Han Li felt the cool temperature of the giant's body with his fingers, gazing at his dull, expressionless eyes, while pondering all the hardships Zhang Tie must have endured. It was almost certain that Doctor Mo had conspired with Yu Zichong, seizing Zhang Tie—then still in the early stages of mastering the "Xiang Jia Technique"—and fabricating the illusion of his departure, thus deceiving numerous eyes and ears within the Qi Xuan Sect. In secret, they had then employed a certain spell to completely sever Zhang Tie's spirit, transforming his body into an unusual state that closely resembled the peak of the "Xiang Jia Technique." Han Li's conjecture proved remarkably accurate, and the actual circumstances were indeed very close to it. At the time, Doctor Mo had conceived a bold plan to combine the "Xiang Jia Technique" with Yu Zichong's corpse-reanimation method, aiming to produce a corps of obedient, powerful undead warriors capable of sweeping across the realm. However, within the short span of time, only one such giant had been successfully created—so cherished by Doctor Mo that he had kept him hidden in a secluded location beneath the mountain, only bringing him back when he returned to the mountain the previous time. Yet Fu Zitong had no interest whatsoever in such an incomplete corpse—indeed, he found it contemptuous. During the time when his true form was still intact, he had numerous methods to subdue these imperfect corpse-beings. Compared to the advanced iron-armored corpses of true cultivators, these beings were far less powerful and could only display their might in the mundane world. Their only advantage, perhaps, was their simple composition and ease of crafting—anyone with a modest amount of spiritual power could produce them. He had expected himself to lift his head with fury, shouting the names "Mo Ju-ren" and "Yu Zi-tong" with a voice filled with rage and contempt. Yet in reality, aside from a slight sense of sadness, he felt little emotional impact or anger—as if the person who had met this fate were not his former close friend Zhang Tie, but merely a stranger. Could it be that he now realized Zhang Tie before him was only a shell, not the real person? Or had his heart grown so hardened over time? This self-centered, detached demeanor made even himself feel a growing sense of fear. At this moment, he realized that he had grown so unfamiliar with himself—so distant—without even knowing when this transformation had occurred. Finally awakening from his daze, he gazed at the towering figure with a complex expression, unsure of how to address him. Recalling the words of Doctor Mo—“the spirit has departed” and “a mere corpse”—Han Li gently looked up at the sky and said, “Zhang, I’m sure you’ve now been reborn. Your remaining body has lost its purpose; I’ll temporarily use it. I’ll treat it with care and hope you won’t hold me accountable.” With these words, spoken like a prayer, Han Li felt a sense of calm, as though he were self-hypnotizing, and then turned to the giant, saying, “Since your body is merely what Zhang left behind, lacking a self-aware spirit, I’ll call you ‘Qu-Hun.’ I hope you’ll be able to assist me in the days ahead.” Upon hearing Han Li’s words, the giant stood motionless, his expression unchanged—only retaining his usual demeanor of obedience, showing no other reaction. It seemed clear that he had no independent consciousness and could only passively receive commands. “I must be truly foolish to speak to a body without spirit like this!” Han Li shook his head self-consciously, then walked steadily toward the stone cottage. "Qu Hun, keep up." Han Li had fully recovered from his earlier gloom, his demeanor calm and composed, as if nothing had happened at all. It seemed that he truly had become as resolute and rational as he believed—he no longer easily succumbed to emotion. This remarkable transformation—was it a blessing or a curse for Han Li, who was now embarking on his journey as a cultivator? In the days that followed, Han Li remained busy for hours, diligently handling all the aftermath. He not only arranged for the burial of Doctor Mo's body beneath a large tree, but also ordered the complete destruction and removal of all remaining items inside the cottage. Even more, he commanded Qu Hun to completely dismantle the stone cottage, tearing it apart so thoroughly that it was no longer recognizable. Only then did he finally cease his efforts. After all this activity, the sky had turned evening, and the sun had begun to set. Han Li stood before the former stone cottage, now reduced to a heap of rubble, surveying the scene carefully and finding no overlooked details, then nodded contentedly. "Qu Hun, let's go!" "There's still a lot to attend to tomorrow. Unfortunately, you lack awareness and can't speak. If only you could communicate, I'd feel more at ease having someone to discuss things with." Under the warm, fiery glow of the setting sun, Han Li trailed behind the massive man now renamed Qu Hun, chattering incessantly as though finally finding a listener who would listen without complaining—no trace of coldness or detachment remained, and he now fully resembled a friendly neighborhood boy. After settling Qu Hun, Han Li returned to his own quarters. Inside the room, he felt like a stranger who had been away for a long time, touching and glancing at the tables, chairs, and stools here and there, murmuring to himself, "How long this day has been! It seems longer than the combined years of life I've lived before." Then, all at once, he collapsed onto the bed and fell into a deep sleep. He was truly exhausted—both mentally and physically. "But to be alive and return home is truly wonderful," he thought with a smile as he drifted off to sleep.