Hao Clan

"It seems that we have reached our destination?" Just then, Hanli's voice floated over, jolting the dazed Eishun awake.

"Ah, yes Sir! We've reached our destination, the Northern Mountain Range where the Southern Edge Sect is located."

"Mm, alright. I'll wake up the kids." Hanli slowly floated down before he opened his eyes and woke up the two Namgung children.

Stretching his neck, Hanli got off the carriage before he walked towards the carriage driver.

Eishun became taken aback but soon regained his composure.

It wasn't everyday that he got to escort a Heavenly Martial Alliance official. 

Eishun knew that this was his chance to make a connection with the Heavenly Martial Alliance, so he straightened his back as he watched Hanli approach him.

If their talk goes well, Eishun was certain that he'd be able to join the Heavenly Martial Alliance within 5 years.

When the distance between the two men was less than ten meters, Hanli stopped in his tracks.

He looked at Eishun for a moment before he extended his arm out to shake the carriage driver's hand. 

Eishun quickly copied Hanli's movements and shook his hand firmly.

The handshake only lasted a moment before the two retracted their hands.

A breath later, Hanli took out a silver plaque from his robes before he threw it at Eishun.

Eishun was taken aback as he caught the plaque.

The words "Expert" were etched on the plaque.

"Seeing how you're already a transcendent level martial master, I'll ask the Heavenly Martial Alliance Leader to make an exception for you. We have yet to recruit anyone from the Hao Clan in these few years. You'll be the first." Hanli revealed a sly smile before he turned around and walked towards the Namgung children.

As for Eishun, his brain stopped working the moment Hanli mentioned the Hao Clan.

"How...How did...you know?" Eishun quickly regained his composure, but he still had difficulty forming a sentence.

"From the way your qi flows in your body, only the Hao Clan's Shadow Veil Qi Dance matches your circulation technique. And, the only way to practice the Hao Clan's exclusive qi circulation technique is that you must be a pure blood clan member."

Eishun was speechless.

"Furthermore, I've checked your bone age. You are only 35 years old this year. So unless you are born talented with a natural martial body, it's safe to say that you must have a powerful background backing you." 

'Boom!' An explosion could be faintly heard as Eishun was stunned beyond belief.

"Now, whether you believe my deductions are true or not is up to you. I'll be taking the kids up the mountain now. Thanks for the ride." Hanli cupped his fist at the dazed Eishun before he walked back to the children.

***

As Hanli and the two Namgung children followed the steps up the mountain, Namgung Hua couldn't help but ask Hanli. "How did you figure out that our carriage driver was a member of the Hao Clan?"

Since the two children were standing quite near to the two men, they naturally overheard the conversation between Hanli and Eishun.

And after a while, Namgung Hua's interest was piqued.

'Just how did Sir. Hanli figured out the background of a carriage driver this quickly? Was Sir. Hanli already informed beforehand?' She found herself raising questions that couldn't be answered, so she kept them in her heart till she felt that the time was right.

And that was now.

"How did I figure out the background of our carriage driver? Hmm...I simply scanned his inner body with my divine sense. How does that sound?"

"Impossible." Namgung Hua replied solemnly.

"Uhuh, go figure. Then all I can say is that I don't know."

"You don't know?"

"Yeah, since you don't believe me that I can use my divine sense to enter another person's body, then I should say I don't know. Because there is no other plausible explanation I can give you besides this one." Hanli shrugged his shoulders before he became silent again.

Namgung Hua on the other hand, became even more intrigued by Hanli's answer.

'Using one's own divine sense to enter another person's body is unheard of. But since Sir. Hanli can't give me any explanation, I can only accept his ridiculous answer for now. I'll ask grandfather about this after we get home.'

With that, Namgung Hua was fired up.

As for Namgung Jian, he was silent the whole way up.

Hanli didn't know what the young boy was thinking, nor did he care.

He only wanted some peace and quiet as they made their way up the ten thousand step staircase.

1 hour later...

The group finally reached the end of the staircase.

Both Namgung Jian and Namgung Hua were soaked in sweat whereas Hanli was looking neat and clean. The children were shocked when they saw Hanli's sweatless face.

"Sir, you are too much!"

"Yeah, give us some face!"

"Haha, this is what you youngsters say...What was it? Ah yes, skill issue." Hanli laughed lightly before he turned away.

The children could only feel helpless as this was really a difference in skills.

The group then took a short break before they started walking towards the Southern Edge Sect's main gate.

On the way, the group passed by several other groups of people from different sects.

It seemed as though the Nine Great Mountains and Five Great Sects had invited the medium and smaller sized sects to participate in the banquet too.

Cupping his chin, Hanli wondered to himself. 'Since the Nine Great Mountains have invited other sects and clans to join the banquet, I might not be able to carry out the plan Senior Thunderbolt had come up with...'

Just then, a group of people wearing taoist robes with plum blossom symbols approached Hanli and the two Namgung children.

'And so the trouble begins.' Hanli sighed to himself.