Stealing Secret Manuals

One afternoon more than ten days later, Han Li slipped out of Divine Hand Valley again to meet Li Feiyu.

Actually, it could hardly be called slipping out. Doctor Mo had long been well aware of his frequent trips out of the valley, but he did nothing to stop him, leaving Han Li free to come and go.

At first, this hands-off approach made Han Li uneasy. He had no idea what scheme Doctor Mo was hatching. But after going in and out safely a few times, he found that no one really was following him. He set his mind at ease and boldly went about his own business.

Later, after turning the matter over for a long time, Han Li gradually came to understand why Doctor Mo gave him so much freedom.

Doctor Mo had his own difficulties that led him to make such concessions to Han Li.

Although he had used the Corpse Worm Pill and the lives of Han Li's family as two great locks to keep him firmly under control, he also knew that using such a brutal method would leave Han Li full of resentment and less than willing to cultivate. If he also restricted Han Li's freedom of movement, it would surely be even more counterproductive. After all, Doctor Mo wanted him to cultivate the Eternal Spring Art of his own accord and with enthusiasm; he could not tie up his hands and feet and force him to do it.

Once Han Li understood the whole affair, he grew bolder. Before, he had at least avoided Doctor Mo's gaze and taken care when entering or leaving the valley, sneaking out quietly. Now he was more direct: without saying a word, he swaggered right past him.

On the surface, Han Li seemed carefree, as though he no longer cared at all, but inwardly he remained cautious.

As soon as he left the valley, he began circulating the Eternal Spring Art, raising his sight, hearing, and sense of touch to an incredible level and bringing every moving object within dozens of zhang under his awareness.

Han Li believed that even if Doctor Mo personally came to shadow him, he would not escape detection by his senses.

Han Li might not be able to face him head-on, but when it came to mastering and using his five senses, he had absolute confidence in himself.

Along the way, Han Li carefully avoided the disciples patrolling the mountain. He passed through the secret passage in the old locust tree and crawled out near the small pool where they had met last time.

As soon as he emerged, he saw Li Feiyu sitting barefoot by the pool.

His head was lowered, and his bare feet were immersed in the icy water. Splash, splash! He beat the surface hard, sending sprays of multicolored droplets into the air, thoroughly absorbed in his game.

Hearing Han Li arrive, he complained without even raising his head:

"Junior Brother Han, you're getting later and later. Every time, you make me wait half the day. Can't you come early just once?"

"Sorry, I..." Han Li brushed the dirt from his clothes and was about to explain.

"Catch."

Without waiting for Han Li to finish, Li Feiyu tossed an enormous bundle he had hidden behind his back straight at him.

"What's this? Something to eat?" Han Li was puzzled, but then he felt that the bundle was hard and heavy, nothing like food.

"All you ever think about is eating! Weren't you the one who asked me to bring out the manual for Blinking Swordsmanship?" Li Feiyu shot him a glare, then spoke with a perfectly serious expression.

"This is the sword manual? You can't be serious! You didn't accidentally put the whetstone from your courtyard in here, did you?" Han Li looked at the enormous object resting on his arms, disbelief written all over his face.

"It's so heavy!" He strained to heft it with both arms and nearly lost his balance.

"Haha!" Li Feiyu could no longer hold back. He opened his mouth wide and burst into wild laughter, finally rolling on the ground and covering himself in bits of grass and dirt.

Han Li eyed his friend's strange behavior suspiciously, then glanced at the enormous bundle.

Thump!

He gave the bundle a gentle kick. It really did seem to feel like books.

Ignoring his friend, who was beside himself with laughter, Han Li stroked his chin, stuck out his rear, and squatted beside the bundle.

To him, guessing at something he could find out about right away was a foolish waste of effort.

A pair of clean, fair hands settled on the bundle's tight knot. His ten fingers began to flicker, and a blur of finger shadows danced over the bundle. The tightly tied knot miraculously came loose.

Clap, clap!

A burst of crisp applause rang out.

Instead of opening the bundle first, Han Li turned to look at the wicked friend who had been laughing at him.

At some point, Li Feiyu had stopped laughing and put his shoes back on.

He was now clapping and cheering for Han Li with all his might, seemingly heedless of his palms, which had turned red from the clapping.

"Tsk, tsk! Every time I see you use Silk Entangling Hands so masterfully, I find it incredible. It's as if this martial art was made for you. It's only been two short months since I taught you!" Li Feiyu kept clapping, clicking his tongue and showering him with praise.

"Don't tell me you turned one book into this huge bundle just to make me show off," Han Li said irritably.

"Of course not. Open it and you'll understand everything." Li Feiyu put away his grin, his expression turning serious.

Seeing him suddenly speak with that expression, Han Li grew very curious. He turned back and fixed his gaze on the bundle before him once more.

He tilted his head and thought for a moment, then reached out with his index and middle fingers, gently pinched one corner of the wrapping, and pulled it aside, exposing everything inside.

"This is..." With a swish, Han Li's forehead broke out in dense beads of cold sweat, and his eyes nearly popped out of his head.

"Well? Quite a surprise, isn't it?" Li Feiyu strolled over and patted him on the shoulder.

Han Li turned woodenly and stared straight at him, speechless for a long moment.

"Why are you looking at me like that? I'm not going to offer myself to you in marriage, you know," Li Feiyu teased with a grin.

At this joke, Han Li seemed finally to come to his senses.

"I'm cutting all ties with you! From now on, I don't know you, and you've never met me!" Han Li shouted angrily.

"I don't know whether my eyes are playing tricks on me or you've gone mad. You actually hauled over a good chunk of the Seven Ultimates Hall's book collection! If a hall patrol protector discovers this, it'll be hard for either of us even to die!" Han Li pointed at the great pile of secret manuals of all sizes in front of him and roared at Li Feiyu.

On the upper left corner of every cover, the same conspicuous gold characters had been inscribed and circled with a brush: "Seven Ultimates Hall collection."