Chapter 18: The Request

From the sudden appearance of the gray-clad man and the simultaneous attack on Han Li by the evil-qi youth, to Han Li's counterattack and killing of the two, only two or three breaths had passed.

Two arrogant Core Formation cultivators had fallen so easily here, leaving everyone, including the Yu family members and the black-clad men, stunned and dumbfounded.

Especially the white light that shot from Han Li's mouth at the end, which came and went without a trace, instantly killing the evil-qi youth who had already fled to the horizon. Coupled with someone's shout of 'Sword Cultivator,' the group of black-clad men were terrified out of their wits, no longer daring to stay. They all activated their magic tools and flew away from the Yu residence like the wind.

It was well known that in the Linghuan Realm, Sword Cultivators could easily overwhelm cultivators of the same rank. Moreover, flying swords were extremely fast and could kill without a trace. If they didn't leave now, they wouldn't be able to escape later.

For a moment, within the main courtyard of the Yu residence, the light of magic tools flared up, and over a dozen flying shuttles shot into the sky, fleeing in all directions.

Han Li did not even glance at these people. Instead, he looked toward the remains of the evil-qi youth, raised an eyebrow slightly, and wore a thoughtful expression.

Seeing this, the Yu family members exchanged glances, none daring to disturb him. As for the three honored guests, including the black-clad young woman, they hardly dared to breathe.

However, White Stone True Person stole a glance at Han Li, hesitated briefly, and then suddenly swung his right hand toward the fleeing black-clad cultivators.

His sleeve bulged slightly, and a golden rope shot out like a venomous snake emerging from its hole. It coiled in midair and then swiftly flew back.

With a 'bang,'

a slender black-clad cultivator was snatched back by the golden rope, bound like a zongzi, and slammed onto the ground in front of Han Li.

'Spare... spare me...' The black-clad cultivator, having fallen to the ground, ignored the pain and immediately struggled to beg for mercy upon seeing Han Li.

'Do you know about this Heavenly Ghost Sect?' Han Li did not look at the black-clad cultivator before him but turned to ask White Stone True Person.

'The Heavenly Ghost Sect and the Cold Flame Sect are both top-tier sects in the Linghuan Realm,' White Stone True Person replied cautiously after glancing at the Seventh Miss.

'How many people did the Heavenly Ghost Sect send to Mingyuan City this time?' Han Li nodded and looked down at the black-clad man.

'Your... Your Excellency, as far as I know, only these people came to the Yu residence,' the black-clad cultivator struggled to sit up and replied hastily.

But as soon as he finished speaking, he felt a chill all over his body, as if plunged into an ice cellar.

He saw the tall young man before him suddenly fix him with an icy stare. Those pitch-black pupils seemed to grow immensely large, turning into two bottomless black whirlpools that would swallow him whole if he dared to utter a single clever lie.

This feeling came and went in a flash, but his hair stood on end, and the clothes on his back were soaked through with cold sweat.

'Your Excellency, please calm down. Every word I said is true! We are only outer disciples of the sect, sent to the Chancellor's residence on orders. As for whether there are other sect disciples in the city, I truly do not know.' The black-clad cultivator wanted to kneel and kowtow but could not due to the golden rope binding him, so he could only deeply bow his head.

'On orders? His orders?' Han Li glanced at the corpse of the evil-qi youth in the distance and asked indifferently.

'Yes, he... his name is Qi Minghao. He is an inner disciple of the sect, highly talented and greatly valued by the sect. He also has a fellow clan grand-uncle who is an elder of the sect. With such backing, we dared not disobey his commands. If I had known that the Yu residence had an esteemed senior protecting it, even if you lent me a hundred guts, I would never have dared to set foot in the Yu residence,' the black-clad cultivator nodded repeatedly and continued to plead.

The Seventh Miss had somehow come over, her eyes slightly red, and asked, 'Then what Qi Minghao said earlier, was it all true? My father and the others have already...'

'We outer disciples were not qualified to participate in the Fengdu matter, but as far as I know, it was about the same as what Qi Minghao said,' the black-clad cultivator replied somewhat fearfully.

Upon hearing this, Yu Seventh Miss closed her eyes, and two teardrops quickly slid from the corners of her eyes.

Among the Yu family women and children, there was another wave of mournful sobbing.

"Since your Heavenly Ghost Sect has already taken over Feng Country, why did you have to exterminate my Yu clan?" the Seventh Miss asked, her beautiful eyes reopening with a pained expression.

"It's the sect's custom. To fully control Feng Country, all imperial relatives who had ties with the Cold Flame Sect and loyalist minister families are to be completely wiped out. The Yu family falls into this category. Don't... don't blame me for speaking too much. That Elder Qi is notorious in the sect for protecting his own. Now that his grandnephew has been killed, he will definitely pursue this to the end. Even we outer disciples who came along will be implicated and cruelly killed by him in his rage." The black-robed cultivator suddenly recalled something and replied with a trembling voice full of fear.

Upon hearing this, the Yu household members were greatly alarmed, and the three remaining retainers, including the black-robed young woman, also turned extremely grim.

"Seventh Sister, why say more? Let's leave quickly. Don't you have a master at Cold Flame Sect? Go to her; she will surely take us in." The esteemed Second Young Master of the Yu residence, now devoid of his former scholarly demeanor in blue robes, begged with a tear-streaked face and a sobbing tone.

The Seventh Miss ignored him, raised her sleeve to wipe the tears from her cheeks, walked up to Han Li, Liu Le'er, and White Stone True Man, bowed, and said respectfully, "Thank you three for saving our lives."

Han Li said nothing and accepted the thanks calmly.

White Stone True Man merely nodded without saying much.

"Seventh Miss..."

Liu Le'er, who had also experienced the tragic death of her kin, was inevitably moved by the scene. She wanted to offer some words of comfort but didn't know what to say, so she only uttered that one phrase and fell silent.

The Seventh Miss nodded at her and forced a faint smile.

Then, her expression gradually darkened. The previous sadness and dejection faded, and her face became resolute, as if she had instantly transformed from the Seventh Miss back into the Seventh Young Master.

A flash of white light appeared in her hand, and a gleaming dagger materialized—the very one Han Li had knocked down earlier. Without a word, she thrust it toward the black-robed cultivator's chest.

"Mercy!..."

With a miserable cry, the foot-long dagger sank to the hilt.

The black-robed cultivator fell into a pool of blood, his body twitching a few times before going still.

The other Yu household members looked at each other in dismay.

At this moment, the Seventh Miss looked at the dozen or so survivors and said resolutely:

"The disaster that has befallen the Yu residence is now a fact. Even with Cold Flame Sect as our backing, recovery won't happen overnight. All my Yu clan relatives will follow me to Cold Flame Sect. As for the rest, if you do not wish to follow, you may take silver from the mansion's treasury and go your own way."

The Yu family women and children, who had been extremely anxious, finally steadied themselves, stopped their soft sobbing, and gradually calmed down.

Seeing this, Han Li couldn't help but take a deep look at the Seventh Miss.

"As for you retainers, risking your lives today to protect my Yu clan is already a great kindness. If you wish to leave, you may choose a few treasures from the mansion to take with you. But if you are willing to continue escorting us to Cold Flame Sect, I will reward you handsomely in the future." Then the Seventh Miss turned her gaze to the black-robed young woman and the others and spoke.

The black-robed young woman and the others exchanged glances, looking very hesitant, their eyes involuntarily darting toward Han Li and White Stone True Man.

Seeing this, the Seventh Miss also glanced at Han Li, suddenly understanding. After a moment's thought, she stepped forward a few paces, made a curtsy, and said:

"Brother Liu, though I do not know your background, I can tell you are a true senior expert. Ordinary treasures likely do not catch your eye. I am willing to offer a Dragon Yuan Pearl passed down through my clan as a reward, hoping you will escort us to Cold Flame Sect." The Seventh Miss looked straight into Han Li's eyes and said earnestly.

Dragon Yuan Pearl!

White Stone True Man raised an eyebrow at this, a glint of greed appearing in his eyes, but when his peripheral vision caught sight of Han Li, that thought instantly vanished.

"Seventh Sister, have you lost your mind? How can you bring up the Dragon Yuan Pearl?" The Second Young Master of the Yu residence exclaimed in shock.

"The Yu residence is about to be gone. What is a mere Dragon Yuan Pearl? If Brother Liu agrees, I will go to the secret vault and retrieve it. How about that?" The Seventh Miss paid him no heed, her beautiful eyes fixed unblinkingly on Han Li as she said calmly.