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

"Brother Han, are you being so formal with me?"

Zi Ling suddenly spoke, pulling Han Li back to reality.

She tilted her head, raised her eyebrows slightly, and spoke with a hint of dissatisfaction.

"These days, the title 'Purple Spirit Fairy' is mostly used in jest and mockery. Brother Han, are you making fun of me by calling me that?"

Han Li was taken aback and quickly waved his hand.

"I had absolutely no such intention—"

"If you don't mind, Brother Han, you can just call me Ziling. Or Miss Ziling is fine too."

Zi Ling interrupted Han Li's explanation, her tone turning serious:

"Otherwise—I'll get angry."

Looking into Zi Ling's clear almond-shaped eyes, Han Li suddenly didn't know how to respond. He raised his hand to touch his nose and coughed lightly.

"Ziling—Miss. You know, I didn't mean it."

Seeing his embarrassed look, Zi Ling's eyes curved into a smile again.

The stone pavilion fell silent for a moment.

The pond water rippled, and several koi carp quietly dived into the water, not daring to surface again.

Han Li lowered his eyes, silently calculating in his mind.

Regardless of the dust-reducing pill she gave him, her subsequent reminders, or even destroying the Little Huan Island cave to eliminate future troubles for him—any one of these things, taken individually, could be considered a considerable favor.

But that's precisely where the problem lies.

Why is she helping him like this?

A life-saving grace?

It's just talk.

Han Li knew very well that eight years ago at the Demon Suppression Platform, even without him, Zi Ling's preparations and methods at the time would have made it easy for her to escape.

On the contrary, if it weren't for Zi Ling's guidance, he wouldn't even have been able to find the teleportation array, let alone shake off the pursuers behind him.

So if you really think about it, what he owes Zi Ling is far more than what Zi Ling owes him.

Why would a disciple of the Grand Elder of the Star Palace, the young master of the Myriad Sounds Sect, who possesses the most advanced cultivation resources in the entire Chaotic Star Sea, be so concerned about a complete stranger?

Han Li frowned, he really couldn't figure it out, so he simply asked directly.

"However, how did Miss Ziling know that the person who moved in next door must be me?"

Zi Ling stopped smiling and looked towards the direction outside the cave.

"It's very simple. The two Blood Jade Spiders that you fed with your blood essence have become restless ever since the new neighbors moved in next door. They keep trying to run over here, and nothing you do can calm them down."

Brother Han is their true master, and should know better than I do—the connection between spirit insects and their master is sometimes even more effective than divine sense.

After discovering this anomaly, I had my maid check with the rental office. Sure enough, a monk surnamed Han had moved in next door.

Brother Han, there are quite a few people with the surname Han in the Chaotic Star Sea. But the only one the Blood Jade Spider has its eye on—I'm afraid it's only you.

Han Li was embarrassed; he really hadn't felt anything at all!

However, he now understood what was going on. It was normal for demonic beasts to have more acute senses than humans.

As for checking the rental records, it was a simple matter for this woman.

It seems there's really nothing to doubt!

Han Li glanced at Zi Ling, then at his own cave dwelling, and finally fixed his gaze on Zi Ling's eyes, which seemed to be smiling but not smiling.

"Then thank you very much, Miss Ziling, for keeping my belongings safe for so many years."

Zi Ling waved her hand and stood up.

"No need for thanks. If Brother Han hadn't saved me on the Demon-Suppressing Platform back then, I'm afraid I wouldn't be alive today."

She glanced at the communication jade slip that Han Li had casually tossed aside on the stone table, a mischievous glint in her eyes: "I just hope that next time I visit, Brother Han won't make me wait outside for so long again."

"By the way, Brother Han, you just arrived today, so you must have a lot to do. I won't bother you any longer. Once you're settled, you can come and pick up your spirit pet anytime—I'm right next door."

After saying that, she nodded slightly to Han Li and turned to walk towards the entrance of the cave.

The moon-white skirt trailed a shallow arc on the stone path before quickly disappearing into the sunlight outside the door.

Han Li watched the other person leave and fell into deep thought.

The other party's explanation was reasonable, but for some reason, he always felt that this woman had ulterior motives.

However, he was certain of at least one thing: the other party likely meant no harm, otherwise—

Han Li gazed at the vast Tianxing City.

Although this place is called the City of Freedom, anyone who is foolish enough to think that the Star Palace will really let cultivators do whatever they want will definitely not have a good ending.

As the disciple of the Grand Elder, the power that the other party can mobilize is definitely beyond what others can imagine. If they really wanted to harm me, the enforcement team would probably be the ones coming to my door today.

Thinking of this, Han Li touched his chest and breathed a slight sigh of relief.

The problem now is, how can I redeem my own spirit insects and that batch of medicinal herbs?

-

"Miss, you're back so soon?"

As soon as Zi Ling stepped across the threshold of the cave, a maidservant came running up from the other end of the corridor, a mischievous smile on her face.

Zi Ling paused, turned her head, and glared at her.

"What, if you don't come back, am I supposed to stay there overnight?"

She sized up her maid, a smirk playing on her lips. "Could it be that you, little vixen, are lovesick and using this to subtly hint at something?"

The maid shrank back at first because of her glare, but when she heard the second half of the sentence, her pretty face turned red to the roots of her ears.

"Miss—what nonsense are you talking about!"

She stamped her foot, her voice both shy and anxious, and waved her hands repeatedly to indicate that she didn't mean it that way.

Seeing her like this, Zi Ling couldn't help but scrutinize her carefully.

This woman was none other than Wen Qiang's daughter, Wen Siyue.

Seven years ago, when she was on her way to Xiaohuan Island, she passed by Kuixing Island and found this little girl huddled in a corner in an alley in the dock area.

At that time, Wen Siyue was dressed in rags and was so thin that she was just skin and bones. She was being questioned by several unscrupulous cultivators who suspected that her father was an inside agent who betrayed the Star Palace and were preparing to take her away to collect a reward.

Zi Ling rescued her and took her back to Tianxing City.

Over the years, the two have grown to be about the same age, but Zi Ling has never truly treated her as a servant.

When there are outsiders around, Wen Siyue can still maintain the proper demeanor of a maid; but once it's just the two of them alone, she starts to act without any respect and dares to say anything out loud.

They even dare to make up stories about their own young lady.

But then again—

The little girl with yellow hair back then has now grown into a graceful young woman. She still bears a resemblance to Wen Qiang in her features, but she is gentler and more spirited than him.

Although his cultivation level of the eleventh level of Qi Refining was not outstanding, he was almost at the Foundation Establishment stage.

Twenty years old.

Zi Ling silently considered it in her mind.

It's definitely time to find her a suitable husband.

However, this matter is not urgent; we must wait until she has reached the Foundation Establishment stage and then seek her advice.

Wen Siyue's cultivation progress over the years has not been fast, but it has not been slow either. With her aptitude, she still needs a period of accumulation to reach the Foundation Establishment stage.

As for Han Li—Zi Ling never even considered him.

Putting aside the fact that Han Li wouldn't even have such thoughts now, even if he did, given the perspective Wen Siyue had cultivated over the years by her side, he might not even look at that plain-looking, ascetic cultivator who devoted himself entirely to cultivation.

Moreover, Han Li is destined to have many romantic interests, and if Wen Siyue were to follow him, she probably wouldn't even get a formal title.

She will inevitably suffer the same fate as Chen Qiaoqian.

In short, she will make sure everything is arranged before leaving the Chaotic Star Sea.