"What topic? I'm here to ask for your final decision. Will you leave and go into hiding, or shall I take action against one of your enemies?" Han Li withdrew his gaze from the young woman in the yellow dress and spoke with undisguised bluntness.
Yan Shi's brow creased slightly at his words, but she addressed him in measured tones: "Young Master Han, please don't be hasty. After deliberating all of yesterday, my sisters and I have decided to take the second path. However, we would like to make a minor adjustment to the terms."
"Didn't I already say that I have no interest in haggling? There is no room for negotiation. Either you accept my conditions in full, or you choose the second path." Han Li's expression darkened immediately.
"How does Young Master find the appearance of my daughters?" Yan Shi ignored his displeasure and abruptly changed the subject, gesturing toward the three Mo sisters standing behind her.
"All three possess beauty that would be called heavenly — no exaggeration whatsoever." Han Li was momentarily taken abares, then smiled faintly, a vague suspicion dawning in his mind about Yan Shi's intentions.
"Our demands are not unreasonable. If you can eliminate the heads of both the Five-Color Gate and Dominator's Villa, we will not only hand over the Warm-Sun Jade for you to cure your poison, but also betroth all three sisters to you as wives. You were just staring at Fengwu — if you agree, she becomes yours." Yan Shi pointed at Mo Yuzhu and the others behind her, her tone deadly serious.
"Fourth Mother!"
"Mother!"
Mo Yuzhu and Mo Caihuan's faces drained of color, and they cried out involuntarily. Clearly, they had received no prior warning of this arrangement, and Yan Shi's casual promise had left them thunderstruck. Mo Fengwu, though somewhat pale, managed to maintain her composure.
Their alarm was understandable. Han Li was thoroughly unremarkable in appearance — the very antithesis of the dashing husband they had imagined. There was not a single quality that matched their ideals. How could they possibly resign themselves to marrying such a man?
"Silence! This matter has been decided by me and your aunts. There will be no second thoughts, or you will be cast out of the Mo Residence immediately." Yan Shi's face turned cold, and her voice carried the steel of absolute authority.
The three sisters froze. Mo Yuzhu bit her lip, her complexion turning ashen. Mo Caihuan looked desperately toward Second Madam Li and Fifth Madam Wang — the two who had always doted on her most — her eyes pleading. Mo Fengwu fared slightly better, though her body trembled faintly as she leaned against the wall behind her, motionless.
"There is no need to coerce the young ladies. I cannot accept your conditions." Han Li fell silent for a long moment before speaking in a low, firm voice, flatly rejecting Yan Shi's proposal. "As I said before, regardless of what you offer, I will not take unnecessary risks. I am rather fond of my own life."
To say that Han Li was entirely unmoved by the breathtaking beauty of the three Mo sisters would be a lie. But he had weighed the matter carefully. If he wiped out both of Lanzhou's remaining powers in one stroke, it would not escape the notice of those who mattered — and the consequences would be fatal.
Consider the aftermath: once the Five-Color Gate and Dominator's Villa fell, Yan Shi would inevitably lead the Frightened Dragon Society to dominance as the greatest beneficiary. And then there was Han Li himself — a stranger who had suddenly appeared at the Mo Residence and married all three daughters. It would be as good as announcing to the world that he was the mastermind behind the entire affair and the killer of two gang leaders.
If such an act drew the attention of mysterious forces connected to cultivators, a half-baked cultivator like himself would stand no chance. His life would almost certainly be forfeit — and what good would three beautiful wives be then?
So Han Li had quietly smiled to himself and pushed away three perfectly beautiful women.
As for whether the sisters fancied him — that was of no consequence to Han Li. Once he had won the women, winning their hearts would only be a matter of time. But none of that mattered now. The three Mo sisters were a scalding potato that he absolutely could not touch. All he wanted was to purge the cold poison from his body and leave this nest of troubles behind. Whatever fortune or misfortune befell the Mo Residence afterward was no concern of his.
Though Han Li's refusal left Yan Shi and the others looking displeased, it had the opposite effect on the three sisters. The youngest, Mo Caihuan, even stopped crying and broke into a smile, pulling a face at Han Li. Even Mo Yuzhu and Mo Fengwu regarded him with noticeably warmer eyes, viewing him in an entirely new light.
Yan Shi sighed and exchanged a glance with Second Madam Li before turning back to Han Li with an air of resignation. "Since Young Master Han disagrees, then so be it. We shall accept your terms as stated. If you can kill the Dominator's Villa's lord — the 'Raging Lion' Ouyang Feitian — we will hand over the Warm-Sun Jade for you to cure your poison."
"I see — how shrewd of you, ladies." Han Li touched his nose and chuckled. "I hear Ouyang Feitian is in his prime and has no children. Once he falls, Dominator's Villa will surely collapse, and his subordinates will scatter in all directions — too preoccupied with fighting among themselves to bother the Frightened Dragon Society."
Yan Shi rolled her eyes at him.
"It is not merely as you describe. Do you know who sent Wu Jianming? It was this very Ouyang who sent him — Wu Jianming is his seventh disciple and one of his favorites."
"The lord of Dominator's Villa is of the same generation as our late husband, roughly the same age. He has long harbored ambitions to dominate all of Lanzhou. He adopted a strategy of consuming the weak before attacking the strong — first devouring our Frightened Dragon Society, then turning on the Five-Color Gate."
"A few years ago, he incited my husband's sworn brother Ma Kongtian and his second disciple Zhao Kun to attempt a split within the Frightened Dragon Society. My sisters and I saw through the plot and eliminated both of them and their accomplices before they could act. But the Society suffered grievous losses in the process. Dominator's Villa pressed its advantage and drove us back, forcing us to contract our forces and hold fast within Jiayuan City."
Yan Shi spoke softly, revealing some of the hidden history behind the Frightened Dragon Society.
"But your influence in Jiayuan City doesn't seem particularly great at present. Wouldn't Dominator's Villa simply press on and finish you off?" Han Li frowned, genuinely puzzled.
"Heh heh! That Ouyang Feitian madman doesn't dare attack this place, and he has his reasons. If you wish to know why, you need only agree to our original terms, and I will tell you." Third Madam Liu giggled, her voice teasing and half-genuine.
"Heh, forget it. I was merely curious." Han Li remained impassive.
"How unmanly of you! You won't even lift a finger for something so small!" Third Madam Liu pouted, flirting openly as though they were lovers exchanging banter.
Yan Shi and the others turned a blind eye to Liu's behavior, but the three Mo sisters flushed scarlet. It was one thing for their elder to make a deal with this man — but to flirt with him openly in front of the daughters she intended to marry off? That was going too far.
Mo Caihuan jutted out her lower lip and shot Han Li a venomous glare.
But Han Li seemed entirely oblivious, continuing in his casual manner: "The Third Madam speaks so lightly of it. That 'small favor' might well cost me my life. I'd rather not be a 'real man' — as long as I'm still a man, that's enough."
Perhaps his final remark was a touch too crude. Not only did it startle Third Madam Liu into a momentary pause before she covered her mouth in a coy smile, but even Second Madam Li and Yan Shi looked mildly offended.
"How do you plan to take Ouyang Feitian's life? He hides inside his Villa all day and rarely ventures out. His martial arts are superb, and his cunning is formidable — no easy target." Yan Shi's expression turned serious.
"You need not trouble yourself with that, Fourth Madam. As long as you provide me with a good horse and a portrait of the man, I will make him vanish from this world." Han Li shrugged carelessly.
"I hope so," Yan Shi said softly.
"However, before I depart, I believe you should provide me with some guarantee — to ensure that upon my return with the deed done, you ladies won't go back on your word." Han Li spoke with airy nonchalance.
"What sort of guarantee does the young master require?" Yan Shi showed no displeasure; she had clearly anticipated this.
"Each of you will take one pill from this vial. As for what kind of pill it is, I won't say. Simply put — when I return having killed Ouyang Feitian, I will trade the antidote for the Warm-Sun Jade in your possession." Han Li produced a small porcelain vial, set it on the table, and watched Yan Shi and the others with cold eyes.
Without a word, Yan Shi reached out with her slender fingers, seized the vial, tipped out a single jade-green pill, glanced at Second Madam Li and the others, and swallowed it without hesitation.
"Admirable courage. Admirable resolve. You truly deserve to lead the Frightened Dragon Society." Han Li could not help but applaud, then turned his gaze toward the remaining women.
Second Madam Li took a pill with trembling hands, her face tight with apprehension. Third Madam Liu hesitated a moment longer, shot Han Li a reproachful look, then swallowed hers with a theatrical grimace. Fifth Madam Wang — as expressionless as ever — took hers in a single fluid motion, like swallowing water.
With the wives having complied, all eyes turned to the three daughters. Mo Caihuan was on the verge of tears again, but Mo Yuzhu stepped forward, took a pill, and held it before her lips with steady hands. She looked directly at Han Li and said coolly: "I will take it. But I want you to understand — I am doing this not because I wish to marry you, but because I will not let my mothers' efforts go to waste."
She swallowed.
Mo Fengwu followed without hesitation, her expression unreadable. Mo Caihuan was the last, whimpering softly as she placed the pill on her tongue and washed it down with a sip of water.
Han Li examined each face in turn, then nodded with satisfaction. "Good. Then I shall be taking my leave. With any luck, you will have good news from me before long."
He rose from his chair, gave the room a casual farewell nod, and departed without another word. His footsteps faded down the corridor, leaving behind a room of women whose expressions ranged from wary relief to quiet resentment.
Yan Shi sank into her chair and closed her eyes. Second Madam Li poured herself a cup of tea with unsteady hands. Third Madam Liu stared at the doorway through which Han Li had vanished, her lips pursed. Fifth Madam Wang stood at the window, her back to the room, perfectly still.
Of the three daughters, only Mo Yuzhu still stood where she had taken the pill, her jaw set and her eyes hard.
Mo Caihuan tugged at her sleeve and whispered: "Sister, do you really think he'll come back?"
Mo Yuzhu did not answer immediately. After a long pause, she said: "He will. A man like that always keeps his word — not for our sake, but for his own."
Outside the Mo Residence, the afternoon sun hung low over Jiayuan City. Han Li walked the streets with his hands behind his back, a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips.
The jade-green pills were nothing more than ordinary herbal concoctions — utterly harmless. But the women did not need to know that.
As for Ouyang Feitian, the so-called "Raging Lion" — Han Li had already composed the man's death sentence in his mind. All that remained was to deliver it.
He quickened his pace toward the stables. There was a horse to purchase and a portrait to obtain. The clock was ticking, and Han Li had no intention of lingering in Jiayuan City a moment longer than necessary.
The Warm-Sun Jade would be his. The yin poison would be purged. And then — onward, toward the gathering of cultivators that Sun Ergou had spoken of.
That, at least, was a prospect worth anticipating.