Han Li was willing to distance himself from Dong Xuan'er; Feng Shi and Yan Yu naturally hoped for no less! Thus, instead of stopping him, they provided Han Li with a detailed map of Yan Ling Pavilion, allowing him to save time and proceed directly to his destination, rather than moving around aimlessly like a confused fly. As for Dong Xuan'er herself, though she was genuinely surprised that Han Li suddenly released his hold over her, she was delighted to find herself free to move freely among the many male cultivators. Still, she continued to gaze at Han Li with a look of astonishment, puzzled by the meaning behind his actions. "Meaning? Hmph. It's simply that I didn't want to carry an extra burden, and being alone allows me far more freedom!" Han Li walked leisurely along the cobblestone path of Yan Ling Pavilion, arms casually behind his back, occasionally glancing at the shops on either side. These shops sold scrolls, crafting materials, and medicinal ingredients, with a few offering lower-tier magical items as well. Yet, the shopkeepers themselves were mostly ordinary people without any cultivation abilities. It's no surprise at all, for Yanling Fort is vast in area and houses as many as十几万 people. Yet only a small fraction of them possess spiritual roots capable of practicing magic—most are ordinary mortals. These mortals, who originally belonged to the secular world, include those without spiritual roots but whose bloodline still traces back to the Yan family, and others who are relatives or close connections of Yan family disciples. After all, if marriage within the Yan family's immediate kin were the only practice, it would eventually become unsatisfactory; thus, it's essential to absorb some fresh blood to ensure the Yan family continues to thrive. Of course, strict confidentiality is maintained—once these mortals enter the Fort, they are never allowed to leave. They must live, grow old, fall ill, and die within the city, their entire lives confined within its walls. Though they will never lack for food or clothing, this remains profoundly tragic. Those newcomers who have migrated from outside enjoy the advantage of having experienced the bustling world beyond the Fort. But those born and raised within the Fort itself, without any spiritual root, never even get the chance to glimpse the outside world. Yet when ordinary mortals first entered this fortress, none had been forced! They had all come to the brink of desperation, or deeply grateful to the Yan family, and had willingly chosen to stay. Moreover, the Yan Ling Fortress was highly fortified, protected by a defensive array, and any mortal discovered attempting to leave without permission was immediately executed. Thus, to this day, no mortal has ever been heard to successfully escape. This information, of course, was not merely conjectured by Han Li—it was provided by the small details embedded within the map scroll. As a result, Han Li now had a clear overall impression of the Yan Ling Fortress. At present, he was heading toward a tea house inside the fortress. According to Han Li’s understanding, most cultivators held a deep appreciation for fine tea, and tea houses were nearly always essential stops for them. He believed that such a place might allow him to meet other cultivators and join small groups—something truly rare and valuable. After all, staying isolated was not a sustainable approach. At the end of this stone street, near a three-way intersection, there should be the sign of the tea pavilion, Han Li thought, and thus he quickened his pace. Suddenly, however, a heated argument between a man and a woman broke out inside one of the shops on the side, followed by a man's loud roar. Then a woman in her mid-thirties stepped out of the building, furious, and strode directly onto the stone street, just meeting Han Li who had been slightly taken aback and now faced her head-on. The woman appeared very beautiful, so Han Li, being a man of routine, merely glanced at her casually. But when he finally caught a clear view of her face, he froze—his body went still, and he stood motionless. The woman, seeing Han Li staring at her so openly, felt deeply annoyed. Though she had lived in the castle for quite some time and had no magical abilities at all, she immediately recognized Han Li's status as a cultivator simply by observing his attire. Though embarrassed and thus not having paid close attention to Han Li's appearance, she only felt a vague familiarity, she still managed to suppress her anger and said stiffly, lowering her head slightly: "Master, could I possibly pass by? I am already married. Does it not seem improper for you to gaze so intently upon a common woman like me?" After uttering these words, the lady did not seem to worry at all. In the Yan Ling fortress, rules were strictly enforced, forbidding the monks and cultivators from disturbing the daily lives of ordinary people, with severe penalties for any violation. Naturally, ordinary people were also expected to show absolute respect to the cultivators, and any neglect could be dealt with at the cultivators' discretion. Moreover, now standing right in the midst of the bustling street under everyone's gaze, she felt no fear of any improper intentions on the part of the cultivator. Yet, after lowering her head for a while, she saw no movement from the cultivator before her—neither a sign of retreat nor any words of reprimand. This surprised her, prompting her to lift her head and look over. To his surprise, a face half-smiling, as though about to deliver a punch, appeared before him. The familiarity of that face instantly transported the young woman back to a night ten years ago, on a quiet path in the backyard—clearly remembering the scene of a rather petty elder brother arguing with a quirky young girl. "Brother?" "Sister!" The young woman finally recognized the face, unchanged over the years. And upon hearing her call him "Brother," Han Li confirmed that the graceful and lovely young woman before him was indeed the same spirited, odd little girl from years ago—the youngest daughter of Mu Caihuan, the Mu physician, whom he had personally addressed as his little sister. "Are you really Han Li, Brother?" Mu Caihuan first expressed astonishment, then a wave of emotions surged through her, though her face still betrayed disbelief. "Have you found my Yingxiang pills useful?" Han Li suddenly asked softly. "Brother... really you?" Upon hearing Han Li mention the name of the gift he had given her that day, Mo Cai Huan lost all doubt. Yet her eyes suddenly glistened with tears, and she began to sob, as though she had endured great injustice. Han Li, now, was completely at a loss! After all, they were on the stone street, with pedestrians and several cultivators passing by—such a beautiful young wife weeping in front of him would surely invite countless speculations. Thinking of this, Han Li scratched his head and, with determination, said to Mo Cai Huan, "Sister, shall we move to another place and talk in greater detail? This place seems rather unsuitable for a conversation." "Yes... I'll follow my elder brother," Mo Cai Huan replied, pausing her tears and being remarkably obedient. Han Li was somewhat surprised by this behavior. After all, in his memory, Mo Cai Huan had always been a lively, fairy-like girl—so suddenly gentle and attentive, it truly felt unfamiliar. But where would be a quieter spot? Han Li glanced around the street, feeling somewhat depressed. "Come to my house! My mother is there," Muru Caihuan said suddenly, after her emotions had calmed. "Is the fourth wife also at Yanling Fort? Han Li was surprised. It seems that something truly serious has happened at the Muru family—otherwise, as the head of the household, the Yin family would not have been so easily displaced here. "Yes, brother! My mother is ill, and quite seriously! You must save her!" Muru Caihuan's eyes glistened with tears as she pleaded earnestly. "Alright, we'll discuss the details once we reach my mother's place. As long as it's not a particularly complex condition, I'm confident I can cure her!" Seeing Muru Caihuan's delicate and appealing demeanor, Han Li recalled her carefree days at the Muru household, and his heart softened. He offered his reassurance with a gentle smile. "Yes! I believe you. My second sister once said that your medical skills were already superior to hers. Now, my mother truly has a chance of recovery!" "Upon hearing Li Han's words, Mo Caichan broke into laughter, her delicate, flower-like grace leaving Li Han momentarily enchanted. Yet she quickly regained her composure, thus avoiding any embarrassment. 'Come, my home is not far—just one street away. My mother will be delighted to see you!' Mo Caichan naturally took hold of Li Han's sleeve, leading him forward with lively enthusiasm, as if she had found her anchor. It was natural for a young woman to gently hold a man's arm while walking along the street, drawing curious glances from those nearby. However, Li Han's elegant appearance as a cultivator ensured that no one dared to offer any unfavorable remarks in their presence. As for what might be whispered behind their backs once they were out of sight—well, that remained to be seen! 'Sister, how did you and Mother come to be here? Has something happened at the Mo family estate?'" Han Li walked beside Mo Caifan, subtly drawing back his sleeve when she wasn't paying attention, and asked without making a sound. "This story, when you start telling it, turns out to be quite long! But in fact, the Mo family's estate had already been destroyed seven years ago, and the Jingjiao Assembly was also officially removed from the records!" Mo Caifan replied, her body slightly trembling and her face suddenly growing pale. "What about the other two sisters and the mother of Master Mo?" Although Han Li had already guessed most of the details, he still sighed and inquired about the others. "The second and fifth sisters have both passed away. As for the rest, I'm not entirely sure. It was only through great difficulty that I and my mother managed to escape. The situation was so chaotic that everyone had to scatter and flee in different directions!" Mo Caifan's voice trembled, clearly filled with deep sorrow. (Updates have been a bit sparse lately, but if you have a monthly subscription, any support you can offer would be greatly appreciated—we don't mind at all!)