“Do you know anything about this cultivator’s cultivation level? If he’s not an important disciple of the Yan Family and his cultivation isn’t too high, I can go have a proper talk with him. It should be resolved smoothly,” Han Li said calmly, rubbing his nose.
In truth, he was well aware that someone who would coerce a mortal woman couldn’t possibly have very profound cultivation. Asking this was merely out of habitual caution.
“I had Cairan look into this beforehand. I heard he’s only a cultivator who has reached the fifth layer of the basic cultivation technique. Although he also bears the surname Yan, he must be an insignificant figure in the Yan Family. Otherwise, why would a disciple who received even the slightest bit of attention live among us mortals?” Lady Yan said.
As expected of the former leader of the Mo Mansion, even though she had fallen into such dire straits, Lady Yan still handled matters with clear logic and a sharp mind.
“Then there’s no problem! In a moment, Junior Sister can take me there to show me the way. I’ll resolve this issue for you,” Han Li nodded upon hearing this.
“Thank you, Senior Brother! I knew you would help!” Mo Cairan, who had been listening nearby, exclaimed sweetly with extreme delight.
“Han Li, we truly trouble you! Otherwise, faced with the coercion of a cultivator, my daughter and I wouldn’t know how to handle it,” Lady Yan said with relief in her eyes, but then she sighed helplessly. “Although this place superficially prohibits cultivators from harassing mortals, in reality, there are far too many cases of mortals being bullied in secret. How would the Yan Family truly punish those cultivators? If one isn’t careful, it’s common for mortals who offend cultivators to vanish without a trace.”
Han Li sensed some powerless indignation in her words. After all, compared to her former glory when she held power over life and death in the Mo Mansion, this current life of enduring humiliation must indeed feel degrading for Lady Yan.
After listening, Han Li fell silent for a moment before suddenly asking a question that had been puzzling him.
“Master’s Wife, Junior Sister has long reached the age for marriage. Why not find a suitable match within the fortress to marry? If she were to marry a cultivator, wouldn’t she have someone to rely on then?”
“Marry? I refuse to marry any of those Yan Family cultivators!” As soon as Han Li finished speaking, Lady Yan smiled bitterly while Mo Cairan loudly objected, her face full of displeasure.
“What’s wrong?” Han Li was somewhat surprised.
“Senior Brother! The Yan Family cultivators don’t take us mortal women seriously at all! Marrying them as wives is even worse than being a servant in the mortal world. They often beat and scold us over the slightest dissatisfaction. I’d rather stay single for life than marry anyone here!” Mo Cairan’s words were rapid and urgent, clearly showing great aversion to the idea.
“Han Li, you might not know this. A friend your Junior Sister made here married a cultivator within the fortress. Not only was she never treated with respect, but she was also frequently abused. Later, when her looks faded, she was given a letter of divorce under some trivial pretext and sent back home, ending up in a miserable state! And that cultivator married a younger and more beautiful woman. Sigh! Cultivators with as good a heart as Cairan’s stepfather are far too rare here. I don’t want Cairan to suffer like that! As for marrying an ordinary person, your Junior Sister’s standards are too high—how could she find anyone she fancies?” Lady Yan explained Mo Cairan’s reaction.
“I see! But Junior Sister can’t remain unmarried her whole life, can she?” Han Li frowned, speaking matter-of-factly.
However, as soon as he said this, Lady Yan’s expression shifted as if she wanted to say something, but she hesitated and ultimately remained silent. Mo Cairan, as if remembering something, lowered her head and fell silent.
Han Li then realized the atmosphere had suddenly turned somewhat awkward, as if…
He quickly changed the subject. “Junior Sister, lead the way for me. Let’s deal with that cultivator’s harassment first!”
“Mm!” Mo Cairan hesitated for a moment but agreed. Seeing this, Lady Yan showed no intention of objecting.
Thus, Han Li and Mo Cairan temporarily left the shop and headed straight for that cultivator’s residence, which seemed quite far away.
…
“Senior Brother, what level is your cultivation, really? That guy acted like a mouse seeing a cat the moment you showed up—he kept calling you ‘Senior’ and bowing nonstop! The respect he showed was as if he were seeing his own ancestor,” Mo Cairan said, completely reverting to the cheerful image Han Li remembered. She chattered incessantly on the remote path back, hardly resembling a woman in her twenties.
Seeing this, Han Li smiled faintly and said lightly, “It’s nothing. I’m just one realm higher than him. According to the rules of the cultivation world, he should indeed call me Senior.”
Upon hearing this, a flash of joy appeared in Mo Cairan’s eyes, and she said even more cheerfully, “Still, I can’t help but laugh when I remember the comical expression he had when he saw me show up!”
This time, Han Li didn’t say anything but merely looked at Mo Cairan with a smile. Within moments, he made Mo Cairan shyly turn her face away, falling silent again.
But after a while, she suddenly said something that greatly surprised Han Li: “Senior Brother, is it really impossible to become a cultivator without a spiritual root? I want to become a cultivator like you!” When she turned back, Mo Cairan’s face was full of sorrow, and her voice brimmed with longing.
Seeing this, Han Li felt a pang of heartache but could only remain silent. Since ancient times, it had been an unchangeable truth in the cultivation world for hundreds of thousands of years that those without spiritual roots could not cultivate spells. How could he possibly break this rule?
Seeing Han Li’s expression, Mo Cairan’s initially fervent heart instantly cooled, realizing that even her seemingly omnipotent Senior Brother had no solution.
She couldn’t help but feel disheartened, silently falling a few steps behind Han Li and walking slowly, her entire demeanor becoming subdued.
When they were not far from the small shop, Han Li suddenly stopped, turned to Mo Cairan, and said, “I have other matters to attend to, so I won’t go back to see Master’s Wife. Let’s part ways here. Fortunately, I’ll be staying in Yanling Fort for a few more days, so we might have a chance to meet again.”
“What? Senior Brother, you’re leaving already?” Mo Cairan was first shocked, then her face filled with disappointment.
“Mm. Here are a few dozen spirit stones. Leave them for Master’s Wife for emergencies. This is all I can do for now,” Han Li said, taking a small leather pouch from his storage bag and handing it to Mo Cairan.
“Thank you, Senior Brother,” Mo Cairan said softly, appearing utterly vulnerable, her eyes full of reluctance.
Seeing her like this, Han Li felt an inexplicable ache in his heart. After hesitating for a moment, he took out a silver vial and poured a pink pill from it.
“Swallow this. Although it can’t make you a cultivator, it will at least preserve your youth and prevent you from aging in your lifetime. Consider it a gift from me, your Senior Brother,” Han Li said with a solemn expression.
“Senior Brother, I…” Upon hearing this, Mo Cairan was both surprised and delighted, her emotions surging as she wanted to speak her mind. But Han Li didn’t let her finish. With a flick of his finger, the pill flew directly into her mouth, making her swallow it involuntarily.
“Junior Sister, I’m leaving! Take care of yourself and Master’s Wife!” As soon as Han Li said this, he gently swayed, his figure blurring before vanishing on the spot.
“Senior Brother!” Mo Cairan cried out in astonishment, hurriedly stepping forward and looking around, but there was no trace of Han Li.
Left with no choice, Mo Cairan could only walk slowly back toward the shop with a dejected expression.
A short while later, Han Li reappeared from behind a house not far away. He silently watched for a moment before turning and leaving without hesitation.
Although Han Li couldn’t be certain what his Junior Sister had wanted to say to him, he could guess seventy or eighty percent of it. Unfortunately, fate had not destined them to be together, and his feelings for her hadn’t reached that level.
Moreover, his lifespan after Foundation Establishment was far too disparate from hers, which was also why he was reluctant to entangle himself in such emotions. After all, watching someone he loved gradually wither away before his eyes, powerless to stop it, was something Han Li could not bear.
…
“Heavenly Crane Residence”—this was the name of the teahouse that appeared before Han Li. The three-story antique structure indeed had an imposing air.
Han Li only glanced at it briefly before heading inside without hesitation. Outside the building, he had already sensed over a dozen fluctuations of magical power inside, all emanating from Foundation Establishment cultivators at levels similar to or even higher than his own.
Stepping into the teahouse, he swept a glance across the first floor without pausing and went straight to the second floor. The first floor was filled entirely with mortals devoid of any magical power.
Although there were some cultivators on the second floor, most were at the Qi Refining stage, far beneath Han Li’s notice now. The magical fluctuations growing increasingly distinct on the third floor were his real targets for this visit.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage