Upon hearing Han Li's words, the hawk-faced old man and the other two couldn't help but exchange bewildered glances, their faces full of shock.
What was the Insect Demon's purpose in asking this? Could it be that before killing them, he intended to toy with them first?
"Lord, if you want our lives, then go ahead and take them. Why say such things?" The ferocious-looking man steeled himself and blurted out harshly, not caring about the consequences anymore.
"That's odd. Was there something improper about my question?" Han Li's face darkened, turning cold in an instant.
"We truly did not know that our senior was hunting demonic beasts here. Otherwise, we would never have dared to disturb Senior Insect Demon. We stumbled upon this place by accident and harbored no ill intentions whatsoever. We humbly beg for Senior's mercy." The cultivator surnamed Min seemed to have glimpsed a glimmer of hope from Han Li's behavior. A trace of color returned to his face as he pleaded desperately.
"Insect Demon? You're referring to me?" Han Li furrowed his brow slightly, a flicker of suspicion crossing his face.
"You… you're not Senior Insect Demon?" The hawk-faced old man, who had already resigned himself to death, was stunned upon hearing this. He murmured in disbelief, his face filled with astonishment and doubt.
"It seems the three of you have misunderstood something." Han Li chuckled softly, hesitated for a moment, then raised his hand and shot three green spell seals at the neckbands around their throats.
Immediately, the three-colored neckbands let out a low hum and collapsed apart, dissolving back into countless beetles that swarmed back into the spirit beast pouch at Han Li's waist.
Seeing this, the hawk-faced old man and his two companions were caught between shock and joy. Though they were still riddled with doubt, they now largely believed they might have genuinely mistaken this person for someone else.
After all, with the Insect Demon's reputation, he certainly would not have bothered with such theatrics.
Nevertheless, having witnessed Han Li's astonishing methods, they remained thoroughly respectful, not daring to make even the slightest rash move.
"Heh heh! It seems we truly have mistaken you, friend. With the Insect Demon's temperament, he would never have let us go so easily. May I ask your honored name?" The hawk-faced old man forced a smile onto his face and quickly asked with a ingratiating tone.
He understood perfectly well that even if this person before him was not the Insect Demon, his abilities were no inferior to the real one's — killing them would be just as effortless. Naturally, he didn't dare show the slightest bit of discourtesy.
Han Li heard this and smiled faintly. He opened his mouth to reply when he let out a soft "hmm" and gazed upward into the sky.
"You three still have companions, don't you? They seem to have arrived." Han Li looked up at the sky and spoke leisurely.
The hawk-faced old man was taken aback, but then recalled something and raised his head to look in the same direction. However, he saw nothing but empty sky — not a single figure in sight — and couldn't help but look confused once more.
"We did indeed bring along some junior disciples and nephews. By my calculations, they should be arriving about now!" Though half-suspicious, the hawk-faced old man answered honestly.
But just as he finished speaking, a small string of light points appeared in the distance beyond the sky — the Foundation Establishment cultivators who had fallen behind.
Their speed was incomparably slower than the hawk-faced old man and his two companions. They had only just arrived at this location by riding their flying artifacts.
The hawk-faced old man saw this and his expression shifted subtly.
This proved that the other party's spiritual sense far surpassed his own. His fear of Han Li increased by another measure in his heart.
"I, Han, am not fond of commotion. Have your disciples wait here while I head to the other end of this island for our meeting. I still have some questions I'd like to consult the three of you about. I hope none of you will leave without saying goodbye." Han Li narrowed his eyes and glanced at the three of them, speaking with sudden profundity. Then he smiled faintly and transformed into a streak of emerald light, flying toward the other side of the small island.
The hawk-faced old man and his two companions finally let out a deep sigh of relief.
Whether or not this young man was truly the Insect Demon, it was now clear that he harbored no killing intent toward the three of them. Their lives were, for the moment, safe.
Under the hawk-faced old man's solemn instructions delivered in a few low words, the cultivator surnamed Min nodded and immediately flew up into the sky to meet the group of Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Upon reaching the group of junior disciples, he said something coldly. The cultivators promptly followed him and descended slowly to land at the edge of the small island, not joining up with the hawk-faced old man and his companions.