From Beast Abilities to Sect Grand Master

"No. I can't take your money." Sima Liang shook his head as he tried to let Lin Fan keep the amulet.

"Lin Fan, you are here..." Madam Choo greeted him as she came into the garden.

Sima Liang quickly walked over to her side and said, "It's cold out here. You should be inside your room.

"Xiu Ju, bring Madam back to her room now."

"Madam Choo, long time no see." Lin Fan bowed and greeted her in return.

He noticed Sima Liang trying to get Madam Choo away from him.

It was very odd of Sima Liang.

Sima Liang is keeping something from him, Lin Fan thought.

Lin Fan walked over to Madam Choo and said, "Let's have some tea and chat like we used to. It's been a while."

This made Sima Liang anxious.

But it was too late. Madam Choo bowed and said, "Lin Fan, we need your help."

"No, mother. We already owe him too much." Sima Liang tried to make Madam Choo stop.

It was to no avail.

Madam Choo continued and said, "Our mine in the mountains is having some troubles. The other family members are not helping, waiting to see my son fail."

When Lin Fan heard what Madam Choo said, he shook his head.

It seemed that these family feuds never end.

Sima Liang looked down and kept silent.

"So that's what you were busy with - trying to balance the books with the mine having issues."

Lin Fan patted Sima Liang's back.

Sima Liang's ascension was quick, and he didn't have enough time and resources to build up his influence.

And with the recent turmoil sweeping through the Quan Dynasty, the other family members must have tried to take their chance again.

"Let me go settle it for you, in exchange for the amulet. Fair deal?"

Lin Fan proposed to help as he wanted to try out the amulet and other skills.

He also wasn't into the ceremonial process of pretending not to want to accept gifts.

Upon hearing what Lin Fan said, Madam Choo thanked him repeatedly.

Sima Liang sighed and did the same.

He knew he had to buckle up and not rely on Lin Fan every time.

...

The mountains were very near Hong Feng City.

Iron ores that were mined would be transported to the Sima Family to be turned into artifacts.

It took Lin Fan half a day to reach the mountains on horseback.

He was disguised as a house guard from the Sima Family.

When he followed the path up into the mines, he saw bodies that lay beside and on the path.

They wore rags with blackened hands and faces.

Lin Fan figured these bodies belonged to the miners.

Someone or something might have killed them.

He checked the bodies and found that there were cut wounds all over.

But others had no wounds on them.

And they didn't show any symptoms of being poisoned.

Lin Fan would have to figure out what caused them to die.

After continuing on the path for half an hour, Lin Fan finally reached the mine.

A group of men with swords in their hands were standing guard.

These men weren't in the clothes of Sima Family's servants, like the one Lin Fan wore.

With the family emblem of the characters 'Sima' on the left chest.

Some others were whipping the miners, forcing them to go into the mine.

"Please don't. I will do anything but go into the mine again. The mountain god has spoken, and he is not pleased."

One of the miners begged as the whip landed on his back.

Blood seeped through the rags he was wearing as wounds appeared with each crack of the whip.

There was something inside that made them afraid to go in.

Something that was even worse than suffering from the whipping.

After he had analyzed the situation, Lin Fan walked out of the shadows and approached the mine.

"Stop right there!" The guard shouted as he saw Lin Fan.

Other guards quickly came over and pointed their swords at Lin Fan.

They looked around, scanning for more intruders.

After they were sure there weren't any, they lowered their swords.

"Well, what have we here? A house guard from the Sima Family?" The leader of the group stepped forward.

He smirked as he rubbed his bald head.

"Very brave of you. Our revolution army could make good use of someone like you." The leader nodded his head, impressed with Lin Fan's bravery in coming alone to face them.

"Don't you see how the Quan Emperor is causing all the suffering?

"We shall make everyone free from all the taxes and hard labor when the rebellion succeeds.
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"All of us are born human. Who is to mandate that the Emperor is above us all?"

The leader gave a rousing speech, trying to persuade Lin Fan to join their cause.

Lin Fan just shrugged his shoulders.

He had seen it all - promises made and broken once they got into power.

And looking at how they treated the miners, these were amateurs.

Not even willing to pretend for a moment.

Lin Fan continued and said, "Let's go. I don't have all day."

The very next moment, Lin Fan lunged at one of the guards.

It was over so fast that the guard couldn't even cry out in pain.

With a punch from Lin Fan, the guard's internal organs were damaged.

Plop.

The guard fell to the ground the very next moment.

Lin Fan had adjusted his strength to accommodate the guards.

He would have scared them off if he had used his full powers.

"Go get him. Surround him and attack from behind." The leader of the group panicked as he shouted out his instructions.

When he saw the guards do what he told them, he quickly turned and ran.

The leader knew Lin Fan must be a cultivator.

Who in their right mind would come and challenge them single-handedly?

They were definitely no match for him.

With the guards surrounding him, the miners gasped out in fear.

They felt sorry for Lin Fan, seeing him risk his life for them, but they couldn't do anything.

As the swords of the guards got closer to Lin Fan, they closed their eyes and dared not look.