The Long Journey to Immortality

Upon entering the compound, Han Haocang was momentarily bewildered by the intricate network of paths and courtyards.

Fortunately, the only two mortal maids serving Han Lu's residence were already waiting nearby to help guide her.

Upon arriving at the reception room and seeing Han Lu, Han Haocang bowed respectfully and greeted her politely once again.

"Greetings, Senior Han."

Calling him "Senior Han" instead of using his Taoist name was a deliberate way of emphasizing their kinship and showing their close relationship.

"Han Haocang? Please sit down." Han Lu hadn't figured out how to address this relative whose cultivation was inferior to hers but whose seniority was higher, so she simply called him by his name, taking advantage of the senior's arrogance.

Han Haocang didn't mind at all; in fact, he was more than happy for Han Lu to do so.

"I went out for a trip with some friends the other day, and I'm sorry to have kept you waiting," Han Lu explained again, so as not to cause the other party any dissatisfaction from being neglected and thus hindering the exchange of information between the North and the South.

"We won't have to wait long," Han Haocang said with a smile. "Senior Han has been in seclusion for three years. It's only natural that you would like to go out with your friends to relax and unwind after finally breaking through your cultivation. We are the ones who are anxious."

They had only just met and exchanged a few words when they understood each other's attitudes and were each aware of what the other was thinking.

Han Lu hopes to fulfill her mother's last wish and doesn't mind providing any small assistance to the Han family, who are related to her by blood, within her means, whether it be in terms of reputation or practical help.

The Han family is similar.

The first thing must be accomplished, otherwise the rest is simply out of the question.

Their wish was to find a "Buddha statue" that wouldn't consume family resources.

The conditions of both sides are actually quite similar. The only difference lies in the degree of compromise. If they can open their hearts and have a frank discussion, and each side compromises, then everyone can be happy.

However, it's easier said than done to "open your heart and be frank."

Let alone mentioning those words between two people who are meeting for the first time.

In fact, after mentioning some serious business upon meeting, the two simply chatted about Han Lu's mother.

Having already investigated the situation thoroughly, Han Haocang was naturally happy to discuss this topic and get closer to Han Lu.

The facts of that year have been somewhat embellished, but in reality, it was just a trivial matter.

The Han family has at least a thousand members in the north with clear blood ties. However, the fact that a mere junior with no cultivation eloped for love did not cause the slightest ripple in the Han family's history.

It was only Han Lu's maternal grandparents who suffered grief for the remaining twenty-odd years of their lives.

This is why Han Lu's mother felt guilty towards her family in the Northern Dynasty after Feng You left, and why she made these arrangements for Han Lu before her death.

Through Han Haocang, Han Lu learned more about what happened back then, and her determination to fulfill her mother's last wish deepened. Through this information, she once again saw the Han family's sincerity.

No longer cautiously probing, Han Lu sat up straighter and steered the conversation back to business.

"Han Haocang, I wonder how the Han family plans to arrange for my mother and me to return home."

"If I return to the Han family, what obligations and responsibilities will I have to undertake, and what kind of help will the Han family provide me?"

The advantage of having blood ties but weak emotional bonds becomes apparent at this time.

Han Lu could easily bring up this matter in a business-like tone.

Han Haocang could also clearly lay out his chips and let Han Lu weigh them herself.

Chapter 803 The Seven-Day Agreement

Upon hearing this, Han Haocang breathed a sigh of relief.

Although Han Lu's attitude was clear, it was ultimately the Northern Dynasty's Han family that brought it up.

Now that a clear answer has been given, the representative who was sent to negotiate can finally put his mind at ease.

After all, the Han family's demands were not unreasonable, and he felt that Han Lu had no reason to refuse.

Even if there's going to be some wrangling, there's still plenty of room for negotiation.

Even if Han Lu's demands are too unreasonable, the Han family can simply pretend that nothing happened and refuse Han Lu's rude requests.

The Han family, which already has a Golden Core cultivator in its ranks, did not beg and plead for Han Lu to "join them."

If Han Lu's demands cross the line and affect the future development of the family, they can say no without hesitation.

"Since Senior Han speaks so directly, I won't beat around the bush either."

Han Haocang recited the "process" and "conditions" in full with great emotion in front of Han Lu, which he had already memorized several times in the past few days.

This includes, but is not limited to, arranging for Han Lu's mother to be buried in the "ancestral grave" in a grand manner decades after her death, writing Han Lu and Han Shishuang's names in the family genealogy, and providing Han Lu with certain support in terms of cultivation materials.

Having already figured out Han Lu's specific demands and the conditions offered, the "one-stop service" prepared for Han Lu naturally hit her sore spot.

The conditions offered and the special treatment she received were far superior to those given when Han Lu returned to the Phoenix Clan.

If Han Lu's maternal grandparents hadn't also lacked cultivation and had long since exhausted their lifespans and passed away, they would likely have appeared in this series of scenes arranging for Han Lu and her mother to return home, playing a role in strengthening their emotional bond.

What was given was mostly "honor," and what the Han family sought was naturally commensurate with that, without requiring Han Lu, a family member with no sense of belonging, to contribute too much.

He would make an appearance in the family every thirty or forty years, stay for a few days, and stand there like a "Buddha statue" for the descendants of the Han family.

Of course, this "Buddha statue" of Han Lu is not only needed internally, but also externally, to help the Han family deter villains and make a name for themselves.

Finally, one more thing: in times of family crisis, they will ask Han Lu for help. Whether or not Han Lu helps is her own decision, and she will never force anyone.

In reality, it cannot be forced.

If we can force Han Lu to comply, the crisis won't be unsolvable.

Let alone threats, they coerced Han Lu into helping them.

Could the Han family really dig up Han Shishuang's grave? That would only turn one problem into two, and a glimmer of hope into a dead end.

Therefore, the reason for adding this last sentence is mainly to leave himself a way out.

Hoping that after Han Lu returned home, he could "influence" her with blood ties and make this approachable Golden Core cultivator willingly help her.

Everything was laid out clearly on the table. After a moment's consideration, Han Lu had already said "okay" in her heart.

Not wanting to haggle, but wanting to have a pleasant "cooperation" in the future, Han Lu still asked a few more questions about various details.

The questions raised focused on compensation.

Hearing that Han Lu had no objection to fulfilling her responsibilities, Han Haocang knew that the matter was almost certain.

After answering in detail and explaining everything, the two talked for another fifteen minutes before Han Lu finally gave her answer.

"I am very satisfied with the conditions you have given me. I wonder when we can start to act according to the content and steps mentioned earlier?" Han Lu was eager to travel with her friend, so she naturally wanted to get this matter done as soon as possible.

Perhaps it was because of the waiting these past few days that Han Hao became worried, fearing that his family was not well prepared and had neglected Han Lu.

He secretly pondered the problem and did a few simple addition and subtraction problems before answering.

"It will take two days for the message to get back to the north, and it will also take two days to prepare and make arrangements."

"It will take at least five days."

Han Lu nodded and said, "Then I will set off for the Han family in seven days."

Upon hearing this, Han Haocang quickly replied, "Alright, I will inform my family that they will warmly welcome Senior Han back in seven days, and everything will be arranged perfectly."

After saying this, Han Haocang took his leave to deliver the message.

But Han Lu called out to him and then inquired about her family from this fellow clansman.

So-and-so is in charge of affairs.

Who is the Golden Core cultivator in your family, and how should they be addressed?

Who will be in charge of this series of arrangements?

……

Hearing Han Lu inquire about this information, Han Haocang was overjoyed.

He saw this as a major signal that Han Lu was trying to actively integrate into the family.

These matters were not secrets to begin with, and Han Haocang answered Han Lu's questions without reservation, sometimes even giving three answers for every one question asked.

In particular, Han Haocang explained everything clearly to Han Lu about the Golden Core cultivator who had emerged from his family, telling her everything he knew at his level.

This Golden Core cultivator from the Han family is named Han Yu, and his Daoist name is Jiyu Daoren.

Just by looking at this Daoist title, one can get a general idea of ​​the personality of this Golden Core cultivator.

Speaking of which, Han Haocang had also had contact with this Golden Core cultivator.

Back when Daoist Jiyu was still a Foundation Establishment cultivator named Han Yu, he returned home for the New Year to tutor the then young Han Haocang, which could barely be considered a master-disciple relationship.

Compared to Han Lu, Ji Yu Dao Ren's talent at the Golden Core cultivator level can only be considered average.

He has been at the Golden Core Realm for almost fifty years, but he still hasn't reached the limit of advancing to the middle stage of the Golden Core Realm.

Perhaps, when his lifespan of several hundred years is exhausted, he will only be able to barely draw two or three pill patterns, ending his life as a "mediocre" Golden Core cultivator.

But it is precisely because of this that Daoist Jiyu is so enthusiastic about the family business, placing some of his hopes and ambitions on the younger generation of his clan.

Almost every year, Daoist Jiyu would hold classes within his family to teach Daoist techniques.

In Xuan Yang Valley, Daoist Ji Yu was quite active, either helping his family to form factions or acting as a representative to befriend other cultivation families.

Or they could simply poach some promising disciples from Xuan Yang Valley and recruit them into the Han family.

Having a Golden Core cultivator like Daoist Jiyu is both a pity and an incredible stroke of luck for the Han family.

After asking more than a dozen questions, Han Lu felt that she had found out everything and would not be impolite or make a fool of herself at the ceremony seven days later.

Finally, after asking Han Haocang for the exact location of the Han family mansion, Han Lu let him leave.

After leaving Han Lu's residence, Han Haocang quickly sorted out the details of his meeting with Han Lu and then hurriedly returned home.

However, with his early Foundation Establishment cultivation, it took him a full day and a half to return to the Han family and report the situation in its entirety when he flew on his sword.

The matter, which had been delayed for three years, has finally been settled.

Chapter 804 The Second Home

As soon as Han Haocang left, Han Lu hurriedly went to find Wen Erya and Yi Qiyan to continue discussing the trip to the East Sea and the Western Regions.

This series of travel stories was originally proposed by Han Lu and Wen Erya to help Yi Qiyan relax.

However, it must be said that for ambitious cultivators, traveling is indeed in line with the "grand aspirations" they made in their youth, giving them a sense of exhilaration comparable to advancing in their cultivation, which is usually confined to one place for years.