As the four of them joined forces, they formed a formation. This formation required the combined strength of all four. In the past, they had used this very formation to slay a Half-step Innate expert.
They had initially believed that their trip to Jiangnan would not necessitate such a formidable killing move, yet here they were.
"Deadly Strike!"
At the Grand Protector's command, the Third and Fourth Protectors unsheathed their blades, their edges gleaming with unprecedented sharpness as they lunged at Yun Fan.
However, they were easily blocked as soon as they reached him.
"It's not that simple!"
Yun Fan reacted in time. Indeed, in the very next moment, the Grand Protector and the Second Protector attacked.
Gleaming blades flashed. Even before they made contact, Yun Fan felt a chilling aura sweep over him.
"Heavenly Kill!"
"Earthly Doom!"
The four weaved back and forth, each strike a lethal blow. Lin Wushuang, watching from a distance, trembled with apprehension.
If it were him, he wouldn't last a single move within this impenetrable formation. Truly, they lived up to their reputation for slaying Half-step Innates.
Yet, Yun Fan, relying on his formidable strength, not only blocked their attacks but also met them with composure. He was truly extraordinary.
"Whoosh!"
Casually, the Grand Protector hurled a hidden weapon. It grazed Yun Fan's cheek, leaving a bloody gash.
"Break!"
Yun Fan roared, unleashing a wave of powerful energy. The four were sent flying back by this invisible force.
Yet, in the blink of an eye, they had reformed their formation.
At this moment, they were utterly confident in their ability to kill Yun Fan. Through their previous two exchanges, they had gauged his strength.
If they could slay a Half-step Innate back then, they could do it again.
"Very well!"
Yun Fan uttered only two words. The scene just now had been breathtaking. He knew that while the four had only engaged him briefly, they had unleashed four deadly strikes, each capable of ending his life.
Since arriving in Jiangnan, he had not suffered a setback at anyone's hands, save for being subdued by his Fifth Senior Sister.
But just now, he had truly felt a threat.
In the next moment, Yun Fan attacked proactively, seemingly without any discernible pattern.
The four were startled by his audacity. Ordinarily, anyone facing their deadly formation would at least try to escape, if not die immediately.
Yet, Yun Fan dared to charge at them. However, in their eyes, his actions were no different than seeking death.
"End this battle!"
The Grand Protector used an evasive maneuver to block one of Yun Fan's attacks. Under his distraction, the Second Protector brought his blade down towards Yun Fan's head.
Seeing an opening at Yun Fan's back, the Third and Fourth Protectors felt a surge of confidence. It was clear Yun Fan had fallen into their trap.
Now was the time to reap the harvest.
Unexpectedly, Yun Fan suddenly pushed aside their attacks and with incredibly swift fists, he struck at the Third and Fourth Protectors.
"Not good!"
The two were shocked, never expecting Yun Fan to turn the tables in such a desperate situation.
However, their reaction was still a beat too slow.
"Bang!"
His fists connected with them, and they were sent flying backward like broken kites, crashing heavily onto the ground.
"Pfft!"
Both spat blood, their ability to fight further questionable.
The Grand Protector and the Second Protector stared in disbelief.
"How is this possible?"
They had never imagined anyone could break their deadly formation. After all, the only person in this world capable of doing so was Yu Shuai.
As the creator of the formation, breaking it was effortless for Yu Shuai. However, even Yu Shuai would not have found it so easy.
This formation had been refined and strengthened by them multiple times. To think that Yun Fan, a mere youngster, could turn the tables.
This formation required all four of them to display its full might. Even if one was missing, it would not be a great loss.
But with two gone, their "deadly formation" was no longer deadly.
At this moment, Lin Wushuang was the most astonished. If it were him, he would have been dead dozens of times over.
Yet, Yun Fan only sustained a minor cut on his cheek. The disciples of the Ghost Valley sect were truly terrifying!
No wonder people said that Ghost Valley was a force that no other sect dared to provoke. With the monstrous strength Yun Fan displayed, who would dare to offend them?
And Yun Fan wasn't even the strongest. The one in Jinling was someone even the four great families had to avoid.
The Grand Protector and the Second Protector intended to hold Yun Fan off until the Third and Fourth Protectors recovered, then launch another attack.
But Yun Fan had clearly lost patience.
In an instant, he was before them, leaving them no time to react.
"Slash!"
Yun Fan descended with invincible might. The Grand Protector and the Second Protector felt as if a thousand tons of force struck them.
Both were forced back, their arms numb. Unknowingly, blood dripped from their arms onto the ground.
"With strength like yours, how dare you claim to have slain a Half-step Innate?"
Yun Fan taunted dismissively.
Perhaps the Half-step Innate they had slain was caught completely off guard.
The four were enraged. They never imagined that even with their strength, they would be subjected to such mockery.
They knew Yun Fan's origins were far from ordinary. With the strength he displayed, not even the four great families could have nurtured such a talent.
They tried to deduce his origins from his fighting style, but alas, despite their vast knowledge, they could not identify his techniques.
In reality, the Ghost Valley sect excelled in the Bai family's ultimate arts, which were beyond their comprehension.
At this point, the Grand Protector spoke to Yun Fan, "Friend, Yu Shuai has no quarrel with you. Why do you target him?"
"It's simple. I dislike him!"
Yun Fan declared imperiously.
"Since there is no enmity, we ask that you do not interfere!" The Grand Protector said solemnly, "As long as you do not trouble us, Yu Shuai will surely repay you handsomely in the future!"
Hearing this, Yun Fan felt a surge of contempt. He had thought these four were emotionless killing machines, only to discover they were also cowards.
Had he been the one to fail earlier, his corpse would have long gone cold.
"Enough of your nonsense. If you cripple your own martial arts and cooperate with the investigation, I will spare your lives. If you persist in your defiance, do not blame me for being ruthless!" Yun Fan said dismissively.
"A scholar can be killed but not humiliated!" The Grand Protector threatened, "It seems you are determined to be our enemy?"
"You are not qualified to be my enemy. Your master, Yu Shuai, might be." Yun Fan regarded the four lackeys with utter disdain.
"You will soon know what kind of existence you have provoked!"
"Go!"
Realizing they were no match for Yun Fan, the four decisively chose to retreat.
"Where do you think you're going?"
Yun Fan pursued the Grand Protector and the Second Protector relentlessly.
The Third and Fourth Protectors, severely wounded, had no time to escape before Lin Wushuang blocked their path.
"You two," Lin Wushuang declared, "since you're here, there's no need to leave. Allow me to entertain you!"
"Lin Wushuang, if you truly anger Yu Shuai, even the Emperor of Heaven cannot protect you!" the two threatened him.
In their prime, the two of them together would have scoffed at Lin Wushuang. But now, in their weakened state, they were no match for him.
Lin Wushuang replied, "Since I have accepted this order, I have long cast aside the fear of death!"
"Attack!"
The two gritted their teeth and, enduring their injuries, charged. However, the outcome was predictable.
Lin Wushuang was already an expert at the peak of Houtian realm and was unharmed. Therefore, it was inevitable that he would subdue the two severely injured individuals.
"Boom!"
With two resounding thuds, Lin Wushuang sent the Third and Fourth Protectors flying.
Realizing they could not escape, the two promptly chose to commit suicide. Even with their strong will, they knew they might not be able to keep their secrets. The times had changed, and they were aware of the myriad methods of torture in this era.
Unexpectedly, Lin Wushuang was even more thorough. Before they could bite into the poison sacs hidden in their teeth, Lin Wushuang kicked them in the jaw, one after another.
Instantly, their teeth scattered on the ground.
"Ah!"
Two screams echoed through the night.
...
The two figures sprinted through the forest. Though they had fled for a long time, they dared not slacken their pace.
They had believed that with the four of them deployed, and their perfect trump card, the deadly formation, they could instantly defeat anyone in Jiangnan.
Instead, it was Yun Fan, whom they had underestimated, who dealt them a fatal blow. This was the first time they had ever tasted defeat since their debut.
It could only be said that Yun Fan's Half-step Innate realm was unlike others; his Half-step Innate was truly a world-shattering existence.
Seeing that Yun Fan was not pursuing them, the two finally halted.
"Brother, Third Brother and Fourth Brother must not fall into the enemy's hands!" the Second Protector reminded with lingering fear.
They had been too focused on their own escape and had not paid attention to whether the Third and Fourth Brothers had made it out.
At this, the Grand Protector spoke coldly, "Even if they didn't escape, it is their fate. They know what to choose!"
Upon hearing this, the Second Protector's heart ached. He knew what awaited those who couldn't escape. Perhaps that was their final farewell.
Yet, he was unwilling to accept it. Although they were not blood brothers, they had all been abandoned orphans in their youth.
Memories of the past flooded his mind. He vividly remembered scavenging for food in garbage heaps with his fellow disciples, and how they had resorted to theft and robbery for survival.
There was even a year when they broke into an ordinary household. When discovered by the homeowner, the four, with their hearts hardened, directly killed the family.
At that time, they were only ten years old, already burdened with murder.
If not for encountering Yu Shuai, they would never have achieved what they had today. Therefore, even knowing that his Third and Fourth Brothers might have fallen into enemy hands,
they could only abandon them to repay Yu Shuai's kindness.
"If anything untoward happens to them, I will tear Yun Fan to pieces and feed him to the dogs to avenge them!" the Second Protector vowed through gritted teeth, even biting his own tongue.
The Grand Protector nodded, "That is not enough. Everyone connected to him must accompany him to hell!"
As they vented their fury, a mocking voice echoed.
"Truly brothers of deep affection! But at this moment, you should worry about yourselves!"
"Not good!"
As their expressions shifted, Yun Fan had already appeared before them inaudibly.
"Since you are brothers, you should all be reunited and descend to hell together!" Yun Fan sneered.
The two felt an unprecedented sense of humiliation, and thus, they charged at Yun Fan with desperate ferocity.
"The four of you combined were like a pack of wolves, but just two of you are worse than dogs!"
Yun Fan attacked decisively, engaging the two.
In the depths of the jungle, the three engaged in a ferocious battle. In their desperation, the two unleashed an unprecedented potential.
Their aura was so potent that any ordinary Houtian expert would have been terrified to death.
Yun Fan moved like a grim reaper lurking in the darkness, approaching the Second Protector with eerie footwork.
Just as the Second Protector sensed Yun Fan behind him and prepared to counterattack, Yun Fan's claw had already pierced his body, tearing through his heart.
"Ah..."
With a final scream, the Second Protector died on the spot.
"Second Brother!"
The Grand Protector, driven to madness, his eyes bloodshot, charged.
But there was nothing in his original position.
"Yun Fan, I will kill you!" the Grand Protector roared in fury.
However, in the very next moment, the Second Protector's corpse rained down from above. As the Grand Protector looked up, Yun Fan grabbed his head.
"Mmph!"
The Grand Protector grunted as his head was directly crushed by Yun Fan.
The remaining two of the Four Great Protectors met their end so easily at Yun Fan's hands.
"Blast!"
Yun Fan cursed under his breath. In his momentary exhilaration, he had forgotten to leave any survivors, thus delaying the plan.
He could only hope that Lin Wushuang was not as impulsive as he was and would at least leave one alive.
He then proceeded to the villa and rendezvoused with Lin Wushuang. Seeing the Third and Fourth Protectors lying unconscious on the ground, he breathed a sigh of relief.
The night's battle had not been in vain.
"Yun Fan, where are they?" Lin Wushuang asked curiously.
"Carelessly, I killed them all!" Yun Fan replied resolutely, his attitude unwavering. He did not want Lin Wushuang to notice his mistake.
Lin Wushuang was speechless. He had not expected Yun Fan to get carried away, but he dared not point out Yun Fan's lapse.
After all, Yun Fan had dealt with these four as if they were mere vegetables to be chopped. If he truly displeased Yun Fan and got carried away, what if he decided to take Lin Wushuang down too?
At this, Yun Fan said to him, "These two are yours. Whatever it takes, you must make them talk!"
"Don't worry, I have a myriad of ways to make them confess!" Lin Wushuang guaranteed.
He had no choice. He hadn't been able to contribute to the previous fight, so he couldn't falter at this crucial stage.
If he messed up the cleanup, he wouldn't be able to face Yun Fan.
...
Upon returning to his rented apartment, Yun Fan began to relax. For now, all he had to do was wait.
Wait for Lin Wushuang to extract the information they desired.
"Knock, knock, knock!"
Just then, there was a knock at the door.
Yun Fan was puzzled. Lin Tianxin and Jiang Xueyan both had keys to the apartment. Clearly, it wasn't them.
Therefore, Yun Fan, wearing a mask, opened the door.
"Sixth Senior Sister, why are you here?" Yun Fan asked in surprise.
Yang Xuejian replied with annoyance, "Little Junior Brother, what are you doing? Your phone wouldn't connect! The filming is almost wrapped up, and you're not even helping me with the last few scenes!"
Seeing his Sixth Senior Sister's complaining gaze, Yun Fan felt a pang of guilt. If not for his recent busyness, his Sixth Senior Sister's scenes would have been finished long ago.
He had indeed delayed her, so he replied sheepishly, "Sixth Senior Sister, I'll help you film in two more days!"
"No way! What have you been so busy with these past two days?"
"Nothing much!" Yun Fan replied curtly.
"If you're not busy, then strike while the iron is hot! You don't know, my show has already aired more than ten episodes. If we delay further, it'll have to be put on hiatus!" Yang Xuejian urged.
This show had received rave reviews, and Yun Fan certainly hadn't been paying attention to the news. In reality, Yun Fan had already become famous.
Not only Yun Fan, but Jiang Xueyan and Lin Tianxin had also become sensations. If not for her holding them back, countless people would have sought them out for acting roles.
However, she also knew that Lin Tianxin and Jiang Xueyan were destined to inherit their family businesses, making acting an impossibility for them.
"Uh..."
In his helplessness, Yun Fan finally said, "I have a difficult situation!"
"What difficult situation?"
As Yang Xuejian pondered, she asked Yun Fan, "Little Junior Brother, why are you acting like a woman, and wearing a mask!"
Alright! Since he couldn't conceal it any longer, Yun Fan removed the mask. The wounds on his face had not fully healed yet.
"Little Junior Brother, how did you get like this?" Yang Xuejian asked with concern.
Seeing it was his own Senior Sister, Yun Fan had nothing to hide. He explained the entire situation.
"What?"
Yang Xuejian froze. She hadn't expected Yun Fan to defeat four coordinated Houtian peak experts on his own.
At this moment, she was even more astonished by Yun Fan's strength.
"So, the reason you haven't answered your phone or left your place these past few days is because your scars haven't healed?" Yang Xuejian asked in confusion.
Yun Fan nodded helplessly, "Mm."
"What's the big deal!" Yang Xuejian said nonchalantly, "This is simple. Leave it to your Senior Sister. We'll just change the script and say you were injured in the show, similar to this scar!"
"That works too!"
Yun Fan was instantly petrified. He had assumed that once a script was finalized, it wouldn't be easily changed. At this moment, he seemed to realize that his Sixth Senior Sister's constant teasing in the show had likely been her improvising by changing the script on the spot.
In fact, Yang Xuejian's actions weren't just "changing the script," they were outright improvisation.
...
As "My Sister and I Have a Date" aired two episodes daily in prime time, its viewership ratings soared to the top.
The main characters in the drama, both heroes and villains, became famous. It wasn't necessarily because of their acting skills, but rather their overwhelmingly good looks.
As the leads, Yun Fan, Yang Xuejian, Jiang Xueyan, and Lin Tianxin were undoubtedly the epitome of beauty for all television dramas in the past decade.
In this age of widespread internet, numerous low-quality web dramas emerged. However, in terms of appearance, none could compare to the lead actors with their divine looks in this show.
Only the update frequency was too slow.
Moreover, there were days when the updates were completely halted, leading to a surge in demands for new episodes. Thus, they became famous across the country.
Some actors spent their entire careers in obscurity, yet these individuals skyrocketed to fame with a single show.
Even before the first season concluded, millions of comments flooded in, asking when the second season would be released.
Of course, Yang Xuejian did not reply, for she knew this would be the only season. She would never be able to gather the original cast again.
Although she had reached the pinnacle of her acting career with this show, she felt no sense of accomplishment. Her sense of achievement had changed; even winning over her little junior brother now brought her more satisfaction.
Similarly, this show also became a massive hit in Jinling.
At this moment, Ye Qingcheng was watching the show on her tablet.
"Is this how you look?"
Ye Qingcheng stared blankly at Yun Fan on the television screen. This was the first time she had seen Yun Fan since she grew up.
At this moment, her subordinate stood outside the pavilion, not daring to approach and disturb her.
After a long while, Ye Qingcheng finally put down the tablet and said to her subordinate, "Come here!"
"Yes!"
Her subordinate cautiously approached her and respectfully reported, "Eldest Miss, President Liu has sent a secret dispatch!"
With that, he handed the secret dispatch to Ye Qingcheng.
Ye Qingcheng opened the dispatch and saw only two matters. The first was that Yun Fan had dealt with the Four Great Protectors.
Although this proved Yun Fan possessed extraordinary Half-step Innate strength, she remained unmoved, as if it were all normal in her eyes.
The second matter was somewhat redundant: the deaths of two elders, and the ensuing conflict between the four great families and the ruling powers.
As a member of one of the four great families, no one understood the current situation better than she did.
At this, her subordinate asked, "Eldest Miss, the Xie, Ouyang, and Qin families have consolidated all their forces and are preparing to challenge the ruling powers. They are asking why our Ye family has not yet acted?"
Upon hearing this, Ye Qingcheng calmly stated, "Our Ye family withdraws!"
"What?"
Her subordinate could not believe this was Ye Qingcheng's decision. After all, the four great families were bound by common interests and shared honor. If the Ye family withdrew now, they would likely become the target of everyone's criticism.
"Did I not make myself clear?" Ye Qingcheng asked coldly.
Her subordinate quickly replied, "Yes, your subordinate will relay the refusal immediately!"
"There's no need to be so abrupt. Tell them to wait; perhaps a better outcome awaits!" Ye Qingcheng stated directly.
"Your subordinate understands!"
As her subordinate was about to leave, Ye Qingcheng called him back.
"Wait!"
"Does Eldest Miss have any other instructions?"
Ye Qingcheng remained silent for a long time, then finally said, "Establish a film and television company for me. No matter the cost, ensure the superstar Yang Xuejian, along with the original cast, comes to Jinling to film a sequel!"
Instantly, her subordinate was taken aback. He had expected something significant, only to find it was such a trivial matter. For the Ye family, let alone filming a show, buying the largest film and television company would be child's play. He wondered why Eldest Miss was focusing on such a minor issue.
Could it be that Eldest Miss was also a fan of the show and a loyal viewer!
However, he dared not speculate on Eldest Miss's thoughts and quickly replied respectfully, "Your subordinate will get started immediately!"