The Vanishing Act

Chapter 320: Disappeared

“No. Seven or eight years ago, I was helping Senior Martial Brother Ma tend the medicine garden. Wasn’t the Blood Forbidden Trial around that time too? Senior Sister Chen, why do you ask?” Han Li raised his head and answered calmly, even allowing a hint of curiosity to surface on his face.

Chen Qiaoqian’s face went pale. She bit her lower lip before speaking somewhat stiffly:

“No? But I remember that Junior Han happened to leave the sect around that time. The timing seems just right.”

“Ah, that was when I was preparing for the Blood Forbidden Trial. I went out to purchase some talismans and magic tools. Nothing out of the ordinary happened,” Han Li denied unhurriedly.

Hearing this, Chen Qiaoqian was silent for a long while. She simply stared at Han Li with a cold gaze, making him feel somewhat uneasy inside.

“If that’s the case, then there’s nothing more to say. You may leave, Junior Brother. I wish to be alone for a while.”

A trace of barely perceptible disappointment flickered across Chen Qiaoqian’s face. She gently turned her head away, her voice filled with exhaustion.

Han Li sighed inwardly. He knew that whether she believed him or not, this Senior Sister Chen would no longer trouble him.

She should have understood his intention to keep his distance. Given her pride, she would not come looking for him again.

“Senior Sister, I’ll take my leave then.” Han Li clasped his hands and turned without hesitation, striding out of the garden.

Only after Han Li’s figure had completely vanished did Chen Qiaoqian turn back. She gazed at the garden entrance with a complicated expression and murmured softly:

“If it wasn’t you, who else could it be? Back then, you were the only one in the valley with both the strength and the convenient absence, Junior Han.”

Having said this, she drifted over to a blooming peony. She extended a slender finger, gently snapped the delicate flower from its stem, and brought it to her nose for a light sniff.

As the fragrance filled her senses, Chen Qiaoqian sank deep into thought.

Han Li left the garden, let out a long breath, and shook his head. Then, with light steps, he returned to the main hall.

The others were a little surprised to see him back so soon, but no one was tactless enough to inquire.

When someone made a teasing remark about him and Chen Qiaoqian, Han Li simply smiled and brushed it off, showing no unusual reaction.

Shortly after, Chen Qiaoqian also entered. She looked composed, sat down beside Zhong Weiniang as before, and continued their quiet conversation.

Seeing this, the others naturally refrained from further jokes. The topic quickly shifted back to the upcoming battle against the Black Fiend Sect.

Time flew by. The daylight hours passed swiftly.

The Yellow Maple Valley cultivators had already returned to their respective rooms, preparing for the imminent battle.

Though everyone believed their side’s advantage in Foundation Establishment cultivators would secure victory without issue, each remained cautious. No one would risk their life through carelessness.

Still, the thought of the many benefits they could obtain after wiping out the Black Fiend Sect’s headquarters made it hard for them to contain their excitement.

After all, when did they ever have the chance to openly hunt down Foundation Establishment cultivators? Of course, the life-or-death struggles with demonic cultivators, where one’s life hung by a thread, were an exception.

This time, there wasn’t just one or two Black Fiend Sect Foundation Establishment cultivators; surely they could each claim a fair share of high-grade materials and quality tools. Especially those fellow disciples who had come to assist Senior Sister Chen—most were here precisely for this reason.

Otherwise, who would risk their lives for the mere claim of eliminating a heretical sect?

Han Li was also in his room, calmly inspecting a few puppet beasts in his hands. The four friends from Meng Mountain stood respectfully before him, acting as if they followed his lead.

Ever since Han Li’s fellow disciples had arrived, the dark-faced old man had considered approaching these Foundation Establishment cultivators to curry favor, hoping to gain some benefits.

But whether it was Song Meng and the others or the later arrivals like Chen Qiaoqian, none of them paid any attention to a Qi Condensation rogue cultivator like the dark-faced old man. A few curt words sent the group packing. This made them clearly realize that not every Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Seven Great Sects was willing to associate with them. Consequently, their awe of Han Li only deepened.

“In this battle against the Black Fiend Sect, there’s no need for you to participate, whether we win or lose. It would be better for you to leave the capital tonight and lie low,” Han Li said, his tone indifferent after storing a puppet beast back into his storage pouch.

“But Senior, how can we retreat before the battle?” the dark-faced old man hurriedly spoke on behalf of the others.

“This isn’t about retreat or advance. You simply can’t get involved; joining on your own would only be throwing your lives away. Here are a few superior-grade magic tools. Take one each. Consider it a parting gift from me as your senior.” Han Li shook his head, then smiled slightly.

As he spoke, he swept his sleeve across the tabletop, revealing several gleaming, finely crafted magic tools.

Han Li wasn’t lacking in top-grade tools, and he had quite a few of them. After all, he had killed many Foundation Establishment cultivators, amassing an impressive collection.

However, he had no intention of giving those away. A few superior-grade tools were already a generous gift for these Qi Condensation rogue cultivators. If he gave them top-grade tools, it might instead ignite their greed, making it harder to bring them under his control in the future.

True to expectations, the four friends from Meng Mountain were overjoyed at the sight of these tools. They repeated their thanks and pledged that if Han Li ever needed their services, he only had to come to Meng Mountain. They would be more than willing to serve him.

Having heard the commitment he wanted, Han Li gave them ample face by personally escorting them out of Yuejing City, leaving them deeply grateful.

But just before leaving, the dark-faced old man pulled Han Li aside and spoke carefully:

“Senior, I take it Fifth Sister won’t be appearing at the Black Fiend Sect’s headquarters? You don’t need to say anything, Senior. We brothers have long understood the situation in our hearts. Even Fourth Brother has probably guessed as much. But none of us has seen fit to tear down the veil. After all, Fifth Sister was too far gone. Perhaps it’s for the best that she no longer appears before us.” Having said these words with profound meaning, the old man seemed to have set down a heavy burden. His expression returned to one of respect as he took his leave.

Han Li stood there, watching the four figures fade into the distance, pondering the meaning behind the old man’s final words.

A moment later, he let out a quiet, inexplicable laugh, then drifted back into the city.

By the time he returned to the Qin estate, the sky had darkened. The Yellow Maple Valley cultivators were assembled in the main hall, ready to depart. But to his surprise, he found that their Third Senior Brother was not present.

Han Li turned in surprise to Song Meng, who was polishing a blue longsword magic tool, and asked:

“Fourth Senior Brother, where is Third Senior Brother?”

“Senior Brother Liu went to try and persuade Sixth Junior Brother one more time. If Martial Brother Wu agrees to join us, tonight’s battle will be slightly more assured. But as I see it, he’s wasting his breath. If Wu Xuan was willing to help, he wouldn’t have left in the first place,” Song Meng replied without lifting his head.

“He went to find Sixth Senior Brother?”

Han Li frowned. Just as he was about to ask for more details, Liu Jing walked in from outside, his expression peculiar.

“Junior Brother Liu, is your Martial Brother Wu still unwilling to come? If so, let it be. We don’t need him or anyone else. The nine of us are enough to deal with the Black Fiend Sect,” one of the male disciples from Chen Qiaoqian’s group said dismissively. He looked to be the oldest among them.

“If only that were the case. The thing is, I never even saw Martial Brother Wu this time,” Liu Jing said with a bitter smile.

Everyone present, including Han Li, was taken aback.

“What’s going on, Senior Brother Liu? That coward was staying at an inn nearby, wasn’t he? Did he check out early and return to the sect?” Zhong Weiniang blinked her large eyes and guessed.

“No. I asked the innkeeper. Brother Wu left yesterday morning and hasn’t been seen since. His personal belongings in the room haven’t been packed. It doesn’t look like he returned to the valley,” Liu Jing said, shaking his head with concern.

Hearing this, the others began to discuss the matter, but no one could say for sure what had happened.

Han Li, however, quietly speculated:

“Could it be that this Wu Xuan was unlucky enough to be captured by the Black Fiend Sect?”

Perhaps Liu Jing had the same thought. He glanced at the dark sky outside and said decisively:

“We’ll deal with Martial Brother Wu’s matter later. Let’s set out now. We must succeed in one strike and completely eradicate the Black Fiend Sect!”

(The Chapter Ends)