Han Li turned and walked toward the door. Just as he reached the entrance, he suddenly glanced back and asked, “The person standing behind Elder Mo hasn’t said a word. I wonder, what is his background?”
Elder Mo smiled faintly at this unexpected question, evading it slyly. “Since you’re so clever, why don’t you take a guess? I’m sure you can figure it out.”
Han Li shook his head and walked out of Elder Mo’s room without another word. It was unclear whether he couldn’t guess or simply had no interest in trying.
Once outside, Han Li’s expression darkened.
“In this confrontation with Elder Mo, I was completely powerless to resist and was subdued effortlessly. It shows how naive I was to think I could outmaneuver him with mere cleverness. The tube of Five Poison Water I painstakingly crafted was confiscated before it could even be put to use. I need to go back and carefully consider how to strengthen my own abilities.” With this thought, he strode decisively toward his quarters, clearly unwilling to remain under Elder Mo’s control.
Inside the room, Elder Mo stared dumbfounded at the wooden floor, where a dark, bowl-sized hole had been corroded through. Moments earlier, he had casually tested the contents of the iron tube, and the venom that sprayed out had effortlessly eaten through the floor. Shocked by the venom’s eerie toxicity, Elder Mo could no longer contain his fear. He jumped up and cursed angrily, “That little bastard! When did he learn to make such poison? I never taught him anything like this. I thought it was just ordinary knockout powder. That brat is truly ruthless and treacherous.”
Unaware of the fright he had caused Elder Mo, Han Li returned to his room and collapsed onto his bed, falling into a deep sleep. The day’s dramatic events had taken a heavy toll on him, both physically and mentally, and he desperately needed rest to recover.
After replenishing his energy, Han Li slowly awoke from his slumber. He sat up and glanced outside—the eastern sky was beginning to lighten. It was already the next morning; he had slept for quite a long time.
Sitting upright, Han Li remained on his bed, propping his chin with his hands and resting his elbows on his knees as he pondered ways to escape Elder Mo’s control.
It was clear that he would be safe for the next year. For the sake of his own life, Elder Mo would not harm him and would instead do everything to protect him. But whether he would remain safe after that year was uncertain.
Han Li wasn’t worried about the “Evergreen Technique.” He had already reached the fourth layer a few days prior and was confident he would master the fifth layer within the year without any extra effort.
The issue of the “Corpse Insect Pill” was also manageable. When the time came, he could simply show Elder Mo his progress and threaten to withhold treatment unless he was given the antidote. Elder Mo likely wouldn’t risk offending him over this.
Suddenly, Han Li remembered something. He retrieved a small bottle from his robes, poured out a vibrant green pill, and swallowed it. After waiting a moment for the medicine to take effect, he began to quietly practice internal observation.
“Cough! That old devil Mo really wasn’t lying about the Corpse Insect Pill. Even the Clear Spirit Powder, which can neutralize a hundred poisons, has no effect on it. It seems I’ll have to wait a full year to get the antidote.” Han Li muttered in frustration under his breath.
After putting the bottle back into his robes, he got out of bed and stood up.
He began pacing around the only table in the room, walking slowly with his hands clasped behind his back as he continued to mull over his problems.
Truth be told, Han Li didn’t fully believe what Elder Mo had told him. He knew there were likely many falsehoods in the elder’s words. Unfortunately, with his family threatened, he had no choice but to comply, even though he was aware of the deception.
Han Li highly doubted that Elder Mo would keep his promise after a year. If things were as simple as the elder claimed, it would be easy—there would be no need for resistance. But he feared Elder Mo was hiding unfavorable details and might turn on him once his own problems were resolved. If Han Li made no preparations, he would have no means to fight back.
After turning the matter over in his mind repeatedly, Han Li still couldn’t find a good solution.
Currently, both he and Elder Mo were wary of each other. Elder Mo feared that Han Li wouldn’t focus on his cultivation, jeopardizing his own life, while Han Li worried that once Elder Mo’s concerns were resolved, he would strike mercilessly.
Originally, Han Li could have used this to threaten Elder Mo and keep him in check. But now, with his family’s safety used against him, he could only tread carefully and reluctantly compromise.
“Should I really entrust my life to his hands and hope he shows mercy when the time comes?” Han Li felt somewhat disheartened.
“No, I absolutely cannot do that. My fate cannot hinge on someone else’s whims. Entrusting everything to another person’s control is the most foolish idea.” He immediately dismissed this thought.
After racking his brains, Han Li finally came up with a less-than-ideal plan.
He decided to strengthen his abilities in multiple ways, doing everything possible to increase his leverage and deter Elder Mo. Even if Elder Mo did attack, Han Li would at least have a means to protect himself.
It was a clumsy plan—one that left him on the defensive, allowing the opponent to strike first. But for now, it was the only feasible and relatively comprehensive approach.
Having made up his mind, Han Li decided to take a walk outside. He pushed open the door and stepped into the open yard, stretching lazily and yawning.
Facing the biting morning wind, he gazed at the half-risen red sun and felt a surge of determination. “My destiny can only be in my own hands. I will never let others control it.”
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