Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 171

A refined-looking young man, surrounded by others, was ascending to the second floor.

With a handsome face and a smile, he was the type of man who would be liked by anyone at first glance.

This young man was the one whose gait had caught Han Li’s attention.

The young man scanned the second floor while talking with the others. However, he didn’t pay much attention to Han Li, who had an ordinary appearance, and headed straight to the third floor. It seemed he was the distinguished guest they were talking about.

As soon as they went up, the waiters brought up delicious and abundant dishes. Afterward, the young masters dismissed their servants, seemingly to prevent them from overhearing their conversation.

Curious, Han Li spread his spiritual sense [a technique to perceive the surroundings].

“If it weren’t for you, brother, we would have been in big trouble. You really saved our faces! Here, let me offer you a drink!”

A thin young man said, deeply moved.

“Don’t mention it. How dare they try to kidnap people in the Five Colors Sect’s territory? It was only natural that I rescued you all.”

“If it weren’t for you, brother, we would have all been in serious danger. If you ever need our help in the future, please don’t hesitate to ask.”

Another young master thumped his chest.

“Thank you. But the identities of those who attempted the kidnapping this time are not ordinary. To dare to touch you, who have status in Jia Yuan City, they must not be ordinary martial artists.”

The handsome young man changed the subject.

“That’s right. I was clearly sleeping at home, but when I woke up, I was surprisingly lying in a different place! Thinking about how surprised I was at the time, my heart still races. Fortunately, my father and brothers found Elder Lee in time.”

The thin man shuddered as he recalled the situation. Han Li, having heard this much, roughly grasped the situation.

The young masters, who were quite famous in Jia Yuan City, were kidnapped one day by a martial arts expert. Their parents sought help from the Five Colors Sect, a powerful local force, and the sect’s young master stepped in to rescue them. This gathering was a banquet to express their gratitude.

Looking out the window and focusing on the sounds from upstairs, Han Li occasionally picked up useful information about the Five Colors Sect. After a while, Han Li’s mind snapped to attention when the thin young man asked about someone’s well-being.

“Brother Lee, the sect leader’s sixtieth birthday is coming up, so there will be a banquet. The elder is always so full of energy and doesn’t look like an old man at all. He is truly blessed. I will definitely attend the banquet and offer a congratulatory drink.”

“Haha! My father’s inner strength [a type of martial arts power] is profound, so he is bound to be different from ordinary people. If everyone comes, I will personally come out to greet you. My father will be hosting the banquet himself.”

The young sect leader smiled and lightened the mood. Having heard enough, Han Li withdrew his spiritual sense. Now that he had confirmed that the Five Colors Sect leader was in the mansion, all that was left was to take action.

He tossed the remaining wine into his mouth and left some silver coins.

“Keep the change.”

He said to the waiter and immediately went downstairs. Behind him, the waiter, having found the silver coins, expressed his gratitude repeatedly.

Leaving the restaurant, Han Li glanced at the mansion a few times and then left with a cold smile.

Once night fell, he planned to return, check if there were any Foundation Establishment cultivators [a level of power in cultivation] nearby, and then deal with the Five Colors Sect leader as promised.

For now, since it was still daytime, he would save time and take care of other matters first. Han Li disappeared into the crowd of people coming and going.

* * *

Today, the Sa Pyeong Gang was quite famous in Jia Yuan City. Although it wasn’t a major power, it was the leading force among the mid-tier gangs. The gang leader was Son I-gu, who had suddenly risen to prominence about ten years ago.

Naturally, his status had changed, so no one dared to call him by his name. The gang members respectfully called him Gang Leader Son.

The Sa Pyeong Gang’s headquarters had long since moved to a wealthier alley.

The gang members no longer toiled at the small docks but occupied more lucrative areas. They had even expanded their business to pawnshops and restaurants.

As the money flowing into the Sa Pyeong Gang increased, Gang Leader Son’s life also became more affluent.

A month ago, he had taken his ninth concubine, a famous courtesan from Jia Yuan City.

She was certainly skilled at seducing men and had captivated Gang Leader Son, who was already in his forties, and was receiving his favor. Gang Leader Son had long forgotten about his other concubines.

For this reason, even though it wasn’t yet dusk, Gang Leader Son was hurrying to the rear courtyard. Just thinking about her seductive figure made his heart pound, and he wanted to walk even faster.

However, as soon as Gang Leader Son entered the woman’s residence, he was momentarily stunned. A young man was sitting there, greeting him with a bored voice.

“Son I-gu, I didn’t know you had such abilities. You’ve managed the Sa Pyeong Gang so well. I had an eye for talent.”

The young man who was calling Son I-gu by his name and speaking down to him was, of course, Han Li, who had infiltrated the Sa Pyeong Gang’s headquarters. As soon as Son I-gu saw Han Li, he recognized him as the person who had put him in this position. After all, having taken the Appearance Preserving Pill, his appearance had not changed at all.

His heart pounded in surprise. He immediately adopted a respectful expression and bowed.

“Young Master, you’ve arrived. I am Son I-gu, reporting for duty!”

It was the first time he had lowered himself to bow like this since becoming the gang leader. Yet, just like yesterday, everything felt natural.

Son I-gu’s attitude was a bit unexpected, but Han Li gave a faint smile.

“Now that you’ve become the gang leader, there’s no need to be so formal. I’ve come this time to see how you and the Sa Pyeong Gang are doing, and I’ll be leaving soon.”

At these words, Son I-gu was greatly relieved. He had been secretly afraid that Han Li, who had appeared after several years, would take his position back.

Having heard a bit about cultivators while serving as the gang leader, he knew very well that they were opponents he could never stand against.

The opponent was truly an unfathomable being. He had thought he would be used like a puppet, being told to go here and there, but after a long time of being left alone, just when he thought he had been completely forgotten, he had shown his face again.

Not knowing the real purpose of his visit to Jia Yuan City, he couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

“Hmm?”

Han Li looked at Son I-gu’s eyes and suddenly, surprised, gestured.

“Come here and show me your wrist.”

Son I-gu was momentarily surprised but hesitated before obediently extending his wrist. Han Li held his wrist and sent a small amount of spiritual power to examine his entire body.

After a moment, Han Li released him and said something that would shock Son I-gu.

“You have chronic poisoning and will live for at most a month.”

“Poisoned? That’s impossible. I’m always so careful about what I eat and drink. I even have someone in charge of it.”

Son I-gu, shocked, openly displayed his unease.

Han Li, not intending to explain, raised his finger and sent a blue light into Son I-gu’s body.

“Young Master, what is this…?”

Son I-gu, who had no choice but to accept it, hurriedly asked.

“It’s called the True Spirit Art. It will reveal the toxins in your body, so go stand in front of a mirror and take a look.”

Han Li, sitting on the chair, spoke calmly. At those words, Son I-gu’s heart pounded wildly. He found a small mirror and looked at his face. Upon seeing the mirror, he was speechless. His entire face was black, and it was clear to anyone that he was severely poisoned.

Terrified, Son I-gu rushed to Han Li and knelt down.

“Please save me! I have always been loyal to you, Young Master!”

In fact, there was no reason for a cultivator to go to such lengths to deceive him. Why would someone who could kill him with a flick of a finger go to such trouble?

“Don’t worry, the poisoning has progressed subtly, but it’s not a strong poison, so you won’t die in a few days. Don’t be so dramatic.”

“You are so skilled in many ways, please detoxify me. Son I-gu will serve you with the utmost loyalty for the rest of my life. If you can’t believe me, I’ll swear an oath…”

His status had risen, but his fear of death seemed to have grown even more. Before Han Li could even present any conditions, he had already begun to beg.

‘What loyalty? I’ve been the one helping you all along.’

“This is a detoxification pill, take it in a bit. As long as you’re not exposed to the poison again, there won’t be any major problems.”

Han Li slowly shook his head and took out a navy blue pill, giving it to him.

“Thank you! Thank you so much!”

Son I-gu, having received the pill, was overjoyed and quickly put it away.

“It’s not a poison that can cause such deep poisoning in just one or two times, so it must have taken several months. You can find the one who poisoned you yourself, can’t you, Gang Leader Son?”

Han Li suddenly smiled and asked, half-jokingly.

“You’re teasing me. But there are already some people I suspect.”

Son I-gu scratched his head awkwardly and also smiled.

“Alright, it’s not appropriate for a cultivator to get deeply involved in a mortal’s affairs, so take care of it yourself. I’ve come this time to take Gu Hun with me. I’ve also accumulated some cultivation, so no one can say anything about it. Do you have any objections?”

“You’re taking Gu Hun? But Young Master, Gu Hun has already left the Sa Pyeong Gang a long time ago.”

Son I-gu knew that what he had feared had come, but he had no choice but to speak honestly.

“What are you saying? Did you lose him?”

Han Li’s face darkened, and the atmosphere in the room turned cold, making Son I-gu’s heart even colder.

“Please calm your anger. It’s not that I lost him, but Gu Hun ran away on his own! Moreover, he went outside the city and is wandering in the nearby mountains, so I’ve assigned people to keep an eye on him.”

He quickly explained, fearing that Han Li would explode in anger.

“Ran away on his own? What do you mean? Explain in more detail. If it’s really as you say, I won’t blame you.”

Han Li’s face was genuinely puzzled. In any case, if Son I-gu knew Gu Hun’s location, there was no problem. However, it was hard to believe that Gu Hun, who was just a walking corpse, had run away on his own.

Seeing that Han Li wasn’t venting his anger, he finally breathed a sigh of relief and quickly revealed what he knew.

“After you gave me Gu Hun, Young Master, I always followed your instructions. I didn’t move him carelessly unless it was absolutely necessary, and I didn’t let him be seen by others. But Gu Hun became strange six years ago.

At the time, the gang was expanding its power, and we ended up fighting another gang with considerable strength. We achieved a great victory with Gu Hun’s help.

But a few days later, the servant who was attending to Gu Hun came running and said that, surprisingly, Gu Hun had spoken. Thinking something was strange, I took the Soul-Guiding Bell and rushed over, but…”

“Did he attack you, even though you had the Soul-Guiding Bell?”

Han Li, already surprised by the fact that Gu Hun had spoken, urged him to finish the story. Son I-gu, also surprised, quickly continued.

“He didn’t attack me, but as I approached Gu Hun’s residence, he seemed to know and jumped over the wall and ran away. Of course, I couldn’t catch up to Gu Hun, who was running like the wind.”

As he spoke, he emphasized that he really couldn’t help it.

“Ran away?”

Han Li raised his eyebrows and fell into thought.

“Yes, that’s right! It’s been several years since he left and hasn’t returned, but it’s also strange that he hasn’t completely left and is still wandering nearby.

I’ve tried to capture him several times with the gang’s experts, but as soon as we get close, he runs away and doesn’t even try to face me. The others were no match for him, and two of the gang’s experts were even injured.”

Son I-gu also seemed frustrated as he recounted the story.

“That’s because of your Soul-Guiding Bell. I don’t know how Gu Hun lost control, but the restriction I placed on him should still be there, so he can’t leave that range.”

“Ah, is that so!”

It seemed that Gang Leader Son’s long-standing question had been resolved.

# 173