Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 125

126. Farewell

Though Yeon-ju, the middle-aged man, was just a low-ranking disciple of Yeonryeong Fortress, he was devoted to Madam Eom and her daughter.

To repay his kindness for saving their lives, Madam Eom remarried him a year later. Fearing her daughter’s striking beauty might attract trouble, she presented Moon Chae-hwan as a widow who had been married before and dressed her in married woman’s attire from then on.

The plan was to reveal the truth when a suitable man appeared for Moon Chae-hwan.

They managed to live peacefully for two years, but unfortunately, Yeon-ju, the head of the family, died while performing his duties.

Now without anyone to rely on again, Madam Eom and her daughter eventually had to sell their remaining possessions to open a small shop to make a living in Yeonryeong Fortress.

It was a small shop, but it was doing well enough to cover Madam Eom’s medical expenses. However, recently, their suppliers had stopped providing them with goods.

Madam Eom and Moon Chae-hwan immediately went to find them and eventually discovered the person behind this.

It turned out to be a cultivator living nearby. He had become infatuated with Moon Chae-hwan, who often passed by his house, and insisted on taking her as a concubine. This happened because Madam Eom refused his advances.

Even when Han Li encountered Moon Chae-hwan today, she was trying to get goods to sell, which led to their initial misunderstanding.

As Madam Eom spoke, Chae-hwan occasionally added a few words, and Han Li soon understood their situation.

However, he couldn’t help but laugh at the fact that someone would resort to such childish behavior to take Moon Chae-hwan as a concubine.

The girl he once thought of as a little imp had grown into a woman desirable enough to be taken as a concubine.

“You’ve been cultivating for a long time, so you must have reached at least the Core Formation stage [a significant level in cultivation],” Madam Eom said, observing Han Li, based on the common knowledge she had gained while in the cultivation world.

“I’m doing alright. I’ll take care of the cultivator causing trouble,” Han Li simply smiled, reassuring them.

“Do you know the cultivator’s level? If he’s not a core disciple of the Yeon family and his cultivation isn’t that high, we can resolve this smoothly through negotiation,” Han Li asked calmly. In truth, those who had time to harass ordinary women in this way were unlikely to have high cultivation levels. Still, it was a question for caution’s sake.

“From what Chae-hwan has found out, he’s only reached the fifth level of the basic cultivation method. His surname is Yeon, but he doesn’t have any special status in the family. That’s why he’s mingling with ordinary people,” Madam Eom replied. As expected of someone who once led a sect, she had already investigated the cultivator.

“Then there’s really no problem. I’ll go with my junior sister to find him and resolve this matter shortly.”

“Thank you, Senior Brother! I knew you would help!” Moon Chae-hwan exclaimed excitedly as Han Li nodded.

“We’re troubling you. But if a fellow cultivator doesn’t step in, there’s nothing we can do with our own strength,” Madam Eom sighed, looking helpless.

“On the surface, cultivators are forbidden from harassing ordinary people, but in reality, they often suffer humiliation. Still, how can the Yeon family easily punish cultivators? Rather, many ordinary people disappear without a trace for offending a cultivator, even for a moment.”

“But it seems like Junior Sister is already of marriageable age. Why haven’t you found a good man for her? If she marries a cultivator, wouldn’t she have someone to rely on?”

“Marriage?”

“I will never marry a Yeon family cultivator!”

“Why is that?” Han Li was genuinely puzzled.

“Senior Brother, Yeon family cultivators fundamentally don’t treat ordinary women as people. If you become their concubine, you’re no different from a slave in the secular world. They often curse at you for the slightest displeasure. I’d rather live alone for the rest of my life than live like that,” she said, her voice conveying a genuine aversion to marriage.

“I see. Still, you can’t live alone for the rest of your life…” He had answered thoughtlessly to an unexpected story, but somehow the atmosphere became strange after he spoke.

Madam Eom also seemed like she wanted to say something, and Moon Chae-hwan lowered her head and stopped talking as if she had thought of something. This made Han Li realize that something was wrong. He quickly changed the subject.

“Junior Sister, lead the way. Let’s resolve the cultivator issue first.”

“Yes!” Moon Chae-hwan hesitated for a moment, but there was no way she would object. Madam Eom was the same. The two left the shop and headed to the house where the cultivator lived.

* * *

“Senior Brother, what level of cultivation have you reached? When the Yeon family cultivator saw you, he called you ‘Senior’ right away. He treated you with such respect and politeness, as if you were an elder.”

After resolving the issue with the Yeon family cultivator, she was constantly chattering on the secluded road back home, not acting like a woman over twenty years old.

“I’m just a little higher than him. In the cultivation world, those with different cultivation levels call each other ‘Senior’,” he explained.

She was so happy that she burst into laughter. Now that Han Li didn’t say anything and just looked at her, Moon Chae-hwan turned her head away, embarrassed, and became silent. But after a while, she asked Han Li a surprising question.

“Senior Brother, is it true that someone without spiritual roots [a natural talent for cultivation] can never become a cultivator? I also want to become a cultivator like you.”

His heart ached, but he had nothing to say. Since ancient times, only those with spiritual roots could learn magic, and that principle had never been broken for hundreds of thousands of years.

From Han Li’s expression alone, her expectations dwindled. She silently followed Han Li. When they reached a place not far from the shop, Han Li stopped.

“I have things to do, so I won’t go in. Let’s say goodbye here. I plan to stay in Yeonryeong Fortress for a few more days, so we might meet again if fate allows.”

“What? You’re leaving now?”

“Yes, take this. There should be dozens of spirit stones [currency used by cultivators] in it, so take good care of yourself and your mother. It seems like this is all I can do.”

Han Li took out a small leather pouch from his sleeve and handed it to Moon Chae-hwan.

“Thank you, Senior Brother,” she murmured softly, sounding weak and full of regret. Seeing her expression, his heart felt strangely heavy again.

After hesitating for a moment, he eventually found a silver bottle and took out a pink pill from it.

“Swallow this. I can’t make you a cultivator, but I can make sure you don’t age or change from your current appearance in this lifetime. Think of it as my last gift as your Senior Brother!”

“Senior Brother, I…” She was about to say something, her expression full of joy and a determination to say what was on her mind.

However, Han Li didn’t listen to her until the end and flicked his finger, putting the pill into her mouth. Naturally, Moon Chae-hwan swallowed it without realizing it.

“Junior Sister, take care! Stay healthy!” With those words, Han Li’s body blurred and he disappeared in an instant.

“Senior Brother!” Startled, Moon Chae-hwan quickly took a few steps forward, but there was no way she could find Han Li, who had already vanished. Helpless, she quietly walked towards the shop.

* * *

The name of the teahouse Han Li was looking for was Cheonhakgeo (Heavenly Crane Residence). He headed straight to the second floor. The first floor was full of ordinary people without magical power.

When he went up to the second floor, he saw cultivators, but most of them were at the Qi Condensation stage [the first stage of cultivation], so he still didn’t stop. As he went up to the third floor, the magical power fluctuations he had felt earlier grew closer, and he was certain that his targets for exchange were gathered there.

He immediately looked around at the situation on the third floor. Those gathered here were all cultivators who had succeeded in Foundation Establishment [a higher stage of cultivation], and they were clearly divided into two groups.

The first group was the Seven Great Sects cultivators, whose attire was familiar, and the others were wearing various clothes, but they were unfamiliar cultivators from other countries.

When Han Li entered, the gazes of the other cultivators naturally gathered on him. In addition to the few who had been observing him at first, most of them were aware of him.

However, without paying attention to such things, he walked straight towards the table where the Seven Great Sects were gathered.

As his destination became clear, the other cultivators soon lost interest, and the people of the Seven Great Sects stood up to greet him.

“Han Li of the Yellow Maple Valley greets all the Senior Brothers and Junior Brothers,” he said. In fact, three of the five were at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, while the others were at a similar level to him, but he was being humble since it was their first meeting. Then, among the two Taoists at the table, the older middle-aged one stepped forward, greeted Han Li, and briefly introduced everyone.

“I am Mu Beop-ja of the Cheongheo Sect, and this is my Junior Brother, Mu Yu-ja. These three are Mu of the Yeongsu Mountain, Pa of the Geogeom Sect, and Bang of the Cheongwol Fortress.”

“Junior Brother, please try the famous Seollyeong tea of the Yeon family first. This teahouse specializes in providing only the finest tea to cultivators like us,” said Mu of the Yeongsu Mountain, a middle-aged man with a beaming smile. As soon as Han Li sat down, he picked up a teapot and poured tea with spiritual energy that seemed to be shrouded in white mist. Han Li slightly bowed his head to express his gratitude and lightly took a sip.

“It’s good,” he said. He really didn’t know much about tea, but he couldn’t help but be impressed.

The moment the tea passed his throat, a chill like swallowing snow was felt, but the fragrant aroma lingering on his lips and tongue was more profound the more he savored it. Mu’s smile deepened at his words.

“It seems like I’m seeing Junior Brother Han for the first time. Which Senior Master of the Yellow Maple Valley is your master?”

“It has only been a few years since I officially became a disciple under Master Lee Hwa-won after succeeding in Foundation Establishment. I ask for much guidance from all the Senior Brothers and Junior Brothers,” Han Li answered sincerely when Bang, a seemingly ordinary-looking woman in her twenties, asked in a refreshing manner.

“What guidance can we give! We all help each other. It’s no coincidence that Junior Brother Han is under this Senior Master and has been dispatched as a representative at such a young age. You don’t have to be so humble,” said Pa of the Geogeom Sect, a middle-aged man with a rugged appearance, was eloquent.

As Han Li continued to answer humbly and the various cultivators exchanged greetings, a friendly atmosphere was quickly formed, except for Mu Yu-ja, who had remained silent so far.

“By the way, what were you talking about just now?” After a trivial topic passed, it was a question thrown to finally return to the main topic.

“It’s nothing much, we were just thinking about the reason why so many cultivators from other countries are flocking to Yeonryeong Fortress. The treasure of the Qiankun Pagoda [a legendary pagoda] is precious, but not to this extent,” Mu Beop-ja returned to a serious face. Naturally, Han Li nodded, as it had been a question for him as well.

“Even after discussing it, we couldn’t find any clues.”

“It’s unlikely to be because of some important treasure. If that were the case, would only Foundation Establishment cultivators have come? Experts at the Core Formation stage would have already swarmed in like bees. The problem is that we can’t find any other suitable reason,” Bang of the Cheongwol Fortress continued.

“Let’s refrain from strange speculations for now. Everything will be revealed when the treasure competition starts in two days anyway, right? I’m worried about the Guiryeong Sect cultivators I saw today. It’s unusual that the Yeon family disciples have won consecutively. Does anyone know about them?” At that question, Han Li and the others mostly looked at each other, indicating that they didn’t know.

Most of them had heard of it for the first time today, but just hearing the name Guiryeong Sect didn’t make them think of it as a good group. It was highly likely to be a demonic sect.

However, surprisingly, Mu Yu-ja, who had not said a word so far, had a calm expression as if he knew about the Guiryeong Sect.

“Junior Brother, do you know anything about the Guiryeong Sect?” Mu Beop-ja asked, surprised. He knew that Mu Yu-ja avoided interacting with others and liked to spend time reading books. So, he had a little expectation.

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