Seeing the cold sweat pouring down Sun Ergou's face, Han Li knew he'd pushed hard enough. His expression softened as he prepared to offer some benefits.
"All right. Go ahead and continue being your big boss Sun. Unless something unusual comes up, I won't bother you. But since we're parting today, I don't know when we'll meet again. So keep this safe. In the future, if you ever have descendants, they can use this to identify themselves to me. As long as your descendants are willing to serve me, I'll guarantee them wealth for life."
As he spoke, Han Li pulled out an ordinary blank talisman paper and, with a sharp tearing sound, ripped it cleanly in half. He handed one piece to Sun Ergou and kept the other.
Sun Ergou's face first registered shock, then burst into wild joy. Trembling with emotion, he dropped to his knees before Han Li and kowtowed three times with resounding thuds. Then he raised his head and said with utmost earnestness: "This humble one thanks the young master for his great mercy! Please rest assured, young master — my Sun Ergou's branch of the Sun family will from this day forward serve the young master as our lord for generations, never to go back on our word. Otherwise, we shall suffer the calamity of clan extinction!" After finishing these words, Sun Ergou kowtowed once more before respectfully rising to his feet.
Han Li was slightly taken aback by this scene!
While his original intention had been to win Sun Ergou's loyalty, he hadn't expected that a mere promise would move the man to such tearful gratitude.
But after a moment's thought, Han Li understood.
In the mundane world, mortals cared most about carrying on their lineage and the rise and fall of their family line. Han Li's words had essentially guaranteed prosperity for the Sun family for generations to come. Naturally, Sun Ergou's desire to cling to Han Li was genuine.
After all, over the years, Han Li had never given Sun Ergou any excessively harsh orders, which made it feel entirely natural for him to have his descendants continue serving Han Li faithfully.
Understanding this, Han Li felt rather pleased. Having Sun Ergou genuinely work for him versus just going through the motions would make a world of difference.
"Good. Since you've now sincerely submitted to me, I'll naturally leave you some extra benefits. Take these two bottles of pills. One treats all kinds of internal and external injuries — as long as there's still a breath of life, it can save the person. The other is the same antidote pill I gave you before; it can neutralize any poison in the world. Keep it for saving your life!"
Han Li flipped his hand, and two delicate porcelain bottles appeared in his palm. He then casually tossed them to Sun Ergou.
Sun Ergou was naturally filled with gratitude, feeling that he had made the right choice.
After that, Han Li gave Sun Ergou a few more words of instruction, then under the man's respectful send-off, departed gracefully from the Four Peace Gang headquarters.
This backup route — best to keep it in place. Who knew when it might come in useful again? Han Li thought silently.
Standing on the street outside, he looked up. The sky had turned completely dark — the perfect time to head to the Li residence.
With a flicker of his body, Han Li rode his flying instrument skyward, and in no time he was hovering above the "Li residence."
Under the cover of the pitch-black night, Han Li descended effortlessly from the air, then cast several concealment techniques in quick succession, vanishing silently into the Li family compound.
Having gained experience infiltrating Prince Xin's manor, Han Li skillfully used a Soul-Stabilizing Talisman to subdue a capable "expert," then used the "Mind Control Technique" to question him about the Five Color Sect Master's whereabouts.
To Han Li's delight, the Five Color Sect Master wasn't in the heavily guarded rear quarters, but had gone to a side courtyard where his second son lived, seemingly to discuss some matters.
After learning the exact location of the side courtyard, Han Li mercilessly turned the man to ash with a fireball.
Since this one had heard his accent and words, it was better not to be soft-hearted about leaving witnesses.
Next, Han Li evaded layers of posted and roving guards and arrived before a fairly large courtyard.
But to his surprise, four men in white stood motionless in front of the closed courtyard gate. Their temples bulged prominently, and sharp light gleamed in their eyes — all of them were clearly top-tier martial artists.
Han Li furrowed his brow. These must be the Five Color Sect Master's personal bodyguards. With all of them stationed outside, it meant the Sect Master was truly inside.
Han Li glanced coldly at the four guards, deliberated briefly, then flickered forward to appear before them in a flash.
The four men in white were alarmed and were about to react when Han Li's body blurred once more, splitting into four afterimages that simultaneously swept their palms lightly toward the men.
Instantly, the four collapsed soundlessly to the ground, dead. Each had a gleaming ice spike embedded in his heart, and a layer of white frost coated their bodies.
Han Li expressionlessly incinerated the corpses with a fireball, then swaggered open the wooden gate and strolled into the courtyard.
On his way here, he had already scanned the entire Li compound with his spiritual sense. There wasn't a single cultivator present, which put Han Li at ease and stoked his killing intent.
It seemed the Five Color Sect Master truly was fated to die at his hands.
Han Li had already made up his mind — the moment he stepped into the courtyard, he would eliminate everyone inside.