Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 16

Han Li was short on time. He had at most four to five months to develop the ability to protect himself. Therefore, Han Li decided to focus on training in only the simplest techniques from the secret manual.

He decided to postpone the other parts and learn them later. This way, he thought he could master a few easy techniques in a short period.

He didn’t know how many vicious methods Master Wen, who had once reigned as a local tyrant, might know. The skills he had shown last time were not even half of his true power.

Recalling the ghost-like movements he had seen then, Han Li felt a chill and became fearful.

As Han Li knew, there was a limit to the martial arts he could master in a short time, and he didn’t know if they would be a threat to Master Wen.

The only way to defeat him was to exploit his underestimation of Han Li. He would only have a chance if he could catch his opponent off guard when he was being careless.

For a while, Han Li spent his time memorizing the sword techniques of the Cracking Mountain Swordplay. At the same time, he selected and trained in secret techniques that he could use immediately.

After racking his brain for several days, he was able to organize the direction of his swordplay training, and after that, he took care of the necessary tasks one by one.

The first thing he did was return the Cracking Mountain Swordplay to Lu Feiyu. He also told him that a worker in the kitchen was actually a spy from the Arang Gang, revealing the whole story.

Lu Feiyu was very surprised and pleased to hear this story. He patted Han Li on the shoulder several times and even called him his good ‘brother’.

It seemed he was deeply moved that Han Li had given him such a great achievement without asking for anything in return.

However, Han Li was also happy to share the news, as he was able to resolve the matter without much effort and also show his generosity.

After parting with Lu Feiyu, Han Li went to find the best blacksmiths in the sect. He asked them to make several uniquely shaped daggers.

The daggers were specially ordered with modified shapes, along with parts of unknown purpose and iron bells.

Since they had to be made in a short period, he had to spend a lot of silver. However, after checking the daggers and bells he had requested a few days later, he was very satisfied. Only then did he feel that the silver he had spent was not a waste.

* * *

That night, Han Li left a letter on the table and disappeared without a trace.

‘Master, please don’t be angry. I am not trying to run away, but being with you is hindering my training in the Eternal Spring Technique, so I am going to find a quiet place to enter secluded training. Please wait patiently, and I will definitely come back to see you on this day in four months.’

Master Wen leaned back in a large chair, carefully reading the letter in his hand. His face was clouded with anger. Next to the letter Han Li had written was another sheet, which was a list of the daggers Han Li had ordered recently. He slammed his fist on the table and tore the paper to shreds. He paced around the room anxiously several times before finally stopping.

“No matter how much you struggle, you are still in my palm. You are mine.”

He turned and walked to the window. He whistled softly, and a yellow-feathered bird flew in from outside the window and landed on Master Wen’s shoulder. A faint smile appeared on his face as the bird appeared.

“Yes, yes. You must be hungry. Here, this is your favorite Yellow Chestnut Pill.”

He looked at the bird with affectionate eyes and took out a yellow pill from his clothes and put it in its mouth.

“Go. Chase after him. If he tries to leave this mountain range, come back and tell me immediately.”

The bird, having eaten the pill, chirped happily. As if responding to Master Wen’s words, it circled the room once and then flew swiftly towards the window.

“Hmph! No matter how fast you run, can you be faster than my Cloud Wing Bird? Let’s see what you’re up to. I’ll just wait for that day to come. If anyone interferes with me, I won’t spare them. Even if it’s Buddha, I will kill them. Haha! Hahahaha!”

Master Wen’s mad laughter erupted.

* * *

‘Don’t be reckless. That guy is not ordinary. Are you going to make a mistake at the last minute before the great undertaking?’

Suddenly, a young voice echoed in his head. Master Wen’s expression instantly hardened, and his face became cold.

“Lin Zidong, don’t interfere in my affairs. How dare you try to teach me. If the plan succeeds, you can just watch and enjoy the benefits. As long as there are no problems with the Great Method you taught me, what could go wrong? Are you perhaps hoping that things will go awry!”

Master Wen’s tone was filled with suspicion.

‘How could there be any errors in the Great Method? Isn’t it just that one of them died because it wasn’t familiar with the Great Method? How can the death of one animal ruin the great undertaking?’

“Hmph! Of course, it should be like that. It’s just a pity that there isn’t a chance to train a little more. If I had done it a few more times, I would have completely mastered it.”

As he recalled the training of the Great Method, the doubts that had arisen in his mind dissipated like mist. As Master Wen finished speaking, the voice also fell silent. After that, an eerie atmosphere filled the room.

* * *

Han Li settled in a secluded and hidden cave, more remote than the place where he had met Lu Feiyu. The floor of this cave was long and narrow. Steep mountain peaks were located on both sides, forming a gap between them. This cave was completely blocked by dense shrubs, making it impossible to enter. The only way in was a rope tied to the edge of a relatively low cliff.

Also, most of the cave was filled with thorny bushes, and countless vines intertwined to form a green roof. Even if someone passed by this place, there was no worry of being discovered.

Han Li placed the items he had brought from his belongings on a large rock. Then, he closed his eyes and pondered, organizing his thoughts.

“Now, shall I try to train in the most difficult ‘Soft Bone Technique’?”

Thus, Han Li began his training alone. He didn’t realize that a yellow bird was sitting on a tree branch not far away. The bird was watching him without turning its gaze away for even a moment.

* * *

Two months had passed since Han Li had entered the cave.

The cave was empty, and there was no trace of human presence. Even Han Li, who should have been there, was nowhere to be seen, but the small yellow bird on the tree branch was still guarding the place. It was using its beak to groom its feathers. It didn’t seem to care at all that Han Li was not visible.

Suddenly, a gray bird flew into the cave through the green vines. The bird circled near the vines a few times before landing on a stake. It seemed to be taking a break, pausing its flapping wings.

The yellow bird turned its head and looked at the gray bird with a haughty gaze. It was as if it didn’t even deign to look at the gray bird.

The gray bird also looked around and noticed the yellow bird. It seemed about to spread its wings and fly away again. But suddenly, a yellow hand appeared in the air and snatched the gray bird. The gray bird struggled with all its might, but it could not escape the grip that was tightening around it.

Only then did the gray bird realize that the stake it had landed on was a boy wearing a yellow shirt. This boy had dark skin, thick eyebrows, and large eyes. Except for the clear energy flowing from his eyes, he looked too ordinary to attract any attention.

The boy smiled and looked at the small bird that was constantly wriggling. Just before the bird gave up trying to escape and went limp, he released his grip.

“Go. Next time, don’t sit down just anywhere like a fool! Look carefully where you rest.”

The boy’s warm voice was heard, and the gray bird, having found its freedom, quickly flapped its wings and flew away. The boy watched the gray bird fly away, and after a while, he slowly continued to speak.

“At this point, the Breath Concealment Technique and the Camouflage Technique are usable. Now, I just need to master the secret assassination technique.”

It had been a month since he had arrived there when he finally noticed the presence of the yellow bird. It had been staying around him all the time, watching him without rest. Han Li had tried to catch the yellow bird several times because he liked it, but none of his attempts were successful. As soon as he approached, it would fly away, and when Han Li left, it would return to its original spot, leaving him helpless.

He had a vague idea about the yellow bird. It was probably sent by Master Wen to monitor him.

Still, Han Li didn’t mind. Moreover, he liked this clever bird. He had no intention of hurting it at all.

While Han Li was struggling with the bird, Master Wen was in a stone chamber, drawing a strange formation with animal bone powder.

He was concentrating on drawing the formation and at the same time, he was preoccupied with consulting the voice that echoed in his head.

* * *

A huge incident occurred in the Seven Mysteries Sect. Senior Brother Lu had discovered two spies from the Arang Gang and made a great contribution.

They had planned to steal the list of disciples who were going down the mountain for training. Lu Feiyu found the list of disciples and captured them, protecting the disciples from danger.

A few days later, Sect Leader An awarded Lu Feiyu the position of Protector in front of all the disciples. As Lu Feiyu’s position rose, his reputation grew even higher, and the envy of the disciples who admired him soared to the sky.

Han Li, unaware of these facts, continued his training inside the log cabin.

He had been refraining from contact with people for a long time, except for the rare occasions when he went to get food, so he didn’t know that his close friend was at the center of such glory.

Summer passed, and autumn came. Time had already flowed to the day before the promised date. A strange movement was seen through the thorny bushes that filled the cave.

The protagonist of that movement moved his body nimbly, unconcerned about the thorns of the dense branches. His movements felt like smoke rising and disappearing, and he made no sound.

Before he knew it, he had stopped at the very top of the thorny bushes. It was Han Li. His hair was a mess as if a bird had built a nest in it, and his face had turned black, making it impossible to recognize his original appearance.

The shirt he was wearing was torn to shreds, revealing his skin. His appearance was bizarre, with small bells hanging from his neck, waist, thighs, and ankles, displaying a ghostly, silent movement. His movements seemed to have reached an eerie level.

He stood motionless, looking at the Divine Hand Valley.

“Fortunately, I made it in time. I finally mastered the Luo Yan Step [a movement technique]. With this footwork, I can escape from any dangerous situation at any time.”

Although his expression was unreadable, his eyes were filled with joy.

After months of hardship, he had mastered techniques that could unleash great power. He might not be a match for the unfathomable Master Wen, but it would be a great help in surviving.

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