Han Li chuckled softly upon hearing this and immediately explained, “Miss Xin, you’ve misunderstood. The person behind me is not a living soul but a Corpse Soldier I refined. A simple sweep with your spiritual sense will confirm it.”
After speaking, Han Li consciously halted his advance, waiting for Xin Ruyin to verify Qu Hun’s identity as a zombie.
Sure enough, moments later, Xin Ruyin’s voice rang out again, “My apologies for the misunderstanding, Senior Han. Please, come in.”
Her tone carried a hint of remorse, but Han Li merely smiled casually and urged the Divine Wind Boat forward, flying out of the passage.
As soon as he emerged, a familiar cluster of bamboo cottages came into view—a place he had visited once before. Standing gracefully in front of the cottages were two women: Xin Ruyin and her pretty maid.
Both were dressed in plain white garments, and Xin Ruyin was adorned in the attire of a young married woman, which left Han Li momentarily stunned.
“The widow Xin pays her respects to Senior Han,” Xin Ruyin said, stepping forward and offering a light bow. Her pale, sickly appearance aroused Han Li’s suspicion.
“Please, no formalities, Miss Xin,” Han Li replied politely, though his mind was filled with questions.
The maid behind Xin Ruyin also stepped forward to bow. Han Li nodded absentmindedly.
Clearly, Xin Ruyin had no intention of engaging in a lengthy conversation there. Forcing a smile, she led Han Li into a larger bamboo cottage.
Upon entering, Han Li was taken aback.
On a wooden table directly opposite the door stood a jet-black spirit tablet inscribed with the words “Beloved Husband Qi Xiaoyao.” In front of the tablet was a small incense burner, from which several sticks of incense emitted a thin, wispy smoke.
The sight made it clear to Han Li what had happened. Qi Xiaoyao had passed away—a fact that shocked him deeply.
After a moment of stunned silence, he sighed softly, stepped forward, took a bundle of incense sticks, lit them, bowed twice, and gently placed them in the burner.
“Miss Xin, what exactly happened?” he asked softly after paying his respects.
“It’s a long story,” Xin Ruyin replied, her eyes reddening as she spoke weakly. “Please follow me to another room, Senior Han. I will explain everything.”
The once shrewd and capable woman Han Li remembered was now a pitiable figure, evoking his sympathy. He could only nod silently in response.
Guided by Xin Ruyin, Han Li entered the adjacent room and took a seat.
The maid swiftly prepared a pot of tea and poured a cup for Han Li.
After taking a small sip, Han Li set the cup down and said solemnly, “I never imagined that just a few months apart would bring such misfortune to Brother Qi. Truly, fate is cruel. By the way, I wasn’t aware that you and Brother Qi had married. Had I known, I would have sent a wedding gift.”
A bitter smile touched Xin Ruyin’s lips, but before she could respond, her pretty maid answered on her behalf, “Senior, my young mistress voluntarily entered into marriage with Young Master Qi after his passing, to honor him as his widow.”
Han Li was taken aback and couldn’t help but glance at Xin Ruyin in surprise.
“Xiao Mei is right,” Xin Ruyin confirmed, meeting his gaze steadily. “I did choose to become Qi Gongzi’s widow.”
“This…” Han Li was at a loss for words.
“I owe Qi Gongzi my life several times over, a debt I could never repay. Had he lived, I would have married him eventually. Now, I am merely doing what is right,” Xin Ruyin said calmly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear with a pale, delicate wrist.
Hearing this, Han Li could say no more. Xin Ruyin then began recounting the details of Qi Xiaoyao’s tragic end in a soft, melancholic tone.
It turned out that after Han Li’s departure, Qi Xiaoyao and Xin Ruyin had initially heeded his advice and avoided venturing out unnecessarily. However, two months later, Xin Ruyin found herself in urgent need of a rare material for her array research and decided to visit a nearby market.
Somehow, Qi Xiaoyao learned of her plans. Smitten with her, he insisted on going in her place.
Unfortunately, the cultivators Han Li had eliminated while rescuing Xin Ruyin earlier turned out to be members of the Fu family, one of the largest cultivation clans in the Yuanwu Nation. The mysterious disappearance of so many of their core members prompted a thorough investigation. While patrolling the area, Fu family cultivators eventually crossed paths with Qi Xiaoyao.
Had Qi Xiaoyao been more cunning or experienced, he might have talked his way out of the situation despite the lack of evidence. But his honest nature betrayed him. After just a few questions, his nervousness aroused suspicion, and the Fu family attempted to detain him for further interrogation.
Unwilling to be captured, Qi Xiaoyao relied on his powerful artifacts to break free from several Qi Refining stage cultivators and fled back to his residence.
This escape, however, sealed his fate.
Fu family cultivators soon tracked him to his home. Although Qi Xiaoyao’s defensive arrays killed or injured over a dozen of them, the Fu family, enraged, dispatched a Core Formation expert. After half a day of relentless assault, the outer arrays were shattered.
In a desperate move, Qi Xiaoyao set up an illusion array behind the main formation, temporarily trapping the Core Formation expert and buying himself time to escape.
But the Fu family pursuers were relentless.
Though Qi Xiaoyao managed to break through their encirclement using the remnants of his arrays, his loyal steward died in the fight, and he himself suffered grievous injuries. By the time he reached Xin Ruyin’s residence, he had breathed his last.
Unaware of his death, the Fu family continued their furious search for him, even posting watchers at his home—leading to the scene where Han Li encountered and killed the old and young Fu family cultivators.
After hearing the story, Han Li felt a pang of sorrow. Though not close friends with Qi Xiaoyao, he had regarded him as a decent man. His untimely death was a stark reminder of life’s unpredictability.
“Senior Han, you came here about the ancient teleportation array, didn’t you?” Xin Ruyin asked calmly after finishing her tale.
“Well, that matter isn’t urgent…” Han Li replied awkwardly, feeling it inappropriate to bring up such a topic so soon after her husband’s passing.
“I’ve nearly repaired the array. One more month, and it will be fully restored,” Xin Ruyin continued, seemingly understanding his discomfort.
“Really?” Han Li’s spirits lifted, a hint of joy appearing on his face.
“Indeed. Not only will I complete the repairs, but I also have two gifts for you, Senior Han,” she said impassively, retrieving two jade boxes from her storage bag and placing them on the table.
“What are these?” Han Li asked, genuinely puzzled.
“One box contains my husband’s ‘Xiaoyao’s Notes’ and his collection of artifact refinement texts. The other holds all my research on arrays and a vast number of array technique manuals. I hope you will accept them,” Xin Ruyin stated plainly.
Han Li’s heart tightened. After glancing at the boxes, he fixed his gaze on her and asked coolly, “What is the meaning of this, Miss Xin? Why give me such priceless treasures? If you have something to say, speak plainly.”
“In exchange for these, I ask only for a promise from you, Senior Han,” Xin Ruyin replied, meeting his gaze with unwavering determination.
“What promise?” Han Li asked, though he had already guessed her intent.
“If you ever reach the Core Formation stage, I want you to annihilate the entire Fu family and erase them from the Yuanwu Nation,” Xin Ruyin’s voice was as cold as eternal ice, the hatred in her words sending a chill down Han Li’s spine.
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