Published: September 5, 2025
Chapter 618: Du Dong and the Audience
Han Li rubbed his chin, and as he swept his spiritual awareness around, countless murmurs and conversations flooded into his ears.
“Who is this person?”
“What a strange face, is he a new disciple?”
“How could Senior Uncle Mu come here with him?”
“This person must be a relative of Senior Uncle Mu. Senior Uncle Mu never travels with male cultivators, so why is he here with this guy?”
...
A series of questions and envious remarks were all clearly heard by Han Li.
His expression remained calm, but he sighed quietly in his heart. He then took a few steps away from the hall’s entrance and blended into the crowd.
Even so, Han Li could still feel many eyes scrutinizing him incessantly.
“Junior Brother Han, I didn’t expect that after parting that day, we would meet again now.”
At that moment, a hearty voice suddenly came from behind him.
Startled, Han Li turned to look.
A few yards behind him stood a burly man — none other than Du Dong — smiling broadly as he greeted Han Li.
A flicker of strangeness passed through Han Li’s eyes before a smile appeared on his face. He politely cupped his fist and said,
“So it’s Senior Brother Du. How is Senior Uncle Jiang doing? The white-haired elder who took you away that day.”
“It’s good, very good,” the burly man chuckled, appearing extremely honest.
Han Li scoffed inwardly but chatted with him about their respective experiences since parting ways.
From Du Dong’s words, it seemed that the white-haired elder believed he had great talent in talisman creation and intended to nurture him seriously. When he mentioned this, Du Dong’s face was full of joy, as if extremely excited.
Han Li felt some sympathy for that white-haired elder. If he had to focus his training on someone, why choose this scheming fellow? It would likely cause trouble for him in the future.
With that thought, Han Li naturally didn’t warn Senior Uncle Jiang. He continued chatting with Du Dong sporadically.
Just then, Du Dong’s face suddenly took on a mysterious expression as he said to Han Li:
“Junior Brother Han, do you know? The Senior Uncle Mu who’s responsible for guiding you is actually the most beautiful woman on Heaven Spring Peak, and among the whole Luoyun Sect, she ranks in the top three. Now that you’ve arrived together with Senior Uncle Mu, it must have caused quite a stir.”
“It’s not ‘must have,’ it already has!” Han Li replied wryly, glancing around helplessly.
“But since you and Senior Uncle Mu came riding your magical artifacts together, did Senior Uncle say anything about this gathering?” Du Dong’s tone shifted casually as he asked.
“Oh! That? No, nothing! Did you hear some news, Senior Brother Du? Why don’t you share it with me?” Han Li’s expression didn’t change, but his eyes gleamed with a half-smile, looking at Du Dong meaningfully.
Du Dong’s original honest smile twitched when met with Han Li’s gaze; he suddenly felt as if Han Li had seen through his secrets.
A chill ran through his heart.
But as Han Li turned his gaze elsewhere, that feeling vanished without a trace, as if it were an illusion, leaving Du Dong suspicious.
Because of this, Du Dong didn’t dare to stay close to Han Li any longer. After forcing a few more words, he excused himself and went to greet another familiar Heaven Spring Peak cultivator.
Han Li watched his departing figure with a flash of ridicule crossing his face. At that moment, Silver Moon’s voice echoed in his mind:
“Brother Han, did you intentionally scare him off? Aren’t you afraid he’ll become suspicious and be adverse toward you?”
“This person’s identity is unclear, but there's definitely no good coming from him infiltrating Luoyun Sect. I don’t want much contact with him; better to let him avoid me voluntarily. If something big happens later, at least I won’t be implicated. As for his suspicions, what does it matter? He has ill intentions himself — what can he do to me? At worst, he’ll be a bit more cautious around me. Even if he wants to try an ambush, do you think he can succeed? I have no intention of stopping him either. I just don’t want any further entanglement with him,” Han Li slowly replied with his spiritual awareness.