The courtyard was silent when Lu stepped through the gate. Moonlight cast long shadows, and the night breeze carried the faint scent of medicinal herbs.
Han Li stood in the center, hands behind his back, expression calm and unreadable.
Lu paused, surprised.
"Ah? Still cultivating this late?" he asked with a familiar gentle smile—the same smile Han Li once trusted.
Han Li didn't answer.
For a brief moment, the world felt still.
Well I've reached tier five how are going to extract my sprit root, han li asked in a cold voice.
Then Lu's eyes sharpened.
"…You know."
It wasn't a question.
Han Li slowly nodded. "I know everything."
Lu sighed softly, as though disappointed. " well that's good you know I wouldn't need to understand you anything. You will be useful now and all those resources I used on you will be useful today.
Han Li's gaze hardened. "Useful? To die for your selfish greed?"
Lu laughed—cold and mocking.
"Immortality requires sacrifice. And you were born for mine."
It's not my fault.
Before the final word fell, Lu flicked his sleeve—sending several poisoned silver needles streaking toward Han Li like lightning.
Han Li didn't move.
Eight streaks of green light flashed beside him—
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
The Mother Sword's blades intercepted every needle with effortless precision.
Lu froze, disbelief twisting his face.
"That artifact—! Impossible—!" how do you have it I have been keeping eye on you, you never went out of green Valley.
Han Li raised a single finger.
The eight blades circled him, humming with quiet murderous intent.
"You taught me medicine," Han Li said softly.
"You taught me to read. But you never taught me loyalty."
Lu gritted his teeth and summoned his own artifact—a crimson dagger emitting toxic qi.
"Then let the heavens decide!"
He lunged forward.
Han Li didn't retreat.
With a flick of his wrist, the eight swords shot forward like hunting wolves.
SWISH— SWISH— SWISH—
As Lu blocked the first blade, he was sent flying a dozen meters away.
Lu was after all a mortal martial artist how could he be compared to an immortal.
Han li comanded his blades forward and they got stuck into lus body piercing deep into his body.
His body spun, blood spraying in the moonlight.
He stared down, seeing a sword piercing his chest—right through the heart.
His lips trembled.
"You… were supposed to die… not me…"
Han Li stepped forward, meeting his fading gaze.
"No," he whispered.
"I was meant to survive."
The final blade returned to Han Li's side as Lu collapsed, his body hitting the cold stone floor with a quiet thud.
And finally lu said, no worry it is actually fate written by heavens, how could I have changed this. My good disciple can you last time call me master ?lu asked in emotional tone.....
Although han li had became ruthless but still he melted upon doctor lu's words
Forget it after all he is my first master.
Master...!
Lus eyes wet in tears. Han li this lu took a letter from his robe and finally felt on ground completely.
Silence returned.
Han Li stood silently as Lu's body finally went still, the moonlight dull against the fading warmth of life. Just as Han Li turned to leave, Lu's trembling hand lifted weakly—holding out a folded letter.
His lips moved soundlessly.
Han Li hesitated… then took it.
A faint, almost relieved smile appeared on Doctor Lu's face—then his eyes closed, and his final breath faded into the cold night.
For a long moment, Han Li didn't move.
Despite everything—despite betrayal, danger, and blood—he knelt beside the fallen man. With quiet respect, he carried Lu's body to a small patch of earth beneath an old pine tree. He dug the grave himself.
When it was done, he placed a simple memorial tablet:
「Doctor Lu」
No praise.
No hatred.
Just a name.
Only then did Han Li unfold the letter.
The handwriting was uneven, stained with the faint marks of despair:
Han Li,
I never believed in fate. I thought I was the one who controlled my life and death. I acted as if I were a god—free to do whatever I pleased.
No one stopped me… until the day I killed a certain family.
Among their belongings, I found a book—full of secretts about cultivators nad immortality, so I was taken by greed of immortality. So from then I started chaising cultivstors.
I have already written to my family. Our enemies in the capital are many… and ruthless.
When word of my death reaches them, they will strike without mercy.
You owe me nothing—not after what I planned. I do not expect forgiveness.
But for the sake of the time we shared as master and disciple… I ask only one last favor:
Protect my family for once .
— Doctor Lu
Han Li lowered the letter slowly.
The wind rustled the nearby trees, and the night felt heavier—more complicated.
He stood before the grave one last time.
"Rest," he said quietly. "Your sins end here. Your final wish… i will consider."
After han li finished reading the letter , he entered the lu's room. The air still carried the faint scent of herbs and medicine, and everything remained neatly arranged—almost untouched by death.
On the desk lay three items:
a sealed letter,
a black-bound book,
Han Li examined the book— which contain histories of cultivation sects, privileges, records of forgotten cultivation paths. Everything matched Doctor Lu's final words.
Han Li took a quiet breath, then stored the book, and the letter into his spirit pocket.
He then sat cross-legged and opened the cultivation manual the old senior had given him. His expression darkened as he reached a particular passage:
After reaching Tier Thirteen of the Immortal Mantra, one must obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill to break through. Without it, cultivation halts forever. Even great sects struggle to obtain such pills. Countless Qi Refiners die of old age—never stepping into true cultivation.
Han Li closed the book slowly. His expressions changed but still let aside.
So many cultivators spent their lives stuck at the threshold of immortality… because of one pill.
His gaze sharpened. Let's forget for now,.
"I need strength. And I need it before I leave."
He took out the small green bottle with the blue neck, pressed it gently against his forehead, and entered the hidden space once more.
The world inside remained unchanged—seven suns, seven moons, ancient doors, and mountains of radiant spirit stones. The spiritual energy here was overwhelming—nearly a hundred times stronger than outside.
Han Li wasted no time.
He sat cross-legged and cultivated intensely. When his qi grew stable, he practiced techniques—flying sword arts, body movement, stealth, concealment. He failed—again and again—but did not stop.
Days blurred into months.
Sword flight became smooth.
His presence could vanish completely.
His cultivation surged like a rising tide.
Thirteen months later—Han Li opened his eyes.
He had achieved:
Flight on sword and without sword
Concealment techniques
Qi suppression
Mastery of all basic combat arts
And more importantly—
He stood at the peak of Tier Thirteen.
It was time to leave.
Silently, he gathered everything of importance, stepped out from the hidden dimension, and walked toward the border of Green Valley.
He did not look back.
That chapter of his life had ended.
Han Li traveled to the capital quietly, his presence barely noticeable as he looked normal but what people's eyes was his breath taking aporeance . When he finally arrived before the Lu family mansion, guards and servants paused, startled—not by his entrance, but by his strikingly young appearance. His calm aura made him seem both ordinary and untouchable.
After he showed the letter written to lu mansion .
A servant led him inside. The hall was filled with soft lantern light, and soon the family gathered—Doctor Lu's wife, a dignified woman with tired eyes; Lu Meng, their eldest daughter, elegant yet visibly curious; and a small boy of seven who clutched his mother's sleeve.
Lu Meng stared at Han Li, unable to look away. Something in his composure—quiet strength, solitude, and hidden powerin his youthful aporeance—pulled at her heart.
Han Li bowed politely.
"I am Doctor Lu's final disciple," he said gently. "This letter is for you."
The room fell silent as Lu's widow broke the seal with trembling fingers. Her eyes skimmed the contents—then widened.
My lady, when you were reading this letter I might have gone already, I'm sorry for you I never cared for you I chased my wishful arrogance my whole life but in the end it was nothing but a dream.
This is han li my final disciple, he is trustworthy and very capable.
He will be able to help lu mansio to get rid of our enimies, he is an immortal. But don't worry he is my disciple he won't do anything to you.
Doctor lu.....!
A soft cry escaped her, followed by her daughter's tears and the confused whimpering of the child. Grief spread through the room like a cold wind.
For a few minutes, Han Li waited silently, allowing them their grief—allowing Doctor Lu the farewell he once denied himself.
Finally, he spoke:
Lady lu,,,
"Tell me who threatens the Lu family. Name them, and I will erase them—so long as they are not cultivators."
Doctor Lu's widow straightened. Her grief turned sharp, cold—like steel.
"Two names," she said firmly. "The Wang Family… and a bandit leader named Xiao Chen. The wang family is our business rival and the xaio chen has eyes on my daughter ."
Till now they never dared to take action but after they will find about it, and will not let us off.
Don't worry they are not any good people they have done countless crimes that shames humanity.
Han Li nodded once.
Before she could say anything more—
he was already gone.
The family exchanged stunned glances.
Lu Meng whispered, "Did he… run away?"
Huh! I knew he looks barely seventeen years old what can he do...,
After this all silenced and were in their own grief of doctor lu's death .
But exactly one hour later, footsteps returned.
Han Li stepped through the doorway—calm, unchanged. In his right hand, a blood-stained blade. In his left, a small white jade tablet.
He placed them gently before the family.
"This," he said quietly, "is the head token of the Wang Family. And this blade belongs to Xiao Chen."
The room fell silent.
Doctor Lu's widow stared—unable to believe—and tears welled in her eyes once more. But this time, they were not tears of grief…
They were tears of relief.
Han Li turned to leave.
"There will be no more enemies," he said softly. "Live in peace."
And without waiting for thanks, he tried to stepped out into the night but soon was stoped by lu's wife .