A day after Zhang Hao's unexpected "flight," Han Li swept outside the outer sect's tea house, where disciples sipped spirit-leaf brews and gossiped about cultivation manuals they barely understood.
Inside, laughter rang out. Lu Yan, a wealthy inner disciple, sat with his entourage. He eyed Han Li through the window, smirking.
"Is that the janitor who embarrassed Zhang Hao?" Lu Yan sipped his Seven Petal tea. "Let's have some fun."
He walked outside, hands behind his back, as though approaching a peasant.
"You there—dust man," he said, voice loud and mocking. "Spill a cup of tea, and I'll give you ten spirit stones."
Han Li paused, blinked slowly, and looked up. "Is that a command, young master?"
Lu Yan grinned. "Oh, I wouldn't dare command a celestial janitor."
His lackeys snickered. "Maybe he'll sweep us into immortality."
Han Li turned his broom. "Tea shouldn't be wasted. It honors the spirit roots."
The laughter stopped.
Lu Yan's eyes narrowed. "Did you just lecture me?"
He drew his fan, which shimmered with enchantments. "Do you know who my father is?"
"I do not," Han Li said honestly.
"I'm the son of Elder Lu Qing! One wave of my fan could cut down trees a mile away!"
Han Li looked at the trees lining the courtyard — each perfectly trimmed, leaves untouched by wind or blade.
"I see," Han Li nodded. "Then please, don't wave it here. I just swept."
The disciples stifled grins. Lu Yan's face twitched.
"You dare mock me?!"
He swung the fan.
A shimmering arc of wind shot forward — sharp, deadly.
Han Li blinked once.
Clang.
The wind arc split in two and flew past him harmlessly. His broom hadn't moved… yet something had stopped the attack.
A small chip appeared in Lu Yan's fan. The artifact shuddered — and broke in half.
Silence.
Han Li bowed slightly. "Please don't litter."
Lu Yan's face turned pale. He stumbled back.
"Y-You'll pay for this…"
He ran.
Han Li returned to sweeping. The tea house door creaked open — the old shopkeeper bowed deeply.
"Senior… please allow me to make you a fresh cup. On the house."
Han Li waved his hand lightly. "Tea later. Dust comes first."
Above them, high atop the sect's Heavenly Pavilion, the Sect Master sat cross-legged in meditation.
He opened one eye.
"…He's here."