Chapter 109: Between Each Other

"A man who has been missing for three years does not reappear without cause. Especially one who has walked the line between life and death. Ignore him for now; such a person may yet prove useful to us. Let him stir up some trouble first. Go to Qilian Mountain for me and tell them the opportunity to eliminate Shen Wan-san is at hand!" Xiao Jinghao was no ordinary man. Even if he felt a flicker of surprise, it vanished from his face as quickly as it had appeared, replaced by a profound, inscrutable smile. To the scout, however, the reason mattered little; his duty was simply to obey. The more one knew, the more dangerous life became.

Of course, even a man as calculating as Xiao Jinghao could not foresee everything; had he been able to, he would no longer be merely the Lord of Qingzhou. Chang'an was not far, but it represented a different world entirely. The allure of supreme power and the imperial throne was something few could easily abandon. More importantly, he harbored a deep-seated hatred, a grudge that perhaps only the cleansing power of fresh blood could wash away.

Yet, his own strength was insufficient to challenge the royal house. Utilizing the power of the martial arts world was unavoidable. He had originally intended to use Shen Wan-san as a stepping stone to elevate Dao Tianfeng, thereby gaining total control over the jianghu. Naturally, a man like Shen Wan-san could never be truly trusted; he was ambitious and would not willingly be a puppet. If he were to turn against him later, it would be the folly of nurturing a tiger. In fact, that was exactly the case; for three years, his progress had been stalled by Shen's secret interference. The influence of the Bright Moon Villa was perhaps even greater than he had imagined. To bypass the villa and win over the martial arts world was impossible. Thus, the most direct path was to eliminate Shen Wan-san. Without its head, the remaining rabble of the Bright Moon Villa would scatter like birds and beasts. This was no easy task—if Shen were so easily removed, he would not have reached his current standing. As for Dao Tianfeng, Xiao Jinghao had every reason to believe he stood on his side; if even he were to betray him, then there would be no one left in the world to trust.

This was only one facet of his plans. There was another, even more critical matter: the treasure protected by the Blue Lotus Sect. Sixteen years ago, the Prince of Qi, Xiao Teng, had failed to secure it; now was the time to claim it. With that prize, his actions—viewed by the world as rebellion—would become legitimate. But the Blue Lotus Sect was no simple adversary. Those chosen to guard such a treasure possessed not only skill but an understanding of the world that far surpassed the common man. Perhaps only extreme methods would suffice. At the thought of this, Xiao Jinghao murmured to himself: "Shui Linglong, though you are no simple soul, you are but a mortal after all. Shao Donghua fell for it once, yet you have still to learn your lesson. Can love truly be so intoxicating that it makes one foolish? If not for that, I would never have had such a perfect opportunity. For that, I must truly thank you, Han Tanyi."

The scout departed upon receiving his orders. In the vast, empty hall, Xiao Jinghao remained alone, a solitary and somewhat desolate figure. The larger the space, the more fragile his silhouette appeared. Yet this was of little consequence to him. On this path, he was destined to be alone, bearing the burden by himself. Perhaps fate had been kind to him after all, granting him a beautiful woman willing to risk everything to stay by his side. Sometimes, Xiao Jinghao wondered if reaching that throne was truly worth the cost—if dragging her into an abyss of no return was something he could truly endure.

However, such thoughts were fleeting. Some things were his burden to bear for a lifetime, whether by fate or by oath; they were immutable facts. In this sense, though Xiao Jinghao stood high above, admired and revered by many, he was, in the end, a pitiable man.

Unlike the residence of the Prince of Qi, the streets of Qingzhou were ablaze with light and bustling with life as night fell. The air was filled with the clamor of voices and the cries of street vendors. Clearly, the coming of night had not dampened the spirits of the common folk; instead, after a long day’s toil, they seemed eager to release the emotions pent up within them.

These things, however, seemed to have little to do with Han Tanyi and Shui Linglong. A young man should have been vibrant, but having experienced so much, these scenes were but passing clouds to him. Perhaps the only thing remaining was a lingering trace of emotion. "If my junior sister were here, she would have gone wild with excitement. She was never one to sit still," Han Tanyi said, standing aslant by the window. He gazed at the passing crowds, his heart filled with nostalgia. When a girl of about twenty with a ponytail drifted into his field of vision, he instinctively thought of Qiu Wan'er. She had been his greatest comfort in the Qilian Mountains. A faint smile touched his lips, followed by a shadow of loneliness.

Shui Linglong sat at the table. She seemed even less fond of the noisy environment than Han Tanyi, not even bothering to glance outside. Her attention was fixed on the blue-and-white porcelain teacup in her hands, its antique patterns seemingly holding some secret. After a long silence, she replied softly, "Your junior sister is no longer in the Qilian Mountains. Whether she is faring well or not, there is no way to know."

Shui Linglong’s tone was indifferent. To her, Han Tanyi might hold some significance, but Qiu Wan'er was a stranger. Han Tanyi’s expression, however, grew tense. He turned away from the window to face her, asking urgently, "What happened to her? Why is she no longer there?"

"I thought you had truly forgotten the past, or at least had learned to take it lightly. It seems I expected too much. That 'Flowery Butterfly,' Qiu Wan'er, is clearly worthier of your remembrance than an outsider like me. But never mind, you needn't worry. Your junior sister simply couldn't accept the actions of your master, Dao Tianfeng, and left for the Kunlun Mountains in the Western Regions. As for why she went or who she went with, I have no idea." Had it been anyone else, Shui Linglong might have mocked him, but facing this man, she could not bring herself to be cruel. Her indifference melted into concern, and she hurriedly shared what she knew. Han Tanyi’s expression relaxed. Though Qiu Wan'er was playful, she was no longer a child; he could not protect her forever. Besides, her motivation warmed his otherwise cold heart.

Why she chose Kunlun, he did not know, but the question quickly faded. It was not worth overthinking. Much like himself—seeking to escape the strife of the Central Plains—the borderlands and the Western Regions were the best choices. Where she went was her own freedom; sometimes, actions were simply born of impulse, without any grand reason. With that, he felt at ease and moved toward the table.

Shui Linglong had no desire to say more; she simply watched him. Some thoughts, especially for a man, were meant to be kept inside, left to ferment with time. Perhaps the only thing she could do now was to refill his empty cup. Amidst the rising steam, such small gestures might warm a frozen heart. More importantly, this was not the time for idle talk; although they were still some distance away, the faint sound of footsteps could already be heard, slowly ascending the stairs and moving toward their room.