Hopes and Heartsickness

1,223 words

After finally settling down in a guest room at the rear residence of the Mo Estate, Han Li was somewhat surprised when Mo Caihuan, showing unexpected tact, did not linger and quickly took her leave. Her suddenly demure demeanor was quite out of character.

Unable to ascertain the exact attitude of the Mo household members toward him, or whether he was still in any danger, Han Li did not truly sleep the entire night, only dozing off lightly on the bed.

By the following morning, as he lay in a hazy state, a series of sharp knocks came from outside. Bang! Bang!

“Could it be that little vixen?” Han Li frowned, but then lightly shook his head. The rhythm of these knocks is too steady. It doesn’t suit Mo Caihuan’s style at all. And not many people should even know I’m staying here.

Still a bit puzzled, he found a cloth to wash his face before opening the door. Standing outside was a young man of about twenty, with thick eyebrows and large eyes.

As soon as the young man saw Han Li, he sized him up, then cupped his fist in greeting and called out with great enthusiasm, “You must be Junior Han! I am Yan Ge. I suppose you could call me your senior brother.”

“Yan Ge!” Han Li recalled the name. This man was Doctor Mo’s first disciple.

“Haha! Although I was Master’s first disciple, my aptitude isn’t very good. I haven’t truly inherited much of his skill. I’m afraid I’ve brought shame to him.” Yan Ge said this to Han Li with great candor.

Seeing the young man’s frankness, Han Li couldn’t help but feel some goodwill toward him and promptly returned the greeting. “Senior Brother Yan, good morning! Please, come inside and talk.”

“No need. The madams sent me to fetch you. They have matters to discuss with you and would like you to come see them.” Yan Ge waved his hand, speaking with a smile.

Han Li was taken aback for a moment, but quickly nodded in agreement. He closed the door and walked side-by-side with Yan Ge.

Yan Ge was extremely curious about Han Li’s affairs and asked questions without any reservation along the way, even showing curiosity about the customs and people of Yue Province, pressing for many details.

As the two passed by the rear garden, they unexpectedly encountered a young man and woman—none other than Mo Yuzhu and Wu Jianming, whom Han Li had seen from afar the day before. The pair was strolling side-by-side through the garden, presenting a picture of romantic harmony. The sight left a bad taste in Han Li’s mouth, a strange feeling as if something of his had been taken away.

The couple clearly noticed them as well and walked over. When they drew close, Mo Yuzhu merely swept her gaze over the unremarkable Han Li without a word. Wu Jianming, however, scrutinized Han Li with a puzzled expression.

“Senior Brother Yan, good morning. This little brother looks quite unfamiliar. May I ask which master’s disciple he is?” Wu Jianming asked with a smile.

Han Li expected the senior brother beside him to take the lead and deflect the question. But after waiting for a while, he heard no sound from the man. Startled, he turned his head to glance at Yan Ge.

He was rendered speechless by what he saw.

Yan Ge had a look of utter infatuation on his face. He was staring blankly at the magnificent Mo Yuzhu, completely lost in his own world. How could he possibly react to Wu Jianming’s words?

Left with no choice, Han Li had to take matters into his own hands. Deliberately putting on a shy, embarrassed expression, he spoke in a humble tone. “I am a distant nephew of the Third Madam. My parents sent me to pay my respects and to ask if she could arrange a position for me.”

“Oh, is that so?” After hearing only Han Li’s first sentence, Wu Jianming completely lost interest in him. It was understandable; Han Li’s appearance was utterly unremarkable, and he bore none of the hallmarks of a martial artist. How could the esteemed young master Wu fail to misjudge him?

Wu Jianming, however, was now quite displeased with Yan Ge’s infatuated staring at Mo Yuzhu. His expression darkened, for the beauty beside him was, after all, his nominal fiancée.

Standing close to Mo Yuzhu, Han Li could see every nuance of expression on her face. She was frowning slightly, a look of displeasure evident. She was clearly irritated by Yan Ge’s blatant admiration.

“Senior Brother Yan, if there is nothing else, I shall take my leave with Young Master Wu.” Mo Yuzhu’s lips parted slightly as she said coldly, offering Yan Ge a perfunctory bow. She then turned and departed, with Wu Jianming following closely behind after letting out a snort at Yan Ge, saying nothing.

Han Li watched their retreating figures, a faint, peculiar smile tugging at his lips. He then turned to look at his senior brother, who was still standing rigidly, staring blankly in the direction they had gone.

Han Li sighed. This one is truly a hopeless romantic. But no matter how you look at it, it doesn’t seem like the eldest Miss Mo holds any affection for him. He’s probably become a bit of a nuisance to her.

He gave Yan Ge a firm slap on the shoulder, making the man jolt. The look of dazed confusion vanished from Yan Ge’s face as he finally snapped out of his trance.

“I’m sorry, Junior Han. You must have found that laughable.” Having regained his senses, Yan Ge’s face flushed bright red with shame at his own folly.

“It’s nothing. ‘A modest gentleman, seeking his lady fair’ is only natural. It’s a man’s instinct, nothing to be ashamed of,” Han Li said with a gentle, reassuring smile.

Yan Ge was not comforted by Han Li’s words. Instead, he gave a bitter smile and spoke slowly, “To be honest with you, Junior Han, I grew up with Yuzhu. While I can’t say we were childhood sweethearts, we did share a deep bond. But sadly, as she grew older, it seems she only ever saw me as an elder brother, nothing more. After being rejected several times, I gave up all hope. I only wished for her to find a good husband who could make her happy for life. But now… whenever I see her, I still can’t control myself. I end up making a fool of myself without even realizing it.” Yan Ge’s final words carried a hint of self-mockery.

Hearing this, Han Li fell silent. He looked at Yan Ge as if examining a rare antique. He had only ever heard of such lovesick men in books and stories, never thinking he would witness one with his own eyes.

If Yan Ge was being sincere, Han Li didn’t know whether to admire the man’s devotion or pity him for being a fool.

For the rest of the walk, Han Li deliberately steered the conversation to other topics, helping Yan Ge recover his composure. The two chatted and laughed as they arrived at the small building where Han Li had stayed the previous night, where Doctor Mo’s wives were waiting for him with a grand surprise.

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Reading Guide Decoding

The Master of Masks: Han Li Navigates a Political Storm of Love at the Mo Estate

Cultural / Xianxia Notes

Social Tribulation (社会试炼): This is a critical concept within the Mortal Stream genre that is sometimes overlooked. Unlike pure cultivation novels that focus solely on power levels and treasures, RMJI recognizes that navigating complex human relationships and political hierarchies is a form of conflict as dangerous as any battle. Han Li’s tactics here are not those of a warrior, but a spy. He reads the room, identifies the power dynamics (Wu Jianming is an arrogant noble, Yan Ge a lovesick fool), and selects a persona (the unassuming relative) that makes him a non-threat, a piece of furniture to be ignored. This is his primary method of controlling information in a low-power environment.

The 'Play-Act' Han Li: Note how Han Li’s internal ‘cold comfort’ is juxtaposed with his external ‘shy embarrassment.’ This is the defining characteristic of the late-stage Han Li. He has learned that the most effective concealment is not hiding in a cave, but hiding in plain sight, wearing a mask that makes others underestimate him. His immediate slip into a polite, hesitant demeanor after his sleepless night shows how instinctively he weaponizes his own persona.

Yan Ge as a 'Type': Yan Ge represents a stock character in Chinese fiction: the ‘love fool’ (情种, qing zhong). This is a figure of intense, often self-destructive romantic devotion. In the context of the cold, transactional world of cultivation, Yan Ge is a fascinating anachronism. His emotional honesty is a stark contrast to Han Li’s calculated performance, and his tragedy is that his world (and the woman he loves) has moved on to harsher, more practical realities. He is the last of a dying breed in this world of power and scheming.

Social Tribulation

A type of conflict in the Mortal Stream where the protagonist must navigate complex human relationships and political hierarchies with the same cold calculation as a physical battle.

Social Bluffing

A core survival tactic in the Mortal Stream, where a protagonist uses ambiguous information and an opponent's own expectations to force a favorable outcome without physical violence.

Ascension Assembly

A competitive gathering where low-level cultivators compete for the right to join an immortal sect; referenced here as a path for those unable to break through naturally.

Radiance Pill

A fragrant pill associated with imperial concubines, known for its long-lasting aroma and mosquito-repelling effects.

Chapter Overview

Ah, fellow daoist, welcome to a chapter of pure, unadulterated social tribulation! After the brutal efficiency of Han Li’s cultivation and his bloody exit from the Seven Mysteries Sect, we now find him in a far more treacherous environment: the inner politics of a wealthy mortal household. Chapter 114, "Yan Ge's Foolish Heart," serves as a masterclass in Han Li's other core skill set—his ability to read a room, don a mask, and use information asymmetry as his primary weapon. He is no longer a martial prodigy or a lone wolf; he is a shy, humble nephew, a role he plays with chilling precision. But the chapter’s true soul is the tragic, almost archaeological discovery of a genuine romantic—Senior Brother Yan Ge. Yan Ge is a relic of a simpler, more emotional world, a man who wears his heart on his sleeve for a woman who has long since moved on. Get ready for a chapter where the sharpest blade is a feigned blush, and the greatest monster is a broken heart. We are now deep in the 'Social Tribulation' arc, and the stakes are entirely different.

Key Plot Points

Han Li spends an uneasy first night in the Mo Estate, remaining vigilant due to the uncertain attitude of his hosts.
The next morning, he is fetched by Yan Ge, Doctor Mo's first disciple, who is talkative and curious about Han Li’s background.
During their walk, they encounter Mo Yuzhu and Wu Jianming in the garden, a couple whose public display of affection irritates Han Li.
Yan Ge is immediately rendered speechless by his infatuation with Yuzhu, leaving Han Li to handle the social introduction alone.
Han Li deploys a masterful social bluff, posing as a shy, low-status relative seeking a favor, instantly making himself forgettable to the arrogant Wu Jianming.
Mo Yuzhu expresses clear displeasure at Yan Ge’s persistent, open admiration, reinforcing the hopelessness of his feelings.
After they leave, Han Li snaps Yan Ge out of his daze and listens to the man’s frank confession of a lifetime of unrequited love.
Han Li evaluates Yan Ge as a ‘rare antique’—a character type he has only ever read about in stories.
The chapter ends with them arriving at the small building where the wives of Doctor Mo await Han Li with a ‘grand surprise.’

Reading Guide

Watch the Mask Slip: Pay close attention to the transition from Han Li’s internal annoyance to his external performance. The gap between what he thinks and what he says is the primary source of tension and humor in this chapter.
Pity the Senior Brother: Yan Ge is not a fool; he is a victim of his own virtue. In a world that rewards cunning, his sincerity is his fatal flaw. Try to see his confession not as pathetic, but as a quiet, desperate act of defiance against a world that has moved on without him.
The 'Cold Comfort' is Key: When Han Li offers a quote from the Book of Songs (诗经), it is not genuine empathy; it is a calculated social lubricant. He is ‘handling’ an emotional situation with a polished, classical response. This is a glimpse into his growing arsenal of social tools, borrowed from the classics to smooth over awkward human interactions.
Foreshadowing the 'Surprise': The final line about the wives waiting to give Han Li a “grand surprise” is a classic xianxia cliffhanger. In the Mortal Stream, a “surprise” from authority figures is rarely good news. It is a promise of a new test, a new negotiation, or a new trap for the protagonist to navigate.