“Heh.” Han Lie let out a bitter laugh, unsure of what to say.

“However, your recovery from your injuries is faster than I anticipated.” As she spoke, Chi Lian swayed her water-snake-like waist and approached the bedside. Her slender, jade-like fingers extended, gently lifting Han Lie’s chin. Her deep crimson eyes carefully examined his weathered face, a hint of confusion in her tone.

“Hmm… Looking at it like this, I still can’t figure it out. The Qingling Pill I gave you has healing properties for internal injuries, but it clearly shouldn’t have this level of effect. How strange.”

What puzzled Chi Lian wasn’t just that Han Lie’s recovery far exceeded expectations. What was even stranger was that she found his face, marked by the traces of time, to be so captivating.

Last time at the Violet Heaven Palace, Chi Lian had thought it might be an illusion born from prolonged solitude. But now, looking closely at Han Lie’s aged face, she was convinced. This didn’t seem to be her imagination.

“Little servant, tell me yourself, what’s going on?” Chi Lian asked.

“Reporting to the Grand Elder, perhaps This Senior’s life simply wasn’t meant to end yet,” Han Lie offered casually as an excuse to brush it off.

Seeing the Grand Elder Chi Lian’s fox-like, alluring demeanor, he dared not let her know he possessed the Pure Yang Sacred Body. If she captured him to use as a Cultivation Furnace, it wouldn’t be worth it.

“Heh, is that so?” Chi Lian gave a ghostly smile. Such an explanation obviously couldn’t fool her.

“Alright.” After a moment, Chi Lian released Han Lie’s chin. “Little servant, since you’re awake, it’s time to go. You’ve been missing for too long; it might raise the Saintess’s suspicions.”

“But… Grand Elder, This Senior’s injuries aren’t fully healed yet. If I return now and the Saintess attacks me, I’m afraid I’ll have no means to fight back,” Han Lie said.

“As if recovering from your injuries would allow you, with your early Foundation Establishment Stage cultivation, to contend with the Saintess anyway,” Chi Lian said meaningfully.

“What you need to do has never been to confront the Saintess head-on. Use your brain a little. Rely on your survival instincts. I believe you can do it, right? Besides, thirty thousand Spirit Stones and a Heaven-grade treasure aren’t so easily earned either.”

“Oh, and let me remind you: don’t expect me to save you every time. Unless you have obtained solid evidence that the Saintess is a spy, I will not intervene if you face threats from her before that.”

“Fine.” Han Lie pursed his lips. For now, he truly could only rely on himself.

If Chi Lian could intervene directly, she wouldn’t have needed to use him as bait in the first place. Simply apprehending Saintess Bai Ling would be simpler and more straightforward.

Afterward, under Chi Lian’s arrangements, Han Lie left through the back door of the Elder Council.

Han Lie did not immediately return to the Heavenly Void Sect’s mountain gate. Instead, he found a hidden cave on a mountain peak near the Elder Council area. He planned to recover fully from his injuries before going back.

At the very least, Han Lie could be certain that Saintess Bai Ling currently had absolutely no idea of his whereabouts. So during his recovery period, he didn’t need to worry about Bai Ling finding him.

“Captain Zhui Ming of the Azure Dragon Squad…”

Sitting cross-legged on a large rock inside the cave, a sharp glint flashed in Han Lie’s eyes. Originally, he hadn’t wanted to provoke Zhui Ming. But since the other party wanted him dead…

“Then don’t blame This Senior!” Not avenging this grievance would make him less than a gentleman.

However, with his current cultivation level, he was still far from being Zhui Ming’s match. Foundation Establishment Stage cultivation was still too weak.

To establish a firm footing within the Heavenly Void Sect, Han Lie estimated he would need at least Golden Core Stage or higher cultivation.

“Too weak! Too weak!” Never before had Han Lie’s heart yearned so intensely for greater power!

Just Saintess Bai Ling alone almost suffocated him with pressure. Now there was Zhui Ming as well. These two were like two massive mountains pressing down on Han Lie’s shoulders, leaving him no room for even the slightest relaxation.

Immediately after, Han Lie stopped procrastinating and calmed his mind. He began circulating the Yin Yang Demonic Art, mobilizing the Pure Yang energy within his body to start repairing his internal injuries.

Coupled with the residual medicinal effects of the Qingling Pill, Han Lie’s internal injuries were being healed at a speed visible to the naked eye.

And so, over half a month passed.

Han Lie reopened his eyes and slowly exhaled a turbid breath.

He got up from the large rock and bounced lightly a couple of times. Confirming his body was fine again, Han Lie finally revealed a relieved smile.

“Han Lie?”

“Little old man!”

“……”

Just then, familiar calls suddenly came from outside the cave. Recognizing Zhuo Hongyi’s voice, Han Lie’s tense body and mind relaxed once more.

Han Lie walked out of the cave and looked toward the source of the sound. Sure enough, he saw Zhuo Hongyi not far away.

“Captain Zhuo! Over here!” Han Lie called out once.

The confused and anxious-looking Zhuo Hongyi finally spotted him.

“Little old man! Thank goodness!” Seeing that Han Lie seemed unharmed, Zhuo Hongyi’s hanging heart finally settled. Overjoyed, she rushed toward Han Lie like a long-separated lover reuniting and threw herself into his arms.

“Ahem… Captain Zhuo… This Senior is fine… Please calm down…”

A long while later, Zhuo Hongyi’s emotions finally settled somewhat.

She asked Han Lie about what happened that day. Han Lie didn’t hide anything and recounted everything truthfully in detail for Zhuo Hongyi.

However, Han Lie concealed the part about Grand Elder Chi Lian saving him. The fewer people who knew about Chi Lian’s fishing plan, the better.

“You’re still smiling? That Zhu Fan’s cultivation was higher than yours after all; do you know how dangerous it was?” Zhuo Hongyi was somewhat angry.

“There was no other choice,” Han Lie said with a light laugh. “In that situation… This Senior had no other option but to accept the fight.”

“That’s true…” Zhuo Hongyi said self-reproachfully. “It’s all my fault… I didn’t think Zhui Ming would be so bold as to actually have his people force their way into my home.”

“But don’t worry about it anymore in the future… My master… that is… The Hall Master of the Law Enforcement Hall… She has already punished Zhui Ming… Sent him away from the sect on a training journey.”

Ever since then, Zhuo Hongyi had been searching for Han Lie non-stop… She had practically turned over every corner of the Heavenly Void Sect grounds… Finally finding him…

“That is excellent news…” Han Lie let out a long sigh of relief and said, “Captain Zhuo… You really don’t need to blame yourself… It is This Senior who has caused you trouble…”

Originally, Han Lie hadn’t expected the Hall Master of the Law Enforcement Hall to severely punish Zhui Ming over a mere Servant Disciple like himself… But at least… Zhui Ming leaving the sect for training was undoubtedly good news for Han Lie at present…

At least one enemy watching him was gone…

Next… he only needed to focus on dealing with Saintess Bai Ling…