Chapter 532: Han Yi (2)

"Let me introduce you; this is a Level 1 Executive Mage of Qionglin, the veteran Battle Mage Han Yi." Zhou Quan stood up with a smile to introduce the two, while gesturing for the newcomer to sit.

Luo Qi stood up in a friendly manner to greet him while sizing Han Yi up. They had not actually met for the first time; Han Yi himself was a member of the massive Investigation Team that had investigated Luo Qi, but because he was not among the nine Chief Investigators, Luo Qi had only seen him from afar a few times and did not have a deep impression of him. Only now, looking at him closely for the first time, did he realize Han Yi's age shouldn't be too great; he had likely not yet reached his first sixty years of life, and might even be younger.

Han Yi had a slender build, a steady gait, and a kind of unique agility in his movements. Luo Qi had seen this trait in Du Zhengyi as well; they had better muscle control, as if the influence of gravity on them was more peculiar. Luo Qi secretly reminded himself to remember that the other party was a formidable Battle Mage. He couldn't help but recall the lesson Du Zhengyi had given him on the day they went to the Black Market, telling him through physical action that when a well-trained Battle Mage intended to snap his neck, it was useless even if he were a Mind Mage.

However, in other respects, Han Yi and Du Zhengyi had almost nothing in common. Han Yi had coarse, stiff hair that looked like a hedgehog, and his neck was a bit short. His eyes were full of sarcasm, and the corners of his mouth held his bitterness as if he were holding a cigarette.

He glanced at Luo Qi, his gaze scanning downward from Luo Qi's face, and finally nodded at him. Luo Qi guessed that for him, this should already count as a very friendly and polite gesture; he might have received exceptional treatment.

Zhou Quan exchanged a few brief pleasantries before stepping back a few paces to sit at the table next to them. After Luo Qi and Han Yi sat down, Han Yi's Magic permeated the entire seating area, and heavy Soundproofing Magic shrouded the place. Perhaps he also used some method to disperse humans, as the tourists at the surrounding tables soon left; one person even emphasized to their companion while walking away that they were having altitude sickness and needed oxygen.

"Hello." Only after Zhou Quan had completely exited the space did Han Yi say to Luo Qi in a low voice.

This goodwill caught Luo Qi a bit off guard, as if Han Yi had given him the only bit of kindness he didn't release in front of others. This was truly too generous, and Luo Qi also generously replied with a "Hello," as awkward as two men about to start discussing their feelings. After fighting for several days, Luo Qi was a bit unaccustomed to this tone of conversation.

He scratched his slightly long hair and squeezed out a sentence, "You wanted to see me?"

Han Yi nodded and beckoned for the human waiter to come over to serve a fresh pot of butter tea. "Mm, I was away for a few days, and today I heard you've already gotten rid of your trouble."

"I suppose so," Luo Qi said vaguely, still not quite used to this kind of goodwill from Han Yi; regardless of anything else, Han Yi hadn't placed him on the side that needed to be fought.

"Congratulations," Han Yi said.

"Um... thanks?"

"Though I didn't think there could be any other outcome," Han Yi said.

Just when Luo Qi thought he was going to say it was because he was an innocent person to begin with, Han Yi continued, "Because Qionglin needs you. Whether you are guilty or not, you would have passed in the end."

"Uh..." Luo Qi was stunned for a few seconds, "Thanks?"

Han Yi didn't mind and didn't explain his words at all; he drank a cup of butter tea dry, "What are your plans for the future?"

Luo Qi was taken aback for a moment; they were talking like two acquaintances, or at least two people with fewer misgivings.

As for his plans, he intended to start from Ganzhou to investigate the secrets of Qionglin, because that place was most like Gushan, and the clownfish was also interested in it. In every respect, it could be a breakthrough for the Gushan model. And he didn't have the opportunity to approach Gushan directly yet; if he had such thoughts or actions, Du Zhengyi would be the first to slap him against a wall.

But even taking this small step forward was difficult; he didn't know how to leave this place, and there were too many concerns—everything might result in a loss that outweighed the gain.

He pondered and said, "My plan... might be to become a monk."

Han Yi finally paused, looking at Luo Qi in bewilderment.

"I mean, I will stay here with the Highland Mages to cultivate. This is what Pei Shu just told me," Luo Qi explained, rarely being so honest. He couldn't think of any reason not to be honest, even though he was now facing a man who might very well want to kill Du Zhengyi. But in such an old teahouse, chatting about ordinary recent events, it just started to feel like a normal conversation.

Han Yi nodded in understanding, "Qionglin would certainly do that. You are an unparalleled sword, but you haven't been finally forged yet. Of course, they won't take you out to use at this time; they will polish you carefully until the work is complete."

Luo Qi took a deep breath and said, "I have no complaints."

Han Yi raised his eyes to look at him, "Indeed. This is the best choice; Qionglin's pragmatism makes sense. If you were to team up with Du Zhengyi now, this sword of yours would be destroyed before it was even forged. I have always been worried that the Venerables were too eager to take you out and use you now."

After many days of torment, Luo Qi had lost his patience for beating around the bush, and the fact that he couldn't go to Ganzhou and how much it would delay his progress had also burned away much of his patience. He said straightforwardly, "I haven't figured out why you would want to see me."

Han Yi said, "That is why you would want to see me; for me, this is a good opportunity."

"That's true," Luo Qi smiled and teased, "I almost thought you were a person without a sense of humor."

"I am indeed a person with no sense of humor. Du Zhengyi always thinks he is very humorous; do you think he is funny?" Han Yi stared straight at Luo Qi, the anger of being offended burning in his eyes.

Luo Qi instinctively scanned Han Yi's Mental Fortress quickly, but he didn't find any cracks. He felt some resentment that Du Zhengyi hadn't returned the crystals of the Ghosts from the Society to him yet. If he had those Ghosts he had rescued, his odds of winning at any time would increase by thirty percent, and at the very least, he wouldn't be so disheveled.

"Every debt has its debtor; you aren't looking to take revenge on me, are you?" Luo Qi said, shamelessly lowering his threat level a bit, not hesitating to put Du Zhengyi in front verbally.

"What?" Han Yi was puzzled for a moment, then softened significantly, his anger forced back. "Of course, I am not looking to take revenge on you; you are just a child."

"It doesn't have much to do with age, does it?" Luo Qi said, "Du Zhengyi also just reached adulthood; when you started holding a grudge against him, he was also a child."

"It is indeed unrelated to age," Han Yi corrected his words, and after a while, he said, "You are innocent; it has nothing to do with you."

Luo Qi moderately accepted his reconciliation and suddenly had a thought, "Do you want to talk to Du Zhengyi? I've heard about that unfortunate incident; no one would want to see that kind of unfortunate result, and Du Zhengyi is the same." Perhaps what Han Yi wanted was to reconcile with Du Zhengyi.

Unfortunately, Luo Qi soon knew he must have guessed wrong; Han Yi laughed upon hearing this, revealing his sharp teeth, his eyes deep and dark.

(End of chapter)