One afternoon, some ten days later, Han Li slipped out of Divine Hand Valley once more to meet up with Li Feiyu.
Truthfully, it was not much of a slipping-out. Doctor Mo had long since known all about his frequent departures from the valley, yet he made no effort to interfere, allowing Han Li to come and go freely.
This hands-off approach had initially put Han Li on edge — he could not fathom what the old man was scheming. But after slipping out and returning uneventfully several times, he realized no one was tailing him and gradually relaxed, going about his business with greater boldness.
Over time, after much quiet deliberation, Han Li began to understand the reason behind Doctor Mo's indulgence.
The old man had his own difficulties in tolerating Han Li's freedom so readily.
True, he had clamped down on Han Li with two iron locks — the Corpse Worm Pill and the lives of his family — squeezing the boy into absolute obedience. Yet he also understood that controlling someone through such crude means would inevitably breed deep resentment, making the boy far less willing to cultivate in earnest. If he then went further and restricted the boy's movements, the result would only be counterproductive. After all, Doctor Mo's true aim was to have Han Li pursue the Eternal Spring Technique willingly and eagerly, not to drag him to it with his hands bound.
Once Han Li grasped the full reasoning, his courage grew bolder still. Before, he had needed to avoid Doctor Mo's line of sight and leave the valley cautiously, slipping out quietly. Now he was far more direct — he would not even bother with an explanation, simply swaggering past the old man without a word.
On the surface, Han Li appeared carefree and utterly unconcerned. Inwardly, however, he maintained his customary vigilance.
The moment he stepped beyond the valley, he activated the Eternal Spring Technique, heightening his senses of hearing, sight, and touch to an almost inconceivable level, bringing every moving thing within several dozen zhang under his awareness.
Han Li was confident that even if Doctor Mo himself had come to tail him, the old man could not have escaped detection.
In a direct confrontation, he would likely come up short. But when it came to mastery of the five senses, he possessed absolute confidence.
Along the way, Han Li carefully avoided the patrol disciples. Through the secret passage hidden within the old locust tree, he crawled into the vicinity of the small pool where they had met last time.
As soon as he emerged, he spotted Li Feiyu sitting barefoot at the edge of the pool.
The boy had his head bowed, both bare feet submerged in the icy water, slapping the surface with loud splashes that sent up a spray of colorful droplets. He was clearly enjoying himself immensely.
Hearing Han Li enter, he did not bother lifting his head and went straight to complaining:
"Junior Brother Han, you're getting later every time. You always keep me waiting half the day. Can't you come early just once?"
"Sorry, I—" Han Li brushed the dirt off his clothes, about to offer a few words of explanation.
"Here."
Li Feiyu did not wait for him to finish. From behind his back he produced an absurdly large bundle and flung it straight at Han Li.
"What's this? Something good to eat?" Han Li asked, mystified. But the bundle felt hard and was surprisingly heavy — it did not seem like food at all.
"All you ever think about is eating! Didn't you ask me to bring out the sword manual for the Blink Sword Technique?" Li Feiyu glared at him, then straightened his expression into mock seriousness.
"This is the manual? You can't be serious! You didn't accidentally grab the whetstone from your courtyard, did you?" Han Li stared at the massive object draped over his arms, his face full of disbelief.
"It's so heavy!" He tensed both arms and heaved with effort, nearly toppling over from the weight.
"Ha ha ha!" Li Feiyu could not hold back any longer. He split into a wide grin and burst into wild laughter, finally rolling on the ground in mirth, picking up grass, chaff, and dirt all over his clothes.