Han Li quietly circulated his Eternal Spring Technique to steady his mind before daring to raise his head again, skipping past the young woman to examine the next lady.
The last woman to enter was around twenty-six or twenty-seven. Though her features were delicate and charming, the cold frost on her face kept others at a distance. The moment she stepped inside, her icy gaze locked onto Han Li, a sharp glint flickering in her eyes. She was clearly a formidable martial artist with profound internal energy.
As soon as Madam Yan saw these women enter, she rose from her seat and gave them a slight bow.
"Second Sister, Third Sister — welcome! Fifth Sister, you've come as well!"
"Fourth Sister, don't be so formal. We're all family here — no need for such courtesy!" Before the woman at the lead could speak, the bewitchingly alluring young woman spoke first, lightly covering her cherry lips with a laugh. The seductive undertone in that laughter made Han Li's heart flutter again, and he inwardly clicked his tongue in amazement.
"I wouldn't dare presume. Please, take your seats, sisters." Madam Yan smiled gently and offered her chair to the leading woman, seating herself below the gorgeous young woman instead.
The cold and beautiful woman addressed as "Fifth Sister" sat down wordlessly across from Madam Yan.
Mo Caihuan, who had followed the women inside, obediently closed the door and slipped behind her mother, though her bright eyes darted about curiously — who knew what she was thinking.
"So this young man is the letter-bearer?" The woman in her thirties glanced at Han Li and asked coolly.
"Yes. According to the letter, he is a disciple my husband took as his final closed-door student," Madam Yan answered candidly, then turned to Han Li with a solemn expression. "This is your Second Madam. Go and pay your respects!"
"Greetings, Second Madam!" Han Li stepped forward promptly and bowed to the woman.
"Rise. Since you are my husband's treasured disciple, there's no need for such formality." A trace of a smile appeared on the woman's face as she spoke warmly.
"This is your Third Madam, and your Fifth Madam." Madam Yan then introduced the strikingly beautiful young woman and the cold beauty to Han Li.
"Greetings, Third Madam! Fifth Madam!" Han Li looked at the young woman who appeared only a few years his senior, hesitated briefly, then still bowed respectfully.
Madam Yan noticed the uncertainty on Han Li's face and smiled faintly, explaining gently: "Your Third Madam has mastered the art of preserving her appearance. Don't be fooled by the fact that she looks to be only in her twenties — she's actually about the same age as your Second Madam."
Han Li nodded inwardly, thinking this was roughly what he had suspected. This beautiful young woman must have practiced some special secret technique; otherwise, her appearance alone wouldn't have been enough to make him so disoriented and unable to control himself.
"Second Sister, this is my husband's personal letter. Please read it." Madam Yan handed the letter Han Li had delivered to Second Madam Li. After Second Madam Li finished reading, it was passed to the other two.
When the cold and beautiful young woman had finished reading the letter as well, all the women in the room fell silent.
Even the most seemingly frivolous of them — the stunningly beautiful Madam Liu — had turned solemn, completely shed of her earlier coquettishness and flirtatiousness, and now appeared dignified beyond measure.