- **Military-Grade Repeating Crossbows (军用连珠弩)**: A staple of ancient Chinese warfare, the repeating crossbow allowed for rapid volleys of bolts, sacrificing range and power for rate of fire. In a xianxia context, seeing mundane weaponry wreak such havoc on cultivators is a brutal reminder: no matter how skilled you are, a prepared formation of mortals with the right tools can still negate individual prowess. It’s the ultimate anti-climax for a martial artist’s ego. - **Scapegoat Culture (替罪羔羊)**: The term literally translates to “substitute lamb,” an idiom deeply rooted in Chinese history and bureaucracy. In the hierarchical world of Jianghu sects, when a catastrophe occurs, the blame rarely falls on the highest authority. The “middle layer”—those with enough status to be credible but not enough power to defend themselves—is the classic sacrificial demographic. Li Feiyu’s fear is not paranoia; it’s a correct read of his environment.
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Definition
- **Military-Grade Repeating Crossbows (军用连珠弩)**: A staple of ancient Chinese warfare, the repeating crossbow allowed for rapid volleys of bolts, sacrificing range and power for rate of fire. In a xianxia context, seeing mundane weaponry wreak such havoc on cultivators is a brutal reminder: no matter how skilled you are, a prepared formation of mortals with the right tools can still negate individual prowess. It’s the ultimate anti-climax for a martial artist’s ego. - **Scapegoat Culture (替罪羔羊)**: The term literally translates to “substitute lamb,” an idiom deeply rooted in Chinese history and bureaucracy. In the hierarchical world of Jianghu sects, when a catastrophe occurs, the blame rarely falls on the highest authority. The “middle layer”—those with enough status to be credible but not enough power to defend themselves—is the classic sacrificial demographic. Li Feiyu’s fear is not paranoia; it’s a correct read of his environment.
Story context
The brutal reality of the Wild Wolf Gang’s assault sinks in as Li Feiyu recounts the full, harrowing story of the negotiation team’s annihilation. This is not a chapter of action, but of cold information exchange and tactical recalibration. Han Li pieces together the enemy’s strategy while Li Feiyu reveals the scale of the sect’s collapse, his personal trauma, and the looming threat of scapegoating from their own leadership. The chapter ends with a pragmatic decision: consolidate survivors, gather intelligence, and only then decide the next move. It’s a masterclass in Mortal Stream survival logic—don’t react, analyze.
Why it matters
Welcome to the part of the cultivation story where the power fantasy takes a vacation. No breakthroughs, no hidden techniques, no single-handed victories. Just two cornered mice comparing notes on the cat’s movements. This chapter is pure *RMJI* gold because it shoves the genre’s biggest trope—the hero charging into the boss fight—out the window. Han Li’s first and only instinct is *information control*. He doesn’t ask “how do we fight them?” He asks “how did we lose?” The answer changes his entire calculation. Also, keep an eye on Li Feiyu’s contradictory behavior: a fierce killer who trembles at the memory of crossbow bolts, yet who treats his love life like a doomed romantic tragedy. The man is a walking bundle of sharp contradictions, and Han Li (with a mix of contempt and envy) is just a spectator.
Quick facts
Source novel
A Record Of A Mortal S Journey To Immortality
First appearance
The Calm Before the Counterstrike
Chapter references
1
Type hints
wild wolf gang ambush, repeating crossbows, sect warfare strategy
Guide tags
Politics & Strategy, Suspense, Character Analysis
Appears in chapters
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