NOVEL NEXT Chapter 423: An Old 'Acquaintance'
Upon seeing She Ming, Han Yu couldn't help but think, 'She has changed far more than I expected in three years.'
Han Yu hadn't really seen her since then, but had heard a bit about her from time to time. She had been taken in by a female Elder as one of her disciples and had been trained personally by her for a while.
And since she was in an entirely different part of the sect, Han Yu didn't cross paths with her either. The sect was massive and had millions of disciples after all.
While he was thinking this, one of his companions was having a whole different set of emotions.
Beside Han Yu, Fatty Kui let out a low whistle, his round face flushing crimson.
His eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets as he gawped openly at her, muttering under his breath, "By the heavens… who is that divine beauty?!"
Wu Shuan smacked the back of his head lightly, whispering sharply, "That's She Ming, idiot. Don't gawk so openly, you'll embarrass us all."
But Fatty Kui only clutched his chest dramatically. "It's too late. I think I've already fallen in love."
Han Yu stifled a sigh. 'Typical Fatty Kui.'
She Ming, for her part, did not pay Fatty Kui any mind. As if he was not worth being in her sights.
Instead, her wary gaze lingered instead on Han Yu, her lips pressing together faintly.
The memory of the recruitment exam hung between them like an unspoken shadow. The way Han Yu had used underhanded tricks to secure his victory had left its mark on her impression of him. Plus, she had seen how he had become a servant despite being first ranked.
Most would falter at that point, but Han Yu made his way up, and became not just an outer court disciple but even joined the Alchemy Peak by becoming an official alchemist. It was more than enough for her to understand the young man was no joke, unlike what most thought of him.
Though she did not speak it aloud, her posture carried a quiet vigilance, as though reminding herself not to underestimate him, nor to trust him blindly.
Han Yu noticed, of course.
But he chose not to acknowledge it. Words would only sour things further. Instead, he gave her a courteous nod, treating her like any other fellow disciple. If she still held any grudges from years ago, he would let his actions now speak louder than his reputation then.
Though he doubted it was like that, since he never fought her nor did anything to her.
As the combined party began to prepare, the atmosphere shifted.
What had once been a modest group was now a formidable force. Six Core Condensation cultivators and four Qi Refining disciples, each carrying weapons, talismans, and spirit tools. Even other groups cast glances their way, some with envy, others with wariness.
Han Yu folded his arms, watching the organization with quiet satisfaction.
Things were moving according to plan. With a group this size, they had every justification to enter one of the new complexes. And thanks to Meng Jueyan's information, he already knew exactly which one they had to target.
He hid a smile, his gaze flickering once toward the tomb in the distance.
'The repository waits… and I won't let it slip away.'
The merged group soon approached the tomb entrance with steady steps.
The air here was heavy with Spirit Qi fluctuations, faint glimmers of light still dancing along the runes etched into the stone walls. Four new complexes loomed before them, each with a sealed gate now humming faintly, awaiting entry.
The six Core Condensation seniors took the lead, naturally assuming the role of decision-makers. Senior Sister Xuan Qing's gaze swept over the entrances calmly, while Senior Brother Duan folded his arms, eyes narrowed in thought.
"Four choices," muttered one of Xuan Qing's fellow disciples, a tall man with hawk-like eyes. "The elders said each holds both danger and opportunity, but which path leads to actual treasure and which leads to wasted blood?"
Fatty Kui whispered loudly to Han Yu, "Maybe we should just toss a spirit coin and let fate decide?"
Wu Shuan smacked him upside the head again. "Idiot. You think senior disciples risk their lives based on coin tosses?"
Han Yu almost chuckled seeing Wu Shuan being the one to handle Fatty Kui now. Before the man had been a bit reserved, but as they grew closer, he was more open and took initiative in 'correcting' Fatty Kui.
Especially in a critical situation like this. Thankfully, the seniors took no offence and simply ignored them, already beginning their debate.
"I say we take the eastern one," one suggested, pointing to a doorway inscribed with faded carvings of beasts. "If the patterns are anything to go by, it was once a beast hall. Beast halls often guard beast cores or beast bone treasures. Risky, but the rewards could be worth it."
Another shook his head. "Too obvious. The beasts within will already have adapted to the arrays. It'll be carnage. The southern complex is simpler—it looks plainer, less decorated. Sometimes, plainer facades hide stronger repositories."
Han Yu listened quietly, hands clasped behind his back, his face calm and respectful.
He knew full well that normally, as a junior Qi Refining disciple, his voice here would carry little weight. If he simply suggested, "Let's take the western gate," the seniors might dismiss him outright or worse, suspect he had some ulterior motive.
He needed finesse.
As the seniors debated, Han Yu carefully slipped in at just the right moments.
When the eastern beast hall was suggested, he tilted his head and murmured just loud enough for Fatty Kui to hear, "Hmm… beasts leave corpses. Corpses mean rot. Spirit fruits and herbs would never survive there."
Fatty Kui, ever eager to parrot Han Yu's words, immediately raised his hand. "Senior Brothers! Senior Sisters! Don't beast halls usually smell like rotting fur, meat and dung? What's the point of fighting just to come back empty-handed with fleas or worse, dung beetles?"