A Disturbing Encounter in the Night

After listening to Manager Tian’s explanation, Han Li gained a certain understanding of Talisman Treasures. He couldn’t help but examine the talisman in the brocade box once more.

“This Golden Firmament Talisman Treasure was acquired by our pavilion from a minor family at great expense. It is a brand-new Talisman Treasure that has never been used. Exchanging it for Brother Li’s millennium-grade spirit herb is more than fair!” Manager Tian concluded, his tone suggesting he was making a great sacrifice.

Han Li sneered inwardly. He didn’t believe the manager’s claims of loss for a moment. At best, this was a mutually beneficial exchange. In the manager’s eyes, his spirit herb was undoubtedly worth no less than this talisman treasure—if not more.

“So, Brother Li, which item have you decided on?” Manager Tian finally asked with a smile.

Hearing this, Han Li hesitated, unable to make up his mind. He had originally planned to visit a few more shops to see if there were better magical tools available. But the items before him were all excellent and suited his needs perfectly. He was reluctant to give up any of them—especially the Golden Firmament Talisman Treasure, which would be of great help to him in the future. He had to secure that one.

“I fancy all of these items. I’ll take them all!” Han Li declared after a moment of deliberation.

He felt that buying everything from Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion in one go might not be a bad thing. At the very least, it would reduce the attention drawn to him, limiting the impact of the millennium-grade spirit herb to this single pavilion.

“All of them? Brother Li, surely you jest!” Manager Tian’s face darkened at Han Li’s words. He thought Han Li was making an outrageous demand, intending to exchange a single spirit herb for all the treasures in the brocade boxes.

Han Li smiled faintly at this. Without a word of explanation, he pulled another identical box from his storage pouch and placed it on the table.

“Two millennium-grade spirit herbs for all the treasures in your boxes!” Han Li stated slowly, projecting an air of determination.

Manager Tian was both startled and overjoyed. Without immediately responding to Han Li’s condition, he hurriedly inspected the newly appeared spirit herb. Only after confirming that this new herb was indeed the same type of millennium-grade spirit medicine as the first did he look at Han Li with a different, more appraising gaze. After all, someone who could produce two such rare spirit medicines at once was certainly worthy of Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion’s serious attention.

Since Han Li was wearing a hood, Manager Tian could not read his expression, which only made him seem more mysterious. After a moment of hesitation, he spoke decisively:

“Very well, since Brother Li has put it that way, I can make a concession and agree. But I do have a small additional request. If Brother Li comes across any more spirit medicines in the future, I hope you will give this pavilion first consideration. I guarantee that our price will be to your satisfaction.”

Han Li let out a dry chuckle and gave a noncommittal nod. But inwardly, he was already sighing. He knew the manager had grown suspicious. It seemed that conducting business by trading spirit herbs for treasures was something he should minimize in the future, or it would inevitably invite deadly trouble.

Manager Tian, unaware of Han Li’s true thoughts, was delighted by his nod of agreement. If this man surnamed Li could really procure more millennium-grade spirit herbs for him, then the small concession he had made today was well worth the price!

Thus, Manager Tian and Han Li exchanged their items. After each had safely stored away their respective goods, both parties departed satisfied.

Han Li immediately took his leave from Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion. He didn’t dare linger in the market town for even a moment. Quickly exiting the market’s no-fly zone, he took off into the air.

Fearing that Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion might have sent an expert to secretly tail him, he did not fly directly back to Yellow Maple Valley. Instead, he flew away from the Taiyue Mountain range entirely. After traveling a full three or four days’ distance, he felt safe enough to make a wide detour and finally head back toward Yellow Maple Valley.

Three days later, as evening fell, Han Li entered the outer reaches of the Taiyue Mountains. Since night was approaching, he found a secluded cave to rest for the night, planning to return to Yellow Maple Valley the next day.

The cave was located halfway up a hillside, with a few piles of scattered rocks concealing the entrance. It was not easily discoverable from the outside, and Han Li had only stumbled upon it by chance.

After eating something, he leaned against the stone wall, closed his eyes, and began to meditate and restore his energy. Time passed unnoticed until it was well past midnight. As Han Li hovered on the edge of sleep, he suddenly heard the sound of clothes rustling in the wind. Then, with a “thud,” it seemed someone had landed on the ground, having flown down from the sky and landed outside the cave. Han Li’s heart jolted, and all drowsiness instantly vanished.

“Could it be someone from Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion, here to kill me for my treasure?” He couldn’t help but imagine the worst.

“Junior Sister, this place has a nice atmosphere and is secluded. I think this spot will do,” a somewhat familiar male voice rang out from outside the cave.

Startled, Han Li breathed a slight sigh of relief. Since it wasn’t someone from Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion coming to murder him for his valuables, they were probably just passersby. There was nothing to worry about.

“Junior Sister, why look at me with such eyes? You’ve never experienced the pleasure of a man and a woman before. Let Senior Brother show you some proper affection, so you don’t die a woman who has never known a man. It would be such a waste of this fine shell of yours, about to be destroyed,” the man’s voice was unhurried, incredibly gentle, but the content of his words was lewd and ruthless.

Han Li sucked in a cold breath. Just who was this character outside, able to discuss such a despicable act of rape and murder in that tone? He was utterly impressed! And since only a man’s voice was heard, with no woman’s response, it seemed the “Junior Sister” had already been subdued, perhaps unable even to open her mouth.

Still, the man’s voice was so familiar. It must be someone he had seen before. Curiosity piqued, Han Li silently crept toward the cave entrance.

“Rip!” The sound of a woman’s clothes tearing echoed, accompanied by the man’s lascivious laughter.

“Come, take a Union Pill first. Otherwise, there won’t be much fun to be had.”

“Tsk, Junior Sister! Don’t look at your Senior Brother like that. You used to talk about dual cultivation with me once you established your Foundation, didn’t you? Consider this fulfilling your wish! Haha…” The man laughed arrogantly, somewhat beside himself.

By this time, Han Li had reached a rock near the cave entrance and peered out at the clearing.

He saw a man in white, half-crouched beside a young woman of marriageable age, wantonly groping her delicate body while tearing strips of cloth from her clothes.

The woman’s hair was disheveled, and Han Li could not make out her face. But her body was already laid bare like a tender lamb, most of her clothes torn away, revealing fair, supple skin. Her plump, half-covered breasts only stirred the blood and provoked man’s baser instincts.

“So it’s him!”

Recognizing the man’s face, Han Li felt a mixture of surprise and sudden understanding.

It was that narrow-minded “Senior Brother Lu” who had fought with the Murong brothers—indeed a beast in human form. He wondered which unfortunate Senior Sister from the sect was the little white lamb beneath his claws.

As if hearing Han Li’s thoughts, “Senior Brother Lu” casually brushed aside the hair covering the woman’s face with one hand, revealing a beautiful face twisted with venomous hatred.

“Her?” Han Li almost bit his tongue when he recognized her.

Wasn’t this the “Junior Sister Chen” who had always been cuddling with “Senior Brother Lu” on that little hill? She was his lover! Had Senior Brother Lu lost his mind, going through this rape-and-murder charade with his own partner? But seeing Junior Sister Chen’s furious, spitting glare, this was no couple’s roleplay.

Han Li blinked, thoroughly confused.

“Found it!”

Suddenly, “Senior Brother Lu” stopped his actions on the woman’s body and cried out in惊喜. In his hand, he now held a small, exquisite storage pouch.

Ignoring “Junior Sister Chen,” he upended the pouch and poured out a large pile of items. Therewere magic tools, talismans, and even private women’s items like undergarments and accessories.

“Senior Brother Lu” ignored everything else, rummaging through bottles and jars, boxes and containers, as if searching for something specific.