Not long after Han Li's departure from Caisha Mountain, Wang Juechu made an important announcement: he had accepted Li Feiyu as his closed-door disciple and formally promoted him to the position of Hall Master of the Outer Blade Hall. From that moment on, Li Feiyu enjoyed the Sect Master's favor, and his status within the sect only grew. Years later, when Han Li's third uncle made a grave mistake, violating the sect's rules and facing the threat of execution, it was Wang Juechu who, against all odds, managed to protect him.
However, Wang Juechu's luck didn't always hold out. During a period of intense sect conflicts, he sustained life-threatening injuries. Just when everyone thought his time was up, he miraculously survived, revived by a mysterious pill stored in a jade bottle. This remarkable recovery piqued the interest of many within the sect, but despite their inquiries, Wang Juechu never revealed the name or origin of the pill. Eventually, when Wang Juechu passed away many years later, he left behind the name of the pill—Yangjing Dan (Essence-replenishing Pill). By then, only three pills remained, and these three pills sparked fierce contention and caused significant trouble for Wang Juechu's descendants. But that, as they say, was a tale for another time.
Meanwhile, Li Feiyu, still holding several small bottles and a note, sat in a daze. He had just returned from Zhang Xiuer's place and discovered the items on his desk. The note was from Han Li. It was simple and straightforward, informing Li Feiyu that Han Li had left the Seven Xuan Sect and might never return. The bottles contained specially prepared medicine that could extend Li Feiyu's life, and Han Li hoped that Li Feiyu would not refuse. At the bottom of the note, there was a small drawing of Han Li's smiling face, accompanied by a wish for Li Feiyu and Zhang Xiuer to marry soon and have many children.
After a moment of dazed contemplation, Li Feiyu rushed out of his house. He climbed a nearby small mountain peak and gazed toward the direction of the Seven Xuan Sect's main gate. What met his eyes was a vast expanse of green with no sign of any movement. After standing still for some time, he sighed deeply, muttering softly, "I hope you stay well. Farewell."
With a melancholic expression, he slowly descended the peak, his figure looking unusually solitary and forlorn.
At the same time, a horse-drawn carriage was moving steadily along a country road, heading east. Inside the carriage, Han Li and Qu Hun sat comfortably. The four-wheeled cart was spacious, though currently only the two of them occupied it. Han Li had spent a small sum of silver to rent the entire carriage for a short period. The cart appeared somewhat worn and old on the outside, but the interior was clean and tidy. The two horses pulling it were strong and well-groomed, running briskly, making the ride smooth and quick.
Han Li had specifically chosen this cart for its sturdiness and the quality of the horses, despite its age. Normally, such a cart could only earn a few coppers a day, so renting it for a small sum was quite a bargain.
The driver was a middle-aged man, lean and silent. He didn't speak unless directly addressed, which Han Li appreciated. He preferred to avoid unnecessary conversation, especially with someone like Qu Hun, who was tall, mysterious, and often hooded. If the driver had been chatty, dealing with questions about Qu Hun would have been troublesome.
Sitting on the opposite side of the carriage, Qu Hun had a large bundle on his shoulder, filled with clothes, gold, silver, and other heavy items. Han Li kept the more important items, such as the magical tools and correspondence from Doctor Mo, close to him, fearing that they might be lost.
The rhythmic "creak, creak" of the wooden wheels on the road filled the silence as Han Li leaned back against the wall of the carriage, his expression calm and untroubled. He didn't feel any sadness from leaving the Seven Xuan Sect behind.
If there was one thing Han Li felt a slight reluctance about, it was leaving Li Feiyu, his trusted friend. But he hoped that Li Feiyu had received the letter and the life-extending medicine. He wished that his friend would live a longer life, enjoy his future, and live it to the fullest.
As Han Li thought about it, he stretched out, leaned back against the wall, and began to doze off. The destination of the carriage was his hometown, a small mountain village. While he knew that it was impossible to expect it, Han Li couldn't help but hope that when he opened his eyes, he would see his parents and siblings once again.
It had been many years since he last saw them, and over time, even their faces had become blurry in his memory. So, before he left for good, he felt the need to visit them and say goodbye in person. He couldn't leave without seeing them, as it would haunt him forever.
"I wonder how little sister is doing? She must be around sixteen or seventeen by now, and probably already a young woman. I remember the last letter from home mentioned that she had been betrothed to someone and received gifts."
As Han Li began to fall into a deep sleep, his mind wandered back to those days when his little sister always followed him around, calling out "Fourth Brother, Fourth Brother" with her tiny, innocent voice. That simple, sweet memory made him feel a warmth and nostalgia that he hadn't experienced in years.
Time truly flew by.
Soon, Han Li drifted into a peaceful sleep, feeling more at ease than he had in a long while, almost as if his parents were there, watching over him, keeping the mosquitoes away.
Five days later, Han Li, traveling along a dusty yellow road, finally spotted the familiar sights of his small village in the distance. The low mud walls, the piles of straw, the uneven dirt roads—everything was just as he remembered. It all felt so vivid and real, yet it seemed like a dream.
His heart raced as he tried to suppress his excitement. He instructed the driver to stop the carriage a distance away from the village, and he asked Qu Hun to remain in the carriage while he went on foot. The closer he got to the village, the faster his heartbeat became.
There was a feeling of anticipation, of nostalgia, a deep longing that Han Li hadn't experienced in many years. It was a feeling that made his emotions surge as he neared the village, his home.