The Concubine’s Confession

There were a few several-hundred-zhang tall mountains on the island, lush and green, covered in numerous trees.

After circling those peaks once, Han Li brought Wen Siyue down to the base of one of them.

Under the woman’s astonished gaze, Han Li released his flying swords. A few hours later, he had carved a small cave dwelling into the side of the mountain.

The cave was only half the size of his old Misty Sea dwelling, and its construction was far cruder.

Still, it had everything necessary: a bedroom, a secret chamber, a refinement room, and even a medicine garden.

Han Li surveyed the result with reasonable satisfaction. After setting up a few formations at the entrance, he led Wen Siyue inside.

“You can live here from now on. I’ll teach you the mouth incantation for the entrance formation. This place is fairly secluded; you can cultivate here in peace, and there should still be a chance for you to reach Core Formation,” Han Li said unhurriedly, sitting down on a hastily carved stone chair and studying her carefully for a few moments.

“Thank you, Senior Li!” Wen Siyue’s cheeks flushed faintly under his gaze. She seemed slightly at a loss.

“Senior Li?” Han Li laughed.

“I’m sorry, I should call you…” Wen Siyue lowered her head quickly, a hesitant expression on her face.

She genuinely didn’t know how to address a man she had just agreed to become a concubine for.

“Just call me Mister Li,” Han Li said flatly, rubbing his nose.

He hadn’t revealed his true appearance to Wen Siyue; he was still speaking to her in his illusory middle-aged form.

“Yes, Mister Li.” After a brief pause, Wen Siyue called out obediently.

Han Li nodded in satisfaction. He pondered his words for a moment, then asked in a gentle tone:

“Daoist Wen, when did you arrive in the outer seas? And how did Madam Fan become the sect leader of the Sublime Sound Sect? As far as I know, the Sublime Sound Sect has always been led by Fairy Zi Ling.”

“Ah! Sir, you seem well-informed about our sect’s past.” Surprise flickered in Wen Siyue’s beautiful eyes that Han Li hadn’t immediately pressed about the demon beast nest but had asked about the Sublime Sound Sect instead.

She thought for a moment, then parted her cherry lips to explain:

“Before the Sublime Sound Sect relocated to the outer star seas, everything within the sect was indeed decided by the young sect leader. But later, when she went to the Void Heaven Palace to retrieve a treasure, a sudden upheaval occurred within the sect. By the time I returned to the sect, the Right Envoy, Zhuo, had vanished without a trace. The power within the sect had fallen into the hands of the Left Envoy, Fan, and a group of outsiders. I later learned that they were actually cultivators of the demonic path. The Sublime Sound Sect had become a vassal of the demonic path. Left Envoy Fan promptly declared herself sect leader and immediately gathered a large number of disciples, leading us through Heaven Star City’s teleportation formation to this place. I was brought here by force at that time. Since then, our sect has opened a secret market here, which has continued until now. Over the years, female disciples who harbored second thoughts have either disappeared or been given away. Most have scattered like smoke. As for me, if Sir hadn’t rescued me today, I would likely have been turned into another’s furnace.” Wen Siyue’s tone grew somewhat somber.

“And what is this Sect Leader Fan doing in the outer star seas? Surely she didn’t come all this way just to open a secret market.” Han Li’s expression shifted slightly as he inquired, keeping his voice neutral.

“This… I’m not entirely sure either. But Left Envoy Fan and that demonic cultivator surnamed Yun have been using the secret market to gather all kinds of intelligence, as if they’re searching for something.” Wen Siyue said with some uncertainty, confusion flickering across her face.

Hearing this, Han Li stopped his questioning and sank into thought.

It seemed that soon after she had been rescued by him that day, the rebellion within the Sublime Sound Sect had occurred.

At that time, Fairy Zi Ling and he had been trapped inside the Void Heaven Palace.

And as soon as Madam Fan had seized power, she had immediately led a large number of disciples to teleport to Qiyuan Island. Only after that did the Rebel Alliance launch their offensive against Heaven Star City.

It seemed that whichever demonic faction had orchestrated the takeover of the Sublime Sound Sect had considerable influence within the Rebel Alliance.

Otherwise, they couldn’t have timed it so perfectly.

By the time Fairy Zi Ling had emerged from the Void Heaven Palace, the sect would naturally have been long empty.

As for what this demonic force was searching for in these waters by using the Sublime Sound Sect’s female disciples… there was certainly some deeper scheme at play.

But since it didn’t concern him, Han Li was too lazy to look into it.

Besides, that Miaohe Zhenren, with whom he had a deadly feud, seemed to be connected to the current Sublime Sound Sect. Han Li had even less desire to walk into a trap by getting involved.

That was why he had flatly refused Madam Fan’s proposal back at the secret market.

As for returning to the inner star seas, he hadn’t even considered it until his cultivation bottleneck was broken.

This place might be overrun with demon beasts, but for someone carrying treasures like him, the inner star seas weren’t exactly safe either.

In the short time it had taken him to mull over Wen Siyue’s words, Han Li had gone through them several times in his mind, finding nothing amiss.

It seemed she wasn’t lying to him.

He wasn’t being overly cautious for no reason. The Void Heaven Cauldron he carried was simply too tempting. Countless Nascent Soul old monsters were scouring the world for him.

And throughout history, there were countless cases of a man falling into a trap because of a beautiful woman. Han Li had no intention of becoming one of them through a moment of carelessness.

Of course, all things considered, the possibility that this woman was a trap was extremely slim.

After all, no one could predict when he would appear, or where. He was also quite confident in his “Shape-Shifting Art.”

Even an early Nascent Soul cultivator wouldn’t necessarily be able to see through this secret technique.

Wen Siyue, noticing Han Li’s shifting expression, looked a little uneasy.

Han Li finished his thoughts and noticed the beautiful woman’s discomfort. He smiled faintly and said:

“I’ve already fulfilled my promise to bring you out of the secret market and settled you here. Now, can you tell me the location of the demon beast’s nest? Once I know the location, I’ll leave immediately. Then we’ll be even.”

“Sir doesn’t want me to be his concubine?” Wen Siyue was taken aback, a look of surprise on her face.

“I’m used to being alone. I don’t need anyone by my side,” Han Li said calmly.

Wen Siyue fell silent. After a moment, her jade-like face showed a complex expression, and she gently shook her head:

“Thank you for your kindness, Sir. But since I said I would become your concubine, I haven’t changed my mind. Please rest assured. I will keep my promise and won’t hold any resentment.” A strange glint flashed in her bright eyes as she spoke with unusual calm.

“I’m not trying to test you, Daoist Wen. What I said was sincere. But if you insist on being my concubine, I won’t refuse too stubbornly. You just can’t regret it later.” Han Li understood her concerns and spoke with a hint of a wry smile.

He didn’t believe for a second that Wen Siyue genuinely wanted to be a concubine.

Offering that condition in the secret market had likely been a last resort.

A concubine might be a far better fate than a furnace, but no Foundation Establishment female cultivator would willingly become someone’s concubine. If they did, it was only because they were forced to.

Han Li was somewhat attracted to Wen Siyue’s peerless beauty, but he understood even more that this was a critical time for him to break through his cultivation bottleneck. He couldn’t afford to keep a Foundation Establishment female cultivator by his side long-term.

It was better to do her a favor and let the matter rest.

“I…” Wen Siyue was finally half-convinced by Han Li’s explanation, but her face still showed hesitation.

“What’s the matter? Are you really that set on being my concubine?” A hint of amusement flickered in Han Li’s eyes as he spoke softly.

“No! I… I am truly grateful to you, Sir! I, Wen Siyue, will never forget your great kindness!” Startled, Wen Siyue blurted out a denial. Then she froze for a moment, bit her red lip, and bowed deeply to Han Li, her face filled with unease.

“In that case, let’s forget about the concubine matter. You don’t need to dwell on it any longer,” Han Li said without any intention of making things difficult for her.

“Thank you for your understanding, Sir!”

Joy and relief washed over Wen Siyue’s face. Her expression relaxed, and she blossomed into a radiant smile that was breathtaking.

Faced with such a beautiful sight, even Han Li felt a slight ripple in his heart, but his reason quickly buried it.

“Daoist Wen, let’s talk about the Gale Beast now,” Han Li said after calming down again.

“Mister Li, the Gale Beast’s nest is actually a bit dangerous now. It’s close to the edge of the abyss. Please think it over carefully before you decide to go there.” Wen Siyue put away her smile, a worried look on her face.

“The edge of the abyss?” Han Li frowned. That did sound a bit troublesome.

The abyss was an extremely dangerous place at the moment.