Although Qin Ping was a servant in the Qin household, he had never before walked such a long distance on foot for so long—this had truly worn him out. He could feel a dull swelling and sharp stabbing pain in the soles of his feet, as though needles were piercing them. To mention his voice, it had been sore and hoarse from speaking so much. Yet when he saw his new master still enthusiastic, approaching a small porcelain shop with eager curiosity, glancing here and there, Qin Ping had no choice but to grit his teeth and take another step, following reluctantly. After all, if the master didn’t show any signs of fatigue, how could a servant dare to complain? “I’m getting hungry,” Qin Ping said as he reached near Han Li, “should we find a place for lunch?” And that was exactly what Han Li said, sincerely and plainly, as he turned around. This immediately excited Qin Ping, who enthusiastically agreed and offered with great courtesy to have dinner at a small inn not far from here, praising its signature dishes with great enthusiasm. Han Li found this a bit amusing, yet maintained the air of someone who had decided on the matter, and followed Qin Ping's eager lead into the modest two-story inn. The first floor was occupied by ordinary guests who ate simple meals, while the second floor, where more distinguished guests dined, was reserved for those of higher status. Naturally, Qin Ping did not want Han Li to dine on the first floor, even though the latter seemed quite interested. The second floor was not very crowded, with only a few tables. One table, however, featured three men and two women sharing a meal together—an arrangement truly striking and unconventional. When Han Li entered the inn, he glanced at that table, and upon doing so, was momentarily taken aback. After all, these five individuals—men and women—were all Qi Stage cultivators with at least Ten Levels of foundational techniques, which was quite uncommon! "Rarely have I encountered representatives from the Six Mage Sects?" Han Li thought first. Immediately, the ambient qi around him condensed, and Han Li activated the "Qi Guidance Technique," a skill typically learned by Foundation Stage cultivators, drawing his own qi into his body. As a result, to the eyes of lower-level cultivators who were significantly less skilled than him, Han Li now appeared no different from an ordinary mortal. "Master, please sit here!" Qin Ping, despite his foot pain, guided Han Li to a table near the window. He then gently wiped the wooden chairs with his sleeve before smiling warmly and inviting Han Li to take his seat. Han Li looked slightly embarrassed and quickly urged Qin Ping to sit as well. This time, Qin Ping was not overly formal. After a few polite refusals, he simply settled down and sat quietly. He was truly in so much pain from his feet that he no longer cared about any distinctions of rank or status. Fortunately, the young Han gentleman, who had just arrived in the capital, didn't place much importance on such formalities. As soon as the two of them settled down, the waiter promptly approached with great courtesy, respectfully inquiring, "What would the two guests like to order? We have several signature dishes that are particularly renowned." "Please serve a fine set of wine and dishes, and bring each of your signature dishes, prepared with the very best ingredients," said Qin Ping, knowing that Han Li certainly wouldn't know much about dining. He stepped in to take charge, and as soon as he mentioned the Qin family, his demeanor instantly became more dignified and self-assured. Indeed, the signature dishes of the Qin family proved highly effective—upon hearing this, the waiter immediately nodded and bowed repeatedly, becoming even more deferential, and hurried off to summon the wine and dishes. Han Li, however, had no patience for this display of his attendant's confidence. Instead, all the spirit seemed concentrated on the group of cultivators seated not far from there. Yet what puzzled him was that he always felt the blue-robed man in his thirties seemed somewhat familiar—like he had seen him before somewhere—but upon closer reflection, he couldn't recall any specific connection; he wasn't someone he knew well. All the men among them, including the blue-robed man whom he found familiar, looked deeply concerned, their heads bowed as they sipped their wine in silence. The two women, both of good appearance, stared blankly at the full table of dishes and drinks, never lifting their chopsticks, as though they had no appetite at all. From their demeanor, it appeared they were facing a serious issue—something quite unlike the typical situation of magicians who had infiltrated the Yue State. Among the group, the blue-robed man was the youngest, aside from the other woman in her twenties. "Master, the dishes are ready. Please take your meal first!" a respectful voice from Qin Ping reached his ears at that moment. The waiter had efficiently arranged the dishes, filling the table to the brim! "Ah, let's all share!" Han Li smiled slightly, a bit embarrassed, revealing a set of洁白 teeth as he spoke. Then, without further hesitation, Han Li picked up a spoonful of food and took a hearty bite, chewing vigorously. Yet, his awareness quietly extended, carefully observing the movements of the several cultivators. As soon as Qin Ping saw Han Li begin to eat and lifted his own chopsticks, the eldest black-faced elder among the guests at the table stopped drinking and suddenly cast an invisible sound-dampening dome over all of them, then spoke: "Let's all eat something. Since our lives have now come into the hands of others, as the Five Friends of Mengshan, we can only take things one step at a time. After all, not ending up with a divine or celestial demise is already far better than what others have experienced. Although there was an acoustic shield in place and the older man's voice was not loud, it was clearly distinct in Han Li's ears. The sound-dampening spell emitted by a Qi Condensation stage cultivator proved as ineffective as a mere formality against Han Li's remarkably sharp awareness. Nevertheless, the older man's words gave Han Li a sense that there was more to the situation—some hidden dynamics were now coming to light. Perhaps the older man's appeals had begun to take effect, and the two women finally ate a few mouthfuls of their meals in silence. Yet their distracted expressions suggested that they were likely eating without much taste. Hearing the elder's words, the youngest of the white-robed woman could not help but follow up with a question: "Brother, why not? It's rare indeed that the seven sects don't wish to wipe out these villains. After all, at least hundreds of our fellow disciples from Yue State have already fallen into their hands." When she spoke, her face was filled with evident resentment. Compared to the passionate outbursts of the two younger ones, the man and woman in their forties exchanged a silent, wry look—clearly understanding the elder's concerns. Han Li, listening to this, felt a growing sense of surprise, as though he was beginning to grasp something significant. Yet on his face, his expression remained calm, and he continued to eat several mouthfuls of food, earning praise from Qin Ping for his excellent appetite. Han Li smiled slightly, his cheeks flushed, as if realizing his manner had been out of place, and thus slowed down his serving of dishes. At the same time, the elder with a dark face sighed and began explaining to the blue-robed man and the white-robed woman. "Actually, our appeal to the seven sects has done little more than make matters worse!" "First of all, we've always been well aware of the current state of the seven sects. With their manpower stretched thin, it's still uncertain whether they can even withstand the invasion from the demonic forces. How could they possibly spare additional personnel to assist us, these scattered practitioners? After all, among these adversaries are several cultivators at the Foundation Stage. Ordinary cultivators simply wouldn't be able to make a difference. Otherwise, how could we five have been captured so swiftly?" "Secondly, even if the members of the seven sects truly feel a sense of solidarity and are willing to send reinforcements to eliminate these foes, don't forget that they've always been wearing masks, never revealing their true faces. It was even in a humble, makeshift temple that they forced us to surrender—randomly chosen, with no clear point of entry or leverage at all. How could we possibly mount an effective response?" Moreover, we are still under strange seals imposed by them—should we not receive timely spells from them, we might die suddenly! And you're certain that the seven sects can surely lift these seals? After all, since they've entrusted us with such confidence, these seals must possess unique qualities of their own. They're far from easy to break! The elder with the dark face grew more and more furrowed in his brow as he spoke, until even he began to lose his confidence. "Shall we truly be aiding the very forces that are trying to frame other cultivators?" the young woman in white, pale-faced, said, clearly unwilling to do so. "Five sisters! As Brother said, we can only take it step by step, see what unfolds. Fortunately, we have ample time to work with—perhaps by then, our Five Friends of Mengshan will devise a strategy that serves both our interests and secures our escape!" The middle-aged, slender, tall man offered this reassurance. Yet all of them knew well that this was merely a temporary measure—nothing more than self-deception! For these two days, they couldn't think of a good solution. Could it be that after several months of lingering, they would finally find a way to relieve themselves? After saying this, the group fell silent once again, their expressions of worry returning to their faces.