Han Li finally had a clear picture of the situation, but he was also discovered from the opposite side.
First, he found that he could not determine the approximate age of the other party from her exceptionally beautiful appearance.
Judging by her smooth and delicate skin, she seemed to be in her twenties. Yet her gaze and mannerisms appeared more like those of a woman in her thirties or forties. And yet, the faintly frivolous expression between her brows made her seem like one of those dandies who relied on their looks.
However, it was easy to see at a glance that the other party was only at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment. This was the reason Han Li dared to remain here; otherwise, if the opponent were at the late stage of Foundation Establishment, he would have to consider whether he should still get involved in such a dramatic affair.
Second, although he had appeared on the scene, Dong Xuan'er merely cast a cold glance at him before turning back to gaze adoringly at the gorgeous man, as if he were a complete stranger. This was somewhat abnormal!
"Who are you? Could it be that you are also one of this lady's admirers? I, Tian, must make it clear beforehand—unless this lady leaves of her own accord, no one can snatch this beauty from my embrace!" The gorgeous man saw that Han Li's appearance was completely unremarkable and that his cultivation was only at the early stage of Foundation Establishment. Contempt flickered in his eyes, and after giving Dong Xuan'er's fragrant shoulder a light pat, he spoke with complete nonchalance.
Seeing the other party treat him with such disdain, Han Li showed no annoyance on his face. Instead, after repeatedly sizing up Dong Xuan'er and the gorgeous man, he suddenly shouted in a deep voice:
"Who are you, to dare use a soul-bewitching art on cultivators of the Seven Sects? Your audacity is truly outrageous!"
Hearing Han Li's words, the gorgeous man's expression shifted slightly, but he quickly recovered and said with an air of composure:
"What nonsense are you spouting? This lady and I are together because of mutual affection. If you do not step aside, do not blame me, Tian, for showing no mercy!"
Meanwhile, Yan Yu and Senior Brother Feng, who had also heard Han Li's words, suddenly realized what was happening. They immediately surrounded the gorgeous man from both sides with menacing momentum and roared angrily:
"So that's it! I was wondering why Junior Sister Dong suddenly started ignoring us as if she were possessed. It turns out you were bewitching her with a wicked technique! Release her at once, or don't blame Senior Brother Feng's Purple Light for showing no mercy!"
"That's right! I also noticed something was off. Why would Miss Dong leave with a stranger for no reason? So it was you, a wicked cultivator! I, Yan, will teach you a lesson on behalf of Miss Dong!"
As Senior Brother Feng and Yan Yu spoke, they took out a purple cymbal-shaped magical artifact and a short spear-like artifact respectively, clearly ready to strike.
Facing the threat of two cultivators at the early and mid-stages of Foundation Establishment, a layer of coldness descended upon the gorgeous man's face, and he said icily:
"You overestimate yourselves!"
At that moment, a sense of unease arose in Han Li's heart. Instinctively, he felt that this gorgeous man was extremely dangerous. His mind raced, and he suddenly sent a voice transmission directly into Dong Xuan'er's ear:
"Dong Xuan'er! Look at what you've done! Aren't you afraid of being confined by Senior Aunt Hong Fu?"
Han Li's voice transmission went completely unnoticed by Yan Yu and Senior Brother Feng. However, the gorgeous man seemed to sense something. He glared at Han Li, then hastily lowered his head to look at Dong Xuan'er.
But at this moment, a look of horror appeared on Dong Xuan'er's face. With a sudden struggle, she broke free from the gorgeous man's embrace and stumbled back several steps. Then, a look of confusion surfaced on her face, as if she had just awakened from a deep dream.
Seeing this, Yan Yu and Senior Brother Feng were overjoyed.
However, when they saw the ugly expression on the gorgeous man's face as he tried to approach Dong Xuan'er again, they immediately stepped forward without hesitation to separate her from him, not wanting the now-conscious Dong Xuan'er to fall victim to his wicked art once more.
Dong Xuan'er's mind was now completely clear, but she seemed to recall something truly terrifying. Not daring to even glance at the gorgeous man again, she panicked and ran toward Han Li. In a few steps, she hid behind him, completely shielding herself from the furious gaze of the gorgeous man.
She trembled uncontrollably, her face filled with terror, with none of her usual spoiled demeanor remaining.
The gorgeous man's face had taken on a greenish hue. He swept a venomous gaze over Yan Yu and Senior Brother Feng, who stood blocking his path, and finally fixed his eyes on Han Li.
Seeing all three watching him warily, he realized that seizing Dong Xuan'er again today was probably impossible.
Now that Dong Xuan'er's mind had recovered, if the three of them managed to delay him even briefly, it would be enough for her to escape. Moreover, once a fight broke out, the possibility of attracting other cultivators was high, and he did not want to be recognized here.
But from his youth until now, when had he ever had a prize already in his grasp snatched away?
At this thought, the gorgeous man's beautiful face twisted slightly, and he said with a sinister tone:
"This matter is not over. I, Tian, have memorized the faces of you three. You had better watch yourselves!"
With that, a five-colored light flashed across the gorgeous man's body, and he transformed into a streak of rosy light that shot off into the distance, leaving only Han Li and the others staring blankly at each other!
……
In the Fengyue Inn where Han Li was staying, Han Li, Yan Yu, and the other two listened as Dong Xuan'er recounted how she had been bewitched by the gorgeous man.
"I don't know why, but as soon as my eyes met his, my head buzzed, and I didn't want to think about anything. All I wanted was to please him desperately, to do anything for him, as if... as if he were the master destined for me by fate. I couldn't summon any thought of resistance. But I had only just met this person—how could this be? I don't want to be anyone's slave!" As Dong Xuan'er spoke, her face grew increasingly pale. Clearly, the experience of having both her body and mind controlled by the gorgeous man had given her a taste of terror worse than death.
Han Li exchanged a glance with the other two, whose faces were equally grim, and for a moment, no one spoke. The gorgeous man's soul-bewitching art was far too powerful—if he had used such a technique on the three of them, how could they have resisted?
"There is no need to worry. Although the other party's mind-bewitching art is formidable, it should be ineffective against us three," Han Li said after a moment of contemplation.
"Oh? Does Junior Brother Han have some insight?" Senior Brother Feng asked, perking up slightly.
"Obviously, if the other party's bewitchment technique could really be used on us men, do you think he would have let us go without using it, given the resentful look he gave us as he left? Or perhaps his magical power is insufficient, and he doesn't have enough left to cast it again. However, judging by his confident expression when facing the three of us, it really doesn't seem like a case of insufficient power. So I still believe the first possibility is most likely," Han Li explained calmly.
Hearing this, Senior Brother Feng and Yan Yu both let out a sigh of relief. Since the other party could presumably only use this extremely powerful bewitchment technique on women, they had nothing to fear. In a direct clash of magical power and artifacts, they had no apprehension whatsoever.
"Senior Brother Han! If a female cultivator like me were to encounter this person, wouldn't I definitely be controlled for life? I don't want that!" Dong Xuan'er's face was deathly pale, and as she spoke, she was on the verge of tears. For the first time, she addressed him as "Senior Brother Han" with an utterly mournful tone.
Han Li was speechless at this. He was not one of her suitors, and even if she sought protection, it didn't seem like she should be turning to him.
What Han Li did not realize was that since he had saved Dong Xuan'er from that terrifying state of mental control, she had unconsciously developed a sense of dependence on him. Finding herself in danger once again, it was natural for her to react this way.
Before Han Li could respond, the other two, brimming with jealousy, patted their chests and promised to protect Dong Xuan'er closely over the next few days, vowing not to let the wicked cultivator succeed again.
Hearing their words, Dong Xuan'er actually felt somewhat reassured.
After all, with two Foundation Establishment cultivators protecting her, there probably wouldn't be any major problems. The fact that she had been controlled this time was only because she had been completely caught off guard. Next time, she would not let the other party control her so easily.
Thus, having regained some of her spirits, Dong Xuan'er soon resumed laughing and joking with the two men, displaying her bewitching charm to its fullest extent, leaving them so entranced they barely knew which way was up.
Seeing this, Han Li didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
In truth, Dong Xuan'er's technique was quite similar to the gorgeous man's soul-bewitching art, only less domineering.
However, her bewitching charm was undoubtedly an exceptionally high-level bewitching art as well. The ability to bring a man under her sway so completely—both body and mind—without a sound, was, in Han Li's view, no less dangerous than the gorgeous man's technique!