"Bang!" Han Li clenched his fists tightly and slammed one of them onto the table with a crash.
"Use a tool to smash the bottle open." This was the conclusion he had reached after much contemplation.
Smashing it with brute force was something he had considered early on but hadn't wanted to resort to. While it seemed the simplest, most direct approach, the thought of destroying such a beautiful and unusual bottle made his heart ache. He was reluctant, not wanting to ruin it, especially if there was a chance of opening it in a less destructive way.
As for asking someone else for help, Han Li had already unknowingly made this bottle his own treasure, unwilling to let anyone else discover it. After all, everyone in the valley could potentially be the rightful owner of the bottle, and if they found out it was in his possession, he could be forced to give it back. This bottle was too pretty and intriguing for Han Li to part with—it was something he wasn't willing to lose.
His curiosity about what was inside the bottle had reached a fever pitch. Even though he suspected it might be empty, Han Li couldn't help but hope that whatever was inside would be more interesting than the bottle itself. The more he thought about it, the more restless he became. If he didn't uncover the mystery, he wouldn't be able to sleep at night.
After making up his mind, Han Li quietly sneaked into the storage room in the valley, picking out a small, heavy hammer from a pile of tools. He took it back to his room.
Inside, he found a piece of discarded hard green brick and set it down on a relatively flat spot on the floor. He carefully placed the bottle on the brick, then raised the hammer in his right hand. It hovered briefly in the air before Han Li decisively struck the bottle's most prominent part—the belly.
Bang!
Han Li had purposely struck lightly, cautious not to break whatever might be inside. When the bottle didn't crack, he let out a sigh of relief and decided to increase the force.
Bang! — Half-strength.
Bang! — Seven-tenths strength.
Bang! — Full strength.
Bang! — A final blow, using all his might.
By now, the force was immense. With the last blow, half of the bottle had been driven into the green brick. Yet, remarkably, the bottle remained completely intact, with no sign of cracking.
Han Li was stunned. He nervously ran his hand over the spot where the hammer had struck, but there was no dent, no mark, not even a crack. The bottle was still as smooth and pristine as before, glowing green with its intricate patterns still visible.
This was completely unexpected.
At that moment, Han Li realized just how special this bottle truly was. It was far beyond ordinary, and it was definitely not something that had been discarded deliberately. Most likely, its owner had simply lost it by accident. Han Li began to worry that whoever had lost it might be searching for it right now. If he wanted to keep it, he would have to guard it carefully—no one else could see this bottle.
Han Li was certain that, as long as he wasn't actively stealing or taking something that wasn't his, anything found on the ground was fair game. Had it been an ordinary item, he might have returned it to its owner. But the bottle was far from ordinary, and Han Li suspected it had been dropped by one of the wealthy or influential families in the mountain. He had no love for either group.
Growing up poor, Han Li had always been acutely aware of how the rich spent their money without care. The disciples from wealthy families at the Seven Mysteries Sect often flaunted their privileges, wasting money on luxuries while those like Han Li struggled for even one decent meal. He despised their arrogance, their condescension, and the way they looked down on people like him. On more than one occasion, Han Li had been humiliated by the children of these wealthy families, even getting into fights with them. In one such incident, he had been beaten badly and forced to stay in bed for several days before he could recover.
As for the higher-ups in the sect, Han Li didn't have much respect for them either. From the bribes that Elder Wang had taken from his uncle to the way Wei Yan had used the influence of Deputy Sect Leader Ma to join the Seven Absolutes Hall, Han Li's illusions about powerful people had long since shattered.
So, when he thought about the possibility of returning the bottle to one of these people, he couldn't bring himself to do it. Instead, he resolved to hide it away. If it was someone from a wealthy family or a high-ranking disciple who had lost it, he would rather keep the bottle than see it returned to them.
With this in mind, Han Li reached up and took the small leather pouch hanging around his neck. This pouch had been sewn for him by his mother before he left home. It was made from animal hide, waterproof and moisture-resistant, and was meant to carry a peace charm made from wild boar tusks. His mother had hoped it would keep him safe from harm, but now Han Li decided it would serve another purpose.
He opened the pouch and placed the bottle inside alongside the peace charm. After tightening the drawstring, he hung it back around his neck.
Looking around to make sure no one was nearby, Han Li patted the pouch resting against his chest, feeling a small sense of relief. He no longer had to worry about someone finding the bottle and asking for it back.
With a calm heart, Han Li quietly returned the hammer to its original spot and left his room. He wandered around the valley for a while, casually making his way through the area. As night fell, he limped back to his quarters, relieved that no one had seen him with the bottle.