Chapter 331: The Order

Han Li carefully stored away the items, glanced up at the radiant glow in the sky, then leaped toward a corner of the bamboo forest.

A moment later, he pulled out a cyan array flag embedded at the base of a giant bamboo. Instantly, the dazzling radiance and restrictions vanished without a trace.

Han Li smiled faintly and turned to head toward other corners.

In no time, all the array flags and disks were retrieved from the bamboo forest and meticulously stored in his storage pouch. Having witnessed the power of the newly improved “Inverted Five Elements Formation,” Han Li treasured it immensely.

As Han Li leisurely returned to his original spot, preparing to leave on his artifact, he noticed something on the ground—the mud-like corpse of the Yue Emperor. It seemed that once the radiance dissipated, it had fallen from the sky.

Han Li frowned and sighed softly. With a flick of his finger, a fist-sized fireball shot out, reducing the Yue Emperor’s corpse to ashes. “He was a remarkable figure, yet in death, he’s nothing but a pile of ashes,” Han Li mused with a sigh.

He then patted his storage pouch, and a golden light flew out, blasting a large pit in a nearby empty area. With a gentle sweep of his sleeve, a soft breeze carried the ashes neatly into the pit.

Suddenly, a flash of white light caught his eye, and Han Li halted his burying motion.

Surprised, he beckoned with one hand, and a faintly glowing white silk handkerchief floated out of the pit and landed in his palm.

“What’s this…?” Han Li scanned it briefly, a look of puzzlement crossing his face.

The handkerchief was slightly yellowed, clearly an artifact from a distant era. Woven from an unknown material, it emitted a faint glow. But what puzzled Han Li was the blurry map embroidered on it.

His curiosity piqued, Han Li eagerly examined the map. However, after scrutinizing it repeatedly, he lost interest. Upon closer inspection, he concluded it definitely wasn’t a map of Yue Country but rather depicted an unfamiliar place. Moreover, the map was clearly incomplete—whether it was half or just a fraction of the whole was impossible to tell.

Still, the fact that it had only been discovered in the ashes suggested the Yue Emperor had hidden it within his body using some secret technique. Otherwise, the beast puppets would have found it earlier.

This implied the map was no ordinary item!

Lost in thought, Han Li stored the incomplete map in the jade box containing the Five Elements Pills. Now wasn’t the time for solving mysteries; he needed to find the others quickly. After all, with the Yue Emperor dead, handling the aftermath would be quite a headache!

When Han Li found Chen Qiaoqian and the others in front of the Cold Palace, another piece of bad news awaited them.

In the Black Fiend Cult leader’s secret chamber within the Cold Palace, they discovered Wu Xuan’s body, recently drained of his essence and blood in a blood sacrifice.

Upon hearing this, Han Li was momentarily stunned. Then, he let out a bitter laugh and said nothing.

Now, with so many Foundation Establishment disciples lost due to the Black Fiend Cult incident, he feared Li Huayuan wouldn’t be pleased with him upon their return. After all, he was the one who had started this mess!

Feeling utterly helpless, Han Li left the aftermath to Chen Qiaoqian, Zhong Weiniang, and the others, making an excuse to return to the Qin Residence first.

But to his great surprise, as soon as he returned to his quarters, an unexpected person appeared before him.

…

“Greetings, Uncle Han!” The middle-aged man in brocade robes bowed respectfully.

“Disciple Ma! What brings you here so late? Something important?” A flicker of surprise and suspicion crossed Han Li’s eyes.

Having just returned from the imperial city, Han Li hadn’t expected this disciple responsible for liaison in Yue Capital to be waiting for him in the courtyard—and clearly for quite some time.

“Uncle, I’ve just received orders. All disciples above the Foundation Establishment stage must immediately head to the Seven Sects’ camp at the border. The enemy has issued a challenge: in two months, the six demonic sects will settle the score with us. The higher-ups are recalling all personnel. Also, there’s a message slip from Ancestor Li!” The man in brocade said gravely, handing over an order and a jade slip.

Han Li was slightly startled but maintained his composure as he took the items and examined them carefully.

The order indeed matched what the disciple had said: all Foundation Establishment disciples on external missions were to report to the border camp within a month of receiving the order. The date for the decisive battle with the demonic path was set, and the spiritual emblem at the end of the order was genuine.

After verifying the order, Han Li focused his spiritual sense into the jade slip.

Inside, Li Huayuan’s illusory figure appeared, delivering a brief message: the Qin Residence no longer needed protection, as intel indicated the demonic sects had inexplicably canceled their plan to cause trouble in Yue Country’s mortal world. Han Li and the other disciples could safely return to the border.

Hearing Li Huayuan’s sparse words, Han Li felt a surge of frustration, almost enough to make him spit blood.

Suppressing his irritation, he withdrew his spiritual sense.

“I understand. Leave the order and the jade slip with me. I’ll inform the others,” Han Li said after a moment’s thought, glancing at the items in his hand.

“Then I’ll trouble you, Uncle,” the middle-aged man replied hesitantly but respectfully before taking his leave.

Han Li bid him a casual farewell and watched him fly away. Then, he let out a soft sigh and slowly pushed the door open to enter his room.

…

The next morning, Han Li, Song Meng, and the others gathered in the main hall to discuss their departure from Yue Capital.

“Before joining the battle, I need to return to my family first, then head to the camp. So I won’t be traveling with the rest of you,” Chen Qiaoqian said softly, biting her red lip shortly after reading the order.

“I need to return Senior Brother Liu’s belongings to his family,” Zhong Weiniang added, her face somewhat haggard and her eyes slightly red. Though unspoken, her intention to travel alone was clear.

“I have no pressing matters. Junior Brother Han, shall we return together?” Song Meng, ever easygoing, clapped Han Li on the shoulder and said cheerfully.

“No, Fourth Senior Brother. I have some personal matters to attend to as well,” Han Li declined with a smile, having already made other plans.

“Ah, well then,” Song Meng said, looking disappointed.

“How about I accompany Junior Brother Song back?” Chen Qiaoqian’s sole surviving senior brother suddenly offered with a smile.

Song Meng was overjoyed; this meant he’d have someone to spar with on the journey.

Seeing this, Han Li chuckled inwardly. Despite the bloody battle, his Fourth Senior Brother hadn’t changed a bit.

Thus, it was settled: everyone would go their separate ways early the next morning.

That afternoon, Han Li went to inform Qin Yan that they were safe. Overjoyed, Qin Yan heard Han Li’s intention to leave the next day.

Qin Yan quickly tried to persuade him to stay, but Han Li declined with a faint smile. Seeing his resolve, Qin Yan reluctantly relented.

As Han Li left Qin Yan’s quarters and headed back to his room, he passed through a small garden—a necessary route—and found Chen Qiaoqian there, dressed in a white dress with her back to him. She appeared to be admiring the flowers, inadvertently blocking his path.

Seeing this, Han Li paused, feeling it would be impolite to pass by without a word.

“Senior Sister Chen, what a coincidence!” Han Li greeted her with a calm expression, preparing to brush past her.

But Chen Qiaoqian suddenly turned, her slender waist swaying gently, and her flower-like face turned toward Han Li. “It’s not a coincidence. I was waiting for you,” she said, her apricot lips parting slightly.

Her autumn-like eyes stared directly at Han Li, a complex expression on her face.

“Waiting for me…?” Han Li feigned surprise appropriately. Yet, inexplicably, he felt both bitter and somewhat joyful.

“I heard the White Chrysanthemum Mountain on the outskirts of Yue Capital is exceptionally beautiful, a famous local sight. Would you accompany me to see it, Junior Brother Han?” After a moment of silence, Chen Qiaoqian said something that took Han Li completely by surprise.

“Alright,” Han Li replied, almost as if bewitched. He had meant to refuse, but upon seeing the melancholy in her eyes, the words slipped out unconsciously.

“Wonderful, Junior Brother Han! Let’s go now. Once the sun sets, we won’t be able to see anything,” Chen Qiaoqian said, her cheeks flushing with delight, making her look even more radiant.