A Reunion of Silence

“Senior!” Han Li touched his chin, a peculiar expression flickering across his face.

The fat elder was none other than the “Senior Lei” who had once exchanged a pill formula for some of his spirit herbs. Now, the man was actually addressing him as “Senior.”

Even though this was perfectly normal by the rules of the cultivation world, a strange feeling still rose in Han Li’s heart.

As for the stunningly beautiful woman, Nie Ying, she was the same “Senior Sister Nie” who had once shielded the two Fu Rong brothers with their lightning spiritual roots. Han Li had only ever seen her once before.

Although Han Li had never had any real interaction with her, he knew from hearsay that she was a woman of exceptional talent, intelligent and graceful. In those days, she had been the object of countless male disciples’ affections. Unexpectedly, after all these years, she too had formed a Golden Core.

While Han Li silently and thoughtfully observed Lei Wanhe and Nie Ying, Lei Wanhe was also harboring his own doubts.

This “Senior” before him was not only impossibly young, having perfectly preserved his youthful appearance, but for some reason, Lei Wanhe felt that this seemingly ordinary face was oddly familiar, as if he had seen it somewhere before. This left him feeling both startled and increasingly uneasy.

Nie Ying’s beautiful eyes were fixed on Han Li, a flicker of doubt and shock deep within them. She too seemed to have realized something.

Han Li naturally wouldn’t let this awkward silence drag on. He smiled and finally spoke.

“It seems Senior Lei has truly forgotten me since we last parted. I must say, the pill formula you gifted me back then was of considerable help.”

“Senior? Pill formula! You… you are…” Lei Wanhe was stunned, his mouth hanging wide open at Han Li calling him “Senior.” But upon hearing about the pill formula, he seemed to recall something, and he stammered in shock.

The other three cultivators were equally dumbfounded. The idea of this nascent soul senior suddenly calling Lei Wanhe “Senior” was simply too much for their minds to process at once.

Only Nie Ying, after a moment of shock, took another closer look at Han Li and exclaimed with a drastically changed expression:

“You are Instructor Li’s disciple, Han Li… Junior Han?” Her exclamation was filled with disbelief.

“I didn’t expect Fellow Daoist Nie to still remember me.” Han Li said, genuinely a little surprised.

What Han Li didn’t know was that during his Qi Condensation stage, very few people knew of him due to his low profile and low cultivation level. However, after he had emerged alive from the Blood Forbidden Land and successfully formed his Foundation, becoming Li Huayuan’s disciple, a number of observant people had taken note of him. This “Senior Sister Nie” was one of them.

After the Six Demonic Sects invaded Yue and he killed many demonic cultivators of his own stage, his reputation soared among the lower-level disciples. Although they had not met again, the impression he had left on this Senior Sister Nie had deepened.

Now, Han Li’s appearance was exactly as it had been when she had last seen him. With just the opening of his conversation, she recalled the once-famous Junior Han from days past and blurted out in surprise.

“You really are that Han nephew from back then.” Lei Wanhe swallowed hard, staring blankly.

Although anything uncanny could happen in the cultivation world, and it was not uncommon for a talented cultivator to rise from a disciple’s status to equal their elders, the idea of a junior Foundation Establishment disciple suddenly becoming an elder of the Nascent Soul stage was something that even a well-traveled man like Lei Wanhe found hard to process.

“Senior Lei, there’s no need to be so surprised. But this isn’t the place to talk. Let’s discuss things in detail on the road.” Han Li said calmly, looking around.

“I dare not presume to be called ‘Senior’ any longer, Senior Han. Since you have reached the Nascent Soul stage, you are now a senior in my eyes. I will follow your arrangements.” Lei Wanhe’s face alternated between red and white for a moment before he finally said with a wry smile. He remained as respectful as he had been from the start, not daring to show any disrespect.

No matter what Han Li’s previous status had been, now that his cultivation and power far surpassed his own, he naturally would not dare to presume and accept being called “Senior” by Han Li.

The other three cultivators finally understood the relationship between Han Li and Lei Wanhe. After exchanging glances, their faces were, of course, full of strange expressions.

Han Li showed no surprise at this. He was silent for a moment before nodding in acceptance.

“Since you say so, Fellow Daoist Lei, I won’t stand on ceremony. We must leave this place immediately. Your flying speed might be a bit too slow, so let me take you along!”

As he finished speaking, Han Li slapped his storage pouch and turned his hand over. A small, delicate object appeared in his palm.

He tossed it lightly to one side. With a flash of white light, a delicate square object materialized before them. It was the newly acquired Divine Wind Chariot.

Driven by the spell, the flying chariot rapidly expanded until it was over thirty meters in size.

“All of you, get into the chariot.” Han Li instructed without any ceremony.

Lei Wanhe and the others naturally had no objections. They shimmered and vanished into the chariot.

Han Li stepped into the Divine Wind Chariot and immediately infused a trace of spiritual power into it.

The flying chariot shuddered slightly and instantly transformed into a white rainbow, tearing through the sky. Its speed far surpassed ordinary magical treasures, and it vanished from sight in an instant.

Seeing the Divine Wind Chariot’s incredible speed, the others were overjoyed.

Knowing that with this chariot, the Fashi would naturally be unable to catch them, their previously hanging hearts finally settled.

“A few friends, Fengyuan Country must have already mostly fallen into the hands of the Fashi. How is it that you were here and were cornered by a high-grade Fashi? If not for this remote spot, even my intervention might not have led to such an easy escape.” Han Li asked casually as he drove the chariot.

The five of them exchanged glances with strange expressions. Lei Wanhe was clearly the leader among them. He hesitated for a moment before speaking:

“Senior, you may not know, but we were not entirely free agents. We were sent by the alliance to carry out an important mission. We were delayed for a few days at a certain place. By the time we emerged, we discovered that Fengyuan Country had already been invaded by the Moulans. With no other choice, we chose a remote path to fly back. On the way, we still ran into some low-grade Fashi and had to kill them to keep our presence secret. Who would have thought a Nascent Soul stage Fashi would be nearby. Just after we finished off the last low-grade one, that old monster discovered us and gave chase. Although we knew we were no match for him, splitting up would have only hastened our deaths, so we had to fight with all we had. If we hadn’t been lucky enough to meet Senior Han, I’m afraid we wouldn’t have escaped death.”

While speaking words of gratitude, Lei Wanhe couldn’t help but take another look at the former “Junior Han.”

To be honest, even now, all of this felt like a dream.

Han Li, however, lost the interest to ask further questions and simply nodded faintly. After a moment, he changed the subject.

“Fellow Daoist Lei, is my master, Li Huayuan, doing well?”

“Senior Han, Junior Li fell in battle over a hundred years ago during a conflict with the Moulan Fashi. And as his wife failed to form a Golden Core, she too passed away from the end of her lifespan not long after.” As there was nothing to hide, Lei Wanhe answered honestly.

“Did none of those fellow apprentices of mine manage to form a Golden Core?” Han Li’s body trembled slightly, a trace of gloom flickering across his face as he asked.

“No, although a couple of Li’s disciples had decent talent and even reached the half-Foundation stage, they ultimately lacked the karma and failed to form a Golden Core.” Lei Wanhe said with a sigh.

Han Li fell silent upon hearing this. The images of “Yu Kun,” “Song Meng,” “Zhong Weiniang,” and the others flashed through his mind. Fragments of past interactions also surfaced in his memory.

After a long time, he let out a long breath.

Since those fellow apprentices had failed to form a Golden Core, there was no need to ask; it was likely they had already passed away.

Thinking about the events at Yellow Maple Valley felt like a distant dream. Even the current low-level disciples of Yellow Maple Valley had probably been replaced many times over by now.

“Senior Han, do you have any intention of returning to Yellow Maple Valley?” Nie Ying suddenly asked at this moment.

“Return to Yellow Maple Valley? I have no interest in that. I am now an elder of the Falling Cloud Sect under the Celestial Alliance. I’m doing quite well there and don’t plan on going back.” Han Li’s brow twitched slightly, but he replied calmly.

Upon hearing this, a look of disappointment flashed across Nie Ying’s face. Lei Wanhe’s expression also shifted, flickering between overcast and bright, a complex look in his eyes.

The other three, who were not familiar with Han Li, naturally did not dare to casually interject.

“By any chance, Senior, do you know Xiao Cui’er?” Nie Ying hesitated for a moment before asking again.

“Xiao Cui’er? Of course I know her. You know the little girl?” Han Li started, a strange expression on his face. At the same time, the image of a mischievous little girl flashed in his mind.