"No. Seven or eight years ago, I was helping Senior Brother Ma tend the herb garden. The Blood Trial happened around that time too, didn't it? Why do you ask, Senior Sister Chen?" Han Li raised his head and answered frankly, even showing just the right amount of curiosity on his face.
Chen Qiaoqian's face turned pale in a flash. She bit her red lip, then said stiffly:
"No? But I remember you happened to leave the valley around that time, and the timing was just right!"
"Oh, I was preparing for the Blood Trial back then, so I went out to purchase some magical artifacts and talismans. But nothing out of the ordinary happened," Han Li denied calmly.
Hearing Han Li say this, Chen Qiaoqian was speechless for a long while! She just stared at Han Li coldly with her gaze, so intently that it made him feel a bit uneasy inside.
"In that case, there's nothing more to say. You can leave, Junior Brother. I'd like to be alone for a while."
A barely perceptible flicker of disappointment crossed Chen Qiaoqian's face. She gently turned her head to the side, her voice filled with weariness.
Han Li saw this and sighed. He knew that whether she believed his words or not, this Senior Sister Chen wouldn't bother him anymore.
His meaning of keeping her at a distance should have been clear to her. And given her proud nature, she certainly wouldn't seek him out repeatedly on her own initiative.
"Then I'll take my leave, Senior Sister!" Han Li cupped his fists, turned around without the slightest hesitation, and walked out of the garden.
Only after Han Li's figure had completely disappeared did Chen Qiaoqian turn back, gazing toward the garden gate with complicated eyes, and murmur softly:
"If not you, then who? Back then, among those in the valley with that kind of strength who happened to leave at just the right time, you were the only one, Junior Brother Han!"
After saying this, she walked gracefully to a blooming peony, extended her delicate fingers, gently plucked the luscious blossom, and brought it beneath her nose for a light sniff.
Accompanied by the fragrant scent, Chen Qiaoqian sank into a world of deep contemplation.
Han Li stepped out of the garden, let out a long breath, shook his head, and then strode briskly back into the hall.
The others were a bit surprised to see Han Li return so quickly. However, no one was tactless enough to step forward and ask about it directly.
Even though a few people made playful remarks about Han Li and Chen Qiaoqian, he simply laughed it off with an easy smile, his expression perfectly unchanged.
Not long after, Chen Qiaoqian came in as well, her expression normal. She sat down beside Zhong Weiniang again and continued whispering to her.
Seeing this, the others naturally felt embarrassed to keep teasing the two, so they quickly steered the conversation back to the upcoming battle against the Black Fiend School.
Time flew by, and the daylight hours passed quickly.
The cultivators of Yellow Maple Valley had already returned to their respective rooms, making preparations for the great battle ahead.
Although everyone felt that their side had a significant advantage in Foundation Establishment cultivators and that victory shouldn't be a problem, they all remained extremely cautious. After all, no one wanted to be careless with their own life on the line.
Still, the thought of the abundant rewards they could reap after destroying the Black Fiend School's lair kept their excitement barely contained.
After all, when would these people normally get the chance to openly siege and eliminate Foundation Establishment cultivators? Of course, excluding those life-or-death battles against demonic path cultivators where you literally had your head on the chopping block.
This time, the Black Fiend School had not just one or two Foundation Establishment cultivators, so there should be plenty of quality materials and fine magical artifacts to go around! The fellow disciples of Senior Sister Chen who came to help were, in truth, largely motivated by this prospect.
Otherwise, with nothing more than empty talk about eliminating heretical cultivators, who would come here to risk their lives for no reason?
Han Li was likewise in his room, quietly inspecting several puppet beasts in his hands, while the Four Friends of Mengshan stood respectfully before him, clearly deferring to Han Li's leadership.
Truth be told, ever since Han Li's fellow sect members had arrived, the dark-faced old man had thought about approaching these Foundation Establishment cultivators to curry some favor, hoping to gain some benefits.
But whether it was Song Meng and the others, or the later arrivals like Senior Sister Chen's group, how could any of them spare a glance at a Qi Refinement stage rogue cultivator like the dark-faced old man? After a few blunt and discouraging words, they sent the group packing. This made it abundantly clear to them that not every Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Seven Great Sects was willing to associate with them. And so, their reverence for Han Li only deepened.