Chapter 293: Xiao Family

The handsome young prince was naturally unaware of Han Li's thoughts at that moment. Instead, he was amiably chatting with the Qin family disciples, some of whom he knew. This made two of the young ladies blush, clearly smitten.

Han Li saw this and sneered inwardly.

This young prince was deeply problematic. If these Qin family women truly threw themselves at him, they would definitely not come to a good end.

Even if this young prince devoured them whole, skin and bone, Han Li wouldn't find it strange.

After a short while, Prince Xin apologized to Qin Yan and the other two, then took the young prince to entertain guests at another table. This left the Qin family disciples, who had been chatting happily with the young prince, and the Hua-surname elder's grandchildren feeling a bit disappointed.

Meanwhile, when no one was paying attention, Han Li gazed at the young prince's retreating back, a pensive look flashing in his eyes.

The banquet finally concluded after more than an hour.

The satisfied guests began to bid farewell to Prince Xin and his son.

Qin Yan, with Han Li and the others, joined the departing guests to say their goodbyes and exited the Prince Xin Manor's main gate.

However, just as Master Qin was about to board the carriage they had arrived in with Han Li, Han Li suddenly spoke, asking a question that astonished Qin Yan.

"Uncle Qin, who are those two people? Could you tell me?"

Although Han Li's tone was polite, Master Qin dared not be negligent. He quickly turned his head to look and said:

"Which two people are you referring to, Virtuous Nephew Han? Oh, isn't that old Master Xiao? He's the owner of the famous Leisure Cloud Restaurant in Yuejing City. He's a very low-key person, and I'm not very familiar with him. As for the young person beside him, they look unfamiliar; it must be one of his grandchildren!"

After Qin Yan saw the old man and young person Han Li was looking at, a surprised expression appeared on his face, wondering why Han Li was interested in them.

"Oh, I see! Uncle Qin, you go ahead. I'll walk for a while and return to the manor later." Han Li nodded thoughtfully and said casually.

Then, without waiting for Qin Yan to say anything, he slowly walked along a small path winding beside the manor wall.

Qin Yan stared blankly at Han Li's retreating figure, then glanced at old Master Xiao in the distance, who was furtively looking their way. A hint of doubt stirred in his heart.

However, after a moment's thought, he decisively boarded the carriage and ordered his trusted driver to depart.

Thus, the Qin family's carriages left the front gate of Prince Xin Manor and headed towards the Qin residence in the East District.

Meanwhile, the Qin family's young masters and ladies, completely unaware of Han Li's absence, were still discussing what they had seen and heard at Prince Xin Manor today in the last two carriages.

They were incredibly excited! Although they hadn't formed any immortal connections, this was definitely something they could boast about to their companions when they returned.

At this moment, after walking for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Han Li finally reached the back gate of Prince Xin Manor, following along its tall walls.

The tall back gate was tightly shut, and not a single person was in sight.

Han Li smiled, thinking it was perfect as it saved him the trouble of using any stealth spells.

He stood brazenly at the back gate, idly looking up at the sky.

After a while, Han Li fell into a daze, as if contemplating something.

Suddenly, Han Li sensed someone timidly approaching from a distance. He lowered his head and cast a cold glance.

It was old Master Xiao and the young woman dressed as a man, who had come around from the other side of the manor. Upon seeing Han Li, the old man's steps faltered, and a hesitant expression appeared on his face. The young woman, however, looked entirely curious, showing no fear at all.

Perhaps the old man had figured something out, as his expression quickly calmed. He strode forward, with the young woman following behind him.

"Junior Xiao Zhen, I thank senior for showing mercy in the manor! If I have offended you in any way, I am willing to apologize to senior."

After reaching Han Li, old Master Xiao still couldn't discern the depth of Han Li's cultivation. Shocked, he felt even greater reverence for Han Li, so before speaking, he preemptively bowed and respectfully offered his apologies.

Han Li accepted the bow with an unchanging expression, then calmly said:

"Instead of cultivating in seclusion in a place rich with spiritual energy, why are you here in Yuejing City? Have you become so attached to the worldly splendor of the mortal realm that you no longer wish to cultivate?"

Han Li, without hesitation, first placed a heavy accusation on the old man, intending to easily overwhelm him with his aura and make subsequent matters easier to handle.

"Senior misunderstands. This junior, due to my advanced age, has almost no hope of establishing my foundation. I was assigned by my family to manage their worldly financial affairs, not to stay in the mortal realm without authorization." The green-robed old man replied, a slight easing in his heart and a somewhat relieved expression.

"Which family's disciple are you?" Han Li pressed on, not letting up easily.

Han Li naturally wanted to find out the background of this grandfather and granddaughter. If they belonged to a prominent cultivation clan, Han Li wouldn't want to provoke them easily. However, the Xiao surname didn't seem to be associated with any very famous cultivation clans!

Hearing Han Li's question, the old man hesitated, looked back at the young woman beside him, and then answered honestly:

"This junior is from the Xiao family of Fenghe Stream in Yunzhou!"

"The Xiao family of Fenghe Stream?" Han Li frowned, thought carefully, and confirmed that he had definitely never heard this name before.

"Senior needn't think too much about it. The Xiao family I belong to is just a small family; it's quite normal that senior hasn't heard of us," old Master Xiao said with a darkened expression, a hint of self-mockery in his voice.

Han Li was somewhat surprised by this. After re-examining old Master Xiao for a few moments, he slowly and calmly asked:

"You speak so freely. Aren't you afraid that I'll lose my scruples and immediately turn hostile to eliminate both of you?"

When Han Li said this, the old man showed no reaction. But the young woman, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, immediately tightened her expression and frantically reached a hand to her waist, where something bulged. It was undoubtedly a storage pouch.

However, the young woman then saw that neither her grandfather nor Han Li truly intended to attack. She blushed, withdrew her hand, and became flustered, unsure where to place her hands and feet, looking utterly adorable.

Seeing this, the old man glanced at the young woman again with great affection, then turned back to Han Li with a wry smile and said:

"Although I cannot discern the depth of your cultivation, I am certainly aware that you are a senior who has reached the Foundation Establishment stage. This junior does not believe that I possess any magical artifacts, elixirs, or other treasures that a cultivator of your great attainment would covet. If senior truly is such a person, then this junior has nothing more to say. With my meager cultivation and magic power, trying to flee or resist would be futile. It would be better to surrender and let senior have your way, rather than incurring wrath upon my entire family! This junior only asks senior to show mercy and spare my granddaughter; she is my only blood relative."

The old man's last few sentences were filled with desolation, which utterly infuriated and shocked the young woman. She immediately retorted indignantly:

"Grandpa, don't be afraid! If he truly intends to harm us, we'll fight him to the death! I'm not afraid of him!"

Han Li was initially startled by the words of old Master Xiao and the young woman, but after carefully observing them for a moment, he found himself both annoyed and amused.

Although the old man spoke mournfully, acting as if he were willing to sacrifice himself, Han Li did not detect the slightest intention of seeking death in his eyes. Even the fluctuations of his released magic power indicated he was poised for action, showing no sign of surrendering.

Clearly, his plan was to fight desperately if it truly came down to killing and seizing treasures.

And the young woman was even more interesting.

Although her words were full of righteous indignation, her dark, gem-like eyes constantly darted about when Han Li wasn't paying attention, occasionally revealing a hint of cunning.

What this young girl didn't know, however, was that Han Li, who had mastered the first layer of the "Great Development Art," had a spiritual sense far stronger than that of ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators. All her little gestures were well within Han Li's grasp.

Han Li thought to himself:

"It's likely that this 'Xiao family of Fenghe Stream' they spoke of was just something they made up on the spot. He was deeply skeptical about the existence of such a family!"

So, a half-smile appeared on Han Li's face as he stared silently at the two, saying nothing.

He neither told them they could leave nor immediately turned hostile to act, effectively leaving the old man and the young woman in an awkward standstill.

At first, the old man and the young woman maintained their solemn expressions.

But as time slowly passed, and under Han Li's languid expression and indifferent gaze, old Master Xiao and the young woman finally exchanged bewildered glances.

"As a senior, what exactly do you intend to do?" the young woman finally couldn't hold back. Disregarding the old man's warning glance, she leaped in front of Han Li, placed one hand on her hip, pointed at him with the other, and asked loudly, her face full of indignation.