Han Li rubbed his chin. When he released a sweep of his spiritual sense, the murmurs and conversations of the crowd flooded into his ears.
"Who's that?"
"Such an unfamiliar face — is he a new disciple?"
"How come Uncle-Master Mu came with this person?"
"He must be some relative of Uncle-Master Mu's! Uncle-Master Mu never travels with male cultivators — how could she have come with him!"
…
Every word of this stream of questions and envious remarks reached Han Li with perfect clarity.
His expression remained unchanged, but inwardly he sighed. Then he took a few steps away from the hall entrance and slipped into the crowd.
Even so, Han Li could feel countless gazes sizing him up without pause.
"Junior Brother Han! I didn't expect that after we parted that day, it would be this long before we met again." Just then, a hearty-sounding voice suddenly came from behind him.
Han Li was momentarily startled and turned to look.
A large man stood a few zhang behind him — none other than the one called Du Dong.
At this moment, he was greeting Han Li with a broad, beaming smile.
A flicker of something peculiar passed through Han Li's eyes before a smile surfaced on his face. He cupped his fists with exaggerated courtesy and said: "So it's Senior Brother Du! Tell me, how have things been with Grand-Uncle Jiang?" The Grand-Uncle Jiang Han Li referred to was the white-haired elder who had taken Du Dong away that day.
"Good, very good!" The big man chuckled, looking every bit the simple, honest fellow.
Han Li sneered coldly in his heart, but outwardly he struck up a conversation, each of them sharing what had happened to them since parting.
According to the big man, the white-haired elder apparently believed he had exceptional talent for talisman-making and intended to train him intensively. At this point, Du Dong's face was full of joy, as though he was practically bursting with excitement.
Hearing this, Han Li felt a twinge of sympathy for the white-haired elder. Of all the people to invest effort in, he had to choose this scheming fellow. The old man would likely suffer greatly for it down the road.
Thinking this, Han Li naturally had no intention of warning Grand-Uncle Jiang. He continued exchanging halfhearted words with the big man.
But just then, a mysterious look crept onto the big man's face as he said to Han Li: "Junior Brother Han, did you know? The Uncle-Master Mu who's been specifically assigned to guide you — she's the number one beauty on our Heavenly Spring Peak. In the entire Luo Yun Sect, she ranks in the top three. Now that you've arrived together with her, I'd say you've caused quite a stir."
"Not 'I'd say' — it already has!" Han Li gave a bitter smile, swept a glance around, and said helplessly.
"But tell me, Junior Brother — you flew here together on her flying treasure. Did Uncle-Master Mu happen to say anything about this gathering?" Du Dong's tone shifted, and he asked with an air of casual indifference.
"Oh, that? No, she didn't! Has Senior Brother Du heard something? Why not fill me in?" Han Li's expression didn't change, but his eyes took on a half-smile as he gave the man a meaningful look.
The big man's originally honest smile wavered under Han Li's gaze. His heart lurched, and he was suddenly seized by the uncanny sensation that Han Li had seen right through him.
A wave of alarm surged through his heart.
But then Han Li turned his head to look elsewhere, and the feeling vanished without a trace — as if it had been nothing but an illusion. This left the big man secretly alarmed and bewildered.
Still, it made him vaguely reluctant to remain near Han Li any longer. After forcing out a smile and exchanging a few more words, he excused himself and went off toward another Heavenly Spring Peak cultivator he knew.
Han Li watched the man's departing figure, a flash of mockery crossing his face. Just then, Silver Moon's voice rang out in his mind.
"Brother Han, did you deliberately frighten him off? Aren't you worried he'll grow suspicious of you and cause trouble in the future?"