Mortal: I really didn't want to be reborn as Zi Ling!

Unless his whereabouts were being monitored from the moment he entered the city.

This thought caused a thin layer of sweat to seep down Han Li's back.

He subconsciously wanted to use his divine sense to check his surroundings, but he forcibly restrained himself.

If the other party harbors ill intentions towards him, given their power and influence in Tianxing City, he would have no ability to resist.

"Brother Han's cave dwelling has quite a unique charm."

Zi Ling stepped over the threshold and slowly walked in along the bluestone path.

Her gaze swept over the few bamboo stalks by the roadside, then landed on the stone pavilion and small pond not far away, her tone filled with genuine appreciation.

"A small bridge over a flowing stream, pavilions and towers. Compared to my cave dwelling next door, which consists of only a few stone chambers, Brother Han's place is much more elegant."

As she walked, she looked up at the array of light covering the cave, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.

"Defense, trapping the enemy, concealment, attack—the four great formations are layered upon each other, interlocking in one another. Brother Han's mastery of formations has improved far beyond what it was back then."

Han Li followed half a step behind Zi Ling, listening to her praise of his cave dwelling and formation, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up.

This Four Symbols Linked Array was a diagram he obtained from an ancient cultivator's cave in the outer sea. He combined it with the array formation insights he gained from Xin Ruyin and spent a great deal of time and materials to successfully refine it.

The fact that the other party could see the layout and function of the four great formations at a glance shows that their eyesight is quite remarkable.

However, these thoughts only flashed through my mind.

Han Li quickly suppressed that hint of smugness and regained his usual caution.

"You flatter me, Fairy Ziling. These are just some rudimentary formations, not worth mentioning."

He paused, then changed the subject, probing, "I heard that Fairy Ziling is already a disciple of the Grand Elder of the Star Palace. Logically, she should be able to choose any of the cave dwellings above the fiftieth floor. Why aren't you staying there, but instead choosing to live on this thirty-ninth floor?"

Zi Ling stopped in front of the stone pavilion, her gaze falling on the koi swimming in the pond, and sighed:

"What other reason could there be—fear of being disturbed?"

"Ever since the news of my master taking me as his disciple spread, all sorts of rumors have been circulating. Today this steward comes to visit, tomorrow that scion of a noble family sends a letter requesting an audience, it's been incredibly annoying. So I simply changed my name and rented a cave dwelling on this thirty-ninth floor for some peace and quiet."

Zi Ling raised her eyes, looked at Han Li, and her eyes curved into a smile again.

"I just didn't expect it to be such a coincidence. Brother Han actually moved next door to me. It seems there really is some fate between us."

Han Li feigned a look of sudden realization, but in his heart he did not fully believe it.

fate?

He never believed in fate.

But he still had an even bigger question that he hadn't answered—even if the other person happened to be next door, how could she be sure it was him?

Although he and Ziling had met a few times, she had said that she wanted peace and quiet on the 39th floor. How could he possibly conclude that it was him just because a new tenant had moved in next door?

Zi Ling seemed to see the doubt in his eyes, and before he could speak, she took the initiative to explain.

"It's quite a coincidence."

Zi Ling casually grabbed a handful of spirit rice from her storage bag and scattered it towards the koi in the pond:

"After I escaped from Kuixing Island, I had already returned to Tianxing City. Later, I heard that Jiyin Island was still looking for Brother Han. Considering that Brother Han had saved my life, I went to Xiaohuan Island to inform Brother Han to lay low for a while."

Han Li's thoughts stirred slightly.

"But as soon as I set foot on Xiaohuan Island, I realized something was wrong."

Zi Ling's voice deepened, as if she were recalling some unpleasant experience.

"Near Brother Han's cave dwelling, there are seven or eight cultivators from the Extreme Yin Island lurking. They are disguised as rogue cultivators and are keeping a close eye on the movements of Brother Han's cave dwelling."

Han Li frowned.

Although he didn't know why the people from Jiyin Island were so persistent in pursuing him, he didn't expect them to be so determined, even sending people to guard outside his cave.

"Of course I can't just sit idly by."

Zi Ling spoke calmly, as if she were talking about something perfectly ordinary.

"At that time, I took it upon myself to deal with that group of people for Brother Han."

She spoke casually, but Han Li could detect a hint of something more in her words.

The fact that seven or eight cultivators from the Extreme Yin Island could remain undetected on Xiao Huan Island suggests that their cultivation levels are not low.

Zi Ling was only twelve years old at the time, with only the early stage of Foundation Establishment cultivation. How did she manage to "deal with" these people?

Was it a magical artifact bestowed by Jin Kui?

Or were there Core Formation cultivators from the Myriad Sounds Sect accompanying them?

Han Li did not press further.

Everyone has their own secrets, and he is no exception.

"Afterwards, I thought about it carefully—if Jiyin Island can send one group to guard it, what if they send a second group? If Brother Han is unaware of this and goes back headlong into a trap, wouldn't he be walking right into a snare?"

Zi Ling shook her head, as if she was annoyed by her own rashness.

"So I made a decision at the time—to simply destroy Brother Han's cave dwelling and create the illusion that it had been looted. Then I took the spirit pets and spirit herbs that Brother Han left in the cave dwelling back to Tianxing City."

She raised her head and looked at Han Li, her eyes open and sincere.

"It was my rashness to do this without Brother Han's prior consent. If Brother Han wishes to blame me, Zi Ling will have no complaints."

Han Li remained silent.

He clenched his fist.

"So that cave dwelling was destroyed by the fairy."

Four years ago, he secretly returned to Xiaohuan Island and saw from afar that his cave dwelling had been razed to the ground. The stone chamber had collapsed, the array was completely destroyed, the spirit herb garden had been turned upside down, and even the few spare magical artifacts he had hidden in the secret room had disappeared.

At the time, he thought it was dried by Jiyin Island and felt heartbroken for a long time.

The spirit pets were one thing, but many of the spiritual herbs brought from Tiannan had no substitutes in the Chaotic Star Sea.

Those few rare medicinal herbs alone would fetch astronomical prices in Tianxing City.

Now he's being told that the culprit is sitting right across from him, and acting like it's perfectly normal.

Seeing his expression, Zi Ling finally couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"What's wrong, Brother Han? Are you feeling sorry for them? I've kept those things safe for you. The Blood Jade Spider has grown a bit now, and its appetite has increased too. In these seven years, it has not only eaten quite a few of my Spirit-Feeding Pills, but it has also been causing trouble quite often. If you don't give me a satisfactory answer later, I won't return them to you so easily!"

Han Li took a deep breath, and his expression changed several times in just a few breaths—first, he realized something, then he was both amused and exasperated, and finally, he settled on a helpless, bitter smile.

"I see. Then I must thank Fairy Ziling."

His tone carried sincerity and a complex, indescribable quality.

Zi Ling's words were logically flawless.

It's a fact that Jiyin Island has issued a warrant for his arrest, it's a fact that he was lurking on Xiaohuan Island, and it's also a fact that she took action to resolve the situation.

As for destroying the cave and taking away the spirit pets and medicines—from her perspective, it was indeed the most reasonable course of action at the time.

Han Li could find no reason to doubt it.

But he always felt that something was not quite right.

This unease didn't stem from Zi Ling's words, but from Zi Ling herself.

From the moment they first met eight years ago, her attitude towards him always carried an inexplicable familiarity. It wasn't the kind between a man and a woman, but more like that of an old friend who knew him inside and out.

But they had only met a few times.

Most importantly, this is not enough to prove that the other party knew immediately that they lived next door!

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