Chapter 1016: There and Back

"This should be an unopened water mansion, right?" After a moment, Han Li suddenly pointed to an area at the bottom of the map and asked.

"Indeed, it is. But if I may speak frankly, if you have your eye on this one, I advise you not to even try. It's pointless." The round-faced old man glanced at Han Li, smiled, and waved his hand.

"And why is that?" Han Li asked curiously.

"Don't take offense, but I'm only giving you this advice because I hate to see you draw water with a sieve. This water mansion has been attempted not just by True Immortals, but even by several late-stage Golden Immortals who tried to open it. And guess what? The restrictions on the gate alone stopped everyone. Two unlucky ones tried to break through by force, triggering the backlash. One was severely injured, and the other lost his life, not even his nascent soul escaping." The round-faced old man shook his head and sighed.

"I see. Thank you for the warning. I have some knowledge of restrictions and formations, and I'm confident that even if I can't open the mansion, I can protect myself. So rest assured, I'll choose this one." Han Li showed a look of realization, but then said.

"Well... then I wish you success. Once you pay the fee, I'll have someone take you there." Seeing this, the round-faced old man stopped trying to persuade him and said.

After all, in his view, he had fulfilled his duty as a representative of the sect by informing the guest. As for the tenant's choice, that was beyond his control. Saying too much might arouse suspicion of ulterior motives, which would be counterproductive.

After Han Li paid the fee, the round-faced old man no longer attended to him. He merely summoned a crimson-clad maiden with rosy lips and white teeth, gave her a few instructions, and had her lead Han Li to the Three Rivers Lake.

The maiden was not particularly beautiful, but her round face had two shallow dimples, as if she always wore a smile, making her seem very approachable at first glance.

Han Li and the maiden flew down from the Comb Brush Mountain and walked along a lakeside path toward the shore.

"You don't strike me as a stubborn person, so why did you choose this Ghost Worry Mansion?" The maiden seemed to be an open and outspoken person. As she led the way, she couldn't help asking.

"Ghost Worry Mansion? What do you mean? Please enlighten me, miss." Han Li frowned and asked.

"It's the water mansion you chose. Since it was opened to the public, no one has ever been able to open it, and many have been injured or even lost their lives trying. It's truly 'ghost-frightening'! So we privately call it 'Ghost Worry Mansion.' By the way, that's not its official name. If you can open it, you can give it a more auspicious and festive name." The maiden explained with a slightly teasing tone.

"Oh, 'Ghost Worry Mansion' is a good name. Let's keep it." Han Li thought for a moment and said seriously.

"Well... it's not that I'm being nosy, but you should wait until you actually open the water mansion before naming it. Ah... if you're willing to listen to my advice, once you go down to the lake bottom, don't push yourself. If you can't withstand the backlash of the restrictions, quickly give up and come back. Don't force it." The maiden seemed to think of something and advised.

"By the way, what's your name?" Han Li glanced at the maiden and asked with a smile.

The maiden was momentarily stunned. It seemed that in all the years she had guided guests, no one had ever asked her name; they only saw her as a servant guide.

"My name is Hu Xiaocheng." After a slight hesitation, the maiden said a bit shyly.

"Xiaocheng... small achievements, small contentment—a good name for a stable life." Han Li nodded thoughtfully and said slowly.

Then he fell silent, but inwardly he sighed, thinking of another name: Ye Susu.

Just last month, he had learned from some channels a piece of news:

It was said that half a year ago, the Green Fox City was suddenly struck by a natural disaster. The entire city was burned in a great fire, and all living beings perished, none surviving.

After hearing this, he only thought for a moment, calculated the time, and naturally understood what had happened. That was why he had come to Three Rivers Lake today.

Seeing Han Li's expression change, the maiden tactfully stopped talking and silently led the way.

When they arrived at a lakeside square by the Three Rivers Lake, a cool breeze blew from the lake, making Hu Xiaocheng feel very comfortable. She couldn't help stretching and taking a deep breath.

Han Li looked at the sparkling lake and also felt a long-lost sense of relaxation. The gloom that had lingered in his heart over the past few days faded a bit.

"Honored guest, we're here. From this area of water, dive down less than a thousand zhang, and you'll reach Ghost Worry Mansion." After stretching, Hu Xiaocheng turned to Han Li and said.

"Thank you for your trouble. Please wait here for a moment. I'll be back shortly." Han Li nodded and said.

With that, without waiting for Hu Xiaocheng's reply, he leaped up and plunged into the water.

"Wait..."

But before Hu Xiaocheng could finish her word, Han Li had already disappeared from sight.

She pouted helplessly and muttered, "Why so impatient? I haven't even told him the precautions yet. But that line 'I'll be back shortly' does have some grandmaster flair. Maybe..."

She couldn't finish the thought, after all, this was 'Ghost Worry Mansion,' where even Golden Immortals had failed. This guest looked ordinary, probably not high in cultivation, at most late True Immortal stage. How could he possibly open this water mansion? It was pure fantasy!

"I only hope he knows when to quit and returns safely." Hu Xiaocheng had just said this softly when the lake surface in front of her suddenly burst into a spray of water, and a figure landed beside her.

After rubbing her eyes vigorously and recognizing the person beside her as Han Li, she was momentarily stunned, then smiled and said:

"Back so soon? I thought you'd at least try for a few hours before giving up. But it's good that you weren't trapped by the restrictions. You're really lucky."

"You're young, but you have quite a few thoughts. Go call your elder and say I want to pay the opening fee." Han Li tapped Hu Xiaocheng's forehead and said with a smile.

"What... you mean you've already..." Hu Xiaocheng's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Go on." Han Li smiled noncommittally.

Hu Xiaocheng shook her head, then turned and flew toward Comb Brush Mountain.

Before long, the round-faced elder, also with a look of shock, flew back to the lakeside with Hu Xiaocheng.

After personally diving down to inspect, he finally believed that Han Li had truly broken the restrictions of this water mansion. His face showed utter disbelief, but faced with the facts, he had no choice but to believe. Although he didn't show much on his face, his mind was in turmoil.

After Han Li paid a sum of immortal jade, the round-faced elder said with a beaming smile:

"This water mansion is yours for three years, Fellow Daoist Han. As previously agreed, all treasures produced here, as long as they don't affect the mansion's continued existence, belong to you alone."

"Thank you." Han Li cupped his hands.

"By the way, now that the water mansion is open, please give it a name." The round-faced elder nodded and said.

Han Li glanced at the maiden and said, "Let's call it Ghost Worry Mansion."

The round-faced elder was taken aback, but didn't say anything more. He nodded and prepared to take his leave.

"Xiaocheng, stay and attend to Fellow Daoist Han. If there's any need, report to the sect immediately." Before leaving, he instructed the maiden.

"Understood." Hu Xiaocheng quickly bowed.

Han Li didn't refuse, merely nodding slightly.

"How about it? Want to take a look at this Ghost Worry Mansion?" After the round-faced elder left, Han Li said to Hu Xiaocheng.

She nodded vigorously.

Han Li grabbed Hu Xiaocheng's shoulder, and a layer of green light enveloped them both. They leaped and plunged into the lake.

In the upper layers of the lake, sunlight still penetrated, but the deeper they went, the darker it became.

Hu Xiaocheng had guided people to other water mansions before, but she had never gone this deep. Along the way, she kept her eyes wide open, looking around.

In the lake water, there were broken mountain peaks everywhere. Some still retained their original shape, while others had shattered into low mounds.

On these peaks, clusters of light flickered sporadically. Looking closely, one could see various colored light screens, each covering a water mansion that had already been opened.

Most of these water mansions were very far away, looking like stars in the night sky.

Han Li led Hu Xiaocheng all the way to the bottom, arriving before a small hill that was only a few dozen zhang high.

Hu Xiaocheng looked closely and saw a light screen covering the top of the hill, within which she could vaguely see a narrow courtyard built against the mountain.

Han Li grabbed her arm, and with a leap, they broke through the water and rushed into the light screen.

Once inside the light screen, the feeling of being surrounded by lake water disappeared.

After they landed on a square in front of the courtyard, Han Li withdrew the light screen that had enveloped them.

"Ancestral hall... this is the ancestral hall of that sect?" Hu Xiaocheng looked at a plaque on the gate of the courtyard and exclaimed in surprise.

"Otherwise, why do you think no one has been able to break the restrictions here all these years?" Han Li laughed.

"In that case, how did you break the restrictions here?" Hu Xiaocheng asked without thinking.

"I've read a lot of books." Han Li replied with a smile.

He had indeed seen the protective formation of this sect's ancestral hall in ancient texts. Moreover, it wasn't a mountain-guarding formation, and he had some knowledge of breaking restrictions, so it didn't take much effort.

"Then you've really hit the jackpot this time! It's said that ancestral halls usually house the sect's secret scriptures and important artifacts..." Hu Xiaocheng said with envy.