Chapter 157: A Little Kiss

Those in power must be ruthless and cold-blooded, and at times, they must sever all ties of kinship. Though hardly a virtue, it is an immutable truth that the halls of power know no brotherhood. In this regard, Xiao Jinghao still fell somewhat short; his heart held fear, and there were things he was terrified of losing. Even a man like him, therefore, had his weaknesses. Yet, he was clever enough to always keep what he cared about right beneath his eyes, as if by doing so, nothing could ever go wrong. His gaze remained fixed almost entirely upon Dawa Drolma, and watching her speak with such eloquence brought him a sense of ease. As for the bustling commotion outside the pavilion, it seemed as entirely unrelated to him as if it existed in another world.

"My master has decreed that this martial arts tournament must be conducted with absolute fairness, justice, and transparency, to prevent any favoritism or malpractice," Ye Hanguang's voice continued. The opening words were mere trivialities, ultimately inconsequential, but the final condition proved quite unexpected. In arrangements of this nature, one would naturally expect a faction to reserve spots for its own trusted confidants—such had always been the custom. The martial artists gathered here were long accustomed to this practice. Moreover, while the outcome of any match against Ye Hanguang might carry a sliver of suspense, Xia Wuhya's dominance was an absolute certainty. By declaring this, Ye Hanguang was essentially removing himself from the competition as well, leaving a vacant spot starkly open.

"Brother, look at that! Where there's a will, there's a way. If Mount Qilian isn't participating, you've suddenly lost two rivals. As long as you perform normally, one of those four spots is bound to be yours. Why were you working yourself into such a fretful, angst-ridden state last night?" For Gong Shaohua, such news was naturally cause for celebration. Indeed, not just him, but nearly everyone harboring ambitions of claiming the prize felt a sudden lightness in their chests, as if success were already assured. Before the young man could reply, Gong Shaology spoke with a trace of mockery. These were revelations she had only just learned herself, yet she carried herself as though she had foreseen them all along, eagerly claiming all the credit for the foresight.

Gong Shaohua naturally had no wish to bicker with Gong Shaology. Aside from muttering a quiet complaint or two in his heart, he could only endure the young miss's antics. As an older brother, he always seemed destined to indulge her, as if he owed her a debt in a past life that he was fated to repay in this one. Yet, even as his mind relaxed, a sudden wave of melancholy washed over him. Though he had not yet reached the pinnacle of martial arts, every martial artist secretly yearned for a worthy rival, and the equally renowned Ye Hanguang was unquestionably the finest choice available. With this turn of events, who knew when he would ever get the chance to cross swords with him?

In his hazy, drunken state, Han Tanyi had lost count of how many corners he had turned. He felt a rising sense of awkwardness; clearly, he remembered the path being rather straightforward, yet it seemed to have inexplicably transformed, leaving him entirely at a loss. Just as his thoughts grew foggier, he caught sight of a figure stepping briskly around the corner toward him. Through his blurred vision, he could barely make out the details: she was dressed in flowing green attire, her hair slightly swept up into a coil, and the greater part of her face was concealed behind a veil of purple gauze. The sudden sensation of familiarity struck him as something he had witnessed before. He remembered—when he first met Shui Linglong, she had worn nearly this exact outfit.

"I knew old man Su harbored no good intentions, letting them get you into such a state. And you—drinking far beyond your capacity just because someone offered! Getting this hopelessly drunk and leaving me to worry!" The words were laced with reproach, but despite the scolding, her hands moved without hesitation. She reached out and caught his unsteadily swaying frame, seamlessly steadying him. Through the point of contact, a subtle surge of spiritual energy flowed into him, acting like a cool stream that beat back the fiery intoxication raging within his veins, instantly restoring a degree of clarity to his mind.

Naturally, it was Shui Linglong. Han Tanyi remembered clearly enough that within the Blue Lotus Sect, while other matters might be treated with a degree of leniency, the rules governing relations between men and women were rigorously enforced. Ordinary maids and attendants, even if they harbored the desire to support him, would never dare to do so openly. Given the circumstances, Han Tanyi felt acutely self-conscious about his posture and had no idea how to respond to Shui Linglong's words. Silence hung in the air, tinged with shyness; coupled with the lingering flush on his cheeks, it lent the young man a rather peculiar charm.

"Looking at you like this, heaven knows how long it will take for you to sober up. I'll find a place for you to rest for a while. I still have urgent business to attend to and cannot afford to spend all day tending to you!" Her tone wavered between speaking directly to Han Tanyi and talking to herself. She allowed him to lean on her as she slowly guided him around the corner. The man's gaze kept drifting toward her, yet he lacked the courage to meet her eyes directly. He felt that with every glance, his heart stirred more violently. It was an instinct, yet without the numbing haze of alcohol, he would surely have crushed the impulse entirely.

The turn was not far away, yet to Han Tanyi, the journey felt agonizingly long. Even so, a strange thought began to blossom within him from some unknown moment: he wished this walk would stretch on forever, that they could keep moving forward without end. Memories of the past flickered incessantly before his eyes—the breathtaking shock of their first meeting, their parting outside the illusion, the rescue at Bright Moon Manor, the tender moments in the ruined temple, and the unwavering devotion that had driven her to seek him out across thousands of miles to the northern desert. One by one, these recollections surfaced. He had once believed that time would allow him to thoroughly forget them all, but now it was clear that had been nothing more than wishful thinking. As for the lingering doubts in his heart, they seemed to find their answer in this very moment. Huahudie, Shui Linglong—his heart had already made its choice long ago, had it not? He had once felt he owed both of these women debts, but the battle at Bright Moon Manor had taught him a harsh lesson: what was owed to Huahudie could be repaid, but what he owed the woman beside him was something he could never settle, no matter what.

The rays of the morning sun slanted in from an angle. Though soft, the illumination caught Shui Linglong's face at precisely the right angle. Whether due to the sudden strengthening of the light or not, Han Tanyi's half-closed eyes suddenly grew even more hazy. In his clouded vision, Shui Linglong appeared enveloped in a wondrous radiance, stirring an inexplicable impulse deep within him. Without a second thought, his head leaned forward instinctively, and his lips brushed gently against her cheek!

The gesture was far too sudden. Not only did Shui Linglong fail to anticipate it, but even Han Tanyi himself was stunned by his own audacity. Both of them froze instantly. The surroundings plunged into a profound stillness; aside from the gentle rustle of leaves stirred by a passing breeze, not a sound could be heard. The atmosphere turned unbearably awkward, causing even Shui Linglong's hand, which had been supporting Han Tanyi, to drop to her side.

"What on earth am I doing? What on earth am I doing? Kissing someone out of the blue—is this considered impropriety? She must be furious. What should I do now? Claiming I was too drunk to stand straight and simply lost my balance... ugh, what kind of excuse is that? I can't even convince myself, let alone expect her to believe it!" Han Tanyi's mind churned frantically with inner turmoil. He made a tentative attempt to gauge her reaction, but after turning his head only slightly, he froze once more. Caught between guilt and embarrassment, the grown man naturally lapsed into a state of nervous hesitation, resembling a maiden experiencing romance for the very first time—desiring something deeply, yet lacking the courage to claim it.

Compared to Han Tanyi, Shui Linglong's thoughts were vastly more complicated. For her, the man's demeanor had always been somewhat aloof, a feeling that had only intensified with the appearance of Huahudie. Moreover, the current state of the Blue Lotus Sect demanded her full attention; the establishment of the Martial Arts Alliance was already common knowledge across the rivers and lakes, and she was intimately aware of this tournament as well. She had originally intended to carve out the energy to resolve the matter thoroughly once and for all. Yet, this single touch had stirred her tranquil heart as if whipped by a fierce gale, raising ripples that quickly turned into chaotic disorder. "He must be completely drunk, acting recklessly without knowing what he's doing. It doesn't mean anything. Shui Linglong, don't read too much into this! Those martial artists will be here any moment—don't forget your mission. The Blue Lotus Sect may fall, and the water lilies may wither from this world, but that debt of gratitude must be repaid. Be decisive; never let affairs of the heart cloud your judgment. Have you forgotten the tragedy of twenty years ago?"

Even as she asked herself the question, Shui Linglong already knew the answer in her heart. If she could truly forget, she would never have brought it up so readily. Yet, whether it was Shao Donghua or the man standing before her, she could no longer untangle for whom her heart felt more deeply. One thing, however, remained certain: unless she broke free of her destined fate, perhaps the end would be nothing more than the same tragic conclusion.