Lían stared at Village Head Wa Shi.
For several moments—
he said nothing.
Inside—
his thoughts remained calm.
*Old bastard.*
*Doing this again.*
*Can't help your greed, can you?*
The clam shell was no ordinary material.
Even Lían understood that much.
It had belonged to a Third Stage Demon Beast.
And—
considering how difficult it had been for him to cut through—
its value was obvious.
Lían's eyes narrowed slightly.
Wa Shi calmly waited.
He didn't appear embarrassed in the slightest.
Instead—
he simply sat there.
As though he had made a completely reasonable request.
Lían finally spoke.
"You want the clam shell?"
Wa Shi nodded.
"Yes."
Lían leaned slightly against his chair.
"And what exactly do you intend to give me in exchange?"
Wa Shi's eyes flickered.
He slowly smiled.
"That depends."
"What do you want?"
Lían remained silent.
*What do I want?*
His mind immediately began considering his current situation.
He had returned from the forest.
He had reached the Third Stage of Spirit Refining.
He possessed Thunder Vein.
He also had several materials taken from the Iron Wolves and the Black Horn Earth Bear.
But—
there were still many things he lacked.
Cultivation resources.
Information.
Techniques.
His gaze slowly returned to Wa Shi.
"...Information."
The old man's expression changed slightly.
"Information?"
Lían nodded.
Wa Shi's expression became serious.
He slowly leaned back in his chair.
"That..."
His fingers tapped lightly against the armrest.
"...is something you were going to ask about eventually."
Lían's eyes narrowed.
"I was going to ask about it."
He paused.
"But I think now is the perfect time."
Wa Shi remained silent.
Lían's expression hardened.
"I want everything you know about the cultivator who took my sister."
His voice became colder.
"Everything."
"Don't leave anything out if you do."
The room fell silent.
Then—
a faint pressure suddenly spread from Lían's body.
His Third Stage Spirit Refining cultivation was no longer concealed.
At the same time—
a trace of killing intent surfaced within his eyes.
Wa Shi's expression changed instantly.
His pupils contracted.
*Third Stage...*
For the first time—
genuine shock appeared within his eyes.
*How?*
*That's impossible.*
He had personally watched Lían step into the path of cultivation.
He knew exactly what kind of Spiritual Root the boy possessed.
Even reaching the Second Stage within a year should have been extraordinarily difficult.
Yet—
Third Stage.
And he had reached it without Wa Shi noticing.
*What exactly happened inside that clam?*
Wa Shi's attention quickly returned to Lían.
His voice became slightly colder.
"What is the meaning of this?"
"Are you threatening me?"
Lían's expression didn't change.
"No."
"I'm only asking."
Wa Shi stared at him.
"And if I choose not to comply?"
Lían's gaze remained fixed upon him.
"Then..."
A brief silence.
"...I'll make you."
Wa Shi's eyes narrowed.
"Is that so?"
Lían didn't answer.
Wa Shi slowly released his own aura.
**BOOM!**
A heavy pressure filled the room.
The wooden furniture creaked.
The air itself seemed to become heavier.
Yet—
Lían's gaze didn't move.
He simply stared at the old man.
Wa Shi's eyes sharpened.
Then—
he spoke quietly.
"I told you before."
"If you ever choose to become my enemy..."
His aura intensified.
"...make sure you run far away."
The pressure between them continued building.
Neither moved.
Neither looked away.
For several breaths—
the room remained completely silent.
Then—
Wa Shi suddenly withdrew his aura.
The pressure vanished.
He let out a slow sigh.
"...Calm down."
Lían remained expressionless.
Wa Shi shook his head.
"This is a trade."
"You asked for information."
"I asked for the clam shell."
"I have no reason to hide anything from you."
Lían's eyes remained narrowed.
Wa Shi continued.
"Truthfully..."
"I never bothered telling you before."
"Not because I wanted to conceal it."
"I simply didn't see the point."
His expression became somewhat complicated.
"Even if you knew who took your sister..."
"What could you have done?"
Lían remained silent.
Wa Shi's gaze settled upon him.
"But now..."
He paused.
"You've reached the Third Stage."
His eyes narrowed.
"Even I don't understand how you managed it with that Spiritual Root."
"But I won't pry."
He leaned forward slightly.
"Still..."
His expression became solemn.
"Your current cultivation is useless against the person you're trying to confront."
Lían's eyes remained completely calm.
Wa Shi continued.
"That cultivator..."
"...was at the Foundation Establishment Realm."
Silence.
"The difference between the two realms..."
Wa Shi slowly shook his head.
"...is like heaven and earth."
Lían didn't flinch.
Not even slightly.
Wa Shi watched his reaction.
He had expected hesitation.
Fear.
Perhaps even doubt.
Instead—
there was nothing.
Lían simply stared back.
After several moments—
Wa Shi released another breath.
"Regardless."
"That's what I know."
"I don't know where he came from beyond this."
"I don't know where his clan is located."
"And I don't know where you could find him."
Lían's fingers slowly tightened against the armrest.
"The clan."
Wa Shi nodded.
"The cultivator belonged to a clan."
His voice became slower.
"The Luo Clan."
Lían's eyes narrowed.
"...Luo Clan."
"Yes."
Wa Shi nodded.
"That's the name."
"I never learned where their territory was."
"I never had any reason to seek them out."
He paused.
"There's no point pretending otherwise."
"If I had known their location, I still wouldn't have gone looking."
"A Foundation Establishment cultivator isn't someone a village like ours can afford to provoke."
Lían remained silent.
Wa Shi continued.
"But..."
His expression suddenly changed slightly.
"There is something else."
Lían immediately looked at him.
"What?"
Wa Shi raised one finger.
"The man's appearance."
Lían's eyes sharpened.
Wa Shi tapped the side of his head.
"I remember it."
"Clearly."
He tapped again.
"I may not know his name."
"I may not know where his clan is."
"But his face..."
His gaze became distant.
"...I haven't forgotten it."
Lían leaned forward slightly.
"Describe him."
Wa Shi looked directly into his eyes.
"I can do better than that."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"I can draw him for you."
Lían's expression finally changed.
For the first time—
a trace of anticipation appeared within his eyes.
Wa Shi slowly stood.
"Wait here."
He walked toward a nearby wooden cabinet.
Lían watched him carefully.
The old man opened a drawer and removed a piece of parchment.
Then—
he placed it upon the table.
"I've seen that man's face only once."
"But some things..."
Wa Shi picked up a brush.
"...are difficult to forget."
Lían's gaze remained fixed upon the parchment.
Especially—
when that face belonged to the man who had taken his sister.
Wa Shi finished the drawing.
He carefully added the final details before setting the brush aside.
After examining it for a moment—
he picked up the parchment and handed it across the table.
"Here."
Lían reached out and took it.
His eyes immediately fell upon the drawing.
A man's face.
Calm.
Sharp.
Distinctive.
Lían stared at it silently.
For several breaths—
he didn't say anything.
Then—
his fingers tightened slightly around the parchment.
"So..."
His voice became quiet.
"This is the one who took her."
His gaze remained fixed upon the drawn face.
He memorized every detail.
The shape of the eyes.
The nose.
The jaw.
Even the smallest distinguishing features.
*I won't forget this face.*
His eyes gradually hardened.
*I'll burn it into my very being.*
*No matter how many years pass...*
*I'll remember it.*
Lían slowly folded the parchment.
He carefully placed it inside his coat.
Then—
he looked back at Wa Shi.
After a moment—
he stood.
He bowed slightly.
"Village Head Wa."
"I'm sorry for my behavior earlier."
"I let my emotions get the better of me."
Wa Shi looked at him for several moments.
Then—
he sighed.
"It's fine."
"But..."
His expression became slightly more serious.
"You really do become too emotional when it concerns your sister."
Lían remained silent.
Wa Shi continued.
"That's understandable."
"But you cannot allow your emotions to control you."
"If you do..."
His gaze sharpened.
"One day, those emotions may cost you your life."
Lían nodded.
"I'll keep that in mind."
"Good."
Wa Shi leaned back.
"Now..."
"What else do you want?"
Lían blinked.
"...What?"
Wa Shi raised an eyebrow.
"The information I gave you isn't exactly much."
"You traded a Third Stage Demon Beast's clam shell for it."
Lían's expression became slightly awkward.
He hadn't expected the old man to say it so directly.
Wa Shi smiled faintly.
"So?"
"What else do you want?"
Lían fell silent.
He began thinking.
*What do I actually need?*
His current cultivation had reached the Third Stage of Spirit Refining.
Thunder Vein was powerful.
His Water Elemental Physique gave him another advantage.
But—
he still lacked a proper movement technique.
Against stronger opponents, speed could mean the difference between life and death.
And there was another matter.
His mother.
*I can't always be there to protect her.*
He needed something that could keep her safe when he wasn't around.
Lían looked back at Wa Shi.
"...A technique."
Wa Shi nodded.
"What kind?"
"A movement technique."
Wa Shi's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Movement?"
Lían nodded.
"Something that can increase my speed."
Wa Shi considered it.
"That can be arranged."
Lían paused.
"There is one more thing."
Wa Shi raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
Lían hesitated before speaking.
"I also want something for my mother."
"My mother isn't a cultivator."
"So..."
He thought for a moment.
"A defensive artifact."
"Or perhaps a talisman."
"Something that can protect her if I'm not around."
Wa Shi stared at him.
Then—
his expression became strange.
"A defensive artifact?"
Lían nodded.
Wa Shi sighed.
"Aren't you being a little greedy?"
Lían gave an awkward smile.
"Maybe."
Inside—
his thoughts were different.
*I could say the same about you.*
Wa Shi seemed to notice the awkward expression.
He shook his head.
"I don't have a defensive artifact suitable for this."
"And even if I did..."
He glanced toward the clam shell.
"...that shell wouldn't be enough to trade for one."
Lían remained silent.
Wa Shi continued.
"But a talisman..."
He thought for a moment.
"I can give you one."
Lían's eyes brightened slightly.
"A talisman?"
"Yes."
Wa Shi nodded.
"It isn't powerful enough to stop a Foundation Establishment cultivator."
"But against ordinary threats..."
"It should be enough to protect your mother."
Lían's expression became more serious.
"How many times can it be used?"
"Once."
Wa Shi held up a finger.
"But when activated..."
His eyes narrowed.
"It will form a protective barrier around the person carrying it."
"At your mother's level, that should be enough to save her life from most dangers she'll encounter around the village."
Lían nodded slowly.
"That's enough."
Wa Shi smiled.
"Then we have a deal."
He stood.
"I'll give you the talisman."
"And I'll also give you a movement technique."
Lían blinked.
"You will?"
Wa Shi nodded.
"Consider it part of the trade."
Lían's eyes narrowed slightly.
*This old man isn't as stingy as I thought.*
Then another thought surfaced.
*Or perhaps he's simply trying to build a relationship with me.*
Lían didn't dwell on it.
As long as his mother could be protected—
that was enough.