Published: August 27, 2025
Chapter 378: Setting Sail (Part 1)
After a long while, Han Li awoke from his deep thoughts, as if a new idea had taken shape in his mind.
Yet, his expression remained unchanged as he continued to stroll around the shops selling cultivation technique manuals.
This time, nothing unexpected caught Han Li’s attention. Most of the cultivation techniques and five-element spells sold in the shops were familiar to him, not much different from those in Tian Nan.
If there was any difference, it was that there seemed to be more talisman manuals related to water element spells, and indeed, a few new spells that Han Li had never heard of before.
Han Li bought the talisman manuals related to these new spells, as well as a book he accidentally came across called Pill Refining Appraisal.
The reason he bought this book was that it contained a description and review of the Dust-Settling Pill by a certain expert.
Han Li intended to study it carefully before deciding whether to accept the Six-Linked Hall’s request for this pill.
After that, Han Li lost interest in buying anything else, so he took Quhun and left Tiandu Street, heading out of the city.
Not long after leaving Kui Xing City, Han Li and Quhun mounted their flying devices and sped toward the Gu Family Manor.
After half a day, Han Li caught sight of the familiar earthen walls of Gu Family Manor from afar.
But Han Li had no intention of flying straight into the manor. Instead, moved by a sudden thought, he landed on a nearby hill to look at the small wooden hut he had built with his own hands that day.
The small hut still stood at its original spot, but it was clearly more worn and old compared to when Han Li left. Some parts were even rotting and blackened.
Han Li looked at it for a while and sighed softly before pushing open the wooden door and stepping inside.
“Ah!” Han Li was a little surprised.
Inside was not the dusty, musty place he had imagined. Instead, it was spotless — the table, chairs, and wooden bed were immaculate. On the wooden table was even a pot of unknown blue flowers.
Han Li stood inside the room, stunned for a moment, then smiled wryly.
“Looks like the Gu Family has put quite some thought into this!” Han Li touched his nose and muttered softly to himself.
Then, without lingering, Han Li left the hut, leaving Quhun to stay on the hill, while he slowly walked toward Gu Family Manor.
Han Li had no intention of barging into the manor on his flying device. Although the restriction outside Gu Family’s gate was no obstacle to him now, after all, Owner Gu was an old acquaintance of his, so he wanted to show some courtesy.
When Han Li reached the Gu Family’s main gate, two burly gatekeepers naturally noticed him. One of them asked suspiciously,
“Sir, who might you be? What brings you to our Gu Family Manor?”
“Tell your manor lord that an old acquaintance named Han has come,” Han Li said with a gentle smile.
“Our manor lord doesn’t entertain strangers. Han, you say? … Could you be Immortal Master Han?” The burly man initially refused outright, but after sizing Han Li up from head to toe, he suddenly looked doubtful and asked,
“You know me?”
Han Li frowned slightly.
“You really are Immortal Master Han! Sir, please wait here a moment. I’ll inform the manor lord at once!” Without further words, the burly man sprinted into the manor.
Han Li looked expressionlessly into the manor, saying nothing.
Before long, a large group of people came out from inside.
The leader, an elderly man, noticed Han Li and greeted him with a broad smile, loudly exclaiming,
“Immortal Master Han, you’ve finally arrived! I’ve been waiting for you for many years.”
The elderly man hurried forward to bow to Han Li, and the others behind him respectfully followed suit.
Han Li carefully studied the elderly man’s vaguely familiar face. It was none other than Owner Gu, albeit now with graying hair and a frail look.
“Mr. Gu, I hope you’ve been well,” Han Li said with a slight easing of expression.