An Unexpected Encounter

1,775 words

Chapter 276: An Unexpected Encounter

After spending most of the spirit stones in his pouch, Han Li had managed to gather most of the ingredients needed for the new ancient pill formula.

For the remaining deficiencies, Han Li gritted his teeth. After taking the risk of selling two four-hundred-year-old spirit herbs, he resolved to participate in a few more missions hunting down demonic cultivators. This way, he could earn a considerable bounty of spirit stones, and the contents of the enemy's storage pouches could be exchanged for even more.

With the several Talisman Treasures in his possession and the power of the Great Derivative Art, Han Li could safely escape even if he encountered a late Foundation Establishment cultivator. Conversely, if an early or mid Foundation Establishment demonic cultivator ran into Han Li, they would naturally have no chance to fight back and would perish at his hands.

Of course, a freak like the Ghost Spirit Sect's Young Master, with his Foundation Establishment cultivation, would never participate in such operations due to his status.

As a result, over the past year, Han Li had gained a small reputation among the Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Seven Sects.

Everyone knew that Yellow Maple Valley had produced a new ruthless character. Though only at mid Foundation Establishment, he had ambushed and killed over a dozen demonic cultivators in a row and escaped unscathed, which was considered incredible.

Han Li had used the spirit stones he earned to gather the remaining materials for the ancient formula. He had heard that the camps of the other sects also had similar trading posts, so he had asked this Fatty Chen to keep an eye out for any pill formulas. However, it seemed there was no luck today.

Han Li was about to take his leave when a waft of fragrant wind suddenly blew past him.

Slightly startled, Han Li turned his head to see a cold and beautiful female cultivator standing behind him.

Recognizing that moving face and full figure, Han Li's expression remained unchanged on the surface, but his heart grew a little uneasy. It was Junior Chen, with whom he had shared an intimate moment. Thinking back to that fiery and passionate night, a strange feeling stirred within him.

He hadn't seen this woman since they parted ways at the forbidden land, and he didn't know when she had arrived here.

"Fifth Uncle, this is what you asked for!"

Junior Chen gave Han Li a brief, indifferent glance. A flicker of surprise passed through her eyes before she walked up to Fatty Chen and handed him a storage pouch.

"Hehe, Qiaoqian, my dear niece, you've come just in time! We're in a hurry for this batch of goods!" Fatty Chen was overjoyed to see her, his chubby face trembling as he spoke.

"Fifth Uncle?"

Han Li was stunned by this form of address.

He had never imagined that the fat man he had known for over half a year was actually Junior Chen's elder. With his mid Foundation Establishment cultivation, he must hold a high position in the Chen Clan.

Aside from that first glance, Junior Chen remained coldly indifferent and didn't even look in Han's direction. This left Han Li feeling a bit uncomfortable.

"Brother Chen, I'll take my leave now. I'll come again another day!" Not wanting to linger, Han Li spoke a few polite words and turned to walk out of the exchange hall.

Only then did Chen Qiaoqiao cast a cold glance at Han Li's retreating figure. With a furrowed brow, she asked Fatty Chen, who was inspecting the storage pouch:

"Fifth Uncle, did that coward come to you to buy something?"

"Coward?"

Fatty Chen was completely baffled by Chen Qiaoqiao's question.

"Mm, the guy who was standing here just now!"

"You mean… Han Li?" Fatty Chen blinked his little eyes, a look of disbelief spreading across his face.

"That's the one. What's wrong with that?" Chen Qiaoqiao asked, a little mystified.

From their trip to the forbidden land, Han Li had not left this Junior Chen with a good impression. She had always thought of him as a lucky speculator who avoided battles.

Fatty Chen was silent for a moment, then suddenly sighed. His tone became somewhat strange as he said:

"Qiaoqiao, you've just arrived, so there are some things you don't know yet. I don't know why you think this guy is a coward, but your fellow sect member has a considerable reputation here. He's a fierce character who has wiped out over a dozen Foundation Establishment cultivators. He is by no means an ordinary person. I was even thinking that after this war is over, I would recommend him to the Clan Leader. If we could win this man over, he would be a great help!"

"He wiped out over a dozen Foundation Establishment cultivators?" Junior Chen was stunned, a look of horror appearing on her previously cold face. She simply couldn't believe what she was hearing.

She couldn't help but stare blankly at the entrance of the exchange hall, but by now, Han Li had already left the building.

After leaving the exchange, Han Li pondered for a moment before heading towards his master Li Huayuan's residence. He planned to pay his respects as usual, fulfilling his duties as a disciple.

As a Core Formation cultivator, Li Huayuan's residence naturally couldn't be compared to that of an ordinary cultivator. He lived in a very comfortable house at the very center of the great formation, and his young wife lived with him.

Of the seven senior fellow apprentices Han Li had, aside from the eldest, who was still stationed at Green Wave Cave, the others were all away on missions. Only Han Li and his Fourth Senior Brother, Song Meng, remained here.

When Han Li had first arrived at this place, he had gone to pay his respects to Li Huayuan. His master had been taken aback and greatly surprised by Han Li's mid Foundation Establishment cultivation.

After all, only a few years had passed since Han Li had successfully established his foundation.

Under normal circumstances, even a cultivator with excellent aptitude would need over ten years to advance from the early stage to the mid stage. The speed of Han Li's progress naturally piqued Li Huayuan's curiosity.

After checking Han Li's body and finding no clues, he asked about the reason for his rapid increase in cultivation.

Naturally, Han Li didn't reveal the truth. Instead, he put on an act of ignorance, leaving Li Huayuan feeling frustrated for a while before finally letting the matter go. After all, with a major enemy at their doorstep, he had no time to spend too long studying this issue.

Regarding the Yan Clan's defection and Dong Xuan'er's capture, Li Huayuan and Hong Fu were both aware. Apart from being extremely furious, they didn't blame Han Li too harshly. After all, the enemy was too strong, and it was already difficult enough for Han Li to have escaped with his own life.

As Han Li was thinking this, he arrived outside Li Huayuan's residence.

To his surprise, his Fourth Senior Brother, Song Meng, was standing outside the house with his arms crossed, looking exceptionally alert, as if he were standing guard.

Seeing Han Li, Song Meng's face broke into a slight smile. He said in a deep voice, "Junior Han, here to pay your respects to our master again?"

Han Li gave a soft chuckle and replied with an "Mm."

Since Han Li had earned his fame, this Senior Brother Song had forced a sparring match with him in a secluded spot. Although Han Li had won by a narrow margin thanks to his sharp artifacts, their relationship had gradually warmed, and the fellow apprentices had begun to chat and laugh with each other.

"Junior Han, our master is discussing matters with a few guests inside. Wait outside for a moment! Speaking of which, I've recently made some progress with my technique. How about we have a sparring match later?" Song Meng said with a grin, explaining the situation to Han Li. But then he immediately made a suggestion that gave Han Li a headache.

Ever since this Senior Brother Song had lost to him, he would ask for a rematch almost every time they met. Han Li, however, was naturally unwilling to casually reveal his true capabilities and steadfastly refused.

If they were back at Yellow Maple Valley, this Senior Brother Song would certainly not let him off so easily! But fortunately, here there were many powerful cultivators to serve as opponents. After pestering Han Li a few times with no result, Song Meng couldn't stand it anymore and went looking for others. This, at least, allowed Han Li to breathe a sigh of relief.

So, upon hearing the last sentence, Han Li gave a wry smile and didn't dare to pick up that thread.

However, Han Li was somewhat curious about the guests meeting with Li Huayuan. The fact that Song Meng had used the word "discussing" meant the people inside were most likely Core Formation cultivators.

Just as he was about to try and pry some information from Song Meng, the tightly shut door suddenly swung open, and several male and female cultivators walked out.

Li Huayuan and his wife followed closely behind, seeing them off with cupped fists.

As expected, they were all Core Formation cultivators! Han Li saw them clearly. Four men and three women, all with unfathomably deep cultivation.

He and Song Meng didn't dare to block their path and quickly stepped aside, standing respectfully with their hands down.

Li Huayuan glanced at Han Li and smiled slightly, but didn't pay any more attention. The other cultivators also noticed Han Li, but most just swept a glance over him. After all, a mid Foundation Establishment cultivator wasn't worth their notice.

However, one female cultivator, tall and perfectly proportioned with a veil covering her face, had just finished scanning Han Li when her body suddenly trembled, and she stopped in her tracks. At the same time, a pair of bright, clear eyes flashed with a strange, unidentifiable emotion.

"Fairy Nan Gong, have you seen my worthless disciple before?"

The other cultivators noticed the female cultivator's strange behavior and looked at her with some surprise. Li Huayuan, feeling quite puzzled, couldn't help but ask.

The words "Fairy Nan Gong" struck Han Li's ears like a hammer, making his heart skip a beat. A complex melange of emotions surged within him.

Though he managed to control his expression and keep it unchanged, he couldn't help but look at this female cultivator.

Share to

Reading Guide Decoding

Old Flames and New Reputations: Han Li Meets His Past

Cultural / Xianxia Notes

The "Fairy Nan Gong" Tag. The term "Fairy" (仙子, xianzi) is the standard honorific for female cultivators in xianxia, but it's far more than a simple "Miss." It directly invokes the Daoist concept of an immortal woman, a sublime being of purity and immense power. When a group of aloof Core Formation cultivators casually throws around a title like "Fairy Nan Gong," it signals to everyone listening that this woman is not just a cultivator, but a figure of legendary status and immense respect. For a lowly mid-Foundation cultivator like Han Li, hearing her addressed this way reinforces the terrifying gulf in their social and power standing, making her knowing him all the more shocking and dangerous.

Chapter Overview

Well, well, well. Look who finally showed up. After months of building his rep as the silent, cold-blooded assassin of the battlefield, our boy Han Li runs into not one, but two ghosts from his past. First, it's Chen Qiaoqiao, the woman he had a very... memorable encounter with in the forbidden land. Her utter shock at learning Han Li is now a legendary killer is a delicious slice of schadenfreude. But the real punch lands at the end, when he goes to visit his master and finds himself face-to-face with a veiled figure he never expected to see again: Fairy Nan Gong. The chapter is a masterclass in understated tension, a quiet breather in the middle of a war where old debts and simmering emotions threaten to boil over.

Key Plot Points

Han Li has been using the war as a gruesome but highly profitable business trip. By hunting down demonic cultivators, he's funded the rest of his ancient pill formula ingredients and gained a fearsome reputation as a mid-Foundation Establishment killer who has taken down over a dozen enemies. At the trading post, he runs into Chen Qiaoqian (Chen Qiaoqiao), who coldly ignores him. When she asks her "Fifth Uncle"—the very fat merchant Han Li has been dealing with—about the "coward," he reveals Han Li's true, bloody reputation, leaving her utterly stunned. Later, Han Li goes to pay respects to his master, Li Huayuan. Outside, he's ambushed by his fight-hungry Fourth Senior Brother, Song Meng, who keeps trying to drag him into a spar. But the real drama unfolds when a group of Core Formation cultivators exits Li Huayuan's residence. One, a veiled woman called "Fairy Nan Gong," reacts with a visible shock upon seeing Han Li, a reaction that does not go unnoticed.

Reading Guide

This chapter is a masterclass in "Mortal Stream" social dynamics. What isn't said is far more important than what is. The entire scene with Fatty Chen and Chen Qiaoqiao is a demonstration of how a reputation can rewrite a person's past. Han Li was a coward in her eyes because he survived; now he's a ruthless killer because he thrived in that same environment. The true power play, however, is that final moment. Fairy Nan Gong's flinch is a grenade thrown into the middle of a diplomatic meeting. A Core Formation elder showing a flicker of recognition for a "nameless" mid-stage disciple is a major social flag. Everyone in that room is now asking the same question, and the tension isn't in the words spoken, but in the silence that follows that shock. Watch how Han Li navigates being a person of interest to beings of absolute power.

Why Han Li's Reputation is a Double-Edged Sword

On the surface, becoming a known quantity as a "formidable killer" is a good thing. It allows him to negotiate from a position of strength and discourages random predators from attacking him. But in the logic of the Mortal Stream, a bright flame attracts moths. A known "ruthless character" with a pile of spirit stones and a collection of demonic cultivator loot is now a target. Other high-tier cultivators, even those on his own side, will start watching him more closely, wondering about his secrets. His efficiency has made him a variable that powerful people now have their eyes on, and for a man who prizes anonymity above all else, this newfound fame is the most dangerous enemy he could have made.

The Power of the Unspoken

The final scene is a clinic in subtext. Han Li's internal "all kinds of feelings" (五味瓶) is the classic Chinese idiom describing a heart turned upside down by a flood of bitter, sweet, sour, spicy, and salty feelings. He doesn't move, he doesn't speak, and he controls his face perfectly. The question is, can he control his own aura? Can he hide his storm of emotions from the seven Core Formation cultivators who are now looking at him with fresh, analytical eyes? The chapter doesn’t tell us the answer; it forces us to watch Han Li as he desperately tries to maintain his mask of empty calm under the heaviest scrutiny he's ever faced. That, right there, is the real fight of this chapter.