Chapter 122: Emptiness as Reality

The night at Bright Moon Villa was not particularly long, yet Han Tanyi could not find rest. Even though Old Man Qi had arranged for a plush bed with warm pillows, it lacked the relaxing comfort of the hard wooden planks back in the lands of Mobei. There, he was merely a blacksmith; here, he was Han Tanyi. Perhaps everyone who uses a false alias to deflect from reality harbors a past they are unwilling to revisit.

Of course, his insomnia was not solely due to this. Three matters weighed on his mind. The first, naturally, was Flower Butterfly. He had come specifically to rescue her, so she was his top priority. The challenge was that Bright Moon Villa was so vast that finding a single person was like searching for a needle in a haystack. Moreover, even if he found her, escaping through the layers of security would be no simple task. He needed to weigh his options while he still had room to maneuver.

The second matter was the strange old man. Having labeled him "strange," curiosity was inevitable. Han Tanyi had roamed the pugilistic world for years and had never heard of such a person. Yet, the abilities he displayed could not be easily ignored. Furthermore, the mysterious diagram in his possession seemed inextricably linked to the Blue Lotus Cult. Speaking of the Blue Lotus Cult inevitably brought Shui Linglong to mind—perhaps his deepest concern. The longer this went on, the more entangled he became with her. Even if he succeeded in rescuing Flower Butterfly, could he truly sever the ties to his past? Han Tanyi had no answer for that. The best way to deal with such doubts was avoidance—either by not thinking about them or by convincing himself that it was all manageable. After all, if one repeats a lie often enough, one might even begin to believe it.

A sleepless night is always agonizingly long. Since he could not sleep, why not use this opportunity to scout the terrain? Even if aimless, he might stumble upon a clue; it was better than lying in bed doing nothing. Having made up his mind, Han Tanyi sprang from the bed. Only then did he realize his clothes were still perfectly intact, as if he had never truly touched the bed at all. A bitter, self-mocking smile touched his lips. He reached out with his left hand and grasped the long sword at his bedside. The cold touch of the steel felt unfamiliar, even after the journey from Mobei to Xingyang. Perhaps this was just another excuse he told himself—after all, can a martial artist who is uncomfortable holding his own sword truly be considered a person of the pugilistic world?

It mattered little. The youth paused for a moment before stepping out. Nighttime operations were rarely done through the front door; scaling walls and traversing roofs were far more suitable. The eaves were not high, and with a single leap, he ascended several meters. Despite his best efforts to be cautious, the contact between his feet and the tiles produced a faint sound.

At this hour, even the bustling streets of Xingyang were silent and deserted. Unlike the city, the Bright Moon Villa was illuminated by rows of lanterns, their faint glow casting a deep, pervasive light that felt more profound than the moonlight. Careful observation revealed patrols constantly moving along the corners of the paths. Evidently, they were guarding against something. The status of Bright Moon Villa made it an object of envy, and since Shen Wansan was a cautious man, such security was to be expected.

Crouching low, Han Tanyi moved swiftly across the rooftops. Though he had no clear direction, he operated on a principle: a man as prudent as Shen Wansan would never allow a figure as important as Flower Butterfly to be left vulnerable. She would be held in the most concealed location, protected by the strongest guards. Guided by this logic, Han Tanyi navigated his path. As the former lead disciple of the Qilian Mountain Sect, even if he had been lax in his cultivation, his skills remained formidable. He moved with a level of stealth far superior to the patrolling guards, making him difficult to detect.

Darkness, in areas not directly touched by light, was accentuated by the distant reflections. While this made concealment easier, it also meant the guards in these sectors were more vigilant. Their numbers were not necessarily higher, but the aura they exuded was far more disciplined. If the outer guards were prone to slacking off or gossiping, these men were truly on duty. In such an environment, the slightest disturbance could lead to discovery.

Han Tanyi understood this well. He slowed his movements significantly, his expression hardening. He did not dare to be careless, crawling slowly over the lower sections of the roofs. A distance of ten meters took him longer to traverse than an entire building had earlier.

"Villa Master Shen is certainly cautious. In the entire Central Plains, who doesn't know the status and power of Bright Moon Villa? Even if that old Daoist became the Martial Arts Alliance Leader, he would still have to show our master some respect. Who would be bold enough to come here and cause trouble? That would be no different from seeking death. Why force us elite disciples to do this guard work? Isn't it a waste of talent?"

Though the voice was low, the acoustics of the walls and eaves carried it clearly to Han Tanyi. Crouched in the shadows, he had struck gold; he knew these words would contain the information he needed.

"Stop complaining. Times are tense. Although our villa maintains a facade of peace with the Qilian Sect, the grudge from three years ago remains. Otherwise, why would the Master have secretly abducted that Flower Butterfly? She is a crucial bargaining chip and must be guarded carefully!" Another voice responded. Unlike the first, this one was steady and sounded older—a voice of experience.

"I know that, but the point is, Flower Butterfly isn't even being held here! Why make us guard this place?" The younger man stopped mid-sentence. He was clearly frustrated, but he knew better than to speak too freely. A loose tongue brings disaster—even as an elite, he knew the limits. Sensing the younger man's hesitation, the older guard sighed. "The Master has his reasons. There is a saying: 'Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak.' Since Flower Butterfly is so important, someone is bound to covet her. They would naturally target the most hidden places, like this one. But they would never guess that we have already laid a net here, waiting for them to walk into it. If they dare to come, they will never leave alive!"

These words sent a chill down Han Tanyi’s spine. Had he not overheard this, he might have walked straight into the trap. He wiped his brow, only to realize it was damp with sweat from the sheer tension. But this was good—at least he knew she wasn't here. Yet, if she wasn't here, where could she be? As Han Tanyi wrestled with this new dilemma, a faint sound came from behind him, startling him.

"No need to worry too much. You may not understand the kind of man Shen Wansan is, but I have dealt with him for many years. Let me ask you: if a thief were to come for a treasure, where would you hide it?"