Not long after Han Li left Rainbow Mountain, Sect Leader Wang announced that he had taken Li Feiyu as his final disciple, officially appointing him as the head of the Outer Blades Hall. From then on, he showed him immense favor and trust. A few years later, Han Li’s third uncle accidentally made a grave mistake that violated the sect’s rules, an offense that should have cost him his life. However, Sect Leader Wang overruled all opposition and ensured his safety.
As for Sect Leader Wang, in the subsequent faction conflicts, he encountered formidable enemies and suffered severe injuries on multiple occasions, each time left hovering on the brink of death. Just when everyone assumed he would not survive, he miraculously recovered each time thanks to pills from a jade vial, quickly regaining his vitality. This aroused envy in others, who inquired about the name and origin of these pills, but Wang Juechu always evaded the questions, refusing to reveal the truth. Naturally, those who tried to obtain the pills returned empty-handed.
It was only many years later, on his deathbed, that Wang Juechu finally disclosed the name of the pills—”Nourishing Essence Pills.” By then, only three pills remained in the jade vial. Yet, even these three pills sparked a bloody storm of conflict, bringing considerable trouble to Wang Juechu’s descendants. But that is a story for another time.
Meanwhile, Li Feiyu was staring blankly at several small bottles and a note. When he returned from Zhang Xiu’er’s place that morning, he found these items in his room.
The note was left by Han Li. Its message was simple: it informed Li Feiyu that he had left the Seven Mysteries Sect and might never return. The bottles contained specially formulated medicine that could potentially extend Li Feiyu’s lifespan, and Han Li hoped he would not refuse it.
At the end of the note, Han Li had drawn a smiling face of himself. Beside it, he added a wish for Li Feiyu and Zhang Xiu’er to marry soon and have many children.
After staring blankly for a while, Li Feiyu suddenly rushed out of his room and dashed to the summit of the nearest small mountain peak.
From the peak, he anxiously gazed toward the main gate of the Seven Mysteries Sect, but all he could see was a vast expanse of lush greenery, with no trace of any human figure. After standing motionless for a long time, Li Feiyu sighed and whispered with a lonely expression, “Take care, my friend. May your journey be safe.”
He then slowly descended the mountain, his retreating figure appearing exceptionally solitary and melancholic.
Meanwhile, a horse-drawn carriage traveled along an ancient road, heading east.
Han Li and Qu Hun were seated inside. Although the four-wheeled covered carriage was spacious enough, only the two of them occupied it. Han Li had spent three taels of broken silver to temporarily rent the entire carriage.
The wooden carriage appeared somewhat shabby and worn on the outside, but the interior was quite clean. The two horses pulling the carriage were in their prime, robust and agile, swiftly pulling the vehicle along.
It was precisely these qualities that convinced Han Li to spend three taels of silver to charter the carriage. Under normal circumstances, such a carriage would only earn a little over one tael of silver after several days of continuous work.
The coachman was an ordinary, dark-skinned, lean middle-aged man who was not particularly talkative. Unless Han Li initiated a conversation, he remained silent—a trait Han Li appreciated.
After all, Qu Hun, who accompanied him, was exceptionally tall and wore a hood that concealed his face, giving off a mysterious aura. Had the coachman been talkative and asked too many questions, it would have been troublesome to explain.
Perched on Han Li’s shoulder was the yellow-feathered “Cloud-Winged Bird.” The highly intelligent little creature half-closed its eyes, seemingly resting.
At the other end of the carriage, Qu Hun carried a large bundle on his shoulder. Aside from a change of clothes, it contained heavy items like gold, silver, and various bottles and jars.
As for the artifacts, letters, and books obtained from Doctor Mo, Han Li carried them close to his body, fearing their loss due to their significance.
Now, Han Li sat quietly in the carriage, listening to the creaking of the wooden wheels, his expression calm and undisturbed, showing no sadness over leaving the Seven Mysteries Sect.
If there was one thing he felt slightly reluctant to leave behind, it was his close friend Li Feiyu. However, he believed his friend must have received his message and the specially prepared medicine by now. He hoped the medicine would prove effective, allowing his friend to enjoy a longer and better life.
With these thoughts, Han Li stretched, leaned against the carriage wall, and began to doze off. He had already informed the coachman of their destination—the small mountain village where he was born.
Although he knew it was impossible, he still wished that upon opening his eyes, he would see the faces of his parents and siblings.
It had been so many years since he left his parents that even their faces had grown somewhat blurry in his memory. Before venturing far from home, Han Li felt compelled to see his parents one last time; otherwise, he would never be able to leave with peace of mind.
“I wonder how little sister is doing. She must be sixteen or seventeen by now, a young lady. In the last letter from home, it mentioned she was already betrothed and had received betrothal gifts.” As Han Li drifted into a drowsy state, the image of a small, thin figure appeared in his mind—a figure that had always followed him, calling out “Fourth Brother” in a sweet, childish voice.
“Time truly flies.”
Amidst a warm and nostalgic atmosphere, Han Li fell into a deep and peaceful sleep. He slept soundly and securely, much like he did as a child when his parents watched over him, shooing away mosquitoes, allowing him to slumber sweetly.
Five days later, Han Li caught sight of the all-too-familiar small village along the earthen road.
The short mud walls, rows of straw stacks, and the pothole-riddled paths—all of these had once occupied his dreams, and now they lay before his eyes in reality.
Suppressing his excitement, Han Li instructed the coachman to stop the carriage far outside the village. Qu Hun remained in the carriage as Han Li hurried toward the village entrance. The closer he got, the more intensely his heart raced.
It had been a long time since he had felt such an uncontrollable surge of emotion.
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