Published: August 16, 2025
Chapter 193: The Distinction Between Friend and Foe
"Old Feng's treasured boots—how did they end up in your hands? What kind of relationship do you two have? As far as I know, that guy was very protective of those cloud-stepping boots and would never lend them out!"
With these words, a brightly colored figure suddenly appeared from nowhere, standing under a huge flowering tree about twenty yards away from Han Li.
He was of average build, had uneven eyes, a face covered with dark freckles, and appeared to be in his forties. Hanging from his body were seven or eight pockets of various sizes.
Despite his hideous face, he now wore an expression of shock! His eyes were fixed tightly on the spirit boots on Han Li’s feet, as if he still couldn’t believe that the "cloud-stepping boots" had appeared there.
"Who are you, and why did you attack me?" Han Li did not answer the man’s questions but instead asked back rudely. He wasn’t willing to be led by the nose or be suppressed in terms of momentum.
The ugly man was taken aback for a moment but immediately grew furious. His face twisted into a fierce scowl. He raised his hand, intending to teach the unappreciative youth a lesson, but then he remembered something and forced himself to restrain his rage, lowering his hand. Still, he spoke harshly:
"Kid, don’t think just because you’re wearing Old Feng’s spirit boots that I won’t teach you a lesson! When Feng Yue gave you these boots, didn’t he mention my name—Zhong Wu of Spiritual Beast Mountain? But it is strange, you’re clearly from Yellow Maple Valley. How come he gave the boots to you? Could you be Old Feng’s illegitimate son? Though, judging by your looks, that doesn’t seem likely!"
As he spoke, the ugly man scrutinized Han Li with a strange look.
This time, it was Han Li’s turn to be annoyed. He snorted with a dark expression and coldly said:
"Don’t go around linking people without basis! That Feng Yue bastard is dead, and these boots were taken off his feet after he died!"
"Dead? The crazy Feng Yue?"
The ugly man, who had been aggressive moments before, suddenly jumped up in surprise and became uncertain. He involuntarily stepped back several paces and looked Han Li over again.
"Did you kill him?" The thug took a deep breath, his eyes rolling around, and asked eagerly. His expression no longer carried the previous savagery and fierceness.
"Yes. Want to avenge him?" Han Li folded his hands behind his back and watched coldly.
But secretly, he had taken some silk thread from his storage pouch and quietly wound it around his ring finger.
The reason he was so calm admitting to killing Feng Yue was largely to establish his dominance, hoping this man would think twice about provoking him. Han Li didn’t want to get into a fight right after arriving, risking injuries and delaying his herb gathering.
Although this man seemed to have some connection with Feng Yue, Han Li was confident the odds of him avenging Feng Yue were slim! After all, immortal cultivators were mostly detached and indifferent, especially vicious types like this guy.
Of course, if the man insisted on seeking revenge, Han Li knew he might have to act first. He planned to expend a great deal of energy, use full movement technique, and then use the silk thread on his finger to quietly wrap around the man’s head, ending things without a trace.
But Han Li was well aware the chances of such a hasty strike succeeding were low—about thirty to forty percent.
After all, the ugly man was about twenty yards away. No matter how fast Han Li’s movement technique was, he couldn’t guarantee a one-hit kill. And if the man casually cast a defensive spell, the silk thread would be useless.
"Avenging? What a joke! Do I look like the type to waste time like that?" As Han Li expected, the ugly man laughed scornfully after hearing that, showing no intention to avenge.
"I did have some dealings with that guy before, but nothing deep. Now that he’s dead, our relationship is naturally over!" The man shamelessly said, clearly revealing his position without the slightest embarrassment.