(What a pleasant surprise! When I checked the rankings today, this book had broken into the charts. Forgetful Words won't waste words—I'll be working hard to give you all more chapters. Just keep showing your support! Keep this book on the charts.)
"Why are you standing here alone, my friend? Waiting for someone?" A clear voice suddenly came from behind Han Li, startling him.
Han Li slowly turned around and saw six or seven people standing not far behind him. The speaker was a twenty-seven or twenty-eight-year-old cultivator dressed as a Daoist priest. He had a fair, beardless face with regular features, a fly whisk draped over his arm, and was looking at Han Li with a smile.
"Does the Daoist have business with me?" Han Li ignored the other's question and instead asked back expressionlessly.
"Hehe! Don't misunderstand. We mean no harm by seeking you out. It's just that seeing you standing here alone, looking very curious about everything, we guessed that you were a rogue cultivator attending the fair on your own, and we wanted to come over and get acquainted. All of us here are also rogue cultivators, just like yourself." The Daoist explained with a kind expression.
"You are all rogue cultivators?" Han Li was slightly taken aback.
"That's right. If you're a rogue cultivator, it would be best for you to travel with us. That way we can all look out for each other at this fair." This time the speaker was a woman with a delicate face that bore a scar. Beside her stood a burly, heavily bearded man carrying a large blade on his back. They appeared to be a married couple.
"That's right. In previous years, rogue cultivators who attended the trading fair alone were often bullied by people from the big clans due to their lack of backing!" the Daoist said solemnly.
Hearing their words, Han Li vaguely understood their intent.
These rogue cultivators, afraid of being bullied by the cultivation families at the fair, had voluntarily banded together to form a small group, trying to gain some means of protecting themselves. That was why they were looking everywhere for lone cultivators like him.
Now that he understood their purpose, Han Li naturally wouldn't refuse such a good opportunity. After all, he truly needed a small group to shelter him and act as a cover, even if it was only temporary.
However, before that, he still needed to ask them a few questions carefully before he could feel at ease joining them.
"Since you have already seen through me, there is nothing for me to hide. I am indeed a rogue cultivator. However, since you want me to join your group, could you first introduce yourselves? And tell me what I would need to do after truly becoming a member?" Han Li openly admitted his identity as a rogue cultivator, but just as the delight began to show on their faces, he made his request.
"It seems you still have some reservations! Haha! That is nothing. The others said pretty much the same thing when they first joined!" Upon hearing Han Li's words, the Daoist and the others did not show any displeasure. Instead, they exchanged glances and burst into laughter, after which the Daoist spoke.
"Allow me to introduce these friends to you!" The Daoist pointed at the several cultivators and said to Han Li with a smile.
"These two are biological brothers, Blackwood and Blackgold of Canglang Ridge." The Daoist led Han Li in front of a pair of young men with similar features and introduced them generously.
The two cupped their fists toward Han Li, who calmly returned the gesture.
"This is the Rogue Cultivator Red Lotus of Feilian Cave and Master Bitter Mulberry of Bodhi Dew Mountain." This time the ones introduced were an ordinary-looking young woman and a small monk with a distressed expression.
"As for this pair..."
"My husband and I are from Tianshui Stockade, Hu Pinggu and Xiong Dali." Before the Daoist could speak, the young woman who had spoken to Han Li earlier let out a giggle and cut him off.
The Daoist wasn't angered by having his words stolen; he just smiled calmly.
"I am a wandering Daoist from the Green Ox Temple of Sleeping Cow Mountain. My Daoist name is Songwen. Hehe, I am the initiator of this small group and have been temporarily appointed by everyone as the leader. However, I generally don't order people around. It's only when dealing with external disputes that I take the lead in speaking!" The Daoist finally humbly introduced himself and briefly explained the nature of the small group.
This Daoist seemed quite magnanimous and appeared to be a decent person!
Furthermore, the magical power of the others was mostly not weak; almost all of them seemed to be at the level of the seventh or eighth layer of the Eternal Spring Technique! This Daoist Songwen was even more formidable. Although he hadn't yet reached the level of the Blue-Robed Enforcer, he was still much stronger than Han Li.