Chapter 643: The Return

Shi Chuankong and Hu San exchanged a glance at Han Li's words, neither saying anything.

"In that case, I won't insist. The mountains are high and the rivers long; when we meet again in the future, I will repay your kindness in saving me," said the Reheat Immortal Venerable, seeing that Han Li's mind was made up.

"Our encounter at Wild Crane Valley was fate; there's no need for polite words. Until we meet again," Han Li said with a cupped-fist salute.

"Until we meet again," the Reheat Immortal Venerable returned the salute.

Then, Han Li nodded to Shi Chuankong and the others, and with a flash of azure light, he transformed into a beam that shot out the window of the teahouse and vanished into the distance.

"The sect ruins are in the Black Earth Immortal Domain, as you already know. When do we set off?" the Reheat Immortal Venerable asked, turning around after gazing at the sky outside the window for a moment.

"No rush. There's one more helper who hasn't arrived yet," Hu San said with a grin.

"Regardless, let's leave here first. The decoys we set up earlier might not fool those监察使; they may have already caught our scent and be on their way," Shi Chuankong said.

With that, he formed a hand seal, and a silver light appeared before him, accompanied by intense spatial fluctuations from the void that soon swallowed all three, causing them to vanish from the second floor of the teahouse.

...

Time passed, and more than three years went by.

In the Black Mountain Immortal Domain, amidst a range of rolling black mountains, there was an unremarkable low peak nestled between two tall mountains, like a saddle or a valley.

On this peak, within a dense forest, a green stone path overgrown with weeds wound its way to a dilapidated Daoist temple with two ancient locust trees planted before its gate.

The temple's mountain gate had completely collapsed, and the few remaining halls for the guardians were also in ruins, leaving only a Sanqing Hall, its roof covered with moss and weeds, still standing stubbornly.

It was late at night, and a hazy white light shone from within the Sanqing Hall, filtering through the broken window lattices and casting mottled shadows on the corridor pillars and stone steps outside.

A man in a green robe sat cross-legged on a worn-out cushion. Before him on the ground was a small dark green bottle, surrounded by countless white specks of light, a rather peculiar sight.

The man was none other than Han Li.

After parting with the Reheat Immortal Venerable and the other two, he had immediately used a teleportation formation to make several consecutive jumps away from Qinglin Town, putting a great distance between them before driving his jade carriage southward at full speed.

He traveled by day and rested at night in desolate mountains not far from ordinary towns, avoiding other cultivators and demon beasts alike, while using the small bottle to condense green liquid and cultivate his time-attribute techniques.

Having taken the Purifying Evil Pill earlier to remove much of his baleful qi, the journey had been uneventful, though he still couldn't enter large cities with cultivator activity.

After about half an hour, the white light around the small bottle was fully absorbed, and the green liquid had formed.

Han Li flicked his finger, igniting a pile of firewood nearby, then reached over to pick up the small bottle and held it before his eyes.

By the firelight, he could see a single drop of liquid slowly rolling inside the jade-green bottle.

Just as he was considering entering the "Flower Branch" cave heaven to hasten the maturation of his Dao soldiers, the "Dragon Five" mask on his face suddenly flashed with light, appearing on its own.

Han Li was slightly surprised and formed a hand seal to activate it.

A red beam shot out from the center of the mask's forehead, coalescing into a humanoid phantom in the void before him.

The phantom was a full two zhang tall, nearly as high as the hall, clad in a loose black robe, and wearing a dark red demon mask with bulging eyes, a hooked nose, and fanged mouth.

Han Li frowned in surprise, recognizing the attire as that of a Reincarnation Envoy from Lu Renjia's memories.

"You are Dragon Five, I presume? Since becoming a Child of Reincarnation, nearly a thousand years have passed, and the first mission period is over. You have yet to complete the mission for the new millennium, and you must carry it out," the Reincarnation Envoy said in a cold tone.

"A thousand years already? Time really does fly..." Han Li sighed.

"Do you accept this mission, or will you pay with immortal jade stones?" the envoy asked.

"Please first inform me of the mission's details," Han Li said after a moment's thought.

"This mission requires you to meet Hu San at Wei Que Mountain and assist him in exploring a ruin. The specifics will be explained by him upon your meeting. The reward includes anything you obtain during the exploration, plus an additional twenty thousand immortal jade stones or one ungraded immortal artifact from Hu San," the envoy said.

"Forgive my impertinence, but is this Fellow Daoist Hu San the famed thief 'Silver Fox' in the hall?" Han Li asked, startled.

"That... you can ask him yourself when you meet," the envoy replied indifferently.

Though he didn't answer directly, Han Li already knew the answer.

"If I choose to pay with immortal jade stones instead, how much would it be?" Han Li asked after a moment's hesitation.

"Fifty thousand," the envoy said coldly.

Han Li fell into deep thought.

Fifty thousand immortal jade stones was a considerable sum, but he could afford it. Still, who would willingly give that away for nothing? He began to reconsider the matter of exploring the True Word Sect ruins.

Because of the True Word Incarnation Wheel Sutra and Lu Renjia, Han Li had a strong interest in the True Word Sect. His earlier reluctance was largely due to his distrust of Hu San and Shi Chuankong.

But now that this had become a millennium mission from the Reincarnation Hall, it was a different matter.

As for dealing with baleful decay, the missions posted in the Reincarnation Hall had yielded no response so far, and the methods he could use were still the same old ones. So whether he was in the True Word Sect ruins or on the run, there wasn't much difference.

"Make your choice quickly," the envoy urged suddenly.

"I accept this mission," Han Li replied clearly.

"Good. After completing this mission, you will be free for a thousand years. As long as you pay the corresponding immortal jade stones, you may borrow any resources from the Reincarnation Hall," the envoy said with a nod.

With a wave of his hand, a silver light coalesced in the void into a vast map, with a red dot at its center marked "Wei Que Mountain."

"Memorize this map. This is where you will meet Hu San. You must arrive within half a year. Exceeding the time limit will be considered a refusal to execute the mission, and the hall will hold you accountable." After saying this, the envoy's figure gradually faded away.

Han Li scanned the map several times, comparing the terrain, and soon located the mountain range he was in, which was marked as "Old Concave Mountain."

Comparing the distance to Wei Que Mountain, he found it wasn't too far; with his jade carriage, he could reach it in about three months.

After memorizing the map, the light in the void twisted and faded until it disappeared.

He recalled the map once more, then raised his hand, curling his middle and index fingers. A silver light flashed, opening the gate to the "Flower Branch" cave heaven, and he stepped inside.

...

Over three months later.

On a solitary peak shaped like a steamed bun, about several hundred zhang high, three figures sat around an intricately carved white jade table, each holding a silver goblet, drinking together.

The goblets held dark red grape wine, exuding a slightly astringent yet intoxicating aroma.

Among the three, a young man in a black robe was the most carefree, holding a goblet in one hand and a silver flagon in the other. When the mood struck, he would tilt his head back and pour the wine directly into his mouth.

His flagon seemed to be some kind of magical artifact, containing an endless supply of wine, flowing out no matter how much he poured.

"Fellow Daoist Hu San, it seems that Fellow Daoist Li shares your fondness for drink. If he hadn't left, you two could have been kindred spirits in this regard," said a white-haired old man sitting across from the young man.

These three were none other than the Reheat Immortal Venerable and his companions.

"Oh? That is a pity, but each has his own path; it cannot be forced," Hu San said with a nonchalant smile.

"Hu San, when will that person you mentioned arrive?" Shi Chuankong, who had been gazing at the distant scenery, seemingly distracted from the drinking, turned back to ask.

"Should be soon, within a month or two. The higher-ups in the hall are quite concerned about this mission, so the person sent to assist me should be carefully chosen. Just be patient," Hu San said, taking another sip of wine.

As soon as he finished speaking, his eyes lit up, and he added, "Heh, he's earlier than I expected."

A beam of green light streaked in from afar, abruptly stopping midair, leaving only a figure in azure robes descending from above, landing directly before the three.

The expressions on the three faces turned quite interesting as they saw the figure descending from the sky.

"Fellow Daoist Li, is that you?" the Reheat Immortal Venerable asked in surprise, then delight.

"Fellow Daoist Reheat, and you two, it's been a while," Han Li said with a smile, cupping his hands in greeting.

Hu San and Shi Chuankong exchanged a glance, both frowning.

"You... you're the hall member sent to assist me?" Hu San asked, his gaze fixed on Han Li.

"I didn't expect this routine mission to be assisting you in exploring the True Word Sect ruins," Han Li said with a sigh.

With that, he touched his cheek, and a flash of light revealed the "Dragon Five" mask.

Hu San studied the mask for a moment, then raised an eyebrow and said, "Heh, I never thought... you're Dragon Five?"

"What? Do you know me?" Han Li asked, puzzled, as he withdrew his hand and reverted to his original appearance.

"I've heard Jiao Three mention you. Dragon Five is exceptionally talented in alchemy and cultivation, so I had some impression of you. I've always wanted to meet you, and now here you are. What a pleasant surprise," Hu San said with a grin.

Now it was the Reheat Immortal Venerable's turn to be incredulous. He looked at Han Li and asked slowly, "Fellow Daoist Li... you're also a member of the Reincarnation Hall?"

Now it was the Reheat Immortal Venerable's turn to be incredulous. He looked at Han Li and asked slowly, "Fellow Daoist Li... you're also a member of the Reincarnation Hall?"

"Fellow Daoist Li... you're also a member of the Reincarnation Hall?"