Not long after Han Li departed Caixia Mountain, Sect Leader Wang announced that he was taking Li Feiyu as his personal disciple and formally promoted him to full Hall Master of the Outer Edge Hall. From that day forward, Wang Juechu placed his complete trust and favor upon him. And several years later, when Han Li's third uncle accidentally committed a serious breach of the sect's rules—an offense that should have cost him his life—Sect Leader Wang overruled the council and saved him.
As for Sect Leader Wang himself, in the factional battles that followed, he sustained severe injuries on multiple occasions, each time teetering on the brink of death. Whenever it seemed his end had come, he would take a pill from a small jade vial and make a miraculous recovery, springing back to health as though nothing had happened. This drew the envy and curiosity of many, who asked him the name and origin of the medicine. But Wang Juechu always evaded the question, offering vague answers and deflection. Naturally, those who hoped to obtain the pills returned empty-handed.
It was not until years later, upon Wang Juechu's death, that the name of the pill was finally revealed—the Nutrient-Essence Pill. By that time, only three pills remained in the jade vial. Yet even these three pills would spark a blood-soaked storm of conflict, bringing considerable trouble to Wang Juechu's descendants. But that is a story for another time; it need not concern us here.
As for Li Feiyu at that moment, he sat staring blankly at several small vials and a slip of paper that had appeared in his room that morning, shortly after he returned from visiting Zhang Xiuer.
The note was from Han Li. It was brief, informing Li Feiyu that he had left the Sect of Seven Mysteries and would very likely never return. The vials contained carefully prepared medicine that should be able to extend Li Feiyu's lifespan, and Han Li hoped his friend would not refuse them.
At the bottom, beside a simple sketch of Han Li's smiling face, was a brief wish: "May you and Zhang Xiuer be wed soon, and blessed with many fine sons."
Li Feiyu stared at the note for a long while, then suddenly bolted from the room and sprinted up the nearest hilltop. At the summit, he searched eagerly toward the main gates of the sect, straining for any sign of movement. But all he saw was an expanse of green—no trace of a human figure anywhere.
After standing motionless for a long time, Li Feiyu let out a deep sigh and murmured with a look of profound loneliness, "Take care of yourself. Safe travels."
Then he descended the hill slowly, his silhouette receding with a solitary, melancholy air.
Meanwhile, a horse-drawn carriage rattled along an ancient road, heading eastward.
Han Li and Qu Hun sat within. Although the four-wheeled carriage offered ample room, only the two of them occupied it. Han Li had paid three silver taels to rent the entire vehicle for the journey.
The carriage looked worn and dilapidated on the outside, but the interior was reasonably clean. The two horses pulling it were in their prime—strong and spirited—and they drove the carriage along at a brisk pace.
It was precisely these two qualities that had convinced Han Li to pay the premium. A carriage of this type typically earned only a little over one tael of silver for several consecutive days of work.
The driver was an ordinary-looking, dark-complexioned middle-aged man of few words. Unless Han Li addressed him directly, he remained silent—a trait that suited Han Li perfectly.
After all, Qu Hun, who accompanied him, was abnormally tall and wore a wide-brimmed hat that concealed his features, lending him an air of mystery. Had the driver been the chatty sort, a barrage of questions would have proven tedious to manage.
Perched on Han Li's shoulder sat the small, yellow-feathered Cloud-Wing Bird. The creature, brimming with intelligence, had its eyes half-closed and appeared to be dozing.
Qu Hun sat at the far end of the carriage, a large bundle resting on his shoulders. Inside were a few changes of clothes along with an assortment of gold, silver, and various bottles and containers—items of considerable weight.
The artifacts and correspondence Han Li had obtained from Doctor Mo, being of critical importance, he kept on his person at all times, unwilling to risk their loss.
Now, Han Li sat quietly in the carriage, listening to the creaking of the wooden wheels, his expression calm and unruffled. There was no trace of sadness in him for having left the Sect of Seven Mysteries.
If there was anything that gave him even a slight sense of reluctance, it was his bond with Li Feiyu. But surely his friend had received the note and found the medicine he had prepared. Han Li hoped the pills would prove effective, allowing his friend to enjoy a fuller life.
With this thought, he stretched out his limbs, leaned back against the carriage wall, and allowed himself to drift into a light sleep. He had already told the driver their destination—the small mountain village where he had been born.
Though he knew it was unlikely, a part of him hoped that when he opened his eyes, he would see the faces of his parents and siblings.
It had been so many years since he had left them. Even their features had grown hazy in his memory. Before departing for distant lands, Han Li felt compelled to see his mother and father one final time. Otherwise, he would never find peace.
"I wonder how my little sister is doing. She should be sixteen or seventeen by now—a young woman. The last letter from home mentioned that she had been betrothed, and the bride-price had been delivered." As Han Li drifted toward sleep, a small, thin figure surfaced in his mind—a child who had once trailed behind him, calling out in a high, sweet voice, "Fourth Brother! Fourth Brother!"
"Time flies so quickly."
At last, Han Li fell into a deep and peaceful slumber. It was the most restful sleep he had had in years—comforting and secure, as though his parents were still watching over him as in childhood, swatting away the mosquitoes so he could sleep soundly.
Five days later, following a winding yellow-earth road, Han Li finally caught sight of the familiar little village in the distance.
The low mud walls, the row upon row of haystacks, the pockmarked dirt paths—all of it had haunted his dreams for years, and now it was real before his very eyes.
Han Li suppressed the surge of emotion in his heart and instructed the driver to halt the carriage well outside the village. Qu Hun remained inside. Han Li himself strode quickly toward the village entrance, and with each step closer, his heart beat faster.
This involuntary, overwhelming rush of feeling was something Han Li had not experienced in a very long time.