Smashing the Bottle

1,039 words

"Bang!"

Han Li clenched his fists and slammed one of them heavily onto the table.

"Use a tool to smash the bottle open." This was Han Li's decision after much deliberation.

Using brute force to open it was a last resort he had considered long ago.

This method, although simple, straightforward, and directly effective, nevertheless pained Han Li at the thought of such a uniquely beautiful bottle being broken beyond repair. He was extremely reluctant. If there had been any other way to open it, Han Li would never have resorted to such a crude method.

Perhaps asking another senior brother for help might have worked. But deep down, Han Li had already unconsciously regarded this object as his own treasure, and he absolutely refused to let anyone else know about it. Moreover, every person on the mountain could be its owner; what if they found out the bottle was in his possession and demanded it back? This little bottle was so beautiful and intriguing; he couldn't bear to return it now.

Han Li's curiosity was now fully piqued by whatever mysterious contents the bottle might hold. He knew it might be empty, but he was still willing to gamble that there was something inside, something even more interesting than the bottle itself.

The more he thought this way, the more his heart itched with unbearable anticipation.

If he didn't unravel the mystery of what was inside, he wouldn't be able to sleep soundly at night.

Having made up his mind, Han Li sneaked into the tool shed in the valley, selected a relatively heavy small iron hammer from among the many tools, and brought it back to his room.

Back in his room, he found a half-broken piece of hard blue brick from the corner, chose a relatively flat depression on the floor, placed the brick flat, and then laid the bottle steadily across it.

Han Li raised the small hammer in his right hand. The hammer head paused in the air for a moment, then decisively fell onto the most protruding part of the bottle—its belly.

"Thud!"

Afraid that using too much force might damage the contents, the first blow fell lightly, testing the hardness of the bottle.

Seeing no sign of cracking, Han Li felt reassured; it seemed he could use a bit more force.

"Thud!" Five-tenths strength.

"Thud!" Seven-tenths.

"Thud!" Full strength.

"Thud!" Twelve-tenths.

Han Li's force grew heavier and heavier, the arc of his swing more exaggerated, and the hammer fell faster each time. The last blow even drove half the bottle into the brick, yet the bottle remained perfectly intact, with no sign of breaking.

Han Li was stunned. Still unwilling to believe it, he reached out and touched the spot where the hammer had struck. There was not a single scratch. The surface remained smooth and bright green.

This completely exceeded Han Li's expectations.

Only now did Han Li truly confirm that this little bottle was definitely something extraordinary. It could not have been deliberately discarded—it was most likely lost by its owner by accident. Right now, the owner might be searching the entire mountain for it. If he wanted to keep it, he had to hide it well and ensure no one else ever saw it again.

In Han Li's mind, as long as he hadn't stolen or robbed it, something picked up from the ground belonged to him. If it had been an ordinary item, he might have returned it to the owner. But this bottle was so mysterious; it was probably lost by one of those wealthy disciples or high-status individuals on the mountain. Han Li didn't have a very favorable impression of either type.

Han Li's family had always been poor. The whole family would work all day and still often go hungry. Within the Seven Mysteries Sect, he often saw the first type—wealthy disciples—spending money lavishly, eating and drinking extravagantly (if disciples didn't want the ordinary meals, they could pay extra for better food), treating money as if it meant nothing. Every time he saw this, Han Li felt uncomfortable. On top of that, these rich kids usually looked down on and ostracized disciples from poor backgrounds. They frequently mocked and insulted them with words, and there had even been a few small conflicts, including a few mass brawls among the children. Han Li had participated in one of those fights, but unfortunately, he had been beaten black and blue by the martial-arts-trained rich kids and couldn't show his face for days. He had to rest for several days before recovering.

As for the higher-status individuals on the mountain, they hadn't left Han Li with a very favorable impression either. From Protector Wang accepting his third uncle's bribe, to Wu Yan relying on Vice Sect Leader Ma's authority to enter Seven Peaks Hall directly—although he hadn't seen many of the mountain's big figures, the great image of such figures that he had held as a child had already crumbled considerably.

For things lost by these two types of people, Han Li not only didn't want to return them, but even felt a mischievous urge to hide them.

Thinking this, Han Li immediately took down a small leather pouch hanging around his neck. This pouch had been sewn by his mother before he left home, using a piece of animal hide. It was waterproof and moisture-proof, used to hold a wild boar tusk amulet intended to protect him from harm and disease.

Han Li loosened the pouch's drawstring, placed the bottle together with the amulet inside, then tightened the pouch again and hung it back around his neck.

After doing all this, he looked around; no one was there. Only then did he straighten his chest, patted the slightly bulging pouch on his chest, and felt that it would no longer draw attention.

Now, he felt much more at ease, no longer afraid that some accident would cause the original owner to find and demand the bottle back.

Han Li quietly returned the hammer to its original place, then slowly wandered around Divine Hand Valley as if nothing had happened, until the sky was completely dark. Only then did he drag his injured foot back to his room.

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Reading Guide Decoding

Class Resentment and a Mysterious Bottle: Han Li's First True Treasure

Cultural / Xianxia Notes

This chapter offers insight into Han Li's moral framework, which is shaped by his poverty and the harsh realities of sect life. In xianxia and wuxia traditions, protagonists often adhere to a code of honor—returning lost property, respecting elders, and upholding justice. Han Li, however, deviates from this convention. His decision to keep the bottle is not presented as a flaw, but as a pragmatic survival response within a world that has already taught him that the privileged are corrupt and unkind. This early characterization establishes the "mortal stream" ethos: morality is secondary to self-preservation and personal gain. The chapter also demonstrates Han Li's caution—he tests the bottle's hardness before committing to full force, and he conceals it carefully afterward. His methodical approach reflects the calculating nature that defines him throughout the series.

Chapter Overview

In this chapter, Han Li attempts to break open the mysterious bottle using a hammer, but the bottle proves utterly indestructible. Realizing its extraordinary nature, he decides to keep it hidden rather than return it. His motivations are deeply rooted in class resentment: he despises the wealthy disciples and high-status individuals who have mistreated him and others from poor backgrounds. Recalling past humiliations—including a beating by martial-arts-trained rich kids—he feels no moral obligation to return lost property to such people. Instead, he hides the bottle in a leather pouch around his neck, feeling secure for the first time. The chapter reveals Han Li's pragmatic, self-protective worldview and his growing attachment to the mysterious artifact.

Key Plot Points

Han Li decides to resort to brute force, selecting a heavy iron hammer from the tool shed. He places the bottle on a brick and strikes it with increasing force—five tenths, seven tenths, full strength, twelve tenths—each blow driving the bottle deeper into the brick. Yet the bottle remains flawless, without a single mark. This shocks Han Li and confirms that the bottle is extraordinary. He realizes it must have been lost accidentally, not discarded, and fears the owner might come searching. His resolve to keep it hardens as he recalls the injustices he has suffered: wealthy disciples spending lavishly while he goes hungry, mocking and beating him; authority figures like Protector Wang taking bribes from his uncle; Wu Yan entering the elite Seven Peaks Hall through nepotism. These memories fuel his decision to hide the bottle. He transfers it from his pocket to a leather pouch hanging around his neck, combining it with his lucky boar-tusk amulet. Feeling secure, he wanders the valley until dark.

Reading Guide

This chapter marks a turning point in Han Li's relationship with the mysterious bottle. Readers should pay attention to the detailed descriptions of his testing process—each incremental strike mirrors his methodical, risk-averse personality. His internal justification for keeping the bottle is one of the earliest explicit statements of his class-conscious worldview. The memories of fighting wealthy disciples and witnessing bribery serve as the foundation for his later moral flexibility. Also note the symbolic act of placing the bottle with his mother's amulet: the bottle becomes a new source of protection and fortune, replacing the talisman's traditional role. This subtle moment foreshadows the bottle's growing importance in his life.