"Do you know anything about this disciple's cultivation technique? If he weren't a key disciple of the Yan family and hadn't reached a relatively high level, I'd personally talk to him and surely be able to resolve the matter." Han Li rubbed his nose. In truth, he was quite aware that someone capable of pressuring a common mortal woman must have a deep cultivation level—this question was merely a cautious instinct. "I asked Cai Huan to gather information on this matter beforehand. It seems he's only reached the fifth level in his foundational technique. Though he shares the same surname, within the Yan family, he's certainly of minor importance. Otherwise, how could a slightly more prominent disciple live among us common mortals?" "I knew my senior would definitely help!" Mu Caihuan, listening by the side, couldn't help but be overjoyed and exclaimed happily. "Thank you so much, Han Li! Otherwise, faced with a powerful immortal's pressure, I and my daughter truly don't know how to handle ourselves." Yin Shi's eyes shone with satisfaction, yet she sighed deeply afterward, expressing her sense of helplessness: "Although this place officially has restrictions preventing immortal cultivators from bothering us ordinary folk, there are actually countless instances of mistreatment behind the scenes. How could the Yan family truly punish those cultivators? Often, it's the ordinary folk who end up becoming enemies of the immortals and simply vanish without a trace—this happens quite frequently." Han Li sensed a quiet sense of frustration and resignation in her words. After all, compared to her former days of wielding life and death power at the Mu Mansion, this current life of enduring and quietly submitting was indeed a source of some humiliation for Yin Shi. After listening carefully, Han Li remained silent for a while, then suddenly asked a question that puzzled him. "Madam, Sister Mei has long reached the age when a woman should marry. Why not find a suitable match within the fortress? If she marries a cultivator, wouldn't that provide her with a solid support?" "Marriage?" "Never mind the cultivators from the Yan family!" Han Li said, while Yan Shi sighed with a pained expression, and Mo Caihuan loudly protested, her face clearly displeased. "What's wrong?" Han Li was somewhat surprised. "Brother! The cultivators from the Yan family simply don't regard ordinary women as equals. To marry one of them is no better than being a domestic servant—often, they scold or beat us whenever things don't go their way. I've spent my entire life single, and I will never marry someone from the Yan family!" Mo Caihuan spoke quickly and urgently, clearly deeply apprehensive about the matter. "Han Li, you may not be aware of this—your sister-in-arms has a friend here who married a cultivator within the fortress. Yet she was never treated with proper regard and often suffered mistreatment. After her appearance grew aged, she was simply divorced at the convenience of the husband, with no more than a mere excuse, sent back home to a sadly wretched end. Meanwhile, the cultivator married a younger, more beautiful woman. Ah! How rare it is to find a cultivator as kind-hearted as Cai Huan's stepfather! I truly don't want Cai Huan to suffer like that. As for marrying a commoner—your sister-in-arms has such high standards, how could she possibly find someone suitable?" Yin Shi explained Yin Shi's actions beside. "Ah, that makes sense! But surely, your sister-in-arms can't remain unmarried for life, can she?" Han Li furrowed his brows, naturally remarking. Yet as soon as he spoke these words, Yin Shi's expression shifted slightly, as if she had something to say, but hesitated and ultimately chose not to. Meanwhile, Mu Cai Huan seemed to recall something, lowered her head, and remained silent. Han Li only then realized that the atmosphere had suddenly become unusual—something was off, as if... He promptly changed the subject, saying, "Sister, take the path ahead for me. Let's first deal with this cultivator's persistent presence before we proceed!" "Yes!" Mo Caihuan hesitated slightly but ultimately agreed. Yan Shi, seeing this, showed no objections either. Thus, Han Li and Mo Caihuan temporarily left the shop and headed straight for the cultivator's residence, which seemed quite distant. "...Master, what level is your cultivation technique exactly? When he sees you arrive, he acts as if you're a mouse approaching a cat—constantly calling you 'senior' and bowing repeatedly! His demeanor is so respectful, it's as if he's meeting his ancestors!" Mo Caihuan fully regained the cheerful spirit Han Li had always envisioned, chattering nonstop along the quiet, winding path on the way back—no longer resembling a young woman in her twenties at all! Han Li smiled slightly and said lightly, "Not much. In fact, I'm just one level above his in cultivation. According to the conventions of the immortal realm, he truly should address me as his senior!" Since ancient times, no one without a spiritual root has been unable to cultivate spells—this has been an unchanging truth in the immortal realm for hundreds of thousands of years! How could he possibly break such a fundamental truth? Seeing韩立's expression, Mo Caihuan, whose heart had initially warmed with anticipation, suddenly felt chilled. She realized that even her accomplished senior brother now had no solution. Her spirits sank, and she quietly fell behind him by a few steps, walking slowly and with a more composed demeanor. When they were a short distance from the small shop, Han Li suddenly stopped, turned around, and said to Mo Caihuan, "I have other matters to attend to, so I won't return to see my mother-in-law anymore. Let's part here. Fortunately, I'll be staying in Yanling Fort for a while longer, and we may meet again in the future." "What? Are you really leaving now, Brother?" Mo Caihuan was first startled, then her face fell with disappointment. "Yes. Here are several spiritual stones—these are for my mother-in-law, in case of any unforeseen needs. That's all I can do at the moment." Han Li pulled out a small leather pouch from his storage bag and handed it to Mo Cai Huan. "Thank you, brother!" Mo Cai Huan whispered softly, appearing weak and full of reluctance, her eyes brimming with longing. Seeing her expression, Han Li felt an unexpected sense of sorrow deep within him. After a moment's hesitation, he then produced a silver vial and poured out a pill of soft pink color. "Take this. Though it won't make you a cultivator, it will allow you to remain beautiful and youthful throughout your life—never aging. This, at least, is my small gift as your elder brother." Han Li spoke with solemnity. "Brother, I—!" Upon hearing this, Mo Cai Huan was filled with surprise and emotion, eager to express her heartfelt gratitude. But Han Li didn't let her speak; with a simple flick of his finger, the pill flew directly into her mouth and settled down her throat, swallowed without her conscious effort. "Sister, I'm leaving now. Take care of yourselves—both you and your mother!" "As soon as Han Li spoke those words, he slightly swayed, his figure blurred for a moment, and then vanished entirely from his spot. 'Brother!' Mo Caihuan gasped in surprise, quickly stepping forward and searching everywhere. But where was Han Li? With no choice, Mo Caihuan slowly walked toward the shop, her expression somber. A short while later, Han Li appeared again, just behind a nearby room. After silently observing for a moment, he then turned and walked away without hesitation. Though Han Li wasn't certain what Mo Caihuan wanted to say, he had a good guess. Yet sadly, they remained destined only to meet—no deeper connection formed. His feelings for her hadn't quite reached that level. Moreover, the difference in their lifespans—after his foundation was solidified—was simply too vast. This was precisely why he had decided not to become entangled in this matter. To watch the person he loved gradually fade away before his very eyes, helpless, was something Han Li could not bear." … "Tian He Residence" — that was the name of the teahouse appearing before Han Li. A three-story ancient building, indeed quite imposing. Han Li merely glanced at it briefly before proceeding without hesitation upward. For already outside, he had sensed over a dozen fluctuations of spiritual energy within the building—each one emanating from a Foundation Stage cultivator, comparable to or even surpassing his own. As soon as he stepped inside, he scanned the first floor only briefly before moving directly to the second floor, as most of the patrons there were ordinary people with no detectable spiritual energy. Though there were some cultivators on the second floor, most were only at the Qi Stage, far below his current standards. It was the increasingly stronger spiritual fluctuations on the third floor that truly captured his interest and became his primary focus.