When Han Li returned to the pavilion where he was staying, he found that his so-called "Senior Brother Lü" and the Fire Dragon Child were already in the hall on the first floor. Mu Peiling sat off to one side keeping them company, looking for all the world like the lady of the house.
The moment she saw Han Li walk in, the young woman rose to her feet and asked with a trace of concern: "Young Master, Senior Lü and Senior Lan have been waiting for you for quite some time. Has something happened?"
"It's nothing. Go upstairs and rest. I need to have a good chat with these two senior brothers." Han Li gave Mu Peiling a rare, warm smile.
"Yes, Young Master." Mu Peiling bowed demurely, and without another word headed upstairs.
Han Li watched her retreating figure, quite satisfied with her intelligence. But then he thought of Nangong Wan and couldn't help letting out a sigh.
"Oh? Has our little Junior Brother Han gone soft and sentimental?" Lü Luo was visibly pleased to see Han Li return and teased him lightly.
"Ha ha, Senior Brother jests. You and Daoist Lan came here about today's assembly, I take it?" Han Li smiled faintly, sat down beside the two, and asked in an unhurried tone.
"Junior Brother Han is correct. It is indeed about the Moulan people. The two of us have already sent word to the Alliance and also informed the other Heavenly Dao Alliance cultivators in the city. Most of them understand the principle that when the nest is overturned, no egg remains intact. They are willing to help the Nine Nations Alliance hold off the Moulan vanguard while we wait for reinforcements to arrive. Of course, asking these Nascent Soul cultivators to lend a hand will require some spirit stones as compensation — that much is certain. I doubt the Nine Nations Alliance will be stingy about that. After all, while the Moulan are the enemy of all cultivators, it is the Nine Nations Alliance that bears the brunt." Lü Luo spoke at length.
"Since that's settled, what is left to discuss? Although Han only recently advanced, I will certainly do my part to repel the enemy." Han Li nodded, sounding somewhat puzzled.
"You don't know, Daoist Han. Suddenly, people from both the Righteous and Demonic factions came to visit us together. They had a rather interesting proposal. I feel there is some merit to it, and it would be remiss of us not to take precautions." The Fire Dragon Child cut in from the side, a grave expression on his face.
"What sort of proposal? Don't tell me they're afraid the Nine Nations Alliance will use this opportunity to weaken our three great powers?" Han Li's eyes flickered, and after a soft laugh, he said with a half-smile.
"Oh! Junior Brother Han is truly perceptive — you guessed it at once. However, it's unlikely the Nine Nations Alliance would move against all three powers simultaneously. What's far more probable is that they'd secretly ally with one or two of us to target a particular faction. That is not something our Heavenly Dao Alliance wishes to see. Even if we drive back the Moulan mages, the cultivation world still won't be at peace. Our Alliance absolutely cannot let that happen — we cannot allow the balance of power among Tiannan's great factions to be disrupted." Lü Luo was taken aback for a moment before speaking with a bitter smile.
"Oh? And what exactly do you two senior brothers suggest?" Han Li's lips curved upward as he asked, his expression perfectly neutral.
"It's simple. Although cultivators from our three great powers can comply with the Nine Nations Alliance's requests for the time being, we absolutely must not allow them any excuse to weaken our strength. As for specifics, we've already had a preliminary discussion with the six Demonic sects and the Righteous factions. We plan to present a unified set of feasible terms at tomorrow's assembly in the great hall to ensure this doesn't happen. At the very least, if our three great powers commit a certain number of high-level cultivators, the Nine Nations Alliance can't very well hold back and refuse to send their own elders to meet the enemy. And that will require Junior Brother Han and a number of other cultivators to voice your support." The Fire Dragon Child spoke calmly.
"No problem. The last thing I want is to fight the Moulan mages while someone stabs me in the back." Han Li agreed without a moment's hesitation.
"That's settled then. Besides Junior Brother Han, we will also reach out to a number of like-minded cultivators. When that happens, the Beiye Sect and the Huayi Gate won't be able to object. I only hope this great battle ends quickly — otherwise, who knows how many of our fellow cultivators in Tiannan will fall!" Lü Luo let out a long sigh, suddenly overcome with emotion.
"Heh! With our level of cultivation, as long as we're careful, keeping our lives in a great battle shouldn't be too difficult. Last time the Moulan invaded, I slaughtered quite a few of their mages. It looks like this time will be another bloodbath." The Fire Dragon Child gave a cold laugh, a flash of killing intent crossing his face as he spoke in a grim tone.
Han Li glanced at the Fire Dragon Child with some surprise.
This cultivator in a child's body was only at the early Nascent Soul stage, yet the killing aura about him far surpassed that of cultivators at the same level. It seemed quite a few lives had indeed been claimed by his hand.
Lü Luo and the Fire Dragon Child chatted with Han Li a while longer about the specifics of the next day's assembly, shared some speculation about the giant beasts and unfamiliar mages that had suddenly appeared in the central region, and then rose to take their leave.
Just as Han Li was escorting the two to the pavilion's entrance, Lü Luo hesitated, then turned back to ask one more question: "Junior Brother Han — today you went to see that old acquaintance. How did it turn out?"
As the words left Senior Brother Lü's mouth, his gaze fixed on Han Li's face, searching for any sign.
"Nothing happened at all. We simply reminisced and talked about old times." Han Li didn't even blink, his expression unchanged.
"Good! That puts my mind at ease."
Upon hearing this, most of Lü Luo's worry melted away. He grinned, exchanged a few more pleasantries with Han Li, and then departed with the Fire Dragon Child in peace.