After returning to Twin Peak Island, Madam Fan immediately enlisted Han Li's help to sweep away every cultivator loyal to Yun Tianxiao. Then she settled into the market district, quietly waiting for his arrival.
Five days later, Han Li was meditating with his eyes closed in the market's main hall while Madam Fan sat across from him, her expression shifting between light and dark.
Just then, a streak of firelight flew in through the doorway. Madam Fan's eyes lit up at once. She raised a slender hand and beckoned, and the firelight shot straight into her palm.
A few panicked female words drifted out of the flame.
"Sect Master, terrible news! In addition to Elder Yun, Perfected Miao He has returned with him as well. They've already entered the market district. Sect Master, please prepare yourself quickly!"
"What? That old Daoist Miao He came along too!" In her shock, Madam Fan crushed the voice transmission talisman to powder, her face turning grim as iron.
"Miao He of the Azure Cloud Gate?" Han Li opened his eyes, his expression shifting slightly before settling back to calm.
"Who else could it be but that old priest? It's too late to back down now. Yun Tianxiao's people have already been cleared out completely. If he spends even a short while in the market district, he'll notice something is wrong." Madam Fan's face was ashen as she spoke.
Then, seeing that Han Li still maintained a composed expression, she fixed her gaze on him, a sliver of desperate hope rising once more in her heart.
When Han Li noticed the woman staring at him without a word, he couldn't help but roll his eyes at her and said with some irritation: "What's the meaning of this look, Madam? Don't tell me you're expecting me to go head-to-head with a Nascent Soul cultivator!"
And yet, he truly wasn't all that alarmed.
Since it wasn't someone like Barbarian Beard or Wan Tianming who had shown up, he might be outmatched, but he could simply turn around and leave. Especially with the Wind Thunder Wings as his new treasure, he was all the more confident he could slip away safely from even an early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator.
If possible, he still intended to follow the original plan and use the teleportation formation to return to the Inner Star Sea. So while his words sounded dismissive, his mind was racing through calculations at lightning speed.
But when Madam Fan heard what Han Li said, her face went pale and she stood rooted to the spot, her thoughts thrown into complete disarray.
A moment later, however, a cold gleam passed through Han Li's eyes. He licked his upper lip and asked in a low voice: "I wonder — what is the relationship between Miao He and Yun Tianxiao? If I were to strike suddenly and kill Yun Tianxiao, would he definitely step in to avenge him?"
At Han Li's words, Madam Fan froze, but then comprehension dawned on her face, replaced by a flash of delight.
"What relationship could there be? That old Daoist — Yun Tianxiao simply used our Marvelous Sound Gate's female cultivators as furnace offerings to bribe his way into a connection. He and Yun Tianxiao are somewhat close, yes. But if I promise him better terms afterward, he most likely won't concern himself with our Marvelous Sound Gate's affairs. However, this only works if Yun Tianxiao hasn't already begged him for help. Otherwise, the old priest might not be able to save face and could genuinely intervene in our sect's business."
"That will do! Afterward, lure Yun Tianxiao into the room next door by himself. I'll strike and eliminate him in an instant — he won't have time to call out to Miao He for help. Once the fait accompli of you being in power is established, the old priest won't say a word. Then you simply offer him even better terms to win him over." Han Li laid out the analysis for Madam Fan in a cool, collected manner.
"Fine! We've been pushed to this point — there's nothing left but to fight. Senior must use your full power and remove Yun Tianxiao in the shortest time possible! Senior, please wait in the room farthest from here. Luring the man is my responsibility." Madam Fan was no ordinary woman, and once backed into a corner, she gritted her teeth and agreed.
Han Li nodded and didn't waste another moment. He strode quickly toward the side door of the main hall, which led to the numerous smaller rooms behind it.
Just as he reached the doorway, he seemed to remember something and abruptly halted, turning back with a dark expression on his face.
"Madam Fan! You wouldn't, after I've killed Yun Tianxiao, suddenly get the bright idea of revealing my identity to ingratiate yourself with that old priest Miao He, would you? Whether such a thought has crossed your mind or not, allow me to offer a word of warning. With the means I currently possess, even if I'm still no match for Miao He, slipping away from him would be child's play. When that happens, I think you can imagine very well what I might do. These words are merely a caution — in case your head gets hot for a moment and you do something that would be bad for both of us." By the time Han Li reached the final sentences, his voice had turned as cold as ice.
Upon hearing these words, Madam Fan was stunned. Her expression shifted several times before a bitter smile crept onto her face.
"Senior, you jest. How could I possibly repay kindness with betrayal? Besides, Elder Han is no ordinary Core Formation cultivator — do you think I don't know that? Please rest assured, Senior. Once Yun Tianxiao has been eliminated, this woman will absolutely not break her oath." Her expression turned solemn as she swore a bitter oath, pointing to the heavens.
Han Li listened, studied the woman's face for a long moment, then turned and entered the side door without looking back. After walking a short corridor, he stepped into the last room.
The room was smaller than the main hall, but its furnishings were much the same.
Han Li's figure flickered, and he was seated beside a sandalwood chair. He closed his eyes, calmed his breathing, and drew every trace of his spiritual energy inward, lest it be detected by the approaching Miao He and his party.