Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 396

Of course, he remembered her since he was the one who brought her into the Yellow Wind Valley.

“A child? Now, Junior Sister So is already married and reached the Core Formation stage decades ago,” Seopyeong replied playfully, trying to lighten the mood with a smile.

“Oh, that child has already reached the Core Formation stage. I never would have imagined.”

“I’ve heard several times about how Senior brought Junior Sister So into the sect. She considers it a great favor and keeps it deeply in her heart.”

“I only let her join Senior Brother Ma’s tutelage because of her talent. What favor are you talking about?”

Han Li’s voice was calm as he erased his smile, and Seopyeong and Loe Manhak understood his meaning, giving bitter smiles. He had no intention of visiting the Yellow Wind Valley.

And there was no way that these core disciples of the Nine Nations Alliance wouldn’t be able to guess the reason. Back then, ‘Senior Han,’ who was just a Foundation Establishment disciple, was used as bait and abandoned. So, it was not strange that he had no intention of returning to the Yellow Wind Valley.

As the two were lamenting, Han Li suddenly asked the middle-aged man from the Eomwol Sect,

“Isn’t there a female cultivator named Nangong Wan in your Eomwol Sect? How is she doing?”

His face was a bit more cautious than before.

“Ah! Do you know Senior Aunt Nangong? Senior Aunt Nangong is currently in the sect and is very well,” the middle-aged cultivator named Dang Myeonghwa replied, a bit surprised but immediately respectful.

“Senior Aunt? Has she also reached the Nascent Soul stage?”

Han Li’s tone revealed an unconcealed joy.

“She succeeded in condensing her Nascent Soul 100 years ago. She is currently one of the elders of our sect. Are you close to her?”

“You could say we are close. I received a great favor from her in the past and wanted to see her again, but unfortunately, I haven’t had the chance,” Han Li muttered as if sighing.

“Haha! Senior Aunt Nangong doesn’t receive guests often, but you will be able to meet her in three months. There will be a wedding ceremony between our Senior Aunt Nangong and Elder Wi of the Hwaeui Sect. Originally, only high-ranking cultivators within the alliance were supposed to attend, but since Senior Han is a close friend of Senior Aunt Nangong…”

“Wedding?!”

Han Li’s mind went blank, and he didn’t hear anything after the word ‘wedding.’

“Yes… Elder Wi Rijin of the Hwaeui Sect condensed his Nascent Soul 300 years ago and is a renowned talent in Cheonnam. So, this wedding is being prepared with great care by both our sect and the Hwaeui Sect.”

The middle-aged cultivator was surprised by Han Li’s cold face, but he was chilled by Han Li’s icy gaze and explained the situation in detail.

The others also had strange expressions. Unless they were fools, they would have realized that Han Li and Nangong Wan of the Eomwol Sect were not just acquaintances!

However, contrary to their expectations, Han Li removed the coldness from his face and spoke gently.

“Cultivator Dang, there’s no need to be flustered. It’s not that I have any ill intentions, but I was briefly taken aback by the news that a woman I once had feelings for is getting married. Still, since I’ve heard the news, I should attend the wedding of my old friend.”

His calm words greatly relieved the middle-aged cultivator, who repeatedly offered words of welcome.

Loe Manhak and the other cultivators were also relieved, as the six sects of Wol were practically one force, and they didn’t want any trouble. Then, when Han Li asked about the news related to the six sects of Wol, the five cultivators began to share various stories.

Han Li briefly frowned at the news that the Yellow Wind Valley’s Spiritual Master was not long for this world, but he pretended not to hear anything and didn’t say a word.

“That’s right. Doesn’t your Senior Aunt Nangong have a cousin named Nangong Byeong? She should also be a cultivator of the Eomwol Sect.”

Han Li, who had regained his composure, asked as if he had suddenly remembered.

“Yes? I’ve never heard of anyone named Nangong Byeong. It’s also the first time I’ve heard that Senior Aunt has a cousin. Could you be mistaken?”

The middle-aged cultivator seemed genuinely unaware. Han Li suddenly had a flash of insight.

“Nangong Byeong should be a Core Formation cultivator of the Eomwol Sect. How could you not know her?”

“If there really was such a cultivator, how could Wanbae [junior] not know? I guarantee that there is no such woman.”

Following Dang Myeonghwa’s words, Loe Manhak also added his opinion.

“As Cultivator Dang said, if she were a Core Formation cultivator of the Eomwol Sect, there’s no way we wouldn’t know her. Could you perhaps tell us how you know of this cultivator?”

“No, it’s probably my mistake.”

Even as he said that, Han Li was surprised.

How could someone as intelligent as him not realize it? The woman named Nangong Byeong who had appeared back then was not Nangong Wan’s cousin but Nangong Wan herself, who had changed her appearance! The fact that she hadn’t harmed him back then and the strange things she had said before they parted now made perfect sense.

Han Li lost the desire to talk, and he didn’t say anything after that. The others also realized that Senior Han was not in a good mood and didn’t chatter.

After flying for almost half a day, Han Li’s wind carriage stopped on top of a deserted mountain peak.

“Let’s part here. It’s about a day’s journey from Pungwon Country, so you should be safe.”

At his words, Loe Manhak and the others got off the wind carriage and bowed respectfully. As soon as they were all off the wind carriage, Han Li immediately turned and disappeared from sight in an instant.

“Cultivator Loe, was Senior Han really a disciple of the Yellow Wind Valley and a junior disciple of Cultivator Loe?”

The relatively older cultivator from Cheongwol Fortress asked Loe Manhak only after the wind carriage had disappeared.

“What, do you think I’m lying?”

Loe Manhak frowned and grumbled.

Even though Han Li had saved his life, he couldn’t feel comfortable knowing that a junior disciple who was much lower in cultivation than him had become a Nascent Soul cultivator.

“Haha! I was just asking to confirm, so there’s no need for Brother Loe to be so angry. But it seems that Senior Han and Cultivator Seop are of similar age. Cultivator Seop, how many years did it take you to reach your current level of cultivation?”

The Cheongwol Fortress cultivator turned the conversation and asked Seopyeong rather than getting angry.

“I’ve cultivated for over 200 years and have just reached the early stage of Core Formation.”

Seopyeong also knew what the other was trying to say, so his expression subtly changed.

“Then that means Senior Han succeeded in condensing his Nascent Soul in just 200 years. Everyone, do you understand what this means?”

The former cultivator of Cheongwol Fortress stroked his beard and became serious.

“That means…”

The giant from the Great Sword Sect couldn’t finish his sentence.

“Yes, it means he has the potential to reach the Deity Transformation stage. The last record of a Deity Transformation cultivator appearing in the Cheonnam region was tens of thousands of years ago. Although he disappeared from the cultivation world not long after reaching the Deity Transformation stage, he swept through the entire Cheonnam region during that short period. Even though he was only at the early stage of Deity Transformation, the righteous and demonic paths, as well as the neutral sects, couldn’t defeat him even when they joined forces.”

The former cultivator concluded in a solemn voice.

“Isn’t that a bit premature? It’s true that Senior Han reached the Nascent Soul stage in a short time, but the Deity Transformation stage is still a long way off.”

Seopyeong smiled and said after listening.

“Haha! It might be a bit premature? But it’s clear that Senior Han will become a figure who will dominate the Cheonnam continent within a thousand years. Since he has a deep connection with your sect, if we can win him over, it’s not impossible for our six sects to reclaim Wol Country.”

The former cultivator’s eyes lit up.

“Connection? Senior Han is from the Yellow Wind Valley, but he’s already become an elder of the Falling Cloud Sect of the Heavenly Dao Alliance. How can we win him over with our power? Besides, didn’t you all see that he has no intention of returning?”

Loe Manhak sighed, and the others couldn’t find anything to say.

“But why is Senior Han like that towards your sect? Even so, he’s from the Yellow Wind Valley.”

The giant from the Great Sword Sect asked as if he found it strange.

“It’s difficult to explain the details, but just know that there’s little hope. Rather, he seems to have a deep friendship with Senior Nangong of the Eomwol Sect. Wouldn’t it help if she recommended him to return to the six sects?”

Loe Manhak, who had been shaking his head, looked at the middle-aged man from the Eomwol Sect.

“Well… that might be possible. I’ll go back and report this and ask about it.”

“That’s enough. Winning over a Nascent Soul cultivator is not something we should be discussing anyway. Let’s go back and inform the elders! He will probably attend the wedding ceremony in three months, so let’s focus on returning to the alliance.”

Loe Manhak suddenly looked around and became wary. Then, the others also realized that they were not completely safe yet and transformed into five streaks of light and flew away.

However, Loe Manhak’s heart, which had lightly taken flight, felt as heavy as a thousand pounds.

‘How am I supposed to report this to Spiritual Master Yeongho?’

The disciple the Yellow Wind Valley had abandoned had returned as a Nascent Soul cultivator. Moreover, he held ill feelings towards the Yellow Wind Valley because of what happened back then.

If he reported it as it was, it would be like he was questioning Spiritual Master Yeongho, so he couldn’t help but worry.

* * *

The wind carriage was fast, but it was too noisy!

After flying a certain distance and making sure that Loe Manhak and the others were out of sight, Han Li retrieved the wind carriage and used earth evasion to move forward.

The news about Nangong Wan was one of the worst pieces of news he had ever received. Although they had only spent one night together and met only twice, he had unconsciously believed that Nangong Wan was his woman.

Especially after he succeeded in forming his core and reaching the Nascent Soul stage, that feeling had become even stronger. So, he had lost his composure when he heard that Nangong Wan was marrying another man.

He couldn’t just helplessly watch Nangong Wan become another man’s wife. In this life, the only man who could take her as his wife was Han Li himself!

Besides, he didn’t believe that the man who was trying to take Nangong Wan had any real feelings for her.

The question he had to decide now was whether to go to the Eomwol Sect and secretly take Nangong Wan away or wait three months and appear on the wedding day.

The problem with the first method was whether Nangong Wan would follow him without question. After all, she had lived in the Eomwol Sect for a long time and was an elder, so it would be difficult for her to just leave.

The second method was to appear at the wedding ceremony and formally propose to Nangong Wan. This would also be met with opposition from the Eomwol Sect and the six sects, and even the Nine Nations Alliance, so it would be difficult to leave together.

Of course, the simplest method was to find Wi Rijin, who was trying to take Nangong Wan as his wife, and kill him quietly, but it was the most dangerous method.

The Hwaeui Sect was not an ordinary small or medium-sized sect but one of the largest cultivation sects in the Nine Nations Alliance. It would have four or five Nascent Soul stage elders, and its power would definitely surpass that of the Falling Cloud Sect.

If Wi Rijin stayed in the Hwaeui Sect, it would be impossible for him to quietly deal with him and escape, no matter how skilled he was.

And even if he succeeded in killing him, the moment his identity was revealed, it would bring disaster to the Falling Cloud Sect. While flying, Han Li repeatedly considered various methods and narrowed down his options.

First of all, the most urgent thing was to head to the Eomwol Sect as quickly as possible and meet Nangong Wan in person to confirm her intentions. There might be some problems or difficulties she was facing.

If things went wrong, he planned to find a way to eliminate Wi Rijin before the wedding ceremony by going to the Hwaeui Sect.

If he couldn’t eliminate the threat beforehand, he would formally propose to Nangong Wan on the wedding day, and regardless of her answer, he would take her away first.

He had rarely given his heart sincerely throughout his life. He had always valued reason over emotion, but this time, he could never hand Nangong Wan over to someone else.

With his current abilities, no one could stop him unless a Nascent Soul late-stage cultivator blocked him. Han Li, who had made a thorough plan in his mind, once again set his direction and increased his speed fiercely.