"I can make an exception and take action once, having the leaders of one of those two gangs disappear. But only one of them — no more. If both rival powers were to fall simultaneously, it would draw far too much attention from those with discerning eyes. The risk would multiply several times over, and it is not worth taking such a gamble. Beyond these two paths, I will make no further concessions!" Having delivered this ultimatum, Han Li set his face into a mask of stone and said nothing more, waiting coldly for the women's answer.
Yan Shi and the others could not conceal the glimmer of surprise that surfaced upon hearing this second option. They exchanged glances, yet still did not rush to decide.
"Might we sisters be permitted to deliberate and give you our answer tomorrow? This is no small matter, and we would like to consider it thoroughly," Yan Shi said cautiously.
"Of course. I am not an unreasonable man. But I must have your answer by tomorrow morning at the latest. A full day should be more than sufficient for your deliberations." With that, Han Li paid the women no further attention and departed with a sweep of his robes.
He descended the small tower and did not return to the guest quarters. Instead, under the curious gaze of the burly gate guards, he strode out of the Mo Residence with measured nonchalance. After confirming that no one was following him, Han Li finally returned to the inn where he had been staying.
The moment he stepped through the inn's front door, Sun Ergou hurried forward to meet him.
"Whatever you have to say, wait until we are inside my room," Han Li instructed calmly before the man could open his mouth.
"Yes, Young Master!" Sun Ergou followed respectfully at his heels.
Inside the room, Han Li sat on the edge of the bed, stretched his limbs, and asked with studied indifference: "You look positively frantic. Don't tell me there is something truly urgent you need to report."
"Young Master, there is indeed a matter of tremendous importance to report to you." Sun Ergou edged half a step closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.
"Out with it. No need for theatrics," Han Li glanced at him sidelong.
"Heh heh! It is not that this humble one is putting on airs — it really is something extraordinary! I have received reliable word that very soon, a great number of immortals are going to gather near Jiayuan City for something called an 'Immortal Assembly.' They say that anyone who attends this gathering, even an ordinary mortal, can immediately become an immortal and join their ranks!" Sun Ergou's words came tumbling out in a torrent of spittle and excitement.
"Immortals?" Han Li blinked.
"Yes, immortals! The real kind — people who have been seen with their own eyes, the sort who can ride clouds and mist, command lightning and breathe fire! Young Master, tell me — unless a person has been blessed with extraordinary fortune, how could one ever hope to encounter such beings?" Sun Ergou spoke with undisguised envy, his expression suggesting that he wished every person who had ever glimpsed an immortal had been himself instead.
Han Li now understood. The "immortals" Sun Ergou spoke of were cultivators. But how could members of a street gang possibly know about cultivators meeting? He felt a jolt of surprise.
"How did you come to know about this? Is this news widely known?" Han Li's interest was piqued.
"This information is absolutely reliable. One of our brothers heard it with his own ears. But because the gang leader fears retribution from the immortals, he has imposed a strict gag order — only the upper ranks of our Four-Flat Gang know about it. I only got wind of it from one of those high-ranking members after he had a bit too much to drink. I figured a person of your caliber would certainly be interested, so I hurried over at once and have been waiting here ever since." Sun Ergou's voice dripped with eagerness to claim credit.
"I will not forget your trouble. But first, tell me in detail — how did that gang member manage to evade the immortals' notice and overhear this news?" Han Li's expression turned serious as he pressed for specifics. The credibility of the intelligence was paramount, and he could afford no carelessness.
"I only heard what that drunk told me. It went like this..." Sun Ergou dared not fabricate a word and recounted the story faithfully.
As it turned out, the gang member who had obtained this information was a minor lieutenant in the Four-Flat Gang. Days earlier, he had ventured to the western outskirts to carry out a lucrative job. But the intelligence had been wrong — the targets proved far too formidable, and his crew was scattered and routed, forcing him to flee for his life.
To escape pursuit, he had hidden himself inside a tree hollow in a nearby forest. But before the enemy could find him, an enormous two-headed eagle of monstrous proportions descended from the sky. The creature's terrifying appearance nearly scared the wits out of him.
In that moment of crisis, the man proved surprisingly resourceful. In a flash of inspiration, he employed the widely known martial art called the Turtle-Breath Art, lowering his breathing and heartbeat to their absolute minimum in an effort to enter a state of suspended animation and evade the eagle's detection.
Just as consciousness began to slip away, a conversation drifted down from the eagle's back — between a young man and a young woman. The enormous bird was carrying passengers, but its body was so massive, and the man had been in such a panic, that he had failed to notice them at first.
In his fading awareness, he caught fragments of their discussion about the so-called Immortal Assembly. Only then did he realize the pair were cultivators. But by then the Turtle-Breath Art had taken full effect, and he slipped into unconsciousness with a profound sense of regret.
When he awoke the next morning, the couple and the giant eagle had long since vanished. After a bout of furious foot-stamping and breast-beating, he trudged back to the gang headquarters in dejected spirits.
No sooner had he returned than the big-mouthed lieutenant blurted out the story to his superior. His superior, not daring to withhold such information, reported it to the gang leader, Shen Chongshan, known as the "Ape-Armed." And that was when the gag order was issued.
Han Li listened to Sun Ergou's account without changing expression, but inwardly his heart was racing with barely suppressed excitement.
A great gathering of cultivators! This was a once-in-a-century opportunity. If he could attend, he would finally gain true access to the world of cultivators — no longer groping in the dark like a blind man, stumbling blindly along the path of cultivation.
Han Li reined in his excitement with an effort, collected his thoughts, and asked with forced composure: "Did this man happen to hear the immortal man and woman mention when and where this assembly would be held?"