Chapter 119: Acting

"Old man, where did you get this design? To me, it feels strangely familiar, as if I have seen it somewhere before!" This sudden remark was truly puzzling. Han Tanyi had only intended for her to say something formal—perhaps complimenting the exquisite nature of the design to serve as a cover—but he never expected her to pull such a stunt. His astonishment was impossible to hide. Of course, compared to him, the old man's expression was even more bizarre; beneath his shock lay a hint of utter disbelief. At this moment, Shui Linglong chose to pause, whether intentionally or not, as if waiting for the atmosphere to ferment. After a long moment, she continued: "Oh, I remember now! Three years ago, someone came to the borderlands looking for my father, and they were carrying this very same design!"

"Wha—do you remember what that person looked like, and what about this design?" The bait had been cast, intended to hook a fish. Whether it was because these words struck a chord in the old man's heart, he couldn't help but let out a "Wha—" before biting his tongue. His panicked expression quickly steadied, and his voice regained a calm, measured tone. Even so, Shui Linglong felt a secret sense of triumph; her goal had been partially achieved. All she needed to do now was remain detached, as if recounting something entirely unrelated to herself. "It’s a funny coincidence. My brother happened to be away from home at the time. Although my father is quite skilled in metallurgy, this design is incredibly intricate, and he was ultimately at a loss. As for the visitor, he was a man, probably in his seventies. I don't know his name, but judging by his accent, he was undoubtedly from the Central Plains."

She kept her story as simple as possible. Since these details were fabricated to lure the old man into a trap, fewer words meant fewer chances for mistakes, and thus, less suspicion. As she spoke, Shui Linglong stared intently at the design, lost in thought.

"By the looks of it, this girl isn't lying. She’s young and doesn't know martial arts; she shouldn't have so many schemes. Then who is the man she speaks of? Seventy years old, and someone who would have this design... aside from that 'Old Ghost Dao,' I can't think of anyone else. But isn't he also serving Prince Qi? How could he...?" The old man muttered to himself. Different loyalties led to different lines of thought, yet the more he pondered, the more confused he became, eventually feeling a sense of dizziness. "During that battle sixteen years ago, I swapped my identity and hid in the Mingyue Villa. Since Li San Tong died three years ago, the identity of Dongfang Mingyue can never be reclaimed. Under this guise, I've had to use this strange illness as a pretext to hide in the shadows. Could it be that Old Ghost Dao is doing the same?"

These were merely his inner thoughts, which could never be revealed. The world is vast and full of oddities, but who would have guessed that the once-renowned Master of Hanshan Valley, Dongfang Mingyue, was hiding in Mingyue Villa under such an identity? Twenty years had passed in the blink of an eye. The darkness of a life without sunshine had often made him question if it was worth it, but he had chosen this path, and there was no use in regretting it now.

"Brother, you have quite the affinity with this design! Who would have thought that after missing it three years ago, it would appear before you again today? Although it’s incomplete and the difficulty has increased, you have a natural talent for metallurgy, and I can still vaguely remember some parts. Perhaps if we work together, we can restore it!" Regardless of what the old man was thinking, Shui Linglong exclaimed with apparent excitement. Acting requires a full commitment; one must not only convince others but sometimes even oneself. Hearing this, Han Tanyi’s confusion deepened. Having no idea what she was planning, he could only remain silent and let her perform.

The old man slowly stood up and pulled a bamboo hat from some dark corner. With the black veil draped down, even the contours of his face were completely obscured. "Since you two are so confident, I will leave this request in your hands. Qi San, treat these two well. If they need anything, provide it immediately. I have some worldly matters to attend to and will not keep you company any longer."

"Please do as you must, Senior. We will do our best. But what about the payment?" As the old man walked toward the door, Han Tanyi’s gaze followed him closely. Beyond his sturdy build, the only word to describe the man was "vigorous." He was certain of one thing: a man of this age who could maintain such a physique possessed martial arts skills that were not to be underestimated. Even the act of closing the door earlier had likely been a mere show of strength. This person’s capabilities were perhaps far greater than he had imagined.

"Brother, you are so tactless! Once we finish this for the Mingyue Villa, do you think they would treat us unfairly? Asking about money makes us seem so vulgar!" Before Han Tanyi could finish, Shui Linglong cut him off. To people in the martial arts world, money was often secondary, and she knew exactly what Han Tanyi was doing. The act had to be convincing. Han Tanyi followed her lead, feigning reluctance: "The Mingyue Villa certainly wouldn't treat us poorly, and I trust the Senior’s character. But don't forget, we came on this journey for the sake of money; we must be clear about these things. Besides, didn't we run away from home to prove our worth to Father? Having the money is the best proof, don't you think, Marquis of Fengdu?"

At this, Han Tanyi stopped abruptly, as if he had let something slip. He fell silent. Whether swayed by their argument or not, the old man stopped in his tracks. He knew exactly who the "Marquis of Fengdu" was, and his heart suddenly felt at ease: "So, these two are the children of the Marquis of Fengdu from the borderlands. If the man they mentioned really is Old Ghost Dao, then it all makes sense. The Xiao family has always wanted to seize the throne. If they rely only on the Prince's estate and the martial arts world, even with that treasure, they may not have total assurance. Only if an external threat arises to pin down the royal forces would they have a real opportunity!"

"The young man is right; it’s better to be clear about these things. I don't want any petty disputes later. Don't worry, as long as you can forge this object, Mingyue Villa will pay you three thousand taels of silver as a token of gratitude. How is that?" The old man smiled slightly, his lips curling upward, though the black veil hid it from view. Three thousand taels of silver was not a small sum. Han Tanyi couldn't find a reason to refuse. Beyond secretly cursing the "Old Ghost Shen" for being so wealthy, he wore a look of satisfaction and spoke with even greater respect: "You are truly generous, Senior! Rest assured, this task is in our hands!"

"However, I must make one thing clear: Mingyue Villa is not your home in the borderlands. Shen Er, in particular, hates it when people wander around aimlessly. You had best stay within this foundry. Do not roam about, or if any trouble arises, I cannot protect you!" His tone was noticeably sharper. Han Tanyi understood the underlying warning. He let the satisfied smile linger on his face and nodded eagerly: "Don't worry, don't worry! We are only here for the trade, and we hope to finish as soon as possible. Even if you didn't say it, we have no time to waste. With these three thousand taels, we can finally report back to Fath—to our father!"

He had meant to say "Royal Father," but caught himself just in time, substituting it with "father" to seal his performance. Even if it wasn't flawless, it minimized the cracks. The old man didn't seem to notice, simply nodding before turning and walking away. Though he tried to keep his pace steady, one could see the urgency hidden beneath his calm. At this moment, the corners of the young girl's mouth curled up in a subtle, imperceptible smile.