Han Li gazed at Li Feiyu’s now somewhat imposing face, rendered speechless and unsure of what to say.
Suddenly, Li Feiyu withdrew his imposing aura and returned to his playful demeanor. He blinked at Han Li and said with a loud laugh, “So, how was that? My aura just now was impressive, right! Domineering and heroic, the very essence of a formidable leader. You must be utterly in awe of me, ready to pledge your loyalty on the spot.”
Han Li was both amused and exasperated by these words. He had been somewhat moved by Li Feiyu’s earlier words, but the latter part immediately revealed his true nature again.
Han Li glared at him fiercely for a moment, then said through gritted teeth,
“A formidable leader? More like a bumbling bear!”
Li Feiyu laughed heartily, utterly unbothered, seemingly delighted to have momentarily stunned Han Li.
However, Han Li gradually regained his composure. Amidst the other’s laughter, he suddenly said calmly, “I already warned you earlier, and you’re well aware of your situation. So let me ask you seriously one more time: if you dissipate your inner strength, I can extend your life by many years. That way, you could live a long life with Miss Zhang. Won’t you reconsider?”
Li Feiyu’s laughter ceased abruptly. His face darkened, and a sharp gleam shot from his eyes as he stared intently at Han Li without uttering a word.
Yet Han Li remained composed, showing no unusual expression, only meeting Li Feiyu’s gaze with clear, steady eyes.
After what felt like an eternity, Li Feiyu finally retracted the intensity in his eyes, and his expression softened slightly.
“Han Li, you know very well that I would never consider voluntarily dissipating my inner strength. I know you mean well, but please don’t bring this up again, alright?” He forced a smile, his tone carrying a hint of pleading.
“Besides, do you think Miss Zhang would still fancy me if I became a weak, ordinary man?” There was a self-mocking undertone in his words.
Han Li fell silent, turning his head to gaze down the path from which Li Feiyu had come. After a moment of quiet contemplation, he spoke in a low voice, “Since you’ve made up your mind, I won’t try to persuade you anymore. You should head back now. I hope you and Miss Zhang Xiuer can truly find happiness together.”
Upon hearing this, Li Feiyu’s face immediately brightened with joy. He slapped Han Li’s shoulder vigorously a few times and said, “Good brother, those are words I love to hear! They’ve made my day. I’ll take my leave now.”
With that, he leaped into motion and, after a few bounds, disappeared down the path without a trace.
“Ah, that hurts!” Han Li suddenly clutched his shoulder, grimacing in pain. Unbeknownst to him, Li Feiyu had secretly channeled inner force into those slaps, causing Han Li’s shoulder to swell up like a red steamed bun, too tender to touch. The discomfort was considerable.
“That rascal! To get back at me for touching a nerve, he resorted to this,” Han Li thought, gritting his teeth. He hurriedly rummaged through his clothes, pulled out a healing spiritual medicine, undressed, and applied it to his shoulder.
“Sigh! The one time I try to do a good deed, I end up like this. I guess I’m just not cut out for kindness. Better go back and focus on mastering spells. As for this ambush, I’ll just have to settle the score next time we meet.” Han Li thought with a sense of resignation.
…
Some time later, Han Li had turned eighteen.
During this period, the Seven Mysteries Sect, pressured by the relentless encroachments of the Wild Wolf Gang, had finally declared war on them.
From then on, countless conflicts, large and small, erupted along the borders of the two forces. Many of Han Li’s companions who had entered the mountain with him lost their lives in these struggles, leaving him deeply saddened.
The large bell outside the valley tolled frequently due to the increasing number of wounded, which, in turn, allowed Han Li to practice many advanced medical techniques, greatly improving his healing skills.
However, despite Han Li’s miraculous healing abilities, many mid- and high-ranking members still fell—either dying on the battlefield or succumbing to severe injuries before they could even receive treatment from him.
Yet, because of this, many young talents from both sides emerged, rising to fill the positions left vacant by the fallen.
For instance, the Wild Wolf Gang’s “Five Fiends, Three Eagles, and Two Leopards” and the Seven Mysteries Sect’s “Seven Heroes and Two Champions” were among the most renowned. Li Feiyu was one of the Two Champions. Having personally killed one of the enemy’s Purple-clad Banner Commanders, he had risen to the high position of Deputy Hall Master of the External Blade Hall, wielding significant power. Moreover, his relationship with Zhang Xiuer was progressing rapidly, reaching the point of marriage.
When Han Li learned of this, he could only sigh softly. He didn’t know whether Li Feiyu’s decision was right or wrong. After all, he wasn’t in Li Feiyu’s shoes and couldn’t fully understand the complexities of his situation.
However, if it were him, Han Li doubted he could stand idly by and watch the person he loved turn to someone else. Yet, knowingly marrying someone while aware of his impending death seemed equally daunting.
Thus, Han Li chose to remain silent. After all, relationships had their boundaries, and Li Feiyu was his close friend. It was only natural to side with him slightly, and Han Li felt no guilt about it.
Additionally, another critical matter had recently arisen, consuming most of his attention and leaving him with little energy to dwell on Li Feiyu’s affairs.
After countless failures, Han Li had finally mastered the “Windriding Technique.”
Like the “Skyeye Technique,” the “Windriding Technique” was an auxiliary spell that could only be cast on oneself, not others. However, its practical applications far surpassed those of the “Skyeye Technique.”
After casting the “Windriding Technique,” Han Li felt as light as a swallow. With just a gentle tap of his toes, he could effortlessly leap several meters forward without any strain. The exhilarating sensation of sprinting at high speed on land, effortlessly leaving everything behind, became addictive. Han Li found himself dashing through the valley five or six times daily, indulging in the thrill of feeling like a lightness mastery expert.
Of course, this acceleration effect was quite different from the “Smokestep Technique.” The “Smokestep Technique” focused on seizing opportunities and achieving the impossible within short distances by expending vast amounts of physical energy. This footwork was most effective in confined spaces.
In contrast, the “Windriding Technique” imposed no physical burden aside from continuously consuming a trace amount of magical power. It allowed for unrestricted sprinting without any risk of physical exhaustion. Moreover, the acceleration effect would persist until the magical power was depleted or the spell was voluntarily ceased. Thus, it was commonly used by low-level cultivators for long journeys or travel, making it one of the essential spells for them when venturing out.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage