Han Li didn't have that much time to sit around waiting. At most, in four or five months, Doctor Mo would make his final move against him. Before that happened, Han Li needed to have at least some ability to protect himself.
So he ultimately decided to only cultivate a handful of the simpler techniques that could be mastered quickly and put to immediate use. Everything else could be set aside for now — he could pick them up later, after he'd actually escaped the tiger's den with his life.
This approach dramatically shortened his training time, allowing him to learn several quick-and-easy secret techniques as soon as possible.
Truth be told, Han Li understood full well that even if he mastered every single one of these techniques without exception, it still might not be enough to match his opponent.
Assuming Doctor Mo hadn't been lying last time, with his former status as an overlord, who knew how many vicious and sinister methods he'd held back during their previous clash. The skills he'd displayed were probably less than half of his true capability.
Even so, every time Han Li thought of that ghostlike speed, a chill ran down his spine, and his dread of Doctor Mo deepened.
He was painfully aware that in such a short window, what he could learn was limited. The threat he posed to Doctor Mo was negligible — almost zero. But surrendering meekly and letting someone else pull his strings? That was something Han Li would never, ever do.
He knew that if it came to another confrontation, his only edge was Doctor Mo's contempt. Only by exploiting the man's carelessness and lowering his guard could Han Li strike without warning and carve out a sliver of a chance to survive.
Over the following days, Han Li memorized the entire Blink Sword Manual by heart and singled out several secret techniques that would be useful to his current situation. He began studying them in earnest, trying to work out a shortcut path to practical results.
After days of racking his brains, he pieced together a complete cultivation method from the book. Completing such tedious work in so short a time, he felt rather proud of his own efficiency.
In the half month that followed, Han Li wrapped up every small piece of business, making sure he was fully prepared and had no loose ends left behind.
First, he returned the original manual to Li Feiyu on a certain day, completely untouched. While he was at it, he told him about encountering the Wild Wolf Gang spy, including the revelation that the kitchen steward had been working undercover.
Li Feiyu, upon hearing this, was both shocked and delighted. He threw an arm around Han Li's shoulder, repeatedly calling him "good brother," genuinely moved that Han Li would hand him such a major accomplishment for free.
Little did Li Feiyu know that Han Li was busy trying to save his own life and had no attention to spare for catching spies. If someone else could do the work while Han Li scored a favor without lifting a finger, why not let it happen?
After finishing up the matter with Li Feiyu, Han Li personally visited several skilled blacksmiths within the sect one after another.
He commissioned them to forge a number of sheathed short swords in various styles, and secretly requested small modifications to be made on each. In addition, he ordered several miscellaneous components whose purposes were hard to describe, along with a handful of tiny, delicately crafted iron bells — all to be completed as quickly as possible. It cost him a hefty sum of silver, making his heart ache a little at the expense.
A few days later, Han Li picked up his custom orders from the blacksmiths. Seeing the gleaming short swords and the small, intricate bells, he was quite satisfied and praised the blacksmiths' craftsmanship repeatedly, feeling his silver had been well spent.
That very night, Han Li vanished from his dwelling without a trace, leaving behind only a note on his bedside table. It read: "Old Doctor Mo, don't get yourself worked up. I'm not running away or hiding from you. I simply feel that being in the same valley as you is too oppressive and bad for my cultivation of the Eternal Spring Technique. For that reason, your disciple has decided to find another secluded spot on the mountain to enter closed-door training. Rest assured — on the same day four months from now, I will return to meet you as scheduled.
Respectfully, Han Li"
Leaning back in his high-backed chair, Doctor Mo held the note in his left hand, reading it over carefully, his face dark as storm clouds. On the desk beside him lay another slip of paper, listing the items Han Li had recently ordered from the blacksmith.
At that moment, the room was utterly silent save for the faint tap-tap-tap of Doctor Mo's right fingers drumming on the desk.
Then, with a cold snort, the note in his hand disintegrated into scraps that drifted to the floor.
He stood up in irritation and paced back and forth across the room, brow furrowed in thought. After several passes, he stopped and muttered to himself: "You little brat. I don't know what game you're playing, but no matter what you try, you can't slip out of my palm. You — I've already decided to take you."
With that, Doctor Mo spun abruptly toward the window. A long, low whistle escaped his lips, and a moment later a small, unremarkable bird with yellow feathers flew in through the window. It circled the room several times before alighting on his shoulder.
The instant it found its footing, the bird nuzzled its beak affectionately against his cheek, chirping a crisp "gurururu."
"All right, I know you're hungry. Here — your favorite, a Yellow Chestnut Pellet."
The moment Doctor Mo laid eyes on the bird, a few traces of a smile broke through his grim expression, and a look of doting fondness appeared in his eyes. He drew a single yellow pellet of bird feed from his pocket and tucked it into the bird's beak.
"Go now. Just like before, keep a close watch on that person. The moment he leaves these mountains, fly back and report to me immediately." Doctor Mo gave the instructions as though speaking to a person.
The bird, upon receiving its treat, flew excitedly around the room with happy "gurururu" sounds. After hearing his words, it circled once and then shot out through the window, disappearing into the sky.
"Hmph! With the Cloud Wing Bird watching — a bird said to fly faster than arrows from the strongest bow — let's see what tricks you can pull." His voice was cold and eerie as he talked to himself.
"Four months, is it? I'll be waiting for that day to come. It looks like the plan is about to succeed! Now, anyone who dares stand in my way and obstruct the plan — I'll kill them. Gods who block me, I kill gods. Buddhas who block me, I kill Buddhas."
"Ha ha! Ha ha ha!" Doctor Mo suddenly burst into wild, unbridled laughter, his eyes blazing with madness.
(End of Chapter)