Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 421

“What kind of materials are they? Could you be a bit more specific?” Ryeoham asked.

“I need Gyeongjeong [a rare, sharp metal] to refine a magic treasure, and the more, the better. But don’t worry, everyone. I plan to trade for the Gyeongjeong with items of equal value. I just need the alliance’s help to find it or get information about it.”

His concern was that he couldn’t refine the Great Gyeong Sword Formation [a powerful sword formation] because he couldn’t find a way to obtain a large amount of Gyeongjeong, so he wanted to resolve this issue this time.

“Gyeongjeong!”

Everyone looked surprised. They all knew about Gyeongjeong, a sharp metal and a treasure in the refining world. They were surprised that Han Li wanted such a heaven-defying material.

“Cultivator Han, what kind of magic treasure are you trying to refine that requires so much Gyeongjeong? As you know, even a small amount of this treasure greatly increases the power of a magic treasure. Increasing the amount doesn’t cause a bigger change.”

“I know. I just hope the alliance can find a certain amount for me.”

When Old Man Hwang frowned, Han Li calmly maintained his composure.

“Since Cultivator Han wants to obtain Gyeongjeong through equivalent exchange, it’s not difficult to gather information. However, most people use such materials as soon as they get them, so it will be difficult to obtain a large quantity as you said. Even if they have it, there’s no way to find out if they’re hiding it. Didn’t only a very small amount come out as items at the last auction?”

Ryeoham sighed and shook his head. Han Li’s face darkened. He had considered all of that.

If he couldn’t find Gyeongjeong in Cheonnam, would he have to go to the rumored empires or the Cheonsa [Heavenly Sand] continent?

However, even if the area of the Great Jin Kingdom was more than ten times that of Cheonnam, there was no guarantee that he would easily find that much Gyeongjeong.

Moreover, the refining method for the Soul Binding Talisman was written on the urn he brought from the Land of Yin and Yang. If he went to the Great Jin Kingdom, shouldn’t he return them to the Heavenly Talisman Sect?

Seeing Han Li’s expression, Ryeorak couldn’t help but advise,

“Junior Brother Han, why don’t you change your condition? Materials like Gyeongjeong can only be found if you have the right fate.”

Han Li frowned but shook his head at his words.

“In any case, Gyeongjeong is essential for me. Even if the possibility is slim, please have the alliance take on this task.”

“If Cultivator Han insists, I will have the disciples of the alliance do their best. But you may end up not finding any Gyeongjeong at all, so don’t regret it.”

Ryeoham looked at Han Li’s resolute face and finally accepted the condition.

It was not difficult for a huge force like the Cheondo Alliance to send out its low-level disciples to gather information. Old Man Hwang and the other cultivators had no other opinions.

However, Ryeoham thought this kind of reward was too insufficient, so he gave Han Li a bundle containing about a hundred mid-grade spirit stones. Han Li smiled and accepted the spirit stones without refusing.

Once the matter was settled, the atmosphere in the side hall became much lighter.

The Cheondo Alliance cultivators chatted, and the topic shifted to the battle at Hwangryong Mountain. They were particularly interested in the abilities of the black-robed mages and the suddenly appearing divine envoy.

Han Li didn’t hide anything and told them what had happened that day. Of course, he glossed over the information about his own cultivation techniques and magic treasures.

Hamryong and the other cultivators were not so rude as to pry into his personal information.

However, when Han Li said that the black-robed mages seemed to be demonic cultivators who practiced some kind of demonic art rather than different races like monsters or ghosts, Ryeoham’s eyebrows shot up.

After spending half a day in the side hall, Han Li came out. As Ryeorak and Han Li were about to leave the main hall, a message transmission talisman flew to Ryeorak.

After checking the contents, he smiled wryly at Han Li.

“I have to go because of an urgent matter. Why don’t you take a look around Cheonilseong and let’s get together again tonight, just us brothers.”

“If you have urgent business, please go ahead.”

Han Li smiled kindly at Ryeorak, and Ryeorak, feeling relieved, quickly turned into a streak of red light and left.

‘It seems like a really urgent matter.’

Han Li nodded, watching the streak of light disappear. He looked up at the sky to gauge the time and then headed towards the central area.

However, he stopped after only a few steps. He slowly turned his body and looked at an alleyway where Lady Baek Bongbong Song was biting her red lip and hesitating.

Han Li eventually gestured to her, and Song cautiously walked out.

“Greetings, Honorable Uncle Han.”

“You’ve been waiting a long time.”

“About an hour.”

“It seems like you have something to say. Follow me. This isn’t a place to talk.”

Han Li’s gaze swept around and then he spoke coldly. Then, without waiting for the woman’s reply, he started walking.

Song followed him with an uneasy expression.

* * *

“What is it?” Han Li asked leisurely after moving to a secluded place.

“Actually… someone sent a letter to my junior sister asking her to deliver it to you. They said they wanted to meet you.”

Song hesitated and then took out a jade slip from her bosom and offered it to Han Li.

“A letter?” Han Li took the jade slip with a puzzled look. However, he didn’t immediately infuse it with his consciousness and asked,

“Who gave it to you?”

“It’s my friend, and she said she knows you…”

“She knows me?” Han Li narrowed his eyes and touched his forehead with the jade slip.

After a while, his face became strange, and he put away the jade slip and asked in a much gentler tone,

“Where is she? Lead the way.”

“Are you really going to meet this friend?” This time, Song seemed surprised.

“Yes, I guess you could say we have some connection. It’s unexpected that Junior Sister Song knows her.”

“She’s a friend I’ve made in the last two years. I couldn’t believe it when she said she knew you, but it was true. She’s staying at a residence I’ve prepared outside the city, so I’ll take you there right away.”

Song regained her composure and smiled, looking very beautiful.

Han Li and Song immediately left the city gate and flew south. After flying for tens of miles, they landed in a small, deserted valley.

He could see that a weak barrier was in place, using a thin mist to deceive the eyes of others.

When Song took out a spirit token and shot out a red light, the mist disappeared, revealing a small path.

“Honorable Uncle, this way.”

The woman politely guided Han Li.

The area of the valley was not very large, but there were several stone buildings that seemed to be temporary residences.

After a while, a woman in yellow clothes appeared from one of the buildings, sensing that Song was releasing the restriction.

She made various expressions when she saw Han Li, then quietly walked over and adjusted her clothes before bowing.

“Mae Eung greets Senior Han. Congratulations on reaching the Nascent Soul stage.”

Her gentle voice was mixed with a subtle resentment. Han Li looked embarrassed and smiled wryly before slowly opening his mouth.

“Miss Mae, your cultivation has greatly improved. You’re at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage, so the day you reach the Core Formation stage is not far off.”

The beautiful woman in front of him was Mae Eung, who had returned to Cheonnam with Han Li. Although several years had passed, her appearance had only become more beautiful.

“It’s all thanks to the elixirs you gave me, Senior.”

Mae Eung was very polite, her resentment gone for the moment. Now that he was a Nascent Soul cultivator, their statuses were as different as heaven and earth.

“Is Jaryeong inside?” At that moment, Song came out from behind Han Li and asked Mae Eung affectionately.

“Senior Song! My sister is currently cultivating separately and will come out soon. Please, both of you, come inside with me for a moment.”

Mae Eung answered politely and led them into the stone chamber. Mae Eung served tea to the two cultivators.

“Miss Mae, where have you and Miss Jaryeong been cultivating all this time? Don’t tell me you still haven’t found a suitable sect.”

Han Li took a sip of the spirit tea and asked.

“My sister and I decided to look at the various sects in Cheonnam first and improve our cultivation before deciding where to settle. So we went to various places, but the situation in Cheonnam was as complicated as where we were before.”

Mae Eung stood next to Han Li and bowed her head as she answered. His gaze reached Song.

“You didn’t ask me to come here instead of Miss Jaryeong just to reminisce about the old days. If that were the case, you wouldn’t have struggled so much to deliver the letter.”

“Honorable Uncle, that is…”

Song mumbled, her face slightly flushed. Mae Eung also looked embarrassed and was about to say something when a woman’s laughter was heard.

“Brother Han, don’t make them feel awkward. It was my intention to ask to meet you this time.”

The door opened, and a woman with a radiant and sparkling appearance, like a fairy, entered.

“Actually, it would be right to call you Senior now, but it doesn’t feel right. Anyway, your age is similar to mine. Does it bother you?” Jaryeong walked in gracefully and smiled.

She had gone through many twists and turns with Han Li, from the Illusionary Heavenly Palace to the Land of Yin and Yang, and they had spent time together in the Boundless Sea, so it seemed that she considered him a close friend.

Han Li looked at her.

If there was a woman beautiful enough to endanger a country, he thought that this beauty was it. Just looking at her face, no one could replace her, and even Nangong Wan, who was in his heart, was slightly inferior.

“You can call me whatever you want. I’m just worried that if Miss Jaryeong goes around like that, Cheonnam will become even more chaotic. It would be fortunate if you weren’t kidnapped by some old monsters.”

Han Li, seeing his old friend from the Chaotic Star Sea, made a joke for the first time in a long time. Jaryeong smiled and greeted Song as well.

“My sister has worked hard this time. It was difficult for us to enter Cheonilseong.”

“No, it’s something I’m involved in, so it’s only natural.”

Song said, her face full of surprise.

Jaryeong smiled at Han Li.

“Your cultivation seems to be improving faster every time I see you. I’ve been surprised by your reputation these days. Outside, everyone says that your skills overwhelm even mid-Nascent Soul cultivators. Is that true?” Jaryeong’s face was full of anticipation as she asked the question.

“Miss Jaryeong, isn’t it too hasty to ask about my skills as soon as we meet? Let’s talk about the purpose of calling me here first. If it’s something I can solve, I’ll solve it, and then we can talk about other things.”

At his leisurely tone, Jaryeong blinked and looked apologetic.

“I was a little hasty. That’s because… it’s something that can only be accomplished by someone at the mid-Nascent Soul stage or higher, so I was impatient.”

“What are you talking about?”

“As you already know, we came to see you because there’s something we’d like you to do with us. You once went to the Peony Plains with some Nascent Soul old monsters and obtained the relics of the Changkon Merchant, didn’t you?”

“How do you know that? There are very few people who know about it.”

Han Li’s expression changed.

“We heard about it from a Guiryeong Sect cultivator. He was said to be a direct descendant of some elder, and he was almost out of his mind after seeing Jaryeong. So, what wouldn’t he say?” Mae Eung, who had been standing on the side, suddenly burst into laughter as she explained.

“You little girl, you can’t keep your mouth shut.”

Jaryeong scolded her, and her cheeks flushed for a moment.

“If the news came from the Guiryeong Sect, that makes sense.”

“Even after reaching the Nascent Soul stage, you’re still as cautious as before.”

“I’ve only just reached the Nascent Soul stage, and I’m not immortal, so I have to be careful when I need to be. But what does my visit to the Peony Plains have to do with this? Did you hear some information from the Guiryeong Sect?”

“I’m amazed by your insight, Honorable Uncle. We heard a story from that Guiryeong Sect disciple about a treasure in Chuma Valley that he unconsciously blurted out.”

Song, who had been awkwardly standing by, interjected.

# 423