“Understood, This Senior understands.” Han Lie nodded slightly.

Indeed. From the perspective of Saintess Bai Ling, his prolonged absence from the small wooden hut at the Violet Heaven Palace was highly unusual. Because, currently, Saintess Bai Ling only suspected whether Han Lie had discovered her abnormal behavior; she was not certain. If Han Lie avoided her, then she could basically confirm that he knew she had a problem.

This would be extremely detrimental to Grand Elder Chi Lian’s entrapment plan.

“Then why are you still standing here? Hurry back.”

Not daring to delay, Han Lie bid farewell and hurriedly left.

On the rooftop.

Grand Elder Chi Lian stood with her arms crossed, gazing at Han Lie’s gradually receding figure. A curve of keen interest played on her bewitching red lips.

“Already mid-Foundation Establishment Stage… With such cultivation speed, I’m afraid even those peerless geniuses with ninth-grade spiritual veins are no better.”

Although Han Lie used an aura-concealing technique to hide his true presence, it obviously couldn’t deceive a powerhouse of Chi Lian’s level. She saw his true cultivation level almost at a glance.

“The Yin Yang Demonic Art is certainly a supreme technique, but it clearly falls far short of enabling such astonishing progress. Plus… that little servant’s incredible self-healing ability.”

“Perhaps he harbors some unknown secret on his person. I need to go back and investigate.”

The Tianyuan Continent had countless cultivators. Examples of those born with low cultivation aptitude who only activated some special physique or bloodline as their lifespan neared its end, then rapidly rose to prominence, were rare but not without precedent. Therefore, Chi Lian had reason to suspect that Han Lie might also belong to this category of once-in-a-millennium—or even once-in-ten-millennium—children of fortune!

On the other side.

Han Lie hadn’t even returned to the Violet Heaven Palace yet. He encountered Saintess Bai Ling halfway there.

Han Lie believed this was no coincidence; the Saintess had deliberately waited for him here.

“Old Man Han? You’re actually not dead yet.” Seeing Han Lie, Bai Ling seemed quite surprised.

Han Lie coughed tactically. “Ahem… What does the Saintess mean by that? Could it be you were hoping for This Senior’s death?”

“No, no, no.” Bai Ling waved her small hands, explaining with a giggle, “How could I hope for your death? It’s just that I heard you had a conflict with a Law Enforcement Hall disciple some time ago.”

“I heard that Law Enforcement Hall disciple died after about two hours, and you disappeared without a trace.”

“Since it’s been quite some days, I thought you had already died.”

“Hehe, it’s good you’re not dead. I’m genuinely happy to see you return.”

Han Lie chuckled humbly. “This Senior never expected that a mere Servant Disciple like me could receive such concern from the Saintess. It is truly This Senior’s honor.”

Bai Ling smiled sweetly. “Status and such aren’t important to me. Although our interactions haven’t been many, I’ve actually always considered you a friend.”

“It’s only right for friends to care about friends. If it were anyone else, I couldn’t be bothered.”

If someone still retained their naivety, they might truly believe Bai Ling’s words.

The status difference between a Saintess and a Servant Disciple could be described as heaven and hell without exaggeration. A Saintess considering a Servant Disciple a friend? And in the Heavenly Void Sect? Even a three-year-old wouldn’t believe it if told!

Han Lie naturally didn’t believe it, even though Bai Ling had consistently presented herself as innocent and harmless in front of him from start to finish. The more someone appeared to pose no threat, the more caution was required. Because you never knew when she might stab you in the back!

“This Senior has been in the Heavenly Void Sect for over a hundred years and is accustomed to being treated like cattle and horses. No one has ever regarded me as a human being like the Saintess does.”

“This Senior… This Senior…” Han Lie dryly wiped away two streams of hot tears, moved beyond words.

With his acting skills, Han Lie felt Oscar owed him a Golden Horse Award.

“Alright, alright, don’t cry!”

“Our statuses and positions may differ, but we are all human after all. Who is truly nobler than whom? Don’t you agree!”

“At least I feel I’m not as inhumane as others, lacking even the basic moral baseline of being human,” Bai Ling comforted.

Han Lie nodded solemnly. “Ah, in This Senior’s eyes, Saintess, you are like an untainted green lotus rising from the mud.”

“This Senior sincerely hopes you can maintain this pure heart forever.”

Bai Ling nodded gently, smiling with innocent naivety. “Don’t worry, Old Man Han, I will!”

“By the way, what happened after your conflict with that Law Enforcement Hall disciple? Can you tell me about it?”

“If the Saintess is curious, This Senior can certainly tell you.” However, the version Han Lie told Bai Ling was another story altogether.

In this version, Han Lie was injured during his confrontation with Zhu Fan and escaped, hiding in a sunless cave to recuperate for a long time before his injuries gradually improved. It wasn’t until two days ago, when Zhuo Hongyi found him and he heard that Captain Zhui Ming of the Azure Dragon Squad was out on training, that he returned to the sect.

This version mixed truth and falsehood together. Even if Bai Ling didn’t believe it, she would find it difficult to immediately discern which parts were true and which were false.

After listening, Bai Ling only nodded thoughtfully without questioning Han Lie’s account.

She simply asked from another angle, “Regardless, it’s good you’re fine. There’s just one thing I can’t quite understand. What exactly is your relationship with Zhuo Hongyi from the Law Enforcement Hall’s Vermilion Bird Squad?”

“……”

Han Lie seemed somewhat troubled. “Saintess, it’s not that This Senior cannot tell you… but could you keep it secret for This Senior?”

“Of course! I’m not the type who likes to spread things around.”

“Hmm, This Senior trusts your word, Saintess!” After pondering for a moment, Han Lie spoke truthfully. “You might not believe it when I say it, Saintess. Captain Zhuo has taken a liking to me and invited me to her home for Dual Cultivation.”

“Ah?” A blush instantly flew across Bai Ling’s exquisite face as she exclaimed in shock, “This… this is too…”

“Shh!” Han Lie made a silencing gesture.

Bai Ling then lowered her voice incredulously. “Why! How could Zhuo Hongyi of the Vermilion Bird Squad possibly take a liking to you?”

If that were the case, from Bai Ling’s perspective, the situation at that time would make sense. That Zhui Ming liked Zhuo Hongyi was something many people knew—of course, including Bai Ling.

If Zhuo Hongyi truly invited Han Lie to her home for Dual Cultivation, then once Zhui Ming found out about it, he definitely wouldn’t be able to tolerate it!

“Who knows.” Han Lie chuckled. “Perhaps This Senior is relatively handsome. Ah, although This Senior is old, my personal charm seems undiminished from years past. Hehe.”

“……” Bai Ling was momentarily speechless.

Not because she had nothing to say, but because she couldn’t refute it.

Though not showing on her face, Bai Ling did indeed feel that Han Lie possessed a special, unique charm belonging to an elderly man.

Ever since several months ago, when Han Lie asked her to deliver an accusation letter for Ye Qingxuan, Bai Ling had felt this way.