The Wind That Walks

Han Li looked silently at Li Feiyu’s face, which had taken on an aggressive edge, and did not know what to say.

Suddenly, Li Feiyu’s aura retracted entirely, and he was back to his joking self. He winked at Han Li and said loudly with a grin:

“How about that? Was my momentum strong enough just now? Overflowing with domineering spirit, the true colors of a tyrant, right? You must be so impressed that you’re ready to pledge your loyalty on the spot.”

Han Li was caught between laughter and tears. The first part of his words had been somewhat moving, but the follow-up had immediately shattered the illusion.

He glared at Li Feiyu for a long moment before grinding out between his teeth: “A tyrant? More like a mangy dog!”

Li Feiyu laughed heartily, unconcerned. He laughed with great relish, as if thoroughly pleased by having momentarily stunned Han Li.

Han Li gradually calmed down. Amidst the other’s laughter, he suddenly said flatly:

“I already warned you before. You know exactly where you stand. So let me ask you one more time, seriously. If you dissolve your cultivation, I can still let you live many more years. That way, you could spend a long time with Miss Zhang. Won’t you reconsider?”

Li Feiyu’s laughter stopped abruptly. His face sank, and a sharp light burst from his eyes as he stared straight at Han Li, not speaking.

But Han Li’s expression remained as calm as ever, showing no unusual reaction at all. He simply met the other’s gaze with clear eyes.

A full quarter-hour passed before Li Feiyu withdrew the light from his eyes. His expression softened slightly.

“Han Li, you know as well as I do. I will never consider voluntarily dissolving my cultivation. I understand you mean well, but don’t bring it up again, alright?” He forced a smile, a pleading note creeping into his tone.

“Besides, do you really think Miss Zhang would still care for me if I became a powerless cripple?” There was a hint of self-mockery in Li Feiyu’s words.

Han Li fell silent. He turned his head aside, looking down the path in the direction Li Feiyu had come from. After gazing quietly for a moment, he spoke in a heavy voice:

“Since you’ve made up your mind, I won’t persuade you anymore. Go back quickly. I hope you and Miss Zhang Xiu’er truly manage to make it work.”

Hearing this, Li Feiyu’s face immediately lit up with joy. He slapped Han Li’s shoulder a few times with force.

“Good brother. Those are the words I wanted to hear—the happiest I’ve heard all day. I’ll take my leave now.”

With that, he leaped up, vanished after a few bounds at the end of the path, and became completely invisible.

“That hurts!” Han Li suddenly clutched his shoulder. Li Feiyu’s few slaps had secretly used inner force. His shoulder was now swollen high, like a small red steamed bun, untouchable. He had really taken a considerable beating.

“That little bastard. Using this method to get back at me for poking at his sore spot.” Han Li grimaced as he fumbled in his bosom for healing medicine, unbuttoned his clothes, and applied it to his shoulder.

“Sigh. The one time I actually try to do a good deed, and this is what I get. I really am not cut out for charity. Time to head back and study the spells. I’ll have to settle the score for this sneak attack the next time we meet.” Han Li thought somewhat resentfully.

...

A long time passed. Han Li was now eighteen.

During this period, the Seven Mysteries Sect, pressured by the Wild Wolf Gang’s steady encroachment, finally declared open war on them.

From then on, countless conflicts of varying scale erupted along the border between the two factions. Many of the companions who had entered the mountains alongside Han Li perished in these battles, filling him with a heavy sense of regret.

The great bell outside the valley rang with unusual frequency due to the rising number of wounded. This gave Han Li plenty of practice in high-difficulty treatment techniques, greatly improving his medical skill.

But even with Han Li’s miraculous healing hands, quite a few mid- and high-ranking members still fell. Some died on the battlefield; others were too severely injured and perished on the way back, without even a chance for Han Li to treat them.

Nevertheless, this also allowed many young experts from both sides to make a name for themselves, stepping into the high positions left by the fallen.

For example, the Wild Wolf Gang’s Five Fiends, Three Hawks, and Two Leopards, or the Seven Mysteries Sect’s Seven Heroes and Twin Paragons, were the most famous among them. Li Feiyu was one of the Twin Paragons. Having personally slain an opposing Purple-Robed Flag Envoy, he had risen to the rank of Vice Hall Master of the Outer Blade Hall—a position of considerable power and authority. Moreover, his relationship with Miss Zhang Xiu’er was developing rapidly; they had already reached the point of discussing marriage.

When Han Li learned of this, he could only sigh softly. He did not know whether Li Feiyu was right or wrong. After all, he was not Li Feiyu. Without walking the same path, he could not truly judge the rights and wrongs of the matter.

But if it were him—if he had to watch the one he loved marry another—Han Li could not claim he would manage it. Yet to knowingly be on the verge of death and still marry someone also seemed beyond his capacity.

So Han Li could only feign ignorance. After all, there was always a distinction between close and distant in human relationships. Li Feiyu was his good friend, so of course he would lean slightly in his favor. On this point, Han Li’s conscience was clear.

In addition, another crucial matter had recently occupied most of his attention, leaving him no energy to spare for this affair.

After countless failures, Han Li had finally learned to use the spell known as Wind Riding Technique.

Like the Celestial Eye Technique, the Wind Riding Technique was also an auxiliary spell. It could only be applied by the caster to himself, not to others. However, its practical utility far exceeded that of the Celestial Eye Technique.

Once he cast Wind Riding Technique, Han Li felt as light as a swallow. With just a light tap of his toes on the ground, he could effortlessly leap several zhang into the distance. The exhilarating sensation of sprinting across land at high speed, of leaving everything behind with ease, was so addictive that Han Li would run five or six laps through the valley every day. He could not stop himself. It gave him a satisfying taste of being a master of lightness skills.

Naturally, this acceleration effect was entirely different from the Smoke Step. The Smoke Step was a secret technique that emphasized slipping through cracks and making the impossible possible, expending a large amount of physical energy over short distances for bursts of speed. This footwork was most marvelous when used in cramped spaces.

The Wind Riding Technique was different. After casting it, aside from a constant trickle of magical power consumption, there was no physical burden at all. One could sprint indefinitely without ever tiring. Moreover, this acceleration effect lasted until the magical power was exhausted or the technique was deliberately stopped. For this reason, it was commonly used by low-level cultivators for long-distance travel or journeying. It could be considered one of the essential spells any low-level cultivator heading outside the sect had to know.