"Master, you… you can't be serious, are you?" Silver Moon's beautiful eyes widened, and she hesitated.
"Whether I'm serious or not, you'll find out in time. Now go summon that girl for me. With her cultivation, she won't be able to see through your fox form." Han Li gave his orders with a noncommittal expression.
"Of course, Master!" Silver Moon was filled with suspicion, but answered respectfully.
Han Li turned and made his way to the main hall.
A quarter of an hour later, Silver Moon strode in with graceful steps, followed by Mu Peiling, who looked rather haggard.
It seemed this woman had not had an easy time recently either.
"Master, Miss Mu has been brought here." Silver Moon approached Han Li and said with a bow.
"Mm, noted! You may withdraw." Han Li nodded indifferently.
"Then this servant takes her leave!"
Silver Moon glanced sideways at the woman surnamed Mu, pursed her lips into a smile, and withdrew from the hall.
"I greet Senior Han." Mu Peiling clasped her hands in a respectful bow, then stood silently with her hands at her sides, wearing the appearance of someone resigned to accepting whatever punishment Han Li saw fit.
Seeing her like this, Han Li's brows furrowed slightly, and his gaze swept over her remarkably beautiful face.
"You should already know the reason I've summoned you. Your careless words made me, who had just broken through to the Nascent Soul stage, appear overbearing and arrogant to those cultivation families. After all, seizing a female cultivator already bound by a marriage contract to be a concubine doesn't sound very flattering. Of course, with my current cultivation, the Mu and Yan families naturally wouldn't dare voice any complaints, and I wouldn't care even if they did. But that doesn't mean I'll tolerate your audacity. You must have already accepted the possibility of being punished by me!" Han Li showed no trace of anger; instead, he spoke with extreme calm, enunciating each word.
"Please forgive me, Senior. This matter was truly the result of this girl's reckless boldness. But I would rather serve as your concubine than marry into that Yan family." The woman surnamed Mu raised her pale face and spoke.
"Hmph! Since you've already spread the word that you're my concubine, I naturally can't stay out of this, and I certainly can't go about dispelling this so-called 'rumor.' Otherwise, those cultivation families would all think that I, this newly appointed Elder of the Cloudfall Sect, am weak and easily bullied — unable to even protect a Foundation Establishment female cultivator. Besides, this rumor has surely already spread throughout the entire cultivation world by now. Tell me, how should I deal with you?" Han Li's gaze flickered as he spoke slowly.
"This junior has nothing to say. Whatever punishment the Senior sees fit, Peiling has no complaints." The woman surnamed Mu bit her delicate lip and then said in a low voice.
"Since all the cultivators outside now believe you to be my concubine, I'll give you two choices. The first is to publicly be my concubine, but in reality serve as my maidservant for twenty years, following my commands and orders. When the time is up and this matter has faded from memory, I will naturally grant you your freedom. But maidservant is a maidservant — don't expect any help from me on the path of cultivation." Han Li spoke in a deep voice.
"Then… what about the second choice?" The woman surnamed Mu's face showed a flicker of disappointment upon hearing this. She couldn't help but raise her head and ask.
"The second path is to do as you said — turn the false into the real. Truly become my concubine, serve by my side from now on, and never betray me for the rest of your life. I won't be petty toward those closest to me, so naturally, when I'm in a good mood, I'll offer you some guidance in cultivation. But let me say this in advance — to become my concubine, I will place a Soul-Locking Technique on you. To guard against any sudden thoughts of betrayal. After all, today you're willing to be my concubine, but who knows if tomorrow you might change your mind. My secrets could then end up in someone else's ears." Han Li stared at the woman and said flatly.
"I…" Upon hearing Han Li's words, Mu Peiling was stunned for a moment. Then her beautiful face shifted between light and shadow as she carefully weighed his conditions.
It seemed she truly had little objection to becoming Han Li's concubine.
"I know you've always thought quite highly of yourself. Even though I'm a Nascent Soul cultivator, I may not be the ideal husband in your heart. But that's all right — Miss Mu isn't my ideal partner either. None of that, however, prevents me from taking you as a concubine. To gain my protection and go further on the path of cultivation, what you'd be giving up isn't all that much. And over these years, you've come to know that I'm not a cruel, vicious, or eccentric person. Even with the Soul-Locking Technique, staying by my side won't be any hardship — it's not exactly a bitter fate. And in the future, if you truly earn my trust, it's entirely possible the technique could be removed. Otherwise, you'll just have to serve as my maidservant for twenty years! The time will pass in a blink." Han Li spoke carelessly, his gaze already drifting away from her face, with an air that said he was perfectly fine with whatever she chose.
"Senior, could Peiling have two more days to think it over?" The woman's mind was in complete turmoil — she didn't want to be bound by anyone's control, yet she couldn't bear to give up the guidance and help of a Nascent Soul cultivator. Unable to make up her mind, she could only say hesitantly.
As for becoming Han Li's concubine, she had truly already accepted that possibility, just as Han Li had said beforehand. She didn't feel there was anything wrong with being a concubine to a Nascent Soul cultivator.