From Beast Abilities to Sect Grand Master

Lin Fan got into his room, and he looked at the map.

It was a route through a valley which led to the foot of Lao Di mountains where the hostages were.

The route wasn't so useful for them to get to the Lao Di mountains, but it was certainly useful for their escape.

Lin Fan memorized the route and kept the map.

He was confident that the innkeeper wasn't out to harm them as the system didn't warn him of any malevolent intentions.

As a precaution, Lin Fan also used his Resonant Ability to listen to what the innkeeper did after he handed the map over to Lin Fan.

The innkeeper went on with his day normally and there wasn't anything unusual.

The night went by fast as they were tired after days of traveling in the hot and humid weather.

...

Next morning.

Lin Fan and the others had breakfast in the inn and left soon after.

They left Yun Dian City and headed into the southern province.

When they entered the southern province, the mood was noticeably different.

Men with swords and other weapons in their hands walked along the paths and were heading in the direction of the Lord Marquis of Zhen Nan's residence.

The Lord Marquis of Zheng Nan seemed to be able to rally a lot of support for his rebellion.

Even though Lin Fan and Ho Ming had no weapons on them as Ho Ming also kept his swords in his turtle shell artifact, they stopped at looking as they felt Lin Fan and Ho Ming's menacing aura.

Finally, after a day's travel, they turned away from the official trading route and turned into the forest.

It was hot even under the shade of the trees.

Their traveling pace slowed down due to their paths being filled with vegetation.

"Stop!" A group of men appeared from the foliage and shouted at them.

"You are from the Huang and Lee family?" The leader of the group pointed his finger at Lin Fan and asked.

Lin Fan bowed and said, "Yes, we are here to pay the ransom and get our relatives back."

"Ransom? No, it's funds for helping the Lord Marquis of Zhen Nan to return the Quan Dynasty to its rightful heir," the leader of the group shook his head and said.

Lin Fan smirked at the pitiful attempt to sugarcoat what they were doing.

The leader of the men then waved at Lin Fan and said to his men, "Blindfold them and tie them up."

"Wait. Are you trying to rob the gold and kill us?" Huang Shi said anxiously.

His eyes darted at Lin Fan and Ho Ming desperately.

"What? What do you take us for? Robbers?" The leader of the men said and spat on the ground.

He clasped his hands and bowed, "Late Emperor, we here are trying to avenge your death and these merchants here think that we are robbers. May your soul rest in heaven."

Sing.

The group of men drew out their swords and pointed them at Lin Fan and the others.

"Calm down. We will do as instructed," Lin Fan said.

If he was strong enough to rip apart the Qi Suppressing Bracelet in the imperial palace, he had no fear being tied up in ropes.

Huang Shi nodded and kept quiet.

He had faith in Lin Fan.

The group of men went up and blindfolded everyone and tied their hands up in rope.

Then they led their horses towards where the hostages were held.

Lin Fan with his Resonant Echo ability knew what was happening as they passed through an army campsite.

The soldiers looked at them, rubbing their hands gleefully at the prospect of payout.

The wooden chests that their horses had on the side attracted their eyes.

Gold.

That was all they had in their minds as their eyes tracked the movements of Lin Fan and the others.

It got quieter and Lin Fan knew they were now away from the army campsite.

After an incense time, they finally stopped.

Their blindfolds were taken off and they were made to get off their horses.

Lin Fan took a quick scan of the surroundings.

They were in a small fortress with wooden walls.

Around fifty men were inside the fortress watching closely at Lin Fan and the others.

"Brother!" Huang Shi exclaimed as he saw his brother lying on the ground, weak and frail.

"Uncle!" Lee Long was just as anxious when he saw his uncle in the same precarious condition.

They tried to get to their brother and uncle but were immediately stopped.

"Not so fast."

The men nearest to Huang Shi and Lee Long held their swords up to their necks.

Lin Fan immediately pulled them behind him.

"We had a deal, remember. Give us the taels of gold and you get to reunite with your relatives."

The leader of the men said.

"They are in the wooden chests," Lin Fan said.

"Hurry, get the wooden chests down from the horses!" The leader of the men shouted.

Lin Fan noticed the men on the wall of the fortress arming their bows.

"What's the meaning of this?" Lin Fan pointed at the archers with their bows and arrows aiming at him and the others.

The leader of the men shrugged his shoulders and said, "I said letting you reunite but I didn't say where."

"Yeah, all of you can reunite in hell!"

The men shouted.

And before they could unleash their arrows onto Lin Fan and the others, they saw Lin Fan turn into a lightning crocodile.

Wham!

Lightning struck at the speed of light and burnt the archers on the wall.

Plop.

They dropped to the ground and gave out a muted thud.

"Get them!" The leader of the men shouted, and he tried to get to the wooden chests.

When he opened one of them, he cried out in anger.

"You despicable piece of shit!" There was nothing in the wooden chests but rocks.

The leader of the men then quickly tried to run to the gates of the fortress.

He had to inform those in the army campsite of what had happened.

Meanwhile, Ho Ming used his turtle shell artifact to protect Huang Shi and Lee Long.

They ran over to their relatives under the protection of the turtle shell.

The men guarding the relatives tried to attack Ho Ming with their swords.