The Unseen Trap

Chapter 299: The Appointment

“Connected to the demonic path?”

When the old Taoist heard that Han Li was a cultivator of Yellow Maple Valley, he did not show much surprise—it was something he had vaguely guessed already. There were simply too few Foundation Establishment cultivators outside the Seven Sects. But when he heard that the disciple he was about to take on and Head Steward Wang might be involved with the demonic path, his face turned green.

In the Yue Kingdom’s cultivation world, the demonic path was practically synonymous with bloodshed and cruelty. And he, a mere Qi Condensation old Taoist, naturally wanted to stay as far away as possible.

“Senior, are you certain? I did examine the young prince’s body myself. There really wasn’t a trace of magical power in him.” After his initial shock, the old Taoist thought it over and found it hard to believe.

After all, he had been in contact with this young prince for some time and simply couldn’t see anything that resembled the demonic path cultivators of legend.

Han Li did not waste words. He only said calmly:

“Whether these two are demonic cultivators or not, you will discover their abnormalities yourself if you pay attention later. I don’t need to explain. I’m not asking you to take any hostile action against them—just keep a slight watch. Also, do not try any probing moves. If they learn that you know their identity, your life will be in danger.”

Han Li delivered the final warning flatly.

The suspicion in the white-haired old Taoist’s eyes vanished at Han Li’s words, replaced by a look of fear.

After hesitating briefly, he opened his mouth and said timidly:

“What if these two discover I’m watching them? My magic power is meager. I’m afraid I’ll ruin Senior’s important matter!”

Han Li frowned.

It seemed the old Taoist was frightened and wanted to back out. That wouldn’t do. He would need to offer more incentive.

Thinking this, Han Li reached into his storage pouch and pulled out an object, setting it gently on the table.

“Watching these two does carry some risk. I have a suitable high-grade magic tool here for your self-defense. When this matter is concluded, the tool will formally be yours.” Han Li pointed at the faintly glowing purple bead on the table and spoke flatly.

“A high-grade magic tool!” The old Taoist’s spirits lifted immediately.

Poor fellow—his purse had always been so lean that he couldn’t even afford a mid-grade magic tool, let alone a high-grade one.

“This is the Violet Light Bead. Once infused with magical power, it will immediately expand a light barrier to protect your entire body. I believe few ordinary Qi Condensation cultivators can break through this defense. It should be enough to handle most dangers.” Han Li explained unhurriedly, his expression unchanged.

“A defensive magic tool?” After hearing the detailed explanation, a burning greed appeared in the old Taoist’s eyes.

Among all types of magic tools, defensive ones were the rarest and most valuable. If he tried to save spirit stones to buy a high-grade defensive tool himself, he would never have the chance even if he lived out his entire life.

“Very well. I will do my utmost.” The white-haired old Taoist’s face shifted through uncertainty for a good while before he finally gritted his teeth and agreed.

It seemed the saying was true—birds die for food, men die for wealth. The same rule applied in the cultivation world.

Seeing the old Taoist accept such a risky task, Han Li let a smile appear on his face, but inwardly he sighed.

“I will place a spiritual mark inside your body for now. If something goes wrong, I can find you immediately and might even save your life. After this matter is concluded, I will also give you a bottle of Yellow Dragon Pills as additional compensation.” Han Li pressed a ball of spiritual energy into the old Taoist’s body using the same technique as before, employing both carrot and stick.

The old Taoist was startled by Han Li’s action but quickly pretended not to understand his true intent, repeatedly expressing his thanks.

Seeing the old Taoist was so perceptive, Han Li chuckled and rose to take his leave. Under the old Taoist’s respectful farewell, he quietly left the prince’s residence.

He had no intention of returning to the Qin estate immediately. Instead, he found a random teahouse, went in, ordered tea, and sat in quiet contemplation. He began to review everything that had happened recently, checking if there was anything he had handled poorly or overlooked.

Regularly reflecting on his actions and checking for flaws was a habit Han Li had developed. Only by constantly reducing his weaknesses and filling in gaps could he remain safe in the increasingly dangerous cultivation world.

Thus, Han Li sat in the teahouse for most of the day. Only when the sky was fully dark did he finally leave, under the peculiar gaze of the shop assistant.

A customer who ordered only one cup of tea and sat drinking it for half a day—the assistant had never seen such a thing. Later, he would boast about it to others, unwittingly making Han Li the butt of jokes among some mortals. This was a humiliation Han Li had never anticipated.

The appointed time with the surnamed Xiao elder had not yet arrived. But Han Li did not intend to wait until late at night.

He would not be so punctual. It was better to arrive early, just in case the other party tried any tricks.

After walking for a while, Han Li suddenly frowned.

The marks he had placed on the Xiao grandfather and granddaughter were not in the eastern district where they should have been, but in the opposite western district. This irritated him.

Snorting coldly, he checked that no one was nearby, then tossed the Divine Wind Boat into the air. His entire body transformed into a streak of white light, speeding toward the direction of the marks.

Truth be told, using spiritual energy to track people was a common technique among Foundation Establishment cultivators. Most could only sense targets within a few dozen li. But Han Li, who had cultivated the Great Derivative Art, could faintly track targets over a hundred li away—a truly astonishing range.

This only deepened his anticipation for reaching the second layer of the Great Derivative Art.

Moments later, Han Li stood on the Divine Wind Boat, coldly gazing down at an unremarkable small courtyard dozens of zhang below. The courtyard held only three small, somewhat worn-out houses.

Standing on the jade-white boat, Han Li did not rashly descend. He remained silent, apparently weighing something.

Finally, he lightly stamped his foot, and the boat descended like a meteor.

But when it was still five or six zhang from the ground, the magic tool suddenly halted. Han Li moved, lightly leaping down into the courtyard. At the same time, he raised his right hand, and the boat shrank as it flew back into his palm.

The entire motion was smooth and fluid, without a sound.

Then, like a ghost, Han Li stood before the central house. Unhurriedly, he released his spiritual sense to probe the activity inside.

He could clearly sense that the two spiritual energy signatures faintly corresponding to his mark were indeed inside this house.

Sure enough, the moment his spiritual sense entered the room, he clearly heard a young woman’s voice.

“Grandfather, won’t this anger him? If he really finds us, will the excuse we prepared work?” The girl’s voice was full of worry. Clearly, the powerful impression Han Li had left on her was profound.

“Hmph! Silly girl. Just because he said he could find us with a bit of spiritual energy, do you really believe he can? Your grandfather has eaten more salt than you have eaten rice. I’ve seen plenty of scare tactics and deliberate intimidation. I don’t quite believe what that man said is true. And even if a tracking technique exists, it’s impossible for a Foundation Establishment cultivator to sense someone this far away. If we had stayed home in the eastern district, we really would have been found.” The old man snorted and lectured the girl.

“If that’s the case, why didn’t we just leave the capital overnight? Instead, we only moved to the western district.” The girl still wasn’t convinced.

“What do you know? What I just said is only my guess. Whether it’s true is still uncertain. If I’m right, naturally we can avoid this man’s threats and go live freely elsewhere. But he is, after all, a Foundation Establishment cultivator. He might actually have a tracking technique that works over such long distances. If we ran outside the capital and he cornered us, there would be no way to talk our way out of it. In the western district, it’s different—we can easily find an excuse to brush it off.” The old man seemed to dote on the girl greatly and patiently explained in detail.

“Hehe, Grandfather, you’re quite cunning! But I don’t think this man seems like the type to do despicable things. Do we really need to hide from him like this? If you ask me, we should just use that Daoist manual to trade with him properly. We might even get a good deal! After all, that manual is too profound and useless to us.” The girl chuckled lightly, unconcerned.

“Hmph, the world is dangerous. You think it’s that simple? By normal logic, an open and fair trade leaves nothing to hide from. But have you considered? Fair trade only exists when both sides are equal in status and strength. When one side is strong and the other weak, there is no fairness.”

“Besides, that Daoist manual might be a chicken rib to us, but in his hands, it could be a treasure. And after getting the treasure, killing the witnesses to silence them—I’ve seen that happen more than once in my life! How can I trust him? Our cultivation is too far apart. Killing us would cost him no effort at all.” The old man’s voice grew gloomy as he spoke, clearly helpless at the reality that his life hung by another’s thread.

“Grandfather, don’t be so discouraged! Didn’t you say that although that man looks so young, he might be an old monster who has lived for who knows how many years?” The girl quickly tried to comfort him.

But at that moment, a cold voice suddenly came from outside the house—the voice of the very person they feared most.

“Oh? Do I really look that much like an old monster?”

As the grandfather and granddaughter’s faces changed dramatically, the originally closed door silently swung open. Han Li walked in unhurriedly.

Once inside, he sat down unceremoniously in the main seat, then looked at the two of them with an extremely calm expression, saying nothing.