Chapter Fourteen: Destiny

"You needn't be so surprised. In our Blue Lotus Sect, there is a rule: no man is ever allowed here. If one appears, we break his legs!" Shui Lianhua was certainly no gentle soul. With just a fleeting glance, she seemed to pierce straight into Han Tanyi's heart, reading him as easily as a scroll. Before the young man could utter a word, she had already spoken, her tone cold and venomous, at odds with her beautiful face, and sending an involuntary chill through Han Tanyi's heart. Shui Lianhua, however, seemed entirely unconcerned. Her gaze lingered briefly on her daughter before she continued, "You are lucky, boy. If you hadn't accidentally knocked off the Blue Lotus Saintess's veil, you would have become nothing more than food for the wild beasts of the barren hills by now!"

Lucky? Knocked off a veil? Saintess? Questions swirled in his mind, leaving the youth utterly bewildered. It was clear to him that the Blue Lotus Sect had unusual customs—why else would everyone hide behind veils? Yet if, just for getting drunk and being brought here, he was to lose his life, then it seemed far too steep a price. No wonder the sect was rumored throughout the martial world as heretical and dangerous—the claims seemed justified. Confronted with such people, Han Tanyi truly did not know what to do. Instinctively, his gaze shifted to Old Su, hoping for some answer; after all, among all those present, perhaps only the old man might be considered his friend—if he could be called that at all. Han Tanyi himself was not sure.

"Boy, don't look at him," Shui Lianhua said, her eyes landing squarely on Old Su with clear disdain. "This old Su can't even save himself, let alone you." Normally, such contempt would be hard to endure, even if one did not lash out in anger. But at that moment, Old Su not only showed no anger, he actually managed a faint smile, his mind unreadable. He reached out and clutched at Shui Lianhua's sleeve, adopting a fawning posture and speaking with mock affection: "Lianhua, what are you saying? How could I bear to leave, living so freely in this land of beauty and grace? And you, boy, be obedient and don't get any foolish ideas, or you'll regret it!"

The ingratiating words were directed at Shui Lianhua, but the latter half was clearly a warning to Han Tanyi. The meaning was not lost on him, nor was the intent hard to guess. Still, Old Su's behavior was hard for the young man to stomach—the sickly sweet tone almost made him nauseous. Had he eaten recently, he might not have been able to hold it in. Shui Lianhua cast a sidelong glance at Old Su, a fleeting hint of triumph in her eyes—so quick she herself may not have noticed—before her smile faded. She did not shake off Old Su's hand, but instead, in a glacial voice, said, "Old devil Su, after all these years, your skill at lying hasn't diminished in the least. Perhaps it’s time you were taught a proper lesson. Linglong, if you have anything to say to this boy, I won't stop you. But remember, you are first and foremost the Saintess of the Blue Lotus Sect, and will one day bear its full weight. Matters of the heart are best left unspoken."

"I understand, Mother." The five simple words spoken by Shui Linglong carried a faint trace of helplessness. Shui Lianhua lingered no longer, her gaze returning to Han Tanyi. Suddenly, she burst out laughing, her voice sharp and piercing, as if it might tear the very air. At that instant, Han Tanyi felt a crushing pressure descend upon him, the sound overwhelming his senses. Though his martial skills were not poor, as he instinctively tried to muster his inner strength in resistance, he was shocked at the vast gulf between them. If his own power was a trickling spring, hers was a boundless river, surging forth with unstoppable momentum, utterly overwhelming. The pressure intensified, and Han Tanyi found it hard even to breathe. Shui Lianhua had done nothing more than laugh, yet even if he exerted every ounce of strength, he could not withstand it. The outcome was clear from the start; the difference between them rendered all resistance meaningless. As her energy battered his own, Han Tanyi's face flushed red.

"Mother, please don't torment Young Master Han any further—he can't take it!" At last, Shui Linglong could bear it no more. Seeing the agony on Han Tanyi's face, she couldn't explain why she made such a plea, nor if her daughter's influence played a role. Shui Lianhua sighed softly, flicked her hand, and the laughter ceased. She turned to her daughter, her tone tinged with emotion. "What, you already feel sorry for him?"

With the pressure gone, Han Tanyi felt as if his body might fall apart, utterly drained and spent. He had never before witnessed such skill, and could only marvel to himself that Shui Lianhua's reputation as the foremost demon of the martial world was well deserved. In all the land, who could be her equal? Before leaving Qilian, he had thought the Daoist of Heaven’s Secret had attained perfection in martial arts, but now he saw what a frog at the bottom of a well he truly was. No wonder his master had so carefully cautioned him to be kind to others. No, wait—at this thought, another figure leapt into his mind: the eccentric old man from Triple Leap Gorge. Perhaps only he possessed such power.

"Mother, Sect Leader, it's not that I pity him," Shui Linglong replied, "but our sect has its rules. Since I was the one whose veil was removed, I have only two choices: either kill him, or marry him. I can’t bring myself to do the former, so I must choose the latter. If something were to happen to him, what would you have me do?" She did not shrink from her answer. The fear that had shadowed her expression was now less apparent; though her voice still trembled, her resolution was plain. Her words caught Shui Lianhua off guard, and for a moment, through the veil, the curve of her lips could just be seen. "So be it. A daughter must grow up someday. You are still too innocent to know the dangers of men. Sweet words and solemn vows are but tricks to deceive women. Since you’ve made your choice, walk your path—but don’t come running to me, battered and bruised, when it ends in pain."

With that, Shui Lianhua turned and strode from the room, not lingering a moment longer. Old Su shook his head slightly at the pair, muttering under his breath, "You two, really..." In the blink of an eye, the once-crowded room was empty save for Han Tanyi and Shui Linglong. They looked at each other, embarrassment hanging thick in the air; neither dared meet the other's eyes, as if fearing their hidden thoughts would be laid bare. Silence reigned, stretching on and on, until finally Shui Linglong spoke softly, "Young Master Han, I hope you won't take offense. My mother is always like that. She may seem fierce, but she is not a bad person—well, never mind. I won’t disturb you further. You’ve just awakened, and you must be starving—it’s been nearly a day since you’ve eaten. I’ll have something prepared for you. The cooking here in the Blue Lotus Sect is quite good, certainly no worse than anything in Jinjiang City!"

She spoke quickly, almost as if afraid delay would cost her the chance to escape. Though her face was hidden behind a veil, making it impossible to read her expression, there could be no doubt—any woman, forced to say such words in front of another, would be embarrassed, and Shui Linglong was no exception. She hurried towards the door, seizing the opportunity to flee and collect herself, while Han Tanyi, still seated on the bed, could not find the words to stop her. His thoughts were a tangled knot, impossible to unravel. Only when Shui Linglong reached the door did he finally summon the courage to call out, "Miss Shui, what you said just now—was it true?"

"Of course not! Don't overthink it." At his question, Shui Linglong paused, and as she turned back, a faint smile could be seen beneath her veil, as if to lighten the heaviness in her heart. In that moment, Han Tanyi sensed a trace of helplessness and sorrow in her. "I only said that to keep my mother from making things harder for you. There's no need to take it to heart. Besides, don’t you already have someone you care about?"