Chapter 667: Han Family Ancestral Hall

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As soon as he entered the small tavern, a nimble-looking waiter led Han Li inside.

Han Li didn't go upstairs. Instead, he found a relatively secluded corner on the first floor, sat down, ordered a few simple dishes, and quietly observed everything inside the tavern.

The patrons on the first floor comprised all walks of life, much like other taverns Han Li had seen before. There were porters and laborers, as well as vendors coming into the city to do small business—all types were present.

The only somewhat eye-catching group was a table of burly men dressed in martial attire.

There were five or six of them, each carrying a several-foot-long cloth sheath placed within easy reach beside them. Even without using his divine sense, Han Li immediately guessed that they contained weapons like swords and blades. Judging by their uniform clothing, they were likely members of a gang.

This, however, evoked a sense of familiarity in Han Li, reminding him of his experiences at the Seven Mysteries Sect back then.

As his divine sense swept over them, their faint conversations clearly reached his ears. Indeed, they were discussing gang-related fights and killings. Han Li quickly lost interest after listening for a while and shifted his gaze, intending to focus on others.

Just then, two young scholars entered from outside the tavern. They were talking animatedly, with beaming faces, as they slowly walked forward.

"I heard that Assistant Minister Han is returning to his hometown for ancestral worship this time. Not only will the Prefect personally come to pay respects, but even the Fan and Li families will send representatives. It seems the Han family is truly going all out this time and won't be able to keep a low profile."

"That's right! I heard that for this ancestral worship, the Han family sent out numerous letters, recalling branch family members from near and far. Even some slightly renowned gentry from Mirror State have sent representatives to observe the ceremony. I think the Han family will soon stand alongside the Fan and Li families as one of Mirror State's three great aristocratic families."

"Tsk, tsk! They say the Han family has only risen in prominence for just over a hundred years, yet they've achieved such influence. It's truly incredible!"

"What's so strange about that? Ever since a relative from an unknown generation of the Han family became a top scholar, their fortunes have spiraled out of control. Successive generations of their descendants have passed imperial examinations and achieved official positions. After several generations of accumulation, it's not surprising they've gained such prestige. Why don't we go then..."

The two scholars casually sat down at a table near Han Li.

"The Han family!" Han Li was startled upon hearing this and eagerly wanted to listen further. However, the two men suddenly changed the topic, discussing classics like the *Book of Odes*, which greatly frustrated Han Li.

After a moment of thought, he suddenly stood up and walked towards the two scholars.

"Gentlemen, my name is Han Li. I wonder which Han family you were just discussing. I've also come here after receiving a letter to return to my ancestral home for the worship ceremony. However, I grew up in a different region and am quite unfamiliar with my clan, so I don't yet know the location of the ancestral worship. Could you please give me some guidance?" Han Li asked with a smile as he approached the scholars.

"So you are from the Han family, sir. We apologize for our oversight. But there's only one Han family in this area; naturally, it's the Han family of Five-Mile Ravine." The two scholars were initially surprised, but then seeing that Han Li was also dressed as a scholar and spoke very politely, they replied without any suspicion.

"Five-Mile Ravine!" This place was indeed the small mountain village where the Han family used to live. The name, which sounded rather rustic, was given because the entire village was situated within a mountain ravine about five to six *li* in size.

It seemed the Han family the scholars were discussing was very likely related to him.

"If it's the Five-Mile Ravine Han family, then it truly is my ancestral clan. Could you two kindly elaborate on the general situation? I've never participated in my clan's ancestral worship before, and I'd hate to make a fool of myself." Han Li said gently, his expression unchanged.

"Well... just giving a general overview shouldn't be a problem. It's common knowledge anyway." The two scholars exchanged a glance. One of them re-examined Han Li, deciding he certainly didn't look like a villain, and readily agreed.

"Thank you both very much!" Han Li smiled and expressed his gratitude again.

Then, one of the scholars began to speak:

"If you're attending the ancestral worship, it's best not to go to Five-Mile Ravine yet. Decades ago, the Han family relocated their main residence to Han Family Fort, several tens of *li* away. All clan members only return to the old residence in Five-Mile Ravine on the day of the ancestral worship, and the Han family..."

Han Li listened quietly to the scholar's words. His expression remained unchanged, but his heart churned with emotion.

Two hours later, Han Li appeared above his former Green Mountain. This time, he didn't descend but quietly gazed down, lost in thought.

Was this still the small village of yesteryear?

The dirt paths, low walls, thatched huts, children, and villagers were all gone. In their place were large courtyards with tiled houses, cobblestone paths, and neatly dressed servants. Not a trace of the old days remained.

After observing for a while, Han Li shook his head, intending to leave immediately. But his gaze suddenly fell upon a pavilion located at the very center of the compound.

This pavilion wasn't particularly large, but as all other buildings in the compound were single-story bungalows, it stood out significantly.

The pavilion's main door was tightly shut, and a dark plaque hung above it, bearing the large silver-powdered characters: "Han Household Ancestral Temple."

A strange look appeared on Han Li's face. After a moment's thought, his figure abruptly vanished, only to reappear in front of the pavilion the next instant.

Several burly, strong-backed household servants stood guard in front of the pavilion, but Han Li, having cast an invisibility spell, naturally couldn't be detected by them.

After a casual glance at them, Han Li directly used an escape technique to pass through the door.

Upon entering, rows upon rows of ancestral tablets came into view. These hundreds of wooden tablets were arranged on long tables around the room, forming a long passage. The tables further back, however, were empty, seemingly reserved for future additions.

He scanned the tablets; although they bore various Han family names, they were utterly unfamiliar to him.

Han Li didn't linger and went directly to the second floor.

The second floor also held ancestral tablets, but they were clearly arranged with much greater solemnity and reverence. In addition to incense burners and sandalwood incense, a massive bronze cauldron stood in the center, filled with lamp oil and a thick cotton wick, its flame burning brightly. It naturally commanded respect.

Han Li paid no heed to any of this, simply staring blankly at the few ancestral tablets placed in the very center, his body motionless.

"Han Zhu, Han Tie, Han Tiansheng..."

These familiar names, coldly inscribed on the dark wooden tablets, caused a pang in Han Li's heart, and a sudden, suffocating heaviness overcame him.

As the saying goes, the Great Dao is merciless! But this is merely a self-deceiving statement.

Even Han Li, a figure among the terrestrial immortals, couldn't completely sever emotions and desires. All he could do was bury these feelings as deeply as possible within his heart.

Han Li finally moved, slowly walking to the central ancestral tablets and stopping again. He gazed at the tablets with an impassive face, yet warm memories of time spent with these loved ones continuously surfaced in his mind.

Time passed bit by bit, and he didn't know how much time had elapsed.

The heavy sound of the pavilion door opening roused Han Li from his past thoughts, but he remained standing motionless in his spot.

At that moment, footsteps and the voices of two middle-aged men conversing drifted up from downstairs.

"Brother Li, you're too impatient. Didn't I say I'd lend you that manuscript after the ancestral worship? Why are you in such a hurry?" one man said, somewhat helplessly.

"Heh heh! Brother Han, why did you suddenly mention at the end that the manuscript contained an unnamed movement technique created by my ancestor? I'm quite curious. Since it's a martial art created by an ancestor of the Li family, why have we Li family members never known about it? Naturally, I want to see it sooner. However, why is such a valuable manuscript enshrined in this ancestral temple? Wouldn't it be terrible if someone stole it!" The other man said, a bit sheepishly but also with some worry.

"Hmph! Who would go stealing from someone else's ancestral temple? Besides, while our Han Household Ancestral Temple isn't exactly a dragon's pool or a tiger's den, it's guarded day and night by household servants skilled in martial arts. Ordinary people definitely can't get close. Even if they managed to get their hands on it, wouldn't they fear retaliation from our Han family?" The first man to speak said with great confidence.

"You're right!" the other man agreed.

The "thump-thump" of footsteps ascending the stairs clearly reached him. A scholar and a burly man with a beard appeared at the stairwell, one behind the other.

The two men had been smiling and talking, but their expressions instantly froze when they saw Han Li, standing with his hands clasped behind his back, in front of the ancestral tablets.

After a moment of surprise, the burly man with the beard immediately stepped forward, shielding the middle-aged scholar, and let out a low roar, his hair bristling. "You vile thief, you've pursued us even here! Then you shall leave your life behind!" As soon as he finished speaking, the large man clenched his fists, leaped into the air, and lunged fiercely towards Han Li.

Before he even reached Han Li, a terrifying gust of wind, brimming with immense force, pressed down first.

Han Li remained standing motionless, his back to the two men.