The Clear Spirit Powder

1,039 words

Han Li frowned deeply, saying nothing.

He had just finished taking the pulse, examining the tongue and pupils, and had come to an initial conclusion: this poison was a mixed poison, just like the "Entangling Silk Incense" he had dealt with before. To isolate and purge each of its various toxic components one by one was beyond his ability. He could only try the "Clear Spirit Powder" and a few other unorthodox methods.

With this in mind, Han Li silently cursed the other physicians who had dared not treat the poison and had instead dumped the problem on him. On the surface, he maintained the appearance of deep contemplation.

After a moment, Elder Zhao could no longer hold back and asked:

"Boy! Can you save Elder Li or not? Say something!"

"Elder Zhao, you're too impatient. Can't you see that Doctor Han is thinking? Be patient!" Sect Leader Ma interjected, playing the good guy as he needled Zhao.

Elder Zhao glared and opened his mouth to retort, but Han Li gently coughed before he could speak, cutting off his train of thought.

This cough drew a few surprised looks from the others in the room. Only then did Han Li realize that a youth of his age mimicking an old man's cough was somewhat ridiculous. Still, it didn't matter—his goal was achieved. He didn't want to hear the two of them bickering.

"This is a mixed poison. It's quite troublesome to cure. I can't guarantee complete success, but I'm willing to try. The detoxification process carries some risk and might endanger Elder Li's life. Do you still wish for me to proceed?" Han Li put on a slightly troubled expression as he spoke.

For him, it would actually be better if they refused his help. His confidence was not high.

His words left the family members exchanging uneasy glances. No one dared to agree to let him begin treatment immediately, but it was equally clear that none of the other physicians were more capable.

After a long pause, Elder Li's wife, a woman named Li, finally asked:

"Doctor Han, what are your chances of saving my husband?"

"Fifty percent," Han Li replied without hesitation.

"Then please go ahead, Divine Doctor Han. If my husband's fate is sealed, I will not hold you responsible. It will simply be Heaven's will." She showed a determined expression, surprising Han Li with her quick decision.

"Sister-in-law, won't you think it over? This young doctor is far too young. I find this highly questionable!" Elder Zhao grew anxious and tried to dissuade her.

"I have thought it through. If Doctor Han does not treat him, my husband likely won't survive the night. It's better to take the risk; at least there's a fifty percent chance," she said softly, her head lowered in sadness.

"Ah…" Elder Zhao was left speechless.

Han Li glanced around the room. No one seemed to object to the decision. He then took a green porcelain bottle from his medical kit and retrieved a single red pill.

"Someone, bring a bowl of warm water. Dissolve this pill in it and administer it to Elder Li."

"I'll go!" A crisp voice answered before his words had even faded.

Zhang Xiuer, who had been standing nearby with reddened eyes, acknowledged the request and walked out of the room.

Li Feiyu hesitated for a moment, then immediately followed her out. Han Li couldn't help but silently curse his friend's blatant motive.

A short while later, Zhang Xiuer returned, looking resigned and empty-handed. Behind her, Li Feiyu carefully carried a white porcelain bowl.

The sight drew suppressed laughter from the room, and everyone's expressions turned amused. Zhang Xiuer's face flushed with embarrassment, and she fidgeted nervously, revealing an unmistakably girlish demeanor.

This, however, lightened the room's tense atmosphere considerably, helping some people relax.

Li Feiyu dutifully handed the bowl to Li's wife.

"Doctor Han, is this water acceptable?" she asked, seeking his approval.

"It's fine."

Han Li glanced at the bowl and nodded. He took it with one hand and dropped the pill into the water. The entire bowl of water turned a vivid red in an instant.

"Administer it to Elder Li. Women are more careful in these matters—you should do it yourself." He handed the bowl back to her.

Li's wife quickly agreed without any hesitation. At this point, every word from Han Li concerned her husband's life; how could she disobey?

"What kind of pill was that?" Elder Zhao couldn't restrain himself and asked the question everyone in the room was thinking, as he watched Li's wife slowly feed the red liquid to Elder Li.

"A homemade antidote. I hope it will be of some use," Han Li said dismissively.

He didn't want to reveal the name "Clear Spirit Powder." Who knew whether naming this renowned antidote would bring him trouble? It was better to keep a low profile.

About the time it takes to finish a meal, the black aura on Elder Li's face began to fade. The poisonous patches on his body also lightened and started to shrink.

This visible improvement was clear to even an untrained eye. The poison in Elder Li's body was gradually diminishing, and things were moving in a positive direction.

Seeing this, the people in the room broke into smiles, and their gazes toward Han Li were entirely different from before. Only Elder Zhao still nursed his pride, letting out a light snort, though his expression had softened considerably.

Han Li was somewhat taken aback as well. The poison had begun to recede without him even taking further steps.

The "Clear Spirit Powder" was far more effective than he had anticipated. Perhaps this poison wasn't as powerful as he had imagined, he found himself thinking.

But even as things progressed favorably, a sense of frustration gnawed at Han Li. There were two reasons for this.

First, he had claimed the detoxification process carried risks. If the poison was so easily dispelled, wouldn't that make him look like a liar who had deliberately exaggerated the danger?

Second, if the "Clear Spirit Powder" worked so well for others, why had it failed for him? The Yin-type toxin still lingering in his own body remained a pressing concern.

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Reading Guide Decoding

A Healer’s Gambit: Status, Risk, and the Mortal Stream’s Irony

Cultural / Xianxia Notes

The "Clear Spirit Powder" (Qing Ling San) appears frequently in wuxia and xianxia fiction as a universal or semi-universal antidote. It's the kind of item every experienced Jianghu wanderer carries, but its effectiveness is intentionally vague: in most stories, it can handle minor poisons but fails against rare or specially formulated toxins. Here, its surprising success against a complex mixed poison serves as a subtle reminder that the world's rules aren't always predictable—even for a cunning protagonist like Han Li. His private frustration also underscores a key Mortal Stream theme: the world doesn't reward you either way. Succeed, and people may resent your luck; fail, and you pay the price.

Chapter Overview

This chapter is a masterclass in the Mortal Stream's quiet tension: no flashy battles, no secret techniques revealed. Instead, we get a pure, high-stakes negotiation between Han Li and the top brass of the Seven Mysteries Sect. Han Li is forced to play healer for a man he barely knows, while simultaneously running damage control for his own reputation. Every word, every pause, every cough is a calculated move in a social chess match where the price of a misstep is death—either Elder Li's or his own. It's a deliciously cold, tactical sequence that perfectly showcases why Han Li's real power isn't in his sword, but in his ability to control the room without ever raising his voice.

Key Plot Points

Han Li diagnoses the poison as a complex "mixed poison," similar to the Entangling Silk Incense he once used, but admits he has no perfect solution—only a half-chance with the Clear Spirit Powder and some improvisation.
Han Li's social performance is impeccable: he uses a cough to cut off Elder Zhao's interruption without direct confrontation, maintaining his mask of youthful humility.
The decision to let Han Li treat Elder Li is made by his wife, Li, over Elder Zhao's objections—a stark example of how desperate pragmatism overrides status-based distrust when lives are on the line.
Han Li successfully administers the Clear Spirit Powder, and to his own surprise, the poison visibly recedes within the time of a meal, securing his reputation as a capable physician.
Underneath the surface success, Han Li is privately frustrated: he now looks like he exaggerated the danger (undermining his credibility), and he's furious that the Clear Spirit Powder works so easily for others but hasn't cured his own Yin-type poison.

Reading Guide

This chapter is a prime example of how A Record of a Mortal's Journey to Immortality builds tension without combat. Watch how Han Li's internal calculation never stops. Every pause in dialogue, every attempt to downplay his own skill, is a gambit in a game of status and risk management. Pay attention to his irritation at the end: it's not the poison that bothers him most—it's the inconsistency. The world doesn't always follow a neat logic, and that uncertainty is what drives a pragmatist like Han Li to hoard every scrap of knowledge and preparation he can. Also, keep an eye on Li Feiyu's blatant chase after Zhang Xiuer—it's a rare moment of human lightness in an otherwise grim narrative, and a reminder that even cutthroat cultivators have their petty, relatable moments.