When Han Li heard this, he realized that the several individuals mentioned had been experiencing a recurring phenomenon in the Xu State's immortal cultivation circles—many cultivators had been vanishing over the past few years. These individuals seemed to have been captured by the unseen forces behind the scenes, only to be released under threats. Yet, from their tone, it was clear they were now under pressure, being compelled to commit acts that harmed others. Han Li's thoughts raced swiftly; within moments, he concluded that it would be wiser not to intervene. After all, the very fact that such a large number of cultivators had disappeared without trace, yet the masterminds behind it remained undetected and unexposed, revealed an extraordinary level of cunning—far beyond ordinary practitioners. Moreover, since these forces could command cultivators at the Foundation Stage, there might even be hidden cultivators at the Consolidation Stage operating behind the scenes. As a relatively junior Foundation-Stage cultivator, Han Li judged it prudent to avoid unnecessary complications during this turbulent period. With his decision settled, he immediately withdrew his awareness, choosing to disregard the group of cultivators. Though these people might have been somewhat unfortunate and pitiable, Li had no close ties with them, and certainly wouldn't risk much to intervene in their affairs. He could only hope they found their own luck. Moreover, as the Seven Sects were currently engaged in full-scale resistance against the magical forces—exactly as the old man with the dark face had analyzed—they simply had no room to spare. Even if Han Li had helped them report the matter, they would likely pay it little attention. That was precisely how Han Li thought, with a cold detachment. Since he no longer needed to listen to others' private chatter, he grew more relaxed and began to eat with greater ease, occasionally pretending to be curious and pointing out various interesting sights outside the window, asking Qin Ping questions about them. Qin Ping, of course, explained everything in detail. As a result, by the time the meal was over, most of the dishes had been consumed by Han Li, leaving Qin Ping amazed and quietly marveling at how energetic and hearty his young lord truly was. At that moment, the cultivator at the table rose and went downstairs. As he departed, Han Li observed him clearly—still bowed and dejected, as if they couldn't come up with any effective solutions in the short term. Seeing this, Han Li ate a few more mouthfuls of his meal and then asked Qin Ping to settle the bill and leave. Yet Qin Ping only smiled cheerfully, then produced a waist card from the Qin household and went downstairs with a composed air. A short while later, he returned to report to Han Li: "Master, I've already placed the waist card there. The storekeeper just needs to visit our household at the end of the month to settle the account—no personal payment is required from us. The Qin household's young masters typically spend hundreds of taels of silver each month, which they report back to the estate. I've already recorded this meal under your account." Han Li was somewhat surprised by the opulence of the Qin household. Yet on his face, a look of mild confusion remained, and he nodded vaguely before heading downstairs with Qin Ping. In the afternoon, Han Li no longer continued walking on foot. Instead, following Qin Ping's advice, he hired a two-wheeled carriage and took a circuit through several key locations in Yujing. Though he had missed many spots, he now had a general sense of the city's layout and neighborhoods—no longer would he feel completely lost upon leaving the Qin residence. Not until late evening, after a satisfying visit, did Han Li return to the Qin estate. At the gate, Qin Gui, without waiting for Han Li to get off the carriage, hurried out of the gate hall and showed him the utmost hospitality. He was deeply afraid that the newly arrived Han少爷 might still hold a grudge over his lackluster performance yesterday. He needed to win this young man's favor! Han Li, however, had long since forgotten about that minor incident. It was completely out of his mind. At that moment, all he could think about was how to ensure the safety of the Qin estate. If necessary, at the very least, Qin Yan’s life had to be saved—otherwise, he would have no way of explaining himself to Li Huaian. Thinking this through, Han Li decided on a plan and calmly entered Qin's residence. That evening, he did not avoid anyone and directly went to his esteemed uncle Qin. After a detailed conversation in the private chamber, he returned with great enthusiasm. Starting from the second day, those who had known Qin Yan noticed that a young stranger had suddenly appeared at his side—dressed in plain, rustic attire, quite unlike a native of Yu Jing. Qin Yan was most eager to introduce this young man to each of his acquaintances, proudly stating that he was a descendant of one of his elders, and urging his friends to give him generous support and guidance. These friends of Qin Yan were either high-ranking officials or wealthy merchants and magnates. While they found it somewhat odd that the young man always stayed close to Qin Yan, when they failed to learn anything concrete about Han Li, their seasoned, shrewd nature caused them to treat Han Li with a warm, benevolent demeanor befitting a wise elder. Finally, Han Li had made his first real contact with the upper echelons of Yu Jing society. …Time flew by—over two months had passed! Han Li truly seemed to have become the lord of Qin's household. Not only did he receive all the same honors and privileges as Qin Yan's children, but now, whenever the Qin family patriarch attended business meetings or hosted guests, he invariably brought Han Li along, as if he were deliberately nurturing him. Thus, the rumor that Han Li was the patriarch's private son quickly spread beyond the Qin estate, sparking numerous speculations among the noble families acquainted with the Qin household. Yet Qin Yan paid no attention to these whispers, simply maintaining his calm demeanor as if he were indifferent to all the guesses—thus further solidifying the credibility of the rumor. As a result, some of Qin's younger relatives, either under their elders' instructions or confident in their own subtle insights, attempted to subtly verify the authenticity of the rumors by probing Han Li. However, in front of Han Li's feigned ignorance and air of bewilderment, they naturally came away empty-handed. Eventually, the people of Qin's household quietly acknowledged that Han Li was indeed the young lord of the Qin estate, believing that Qin Yan's special treatment of Han Li was merely an effort to make amends for his own sense of guilt. Although several Qin sons and daughters who had previously enjoyed Qin Yan's favor felt deeply resentful, under the firm pressure from the elder, they naturally dared not take any overt actions against Han Li, only tolerating the situation with a heavy sigh. Behind closed doors, they frequently cursed Han Li as a provincial outsider and a mere "wild-born" child. Yet, these people were unaware that every evening, while Han Li practiced his internal arts in his room, he would use his spiritual awareness to envelop the entire Qin estate, even if the duration of each session was brief—it was sufficient to uncover many hidden secrets. Han Li had clearly heard every word of discontent from these individuals. He would never take such youthful complaints lightly. Yet several of his elders were quietly plotting ways to undermine him, which left Han Li rather baffled. He naturally didn't mind these ordinary people's grievances, but should the magian forces suddenly launch an attack, these elders would inevitably be last in his protective priority list. That, in turn, was his small token of appreciation! On this day, Qin Yan once again went out to attend a banquet—this time, the invite came from no ordinary source; it was a formal invitation from a high-ranking prince of the court. It seems the prince's favored consort has just recovered from an illness, and thus he has arranged a grand celebration to invite distinguished guests. Though the Qin family, while not the wealthiest merchant house in Yuejing, ranks among the top three in terms of overall strength and influence, and thus naturally includes a place on the guest list. Moreover, it wasn't just Qin Yan's father who was going—specifically, the prince had named several young gentlemen from the Qin household, known for their wide social circles, and a few so-called "talented ladies," to join him. It was specifically requested by the young prince they had met! Qin Yan, unable to refuse, had to send these younger relatives along as well. Upon hearing the news, these young people immediately felt delighted. After all, since Qin Yan learned that the Qin family was facing serious difficulties, he had naturally refused to let any of his juniors idle around during this period. Should the mysterious Daoist figures mentioned by Han Li have taken notice of them, it would indeed be a major disaster. Thus, over the past two months, Qin Lord had simply come up with various excuses to keep these young people confined at home—how could the naturally laid-back Qin sons and daughters, accustomed to a relaxed lifestyle, help but complain quietly? Even more frustrating was the fact that Han Li, though not much older than them, had been regularly accompanying Qin Yan from morning till night, appearing utterly content and never wanting to leave—this only deepened their sense of injustice. Now, with this opportunity finally presented, these young Qin relatives naturally jumped at the chance and eagerly joined the journey together. "Xin Wang" is the title of the prince who issued the invitation, one of the brothers of the current sovereign of the Yue state. According to Qin's account, although a member of the royal family, this prince is naturally generous and has an extensive network of friends. He is willing to associate with high-ranking officials, wealthy merchants, and even ordinary people such as butchers and renowned figures from the common folk or the martial arts circles. Of course, he avoids close ties with military officers who hold significant power to prevent potential conflicts of interest. Nevertheless, the prince enjoys a solid reputation among the common people of Yuejing, with excellent public sentiment. Upon hearing this, Han Li now has a general impression of the prince. To truly understand who he is, however, he will still need to observe him personally. After all, there are countless individuals who appear admirable on the surface but are, in reality, known for their scandals—male thieves and female courtesans. (The event is approaching—please support us with your monthly passes!)