The Heart of the Mortal

Chapter 254: Parting

“Do you know anything about this cultivator’s background or cultivation level?” Han Li asked calmly, rubbing his nose. “If he isn’t an important disciple of the Yan Clan and his cultivation isn’t too high, I could go have a friendly talk with him. It should be possible to resolve this smoothly.”

He knew perfectly well that anyone who would resort to threatening a mortal woman couldn’t have very deep cultivation. Asking this question was merely the result of his cautious nature.

“I had Caihuan look into it beforehand. I was told he’s only at the fifth layer of a basic cultivation technique. Although his surname is also Yan, he’s definitely an insignificant figure within the clan. If he were a disciple of any standing, how could he be living among us mortals?”

True to her former role as the head of the Mansion of Mo, Madam Yan’s thinking remained clear and organized despite their current dire circumstances.

“Then there shouldn’t be any problem. Senior Sister, take me there a little later so I can get familiar with the route. I’ll take care of this issue for you,” Han Li said with a nod.

“Thank you, Senior Brother! I knew you would help!” Mo Caihuan, who had been listening closely, cried out happily.

“Han Li, I really must trouble you. If not for you, I truly don’t know how my daughter and I would have dealt with being pressured by a cultivator,” Madam Yan said, a look of relief in her eyes before she sighed helplessly. “Although this place ostensibly prohibits cultivators from harassing us mortals, such humiliation happens far too often in the dark. Why would the Yan Clan truly punish their own cultivators? And if a mortal is careless and offends a cultivator, they simply vanish without a trace. That’s a common occurrence.”

Han Li could hear a powerless resentment in her tone. Compared to her glorious days of holding life-and-death authority over the Mansion of Mo, this life of silent endurance was indeed humiliating for Madam Yan.

Han Li was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked a question that had been puzzling him. “Master’s Wife, your daughter has long since reached the age for marriage. Why not find her a suitable match within the fort? If she married a cultivator, wouldn’t she have a protector?”

“Marry someone?” “I refuse to marry any of those Yan Clan cultivators!”

As soon as Han Li finished speaking, Madam Yan could only smile bitterly, while Mo Caihuan spoke out loudly in opposition, her face full of displeasure.

“What’s wrong?” Han Li asked, a little surprised.

“Senior Brother! The cultivators of the Yan Clan don’t take mortal women seriously at all! Marrying one is worse than being a maidservant in the mortal world. If they’re slightly displeased, they start beating and cursing you. I’d rather stay single for life than marry here!” Mo Caihuan’s voice was fast and urgent, showing how much she dreaded this.

“Han Li, you’re not aware. One of your Junior Sister’s friends here married a cultivator in the fort. Not only was she not treated with respect, she was often abused for no reason. Later, when her beauty faded, he sent her back to her family’s home with a trumped-up excuse and a letter of divorce. Her fate was pitiful! Cultivators with a kind heart, like your predecessor Master, are far too rare here. I don’t want to let Caihuan suffer either. As for marrying a mortal, your Junior Sister’s standards are high. She hasn’t had her eye on anyone,” Madam Yan explained.

“I see. But Junior Sister can’t stay unmarried forever, can she?” Han Li furrowed his brow, speaking with casual logic.

As soon as he said this, Madam Yan’s expression shifted slightly, as if she wanted to say something, but hesitated and held back. Mo Caihuan, for her part, seemed to think of something and lowered her head, falling into a silent daze.

Han Li suddenly realized the atmosphere had become somewhat awkward.

He quickly changed the subject. “Junior Sister, take me to see the place first. Let’s get this cultivator’s harassment out of the way.”

“Mm,” Mo Caihuan hesitated for a moment, then agreed. Madam Yan did not object.

Thus, Han Li and Mo Caihuan left the shop and headed straight for the cultivator’s residence. It seemed to be some distance away.

…

“Senior Brother, what layer is your cultivation technique at, exactly? That guy, the moment he saw you coming to his door, he was like a mouse seeing a cat! ‘Senior’ this and ‘Senior’ that, bowing nonstop! His respectful attitude was like he was groveling before an ancestor!” Mo Caihuan had fully regained the cheerful demeanor Han Li remembered from the past. On the secluded path back, she chattered endlessly, showing none of the reserve of a woman in her mid-twenties.

Han Li gave a faint smile and said matter-of-factly, “It’s nothing. I’m just a single layer above him. According to the rules of the cultivation world, he does have to address me as ‘Senior.’”

Mo Caihuan’s eyes flashed with joy, and she giggled even more. “But whenever I think of the dumbfounded look on his face when he saw me, I still find it hilarious!”

This time, Han Li said nothing, merely watching her with a slight smile. After a moment, his gaze made her blush and turn her face away, and she fell silent.

But after a short while, she suddenly said something that took Han Li by surprise.

“Senior Brother, is it really impossible to become a cultivator without a spiritual root? I want to become a cultivator too, just like you!” Mo Caihuan had turned back to look at him, her face now full of sorrow, her voice filled with longing.

Seeing this, Han Li felt a pang in his heart, but he could only remain silent. From ancient times to the present, a lack of spiritual roots meant one could not practice magic arts. This was an immutable truth of the cultivation world for hundreds of thousands of years. How could he possess the power to overturn it?

Seeing his expression, Mo Caihuan felt a chill run through her newly kindled heart. She understood that even her seemingly powerful Senior Brother had no solution at all.

She could not help but feel a deep gloom. Silently, she fell a few steps behind him, walking slowly, her whole demeanor becoming subdued.

When they were not far from the shop, Han Li suddenly stopped and turned to face her. “I still have matters to attend to, so I won’t go back to see Master’s Wife. Let’s part ways here. It’s fortunate that I’ll be staying in Yanling Fort for a few more days. Perhaps we’ll have another chance to meet.”

“What? You’re leaving right now, Senior Brother?” Mo Caihuan was startled, and her face filled with disappointment.

“Mm. Here are a few dozen spirit stones. Leave them with Master’s Wife for emergencies. This is all I can do for now.” Han Li took a small leather pouch from his storage pouch and handed it to Mo Caihuan.

“Thank you, Senior Brother,” Mo Caihuan said weakly, her voice soft, her eyes filled with reluctance.

Seeing her like this, Han Li felt a strange, uncomfortable ache in his heart for reasons he could not quite name.

After a moment’s hesitation, he took out a silver bottle and poured out a single pink pill.

“Swallow this. Although it won’t make you a cultivator, it will at least allow you to retain your youthful appearance for the rest of your life, never aging. Consider this a small gift from this Senior Brother to you.” Han Li’s expression was solemn.

“Senior Brother, I…” Mo Caihuan heard this and was overjoyed, her emotions surging as she was about to speak her heart. But Han Li did not let her. With a flick of his finger, the pill flew directly into her mouth, forcing her to swallow it involuntarily.

“Junior Sister, I’m leaving! Take care of yourself and Master’s Wife!”

As soon as the words left his mouth, Han Li’s figure flickered, and with a slight blurring of his form, he vanished from the spot.

“Senior Brother!” Mo Caihuan cried out in shock, rushing forward a few steps to look around frantically. But there was no trace of Han Li.

With no other choice, she could only walk slowly back toward the shop, her expression dark and dejected.

A short while later, Han Li re-emerged from behind a building not far away. He watched silently for a moment, then turned and left without hesitation.

What this Junior Sister had wanted to say to him, Han Li could not be certain, but he had a guess that was seventy or eighty percent accurate.

But unfortunately, he and she were simply not fated to be together. His feelings for her had not reached that point.

Furthermore, the disparity in their lifespans after his Foundation Establishment was too great. This was another reason he was unwilling to entangle himself in this kind of emotion. Watching a loved one wither away before his eyes while being powerless to stop it—that was something Han Li truly could not bear.

…

“Celestial Crane Residence.” This was the name of the tea house that appeared before Han Li. A classic, three-story ancient building, it did have some style.

Han Li gave it only a cursory glance before walking inside without hesitation. From outside the building, he had already sensed over a dozen fluctuations of magical power within, all of them belonging to Foundation Establishment cultivators like himself, or even those at a higher level.

He stepped into the tea house, swept his gaze across the first floor, and without pausing, went straight up to the second. The first floor was filled entirely with mortals, devoid of any magical power.

Although the second floor had some cultivators, most were at the Qi Condensation stage, far beneath his notice. The third floor, where the magical fluctuations he sensed were closest, was the true target of this visit.