"What old monster? No one said that!" The girl, whose face had changed dramatically, forced a smile and quickly lowered her head, not daring to look up.
Han Li chuckled lightly, not bothering to argue with the little girl. Instead, his gaze turned cold as he looked toward the old man.
The old man's face was equally panicked.
He truly didn't know how much of his earlier words Han Li had overheard, and he couldn't help but curse inwardly. He didn't dare speak the words he had prepared earlier.
"I didn't expect the senior to arrive so soon! I thought I would have to wait at least two more hours! I will go get that book for the senior right away."
With no other choice, the old man forced himself to compose his expression to deal with Han Li's unfriendly look. With a quick thought, he immediately mentioned the Dao book, hoping to slightly quell Han Li's anger.
"Good, go bring it." Han Li's gaze, sharp as a blade, lingered on the old man for a moment before he finally spoke coldly.
This allowed the old man's heart to settle back down. In his view, the other party would not vent his anger immediately at least.
The old man hurriedly agreed and walked toward the adjacent room. The girl, seeing this, also took a step to follow the old man, but the old man stopped her with a glance.
What a joke!
If both of them went to the next room, wouldn't that be intentionally provoking the other party? It would make them think that the grandfather and granddaughter were still trying some trick. Now, the old man had completely thrown away any unrealistic thoughts, fearing that it would cause Han Li to misunderstand.
The girl could only pout and stay in the room, continuing to stand silently beside Han Li.
The old man's movements were very quick. In the blink of an eye, he returned with a worn wooden box. The Dao book should be inside.
"Senior, my granddaughter and I learned the qi-concealment technique from this book. Please take a look, senior, and see if it might be of any use to you?" The old man took a few steps toward Han Li, his expression respectful, and gently opened the wooden box, revealing a yellowish, somewhat blackened book. He handed it to Han Li.
Just looking at the book, one could tell it was an ancient artifact from long ago!
Han Li narrowed his eyes and glanced at the book in the other's hand before nodding and taking it.
Although the book had changed color due to its age, when Han Li's fingers touched the cover, it felt smooth and delicate, and it seemed incredibly resilient.
It seemed this book was not made of ordinary material but was crafted from a special type of demon beast skin. Otherwise, it could not have survived for such a long time.
Han Li gently stroked the book for a while, pondered for a moment, and then slowly turned its pages.
After just a few glances, Han Li frowned.
The moment he opened the book, what met his eyes was some very unfamiliar ancient script. These characters, Han Li was certain he did not recognize at all, nor had he seen similar symbols in any of the books stored in Yellow Maple Valley.
Since he couldn't recognize it, Han Li didn't waste time. Instead, he quickly flipped to the back of the book.
In the last two pages, he finally found what seemed to be an unnamed oral formula that someone had added. The characters used for this formula were a relatively common ancient script in the cultivation world, which allowed him to read it easily.
Han Li knew this must be the qi-concealment technique, and he began to contemplate it carefully without hesitation.
After the time it takes to eat a meal, Han Li slowly closed the book, a thoughtful expression on his face.
The old man, who had been holding his breath the entire time, felt his heart pound wildly again, knowing that this moment would decide the fate of his granddaughter and himself. How the other party would deal with them depended entirely on his whim.
Han Li ignored the old man's nervous state and calmly took out a jade box from his storage pouch, carefully storing the book inside.
Then, he turned to the old man and said calmly:
"I will take this Dao book. Now, you two may tell me what you would like in exchange. If possible, I will try my best to satisfy your request!"
Han Li's voice was not loud, but to the ears of the old man and the girl, it sounded as pleasant as the music of heaven.
At this moment, they realized that not only had their lives been saved, but it also seemed they would receive something good. They couldn't help but show expressions of surprise and joy.
"Senior, could my granddaughter and I discuss it for a moment?" After the crisis had passed, the old man couldn't help but want to maximize the benefits of this exchange. He hurriedly said with a smile.
It should be known that before Han Li arrived, they had been too afraid of him killing them to silence them to discuss any exchange items.
Now, hearing Han Li's question, they were naturally at a loss!
Moreover, seeing that Han Li was not the kind of person who would turn on them without mercy, the old man mustered the courage to ask.
"As you wish, just don't take too long!"
Because he had obtained a very useful secret technique and a mysterious ancient book, Han Li was in a good mood and waved his hand carelessly.
"Thank you for your kindness, senior! We only need a moment." The old man said, looking pleased.
Then he immediately took the girl outside, and the two began to whisper in low voices.
Han Li smiled slightly when he saw this.
Although he could easily kill them both with a single move, Han Li did not consider himself an extremely wicked person. Unless necessary, he would not go back on his word.
After a while, the old man and the girl entered with strange expressions, looking somewhat uneasy.
Han Li found this a bit strange but still asked:
"Have you two decided?"
"Senior, my granddaughter and I have discussed it. My granddaughter does not want any material things, but she has an earnest request. I hope the senior can grant it!" After hesitating for a moment, the old man gritted his teeth and said something that surprised Han Li.
"What request?" Han Li frowned and asked slowly.
For some reason, he suddenly felt a sense of trouble heading his way.
The old man hesitated again, and only when he saw Han Li looking impatient did he vaguely say the following:
"A-actually, my granddaughter truly admires the senior's deep cultivation and profound techniques. She wishes... wishes to become the senior's disciple and serve at the senior's side from now on. I hope that, for the sake of my granddaughter's sincerity, the senior will accept her as a disciple."
As soon as the old man stammered these words, the girl quickly and cleverly knelt before Han Li, kowtowing firmly on the spot. This caught Han Li completely off guard, and after a moment of shock, he didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
To have him take a disciple? Wasn't that a joke? He himself was still walking on thin ice in the cultivation world, unable to protect himself at every moment. How could he possibly take on another burden!
He would definitely not agree to this!
But then again, although he hadn't thoroughly examined the little girl's aptitude, it should be quite good. Otherwise, she wouldn't have reached the sixth level of the Qi Refinement stage at such a young age. He had only reached that stage by consuming a massive amount of pills.
It seemed a pity to let this little girl live her life among low-level cultivators. Although he couldn't take her as a disciple, he could introduce her to a master. The little girl's lively and mischievous manner appealed to him!
He remembered clearly that Senior Brother Ma, that little old man, had not yet taken any disciples.
Moreover, after he had moved out of the Hundred Herb Garden, he had seen Senior Brother Ma once, and the latter had complained that he would have to personally look after the herb garden again. He had said that he should have accepted a well-behaved disciple earlier.
Now, this little girl appeared to be extremely clever. If her aptitude was indeed good, there was no harm in introducing her to Senior Brother Ma. As for whether Senior Brother Ma was satisfied or truly willing to accept this little girl, that was no longer his concern.
Han Li thought to himself, and a contemplative expression appeared on his face, making the old man and the girl think he was seriously considering taking her as a disciple. They couldn't help but look excited.
"Come here, let me check your spiritual root situation." After coming out of his thoughts, Han Li beckoned to the girl and said calmly.
"Yes, senior!"
The girl appeared extremely well-behaved. After agreeing respectfully, she lightly walked up to Han Li and proffered her fair and delicate wrist, showing a hint of shyness.
Han Li reached out his right hand and gently took the girl's wrist, letting his spiritual power slowly circulate within her body. But soon, he released her wrist.
"Dual spiritual roots, indeed a very good aptitude!" Han Li stared at the girl's face and muttered to himself.
Hearing Han Li's words, the girl and the old man looked pleased, thinking Han Li was about to agree to the apprenticeship.
But Han Li changed the subject and suddenly said:
"It's a pity I don't take disciples! Otherwise, with your aptitude, you would be more than qualified to be my disciple."
These words from Han Li immediately hit the grandfather and granddaughter like a splash of cold water, leaving them stunned on the spot.