"Do any of you know the cultivation level of this cultivator? If he's not an important disciple of the Yan family and his level isn't high, I can go talk to him properly. It should be easy to resolve," Han Li said calmly, rubbing his nose.
Actually, he knew perfectly well that someone who could resort to coercing a mortal woman couldn't be that powerful. He only asked out of instinctive caution.
"I asked Caihuan to inquire about this beforehand. He's said to be a cultivator whose basic technique has only reached the fifth level. Although his surname is Yan, he must be an insignificant figure in the Yan family. Otherwise, any disciple with even a little standing wouldn't be living with us mortals!" Yan-shi proved her worth as the former head of the Mo household. Even in their current destitute state, she remained organized and clear-headed.
"Then there's no problem! Later, Junior Sister, lead the way for me so I remember the path. I'll handle this issue for you!" Han Li nodded after listening.
"Thank you, Senior Brother! I knew you'd help!" Mo Caihuan, who had been listening nearby, called out happily.
"Han Li, you've really gone to trouble for this. Facing a cultivator's pressure, my daughter and I truly didn't know how to handle it," Yan-shi said with relief in her eyes, but then sighed helplessly. "Although there are rules here forbidding cultivators from harassing mortals, there are far too many incidents behind the scenes. Would the Yan family truly punish those cultivators? Careless mortals who end up offending cultivators often vanish without a trace—that's a common occurrence."
Han Li heard a note of helpless resentment in her words. Compared to the days of wielding life-and-death power in the Mo household, this current life of swallowing insults was indeed humiliating for Yan-shi.
Han Li fell silent for a moment after hearing this. Suddenly, he asked a question that had been puzzling him.
"Master's Wife, Junior Sister has long been of age to marry. Why hasn't she found a suitable match within the Fortress? If she married a cultivator, wouldn't she have someone to rely on?"
"Marry?"
"I won't marry any of those Yan family cultivators!" Mo Caihuan objected loudly, her face full of displeasure as soon as Han Li finished speaking.
"What's wrong?" Han Li asked, surprised.
"Senior Brother! The Yan family cultivators don't take us mortal women seriously at all! Marrying one of them is worse than being a servant. If you displease them even slightly, you get beaten and scolded constantly. I'd rather stay single for life than marry someone here!" Her words came out quickly and urgently, clearly a topic she was very averse to.
"Han Li, you don't know—your Junior Sister has a friend here who married a cultivator from the Fortress. Not only was she not looked at properly, she was constantly abused. Later, when her looks faded, she was dismissed with a flimsy excuse on a divorce letter, sent back home in utter desolation. And that cultivator went on to marry a younger, more beautiful woman. Sigh... A cultivator with a good heart like Caihuan's late stepfather is truly rare here. I don't want Caihuan to suffer like that. As for marrying a mortal—your Junior Sister's standards are too high. Who here would catch her eye?" Yan-shi explained from the side, clarifying Mo Caihuan's reaction.
"I see... But Junior Sister can't remain single forever, can she?" Han Li said, frowning naturally.
However, as soon as he said this, Yan-shi's expression shifted, as if she wanted to say something, but hesitated and remained silent. Mo Caihuan, for her part, seemed to recall something, lowered her head, and fell silent.
Han Li then realized the atmosphere had suddenly become awkward, as if...
He quickly changed the subject.
"Junior Sister, lead the way for me. Let's deal with that cultivator first!"
"Mm." Mo Caihuan hesitated for a moment, then agreed. Yan-shi made no objection.
Thus, Han Li and Mo Caihuan temporarily left the shop and headed straight for the cultivator's residence, which seemed to be quite far away.
...
"Senior Brother, what level is your technique actually at? That guy, as soon as he saw you, was like a mouse seeing a cat! He kept calling you 'Senior' and bowing repeatedly. His demeanor was so respectful, it was like he was seeing his own ancestor." Mo Caihuan had completely returned to the cheerful manner Han Li remembered, chattering away on the quiet path back, looking nothing like a woman in her twenties.
Han Li smiled faintly and said lightly, "Nothing special. I'm just one level higher than him. According to the rules of the cultivation world, he should indeed call me Senior."
Hearing this, a glint of delight flashed in Mo Caihuan's eyes, and she grinned even more. "Still, I can't help but laugh when I remember his comical expression when you showed up!"