Senior Brother Li

1,133 words

Between the two figures, blade-light and sword-shadows wove and shifted. Two weapons had become twin balls of cold light, clashing again and again, neither side gaining the upper hand.

Han Li watched for a while but couldn't make heads or tails of it. To him, the fight was simply exciting and pleasant to watch. He couldn't tell which moves were brilliant and which were mistakes. Who was superior was even further beyond the understanding of an outsider like him.

"Junior Han, may I ask which senior master you study under? You've been in seclusion, so your skills must have improved greatly." Little Abacus could no longer hold back. His tone had turned respectful as he probed for the truth about Han Li's master.

Every inner disciple of the Seven Mysteries Sect went through two years of basic training at Hundred Forging Hall before being assigned to a senior-generation master to kowtow and formally study under them, learning higher-level martial arts. After completing that training, the disciples were given specific posts within the sect.

Of course, this was only the standard process. Candidates who excelled during the entrance test could skip the two-year fundamentals entirely and enter Seven Peaks Hall directly, where they might be accepted as personal disciples of the sect leader and taught the sect's ultimate techniques—a true carp leaping over the Dragon Gate.

Even among those undergoing the two-year basic training, outstanding individuals might catch the eye of an elder, a hall master, or a sect supplicant, and be taken in as a personal disciple. The future of these disciples, though not as bright as the sect leader's own students, was still far more promising than that of ordinary disciples.

Hearing that Han Li had just emerged from seclusion somewhere, and never having seen this person before, Little Abacus naturally assumed that Han Li was a disciple of some high-ranking figure in the sect. Hence his respectful inquiry, hoping to forge a connection.

"I was accepted as a disciple by a sect supplicant a few years ago. As for which supplicant, I'd rather not speak his esteemed name." Han Li understood the question perfectly. He put on a bashful expression but let a hint of pride creep into his voice.

"Is that so? Brother Han is truly fortunate. Your future position in the sect will surely be high, and your prospects bright. If the opportunity arises, I hope Brother Han might look after me a little." Little Abacus didn't mind that Han Li refused to name his master—any supplicant was better than his own teacher. His tone shifted immediately.

"Brother Han, it's clear you're no ordinary talent. Rising high and gaining influence is only a matter of time." He continued his flattery.

This guy is dark-skinned and looks like a simpleton. How did a supplicant take him on as a disciple? Someone as clever as I am, why hasn't any big shot noticed me? Little Abacus grumbled inwardly, but his expression grew even more deferential.

Han Li found it amusing that the other's tone had changed so dramatically, suddenly elevating him from "Junior Han" to "Brother Han."

Still, Han Li didn't look down on him for it. Currying favor with the powerful was only human nature. Who didn't want to live better and climb higher? The man's nickname alone—Little Abacus—showed he was someone who carefully weighed every gain and loss, skilled at maneuvering.

But Little Abacus was about to be sorely disappointed. What Han Li had said wasn't a lie, but his status as a supplicant's disciple was nothing but a front. Almost any random disciple in the Seven Mysteries Sect could take him down with ease. If Little Abacus was treating him as a big tree to lean on, he had picked the wrong person.

Suppressing a bitter smile, Han Li continued to listen to the flattery with an air of nonchalance, occasionally offering a polite response.

"Brother Han's martial arts are formidable. If you were to step into the ring, you could surely beat that swordsman into retreat. You could definitely—" Little Abacus's mouth ran without pause, but even as he threw out compliments, he was carefully observing Han Li's every move.

Strange. A supplicant's disciple should have profound internal energy and impressive skill. But I can't read this person's depth at all. His temples aren't the slightest bit raised, and there's no sharp light in his eyes. He looks like someone who knows nothing about martial arts. The more Little Abacus observed, the more puzzled he became.

"Someone's won." Han Li's casual words cut through his thoughts.

Startled, Little Abacus hurriedly turned his gaze back to the arena.

Indeed. The swordsman had thrown his weapon aside. One arm was gushing blood, the other hand pressing the wound, his face ashen. He clearly wasn't convinced he should have lost. It wasn't surprising—the two were evenly matched. He had simply fallen for his opponent's trick at a critical moment and ended up a step behind.

Seeing this, Little Abacus's face filled with regret. He let out a string of sighs. "What a pity."

"What's the matter? What's such a pity?" Han Li hadn't seen anything special in the exchange, but with a ready commentator beside him, it would be a waste not to ask.

"If that side—Fatty Wang's side—had won this match, they would have taken three victories, and the last match wouldn't be necessary. Unfortunately, they still didn't win."

"Oh."

"But it doesn't matter. There's still one match left. The one fighting for Fatty Wang's side is the most skilled martial artist among all of us. His Galloping Thunder Blade technique is fierce beyond compare—able to shatter stone and sever metal. Haha! Just getting to see Senior Brother Li's signature blade art makes this trip worthwhile. No matter who Zhang Changgui's side sends out, we're definitely winning." Little Abacus had been a bit dejected at first, but now he grew excited. He seemed filled with confidence in this Senior Brother Li.

"So it's already the final match?" Han Li responded absently, wondering who this Senior Brother Li was. He didn't recognize the name.

At that moment, a youth with a cold, harsh expression walked out from Fatty Wang's side. The youth held a long blade that gleamed with icy light. He walked to the center of the arena step by step, then closed his eyes without a word.

"Senior Brother Li! Senior Brother Li! Senior Brother Li!..."

At the sight of this youth, the crowd erupted in excitement. As if by mutual agreement, they all began shouting the youth's name, voice after voice, each louder than the last. The roar shook the entire arena. At this moment, there was no more distinction between the wealthy disciples and the poor ones. There was only a unified cheer for this youth.

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Reading Guide Decoding

Fights, Flattery, and the Sect Social Ladder

Cultural / Xianxia Notes

Seven Mysteries Sect’s internal structure mirrors typical martial arts sects (menpai) in Chinese wuxia / xianxia fiction: a pyramid with the sect leader at top, an Elder Council beneath, then specialized halls. “Hundred Forging Hall” is the crucible where raw recruits become usable fighters—two years of grinding basics. The elite “Seven Peaks Hall” is where prodigies skip the line and learn ultimate techniques directly from the sect leader. This tiered system is a core device in the genre: social mobility is possible, but always capped by talent, connections, and luck. Little Abacus (小算盘 / Xiǎo Suànpán) is a recurring archetype: the disciple who knows everyone’s business and sells information as social currency. His name literally means “little abacus,” signaling his calculating, profit-driven nature. He is not malicious—just a hustler trying to climb by attaching himself to rising stars. In a harsh sect environment, such characters are both useful and untrustworthy.

Jianghu

The martial world—a loose society of fighters, sects, and wanderers operating outside official law.

Chapter Overview

This chapter is a masterclass in “show, don’t tell” world-building disguised as a casual sparring session. Han Li plays the quiet observer while Little Abacus, the sect’s resident gossip-monger, flatters, probes, and accidentally pours out the entire social hierarchy of the Seven Mysteries Sect. Between the clash of blades, we learn exactly how disciples rise—or fail to—within this Jianghu organization, and why a “supplicant’s disciple” like Han Li is both a coveted social asset and a complete fraud. The chapter ends with the arrival of a cold-eyed youth wielding a Galloping Thunder Blade, whose entrance alone whips the crowd into a frenzy, setting up a fight that promises to settle the score.

Key Plot Points

Han Li watches a deadlocked match: Two evenly matched fighters exchange blows. Han Li, a martial arts outsider, sees only a “lively show.” The match ends when the sword-user falls for a trick, losing by a hair.
Little Abacus’s flattery campaign: Driven by curiosity and opportunism, Little Abacus probes Han Li’s master. Han Li admits he’s a supplicant’s disciple but refuses to name names, planting pride in his voice while knowing the status is hollow.
The sect’s inner structure explained: Through Little Abacus’s inner thoughts and dialogue, we learn the ladder of discipleship: basic training at Hundred Forging Hall → personal discipleship under elders or hall masters → the elite Seven Peaks Hall shortcut for top test performers. Wealthy and poor disciples mix, but social capital still rules.
Little Abacus’s suspicion: Despite his ingratiating words, Little Abacus observes that Han Li lacks the physical markers of a martial artist (sunken temples, sharp gaze). He grows puzzled but doesn’t stop fawning.
The final match is set: After the sword-user’s defeat, only one bout remains. The crowd explodes as “Senior Brother Li”—a cold, silent youth with a legendary blade technique—steps into the ring, turning the arena into a roaring chorus of unified support.

Reading Guide

This chapter is a slow burn of exposition, but don’t skim it. The “supplicant’s disciple” reveal is Han Li’s first attempt at social camouflage—he has a title that sounds important but carries zero combat weight. The real tension builds in the subtext: Little Abacus’s lavish flattery versus his internal skepticism, and Han Li’s careful performance of false pride. The roaring entrance of Senior Brother Li (Fierce Tiger Li) is the first major flag that this world rewards visible power above all else—and that Han Li, for all his cleverness, is still a very small fish in a very dangerous sect.