On the way back, Han Li encountered only a few people. A couple of passing senior brothers noticed him walking with a slight limp and were slightly surprised, but they said nothing to him—clearly no one paid much attention to this younger brother. Upon returning to his quarters, the pain in his feet became much more severe. Han Li quickly sat by the bedside, gently removing his shoes and socks, then checked his injuries. The swelling was quite remarkable! The thumb of his right foot had risen prominently, with the skin at the injury site swollen and glowing red—like a bright, vivid chili pepper. Han Li reached for the wooden pillow beside his bed and pulled out a small bottle from beneath it. This was a specially prepared external remedy crafted by Doctor Mo, effective against bruises, swelling, even bleeding. He had fought hard to obtain this from Doctor Mo, originally planning to use it when Zhang Tie underwent training in the "Xiang Jia" technique and sustained injuries—yet now he found himself using it himself. Once the bottle’s lid was opened, a rich medicinal fragrance filled the entire room. A light coating of powder was carefully applied to the swollen toe, instantly bringing a refreshing sensation—a true testament to Doctor Mo's secret remedy. Doctor Mo's medical skill truly deserves praise! Han Li then fetched a clean cloth and wrapped the injured toe tightly into a large bundle before putting on his new shoes and socks. Well! The pain had significantly eased. He slowly walked back and forth, feeling quite satisfied with how efficiently he managed his injury. Now came the time to examine that mysterious bottle—the very source of his serious injuries. Han Li reached into his vest and pulled out the bottle. He then wiped it clean with a fresh cloth, now revealing its full appearance. The bottle was not large—enough to be comfortably held in one palm—and slightly smaller than his own medicine bottle. Its entire body displayed a soft, pale green hue, adorned with several deep-green patterns resembling leaf shapes, vividly rendered and distinctly raised to the touch, as though real leaves had been embedded directly into the surface. He weighed it carefully—it felt quite heavy, yet clearly not made of any known metal or ceramic material he was familiar with. The surface lacked the typical coolness of common metals nor the smooth texture found in ordinary ceramics. After observing it thoroughly, Han Li confidently concluded that this bottle was crafted from some unknown substance. The pale green color appeared natural—part of the inherent hue of the material itself, not artificially dyed. When he saw the tightly sealed lid, curiosity prompted him to open the bottle immediately and see what lay inside. He placed his hand on the lid again and began turning it with increasing force. One twist, two twists, three twists… The lid and body of the bottle seemed forged as one, utterly immovable—no sign of movement at all. Han Li was startled. When he first picked up the bottle, he hadn’t been able to turn it. At that time, however, his primary concern had been his injuries, so he had not made a great effort and thus didn’t give it much thought. He had assumed now, with full strength applied, opening it would be an easy task—yet it still wasn’t possible. Han Li continued twisting the lid for several dozen times, until his arms grew sore. Still, without success—he paused. He shook out his arms, gently stretching and rotating his wrists, having felt some strain from applying so much force earlier. He then carefully examined the bottle again, close-up, at eye level. Unfortunately, no hidden mechanisms were visible on its surface. Now Han Li found himself genuinely puzzled—without opening the lid, how could he know what was inside? If there was something within, given the unusual nature of this bottle and its tight seal, it must be a particularly valuable item. Han Li held the bottle tightly in his hands, staring at it with quiet contemplation. Finally, he decided to ask Zhang Tie—to try whether his greater strength could unlock the lid. After all, currently Zhang Tie was able to lift water barrels weighing nearly tens of buckets with each hand and move swiftly up and down the mountain—every large water tank in the valley was filled by him daily. With this decision settled, Han Li went to Zhang Tie’s room and waited for him there, hoping he would return soon. Waiting proved rather uncomfortable. Han Li found time dragging on—longer than expected—before finally hearing the soft "creak" of Zhang Tie pushing open the door. As soon as he looked up, Han Li saw Zhang Tie entering in a thin blue robe, his body subtly radiating warmth and covered in sweat—he knew this was simply a normal phenomenon after completing his practice session and found it no surprise at all. Upon seeing Han Li inside his own room, Zhang Tie paused, slightly taken aback. Before he could speak, Han Li had already placed the bottle directly into his hands with growing impatience. "Brother Zhang, could you help me? Can you open this bottle for me?" "What did you find it in?" asked Zhang Tie, mildly surprised. "Does it look good?" "Ahhh—!" He paused and then responded, "This thing is quite sturdy—it's very hard to turn! What exactly is it made of?" Zhang Tie didn’t hesitate—he immediately applied both hands with full strength, yet still couldn’t open the lid. "Unfortunatelly," he shook his head with a gesture of apology, "I can't manage it. Would you mind asking one of the other senior brothers to try?" Could it be that Zhang Tie also wasn’t able? Han Li felt increasingly anxious and began circling within the room. "Oh!" said Zhang Tie, noticing Han Li’s gait was now slightly off. "Just a small stone I tripped over while walking," Han Li replied. He didn’t know why—but he simply didn't want to reveal the details about this mysterious bottle. Perhaps it had become an unconscious secret of his own. Now, feeling both disappointed and somewhat discouraged, Han Li found little energy for casual conversation. He briefly inquired about Zhang Tie’s practice routine before leaving his room, determined to return and find a way to solve the mystery of the sealed bottle. Back at his small quarters, Han Li placed the bottle upright on the table and knelt beside it, fixing his gaze tightly upon it while his mind raced with rapid thought—working hard to discover just what method might unlock this enigmatic vessel.