Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 527

Han Li pulled the reins, stopping the carriage by the roadside to let the soldiers pass first. There were about three or four hundred cavalrymen, and as they passed, it felt like a whirlwind had swept through.

Judging by the fierce aura emanating from the cavalrymen, they were skilled in battle and had tasted blood.

He had heard that the Great Jin had a vast territory, but wars frequently broke out with the locals on the southeastern and northwestern front lines. It would be difficult to raise such soldiers outside of those chaotic border regions.

As he was lost in thought, a jade-colored carriage passed by, and someone looked at him through the window.

“Hmm?”

Han Li raised his head at the sound from inside the carriage, but before he could figure out who it was, the carriage quickly passed by.

Watching the group disappear into the distance, Han Li shook his head. The carriage had a simple soundproofing barrier, and if he forcefully scanned it with his consciousness, the cultivator inside would notice.

He calmly watched the cavalrymen disappear and then started his carriage again.

After traveling another ten or so li [approximately 5 kilometers], he saw a three-way intersection connected to the main road ahead, with lush bushes and several teahouses nearby.

Quite a few carriages were stopped in front of the shops. It was difficult to reach Jing City in one go from here, so people were entering the shops to rest and eat.

Looking around, he saw that the soldiers in silver armor were also resting in the bushes. Several jade-colored carriages were parked there, but one of them was empty, as if the person who had been riding in it had gotten out.

Han Li scanned a few teahouses with his consciousness and was about to quietly drive his carriage past when one of the cavalrymen spotted Han Li’s carriage and approached, blocking the road.

Han Li was puzzled.

“Are you not Young Master Han?”

“I am, but what is the matter?”

“It really is Young Master Han. I wasn’t sure if I had seen correctly. Our young lady requests that you join her for a conversation at the teahouse.”

“Your young lady… I understand.”

Han Li nodded, recalling the clear eyes he had seen through the carriage window.

“Please come this way. The young lady has already reserved one of the teahouses over there.”

The armored soldier explained in a low voice, gesturing towards the woods, and at the same time, two other soldiers came and tied up Han Li’s carriage.

Following the soldier to a small teahouse, he found two women and a man waiting inside. The man was a middle-aged man in his forties, wearing a silk robe, with a long beard and small eyes, but he exuded an air of authority. The other two women were cultivators, with cultivation levels of the seventh and fifth stages of Qi Refining [the initial stage of cultivation].

“Cultivator Han, it’s been a few years since we last met in a place like this. I haven’t forgotten the kindness you showed me back then.”

The man remained still, but the women immediately stood up to greet Han Li. The woman with the lower cultivation level had a beautiful face and was beaming with joy.

“So it’s Miss Zhao. What a coincidence to meet here. I hope you weren’t upset that I left without saying goodbye back then.”

Han Li paused and smiled. Unexpectedly, she was Zhao Mengrong, the second young lady of the Zhao family, whom he had first met when he came to the Great Jin.

“You must have had urgent matters, so how could I blame you? Oh, let me introduce you first. This is Senior Sister Wang, who has taken good care of me and is like a sister to me. And this is Senior Sister Wang’s uncle, the famous General Zhu Nan, who is stationed in the south of the Great Jin. He is on his way back to meet His Majesty by order.”

Zhao Mengrong introduced the middle-aged man and the beautiful young woman.

“General Zhu Nan, are you not one of the eight great generals of the Great Jin? I have been rude.”

Han Li’s expression changed noticeably after hearing the man’s identity, whereas he had merely nodded indifferently when the beautiful woman was introduced. Although he did not know much about the Great Jin court, he was aware of some of the famous high-ranking officials.

The eight great generals were the ones who controlled the military power of the Great Jin court. Each of them commanded a million brave soldiers and were stationed in important border cities.

However, Han Li was not interested in the reputation of the mortal world.

He had heard that, except for two or three close aides of the imperial family, the other eight generals were all related to major forces in the cultivation world, and some had even become generals with the support of those forces. Therefore, it was highly likely that General Zhu Nan was also associated with some force.

“From what Mengrong said, you are also a cultivator, sir. I am just a mortal, so there is no need to be so polite.”

The middle-aged man cupped his fist towards Han Li and spoke gently. Han Li knew that the other party was just being polite.

With that kind of status, even Nascent Soul [a high level of cultivation] cultivators would find it difficult to offend him, let alone Core Formation [a mid-level of cultivation] cultivators. And since he had only shown his Qi Refining cultivation level in front of Zhao Mengrong, it seemed unusual for the other party to be so polite to such an insignificant cultivator.

‘For someone like him to enter the capital without bringing any high-level cultivators with him? He’s quite bold.’

“No, General, your reputation has reached even us mountain hermits.”

“Cultivator Han, I heard that you guided Junior Sister Zhao and helped her grow significantly in just a few years. Our master even said it was a great opportunity. And he said that you were probably hiding your true cultivation, and seeing that I can’t sense any spiritual energy from you today, it seems that was true.”

Senior Sister Wang said meaningfully, raising the corners of her mouth.

“Really? Then Cultivator Han’s cultivation is…”

Zhao Mengrong, who had been overjoyed, was surprised to hear that and looked at Han Li.

“I suffered an unexpected serious injury, and my cultivation was greatly reduced at the time. I have recovered a little now. I didn’t mean to deceive you, so please don’t mind it.”

Han Li smiled gently, but did not mention his actual cultivation level. ‘Miss Wang’ blinked her pretty eyes and couldn’t take her eyes off Han Li, then suddenly seemed to realize something and was shocked.

“So you really are a senior! Please forgive my junior sister for not recognizing you and treating you as an equal.”

Lady Wang smiled and spoke on behalf of Zhao Mengrong.

“Since I am just a mountain hermit of the Great Jin, such things are not important. Since Cultivator Zhao has shown me kindness by saving me, you can continue to treat me comfortably in the future.”

Han Li shook his head, not minding it. Only then did Zhao Mengrong, who had been looking embarrassed, return to normal and blush.

“It turns out that Master Han is actually a cultivator with high magic power. Although I am a mortal, I do interact with cultivators. Since you are also heading to the capital, how about we travel together?”

‘Travel together?’

“Then, I will. I will be imposing on you.”

Han Li thought for a moment and then responded cheerfully. He had been planning to find people familiar with Jing City to understand the situation before the auction.

Even if he was not a cultivator, the middle-aged man’s status meant that he would know a lot.

After that, Han Li and the two women chatted for a while. Zhao Mengrong’s father had been promoted smoothly in the past few years and was now in charge of military affairs in the capital. Although his rank had not increased much, just moving from the provinces to the capital was equivalent to a much higher status.

When her father headed to the capital, Zhao Mengrong was in the middle of an important stage of her cultivation and was in seclusion. That was why Senior Sister Wang accompanied her uncle this time.

When Zhao Mengrong asked about his activities over the past few years, Han Li said that he had been living in seclusion to recover and was just coming down from the mountains.

Zhao Mengrong and the others did not seem to doubt his words. They had all seen him sealed in ice, so anyone would think that his vitality had been greatly damaged.

At that moment, the teahouse waiter brought tea, and they savored it and moved on to other topics.

The middle-aged man began to talk about the remnants of ancient books in his mansion. Han Li was impressed by General Zhu Nan’s gentle, cultured demeanor and unique atmosphere.

Although he was not well-versed in literature, he had read countless ancient scriptures while searching for information on ancient elixirs and cultivation techniques. When he shared some of the strange and interesting things he had read in those books, General Zhu Nan showed great interest.

Since Han Li and the middle-aged man got along so well, the two women were somewhat left out. Senior Sister Wang gave Zhao Mengrong a wry smile.

Her uncle was good in many ways, but he was too interested in collecting ancient books and scriptures and the strange events of the ancient era. And since Han Li happened to know a lot about it, this had happened.

Zhao Mengrong did not mind much and quietly sat by, listening to their conversation, occasionally glancing at Han Li’s face before quickly looking away.

Senior Sister Wang could not have missed it.

She had already guessed that there was someone in her heart, and it was the man in front of her. Wasn’t she always blushing whenever the story of a certain senior was mentioned?

In fact, Senior Sister Wang had wondered how outstanding and handsome Cultivator Han must be for her to be so indifferent to other fellow disciples. But after meeting Han Li today, she shook her head without realizing it.

He looked ordinary, and his cultivation was most likely at the Foundation Establishment stage [a higher stage of cultivation], which was not much different from a Qi Refining cultivator, so she was puzzled. Senior Sister Wang began to worry that Han Li was not a good match for Junior Sister Zhao.

“I see. It’s amazing that the earth-shattering changes of that time were due to the instability of space rifts, which caused demons from other realms to invade the human realm. This is the first time I’ve heard such an explanation. I have two Core Formation seniors at my residence, but they have never told me such stories.

Cultivator Han, you really seem to know everything! But I have one question. According to the legends of the ancient era, there was a sacred mountain called Kunwu. Is there really a place where immortals live in the sky…?”

General Nan was getting excited and started another story. But then, a clear sound like a dragon’s cry echoed from Han Li’s body. It was not a loud cry, but everyone there heard it clearly.

“… !”

Han Li’s expression immediately changed, and with a flash of blue light, he disappeared from his seat.

The two women were startled and looked around, only to find Han Li already standing at the entrance, looking up at the sky with strange movements.

“What’s wrong? It sounded like a magical treasure in your body made that sound. Could it be that you are a Core Formation cultivator?”

Lady Wang murmured in surprise, and Zhao Mengrong’s face turned pale as she clutched a handkerchief in her hands.

“Just now, someone I know passed by above. They were too fast, so I don’t think I can catch up. That sound just now was definitely my natal flying sword acting up. I’ve made a fool of myself in front of General Wang and the two cultivators. It seems I won’t be able to accompany you. I have an urgent matter, so I must go first.”

Han Li’s face returned to calm as he apologized to the middle-aged man and the two women. Then, without waiting for their reply, he turned into a streak of blue light and flew into the sky.

The teahouse owners and soldiers who witnessed the scene were amazed and began to murmur.

“An immortal! An immortal is flying away…”