Chapter 154: Conversation

A faint gurgling sound could be heard. Although the noise was not particularly distinct, Han Tanyi was still able to discern that there was a tiny stream close by. He could not care about much else; while he was still able to control his own body, he needed to find the source of that water quickly. Even if he only splashed a little on his face, using that chill to clear his head somewhat would be for the best. After all, this was the Blue Lotus Cult, not the city of Shuozhou where he could simply sleep off his intoxication before doing anything else. Although Old Man Su's words were entirely reasonable, with the Flowing Butterfly in a place like this, he still felt a lingering sense of unease.

Since he could hear the sound, the flowing water could not possibly be far away. Even though his posture was swaying and unstable due to the lingering effects of the alcohol—making even standing steady difficult, let alone moving fast—reaching a small brook visible just around the corner did not take much time. The morning water was not particularly cold; when it touched his cheeks, there was even a trace of faint warmth, bearing a certain resemblance to the mist rising ceaselessly above the water's surface. Under the stimulus of the water, Han Tanyi could not help trembling slightly, as if his entire body had experienced a sudden shudder. When the alcoholic fumes surged upward from his stomach, he even felt an urge to vomit. He hastily mobilized the spiritual energy within his body, forcing that retching sensation firmly back down. The scene felt somewhat decadent. Looking at his own reflection on the water's surface, Han Tanyi could see that his face was full of haggardness and fatigue, and his hair was loose and disheveled—truly lacking the appearance a young man ought to have. Pondering this, he could not help offering a faint smile, though whether he was mocking himself or the reflection in the water remained unclear.

"Have you heard? Something big is about to happen in our Blue Lotus Cult!" Suddenly, a soft female voice drifted from the nearby corridor. At that instant, Han Tanyi sobered up significantly. Concentrating his focus, he was already able to distinguish that there were two people. Judging by the direction and rhythm of their approaching footsteps, they were walking one after the other directly toward his location. Originally, this was nothing out of the ordinary—roads, after all, were meant for people to walk on—but their words stirred a sense of puzzlement within the young man's mind. Seeing that the two were about to enter his line of sight, Han Tanyi glanced sideways and happened to spot a small stone nearby. As the stream flowed, it constantly beat against the rock, sending up splashes and giving it a damp appearance. With a sudden leap, he tucked himself right behind the boulder. The size was just right, as if the rock had been placed there specifically for him.

Naturally, there was no mistaking it. Both wore white gauze garments, with drooping veils concealing the better part of their cheeks, making their exact features indistinguishable. Yet, from their postures while walking and their slender figures, Han Tanyi could roughly guess their ages—the blossoming age of eighteen, perhaps the most dazzling time in a woman's life. At this age, as long as one was not too unsightly, presumably no one would find them displeasing. Each of them carried a tray, with large bowls inverted upon them. Without even guessing, one could tell they were laden with breakfast items. Strangely enough, with such thoughts crossing his mind, Han Tanyi suddenly felt a hollow, rumbling sensation in his belly, which even began to gurgle actively.

Of course, this was of no great consequence. The sound felt quite prominent to himself, but even at close range, unless someone paid deliberate attention, no one would notice. Moreover, a certain distance separated the boulder from the corridor, making detection even less likely. There was another certain point: at this very moment, the attention of the two young maidens was not directed elsewhere at all; as they walked, they continued their discussion.

"What big thing? You mustn't talk nonsense. If the Cult Master and the Holy Maiden find out about this, you and I won't have a good end. They've always detested gossips the most!" The speaker was the woman in the rear. Her expression could not be discerned through her veil, but one thing was certain: her tone carried a trace of curiosity. Had it ended there, it would have been fine, but she proceeded to add the subsequent remarks, accompanying her actions with furtive glances all around. Anyone observing this scene would likely feel an impulse to smile. Fortunately, this young man was no longer the Han Tanyi of the past; four years of time had been enough to mature a person considerably, let alone after having walked along the boundary between life and death.

"You don't know this, but last night when I happened to pass by the Holy Maiden's room, I heard her conversation with the Cult Master. I didn't dare get too close, and with the window in the way, I couldn't hear very clearly, but the gist of it seemed to be that someone named Dao Tianfeng has discovered the location of the Blue Lotus Cult and is gathering a group of martial artists to form a martial arts alliance to launch an attack against us! If they really come, I wonder if the likes of us can withstand it. If the Blue Lotus Cult is breached, what will they do to us?"

This was indeed a major matter. If the alcohol-induced fog in Han Tanyi's mind had receded somewhat due to the cold water, the appearance of the three words "Dao Tianfeng" acted like a potent stimulus. His half-crouched body behind the blue stone seemed restless, almost compelling him to rush out immediately and demand a clear explanation. Almost simultaneously, he heard another voice ring out. Judging by the tone, it belonged to the woman in front: "Suyi, you must not repeat these words before others. It's fine for you and me as sisters to know, but if others find out—who knows whose big mouth will carry it straight to the ears of the Holy Maiden and the Cult Master? Then you'll be in for it!"

"Elder Sister, rest assured. I'm not that foolish. These are private words between us sisters, and I've only mentioned them to you. Besides, the Blue Lotus Cult has been hidden here for so many years; how could it be found so easily? Even if they find it, relying on the outer illusion arrays and the martial arts of the Holy Maiden and the Cult Master, those so-called righteous sects won't be able to do a thing to us. Just think about it—someone like Shen Wanshan, what happened to him in the end? Didn't he die at the hands of our Holy Maiden? If they dare to come, we'll let them see what kind of capability the people of the Blue Lotus Cult possess, and guarantee they'll be crying for their parents by the time it's over. That sight—needless to say, how satisfying it will be!"

"That's far too optimistic," Han Tanyi muttered softly to himself. In his heart, he understood that while Shui Linglong's martial arts were formidable, and the Lotus Maiden's even more so, what of it? How arduous the battle at Bright Moon Manor truly was, only insiders like him knew. Even Shui Linglong's injuries, lasting over three months to this day, had not fully healed. As for outsiders, they merely listened to the endless rumors spreading through the pugilistic world, distorted beyond recognition; how much of it could be taken seriously? No matter how exquisite the martial arts or how high the cultivation, it could not withstand a multitude of foes, and there would always be moments of exhaustion. Furthermore, the pugilistic world was vast, and elite figures inevitably existed—such as Shen Chengbi, who arrived at the very end. If three or five of his caliber were to show up, they would be extremely difficult adversaries to handle, let alone the abilities of his former master.

"You shouldn't speak with such absolute confidence either. The martial arts world is vast, and capable people are naturally numerous; otherwise, the Blue Lotus Cult wouldn't have suffered that defeat twenty years ago, almost resulting in the annihilation of the entire sect, forcing us to lurk in obscurity among the mountains between Jinjiang and the Qilian Mountains all these years. Of course, these aren't things ordinary cult members like us can decide, and talking about it has little meaning. However, what about the young lady who arrived last night? Who on earth is she? Looking at her appearance, she shouldn't be a new recruit joining the cult, and I could sense that both the Cult Master and the Holy Maiden looked at her with rather unusual expressions."

This topic suited a woman's inclinations far better. Even as members of the Blue Lotus Cult, so what? Gossip was an innate instinct for women, one that could hardly be discarded. Naturally, the young lady they spoke of was none other than the Flowing Butterfly. This was also what Han Tanyi wanted to know at that moment, so instinctively, he shifted his body slightly further out from behind the stone, as if doing so would allow him to listen more clearly.

"She is an absolute beauty indeed. I only glanced at her, but that kind of loveliness could rival even the Holy Maiden—they're evenly matched, neither yielding to the other. Even as a woman, I find her pleasing, let alone the men. You tell me, why is heaven so unfair? Why do such wonderful things never fall our way?"

At this point, the tone of the woman in front was filled with jealousy, as if the previous weighty topic was entirely irrelevant, and appearance was the only thing that mattered. Prompted by her, the woman following behind also seemed somewhat indignant. However, perhaps due to being slightly older, she reined it in rather quickly. Raising her tray slightly as if to offer a comforting gesture, she said, "Stop complaining all the time. There are people prettier than you, but there are also countless who are uglier. If everyone were like you, they'd plague themselves to death. Since this face is a gift from heaven, we just have to accept it. Hurry up now, stop dawdling, and let's deliver this breakfast to her first. If they feel we've provided poor hospitality and the Holy Maiden blames us in the blink of an eye, we won't have a good end!"