Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 380

381. Oath and Choice

Within Entire Heaven City, only the Law Enforcers of the Nine Nations Alliance could use *dunjutsu* [a type of movement technique] without being affected by the restrictions. They were responsible for maintaining order at the exchange meeting held in Entire Heaven City. Sun Huo naturally couldn’t say anything more and respectfully stepped back with a bow.

However, he couldn’t control his racing heart, and the hand holding the talisman fragment became even more cautious.

At that moment, the silver light faded, and an old man with yellowish hair appeared. The old man, who was in the mid-Nascent Soul stage, wore robes embroidered with golden swords, the mark of a Law Enforcer.

The old man had sensed the immense aura that Han Li had just released and had flown over from afar. He clearly recognized it as the aura of a Nascent Soul cultivator, but he had to come because of his duties.

He cupped his fist towards Han Li, who was standing quietly by the roadside.

“I am Mu Bi, a Law Enforcer of Entire Heaven City. I don’t know why Senior is angry, but is there anything I can do to help?”

Faced with a Nascent Soul cultivator, he naturally had to be extremely respectful.

“It’s nothing. I was just passing by when the owner of this shop started complaining about our Fallen Cloud Sect, so I wanted to hear it again.”

Han Li’s voice, with his hands behind his back, was extremely cold.

“Ah, it seems this shop owner was talking nonsense! You three, how dare you be rude to Senior? Why aren’t you apologizing immediately?”

The old man, having heard the situation, was in a dilemma. Matters concerning the reputation of a sect could be blown out of proportion or glossed over, making it difficult to mediate. So, he said a few righteous words and immediately turned to scold the three people.

As Han Li immediately withdrew his aura, the three people trembled and got up from the ground, while the shop owner, looking pale, said,

“S-Senior, I misspoke. I absolutely had no intention of being disrespectful to your sect! I won’t even ask for the cost of the Fire Cloud Talisman that this cultivator just broke, so please forgive me.”

At those words, Han Li’s expression darkened even further instead of brightening.

“What? Do you think I’m standing here to save a few coins? First, let’s confirm if your talisman is truly a masterpiece. If it is, I will compensate on behalf of the Fallen Cloud Sect. But if it’s not…”

“Ah, no! There’s no need to confirm, this talisman is a cheap one. It’s all my fault, please forgive me!”

The shop owner, having some sense, admitted his guilt before Han Li could even check the wooden box. At that, Han Li silently glanced at the Law Enforcer standing next to him.

Seeing this, the old man quickly bowed and said,

“Senior, I will take responsibility and severely punish this rude fellow, so please rest assured.”

“Then you handle it. I don’t have time to waste on such trivial matters. Sun Huo, let’s go!”

After speaking, Han Li’s figure flickered, and he suddenly appeared next to Sun Huo. A blinding yellow light flashed, and the two disappeared like smoke.

Only then did the old man finally relax. He then coldly scolded the shop owner and his employees.

“You three, follow me! This matter cannot be taken lightly.”

At those words, the three cultivators looked like they were about to cry and followed behind.

* * *

Behind a secluded building, Han Li and Sun Huo reappeared within a yellow protective barrier.

“Now, take out the talisman.”

Han Li was looking at Sun Huo meaningfully.

“Yes, Ancestor!”

Without the slightest hesitation, Sun Huo offered the talisman with both hands.

Han Li took the half-talisman and examined it. Then, he flipped his hand, and surprisingly, another half-talisman appeared. Sun Huo watched without blinking as he matched the torn edges of the talisman fragments. The torn surfaces of the talisman fragments matched perfectly.

Sun Huo, having dispelled even the slightest worry in his heart, bowed to Han Li once more.

“Sun Huo greets Master.”

However, Han Li flicked his hand, causing sparks to fly and turn the two talisman fragments into ashes. Sun Huo was startled but quickly regained his composure, which Han Li found relatively satisfactory.

“It seems you are indeed a descendant of Sun Yigu. But there’s no need to rush to call me Master. First, how many generations are you from Sun Yigu?”

Han Li asked leisurely, and Sun Huo answered immediately without hesitation.

“I am the seventh-generation descendant of my ancestor.”

“Back then, Sun Yigu swore that his descendants would serve me as their master. But due to circumstances, I haven’t been in the Tiannan Region all this time. So, your Sun family has never truly been my servants. I haven’t been able to protect your family either. Now that you’ve entered the cultivation world, you don’t necessarily have to keep that oath. However, considering my past relationship with your ancestor, I will give you two options.”

“The first is that I simply give you some gifts. For example, I could give you pills or magic tools. After that, our connection ends. The second is that you keep your ancestor’s oath and take me as your master.

Then, I will place a restriction on your body to prevent betrayal and may ask you to do some dangerous things. However, in return, I will guide your cultivation and give you unimaginable help. If your aptitude isn’t too low, reaching the Core Formation stage isn’t impossible.”

Han Li said leisurely, raising one corner of his mouth. As he listened to the story, Sun Huo’s expression changed constantly. The proposal was so sudden that he couldn’t grasp what to choose.

After a long time, Sun Huo opened his mouth as if he had made up his mind.

“Ancestor, I…”

“Don’t rush to answer. You might regret it later, so after the exchange meeting ends, return to the Fallen Cloud Sect and give me your answer. Think carefully and clearly weigh the pros and cons before coming to my residence.”

“Understood! Thank you for your consideration, Ancestor!”

Sun Huo also thought it was a good idea and quickly accepted Han Li’s proposal.

“Then I have other things to do, so you can go from here.”

Han Li, with a much gentler face, spoke and disappeared again with a yellow light. However, Sun Huo did not leave immediately and stood silently, lost in thought for a long time.

Meanwhile, Han Li had already arrived in front of the pavilion where he was staying.

As Han Li entered the pavilion, Mo Peiling, who was meditating in the main hall on the first floor, immediately greeted him. Her clear eyes shone as she rose, her posture of adjusting her clothes was beautiful.

Han Li waved his hand, signaling her to raise her head.

“In the future, there’s no need to wait for me when I’m not here. It’s difficult to take you around during the exchange meeting, so go around on your own. Carry one of these pairs of spirit jade pendants, and if you are in danger, infuse it with spiritual power at any time. Not only will a protective barrier be created immediately, but I will also be able to find your location even if you are thousands of miles away.”

“Thank you, Young Master!”

Mo Peiling’s jade-like face flushed instantly, and she accepted the jade pendant and immediately fastened it to her waist. Han Li ordered her to return to her room to rest, and he himself walked up to the second floor of the pavilion.

Mo Peiling looked at Han Li’s back as he went up to the second floor and stroked the jade pendant at her waist, her troubled heart clearly visible on her face.

Han Li entered the bedroom on the second floor and immediately sat on the bed, closing his eyes and sitting in a lotus position. But after only resting for about an hour, he looked at the night scenery outside the window and muttered.

“It’s about time, I should go and find him.”

He got up from the bed and quietly left the pavilion. Soon, he was standing again in front of the building he had visited earlier today.

Seeing the golden letters ‘True Dragon Pavilion’ above the gate, Han Li glanced inside and immediately walked in.

“Welcome back to the True Dragon Pavilion. I didn’t know you were such a punctual person. It’s just the agreed time now.”

As soon as he entered the pavilion, a light bloomed from one side, and True Person Tian Jing was smiling behind the table, just as he had appeared during the day.

“I couldn’t be late after asking to meet first. I’m rather sorry for making you wait, True Person!”

Han Li, calmly showing courtesy, flicked his hand, and the gate of the pavilion closed firmly. True Person Tian Jing smiled.

“During the day, you told this Daoist that you had more Chaos Stones, is that true?”

His eyes narrowed, showing a slightly disbelieving look.

Without answering, Han Li swept his hand across his storage pouch. Immediately, a bluish crystal, similar in size to the one he had taken out during the day, appeared, emitting an immense Yin energy.

“The cultivator’s words were true indeed. I don’t know how many Chaos Stones of this quality you have, but how about exchanging them all with this Daoist? Tell me what you want, whether it’s spirit stones or materials!”

True Person Tian Jing, having confirmed the Chaos Stone that Han Li possessed, couldn’t hide his agitation.

“There’s no need to rush, True Person Tian Jing. The fact that I took out the Chaos Stone means that I naturally intend to trade. But before that, there are two things that need to be clarified. If you give me a satisfactory answer, I will give you this Chaos Stone for free.”

Han Li threw the Chaos Stone he was holding to the other party. True Person Tian Jing was taken aback when he received the Chaos Stone, but after a while, he let out a light sigh.

“You are truly generous! It seems it’s not a simple matter. Still, I will answer to the best of my ability.”

“Then I won’t beat around the bush either. Do you know anything about the whereabouts of the Jing Cauldron? I saw your expression change when the Jing Cauldron was mentioned at the exchange meeting.”

“That’s right. I know something about the whereabouts of the Jing Cauldron. However, it’s uncertain, so I didn’t mention it at the exchange meeting. But if you want to know, I will tell you.”

True Person Tian Jing answered immediately without hesitation.

“Even if it’s wrong information, I’d like to hear it.”

“Actually, even if you didn’t hear the news from me, you would find out in a few days. I heard from a friend who manages an auction house that the Jing Cauldron might be up for auction during the exchange meeting.

However, the owner of the Jing Cauldron seems to want to barter for other items, and they haven’t decided for sure whether to put it up for auction. But once the Jing Cauldron is up for auction, sects that practice sword techniques will try to buy it even if they have to empty their coffers, so the chances of it returning to you are slim!”

“A 3,000-year-old Red Essence Grass is traded for 100,000 spirit stones, so an item like the Jing Cauldron, which is traded once every few thousand years, will be worth a fortune. If it goes up for auction, the price will rise even more.”

Han Li, who had been pleased, also showed a bitter smile.

No matter how much wealth he possessed, it would be far less than the combined assets of the entire cultivation families.

“Either way, since you gave me the information in advance, True Person Tian Jing, I can prepare in advance. Do you happen to know who the owner of the Jing Cauldron is?”

“I don’t know the specific information. However, they are a Nascent Soul cultivator from the Nine Nations Alliance and currently reside in a small mountain outside the west gate. It wouldn’t be difficult to find them if you tried.”

The old Daoist stroked his long beard and smiled.

“Thank you. That’s enough about the Jing Cauldron, now let me ask about the Chaos Stone. Please enlighten me, True Person Tian Jing.”

“What do you mean?”

The Daoist’s face, which had seemed so benevolent, changed, and a look of vigilance appeared in his eyes.

“I won’t deceive you. I have learned a bit of puppet techniques, and I once saw the remains of an ancient puppet in a cave left by an ancient cultivator. The remains contained Chaos Stones.

If my guess is correct, Chaos Stones were the materials used by ancient cultivators to refine puppets. And the cultivator who buys this Chaos Stone must be practicing the ancient puppet technique. If I’m right, I’m asking you to give me some guidance.”

Han Li stared intently at the Daoist without blinking. Even as he spoke, he increased his vigilance, preparing for the possibility that the other party might get angry and attack him.
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