A Transaction in the Shadows

1,216 words

Chapter 97: A Transaction in the Shadows

When Sect Leader Wang heard these words, his heart involuntarily skipped a beat, and he grew inwardly wary.

Yesterday, after receiving the message that Han Li—sent via Li Feiyu—would arrive at Sunset Peak by noon the following day, he and the other high-ranking members had convened a meeting. Immediately, some people, citing the danger Han Li posed and how difficult he was to control, proposed that they lay a trap and kill him during the meeting.

This suggestion, however, was fiercely opposed by another faction. They argued that the plan was far too risky; if it failed, they would suffer a devastating retaliation. They insisted that the best course was to negotiate first and decide on a course of action later.

Those who wanted to strike immediately rebutted this with equal ferocity, claiming that dragging things out would only increase the risk of a leak, and that a long delay would bring unforeseen troubles.

In truth, everyone in the room knew that calling Han Li “too dangerous” was merely an excuse. The real motive for those pushing for his death was a desire to seize his cultivation methods and extract benefits from this young Doctor Han. Even those who opposed the kill likely harbored the same greed; they simply preferred a more subtle, concealed approach.

The two factions argued so heatedly in front of Sect Leader Wang that their faces turned red as blood. By the time the meeting was about to adjourn, neither side had convinced the other, and the debate raged on.

Finally, the surviving gray-robed man—the junior uncle—could no longer bear to watch. He spoke a single, cold sentence that silenced the entire room.

“If you kill this Doctor Han, aren’t you afraid of his elders coming to find you?”

His words were like a bucket of ice water, instantly sobering the hot-headed high-ranking members.

“Yes! He’s so young and already this formidable. There must be immortal-like elders backing him. If we rashly kill him and his elders come calling, won’t we all die without a burial place?”

The realization that harming this Doctor Han would be the same as killing themselves caused those who had originally advocated for a deadly strike to completely change their tune. Although one or two exceptionally greedy individuals still tried to insist, the consensus was finally unified in favor of treating Han Li with a gentle hand.

Now, seeing Han Li suddenly utter such a meaningful statement, Sect Leader Wang felt a natural pang of guilt. He suspected that Han Li, possessing such great abilities, had somehow discovered the content of yesterday’s argument and was issuing a warning.

However, Wang Juechu had been a sect leader for many years; his guile and experience were extraordinary. He quickly shook off the lingering effects of the Heaven’s Eye Technique and regained his composure.

“Divine Doctor Han, why would you say such a thing? Every level of our sect is deeply grateful to you,” Wang Juechu said, having quickly calculated his next move. He decided it was best to probe Han Li’s intentions first.

“Is that so?” Han Li said with a cold smile. “Then why do I hear that someone is planning to do me harm?”

Sect Leader Wang was startled. But seeing that Han Li showed no sign of anger, he relaxed slightly. Han Li’s tone was not furious, and he had come alone. This suggested that Han Li had merely caught wind of a rumor, not the details of the meeting. There was still room to repair their relationship.

“Divine Doctor Han, you may have been misinformed. Yesterday, a few degenerates within our sect did attempt to plot against you. But rest assured, they have already been apprehended and placed under strict supervision. The vast majority of our sect are sincerely grateful to you and would never do something that only pleases our enemies and wounds our friends,” Wang Juechu said with a righteous air, having carefully weighed his words.

Hearing this, Han Li laughed coldly to himself. Ever since he had revealed his power and helped the Seven Mysteries Sect through this tribulation, he had been reminding himself of the old proverbs: “A good bird is put away when its arrows are spent,” and “removing the bridge after crossing the river.” He knew he had to be cautious. One should never assume that simply helping someone would earn their gratitude; the human heart was the most unpredictable thing of all. To men who saw themselves as big shots, betraying a kindness or abandoning one’s own kin was as routine as drinking water, as long as the profit was sufficient.

This was one of the reasons Han Li had shut himself away upon returning to the valley, refusing to see anyone. He had deliberately let the high-ranking members cool down, hoping they wouldn’t let the fires of greed burn away all their reason.

After having Li Feiyu deliver the message about meeting the high-ranking members, Han Li had no intention of showing up on time.

Even though his strength now far surpassed that of ordinary Jianghu fighters, if the other side chose to use underhanded methods, there were countless ways to bring him to his death.

For safety, he had quietly arrived half a day early to meet Sect Leader Wang alone.

And now, with just a slight probe, Wang Juechu had revealed a crack in his facade. So the bigwigs of the Seven Mysteries Sect really had considered moving against him.

But it didn’t matter. Whether they had planned to act or had only thought about it, he wouldn’t get angry. Once he finished his business with the top man of the Seven Mysteries Sect, he would fly far away and never cross paths with them again.

“I won’t waste words. To be honest with you, Sect Leader Wang, after I meet with you today, I will be leaving this place, traveling far away, and most likely never return to the Cai Xia Mountains again. But before I leave, I would like to make a mutually beneficial transaction with you,” Han Li said, locking eyes with Wang for a moment before speaking with an air of mystery.

“A transaction?” The Sect Leader was taken aback by the news that Han Li was leaving, but even more puzzled by the mention of a deal.

What kind of transaction could he possibly have with this Divine Doctor Han? His heart began to churn with uncertainty.

……

When the agreed-upon meeting time arrived at noon, Han Li did not appear in the main hall of Sunset Peak. Instead, it was a spirited Sect Leader Wang who was the last to step into the meeting.

Sect Leader Wang then announced to the assembled high-ranking members that there was no need to wait any longer. Han Li had already left the Cai Xia Mountains, and his whereabouts were unknown. He estimated that Han Li would leave not just Jing Province, but the Yue Kingdom itself. As such, all troubles were now gone.

Upon hearing this, everyone stared with wide eyes, looking at each other in silence. The entire meeting hall was dead quiet.

“Since the man’s gone, what’s the point of all these damn schemes? Time to get back to business,” they thought helplessly.

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Reading Guide Decoding

The Art of the Unseen Bluff

Cultural / Xianxia Notes

The Art of the Bluff (炸胡): This chapter is a textbook example of ‘信息战’ (information warfare) at the street-smart level. Han Li doesn’t have a web of spies; he uses a single, ambiguous statement (“I hear someone is planning to do me harm”) to force Wang Juechu into revealing his own guilt. In the brutal world of ancient China, perception was often reality. A powerful unknown ‘master in the shadows’ was just as terrifying as one that was physically present. Han Li weaponizes the sect’s own paranoia, making them imagine a threat so powerful they censor themselves.

‘A Good Bird is Put Away When its Arrows are Spent’ (鸟尽弓藏): This proverb, which Han Li actively reflects on, is a core theme of the Mortal Stream. It describes the tragic fate of a hero who is discarded by their lord once they are no longer useful. Han Li knows that his value to the Seven Mysteries Sect has peaked. By highlighting this internal monologue, the chapter reinforces his core survival trait: he never expects gratitude and always plans his exit before his utility runs out.

Power Dynamics of a ‘Transaction’: The chapter’s climax—the unseen deal between Han Li and Wang Juechu—is a classic Dark Forest move. Han Li isn’t demanding a reward; he’s offering a transaction. The true “profit” for Wang is Han Li’s departure. By leaving voluntarily, Han Li removes the sect’s fear of him as an unknown, uncontrollable variable. This makes Wang willing to pay a high price to get Han Li’s promise to simply go away peacefully, rather than fighting a costly war against a boy who might have powerful backing.

Heaven's Eye Technique (天眼术)

A perception-based spell used by cultivators to see spiritual energy and potentially gauge another's power level.

Chapter Overview

Get ready for a masterclass in information warfare, fellow readers! Chapter 97 is a pure, concentrated dose of the ‘Mortal Stream’ we love. Forget flashy battles—this is a quiet, vicious duel of wits between Han Li and Sect Leader Wang. Han Li uses a single, perfectly timed line to probe the sect’s intentions, and the entire power dynamic shifts in an instant. It’s a story about how a perceived rumor can be more terrifying than a thousand swords, and how a clever man can make his enemies defuse themselves.

Key Plot Points

The chapter opens with a flashback revealing the secret meeting of the Seven Mysteries Sect’s high-ranking members. A violent debate erupts: a faction, driven by greed for Han Li’s techniques, wants to kill him immediately. A more cautious faction opposes the plan, fearing the unknown ‘elders’ who must have trained such a young prodigy. The debate is only settled when a gray-robed elder coldly asks if they are prepared to face those elders’ wrath.

In the present, Han Li’s first line to Sect Leader Wang is a direct probe. Seeing the leader’s reaction, Han Li confirms his suspicion: they did, at some point, consider killing him. However, Han Li remains utterly unbothered. He states that he has no intention of staying, and that he wants to make a “mutually beneficial transaction.”

The true brilliance of the chapter is in the framing. We see the sect’s internal panic, then Han Li’s calm exploitation of it. The chapter ends with a clear victory: at the scheduled meeting time, a composed Sect Leader Wang announces that Han Li has vanished, leaving the rest of the high-ranking members dumbfounded and their greedy schemes completely nullified.

Reading Guide

We don’t see the details of the transaction itself, which is a brilliant narrative choice. The mystery makes Han Li’s victory feel even more absolute. The chapter confirms a key character rule: Han Li will never fall for the ‘grateful subordinate’ trap. He operates on a purely transactional basis. This chapter is a critical turning point for his character arc. He is no longer just surviving within the sect; he is actively manipulating its leadership and cutting his ties on his own terms. The sight of the high-ranking members sitting in stunned silence, their intricate plots rendered useless by a single, strategic conversation, is one of the most satisfying moments of the early novel.