“Big Brother, speaking of which, what exactly happened during your training? You’re like a completely different person,” Xiao Qingge chirped, her curiosity bubbling over as they traveled toward Qingzhou City. She clung to his arm, looking up at him with wide, sparkling eyes. “If I hadn’t seen your face, I wouldn’t have even recognized you!”

Han Lie flashed a mysterious smile. “Why don’t you guess?”

“Hmm, let me make a bold prediction…” She tapped her chin theatrically. “You didn’t happen to break through to the Nascent Soul realm, did you?”

“Congratulations. You guessed right.”

“Eh?! Really? I was just saying that randomly!”

Xiao Qingge’s eyes widened in genuine shock. She had read about such things in the ancient texts of the Spirit Treasure Hall. Legend had it that when old monsters reached the Nascent Soul stage, they underwent a process of body reshaping, reversing the flow of time to return to their youthful prime.

She hadn’t expected the legends to be so literally true.

“Mhm!” She beamed, squeezing his arm tighter. “As expected of Big Brother! You really are amazing!”

“Shh, keep a low profile,” Han Lie chuckled, though he couldn’t help but enjoy the praise.

He had to admit, while Xiao Qingge displayed all the classic traits of a “Green Tea”—feigning innocence while being calculatingly clingy—she was incredibly skilled at stroking a man’s ego. Even though Han Lie had seen the darkness of human nature and grown cynical over the years, Xiao Qingge’s endless validation made his pride soar. It felt good to be admired.

Not long after, Han Lie and Xiao Qingge stepped through the gates of Qingzhou City.

Walking these streets again, Han Lie felt a profound shift in his mentality. When he had left this city over a decade ago, he was the “trash” son in his parents’ eyes—a disappointment. Now, he returned as a Nascent Soul powerhouse, standing at the starting line of true immortality.

“Little Sister Qingge, do you know who the City Lord of Qingzhou is?” Han Lie asked on a whim as they strolled down the bluestone-paved main street.

“Of course I know!” Xiao Qingge replied instantly. “The current City Lord is Han Zhentian. He actually shares your surname, Big Brother…”

She paused, a sudden realization flickering in her eyes. “Wait… Big Brother, you don’t happen to be related to City Lord Han, do you?”

“Let’s not talk about that for now. Let’s look around,” Han Lie said, deftly cutting off the topic.

“Okay!”

Xiao Qingge was sensible enough not to pry. If Han Lie didn’t want to talk about it, she wouldn’t ask.

Compared to the austere atmosphere of the Heavenly Void Sect, Qingzhou City was a perfect spot for a date. The bustling streets, the aroma of tea, the lively martial arts halls, and the endless stream of gossip were all novel experiences for cultivators who spent years in seclusion.

In the blink of an eye, evening descended.

Han Lie led Xiao Qingge to a private room on the second floor of the Clear Breeze House. They sat by the railing, sipping tea and leisurely watching the opera performance on the stage below.

“Hey, have you heard the latest melon from the Myriad Sword Pavilion?”

Voices drifted in from the adjacent private room.

“Are you talking about the affair between Xiao Yuruo—the Pavilion’s ‘Beauty of the Millennium’—and that servant disciple from the Heavenly Void Sect? What was his name… Han Lie?”

“Yes, yes, that’s the one! I didn’t expect you to know about it too.”

“Tsk, how could I not? The entire city is buzzing with it!”

“Haha, true enough. So, what’s your take on it?”

“What is there to think? The finest cabbage in the garden got rooted up by a pig. It’s a tragedy.”

“Don’t you think it sounds a bit ridiculous, though? Xiao Yuruo is the Young Pavilion Master. Why would she look twice at a servant disciple?”

“Brother, you have to understand—it takes two to tango. There’s no smoke without fire. If the rumor is out there, something definitely happened!”

“………”

Han Lie frowned slightly as he listened to the chatter next door.

So, Zhao Batian had actually gone through with it. He had spread the news. If Han Lie hadn’t come to Qingzhou City today, he might have remained in the dark about his own notoriety.

“Big Brother… that Han Lie they’re talking about… is that you?”

As expected, Xiao Qingge turned to him, her voice quiet.

Han Lie nodded, offering no denial. “There might be others with my surname in the Heavenly Void Sect, but in the Servant Disciple department? I’m likely the only Han Lie.”

“Then what they said… is it true?”

There was a subtle tremor in her voice, a shift from curiosity to insecurity.

“Yes,” Han Lie admitted without hesitation.

Xiao Qingge’s lower lip jutted out in a pout. “Big Brother, couldn’t you have lied to me just once?”

Han Lie smiled faintly. “I told you, I have never lied to you. Not in the past, and not in the future. Telling one lie requires ten thousand more to cover it up. It’s too exhausting. I prefer to be honest.”

Xiao Qingge looked moved, but the moisture in her eyes didn’t recede.

“Brother, then… with me… is it just an act?” She stared into his eyes, asking the question that burned in her soul. “Are you just playing with me? Is this just a fling for you?”

Han Lie reached out and gently wiped away the tear gathering at the corner of her eye. He pulled her into his embrace, holding her tight.

“Little Sister Qingge,” he whispered into her ear, his voice low and magnetic. “You might not be my first woman, but since I chose to get deeply involved with you, it means I am serious.”

He pulled back slightly to look at her. “If I only wanted to play with you, why would I have told you the truth just now? I could have easily denied it.”

Xiao Qingge blinked. She couldn’t refute his logic. If he were truly a scumbag looking for a quick fling, he would have just lied to keep the peace.

“Mhm… I believe you, Brother!” She sniffled, burying her face in his chest again. “It’s just… will I have a place in your heart in the future?”

She pursed her vermilion lips, her voice turning soft and delicate.

Han Lie chuckled warmly. “Isn’t that obvious? Whether it is Xiao Yuruo or you, in my heart, I treat you all equally.”