This chaotic battle quickly came to an end.

The Xu Family clearly held the upper hand.

Lin Tian could plainly see that three people from the Yue and Wang families had died!

The three bodies were in terrible condition, stabbed over a dozen times, full of holes, with blood all over the ground, looking like dried-up corpses.

Besides them, four more were seriously injured, struggling even to move, making it impossible for them to escape, thus falling into the hands of the Xu Family.

The remaining seven, including Yue Yongnan, retreated in defeat, as they were all high-level Martial Artists. Their skills were evident, and none present, apart from the Grand Elder, could actually stop them.

As for the Xu Family, although no one died, their losses were still considerable. Eight were seriously injured, and the rest had various minor injuries.

Yaqin swiftly sheathed her sword and then shouted, "Injured personnel, return for recuperation. The rest, follow me, escort the second young lady!"

"Yes!"

Lin Tian walked up to Yaqin and smiled, "No need to go to so much trouble..."

Yaqin hooked her sword at her waist, smiled gently, and said softly, "You’re so handsome; what if we run into a female thug on the way? I think it’s safer to escort you."

With that, she winked at Lin Tian, making him want to rush up and give her a few hundred kisses.

Lin Tian could only smile wryly. The fox spirit in front of him was entirely different from the sword-wielding heroine she was earlier. Who’s the female thug? You’re talking about yourself, aren’t you?

Soon, the injured from the Xu Family had been taken for treatment, and eight cars drove up. All of them were top-notch vehicles, and judging by the engine’s sound, they seemed to be modified.

Yaqin got into the driver’s seat of an SUV and waved at Lin Tian, who was carrying Mei Ruyan, saying, "Get in, I’ll take you out."

Lin Tian took her offer, opened the rear door, and sat in with Mei Ruyan in his arms.

Yaqin glanced in the rearview mirror, then said with a smile, "You really have no gentlemanly air about you. It’s so late at night, and you let a delicate woman like me drive. Aren’t you afraid I’m a road killer?"

Lin Tian felt embarrassed. Weren’t you the one who said you’d take me out?

"Let me drive," Lin Tian suggested.

"No need, just sit tight. Let’s go." With that, Yaqin stepped on the gas, igniting the car’s engine. The seven cars behind followed suit.

It was Lin Tian’s first time being escorted by so many cars. He looked back at the impressive lineup of luxury vehicles.

When he turned back, Lin Tian found the car’s atmosphere a bit awkward. Just as he was about to speak, Yaqin asked, "The person wearing the mask earlier, you know him, right?"

Lin Tian nodded, "Yes, I know him. He’s in the shadows now, said he’d escort me out, shouldn’t go back on his word."

Yaqin glanced at Lin Tian through the rearview mirror with a strange look and said, "It’s your first time at Luoyan Dock, and you know a Golden Core level expert? You really are full of secrets."

There was a hint of jealousy in her tone. Understandably, someone like him—wanted by all prominent families and the Alliance—knowing and utilizing such a top-tier expert, would indeed seem odd to outsiders.

Lin Tian laughed, "I haven’t known him for long. You should know him too; he’s the Grand Elder of the Alliance."

"What?!" Yaqin immediately exclaimed, "The Grand Elder?!"

"Yes, it’s definitely him. I wouldn’t mistake him for someone else."

Yaqin’s breathing became labored. She felt a pang of fear—if there had been a real conflict earlier, the result would have been disastrous.

"Thank you," Yaqin suddenly said.

"Thank me for what?" This time, it was Lin Tian’s turn to be puzzled.

"If it really was the Grand Elder earlier, given the situation, you and everyone from the Xu Family would have perished on the spot."

"Why?"

"No reason. He is currently acknowledged as the top martial artist among all the families, known for his unruly temperament, never a smile on his face. Some even say the old man has a penchant for killing. Once he starts, he must finish someone off! You didn’t just save Mei Ruyan; you saved fifty-three lives of our Xu Family, so I ought to thank you."

"I see," Lin Tian laughed. Given his character, the old man might indeed do such things, but now with the Heart Purification Method, it shouldn’t be to that extent. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

"Then, for saving so many from the Xu Family, how do you plan to reward me?" Lin Tian asked with a smile.

The previously serious mood lightened up with Lin Tian’s remark, and Yaqin was amused, "This kind of ’marrying into the family’ thing is better left to the young and second young ladies. They seem pretty keen on it."

Lin Tian couldn’t help but laugh too.

Living in the Xu Family for the past few days had always been like this. These fox spirits would tease him every day.

After a moment of contemplation, Yaqin added, "I advise you not to get too close to those from the Alliance. No particular reason, I just don’t like them. This morning, those old coots held a denunciation meeting, nearly killing the eldest young lady on the spot. It still angers me when I think of it."

Lin Tian chuckled, "Don’t worry, we only have some trade dealings. I don’t like those old coots either. My allegiance definitely lies with your Xu Family."

Yaqin playfully winked and laughed, "You men! The reason you’re siding with the Xu Family is that we have many beauties, while they only have a bunch of old fogies, right?"

"..." Lin Tian rolled his eyes, "Am I that kind of person?"

"As long as you’re not gay, you’re that kind of person."

"..."

"Also, I have another question. The medicinal herbs in that car, they’re all yours now, aren’t they?" Yaqin asked.

Without a second thought, Lin Tian nodded, "Yes, I’ve placed them somewhere safe. Your eldest young lady promised that as long as the two herbs needed to save your Patriarch are there, the rest are mine."

Yaqin, steering with one hand, raised a middle finger with the other, "Look at your stinginess! But you also played a part in the Xu Family’s crisis this time, shouldn’t you lend a hand?"

Lin Tian blinked and asked, "How can I help out?"

"Three families conspired in this herb theft incident. If we don’t recover the herbs, each family is to compensate with a hundred herbs...you get my drift, right?"

Lin Tian chuckled, not being an idiot, of course, he understood. Meaning, he had over three hundred herbs and was asked to give away a third, yet still profiting over two hundred, huh?

And indeed, it was only right to share a portion of those over three hundred herbs with the Xu Family.