"Mister, you see clearly. Our family truly does not lack this bit of silver, but our reputation cannot be compromised," the woman opposite him said with a smile, the very picture of a virtuous wife.
Seeing this, Qin Yan was even more satisfied.
This Third Madame had been with him for so many years, yet that considerate, shrewd intuition of hers had not diminished one bit. This made him feel increasingly at ease with her.
Whenever he had to go out on business, he would entrust all matters, big and small, of the Qin residence to her to handle, and every time she managed things to his complete satisfaction.
"Mister, your servant has already summoned that person. After you have seen him once, I shall handle this little matter myself," the woman continued gently.
Hearing this, Qin Yan smiled slightly. Just as he was about to say something, the voice of a servant reporting from outside the room reached them.
"Mister, Qin Ping has arrived with the guest. Shall he be brought in now?"
"Have Qin Ping bring him in!"
After giving the casual order, Qin Yan simply closed his mouth and smiled apologetically at Third Madame.
"Understood!"
The servant acknowledged the order and said nothing more.
Outside the main hall, Qin Ping walked in, followed by a simple, honest-looking young man.
This young man walked along, his eyes darting left and right as he examined everything in the hall, appearing immensely curious about every object within.
When the two reached the center of the hall, Qin Ping made his report and automatically withdrew, leaving only the young man standing somewhat uneasily before Qin Yan and his wife.
Seeing the young man's flustered, at-a-loss manner, Qin Yan and Third Madame exchanged a knowing smile. Then Qin Yan cleared his throat lightly and addressed the young man in a kind tone:
"I hear you have a letter from an elder of mine. Is this true? May I trouble you to hand the letter over for me to see?"
The young man, who was Han Li, glanced at the master of the Qin family and showed a hesitant expression, as if somewhat unsure. He asked in reply:
"Are you truly Uncle Qin? My grandfather told me himself that I can only give the letter to Uncle Qin in person!"
Hearing Han Li's words, Third Madame paused for a moment and nearly burst out laughing.
In the main hall of the Qin residence, who would dare to impersonate the master of the Qin family so brazenly? This young man's question was truly amusing!
Qin Yan was also stunned for a moment and then wore a helpless, exasperated expression.
He could only say resignedly:
"Of course, I am the genuine master of the Qin residence. However, whether I am the Uncle Qin you speak of, that can only be confirmed after I have read the letter!"
Qin Yan's rather deflated appearance greatly amused Third Madame. She never expected that the famous master of the Qin family in the Yue Capital, whom almost everyone recognized, could be doubted by a simple, rustic young man. What an extraordinary story!
Upon hearing Qin Yan's words, Han Li's face finally showed a half-believing, half-doubting expression. He finally, albeit reluctantly, handed over the letter—which had been crumpled almost into scrap paper—to Qin Yan.
Qin Yan, long out of patience, suppressed the urge to snatch the letter away and, maintaining his composure, accepted it.
However, he did not open the letter immediately. Instead, he cast a meaningful glance at Han Li, then suddenly placed the letter on the table and lightly clapped his hands twice.
With two sharp claps, an elderly man in a green robe, with a head full of white hair, immediately walked in from outside the hall.
Without a word, Qin Yan pointed to the letter. The old man respectfully stepped forward, picked up the letter, then held it up to the sunlight slanting into the hall to examine it carefully. Finally, with both hands, he placed the letter back on the table.
"No issues?"
After uttering these few words, the old man bowed and retreated. His entrance and exit were entirely silent, as if he were a ghost.
Relieved, Qin Yan glanced sideways at Han Li and saw that the young man was completely bewildered. He couldn't help but smile.
Then, without explanation, he deftly opened the letter and drew out the paper to read it closely.
Seeing this, Third Madame gave Han Li a kind smile, then picked up the teacup in front of her, intending to take a delicate sip.
But before she could even lift it, Qin Yan, who was sitting and reading the letter, suddenly stood up with a sharp intake of breath, his face filled with an expression of extreme astonishment.
"Mister, what has happened? Is the letter perhaps a false one?" Startled, Third Madame hastily set down her teacup and asked, looking thoroughly concerned.
"No, the letter is indeed genuine. Moreover, it is from an elder to whom I owe a great debt of gratitude," Qin Yan's expression instantly returned to normal, and his tone was calm.
Then he gave his beloved wife a knowing look, and only then did Qin Yan survey Han Li once more.
"Your name is Han Li?" Master Qin asked tentatively. Although his tone was the same as before, Third Madame vaguely sensed something amiss!
Just as the woman was feeling suspicious, Han Li nodded vigorously:
"That's right, I am Han Li! Just as my grandfather said, can I stay here?"
"Heh heh! Of course you can. When I was young, I met Uncle Huayuan once with my father. I never imagined that today I would meet his descendant. I shall naturally treat you as my own nephew," Qin Yan suddenly laughed heartily, his voice so loud that the nearby servants all looked at one another, wondering why their master was so joyful in the main hall.
"Come! Walk with me to the side hall and tell me about Uncle Huayuan's recent circumstances? No one else is to follow. I want to have a good chat with my nephew Han," Qin Yan grabbed Han Li's arm and said with great warmth. He then pulled Han Li towards the side door and stopped Third Madame from trying to follow.
This left the already surprised Third Madame even more confused!
She could only watch helplessly as Master Qin and Han Li exited through the side door, not daring to disobey the order and follow them on her own.
At this moment, her mind was filled with questions!
Han Li followed Qin Yan to a very quiet side hall.
Without a word, Qin Yan turned an ornamental ancient vase in the hall, and then a secret chamber suddenly appeared on one of the walls.
Seeing this, Qin Yan walked straight in without hesitation. Han Li smiled slightly and followed him in.
The secret chamber was not large, but it had all the necessities.
Not only were there tables and chairs, but there was also a sandalwood bookshelf over ten feet high in the room, making it appear exceptionally refined!
"Since you are a person sent by Immortal Li, you must also be an immortal cultivator? Earlier in the main hall, I was somewhat rude. Please do not take offense, Immortal Han," Qin Yan closed the door of the secret chamber and immediately said to Han Li with a respectful expression, apologizing.
"It is nothing. One cannot be blamed for not knowing! Besides, the act still needs to go on," Han Li said casually as he sat down at the table, making light of it. At this moment, his entire aura changed, recovering his original, free-spirited air.
"I thank the Immortal for his magnanimity!"
Hearing these words, Qin Yan became even more deferential and remained standing to the side, not showing the slightest hint of dissatisfaction.
Qin Yan knew all too well what an immortal cultivator was. These people were divine beings, living immortals!
Moreover, if it had not been for the support of that Immortal Li, the Qin family would never have enjoyed its current prominence. Both in reason and in feeling, Qin Yan dared not show the slightest disrespect.
"Master Qin, please sit as well. There is no need to be so formal! The Immortal Li you speak of is actually my master, so to the Qin family, I am not an outsider either," Han Li continued with a smile.
"I dare not. I am but an ordinary mortal. How would I dare be so bold as to disrespect an Immortal? I will simply stand to the side and await Immortal Han's instructions," Qin Yan repeatedly waved his hand, refusing to sit. This made Han Li pause thoughtfully for a moment, and he then did not press the matter.
"Might I ask what business brings Immortal Han here? Immortal Li's letter only explained your identity, but said nothing of the specific matter. Might I know what it is?" Qin Yan cautiously asked the question that concerned him most.
Because according to his father's dying instructions, that Immortal Li, to whom the Qin family owed such a great debt, would only appear in person or send someone to help when the Qin family faced a crisis it could not resolve. Could it be that the Qin family was about to encounter some great trouble again?
Qin Yan glanced at the worried expression on Master Qin's face, thought for a moment, and said carefully:
"The matter is like this. It actually involves immortal cultivators from another country. We received news that..."
With his expression unchanged, Han Li slowly explained to Qin Yan, in terms a mortal could best understand, the matter of the Six Demonic Sects potentially targeting the Qin family. It left the master of the Qin family with a look of shock on his face.
After a good while, Qin Yan asked with some difficulty:
"Th-therefore, cultivators from another country are going to target us mortals? Th-this... this is..."
The master of the Qin family looked completely at a loss.
Han Li smiled faintly and calmly comforted him:
"Master Qin, do not worry. The cultivators who have infiltrated the Kingdom of Yue this time do not possess high cultivation power. With me here at the Qin residence, they will not be able to achieve their aims easily!"