Han Li did not agree or refuse immediately. Instead, he furrowed his brow and lowered his head in silence, seemingly weighing the pros and cons.
In all honesty, Han Li had no desire to agree to this request.
For him right now, formation arrays and artifact refining techniques were about as useful as chicken ribs — unless he successfully formed his Golden Core, he simply had no time to study such things. Moreover, he had no wish to provoke a powerful cultivation family for no reason, to say nothing of the fact that he lacked the ability to do so.
"I know this request is excessive for Senior Han, but Ruyin truly has no other way." Xin Ruyin forced a sorrowful smile, her face turning pale.
"Brother Qi died at the hands of the Fu family entirely because of the trouble I caused. If I cannot avenge my husband in this lifetime, I will have no face to meet him in the afterlife, even in death!" Xin Ruyin murmured in a low voice, her words brimming with pleading.
When Han Li heard the word "death" from this woman's lips, his brow twitched. As if suddenly struck by a thought, he raised his head abruptly and studied Xin Ruyin's face closely. This caught her off guard.
"Your complexion is off. Let me check your pulse!"
Han Li said something that took Xin Ruyin completely by surprise, yet his voice carried a tone that brooked no argument.
A strange look flickered through Xin Ruyin's eyes. After a moment's hesitation, she obediently extended her pale wrist to Han Li.
Han Li placed two fingers on her wrist without ceremony and began channeling tiny threads of spiritual energy into her body.
After a long while, his expression turned rather grim.
"Did you know? All of your meridians have withered! At this rate, you won't survive more than two years!" Han Li withdrew his fingers and said coldly.
Upon hearing Han Li's verdict, Xin Ruyin actually smiled faintly.
"Of course I know. Don't I know my own body? My constitution is a Dragon's Chant physique — a male constitution mistakenly born in a female body. If one forces oneself to cultivate under such conditions, the meridians gradually shift and atrophy. Being able to live until today is already a stroke of incredible luck. I once exhausted every effort to find an ancient prescription, thinking I could cure this condition, but it failed. I wasted so many spiritual medicines that Brother Qi gathered for me for nothing!"
A self-deprecating look crossed Xin Ruyin's face.
"Miss!" The maid standing behind Xin Ruyin could not help but cry out in distress.
"It's alright, Xiaomei! I'll get to see Brother Qi sooner in the next world — that's something I can only look forward to," Xin Ruyin replied, her composure fully restored, as she turned to comfort her maid.
Seeing this, Han Li's expression softened, and for reasons he could not quite explain, genuine pity arose in his heart.
But unfortunately, for this strange illness of Xin Ruyin's, he was equally powerless. All he could do was watch as she wasted away.
"Since Senior Han knows of my condition, you should understand why I'm doing this. Although you are only a Foundation Establishment cultivator right now, you are the only person Brother Qi and I have ever met who might be able to help us get our revenge. I don't need Senior to swear any oaths — just a promise. That way, I can leave this world in peace." Xin Ruyin's expression returned to normal as she casually brought up the matter of vengeance once more.
Han Li rubbed his nose vigorously with one hand, finding himself in an agonizing dilemma. But after concentrating for a moment, he suddenly asked: "Fellow Daoist Qi was also from a cultivation family, wasn't he? Wouldn't the Qi family help him get revenge?"
"The Qi family? Hmph, they're just an ordinary family in the Yuanwu Kingdom. How could they dare offend the Fu family? Besides, Brother Qi was an outer-branch disciple who had been expelled from the Qi family — they care even less about this matter! As for everything I've learned, it all came from an anonymous formation master among the rogue cultivators. But that extraordinary person passed away long ago." Xin Ruyin seemed to understand what Han Li was getting at, and she briefly explained the backgrounds of both herself and Qi Yunxiao.
Hearing this, Han Li fell silent. It seemed he really was this woman's only choice.
"Very well. I can give Miss Xin my promise. However, I will only act when I have sufficient ability. That opportunity may never come in my entire lifetime. Will you not regret it?" After deliberating for a long time, Han Li took a deep breath and said in a low, serious voice.
"That is enough! All I need is hope. This servant thanks Senior Han in advance!" When Xin Ruyin heard that Han Li had agreed, her face blossomed into a radiant smile, and her entire being seemed to glow with stunning beauty.
Han Li was momentarily stunned by her dazzling beauty, but he quickly shook his head. Without ceremony, he swept his sleeve across the table, and the two boxes vanished without a trace, stored away in his spatial bag.
"If the teleportation array will take a full month to recover, then I'll come bother Miss Xin again in one month. I'll take my leave now!" Han Li rose and spoke unhurriedly.
In the meantime, he actually had matters to attend to.
"This servant sees Senior off!" Xin Ruyin did not try to keep him, merely bowing respectfully.
And so, Han Li departed from the small hill with Qu Hun, flying out on his artifact. This time, he set off toward the market town of the Heavenly Stars Sect.