143: Han Li is speechless! Lu Qiu is plotting!

Chapter 143: Speechless Han Li! Lu Qiu's Plot!

Behind Hong Fu, a young girl stood quietly in attendance.

The girl appeared to be eighteen or nineteen years old, wearing a well-tailored goose-yellow dress that accentuated her slender and exquisite figure.

She was exceptionally beautiful, with skin as white as jade and so delicate it seemed it might break at a touch. Her features were as picturesque and refined as if meticulously carved by a Master craftsman.

Especially her peach-blossom eyes; with every glance, they naturally carried a touch of moving charm and innocence, shining brightly.

However, standing beside her Master, Hong Fu, she restrained her expressions, appearing very well-behaved and quiet.

This girl must be Martial Aunt Hong Fu's highly treasured and pampered junior—Dong Xuaner.

Lu Qiu's gaze swept calmly over Dong Xuaner, his heart without the slightest ripple.

Her appearance was indeed stunning, and her temperament was top-tier, but to him, she was nothing more than a "pink skull," a fleeting cloud.

His Dao Heart was firm, seeking only longevity and freedom. He already had Xin Ruyin as his partner for the path of Dual Cultivation and would never be moved by such sudden "romantic luck," nor did he wish to be embroiled in any pointless emotional entanglements or trouble.

"Disciples Lu Qiu and Han Li pay our respects to Master and Mistress!"

The two stepped forward together and bowed respectfully, their voices clear.

Li Huayuan nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over Lu Qiu and Han Li.

When his gaze fell upon Lu Qiu, a flicker of surprise flashed through his eyes, though it was hard to detect. He clearly noticed Lu Qiu's rapid progress in cultivation, but being a man of deep character, he did not show much on his face and quickly regained his composure.

"Why haven't you greeted your Martial Aunt Hong Fu yet!" Li Huayuan reminded them in a deep voice.

Lu Qiu and Han Li immediately turned to face Hong Fu and bowed again. "Disciples pay our respects to Martial Aunt Hong Fu!"

Hong Fu's cold, icy gaze fell upon the two of them like something tangible, scrutinizing them from head to toe as if trying to see through them completely.

Her gaze first lingered on Lu Qiu for a moment.

Lu Qiu stood tall with a calm and composed demeanor. Even under the scrutiny of a Core Formation Cultivator, he showed no sign of panic.

His Late Foundation Establishment Stage cultivation was naturally impossible to hide from Hong Fu's eyes.

More importantly, while Lu Qiu's appearance wasn't peerlessly handsome, he was upright and heroic, with a steady and confident air between his brows, far superior to flamboyant types like Wu Xuan.

However, Hong Fu's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, and a faint, indescribable complexity flashed in her eyes—half repulsion, half as if some unpleasant memory had been triggered.

Without any hesitation, she quickly averted her gaze.

When her gaze landed on Han Li, her expression visibly softened.

Han Li had an ordinary appearance, the kind that would disappear in a crowd. His skin was slightly dark, and his gaze was calm, even a bit dull. He looked honest and unremarkable, without a hint of elegance or sharpness.

Not only was there no disdain in Hong Fu's eyes, but a faint trace of satisfaction flashed through them, and her tight lips seemed to soften for an instant.

"Senior Sister Hong Fu, what do you think of these two?" Li Huayuan asked with a smile after Hong Fu finished her observation, his tone suggesting recommendation and inquiry.

He first pointed to Lu Qiu. "This boy is named Lu Qiu, a Disciple I took in a few years ago. Although he joined the Sect somewhat late, his Comprehension Ability is top-notch. He is clever, alert, and acts with seasoned maturity. You can see his progress in cultivation; he is a promising talent." He did not lack praise for Lu Qiu.

Then he introduced Han Li. "This boy is named Han Li, from the same intake as Lu Qiu. Although his Aptitude is ordinary, his Heart-Nature is resilient. He is cautious, low-profile, meticulous, and diligent in his cultivation—a truly steadfast person."

Hong Fu scanned the two of them once more. Without any hesitation, she pointed her slender jade finger directly at Han Li, who stood slightly behind. Her voice was cold and concise: "This kid will do. I think he's quite good."

Having said that, she actually stood up and nodded slightly to Li Huayuan and his companion. "Junior Brother Li, I will trouble you to arrange this matter. I'll take Xuaner back now and await your good news."

She was indeed vigorous and resolute, wasting no time.

"Safe travels, Senior Sister." Li Huayuan and his companion quickly rose to see her off.

Hong Fu said no more and turned to walk out of the hall.

Dong Xuaner followed obediently, but as she passed Han Li, her charming peach-blossom eyes shot a quick glance at him. Her brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, and a flash of disappointment and helplessness flickered in her eyes. Ultimately, she said nothing and followed her Master out of the hall with lowered eyes.

Only after the figures of Hong Fu and her Disciple vanished through the door did the stagnant atmosphere in the hall ease slightly.

At this moment, Han Li was still completely dazed, as if lost in a fog.

What do you mean "it's me"?

What "I'm quite good"?

From the moment he entered until now, no one had explained a single word to him!

He was completely confused about the situation.

But an instinctive wariness of the unknown and trouble made alarm bells ring in his mind, giving him an extremely ominous feeling.

At this point, Li Huayuan sat back in his main seat, looking at Han Li with a smile. "Han Li, your Revered Master must congratulate you."

Han Li's heart tightened, but he appeared even more respectful and confused. "This Disciple is slow-witted and truly does not know where this joy comes from. I ask Revered Master to clarify and explain?"

The Mistress beside him covered her mouth and chuckled, saying warmly, "Silly child, don't worry, this is a wonderful thing. Your Martial Aunt Hong Fu has taken a liking to you and intends for you and her precious Disciple, Dong Xuaner, to form a good match and become a pair of Dual Cultivation companions! This is a blessing many people couldn't get even if they begged for it."

"F-form... form a pair of Dual Cultivation companions?!" Hearing this, Han Li felt as if he had been struck by a bolt from the blue. He was completely stunned, his eyes wide with disbelief.

To him, this matter was too sudden, even absurd.

His heart was set on the Dao, and he cultivated hard, seeking longevity. He had never included romance or a Dual Cultivation companion in his life plans.

Moreover, with that seemingly spoiled Dong Xuaner, whom he had only met once?

Standing to the side, Lu Qiu took in Han Li's instantly frozen expression, a hint of playfulness and sympathy flashing in his eyes.

He stepped forward, patted Han Li on the shoulder, and teased, "Congratulations, Junior Brother! A talented man and a beautiful woman—a match made in heaven. It seems your Senior Brother will be drinking your wedding wine soon."

Li Huayuan also nodded with a smile, saying earnestly, "Han Li, you must know that for a Cultivator, the four elements—Wealth, Companions, Methods, and Land—are all indispensable. This 'Companion' doesn't just refer to a Dao Companion, but also to Fellow Daoists and partners. However, if one can find a like-minded Dual Cultivation companion with excellent Aptitude to support each other and study the Great Dao together, it will be a great help to one's cultivation. That girl Dong Xuaner has also reached Foundation Establishment; she is a perfect match for you. To obtain such an Opportunity is indeed no small blessing."

Han Li remained silent for a moment, his mind in a mess.

He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his churning thoughts, and asked the most crucial question: "Revered Master, this Disciple dares to ask. Martial Aunt Hong Fu must have other talented youths under her. I consider my appearance ordinary and my talent average, with nothing outstanding in my actions. Why... why would Martial Aunt Hong Fu choose me?"

This was his greatest confusion.

He absolutely did not believe that such a "good thing" would fall from the sky for no reason.

"This..." Hearing this, the smile on Li Huayuan's face faltered slightly. He exchanged a glance with his wife, appearing somewhat hesitant to speak.

Seeing Han Li's serious attitude, he pondered for a moment and then sighed, explaining in a low voice, "This matter is related to some of your Martial Aunt Hong Fu's early experiences. She... she once suffered a heartbreak from trusting the wrong person. Therefore, she has a certain... dislike, one could even say loathing, for male cultivators who are too handsome, flamboyant, or skilled in sweet talk."

He paused, his gaze landing on Han Li's plain and simple face. "And you, with your honest appearance and steady, low-profile nature, are exactly what your Martial Aunt Hong Fu considers 'honest and reliable.' Your situation happens to satisfy her greatly. That girl Xuaner has been pampered by her Master into being a bit spoiled; Senior Sister Hong Fu also hopes to find a companion who can manage her and make her behave."

After listening, Han Li was speechless, feeling as if ten thousand Yao Beasts were galloping through his heart.

To put it bluntly, it was because he looked "safe" and appeared "honest"?

Since he began cultivating, Han Li had faced many dangers, relying on caution and Opportunity to reach this point step by step. He never thought that one day, he would encounter such a "blessing from the sky" because of his ordinary, even somewhat "homely" looks!

What kind of situation is this!

"Lu Qiu, you go out first and wait outside. I have some things to say to Han Li privately." Seeing Han Li's expression changing as if he were deeply shocked, Li Huayuan knew he needed to do some work on this Disciple's mindset, so he instructed Lu Qiu.

"Yes, Master. This Disciple takes his leave." Lu Qiu couldn't wait to leave this den of trouble. Hearing this, he immediately bowed and retreated from the hall.

Stepping out of the hall, a cool mountain breeze carrying the refreshing fragrance of flowers and herbs from the Spirit Medicine Garden brushed against his face.

Lu Qiu stood under the corridor and let out a long sigh of relief, as if a heavy, invisible burden had been lifted.

As for the matter of Dong Xuaner, he wanted to avoid it as much as possible.

He knew well that this girl was spoiled, and behind her was Martial Aunt Hong Fu, a Core Formation Senior Martial Uncle whose temperament was hard to predict—she was a huge source of trouble.

Fortunately, Martial Aunt Hong Fu's unique "aesthetic" and her past trauma allowed him to successfully "avoid this calamity."

However, alongside the relief, a sense of urgency surged in his heart.

Based on vague memories of the original story, combined with Martial Aunt Hong Fu choosing a Dual Cultivation companion for Dong Xuaner this time...

He judged that the days of surface-level peace in the Yue State cultivation world were likely numbered.

The invasion of the Six Demonic Sects was imminent, and the entire Yue State would soon be plunged into a brutal war.

Yellow Maple Valley, as one of the Seven Great Sects of Yue State, was located on the border and would be the first to bear the brunt; it was definitely not a place to stay for long.

He must plan an escape route as soon as possible, and a secure one at that.

And the key to that escape route was the ancient teleportation array that Xin Ruyin was currently researching and repairing!

Repairing the teleportation array and bringing important people and resources to escape to the Chaotic Star Sea—where resources were more abundant, the territory was vast, and it was far from the war between the Righteous and Demonic paths in the short term—was the best strategy.

As for Sect missions, the struggle between Righteous and Demonic paths, or even the current farce of choosing a companion for Dong Xuaner... none of it would have anything to do with his future self.

His gaze pierced through the dense mist of Spiritual Qi, looking toward the direction of his Immortal Cave deep within the Taiyue Mountain Range, his mind already made up.

The immediate priority was to assist Ruyin in perfecting the formation map as quickly as possible and begin secretly collecting other auxiliary Materials needed to repair the Formation, while simultaneously making all preparations for withdrawal.

Time might be even more pressing than he had anticipated.