Chapter Fifteen: Return

Yes, indeed! Now that he had someone he liked, how could he still harbor such feelings? Wasn’t he being foolish? Han Tanyi felt a quiet sense of guilt, yet at the same time, he thought to himself: with a woman like her, who wouldn’t be drawn to her? In this instant, his heart was truly conflicted. But for now, he decided to set these emotions aside. Even if he did have someone he liked, how would she ever know? This question puzzled him—he wanted to ask, but the words wouldn’t come; after all, a man’s pride is not so easily set aside. So, the best approach was probably silence; he even lowered his head, unable to meet Shui Linglong’s gaze.

“I can’t stay here much longer. If my mother finds out, she’ll be upset. Rest well—I’ll find a chance to visit you again.” Seeing that he had fallen silent, Shui Linglong stood uncertain, unsure where to begin. She turned slightly, slowly heading toward the door, her steps unhurried, pausing as if hesitating with each stride. It took her quite a while to reach the threshold. Suddenly, she turned back, as if having made up her mind, her gaze fixing firmly on the young man. In a soft voice, she asked, “Are you thinking of her right now?”

Thinking of her? Han Tanyi wasn’t sure. In his own heart, perhaps no one held a place as dear as that of Butterfly. Of course, even if she wasn’t as beautiful as the saintess of the Blue Lotus Sect, nor as gentle and refined, Butterfly was Butterfly, and nothing could change that. With such thoughts, Han Tanyi slowly raised his head, meeting Shui Linglong’s eyes. A faint smile appeared on his lips. “I’m sorry. Perhaps you should know—she’s unique in my heart. Right now, yes, I am thinking of her.”

“Is that so?” she replied, touched by a fleeting sense of disappointment, though the feeling was as quick to fade as it was to arrive, vanishing in an instant—so much so that even she failed to notice it. Yet, a tiny voice lingered in her mind: between us, we are but passing strangers; there was never meant to be any connection, so why do I still long for more? It’s nothing but needless worry. With this thought, she smiled, her charm radiating, making all who saw her feel at ease. “Don’t worry—you’ll see her soon enough!”

Without lingering, Shui Linglong turned and left. Han Tanyi watched her figure disappear around the corner, then collapsed back onto the bed. The mattress felt gentle, far softer than the wooden window ledge in the Qilian Mountains, and he found it more comfortable by comparison. Staring at the ceiling, the youth sank into silence, his gaze fixed in one direction, gradually blurring as if he could see her face—yes, unmistakably Shui Linglong. Though it was only a brief encounter, why did he—no, Han Tanyi shook his head vigorously, trying to banish the vision from his mind. Of course, this was no great challenge; he meant to recall Butterfly’s face instead, but found that, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t remember it, not even the outline—only a vague blur. Facing such a scene, Han Tanyi could only smile wryly at his own helplessness, feeling somewhat awkward. After a moment, he managed to collect himself, focusing his thoughts on Qiu Wan’er, quietly muttering, “I wonder if Junior Sister has returned to Qilian Mountain yet. With her mischievous nature, if no one keeps her in check, who knows what trouble she’ll stir up!”

At the foot of Qilian Mountain, the landscape was unique. It would be more accurate to call it a vast canyon than a mountain. The range itself wasn’t high—compared to Jinjiang City nearby, which sat in a valley, it rose only two or three hundred meters. It was termed a mountain foot because to the north lay a grand gorge, a sheer vertical cliff rising a full thousand meters. Standing atop the peak and looking down, one felt as if the depths were endless, awe-inspiring. The cliff walls were crisscrossed and rugged, with not a speck of debris, imposing and magnificent when viewed from below. When Beiwangzi first arrived at Qilian, he was captivated by such scenery. In those days, he wrote, “Qilian to the southern hills, towering cliffs under a sky so narrow,” describing precisely this view. Later, he chose to live in seclusion here, and over hundreds of years, the Qilian Sect gradually emerged. When the four great sects destroyed the Blue Lotus Sect, Qilian’s reputation spread throughout the martial world.

Now, the morning sun had climbed high, its rays falling upon the Qilian foothills, making the scenery exceptionally brilliant and filling one with warmth. This area was remote, far less bustling than cities like Jinjiang and Xinyang, but wandering here conveyed a tranquil, serene charm. Occasionally, travelers would pass through, mostly to see the grand canyon.

“My senior brother is so petty! I only played a little longer—he wouldn’t wait and went ahead. All day, it’s ‘Butterfly this, Butterfly that.’ She may be prettier, and more refined, but so what? I, Qiu Wan’er, simply refuse to accept her! What, is he going to bite me now?” Her voice brimmed with complaint, her steps slow. The flowers and grasses along the roadside stood quietly where they belonged, but now, as if they had offended this little lady, they were kicked with each passing stride. She carried a large cloth bundle, its contents unknown, though it didn’t seem heavy. Two long swords were slung across her back, and her lips pouted. “That inn was ridiculous, keeping its doors locked all night. If I hadn’t acted on the spot, I wouldn’t even have had a place to stay!”

Her words were full of attitude; as for “acting on the spot,” it was nothing more than barging in. Though the inn was empty, Qiu Wan’er didn’t find it strange—she was used to being carefree, never thinking too much. After playing herself tired, she fell asleep as soon as she found a room. When she awoke, daylight had come. Jinjiang and the Qilian Mountains were not far apart, so early in the morning, this little lady set out, and aside from a long sword found at the front desk, nothing struck her as unusual.

“Senior brother wouldn’t snitch to Master, would he? Say I was playing in Jinjiang City?” Qiu Wan’er muttered as she walked, finding endless words for her own company. At this point, her expression grew faintly tense—it was clear she feared her so-called Master a bit. But soon, she relaxed. “How could he? Senior brother has a big secret in my hands. Even if he wants to tell, he doesn’t dare! He must be in a hurry to return and brag to Butterfly. No, wait, even if that’s the case, the back mountain and the main gate are only separated by a wall. Master might not see, but the other senior brothers and sisters couldn’t all be fooled. Eventually, Master will find out, and then I’ll get lectured for sure. I—I’d better hurry back!”

With this thought, Qiu Wan’er quickened her pace. As the saying goes, one thing subdues another, and it was true in her case. Since she was rushing, the scenery flowed swiftly behind her. In the blink of an eye, Jinjiang City was left far behind, fading from sight. Who knew how long she had been traveling—her cheeks were now beaded with sweat, her breath coming in soft gasps, clearly exhausted. But for someone of the martial world, a brief rest would suffice. The midday sun, though, was far from pleasant, its heat prickling her skin.

Fortunately, not far ahead stood a teahouse. Though not on the main road, it still drew enough customers to get by, with no competition from the same trade. The tea stall was simple—just a few wooden poles supporting a small shelter, the tables rough-hewn from green stone, hardly elegant. Scholars and poets would never come here, lest they lower their status, but for travelers, it was an ideal place to rest. The mountain spring water, paired with the local vine tea’s fragrance, was a rare temptation—even Qiu Wan’er, who disliked tea, found it hard to resist, let alone others.

With business to be had, the tea owner was eager to please. Soon, she was seated and served a steaming cup of tea. The aroma wafted around her, and Qiu Wan’er drank deeply, feeling the heat, but the refreshing sensation was indescribably pleasant. Moreover, the spot was well chosen: a gentle breeze brushed against her, making it a truly exquisite enjoyment. As she set down the cup, she finally took the chance to observe those around her. Traveling the martial world required caution—though she was new to it, she possessed a natural air of confidence.