"Brother Han, what do you think of my suggestion? With Sister
Han Li's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly as he glanced at Mei Ning, this delicate and graceful beauty.
The woman's beautiful head bowed even lower, a faint blush coloring her exposed snow-white neck, making her incredibly captivating.
It seemed this woman had indeed accepted what Zi Ling had said.
"With Miss Mei's looks and character, let alone being my concubine, she would be a coveted catch as a dual cultivation partner for a high-level cultivator. But I, Han, am a bit different from ordinary cultivators. I once resolved to dedicate my life entirely to the path of achieving immortality and eternal life, and I do not lightly engage in romantic matters between men and women. Moreover, I'm accustomed to coming and going alone, frequently finding myself pursued into dangerous situations. What qualifications do I have to take a concubine? If Fellow Daoist Mei followed me, it truly wouldn't be a good thing. On the contrary, you would only be deeply implicated and suffer harm!" Han Li spoke slowly, his expression calm.
Hearing Han Li's words, Mei Ning's body trembled slightly. The blush on her neck faded rapidly, and she slowly lifted her beautiful head, her face looking somewhat pale.
"Brother Han's words sound like a refusal. Apart from anything else, with your current late-stage Nascent Soul cultivation, who in this world besides those ancient Nascent Soul monsters could pose a threat to you? Furthermore, perhaps you will soon successfully condense your Nascent Soul, and then the entire world will be open to you. Surely you could protect a weak woman like Sister Mei Ning," Zi Ling said, a touch of reproach in her voice, as if greatly dissatisfied that Han Li was pushing away such a great beauty.
"Fellow Daoist Zi Ling knows that although I, Han, consider my cultivation slightly higher than cultivators of the same stage, the enemies I've provoked are always powerful existences. Before I truly enter the Nascent Soul stage and possess sufficient strength, I will not consider the matter of taking a concubine. Otherwise, if I cannot protect her then, it would only cause pointless heartache," Han Li said calmly.
Zi Ling's delicate eyebrows furrowed. Knowing Han Li spoke the truth, and sensing he was perhaps a little displeased, she could only sigh and drop the subject.
"If Brother Han doesn't despise this little woman's plain looks, then after you enter the Nascent Soul stage, would you be willing to take me in?" Mei Ning's beautiful face finally returned to its normal color, but she bit her lower lip lightly and stared at Han Li, asking unexpectedly.
"The Nascent Soul stage? Whether I can reach that realm, I have absolutely no certainty. And even if I truly could enter the Nascent Soul stage, who knows how many years that will take. Would Miss Mei really be willing to wait that long? Perhaps even after a hundred years, I might not successfully condense my Nascent Soul," Han Li glanced at the woman and said indifferently.
"I..." Upon hearing this, Mei Ning's expression flickered uncertainly, unable to continue.
With the lifespan of a Foundation Establishment cultivator, let alone a hundred years, even twenty or thirty years was too long.
Though he was an excellent dual cultivation prospect, she couldn't truly expend such a long time waiting for an uncertain outcome.
After all, the cultivation world was just this realistic and cruel. While she and Han Li had spent some time together and she felt a certain fondness for him, the idea that she had truly fallen for him and would follow without regret or complaint was naturally impossible.
Seeing the hesitation on Mei Ning's fair face, Han Li sighed inwardly. He reached into his robe and produced two small bottles, pushing them towards her.
"Inside these are some pills refined from demon cores to advance cultivation. Miss Mei, instead of thinking about using dual cultivation techniques to improve your cultivation, you might as well work hard on your own. Perhaps you, like Fellow Daoist Zi Ling, can condense your Golden Core yourself," Han Li said leisurely.
The Foundation Establishment pills in these bottles were no longer effective for Han Li now, but remembering the affectionate intimacy of how she had once transmitted her Spiritual Resonance Qi to him, he didn't mind using them to do a small favor. This way, he felt he no longer owed her anything.
"
"These are top-grade pills!" The woman clutched the jade bottle, staring blankly at Han Li, momentarily at a loss for words.
In the Yin-Yang Depths, he had clearly been moved and taken liberties with her, yet just now he refused to accept her as his concubine. And now he was giving her such precious pills.
She was somewhat confused.
"Hehe! Brother Han is quite generous indeed. Since Fellow Daoist Han has said so, Sister, you should accept them. Perhaps after gathering some more spirit herbs, as Brother Han said, you really can enter the Core Formation stage yourself. If that happens, the two of us sisters can join forces and support each other, and we can be carefree together," Zi Ling saw the pills and a hint of surprise flickered in her eyes, but she immediately said with a smile.
Mei Ning gazed deeply at Han Li with a complicated expression, lowered her head in thanks, and gently placed the small bottles into her storage pouch.
Seeing the woman accept the pills, a faint smile appeared on Han Li's face. Then his head tilted slightly as he glanced out the window at the small town street below.
People came and went, bustling and lively there.
This very familiar sight suddenly reminded Han Li of certain things long forgotten, and his smile faded as he sighed softly.
Seeing Han Li's expression, Zi Ling and Mei Ning exchanged a glance.
...
Lan Prefecture, the second-largest of the Seven Prefectures of the Kingdom of Xi, lies in the remote western part of the kingdom. The terrain there is complex, with countless hills and dense forests, and swamps and miasmic gases often appear. Therefore, apart from a few scattered cities of various sizes and some official roads, few people venture into the wilderness.