Shi Chuankong and Shi Chuankong were silent all the way until they arrived at the end of the street. Then, they turned into an alley.
Shi Chuankong stopped the carriage when they arrived at the entrance of the alley. Then, he asked Han Li to wait for a moment. He got off the carriage and walked into a small shop at the end of the alley.
The shop didn't have a signboard. Instead, there was a sign made of coarse cloth hanging above the lintel. The words "Traveling Steps Shop" were written on it, and a picture of a traveling porter was drawn at the bottom.
After the time it took for half an incense stick to burn, Shi Chuankong walked out of the shop and got back on the carriage.
The coachman drove the carriage to the east of the city, and finally stopped in front of an inn called "Cloudy Mountain Circle".
The inn was built in a remote area in the east of the city. It was surrounded by lush trees and towering ancient trees. Compared to the attic buildings, the inn looked simple and unadorned. But, it did look like a winding path leading to a secluded place.
After paying for the carriage, Shi Chuankong pushed open a wooden door in the front yard of the inn and led Han Li into the courtyard.
Han Li stepped into the courtyard and felt the space around him fluctuate. Then, the scenery in front of him suddenly changed, and he appeared in an open garden.
Not far away, there was a gurgling stream and a winding covered bridge. Passing through a small lake with white mist, a beautiful scene appeared in front of Han Li's eyes.
"Two honored guests, do you want to have a meal or stay in the inn?"
At this moment, a charming woman with a human-like appearance walked out from a hall on the left and asked, "What's going on?"
"Are there any vacant courtyards in the Secluded Lotus Courtyard and the Combing Willow Courtyard?" Shi Chuankong asked.
"Two honored guests, I'm really sorry. The Secluded Lotus Courtyard is still vacant, but the Combing Willow Courtyard is the long-term residence of a Lord. It can't be rented out.
If you two don't mind, there is also the Blue Desolation Courtyard. It's a unique and quiet place, "the woman was slightly startled when she heard Shi Chuankong's words.
"I almost forgot about that … These two courtyards it is then."
When Shi Chuankong heard this, he remembered that the Comb Willow Courtyard was his residence in the past, and he usually wouldn't rent it out to others. He rubbed his forehead and smiled.
After completing all the procedures, Shi Chuankong dismissed the maid arranged by the inn and led Han Li across the covered bridge and the small lake, heading towards the depths of the inn. Along the way, they saw many exquisite courtyards, which were wrapped in formations and distributed in all directions.
Shi Chuankong accompanied Han Li as they passed through a sea of green bamboo forest and arrived at the two-storey Qing Xiao Courtyard's small building.
Han Li used the token given by the Cloudy Mountain Circle Inn to open the restriction on the small courtyard and entered the building with Shi Chuankong.
There was a guest room on the first floor of the small building. There were two rooms, one inside and one outside. Han Li and his companion sat around a round table in the inner room.
"Brother Shi, can you tell me now?"
Han Li made a hand seal before pointing a finger at the air, and a soundproof light barrier enshrouded the surrounding area.
"Brother Li, this … this matter, I don't know where to start." Shi Chuankong said after a moment of silence.
"Let's start from the Golden Rhino King's pursuit of us. I originally thought that the movement when I broke through the realm was too big, which attracted his hostility and pursuit, but from what happened later, it's not that simple, right?" Han Li said without changing his expression.
"Brother Li, you guessed it right. The reason why the Golden Rhino King pursued us so hard is indeed because of me.
He was instructed by my elder brother to pursue us. "Shi Chuankong sighed and said so.
"Your elder brother is the eldest son of the Demon Lord. Why does he want to kill you?" Han Li frowned and asked.
"This … I can't tell you in detail. In short, it involves a vital inheritance of our Divine Clan. My elder brother should feel that I may threaten his position in obtaining this inheritance, so he joined forces with the Golden Rhino to eliminate me." Shi Chuankong hesitated for a moment and said.
"Brothers of the same mother, yet they want to kill each other?" Han Li frowned.
"Isn't it always like this when the princes of a secular dynasty fight for the throne?
There's nothing strange about it.
Moreover, my elder brother and I have the same father, but not the same mother.
It's not the first time something like this happened. It's just that he didn't target me in the past. After all, I'm just a Golden Immortal and can't threaten his position. "Shi Chuankong laughed at himself and said.
"It's obvious that because of something that happened, your existence has become a threat to him." Han Li said with a deep meaning.
Hearing this, Shi Chuankong pondered for a long time. He already had an answer in his heart.
He slowly said, "It's most likely because I found the Luozha Pipa and made a great contribution. Moreover, my father didn't hesitate to spend a lot of resources to save me from the Dust World."
"I'm afraid that the latter is more likely to be the case," Han Li murmured to himself.
"That's possible … Even when many of his sons are in danger, my father rarely comes to their rescue. This matter might have made him think that my father favors me, which is why he is afraid of me." Shi Chuankong said.
"He shouldn't be the only one with this idea. The reason why the Black Ferret King didn't care about the trouble we caused in the city and escorted us back to the Grand Stronghold City should be because he wants to bet on you, right?" Han Li raised his eyebrows and asked.
"Brother Li's mind is truly clear. You can see through everything.
The Black Ferret King indeed has this idea. "Shi Chuankong was startled at first, but then he nodded.
"Since your elder brother wants to kill you, then he must have more tricks up his sleeves. Why don't we use the teleportation formation to return to Yang Ye City as soon as we reach the Grand Stronghold City?
Wouldn't it be safer if he got there?
Could it be that you don't trust the city lord's mansion's Tian Wu Hou? "Han Li nodded and asked.
Shi Chuankong shook his head and said, "When I was managing the Grand Stronghold City, the city lord's mansion wasn't Tian Wu Hou. He was transferred here after I left.
The reason why we went to the Guangyuan House first was to check if there were any changes in the Grand Stronghold City.
As expected, there's a hidden warning sign outside the Vast Origin House, which indicates that all of my trusted aides have already been purged, so the City Lord's Manor is no longer trustworthy, "Shi Chuankong said with a shake of his head.
"If that's the case, why don't we leave as soon as possible and stay here instead?" Han Li asked.
"My elder brother had contacted the Black Ferret King and asked him to kill us.
However, the Black Ferret King decided to take a gamble and bet on me. That's why he reported that we are still fleeing in the Shihuan Mountain Range.
Therefore, the Grand Stronghold City is temporarily safe. "Shi Chuankong smiled.
"It seems that you have reinforcements, Brother Shi, don't you think that you have reinforcements?
Did you go to that shop in the alleyway to ask for reinforcements? "Han Li asked with a hint of a smile.
"It's to send a message to my Third Brother. Before he sends reinforcements, we will temporarily rest in the Cloudy Mountain Inn," Shi Chuankong said with a nod.
"Your Third Brother …" Han Li said with a frown.
"Brother Li, you can rest assured. He is different from Big Brother. He was born from the same mother as me, and I even saved his life once. If he cannot be trusted, then no one in the entire Holy Region can be trusted." Shi Chuankong interrupted him and said.
"That's for the best," Han Li said with a nod.
"I was wrong to hide the truth from you. But I can't tell you the reason. I hope Brother Li can forgive me.
Although Brother Li and I haven't known each other for long, we've experienced many trials and tribulations together. Although we can't be said to be sworn brothers, we've been comrades on the same boat. I trust you. "Shi Chuankong stood up and saluted Han Li.
Han Li also rose to his feet, and said in a solemn voice, "To tell you the truth, Brother Shi, I truly don't want to be embroiled in your internal strife. However, our journey back to Yang Ye City will be linked by life and death, so I'll have to do everything in my power to help you, so I hope you won't hold anything back."
"Brother Li, don't worry. I have told you everything.
I will do my best to fulfill the promise I made to you when we reach Sun Ye City, "Shi Chuankong said while patting his chest.
The two of them chatted for a while. Then, Shi Chuankong bid farewell and left.
Han Li sat in silence for a while. Then, he got up and opened the restriction on the courtyard. He returned to the second floor of the small building and set up another restriction in the quiet room. Then, he waved his hand and a silver door of light opened.
He slowly walked through the door of light and into the bamboo building in the small courtyard.
On the second floor of the building, there was a red-clothed girl lying on the bed in Magic Light's room. It was the Weeping Soul.
Pieces of Purple Sun Warm Jade were floating above her body. They were emitting waves of gentle energy.
She looked calm and her breathing was long and steady. Her body was shrouded in a layer of faint purple light. She looked as if she was asleep, but there was no sign of her waking up.
Han Li had used low-grade warm jade at first. Then, he had used mid-grade warm jade. They had helped the Weeping Soul's spirit a little, but they couldn't make her origin power reappear. So, he couldn't wake her up.
Setting aside the low-grade Violet Sun Warm Jade, Han Li gave a majority of the mid-grade Violet Sun Warm Jade to Shi Chuankong. As for the remaining two high-grade Violet Sun Warm Jades, he kept them for himself.
However, he knew that even high-grade warm jade wouldn't be able to wake the Weeping Soul.
Right at this moment, Daoist Xie's voice suddenly sounded from outside the building. "Friend Han, would you like to have a chat with me?"
Han Li immediately went down to the second floor and invited Daoist Xie into the building. The two of them sat down at a bamboo table in the building.
After Daoist Xie sat down across from him, Han Li discovered that there was a hint of hesitation on his usually expressionless face.
"Is something wrong, Fellow Daoist Xie?" Han Li asked.
"A name has been popping up in my mind recently, and I think it might have something to do with Master's will," Daoist Xie said with tightly furrowed brows.
"What's that name?" Han Li asked.
"Scale Spatial Realm," Daoist Xie replied.
"Scale Spatial Realm … What's that?" Han Li searched through his mind, but was unable to recall anything about it.
"I'm not sure. It's just that the name has been popping up in my mind recently, but I don't know what it refers to," Daoist Xie replied with a shake of his head.
"It sounds like a mystic realm or something, but how do you know it has something to do with your former master?" Han Li asked as a thought occurred to him.