C12 I'll Lend It to You

No one would compel him; he was a hero, destined to be one for his entire life.

Tan Jingyao gazed at the bottle on the table, lost in thought, silent.

Chen Fan, observing Tan Jingyao's demeanor, said with resignation, "Alright, I've said so much, and you still don't get it. If that's how it is, I'm heading out!"

Without waiting for Tan Jingyao to respond, Chen Fan turned and strode toward the door, exiting the premises.

After departing from Tan Jingyao's residence, he made a beeline for the police station.

Upon his arrival, the place was deserted. It wasn't until he reached the cells that he encountered Lu Xuanxin. She wasn't alone; other uniformed individuals stood by her, their faces etched with gravity, weapons in hand, ready for action.

Taking in the scene, Chen Fan glanced over his shoulder before refocusing on Lu Xuanxin and remarked, "I have to say, your scheme is painfully obvious. Do you think he's naive or just oblivious? Can't you be a little more discreet?"

This place was usually under strict watch. The sudden absence of guards was far from ordinary.

Lu Xuanxin crossed her arms and simply watched Chen Fan.

"Do you think he's scared?"

Not in the least!

Indeed, Feng Yuxiu feared nothing. How could he be intimidated by the police? And if he wasn't scared, why would he avoid coming here because of this?

His ultimate target was Xiahou Wu.

Chen Fan paused, then pressed on, "May I see Xiahou Wu?"

"What do you want with him?"

"Come on, we've fought together before. Don't you trust me at all?"

Chen Fan gave Lu Xuanxin a speechless look, his expression complex.

In the current situation, if he didn't see Xiahou Wu and something went wrong, what then?

Xiahou Wu was the only one capable of confronting Feng Yuxiu; a warning was in order.

Lu Xuanxin, however, seemed to ignore his request, her face expressionless as she continued to stare at Chen Fan.

"I don't trust anyone!"

That was precisely Lu Xuanxin's persona.

Suspicious and vigilant, she trusted only herself!

Today, he had seen it firsthand!

Chen Fan lowered his head, sighed, and then approached Lu Xuanxin. He had barely taken two steps when the person behind Lu Xuanxin stepped forward, encircling Chen Fan, ready to strike at any moment.

Unperturbed, Chen Fan simply gazed at Lu Xuanxin and said coldly, "I'm offering you an opportunity now. I can bring Feng Yuxiu to you and also take him away. Think it over. Do you want me to arrange a meeting with Xiahou Wu or should Feng Yuxiu be allowed to leave? Take your time; I'm giving you the chance to consider it."

"Are you threatening me?"

Chen Fan nodded, maintaining eye contact with Lu Xuanxin.

Their stares locked in a tense standoff, the air around them charged with tension.

Lu Xuanxin's fists were clenched, her face betraying a hint of anger. Honestly, given her usual temperament, she would have killed Chen Fan without hesitation, but she believed in his capabilities.

If Chen Fan could indeed lure Feng Yuxiu to them, he could just as easily take him away, making it much more difficult to capture him later.

Chen Fan had seized upon this fact, confident that she would acquiesce.

And indeed, reality confirmed his belief!

After a moment of hesitation, Lu Xuanxin closed her eyes, took a deep breath to quell her inner fury, and gestured with her hand. The others backed away, creating distance between themselves and Chen Fan.

Lu Xuanxin then opened her eyes, fixing Chen Fan with a steady look.

"Professor, my compromise today stems from a desire to prevent further harm. If Prof. Wang also values the welfare of others, I implore you to show mercy and assist them. Otherwise, I can't guarantee what I might do. You understand, don't you?"

Without waiting for Chen Fan to respond, Lu Xuanxin gestured inside.

"Please."

Chen Fan entered without further comment.

Once inside, he found that the other prisoners had been moved. Xiahou Wu was sitting cross-legged on the floor, lost in thought.

Chen Fan proceeded in. The individuals behind Lu Xuanxin moved to intercept him, but she shook her head, signaling them to stand down.

"There's no need to stop me!"

Upon hearing this, the man's mouth opened as though he wanted to add something, yet ultimately, he swallowed his words and remained silent.

They stood outside, watching Chen Fan and Xiahou Wu.

Chen Fan walked over and sat across from Xiahou Wu, who opened his eyes without a hint of surprise at seeing Chen Fan.

"What brings you to me?"

"Indeed, I've come to you for a reason."

Chen Fan glanced down at his legs, sighed, and spoke with a sense of resignation, "Xiahou Wu, once a celebrated figure, to see you like this now must be heartbreaking. Lu Xuanxin has promised that once Tan Jingyao is saved, she'll release you. Do you know why you're still here?"

"You intend to use me as bait?"

At this, Chen Fan arched an eyebrow, taken aback.

Truth be told, he had planned to play coy, but Xiahou Wu had quickly caught on.

Typical of Xiahou Wu, his sharp mind was evident, although it was a shame, really!

Chen Fan didn't conceal his intentions and simply nodded.

"Exactly. He believes you're the foremost martial artist, so he'll soon come to challenge you. Does that scare you?"

"Scared?"

Xiahou Wu glanced at his hands, shook his head, and let out a wry smile, his expression one of resignation.

"What is there to fear at this point? Should I fear him beating me to death?"

"Mairong is innocent. If this person isn't stopped, others will suffer. To speak frankly, if using me as bait can draw him out and capture him, wouldn't that be for the best?"

If his sacrifice could save others, he wouldn't complain; it would be a worthy cause!

It would be his contribution to justice!

Chen Fan nodded, pausing as if pondering something, then pulled the Sunbeam Blade from his pocket.

The Sunbeam Blade was formidable. It could wound without leaving a visible mark, and Xiahou Wu's own strength was considerable. Combined with the power of the Sunbeam Blade, he might be able to finish his task sooner.

Puzzled by the Sunbeam Blade in Chen Fan's hand, Xiahou Wu asked, "What are you getting at?"

Chen Fan drew the Sunbeam Blade from its sheath, revealing the gleaming, dark edge.

He lifted his hand to caress the blade, lost in thought.

To be honest, this was his first time truly examining the Sunbeam Blade, and he certainly hadn't anticipated that Xiahou Wu would be the first to wield it.

As if responding to his contemplation, a voice abruptly broke the silence.