Han Li glanced at Qi Yunxiao's figure immersed in the grove. Seeing him in such a flustered state, though Han Li had not been deeply involved in romantic matters, he immediately sensed that Qi Yunxiao's relationship with this skilled array specialist went far beyond ordinary friendship—likely a deep, mutual affection, which explained his such intense anxiety. The maid, too, was equally eager and had hurried after him. After waiting patiently outside the grove for a while, Qi Yunxiao and the graceful maid emerged together, both beaming, and approached Han Li. Han Li approached the blue-robed woman directly, without hesitation. She had a medium build, a delicate nose, and clear, bright eyes that sparkled like water. After exchanging a glance with Han Li, she offered a gentle smile. It seemed that Qi Yunxiao had already informed her of his identity. Honestly, the woman's facial features were not particularly striking, and even compared to the elegant maid, she appeared slightly less refined. Yet her graceful demeanor, the poised elegance in every gesture, combined with those dark eyes that seemed to speak volumes, fully compensated for any shortcomings in her appearance. Anyone who saw her would not perceive her as ordinary but instead be struck by her charm, and would certainly distinguish her from the maidservants at her side. However, upon witnessing this extraordinary grace, Han Li found himself deeply troubled. He did not need to guess—this woman was undoubtedly sharp, insightful, and far more intelligent than the average. Dealing with her would surely prove taxing, and would certainly not be as effortless as his interactions with Qi Yunxiao had been, nor would it allow him to maintain complete control over the situation. "Thank you so much for your timely assistance, esteemed elder! My name is Xin Ruoyin. I am truly grateful!" The blue-robed woman moved gracefully toward Han Li, bowed elegantly, and spoke with clear, resonant tones. "No need for formalities, Miss Xin," Han Li replied. "It was merely a small favor on my part." Nevertheless, they should hurry back. These people probably have some connections—what if their elders are also nearby? Then things would become troublesome." Han Li waved his hand politely, speaking in a courteous tone while subtly urging the group to move faster. Qi Yunxiao, listening to Han Li's words, nodded repeatedly with growing concern. "Indeed, Yin'er! We should leave right away—this place is truly too dangerous." Since Qi Yunxiao first saw Xin Ruyin, his eyes had never left her delicate, porcelain-like face, and now he spoke to her with an unusually intimate tone. Han Li found it rather endearing, even a bit awkward. Xin Ruyin's cheeks flushed slightly, rising with two warm tints. She glanced at Qi Yunxiao with a touch of bashfulness, hesitated, then nodded with a gentle smile. "Very well. Then let's go now. Just—these bodies..." She glanced at the several corpses, as if she still had more to say. "That's easy to handle—just burn them right here!" Han Li said indifferently, then spread his right fingers, launching seven or eight fire balls the size of bowls. Instantly, the corpses turned to ash, leaving only the storage bags scattered on the ground. Han Li's seamless and efficient method of disposing of the bodies caused a slight change in the young woman's expression, and a touch of coldness in her heart. Yet she was no ordinary weak woman. Soon after, she regained her composure and chatted casually with Qi Yunxiao. "The items inside these storage bags are of no use to me. If the young lady doesn't mind, please feel free to take them. It would be a pity to leave any traces behind," Han Li said, turning to the graceful maid standing on the other side of Xin Ruyin. "Really? You're offering them to me?" Hearing Han Li's words, the maid's face lit up with surprise, and she could hardly believe her ears, repeating the question with genuine astonishment. When she saw Han Li give a light smile and then nod firmly, she immediately thanked him and then rushed over with enthusiasm, picking up each storage bag one by one. To her, this was absolutely a stroke of luck—what treasures these bags contained! Xin Ruyin was momentarily stunned by the scene, but soon composed herself, politely thanked Han Li, and then joined Qi Yunxiao on the floating boat. After the graceful maid, excitedly carrying a pile of storage bags, also boarded the artifact, Han Li stepped forward, finally reaching the boat, and then his spiritual energy flowed from his feet, lifting the vessel and soaring into the sky. … On the way back, the blue-robed woman proposed that she invite Han Li and Qi Yunxiao to her place to sit down, so that she could formally express her gratitude for their life-saving kindness! Qi Yunxiao, having the rare opportunity to get closer to the one he had long cherished, could hardly say no—she immediately eagerly agreed. Han Li also felt that this was a good opportunity to request repairs to the teleportation array, so he paused slightly and did not object. Under Han Li's guidance, the small boat turned slightly and sped west-northwest. Several hours later, with Xin Ruoyin's guidance, Han Li landed on a modest, unremarkable hill. Aside from a faint mist drifting around the slopes, Han Li noticed no unusual features—much like countless ordinary unnamed hills in the world. Yet he was certain that, as a residence of an array master, the area must be protected by at least some significant defensive array. Though he himself knew little about array magic, he could not overlook the potential subtleties; thus, he remained cautious and respectful. Following the blue-robed woman, Han Li and the others stopped at a cluster of bamboo huts halfway up the hill, which was Xin Ruoyin's home. Xin Ruyin invited Han Li and Qi Yunxiao into a larger bamboo pavilion to rest, while she and her attendant went to other rooms to bathe and change their clothes. After all, following this series of pursuits and disturbances, dust had settled on their garments—something that was simply unbearable for two women who naturally cherished cleanliness. "What is there for Qi Daoyou to be so concerned about?" Han Li lightly sipped at the fine spiritual tea on the table, smiled calmly, and spoke with composed ease. "Master! Not... not exactly... I—I..." Qi Yunxiao grew increasingly at a loss! At that moment, the graceful young girl entered, finally relieving Qi Yunxiao's predicament. Not long after, Xin Ruyin also changed into a white robe, stepping in with a fresh and refined grace—she appeared like a blooming snow lily, stunning in her beauty. "This time, I am deeply grateful to Master Han and Brother Qi for your timely rescue," Xin Ruyin said as soon as she entered, taking a cup of tea from the elegant attendant beside her, and then gracefully offered one to Han Li and the other to the elder. Han Li, after receiving the cup, silently sighed, thinking to himself: "This woman truly is no ordinary one!" "His words were so polished and precise that not a single flaw could be found, though he made no explicit promises—yet everything seemed perfectly sound!" As for Qi Yunxiao, seeing his beloved present him with tea, he was already so delighted that he had lost track of direction! He drank the tea without even noticing its flavor, simply smiling foolishly throughout. Xin Ruyin, observing Qi Yunxiao's expression, found herself deeply troubled and thus turned to speak with Han Li, hoping to gently probe into his background and ascertain whether he belonged to a particular sect or a prominent family. After all, a cultivator at the Foundation Stage was surely someone of notable origin. Han Li, of course, was far from naive and would not readily reveal his true identity; instead, he deliberately shifted his attention back and forth, weaving circles around Xin Ruyin. After a while, despite all his efforts, he managed to convey absolutely no useful information to her, leaving Xin Ruyin increasingly frustrated and even more cautious about Han Li. To Xin Ruyin, even though Han Li had done such a great deal for her, it didn't necessarily mean that Han Li hadn't harbored the same intentions toward her as he did toward those others. To be safe, she naturally had to stay on her guard, brimming with alertness and vigilance. As long as you've managed to resolve this matter for me, I won't mention anything about compensation at all. In fact, I'd be happy to gift you a cluster of eight-hundred-year-old medicinal herbs—used for my elixir preparation—that could aid your healing. Han Li suddenly said something that left both of them utterly astonished. "Would the elder be willing to part with these herbs?" QI Yunxiao, upon hearing this, instantly rose from his seat, eagerly asking with a mixture of surprise and delight. Clearly, he was now completely immersed in the excitement of the thought that his beloved now had access to such a precious herb, offering real hope for her recovery. (There's one more chapter to come tonight, just a bit later than usual!)