Han Li was somewhat taken aback by the information Little Calculator, or Jin Dongbao as he introduced himself, had just revealed. He had been completely unaware of the recent events surrounding the Seven Peaks Sect and the growing tension between the sect and the Wild Wolf Gang. It seemed the world outside had changed dramatically during his seclusion.
"You really don't know about all this?" Jin Dongbao exclaimed. "Even if you were in seclusion, your master should have briefed you on such matters." His tone had an edge of surprise, and it was clear he thought Han Li had been living under a rock.
Not willing to let this go unanswered, Han Li calmly pulled out a token from his waist and handed it to Jin Dongbao.
Jin Dongbao's eyes widened as he glanced at the token. "Oh! Of course! I can trust you, Han Shixiong!" His voice softened as he quickly scanned the token and saw that it was legitimate. "I must have been a bit too hasty earlier. You're definitely someone of standing in the sect. Apologies!"
"Now, can you tell me what's really going on?" Han Li asked, his patience wearing thin.
"Of course, of course!" Jin Dongbao immediately switched gears, quickly divulging the details.
It turned out that in recent years, the conflicts between the Seven Peaks Sect and the Wild Wolf Gang had escalated significantly. The two sides had fought numerous skirmishes over a handful of disputed towns, resulting in significant losses for both factions. The Wild Wolf Gang's members were known for being ruthless, trained as marauders who fought with complete abandon. In contrast, while Seven Peaks Sect disciples were skilled, they lacked the vicious edge needed to fight such brutal opponents. This often resulted in the sect suffering higher casualties.
After several brutal skirmishes, the sect's leaders could no longer stand by. They sent out most of their inner disciples to participate in the ongoing battles. The reasoning was twofold: first, to defend the valuable territories; second, to give disciples some real-world battle experience. But despite their martial prowess, the inner disciples had little experience with the savagery of the Wild Wolf Gang, which led to even more casualties among the sect's ranks. Some senior disciples even never returned from these missions.
"After all that," Jin Dongbao sighed, "the sect adjusted its approach. They decided to send inner disciples on less important missions first, letting them gain some experience before throwing them into the heat of battle. That helped reduce casualties. Eventually, it became an official rule: all disciples must go out into the world to experience the Jianghu before they can hold any important positions in the sect."
Han Li nodded, understanding now why there were so few senior disciples around. Most had either been sent out on missions or were engaged in battles with the Wild Wolf Gang. The sect had changed, and the once-thriving internal structure now seemed to be made up mostly of younger disciples who had yet to prove themselves.
As they were talking, the match between Li the Tiger and Zhao Ziling was drawing to a close. With a loud clang, Zhao Ziling's soft sword was sent flying through the air, landing with a soft thud several feet away. Zhao Ziling staggered back, clutching his hand where it had been injured by Li's powerful strikes.
With a forced smile, Zhao Ziling bowed. "Senior Brother Li, your skill is truly unparalleled. I, Zhao Ziling, admit defeat." His words were filled with admiration, despite his clear frustration at being outclassed.
The crowd erupted into cheers, calling out, "Senior Brother Li, what a magnificent technique!" "Incredible swordplay!" "Senior Brother Li, show us more!"
Li the Tiger, however, didn't bask in the limelight. He sheathed his long blade with an almost casual elegance, his face flushed with slight embarrassment from the sudden attention. Just as he was about to speak, his expression shifted, and his brow furrowed. Something seemed to have caught his attention.
"I have urgent matters to attend to," he said curtly, clasping his hands in a quick salute. Without another word, he turned and effortlessly leapt into the air, vanishing into the nearby pine forest with a flourish of his light-footed technique.
The crowd continued to shout in awe. "Wow, not only is his blade skill superb, but his light-foot technique is phenomenal!"
"Indeed!" "Amazing!"
Han Li watched with a faint frown. Li the Tiger was clearly skilled, but his tendency to show off seemed a bit excessive. Han Li found himself shaking his head slightly. Perhaps he's just young and full of energy, he thought. He'll learn in time.
Despite his thoughts, Han Li realized that he himself was hardly any older than these disciples, but his mindset had begun to feel far more mature than his peers. Has the meditative cultivation I've been doing for years made me this old in spirit?
His musings were interrupted when he glanced over at Jin Dongbao, still standing by his side. "I don't think I ever caught your name," Han Li said suddenly, realizing he didn't even know the name of the person he'd been conversing with.
"Ah, of course! I'm Jin Dongbao, but you can call me 'Little Calculator'! It's the nickname everyone knows me by." Jin Dongbao grinned broadly, clearly flattered that Han Li had asked for his name. It was clear he had hopes of riding Han Li's coattails.
Han Li gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder. "If you ever get hurt or sick, just come to me. I'll treat you for free." He smiled, nodding to the ongoing scuffle in the arena where another argument had begun to erupt. Without waiting for a reply, Han Li turned and walked toward the nearby pine forest, deciding he'd had enough of the spectacle.
Jin Dongbao, left behind, stood frozen for a moment, still processing what Han Li had said. He then snapped out of his daze, unable to quite understand the meaning behind Han Li's words. Did he just... offer to treat me for free?
With a puzzled expression, he returned his gaze to the rowdy scene, unsure of what had just transpired.