(The third update is here—please vote!) "Tell me plainly what you think! I'm tired of going around in circles!" Han Li said coldly, showing no signs of being influenced by Yan's stance. Yan's brow furrowed slightly. This young man was far more tenacious than she had anticipated—neither softness nor firmness seemed to work on him, leaving her feeling completely at a loss. "Could it really be that we have to lay bare our own positions and settle everything face-to-face?" Yan felt somewhat reluctant. After wielding power over the Jingjiao Assembly for so many years, when had she ever come away from a negotiation without securing at least one advantage—only to fully disclose her bottom line? She turned to look at the fifth consort, Wang Shi, as among all the sisters, only Wang Shi had the capability to challenge her decision. So she asked herself if Wang Shi had any better suggestions. "Any matters concerning negotiations shall be handled solely by the fourth sister. I will have no objections," Wang Shi said, clearly sensing Yan's intent, and spoke with calm determination. Hearing these words, Yin Shi felt greatly relieved and gradually calmed down. "Very well. Since you're not going to beat around the bush, then we sisters will also come straight to the point and lay out our conditions." As soon as Yin Shi spoke, she completely regained the demeanor of a leading figure among the three major guilds of Jia Yuan City—the soft, fragile sense of a delicate woman vanished entirely, replaced by the steady authority of someone long accustomed to leadership. "That's exactly the kind of opponent I hoped to face!" Han Li smiled slightly. "You simply need to eliminate Jingjiao Guild's main rivals—the Wusu Sect and the Dubei Manor—so that my Mo family has no worries behind it. Then I will immediately present the Nu Yang Jade to you personally, and allow you to choose any one of the Cai Huan family members to marry." "However, if you intend to take a hard line, or even seize us sisters as leverage, then you have mistaken your course. I have already entrusted the Jade to a trusted person. Should there be any disturbance, that person will immediately destroy the Jade, ensuring our mutual extinction." Yin Shi said with a resolute expression. "Lady Yan doesn't even fear the wind blowing and possibly knocking her tongue loose! Do you really think I'd be able to wipe out the Five-Color Sect and the Du-Ba Mansion alone? I'm amazed you could come up with such a plan!" Han Li seemed fully prepared for Lady Yan's threat, showing no signs of alarm. He had long suspected that the Warm Sun Jade wouldn't be secured merely through sheer force—beyond the verbal demands, there were surely many hidden strategies at play. Therefore, simply pressing the others to reveal the jade's whereabouts would be a mere fallback strategy; ideally, he would have them willingly hand it over. "Master Han, aren't you a cultivator? How could these commoners in the martial world possibly stand against you? Moreover, we haven't asked you to eliminate all of their followers—only to remove some of their key figures." This time, it was the graceful young lady, the Third Lady, who offered Han Li a captivating smile, then spoke in fluent Finnish. "What's so special about being a cultivator?" As for other cultivators, I don't know much about them, but my own capabilities—I'm quite clear on that. I certainly won't be foolish enough to face off against a large guild of tens of thousands of members alone. Moreover, do you really think cultivators can kill ordinary people without any consequences at all? Han Li coldly glanced at the third consort, the frosty intensity in his eyes freezing her smile. Under Han Li's steady practice of the Changchun Technique and with his constant vigilance, how could any enchantments or seductive arts like the迷魂 (míhún, "mystic charm") possibly take effect? "Then, according to your suggestion, do cultivators really have limitations when it comes to ordinary people?" Yan Shi asked, visibly surprised. "I'm not entirely clear on the specifics either, since I've only recently become a cultivator and haven't had the chance to truly immerse myself in these protocols," Han Li said calmly. Noticing that Yan's lady seemed about to speak again, he waved a hand to silence her and continued coldly, "But anyone with a sound mind will realize—should cultivators be able to act arbitrarily against ordinary people, how could the so-called three dominant families of Lanshou or the three major guilds of Jiyuan City still exist today? They'd have long since been wiped out repeatedly by cultivators with ulterior motives. Perhaps your ladies have already become their mere playthings." Han Li's last remark was far from courteous, leaving the women across the table flushed and visibly startled. "This is merely my speculation—it doesn't necessarily have to be true!" Yan's lady still held out hope, striving to persuade Han Li. "As long as there's even a one-in-a-hundred chance of success, I would never willingly court disaster." Han Li offered the Xian family absolutely no room for hope, speaking frankly. "Are you really planning to take our daughter's dowry without exchanging a single thing—just walk away with it untouched?" The Xian lady's face grew somewhat stern, emphasizing the words "dowry" with particular weight. Upon hearing this, Han Li remained composed on the surface, yet felt a growing sense of frustration within. "The poison I carry was originally administered by your husband. If I don't bother you now, what more can I expect?" he thought bitterly. Yet Han Li knew that at this moment, simply stating this would fall on deaf ears—these women would certainly not hand over the "Warm Sun Jade" unless they personally gained something from him. Thus, Han Li lowered his head, pondered for a moment, then raised his gaze, cleared his throat, and spoke clearly: "I shall offer you two choices. Select whichever one suits you best." "First, you and your entire household will immediately pack your belongings and head out of Lanshou, seeking a remote location beyond the reach of your rivals' power—where you can settle as a quiet, prosperous family, living a peaceful life and completely stepping away from the constant rivalries among martial clans. I can guarantee your safety throughout this journey, ensuring that your adversaries' pursuit forces will not harm you." Han Li paused here, observing the women's expressions. He noticed that while Lady Li, the second consort, showed some interest, Lady Yan and Lady Liu remained silent—clearly opposed to this proposal. As for Lady Wang, the fifth consort, Han Li paid no attention; given her icy demeanor, she would hardly reveal anything useful. Seeing this, Han Li quietly chuckled to himself. Both Lady Yan and Lady Liu were ambitious individuals—asking them to relinquish their authority at Jingjiao Hall and settle down as ordinary village women was certainly something they would not agree to, a fact he had anticipated from the very beginning. "That's only one option yet?" "Seeing that Han Li wasn't going to continue, the three ladies couldn't help but ask one more question. 'There's still another path...' Han Li stood up from his chair, gazing steadily at the ceiling as he spoke of a route that must surely have been chosen by Yan Shi and the others."