Chapter 52: Calming Talisman

“Han Li, you truly are adaptable. But do you really think I would let you go?” Doctor Mo’s rejuvenated face curved into a faint smile, exuding a sunny charm that could drive women wild. However, the sound of his voice startled Han Li once more.

His voice possessed an indescribable magnetism, making it incredibly pleasant to listen to, completely unlike the dry, bitter tone he used to have. It seemed his voice was no less remarkable than his appearance.

This was the first time Doctor Mo had addressed Han Li by his full name. Although the news wasn't good, it gave Han Li a sense of acknowledgment, far superior to being called 'boy' repeatedly. Consequently, the gloom in his heart eased slightly.

Purely judging by his appearance, the current Doctor Mo was utterly flawless. Every movement he made was graceful, making him a true paragon of male beauty. There was no trace left of his former appearance as a haggard old man. He must have captivated countless martial arts heroines with this very face in his youth.

“What exactly do you want from me? Just tell me plainly,” Han Li demanded. He was not a woman, so he naturally wouldn't be swayed by the other man's exceptional handsomeness into being polite. Moreover, since Doctor Mo's words clearly implied he wouldn't be spared, there was even less reason to show him any courtesy.

“What do I want? Heh heh!” Doctor Mo stretched his newly vigorous limbs, extending his slender body in a languid stretch. He smiled without speaking, not answering Han Li's question. Instead, he pulled another item from within his robes.

This time, the item was a small, folded silk pouch. The silk was a dazzling, fiery color, vibrant and striking. Every stitch on it appeared exceptionally delicate, indicating it was no ordinary object.

What could be inside the silk? Could it be another strange artifact like the silver blade? For a moment, Han Li forgot to press his questions, his curiosity piqued.

Doctor Mo did not keep Han Li guessing for long. He quickly unwrapped the silk pouch and carefully withdrew a crumpled piece of yellow paper from it.

Han Li seemed somewhat disappointed, but then a shiver ran down his spine, and he became fully alert. He knew that the more unassuming an object appeared, the more likely it was to possess unforeseen uses. The fact that Doctor Mo had produced a mere piece of paper at this moment meant it certainly wasn't for ordinary use. Considering all the bizarre occurrences before, there was likely something significant about it.

Doctor Mo delicately picked up the yellow paper with two fingers and carefully smoothed it out slightly. Only then could Han Li see it clearly. The paper was small, about the size of a palm, cut into a strip. Its color was faded, suggesting it was quite old.

Most striking were several strange symbols shimmering with silver light, painted with silver lacquer. The symbols had unusual shapes that Han Li had never seen before.

But as soon as they met his gaze, he felt his heart stirred by some mysterious power. Even his Evergreen Arts, cultivated within him, began to stir uncontrollably, as if awakened by these symbols, leaving Han Li utterly astonished.

Han Li knew something was amiss. He immediately fixed his gaze on the symbols, hoping to discern their secrets.

The symbols were winding and twisted, yet they subtly contained a certain order. From their arrangement to their forms, they held something profound. Unfortunately, there was too little time for Han Li to decipher them quickly.

In that very instant, Doctor Mo had moved to stand directly before Han Li. Seeing Han Li staring strangely, almost mesmerized, at the yellow paper in his hand, Doctor Mo's eyes briefly showed a hint of pity, but this look vanished as quickly as it appeared, returning to his usual expression.

He leaned his head down, bringing his mouth close to Han Li's ear, and spoke slowly in an extremely low voice:

“Han Li, don't blame me. I have no choice. May you reincarnate swiftly! This body, I am taking it.”

“What are you saying? What do you mean by that?” Doctor Mo's words jolted Han Li from his trance, scaring him witless. He vaguely understood that the worst possible fate was about to befall him.

Ignoring the giant man's threat behind him, he began to thrash, struggling desperately. He still had a few small items on him; if he could retrieve them, perhaps he could create chaos and find an opportunity to escape.

“Tie Nu, hold him down. Don't let him move.”

Unfortunately, with Doctor Mo's cold command, Han Li's last attempts at resistance were quelled. Two enormous, mountain-like hands increased their pressure, pinning his shoulders tightly and rendering him immobile.

On Han Li's face, pea-sized beads of sweat trickled down his temples and dripped from his forehead. He stared wide-eyed, biting his lip fiercely, watching as the other man muttered incantations before him.

The yellow paper clasped between Doctor Mo's fingers began to flutter without a breeze as the incantation continued.

One by one, the silver symbols on it slowly lit up, emitting a mysterious silvery glow.

Although Han Li's body was immobilized, his mind remained clear. It seemed that once all the symbols lit up, that would be the moment Doctor Mo would act.

Doctor Mo's expression was solemn as he stared at the yellow paper. Once the last symbol emitted its silver light, his face brightened with a hint of joy. Then, following a specific hand gesture, he waved the paper through the air a few times.

Then, a single word, "Still!" escaped his lips, sounding like a peal of spring thunder.

At the same time, the strip of yellow paper was firmly pressed onto Han Li's forehead, adhering tightly to it.

As soon as the paper touched his head, Han Li felt himself lose control of his body. He couldn't even blink his eyelids, and he lost all sensation in his body. Yet, he could still see with his eyes and hear with his ears. His consciousness, however, felt alien, unable to control his own physical form, like a living corpse.

This sensation was completely different from being struck by a pressure point attack. After a pressure point attack, one would also be unable to move, but a numbing sensation would still be felt throughout the body.

Panic surged in Han Li's heart. He didn't know how Doctor Mo intended to process him to seize his body. Was this already a success?

“Don't rush. You'll get to keep this body for a short while longer,” Doctor Mo said, as if specifically addressing him, yet also sounding like he was talking to himself.