A Master’s Confession and a Verbal Siege

“Alright, the disciple just arrived not long ago. There’s no need to use such a lecturing tone!” the woman interjected softly, a hint of mirth flashing in her eyes as she observed Han Li’s uneasy demeanor. She spoke to Li Huayuan in a gentle voice.

“Fine! I understand. Regardless, this fine disciple of ours is my wife’s lifesaver. This master will certainly make it up to him!”

Li Huayuan gazed at the woman with a tender expression before turning to Yu Kun, who was still standing off to the side.

“You may withdraw first. Your master and mistress need to speak with your Junior Han in private. There’s no need for anyone else to be present.”

“As you command, Master!”

Yu Kun responded with the utmost respect. After casting a furtive, envious glance at Han Li, he quietly retreated from the hall.

“Lifesaver? Compensation?”

This time, Han Li was genuinely baffled. He had no idea how those two words could possibly apply to him. When had he ever done such a thing? He didn’t recall it at all.

Seeing Han Li’s utterly dumbfounded expression, the woman couldn’t help but cover her mouth with a light laugh. “Husband, you’d better explain properly! This disciple of yours doesn’t know a thing. Don’t leave him completely in the dark!”

Li Huayuan chuckled softly at her words. He nodded at Han Li and began.

“Han Li. By now, you should have realized the true reason I accepted you as my disciple back then, haven’t you? There’s no shame in saying it outright. As your elder, I genuinely coveted those rare spiritual medicines. That’s why I used the pretext of taking you as a disciple to forcibly take half your share. Otherwise, you would have received two Foundation Establishment Pills instead of just one. However, while I admit I reduced your rewards without reason, I also gave you my name as a backing in the days to come, ensuring you wouldn’t be easily bullied. I’d say that’s a fair trade. After all, given your aptitude at the time, it seemed unlikely even an extra Foundation Establishment Pill would have allowed you to succeed in Foundation Establishment.”

Li Huayuan spoke with an unruffled expression, showing not the slightest hint of shame over his past actions.

“However different it was later. Shortly after obtaining those medicines, while I was planning to refine some pills to increase my magical power, my wife had an accident during her cultivation. Her life was at stake. Fortunately, the spiritual medicines I’d gotten from you hadn’t been used yet. They were just enough to temporarily keep her alive. Over the following years, I used the remaining herbs to concoct a life-saving pill. My wife finally recovered just a few days ago. So, when I told her the story of the herbs’ origin, she immediately insisted we must compensate you. After all, it was solely because of those medicines that her life was saved. You could indeed be considered her lifesaver.”

As Li Huayuan spoke of the woman’s critical condition, his expression shifted several times, as if recalling the peril of that day. It was clear his feelings for the woman beside him were deep indeed.

“After hearing that, I found it quite reasonable. I decided that even if you hadn’t succeeded in Foundation Establishment, I would still formally accept you as a disciple. But before I could act, I received news of your successful Foundation Establishment. That surprised me greatly! After all, I had personally stated before that I would formally take you in only upon reaching Foundation Establishment. Because of that, it can no longer be considered compensation. It seems I’ll have to find another way, within my ability, to make it up to you a little.”

Li Huayuan had finally finished recounting the whole affair. Han Li stood there, stunned.

He’d never expected such a “pie falling from the sky” to land on his head. Even after hearing Li Huayuan’s words about compensation with his own ears, Han Li still found it hard to believe. He remained standing there, somewhat dazed.

“Alright, you seem a bit lost for the moment. Why don’t you stay in the cave estate for a day and a night? Tomorrow morning, you can tell your master what you want. Think carefully. Usually, your master isn’t a very generous man. This is a rare opportunity!” The woman shot a meaningful glance at Li Huayuan before speaking to Han Li in a gentle tone.

Li Huayuan responded with a few dry chuckles, looking somewhat embarrassed.

Finally snapping out of it, Han Li hesitated. He had initially wanted to bring up his request for a cultivation technique right away, but having been advised by this new “master’s wife,” he found it hard to refuse her goodwill. So, he nodded in agreement.

After that, Li Huayuan called Yu Kun back in and had him accompany Han Li on a tour of the vast cave estate.

The senior apprentice-brother immediately agreed with a beaming smile, taking Han Li out the door. Even before they had left the main hall, he was already beginning to describe the entire estate.

“Master’s Green Wave Cave spans several hundred acres in area. The rooms…”

As Han Li and Yu Kun gradually walked away, the woman suddenly spoke to Li Huayuan with a smile. “So, what do you think? How long do you reckon our new disciple can withstand Kun’er’s pestering? I get a headache the moment I hear Kun’er start talking. That rambling of his is truly something.”

“Sigh! Don’t even mention it, my dear. I can’t handle him either! Han Li definitely won’t last long!” Li Huayuan’s face was full of helplessness.

“That’s true! But what do you think this disciple of yours will ask for?” The woman suddenly opened her eyes wide, a hint of slyness flashing within them.

“What could it be? Pills, techniques, magical tools—that sort of thing. If it weren’t for you insisting we compensate this good disciple, I really wouldn’t be so generous.” Though Li Huayuan hadn’t handed anything over yet, he already seemed pained at the thought.

“What’s that supposed to mean? If I don’t repay a life-saving favor, it will leave a flaw in my Iceheart Art’s state of mind. I won’t be able to achieve the Great Perfection realm! And if I can’t reach Core Formation, how can I stay with you forever?”

The woman shot Li Huayuan a glare, but her next words were filled with deep affection, moving Li Huayuan deeply. He immediately patted his chest, vowing to satisfy Han Li’s request so that his wife would suffer no lingering psychological consequences in her cultivation.

Naturally, Han Li had no idea that this windfall from heaven was actually tied to his new master’s wife’s cultivation technique.

At that moment, he was leisurely strolling with Senior Apprentice-Brother Yu. Yet, he couldn’t shake the feeling that this good fortune had come far too suddenly. It gave him an uneasy, strange sensation.

“Oh, Senior Brother Yu, what brings you to the Sword Discussion Hall? How about we brothers spar a bit with some spells?”

As Yu Kun brought Han Li near a very large stone room, a sturdy man walked out from within. Upon seeing Yu Kun, he spoke casually, though his eyes kept sweeping over Han Li.

“Who doesn’t know that Fourth Junior Brother is the best among Master’s disciples in practical combat spells? I’ll pass on that. I have no desire to embarrass myself!” Yu Kun’s expression flickered at the man’s words before he brushed it off with a chuckle.

But then, he suddenly turned and pointed at Han Li, speaking with a grin. “I haven’t introduced our Fourth Junior Brother yet. This is the formal disciple Master is about to accept—our future Eighth Junior Brother, Han Li! And this is Fourth Senior Brother, Song Meng. You can call him Senior Brother Song. Come, let’s get acquainted. After all, we’ll be fellow disciples from now on.”

“Eighth Junior Brother?”

Upon hearing this, the fourth disciple’s eyes flashed with sharp light, staring fixedly at Han Li.

Han Li’s expression remained unchanged, but he sighed inwardly. This guy was clearly a battle maniac. Getting on his bad side would mean nothing but trouble.

So, before the other could speak, Han Li quickly took the initiative. “Greetings, Fourth Senior Brother. I’ve only just established my Foundation recently. I hope you’ll look out for me.”

With that, Han Li gave a respectful bow.

But his words made the man’s face fall with disappointment. He instantly lost interest, giving Han Li a faint, indifferent nod before looking away. Then, he walked straight past the two of them, leaving on his own.

Han Li and Yu Kun were left standing there, staring at each other in silence for a long while.

“Haha, don’t mind him, Junior Brother Han. That’s just Fourth Junior Brother’s strange temper. He might seem cold on the surface, but he’s actually a decent person!” It was Yu Kun who first recovered his composure, using a few words to break the awkward atmosphere.

Han Li naturally showed understanding, and the two of them continued their tour, chatting and laughing once more.

The cave estate was indeed quite large. However, besides Li Huayuan, his wife, Yu Kun, and that Song Meng, there was no one else. Han Li hadn’t seen any of the other five senior fellow disciples. Later, he learned that the other five all had their own cave estates outside and only occasionally visited Li Huayuan and his wife.

As for Yu Kun and Song Meng, they had grown up by Li Huayuan and his wife’s side. Having formed a deep bond with them, they naturally stayed without establishing their own independent residences.

During his idle chat with Yu Kun, Han Li gradually gained some understanding of his other senior fellow disciples. Before he knew it, they had finished their tour of the entire estate.

But it seemed this senior apprentice-brother had really gotten into the swing of talking. He insisted on dragging Han Li back to his own bedroom to continue their long-winded conversation.

Though Han Li was slightly taken aback, he didn’t mind and followed indifferently. After all, this was his senior apprentice-brother, so he had to give him that much face.

At first, he listened attentively to everything Yu Kun said, hoping to pick up some useful information.

But before long, he began to grasp just how terrifying this Senior Yu’s chatter could be.

An endless stream of words, like a demonic sound drilling into his brain, gave Han Li a headache after several consecutive hours of listening.

Only then did Han Li realize that his senior apprentice-brother’s initial enthusiasm in receiving him wasn’t genuine warmth at all! It was simply that he rarely had a visitor and was indulging his urge to talk!

After enduring for a little while longer, Han Li could no longer bear it. Making an excuse of being tired, he hurriedly fled the room and found a guest chamber to rest in.

Listening to that Senior Yu’s verbal assault was truly exhausting!

Han Li was thoroughly impressed! He had never imagined such a talkative, long-winded man could even exist. It was an eye-opener!

(End of chapter)