"I am—"
"Don't even think about claiming to be a wandering cultivator. I wouldn't believe that for a second, no matter what!" Han Li interrupted expressionlessly.
Hearing Han Li's words, "Qu Hun" gave a bitter smile. It seemed he had indeed been harboring that hope just moments ago.
After a brief hesitation, "Qu Hun" continued in a feeble voice: "Just as you suspect, my identity is indeed somewhat special. I am not a cultivator of the Yue Kingdom."
"Not from our Yue Kingdom?" Han Li's expression shifted slightly at just the first sentence, surprise stirring within him.
"I am actually a cultivator of the Spirit Command Sect in the Heavenly Capital Kingdom. I came to the Yue Kingdom to travel and broaden my experience." Qu Hun said slowly.
"The Demonic Dao's Spirit Command Sect!"
Han Li's eyes narrowed involuntarily, shooting forth a sharpness like blades.
"Yes. I came to your land several years ago, but I never expected that a cultivator of profound Magical Power from your country would destroy my original body for no reason, reducing me to this state." When Qu Hun spoke of his body being destroyed, his face was filled with helplessness.
Han Li thought for a moment, then raised an eyebrow and asked: "Your body was destroyed about five or six years ago, wasn't it?"
Han Li's voice was perfectly calm, and Qu Hun, unable to detect any particular meaning behind the question, answered honestly: "That's right!"
"In the years since you seized this body, you never thought of going back?" Han Li asked noncommittally.
"Of course I thought about it, but you understand far too little about the Demonic Dao." Qu Hun's face was full of frustration.
"What do you mean? I know a few things about the Demonic Dao, though it's mostly scattered rumors." Han Li admitted without hesitation.
"The Demonic Dao operates on the principle that the strong prey upon the weak—that might makes right. One can only enjoy the privileges that match one's strength. My standing within the Spirit Command Sect was not low—I had a beautiful fellow cultivator as my Dao companion, and a number of servant disciples who obeyed my commands. But now that my cultivation has been drastically reduced, do you think those things would still be mine if I returned? There's an eight or nine in ten chance that those junior and senior brothers who have long had their eyes on my position would silently strike me down." Qu Hun explained with a cold laugh.
Han Li listened and furrowed his brow slightly, but said nothing.
Qu Hun continued: "It was because of the Body Seizing that my cultivation plummeted to this level. That is why I am confident that if I hide away and cultivate for another thirty or forty years, I can fully recover my former power. Then I can return openly and legitimately. Otherwise, did you really think I'd be willing to hole up in this godforsaken place?" Qu Hun's words were brimming with resentment.
"So you've been hiding near Jiayuan City this whole time, and you haven't seen a single other cultivator?" Han Li's expression was bland, seemingly unmoved.
"No. You, sir, are the first cultivator from the Yue Kingdom I've encountered since the Body Seizing." Qu Hun's face darkened as he spoke.
"Then why didn't you say so from the beginning? Why pretend to be a cultivator of Spirit Beast Mountain?" Han Li pressed, refusing to let up.
"I was worried you might be a cultivator of the Seven Sects and would mean me harm!" Qu Hun said with a somewhat sheepish expression.
At this, Han Li suddenly laughed!
"Is this the truth?" Han Li asked in a pleasant tone. But the look on his face sent a chill down "Qu Hun's" spine.
"Yes! Could it be that you have some objection?" he asked cautiously, a note of unease in his expression.
"I've heard someone say that the easiest lie in this world to fall for is one that's seventy percent true and thirty percent false. I wonder—how much of what you just said is true?" Han Li stared into the other's eyes, enunciating each word.
"Heh heh! You're far too suspicious. Every word I just said was the truth." Qu Hun knew full well the position he was in, but the thought of what would happen if he told the truth left him no choice but to double down with a stiff upper lip.