Chapter 333: Master Sun

A refined and elegant young man, accompanied by several young masters, made his way to the second floor.

This man appeared to be in his thirties, with handsome, jade-like features and a faint smile on his face that felt as refreshing as a spring breeze, instantly earning him much goodwill. The barely audible footsteps came from him.

The man chatted and laughed with the others while casually scanning the second floor.

When his gaze fell upon Han Li’s ordinary and unremarkable face, he paid no particular attention and proceeded directly to the third floor. It seemed this was the so-called “distinguished guest.”

As soon as the group went upstairs, a steady stream of exquisitely prepared dishes was brought up by the waiters. Then, the servants and attendants were all dismissed by the young masters, clearly to ensure their conversation remained private.

Witnessing this, Han Li’s curiosity grew stronger. He discreetly extended his spiritual sense upstairs, clearly overhearing their conversation.

“Brother Li, we owe you a great deal this time! Without you, we would have suffered greatly. Your presence here today is an honor to us. Come, let me propose a toast to you first!” This was the voice of the thin young man, filled with gratitude.

“It’s nothing. Those outsiders dared to kidnap someone right under the nose of our Five-Colored Gate, which is a direct violation of our sect’s rules. It was only right for me to step in and rescue you all,” the handsome young man replied modestly, appearing very approachable.

Hearing the terms “Five-Colored Gate” and “Brother Li,” Han Li downstairs showed a hint of surprise. “What a coincidence! To think I’d run into someone related to the Five-Colored Gate!” Han Li was somewhat astonished.

“Regardless, without Brother Li’s help this time, we would have been in grave danger. If you ever need our assistance in the future, we will not hesitate to help,” another young master chimed in, seemingly pounding his chest in assurance.

“Thank you for your kindness, gentlemen! However, the kidnappers this time are no small matter. Each of them is a renowned figure in the martial world. Otherwise, given your status in Jiayuan City, how would ordinary people dare to target you?” the handsome young man shifted the topic.

“Indeed, these kidnappers were formidable. I was sleeping soundly at home, and when I opened my eyes, I found myself elsewhere. It was truly terrifying! Fortunately, our fathers and brothers promptly sought help from your esteemed father, or we would have suffered greatly!” the thin young man said with lingering fear.

“Actually, even if Lord Wang and the others hadn’t sought help…” the young man surnamed Li continued chatting with them.

From their brief exchange, Han Li quickly grasped the gist of the situation.

These young masters, who held considerable status in Jiayuan City, had been kidnapped by a group of external martial arts experts. In their panic, their fathers sought help from the Five-Colored Gate. This young man, likely the son of the Five-Colored Gate’s leader, swiftly rescued them, and now they were hosting a banquet to express their gratitude to the young master.

Downstairs, Han Li absentmindedly gazed out the window while listening to the flattering remarks directed at the young man surnamed Li upstairs, hoping to glean some useful information about the leader of the Five-Colored Gate.

Soon, a greeting from the thin young man caught Han Li’s attention.

“Brother Li, I heard that Sect Leader Li will be celebrating his sixtieth birthday in a few days. Your residence must be busy preparing for it! Speaking of which, your father remains vigorous and energetic despite his age, showing no signs of aging! When the time comes, we must definitely come to toast his longevity!”

“Haha! My father’s profound cultivation is naturally beyond comparison with ordinary people. You are all welcome to attend, and I would be delighted to host you. Moreover, my father has just returned from inspecting the branch divisions and plans to personally oversee the preparations at the residence. He attaches great importance to this birthday celebration,” the young master replied with a smile.

“That…”

Hearing this, Han Li withdrew his spiritual sense. Now that he knew the leader of the Five-Colored Gate was at the Li residence, everything became straightforward.

With this in mind, Han Li downed a cup of wine in one gulp, pulled out a piece of broken silver, placed it on the table, and said in a deep voice, “Waiter, the bill! Keep the change!”

With these words, he swiftly descended the stairs.

The waiter, naturally overjoyed, repeatedly expressed his gratitude from behind.

Once outside the restaurant, Han Li glanced in the direction of the “Li residence,” a cold smile curling on his lips, before turning and leaving without looking back.

When night fell, he would pay a visit to the Li residence. If no other Foundation Establishment cultivators were nearby, he would take the life of the Five-Colored Gate’s leader, fulfilling his promise.

But for now, it was still daytime, and time was tight. He needed to take this opportunity to handle other matters first!

With these thoughts, Han Li disappeared into the bustling crowd.

…

Today, the “Siping Gang” was renowned throughout Jiayuan City. Although it still couldn’t compare to the largest gangs, it was undoubtedly a top force among the mid-tier factions. Its leader was none other than the once-surprising “Sun Ergou,” who had risen to prominence overnight.

Of course, Sun Ergou’s status was vastly different from before, and no one dared to address him so casually anymore. Nowadays, everyone who met him respectfully referred to him as “Gang Leader Sun.”

The Siping Gang’s headquarters had long since moved from its location over a decade ago to a wealthier street within the city.

The gang members no longer engaged in backbreaking labor at the docks. After fierce struggles, they had secured a lucrative territory and even started legitimate businesses like pawnshops and restaurants.

As a result, the Siping Gang grew increasingly wealthy, and “Gang Leader Sun’s” life became more and more comfortable.

Just last month, Gang Leader Sun took his ninth concubine, a well-known courtesan in Jiayuan City.

This concubine possessed some seductive skills, captivating the gang leader, who was already past forty, from the moment she entered his household. He spent almost every day in her quarters, completely forgetting about his other concubines.

Now, before nightfall, Gang Leader Sun eagerly made his way to the rear courtyard.

The mere thought of his beautiful concubine’s charming appearance made his heart burn with desire, leaving him utterly restless!

But when Gang Leader Sun pushed open the door to the fragrant room, he was stunned!

Sitting facing the door was a young man who, upon seeing the gang leader enter, lazily remarked, “Sun Ergou, I never expected you to have some skill! The Siping Gang is doing quite well. It seems I didn’t choose the wrong person back then!”

This young man not only addressed him by his birth name but also spoke in a condescending tone. It was none other than Han Li, who had secretly infiltrated the Siping Gang’s headquarters.

The moment Sun Ergou saw Han Li, he recognized the mysterious figure who had propelled him to power years ago. Thanks to the “Preservation Pill,” Han Li’s appearance hadn’t changed at all over the years!

This left Sun Ergou both shocked and inwardly turbulent, his emotions churning like stormy waves.

After a moment of conflicted expressions, Sun Ergou quickly adopted a respectful demeanor, hurried forward a few steps, and bowed. “So it’s you, young master! This humble Sun Ergou pays his respects!”

It was quite a feat for Gang Leader Sun to assume such a subservient attitude so naturally after years of never having to speak to anyone in such a manner.

Seeing Sun Ergou’s attitude, Han Li raised an eyebrow, showing a hint of surprise. But then he smiled faintly and said with some interest, “Enough of that. You’re the leader of a gang now. There’s no need for such formalities. I’m just here to see how you’re doing. I’ll be leaving soon.”

Hearing this, Sun Ergou felt considerably relieved. His greatest fear had been that Han Li’s arrival meant he would have to relinquish his power. After years in a high position, he had learned a thing or two about cultivators and knew they were figures beyond the resistance of ordinary mortals.

Truth be told, this young master was as elusive as a dragon, appearing only briefly! Initially, Sun Ergou had assumed that after receiving such significant benefits, he would be treated as a puppet. Yet, to his surprise, Han Li had let him be all these years without showing up, allowing him to taste the life of a powerful man.

Just when he thought Han Li might have forgotten all about him, the young master suddenly reappeared. Not knowing Han Li’s true intentions, Sun Ergou felt deeply uneasy.

“Hmm?” Han Li glanced at Sun Ergou a couple of times, a trace of surprise flashing across his face.

“Come here. Extend your wrist!” Han Li frowned slightly and issued an indisputable command.

Hearing this, Sun Ergou was momentarily taken aback. After a brief hesitation, he obediently stepped forward and extended an arm.

Without ceremony, Han Li grabbed his wrist and injected a trace of spiritual power into his body, guiding it rapidly through his meridians.

A moment later, Han Li released his hand, his expression unchanged, and delivered words that left Gang Leader Sun utterly horrified.

“You’ve been poisoned with a slow-acting, hidden toxin. You have at most a month to live.” Han Li’s voice was icy and devoid of emotion.