Han Li, of course, had no knowledge of the conversation between the blue-clad man and the yellow-robed man. He was still rejoicing over his narrow escape. Although he felt somewhat annoyed by the blue-clad man’s dismissive attitude, he was well aware of the vast difference in their strength. The overwhelming sense of relief from having survived made him feel much lighter all over.
The blue-clad man’s interference had shattered Han Li’s peace of mind. The tranquility he had felt earlier was gone without a trace. He sighed, stood up, and prepared to settle the bill and leave the tavern.
Just then, faint yet distinct hoofbeats echoed from the street outside, growing louder and clearer as they drew nearer.
Han Li perked up, settling back into his seat and turning his gaze toward the street.
According to Sun Ergou’s intelligence, these hoofbeats likely signaled the return of Mo Yuzhu, the eldest daughter of the Mo Manor, from outside the city.
Rumor had it that this young lady of the Mo family had never been interested in needlework since childhood, preferring instead to practice martial arts. She had learned considerable skills from experts of the Jing Jiao Hui.
What was even more astonishing was her particular fondness for hunting—an activity typically pursued by men. She would frequently ride out to the woods outside the city to indulge in this passion. As a result, many young noblemen vying for her affection had taken to following her with hawks and hounds, hoping to win her favor by staying close.
Naturally, after Young Master Wu’s arrival, he too had joined this pursuit, as expected.
Upon hearing these rumors, Han Li had grown quite curious about Mo Yuzhu. After all, a young woman with such a distinctive personality was a rare sight. He hoped she would not disappoint him.
Now, a dozen or so riders on various majestic horses galloped down the street. At the forefront were a man and a woman. The man was a handsome youth with sharp eyebrows, bright eyes, and a tall, slender build. The woman wore fiery red hunting attire and a purple cloak, her face hidden from view.
In the blink of an eye, the riders rushed past the entrance of the Xiang Family Tavern, charging right before Han Li’s eyes before finally halting at the gates of the Mo Manor.
One of the sturdy men standing guard on either side, his face pockmarked, immediately stepped forward. He addressed the leading pair respectfully, “Young Lady, Young Master Wu, you’ve returned. How was today’s hunt?”
“Not bad! Tang Er, take the horses and handle the game,” the woman in hunting attire said crisply. She reached up and removed her cloak, revealing a stunningly beautiful face, then leaped lightly down from her horse.
“Yes, Young Lady!” The man named Tang Er seemed hesitant to look directly at her beauty. He quickly took the reins and headed toward the side gate of the estate.
Although he was some distance from the Mo Manor’s main gate, Han Li, from his vantage point upstairs, caught a clear side view of the woman’s face. He couldn’t help but take a deep breath. Her skin was as fair and translucent as snow, her nose delicate and straight, her eyes dark and luminous, and her lips red and alluring. She was the very picture of devastating beauty—the kind that could “make fish sink and geese fall, and put flowers to shame.”
“So this is Mo Yuzhu! No wonder all the young noblemen in Jiayuan City are driven mad by her. ‘A beauty that topples cities and kingdoms’ is the perfect description for her,” Han Li mused inwardly.
The handsome youth and the other riders dismounted as well, with some leading the horses away.
The young man walked up to Mo Yuzhu with a smile and whispered a few words, causing her cheeks to flush. She playfully tapped his shoulder a few times, shot him a shy glance, then stamped her foot lightly and dashed through the gate in a flurry. The young man chuckled softly and followed her inside with an air of elegance.
“So that’s Wu Jianming? He certainly knows how to charm a lady, and he’s not bad-looking either!” Han Li thought, a hint of bitterness in his heart. He was self-aware enough to know that, in terms of appearance, he couldn’t hold a candle to the other man.
“And it seems Mo Yuzhu and this Young Master Wu are getting along quite well, with deep feelings between them,” he frowned, sensing that the situation might not be as easy to handle as he had initially thought.
“No matter what, I must get my hands on the Warm Sun Jade, and I need to do it quickly. The Yin poison in my body is no trivial matter—it might erupt sooner than expected!” Han Li grew increasingly anxious.
After casting one last deep glance toward the Mo Manor, he called for the waiter, settled his bill, left the tavern, and returned to the inn where he was staying.
Back in his room, after careful consideration, Han Li decided to adopt the most direct and effective approach: cutting straight to the chase.
He planned to sneak into the Mo Manor that night to meet Lady Yan, the head of the Jing Jiao Hui. Using the token Doctor Mo had left him, he would expose the imposter and gain the trust of the Mo family. As for how to obtain the Warm Sun Jade, he would have to play it by ear.
Once his decision was made, Han Li stopped hesitating. He calmly rested in his room, conserving his energy for the night’s operation.
Yet, during this time, Mo Yuzhu’s stunning face kept resurfacing in his mind, lingering no matter how hard he tried to dismiss it.
“Could it be that I’ve fallen for this woman?” Han Li wondered uneasily.
But then he reassured himself: “It’s only natural to be captivated by such a beautiful woman. It doesn’t necessarily mean I’ve fallen for her.”
As someone who had half-stepped onto the path of immortality, Han Li had no experience in matters of the heart. Still, he instinctively avoided entanglements of romance.
When midnight arrived, Han Li changed into pitch-black clothing and stealthily slipped out of the inn.
He glided lightly across the rooftops, avoiding the night patrols without any trouble, and soon reached the outskirts of the Mo Manor.
After circling the estate once, he chuckled softly and, like a wisp of smoke, slipped into the rear courtyard right under the noses of several guards. None of them noticed anything amiss.
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