on the old man's face also stiffened slightly.

He slowly raised his head, his cloudy old eyes quietly looking at Lin Fan.

No answer.

No movement either.

But Lin Fan felt it.

It was an indescribable absolute suppression.

It was as if he was not facing a person.

But a... boundless, unfathomable, starry sky!

After an unknown period, that suffocating feeling slowly dissipated.

Lin Fan came back to his senses, already covered in cold sweat.

Zhang Dabao was even worse.

If he hadn't been clutching his little brother, he probably would have peed himself in fear.

When Lin Fan looked again, the old man had already returned to his harmless appearance and was leading his equally bewildered grandson, Song Buyu, towards the stone house.

"It's getting late. You two should leave soon."

"It's not very peaceful in these mountains at night."

The old man's calm voice drifted over.

Lin Fan and Zhang Dabao exchanged glances, both seeing deep... horror in each other's eyes.

The two bowed respectfully towards the stone house, then disappeared into the mountain forest.

After Lin Fan and the other left, a long silence fell inside the stone house.

Song Buyu looked at his grandfather, unable to suppress the doubts in his heart any longer.

"Grandpa."

He finally mustered his courage and spoke softly.

"Are you... hiding something from me?"

The old man didn't speak, but silently sorted the collected herbs, one by one, placing them on the stone table.

"You are a Martial Artist, aren't you?" Song Buyu's voice carried anticipation.

He couldn't forget the terrifying aura that had flashed from his grandfather just now, fleeting yet enough to make heaven and earth change color.

The old man's movements paused slightly.

After a long while, he slowly nodded.

Song Buyu's heart leaped!

He took a deep breath and asked the question that had troubled him for more than a decade.

"Then... then why haven't you allowed me to Cultivate martial arts for all these years?"

"I... I also want to be a strong person like them!"

A complex emotion, and a hint of almost imperceptible pain, flashed in the old man's eyes.

He slowly raised his head, his cloudy old eyes looking at his only grandson, his voice hoarse.

"Yu'er, it's not time yet."

His hand instinctively touched his Dantian.

There. A dead silence Qi lingered, refusing to disperse.