Chapter 118: Patterns

With a swift, forceful motion, Han Tanyi threw the sword. It was as if he had calculated every move; with the old man’s words spoken, his objective was effectively achieved. Now, it was up to the Qinghong sword to speak for itself. Words were, at best, empty vessels, lacking the persuasive power of tangible reality. The young man held considerable confidence in this; although the blade, forged over three years of painstaking labor, could not be called a divine weapon, it was certainly far beyond anything mundane.

"A sword without an edge—that is the mark of a gentleman. In my long life, I have seen countless famous blades, and every one of them prides itself on sharpness. Only today, seeing this sword, have I finally realized the aspiration of a lifetime. For one so young to possess such craftsmanship is rare indeed. More importantly, this sword intent—I suspect few in this world could reach such a realm. Truly a fine man, and truly a fine sword!"

As the blade flashed from its scabbard, its quality and craftsmanship were laid bare. It was clear that this eccentric old man possessed a much more discerning eye than Qi Laosan. His critique struck right at the heart of Han Tanyi’s own thoughts. Were it not for his underlying motives, Han Tanyi might have felt compelled to strike up a lifelong friendship with the man. But such a thing was unrealistic; saving Flower Butterfly was the priority, and he could not afford to become entangled with the people of the Bright Moon Villa.

"Few in this world understand this sword. I am but a dull-witted junior, and obtaining this blade was merely a matter of fate. I doubt I shall ever forge its equal again. I crafted this for my younger sister; she has always been free-spirited and fond of wandering the jianghu, but our family ancestral code forbids women from practicing martial arts. Thus, the sword remains edge-less—it was not my intentional choice."

Han Tanyi’s tone softened significantly, adopting the humble address of a junior. While there was a hint of ingratiating himself, there was also a measure of genuine respect. He had originally forged the Qinghong to repay the debt of his life being saved by Shao Changchun. Knowing now that the youth from that day was not the young master of Donghua, but rather the Shui Linglong standing before him, his words carried a ring of truth. Moreover, a man who truly understood swords would naturally covet such a treasure; pointing out that it already had an owner was his way of ensuring it would not be easily claimed.

The eccentric old man understood the implication perfectly. While he harbored no greed, there was a lingering reluctance in his eyes. Indeed, for those who drifted through the jianghu, weapons were sometimes dearer than life itself; to love such a treasure was only human nature. He gently stroked the blade for a long moment before sheathing it and handing it back. Sighing with emotion, he said, "A man like me, standing on the threshold of the grave, would only waste such a treasure. The young lady is exceptionally clever; the sword suits her well. I am content just to have seen it; I dare not ask for more. If you would be willing to stay at the Bright Moon Villa for a few days, it would be my honor. Furthermore, I have a presumptuous request, and I hope you might grant it."

Perhaps it was because of Han Tanyi’s courtesy that the eccentric old man’s demeanor became so gentle and humble. The arrogance he had previously displayed had vanished, replaced by a level of deference that was almost jarring. If Han Tanyi felt uneasy, Qi Laosan was undoubtedly the most shocked. As the scout responsible for recruiting talent for the Bright Moon Villa, he knew the old man's temperament all too well. He had never seen such humility in his life. He looked back and forth between the young man and the girl, trying to find an answer to his confusion, but the more he thought, the more bewildered he became. Yet, this was not a bad thing; as long as the old man was satisfied, he had performed a useful service. Not only would he earn a reward, but perhaps even his past debts could be cleared. A smile flickered across his face; though he did not move, he felt as if he were soaring to the clouds.

"We came here to earn silver. As long as you can pay, Senior, and I am capable of the task, it shall be done." Even though he was willing, Han Tanyi could not appear too eager. He paused slightly before answering, hoping to dispel any suspicion of ulterior motives. He had to remain cautious. The old man did not speak immediately; though his hands were obscured in the darkness, one could faintly hear him fumbling with something. After a long while, the sound of a box opening reached them, and everyone’s eyes turned toward the source.

"Forgive me, my eyes are failing and cannot bear bright light. This box contains a blueprint for a tool, traced onto human skin. It is a bit blurred. With your superb skills, could you forge one for me according to this design?"

As Han Tanyi took the box, he caught a glimpse of its contents in the dim light. Human skin was hardly a pleasant material, and though it had dried and lost its original form, the sight was somewhat unsettling. Yet, for those in the jianghu, this was nothing extraordinary. He lifted the piece of skin from the box with his free hand and inspected the markings.

Although not complex, the design was exquisite. Even with the extensive damage, the perfection of its lines remained discernible. Han Tanyi could easily visualize its original form. It was difficult, certainly, but not beyond his reach. However, a shadow of confusion remained: at the tail end of the pattern, even though the petals were torn and less than half remained, the young man recognized it instantly as a lotus. To him, the lotus was no auspicious symbol. Every time he saw one, his heart would tremble. Furthermore, this was the Bright Moon Villa—everyone knew that the four great sects of the jianghu and the Blue Lotus Sect were mortal enemies. The appearance of the lotus emblem here could not be mere coincidence; some hidden conspiracy must be afoot. His gaze shifted to Shui Linglong, and upon seeing her expression, he became even more convinced of his theory.

Shui Linglong, who usually masked her emotions with a facade of calm, now wore a look of profound shock. Her eyes betrayed a sense of utter disbelief. To make someone like her show such a reaction was no small feat, which only served to validate his suspicions. Without hesitation, he handed the box to her and whispered, "Sister, you have always studied such fragmented relics. Help me take a look—what kind of object is this? Can it be restored? This is our first big deal since entering the Central Plains; we cannot afford to botch it."

Startled by the question, Shui Linglong snapped back to reality. As she took the box, she forced a faint smile to mask her agitation. Examining the patterns closely, she thought to herself: *This is the key to the forbidden treasury of my Blue Lotus Sect. When the Central Plains’ top thief, Liu Feifei, stole it, it was already destroyed. He took a palm strike from me back then; he could not have survived. This skin must be his. To think he had the key mapped onto his own body, and that it would appear here at the Bright Moon Villa! Could the battle of the Three Wolves have been for the treasures in the sanctuary as well? That old fox Shen Wansan is truly cunning. Now he wants someone to forge the key based on this map—is he trying to open it again? But that cannot be right; if he knew of this pattern and did not know I was still alive, he would have acted long ago. What is going on here?*

Her mind was in turmoil. Of course, these thoughts passed in an instant, and no one suspected her inner conflict. Yet, she could not remain lost in thought for too long. As her eyes swept over the lotus flower, a new idea sparked. It was a risky move, but in this situation, it was an ingenious strategy. If someone held too many secrets and wished to keep them hidden, they would inevitably use various methods to cover their tracks, and in doing so, they would inevitably reveal flaws. If she could catch that thread, she might uncover what she needed to know.