Han Li gently unrolled the scroll in his hands, revealing a painting several feet long.
A young man in a blue robe smiled back at him from the canvas — it was a vivid portrait of Han Li himself.
He gazed at the painting for a long while, then let out a soft sigh and rolled it back up.
After a moment's hesitation, he fixed his eyes on the woman and asked slowly: "May I ask why your grandmother chose to keep a portrait of me? Was there some deeper meaning behind it?"
The woman's expression turned conflicted at his question. She thought it over, then replied carefully: "Senior Han, before I answer that question, may I ask — do you still remember the promise you once made to Miss Xin?"
"Of course I remember. You know about that too?" A flash of surprise crossed Han Li's face, clearly not expecting this.
"To tell the truth, Senior, it was entirely my own insistence that my family settled here, and the reason is connected to you in some measure. However, until you have fulfilled your promise to Miss Xin, please forgive me for not speaking freely." The woman stole a glance at Han Li, her voice tinged with both caution and unease.
With a soft thud, a square wooden box appeared on the table — Han Li had produced it from his storage pouch without the slightest change in expression and tossed it there in one smooth motion.
"This…?" The woman started, momentarily at a loss as to what he meant.
"There's no need to be alarmed. Inside is the head of the Fu family ancestor. The entire direct bloodline of the Fu family has been slaughtered by my hand. The few remaining branch disciples will never be able to reestablish the Fu family's hold in Yuanwu Kingdom. Would you say that counts as fulfilling my old promise?" Han Li's voice was calm, his expression indifferent.
"What — the Fu family ancestor has been killed by Senior?" The woman's face was filled with shock.
She stared at the wooden box, then gritted her teeth and lifted the lid.
A thick scent of blood rushed to her face.
"It really is the Fu family ancestor. Years ago, I once stole a glance at this villain from afar." Her face had gone somewhat pale, but she confirmed the identity, her voice trembling between horror and elation.
"I carried out the deed only a few days ago, so the news should have spread by now. If you reach out to any acquaintances or visit the marketplaces and make a few inquiries, you'll find that what I say is true." Han Li offered a faint smile.
"Then Senior brought the head here to…?" Understanding dawned on the woman.
"That's right. I came specifically to pay my respects at the old haunts of Miss Xin and Daoist Qi. After all, I've never had many friends in this life. Now that I've avenged them, the least I can do is pay my respects." Han Li's voice grew quieter, his expression deeply sincere.
"Miss Xin and Young Master Qi will surely be comforted to hear this in the afterlife. Senior, please wait a moment — I'll return shortly." The woman's face briefly fell, but then, as if remembering something, she spoke in a hurried rush.
Han Li nodded with mild puzzlement, and the woman hurried out of the room once more.
This time she went behind a pavilion, dug beneath a large tree, and unearthed a pale green jade box. She carried it back carefully, setting it down on the table before Han Li.
"This is?" Han Li narrowed his eyes slightly, waiting for her to explain.
"Senior Han. Before she passed away, Miss Xin left behind one final instruction — that this box and its contents were to be given to Senior, but only after you had fulfilled your promise and destroyed the Fu family. My grandmother was Miss Xin's personal maid, so naturally the task fell to her. That is why grandmother stayed here all these years and never moved elsewhere. If there was any chance of meeting Senior again, it could only be here. But decades passed without Senior returning, so grandmother entrusted the matter to me. She also painted Senior's portrait with her own hand, to make sure you wouldn't be missed." The woman spoke steadily, a measure of relief visible on her face.
It was clear this had weighed on her mind for a long time, and the pressure had been considerable.
Han Li was visibly moved. He glanced at the object on the table, then swept it with his spiritual sense. A flicker of surprise crossed his face, but without a moment's hesitation he seized the jade box and calmly lifted the lid.
A pale blue jade slip sat neatly inside, topped with a yellow talisman. Silver restriction runes shimmered faintly across its surface.