Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 398

“Did Senior Uncle Nangong place a restriction on your spiritual energy?”The silk-robed cultivator frowned, casting a sharp gaze at Han Li.”I’ll check it myself!”At the silk-robed cultivator’s command, Han Li obediently offered his arm, inwardly cursing the unnecessary interference.”Hmm! It’s indeed peculiar. However, it’s not a dangerous restriction, so it doesn’t seem to be malicious. Hurry and go up.”The silk-robed cultivator pondered for a moment before nodding. Then, he soared into the air, transforming into a streak of navy blue light and vanishing in an instant.”Senior Uncle Lam’s Formless Escape Technique is truly refined. Although he’s only at the early Core Formation stage, even a late Core Formation cultivator might not be able to match him!”The pale-faced cultivator muttered, watching the departing figure of the Core Formation cultivator in silk robes. Han Li was struck by a thought.’Formless Escape Technique?’Could he be related to the oil-covered ‘Old Monster Gong’ who appeared before the Blood Crucible Trial? Could he be a disciple or descendant of ‘Old Monster Gong’?While Han Li was lost in thought, the pale-faced cultivator, looking much more relaxed, flew away again.Since there were only a few high-level cultivators residing at the summit of Spirit Peak, they didn’t encounter anyone except for the silk-robed cultivator. They soon arrived at one of the caves located at the very top.”This is Senior Ancestor Nangong’s residence! Be careful with your words and actions once you enter. Senior Ancestor Nangong will remove the restriction.”The pale-faced cultivator looked at Han Li with a hint of envy. Then, he respectfully called out towards the gate.”Reporting to Senior Ancestor, I have brought the disciple you requested.””Understood. Let him in, and you may leave!”A strange female voice echoed, followed by a flash of yellow light, and the door opened. Han Li stepped inside without hesitation.Behind the stone gate, a beautiful female cultivator in a yellow short-sleeved top was waiting. She looked only about sixteen or seventeen years old, but she had already succeeded in Foundation Establishment, indicating considerable cultivation.”Follow me. Senior Ancestor is waiting in the main hall!”Han Li took a small breath and quietly followed behind her. Nangong Wan’s residence wasn’t very large. After passing through a few doors, they arrived at the main hall.The main hall was decorated elegantly and delicately. Incense of unknown origin burned in every corner, and a small flower bed at the entrance was filled with rare spiritual herbs.In the center of the main hall, there was a square wooden table and a vine-woven chair. A white-robed girl with long black hair sat on the chair, gazing at a silver greatsword.The white-robed woman sensed Han Li’s arrival and placed the silver sword she had been caressing into a wooden box before raising her head.It was the very beautiful face he had longed for all these years.Her sharp chin, elegant nose, and clear eyes were all the same. Han Li felt a warmth deep in his heart at the sight of her familiar, captivating face.It was as if he had spent hundreds or even thousands of years with this woman!How could he put this feeling into words? Han Li completely forgot why he had come, overwhelmed by emotion.Nangong Wan paused, noticing the Qi Refining disciple staring at her so impudently, and blinked her large eyes.”Ok-ah, you may leave now.”Nangong Wan slightly raised her chin, instructing the woman who had brought Han Li in.”Yes, Senior Ancestor!”The girl in the yellow top bowed her head in response and quietly withdrew.Once she had completely disappeared from the entrance, Han Li used his spiritual sense to confirm that there were no other cultivators nearby. Then, he looked at Nangong Wan and formed a hand seal.Crack.Han Li’s physique suddenly grew by several inches, and a blue light flickered around him. He had revealed his true form.”It really was you! Han Li!”Nangong Wan didn’t seem surprised, but she sighed softly.”So… you knew I would come?”Han Li, back in his original form, didn’t know what to call her and blurted out this foolish question. He regretted it as soon as he said it, but he couldn’t take back his words.”You what! Just call me Wan.”Nangong Wan’s expression softened at Han Li’s bewildered face, and she smiled brightly. Her sparkling eyes were captivating.”Wan!”Han Li was overjoyed and couldn’t contain his emotions as he called out her name. The anxiety in his heart vanished, and he finally felt at peace.If Nangong Wan had no feelings for him, she wouldn’t have reacted this way. For a moment, Han Li was lost in admiration, gazing at the woman’s beautiful face.”Why are you staring like that? Am I more pleasing to the eye than your new concubines?”Nangong Wan’s face flushed, but she slightly raised her head and asked.”You know about the concubines too?”Han Li finally regained his senses at her teasing tone.”Hmph! I even know that the new elder of the Fallen Cloud Sect is a cultivator who reached the Nascent Soul stage after 200 years.”Nangong Wan lowered her head, looking at the polished cave floor, a playful glint in her eyes.”Did you hear that from the Fellow Cultivator Tang I met a few days ago?””You’re not stupid! I received a special sound transmission talisman [a magical communication device] from Fellow Cultivator Tang. It’s unbelievable that you, who had been missing for so long, have become a Nascent Soul cultivator. I know everything, from your sudden appearance and becoming an elder of the Fallen Cloud Sect to your recent visit to the trade fair. And I also know that your concubines are still waiting for you in the Celestial Star City!”Nangong Wan brushed a strand of hair from her forehead, glancing at Han Li with a seductive aura.”You were supposed to return with another elder from the Fallen Cloud Sect. It seems something happened. As for taking concubines…”Han Li rubbed his nose, awkwardly trying to explain.”It’s fine. I won’t blame you for taking concubines. I’m getting married to someone else soon, anyway.”Nangong Wan immediately cut off Han Li’s words, her expression darkening.”What happened? Are you really going to marry that person?””Before I answer, I have a question for you. Why did you come to see me now? Is it to stop the marriage, or is it to go our separate ways after today?”Nangong Wan bit her red lip, her eyes shining.”Of course, it’s to leave together. I want you to be my woman, Han Li! I’ll take you from anyone, but I need your consent first.”His answer was resolute and without hesitation.”Tch, who said I’m marrying you?”Han Li couldn’t take his eyes off Nangong Wan’s blushing and embarrassed face. He chuckled awkwardly at her reaction.Even though he wasn’t used to such situations, her intentions were clear enough. After a moment, Nangong Wan wiped away her shyness and spoke seriously.”Do you know? The first thought I had after giving myself to you during the Blood Crucible Trial was that I should tear you, a mere Qi Refining cultivator, into pieces and kill you. And I was going to use the Vermilion Bird Ring to avenge the loss of my purity! After all, I had lost my purity that I had kept for 100 years, so I was furious.””I almost went to the Yellow Springs [the underworld] at your hands back then.”Han Li rubbed his nose, feeling embarrassed.”Of course! If I hadn’t been bewitched and weakened my heart back then… would you have survived after violating a Core Formation cultivator?”As she said this, Nangong Wan was genuinely blaming him. Han Li was speechless, and she softened her resentful tone, her red lips moving again.”After parting with you, I returned to the Eomwol Sect, but for some reason, whether I was cultivating or meditating, I couldn’t shake you from my mind. Moreover, as time passed, the memories of that day became clearer, and I became even more tormented. At that point, you had already become my inner demon [a psychological obstacle]. I realized that if I didn’t resolve this issue, I might not be able to improve my cultivation for the rest of my life.There were only two ways to eliminate the turmoil in my heart. One was to marry you, and the other was to eliminate you. I wouldn’t be attached to someone who didn’t exist in this world. At that time, there was a significant difference in our status, making marriage almost impossible.So, after much deliberation, I gritted my teeth and decided to eliminate you! Of course, before I could carry it out, the Six Demonic Sects invaded. When I accidentally met you again at the garrison, you had already succeeded in Foundation Establishment. Seeing that made my resolve waver. I thought that if you continued to progress like this, we might be able to become husband and wife.””So you were planning to kill me back then. I was overjoyed to see you, even though you were wearing a mask. But then I calmed down after seeing your cold demeanor and was depressed for days.”Han Li chuckled wryly, a little surprised. Hearing his words, Nangong Wan smiled and continued.”After that, the Seven Factions of Yue Country were defeated due to the betrayal of Spirit Beast Mountain, and each sect retreated from Yue Country with their core disciples. As the youngest Core Formation cultivator, I was also able to join the retreat. At that time, I overheard a Huangfeng Valley cultivator, with whom I had some acquaintance, talking about Senior Ancestor Linghu’s retreat plan.It was as if I was possessed by a ghost. I could only think of one thing: I had to save you. But when I went, it was already too late. The battle was over, and most of the disciples who had been used as bait had been slaughtered. Unable to confirm your safety, I had no choice but to return to the Eomwol Sect and help the disciples defending the sect fight against the demonic cultivators.As a result, I was severely injured by a Core Formation cultivator and was chased by several Nascent Soul cultivators. You know the rest. There is no such person as Nangong Byung in this world. I made it up. I wanted to reveal my true identity, but I couldn’t say that I, a Core Formation cultivator, had come to save you and wanted to marry you!Moreover, I had taken away your cultivation at that time, so I was even more ashamed. That’s why I asked you to return to the Eomwol Sect with me. But you were either greedy for wealth or your pride as a man was hurt, so you chose the spirit stones and refused to go with me. What could I do?”Nangong Wan glared at Han Li after saying this, but he could sense that she was secretly proud of him.At the time, Han Li didn’t know that Nangong Byung was Nangong Wan, but if he had followed her, the marriage probably wouldn’t have happened. Instead, she would have thought that Han Li was trying to marry any woman for cultivation, and her inner demon would have disappeared.”There’s no need to talk about what happened later. I returned to the Eomwol Sect and waited for them to settle in North Liang Country. In the meantime, I went to Yue Country once to look for you, but I only heard grim news. I only heard that the Ghost Spirit Sect had issued a kill order, but I couldn’t find out the specifics. Not long after, I was discovered by the demonic cultivators and returned to the Nine Nations Alliance.After that, I didn’t hear any news about you, so I assumed you were dead. Gradually, my lingering feelings for you and the inner demon that had been hindering my cultivation faded. That’s how I succeeded in condensing my Nascent Soul and became an elder of the Eomwol Sect.”Nangong Wan was very calm.Han Li’s expression changed several times as he listened to her calmly recounting her story. He had no idea that she had done so much for him. His gaze towards Nangong Wan became even more intense.”But what about Wei Lijin?””Wei Lijin! He’s a Huayimen elder I met by chance a few years ago, and he was terrible. He’s a typical hypocrite who pretends to be noble but is actually shameless and vulgar. I heard he already has more than seven women he calls ‘female disciples.’ I also heard that he secretly learned a technique to replenish his yang energy with yin energy [a cultivation technique that uses a partner’s energy], so his intention in proposing marriage to me is obvious! That’s why I immediately refused when he first proposed marriage to me.””You refused, so how did it come to this?”Nangong Wan didn’t answer Han Li’s puzzled face right away but asked abruptly.”Have you heard of the three great Nascent Soul cultivators of Tiannan?””I have. They are the late Nascent Soul cultivators that the righteous and demonic factions each possess, and they are said to be on the verge of the Spirit Transformation stage. If it weren’t for them, the balance between the major powers wouldn’t have been maintained until now. However, the Nine Nations Alliance has a couple who have reached the mid Nascent Soul stage, and it’s said that if they attack together, they can barely match a late Nascent Soul cultivator. Is Wei Lijin related to any of them?”Han Li’s face darkened with a bad premonition.