Chapter 652

Han Li gently unfurled the scroll in his hand, revealing a painting several feet long.

A man in blue robes stood lifelike on the scroll, smiling as he gazed at Han Li—it was his own likeness.

Han Li stared at the painting for a long while, then sighed softly and rolled it back up.

After a moment's hesitation, he fixed his gaze on the woman and asked slowly:

"May I ask, why did your grandmother leave behind a portrait of me? Was there some deeper meaning?"

The woman's face showed hesitation; after thinking it over, she replied cautiously.

"Senior Han, before I answer, may I ask if you still remember your promise to Miss Xin?"

"Of course I remember. Did you know about it too?" Han Li's expression flickered with surprise.

"My entire family lives here because I insisted on it—and the reason is tied to you. But until you fulfill your promise to Miss Xin, I beg your pardon—I cannot tell you outright." The woman stole a glance at Han Li, speaking indirectly, her heart uneasy.

With a soft "thump," a square wooden box materialized from Han Li's storage pouch and landed squarely on the table.

"This…?" The woman startled, unsure of Han Li's intent.

"Friend, don't be alarmed. Inside is the head of the Fu family's patriarch. I've slaughtered every direct descendant of the Fu family. The remaining collateral branches can never restore the Fu family's standing in Yuanwu Country. Does this count as fulfilling my promise?" Han Li spoke calmly.

"What? The Fu family patriarch was slain by you?" The woman's face filled with shock.

She glanced at the box, gritted her teeth, and opened the lid.

A stench of blood surged forth.

"It really is the Fu patriarch—I once secretly glimpsed this monster from afar." Her face paled, yet she recognized the face, her voice trembling with mixed relief and awe.

"I acted a few days ago—the news should have spread by now. If you ask any acquaintances or inquire at the marketplace, you'll confirm it's true." Han Li smiled faintly.

"So you brought the head here to…?" The woman suddenly understood.

"Precisely. I came specifically to pay respects at the graves of Miss Xin and Brother Qi. I've never had many friends. Now that I've avenged them, I must honor them properly." Han Li's voice grew quieter, his expression earnest.

"Miss Xin and Young Master Qi would be overjoyed to hear this. Senior, wait a moment—I'll be right back." The woman's expression darkened, then she remembered something and hurriedly added.

Han Li nodded slightly, puzzled, as the woman hurried out of the room again.

This time, the woman went behind a pavilion, dug beneath a large tree, and retrieved a pale green jade box. She carefully carried it back and placed it before Han Li's table.

"What is this?" Han Li narrowed his eyes, waiting to hear her explanation.

"Senior Han, when Miss Qi passed away, she left one final wish: to entrust the contents of this box to you—but only after you fulfilled your promise and destroyed the Fu family. My grandmother was Miss Qi's personal maid, so she was entrusted with this task. She stayed here ever since, refusing to move elsewhere. If you ever returned, this was the only place you'd find her. Decades passed, and you never came back. So my grandmother passed the task to me, and even painted your portrait herself, to ensure she wouldn't miss you. Now that you've returned and fulfilled your promise, I must honor Miss Qi's final wish and give you this." The woman spoke calmly, a hint of relief on her face.

It seemed this burden had weighed heavily on her for years.

Han Li was moved. He glanced at the box, sent his spiritual sense into it, and his face showed a flicker of surprise. Without hesitation, he seized the jade box and opened it calmly.

Inside lay a pale green jade slip, sealed with a yellow talisman. Silver sealing runes shimmered faintly across the box's surface.

The woman across from him stared at the jade slip, her expression filled with curiosity.

"You've never seen this?" Han Li looked up.

"I won't lie, Senior. Miss Xin left no instructions permitting us to view the jade slip. My grandmother, out of curiosity, glanced at its contents once—but she spat blood three times immediately afterward, collapsed into a coma for a full day and night, and only woke up afterward. She then immediately obtained a high-grade sealing talisman and locked the jade slip away, forbidding any of us descendants from ever looking again. Though I've been curious, my cultivation is far below hers—I dare not even think of it."

Hearing this, Han Li nodded and said nothing more. He blew gently at the jade slip—a pale green mist issued from his mouth, wrapping around the talisman and peeling it off effortlessly.

The woman beside him was stunned.

She had once, out of curiosity, tried to open the talisman herself—but it had been as immovable as a mountain.

Yet this Senior Han had undone it with a single breath of spiritual energy—his cultivation was truly unfathomable.

Rumor had it he was once a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Now he had wiped out the entire Fu family and slain their patriarch—his cultivation must be at least late Core Formation, possibly even Nascent Soul.

The woman's heart swelled with awe and reverence.

Han Li had already scanned the jade slip in silence. A flash of green light—and the jade slip vanished from his hand.

"Good. The contents of this slip will greatly aid me. I won't refuse it. But you've waited for me so long just for this. I feel I owe you something. Do you live here alone?" Han Li tucked the jade slip away and asked calmly.

"No, my husband is also a cultivator, though his talent is poor—his cultivation is roughly equal to mine. Our son is young, and his spiritual roots are decent, but he's had no master to guide him, nor any chance to join a cultivation sect. Senior… could you…?" The woman's heart leapt at his question, her voice trembling with hope.

She and her husband were nothing—but if her son could become a disciple of this mighty cultivator before her, it would be a leap to heaven. Her words grew hesitant.

She feared she might offend this high-level cultivator.

"No need to say more. I understand your meaning." Han Li cut her off with a casual wave of his hand, his expression unchanged.

Instantly, the woman's heart sank.

But Han Li continued without pause: "Since you're Miss Xiao Mei's descendant, and you've safeguarded this for me so long, I won't take a disciple—but I can give your son a chance at Foundation Establishment. Here: one Foundation Establishment Pill, and two vials of pills highly beneficial to Qi Refining cultivators. Whether he succeeds depends on his destiny. If he achieves Foundation Establishment, he'll have a strong chance of joining a major sect or cultivation clan." As he spoke, he pulled three small vials from his robe and pushed them toward the woman.

"Foundation Establishment Pill?" The woman's heart soared. She thanked him profusely; the moment she saw the pills, her earlier despair vanished entirely.

"By the way, when I destroyed the Fu family, I also killed two cultivators from the Demon Flame Sect. I'm not afraid of them, but I'd rather avoid trouble. May I ask—does your husband know anything of my past?" Han Li changed the subject, suddenly remembering something.

"Senior, please rest assured. My grandmother's final words were that this matter must never be told to another soul, for fear of bringing trouble upon you. I've kept this secret strictly—I've told neither my husband nor my son a single word." The woman, sensing Han Li's concern, spoke quickly to reassure him.

"Good. I knew you wouldn't speak carelessly." Han Li nodded, satisfied, and rose to his feet. "I'll pay my respects to Miss Xin and Brother Qi's spirit tablets, then take my leave."

"Ah! You're leaving already? Won't you stay a while longer? My husband and son will be back soon—"

The woman rose as well, speaking words of farewell, but before she finished, a flash of white light appeared behind her—and she collapsed, unconscious with a thud.

Han Li had anticipated this. He flicked his sleeve—a streak of colored light shot out, gently catching the woman before she hit the ground.

The white light behind her faded, and a flicker of silver motion revealed the Silver Moon incarnation—a small fox—standing there.

Its black eyes spun lazily, its expression smug and amused.

"Master, why did you have me suddenly knock her out? Is there something wrong with her—or did you take a fancy to this woman?" Silver Moon said with a sly grin.

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