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

She wore a plain white straight-hemmed robe, her hair styled in a bun with a sandalwood hairpin, and her long black hair swayed in the wind with each step.

At this moment, Zi Ling's face was not veiled, and her features were as exquisite as a meticulously painted picture—her eyebrows were like distant mountains, her eyes were like misty wisps of smoke, her nose was straight, and her lips were like cherries. Her entire body was pure white, which made her skin look like snow, and her temperament was otherworldly, as if she were a celestial maiden who had stepped out of a painting, untouched by the dust of the mortal world.

Han Li felt his breath catch in his throat.

He already thought Zi Ling was quite beautiful yesterday.

But yesterday she wore a veil, only revealing her eyes.

Now that the veil has been removed, he truly understands the weight of the title "The Most Beautiful Woman in the Chaotic Star Sea".

This is no exaggeration.

He was even certain that, let alone the Chaotic Star Sea, even if you turned the entire South of the Sky upside down, you wouldn't find another woman with such looks and temperament.

"Hey—what are you looking at? You've lost your mind!"

Wen Siyue slammed the teapot down on the table, the lid making a crisp sound as it hit the table.

She put her hands on her hips, glared at Han Li with a fierce look, and looked as if she was about to point her finger at him and call him a "pervert".

I thought this man was calm and honest, but I didn't expect him to be just like those lecherous men outside. He couldn't resist seeing my young lady.

She had even specially brewed him the finest spiritual tea; had she known this would happen, she should have given him a cup of cold water that had been sitting overnight.

Han Li blushed and quickly looked away, staring down at the teacup in his hand.

But his gaze wouldn't obey him; on its way back, it involuntarily lingered for a moment on those jade-like feet—plain white embroidered shoes, with a tiny pearl the size of a grain of rice adorning the toe, trembling slightly.

He coughed lightly, placed the teacup on the table, sat up straight, and kept his eyes down, not daring to look at anything else.

"No respect for elders."

Zi Ling's voice was clear and composed: "Brother Han is my guest. How can you speak like that?"

She naturally noticed Han Li's earlier loss of composure.

However, she didn't care.

Zi Ling knew very well that Han Li, though seemingly dull, was actually shrewd.

He would peek, get distracted, and even take advantage of others several times in the original story, but if the opportunity were actually presented to him, he would back away and not dare to touch it at all.

A typical example of someone who is all talk and no action, with the desire to steal but not the courage, both lustful and afraid of getting involved in karmic consequences.

These kinds of people are actually the safest.

"Yes—Siyue was being impolite just now, and apologized to Senior Han."

Wen Siyue pursed her lips and reluctantly curtsied to Han Li.

He apologized verbally, but his eyes remained fierce, as if warning the other party—if you dare to look again, you'll regret it.

Han Li gave a wry smile and quickly stood up to return the greeting.

"It's alright, it's alright. I was indeed out of line just now."

He turned to Zi Ling, bowing even deeper than he had to Wen Si Yue: "I've heard rumors that Miss Zi Ling is the most beautiful woman in the Chaotic Star Sea. To be honest, I had my doubts before, thinking it was just an exaggeration by busybodies."

He straightened up, meeting Zi Ling's gaze with composure, his eyes now clear and calm as usual.

"Having met you today, I realize that the rumors were not only not exaggerated, but actually downplayed. Miss Ziling lives up to her reputation, and I was the one who was presumptuous earlier."

Zi Ling raised her eyebrows slightly.

Han Li spoke frankly, acknowledging his lapse in composure while subtly shifting the blame to her appearance.

Most importantly, when he raised his head again, there was no longer any distracting thought in his eyes—only appreciation for beautiful things, as if he were looking at a famous painting, a calligraphy work, or a rare treasure.

His mental state recovered so quickly; he truly deserves to be called the steadfast Old Demon Han!

"Brother Han, you're too kind."

Zi Ling sighed inwardly, then turned to look at Wen Siyue, who was still standing there: "I've spoiled this little girl. She has no manners. It's only because Brother Han is so magnanimous that he doesn't stoop to her level."

"Why aren't you going down there and reflecting on your actions?"

Wen Siyue pursed her lips, bowed, and turned to leave.

Before leaving, he didn't forget to turn his head and glare fiercely at Han Li—his eyes clearly said, "You better watch out, or you'll regret it."

Although this posture was utterly intimidating, Han Li still awkwardly touched his nose and watched the other person's sullen figure disappear behind the screen.

The living room was quiet for a moment.

Zi Ling did not sit down, but turned and walked towards the corridor, her skirt trailing a plain white arc on the floor tiles.

"Brother Han, why don't we go to the insect rearing room together? I just sensed those two little guys starting to make a fuss again."

Han Li breathed a sigh of relief and quickly followed.

"Please, Miss Ziling."

He had already vaguely sensed the aura of the Blood Jade Spider in the living room.

The other party was a spirit insect that he had nurtured with his own essence and blood using a secret technique, and there was a faint mental connection between them. Because of this, he was even more convinced of Zi Ling's explanation yesterday.

If the Blood Jade Spider hadn't sensed that he had moved next door, Zi Ling wouldn't have been able to come looking for him so quickly.

However, since the master was not present and this was, after all, a female cultivator's cave, it was not appropriate for a grown man like him to wander around. He could only sit obediently in the living room and drink tea.

The two walked slowly along the corridor.

The spiritual plants on both sides are lush and verdant, and several unidentified spiritual flowers are in full bloom, with morning dew still clinging to their petals.

A refreshing scent of grass and trees filled the air, mingling with the spiritual energy emanating from the spiritual veins, creating a truly invigorating atmosphere.

"Speaking of which, I wonder if Brother Han recognized that girl from earlier?"

Zi Ling, who was leading the way, suddenly spoke up and turned to look at Han Li.

Han Li was taken aback. He carefully recalled Wen Siyue's face, but he still couldn't remember where he had seen this girl before.

"Forgive my poor eyesight. Could it be that this woman has some connection with me?"

"There's no real connection between them."

Zi Ling shook her head slightly, her steps unwavering: "Brother Han is probably meeting that little girl for the first time. But you must be familiar with her father."

Han Li frowned slightly, recalling the other person's face.

A name suddenly surfaced from the depths of my memory.

"What does Miss Ziling mean?"

"That's right."

Zi Ling stopped in front of a stone door, turned around and looked at Han Li: "This is Brother Wenqiang's orphan."

Han Li's expression froze.

Wen Qiang.

Back then, on the Demon-Suppressing Platform of Kui Xing Island, there was that Foundation Establishment cultivator who betrayed the Star Palace and personally destroyed the core of the great formation.

He was also the one who blew the bamboo leaf in front of the teleportation array and watched them leave.

"It's quite a coincidence."

Zi Ling's finger stopped on the stone door, her tone calm: "When I went to Xiao Huan Island to find you back then, I passed by Kui Xing Island and happened to see this little girl being bullied by several rogue cultivators in an alley. Those people said her father was a traitor to the Star Palace and they wanted to take her away for a reward."

She paused, as if recalling the scene.

"I couldn't stand it, so I brought her back with me."