Chapter 124: Not Wanting to Kill

The methods of torture are, by nature, something anyone can employ; the only difference lies in whether one is willing to do so or not. At this moment, although Shui Linglong’s actions were aimed at a shared goal, Han Tanyi felt a lingering reluctance. Watching the pained expressions of the two men, he could not fathom why the scene from three years ago kept resurfacing in his mind: a long sword piercing through his chest, without the slightest warning or defense. Though he lived, his heart had truly died in that very instant.

Yet, he did not intervene, choosing instead to let his inner conflict remain. After all, extracting information from these two by peaceful means was no easy task—a fact Shui Linglong understood far more clearly than he did. That was why she had been so direct from the start. Han Tanyi simply stood to the side, keeping his head bowed, as if by not seeing, he could distance himself from the act. He had deceived himself once before; now, he was merely watching the same play repeat itself.

"I’ll talk! I’ll talk!" The voice was faint and trembling. In less than a quarter of an hour, a man of iron will had been reduced to this state—a testament to the efficacy of Shui Linglong’s technique. Seeing that they had broken, she felt no further need to torment them. With a few sharp taps of her fingers, she unsealed their acupoints. Her voice carried a hint of arrogance, as if she were pleased with her own efficiency: "It would have been better to speak sooner. Why suffer so much? You were going to talk in the end anyway; you only brought this pain upon yourselves."

This was true enough. With the torture ended, Han Tanyi felt a sense of relief. Had it been brighter, one might have seen the beads of sweat on his forehead, as if he had been the one enduring the agony. Fortunately, the cold breeze drifting through the window soon dissipated them, providing a convenient cover for his distress.

"After our master captured the 'Flowering Butterfly,' he knew someone would come to rescue him, so he set a trap, waiting for you to walk right into it. He hid the prisoner in a guest room in the front courtyard, without even posting guards." The man’s voice remained thin, whether from the guilt of betrayal or the lingering effects of the ordeal, he trembled with every word. It sounded somewhat implausible, but Han Tanyi had no desire to doubt it. He understood the strategy of portraying the truth as a lie. Yet, this was the first time he had encountered such a situation. To be honest, had it not been for the events of three years ago, he might still have held Shen Wansan in high regard, or perhaps felt a greater sense of guilt over the theft. But now, he felt it would be better to leave the martial arts world entirely. For someone who only wished for an ordinary life, this environment was ill-suited. If the water was too deep, no matter how cautious one was, there would eventually come a day one would drown.

"A clever trick, you old ghost Shen!" With a sudden burst of movement, Shui Linglong surged forward, even faster than before. Had she not been delayed by drawing her sword, Han Tanyi would never have been able to catch up to where her blade was aimed. Even so, he had to intervene empty-handed. Had Shui Linglong not possessed such masterful control, her sword would have already pierced the guard’s throat—a lethal strike. The moment she drew her blade, Han Tanyi had anticipated her intent. Clearly, she had not expected his move; she froze, her sword still pointed straight ahead, her eyes filled with confusion. During that split second, Han Tanyi had shifted his body, stepping directly into the path of the blade, as if the strike had been meant for him all along.

"Can you not kill them?" His tone was tentative. Han Tanyi knew better than anyone that even if he and the two guards combined forces against Shui Linglong, they would stand no chance. Moreover, they were not exactly allies. Although he had anticipated her reaction, hearing the request left Shui Linglong struggling to accept it. Still, she lowered her sword. "We are here to save someone. You must realize how dangerous this is within the Mingyue Manor. These two know we are here; if they live, our presence will be exposed in an instant. If you insist on sparing them, at least give me a reasonable justification."

Shui Linglong’s tone had softened. Clearly, she knew that someone like Han Tanyi could not be unaware of the risks. If he still insisted, he must have his reasons. She was no longer the headstrong "Water Lotus" of the past; her rebirth had perhaps allowed her to see things with newfound clarity. As for Han Tanyi, he could only remain silent. Giving a logical reason was not easy; the excuses forming in his mind failed even to convince himself. Yet, he paused and managed to say, "I... I just don't want to kill anymore."

The air grew heavy, thick with a strange tension between them. As for the two guards, after being subdued, they had already prepared for the worst. Death was nothing unusual in the martial arts world; even a disciple as prominent as the first student of the Qilian sect could fall in an instant. What they never expected was that the very person they had once looked up to was now standing before them, shielding them. From any perspective, it was a joke.

"Fine. If you don't want to kill, I won't. I'll treat it as a good deed." Han Tanyi had not expected this answer. In truth, all four of them were likely harboring similar thoughts, though Shui Linglong was the most inscrutable. She shifted her body, moving past him, a faint, self-mocking smile playing on her lips. It was true—how could she, once known as a devil and a public enemy of the martial arts world, be so easily persuaded by such a reason?

The two guards slumped against the wall. They could never have reacted to Shui Linglong’s speed, and in their current state, it was better not to resist. Staying alive was naturally more appealing than dying. Once things were settled, Shui Linglong turned to look at Han Tanyi, who was still standing there in a daze. She let out a soft laugh: "What, surprised I would do that? It’s true, the Blue Lotus Cult doesn't have the best reputation, but that doesn’t mean I, Shui Linglong, am a cold-blooded killer. Don't worry, I only struck their sleep-inducing acupoints; they won't wake for twelve hours. That should be enough time for us to rescue the Flowering Butterfly. So, what now?"

"I originally intended to use the Qinghong sword to infiltrate the manor and investigate, but now that we have a general location and two loose ends, we cannot afford to delay. I’ve been to the front courtyard before; it isn't huge, but searching room by room will take time. Let us split up—you take the west, I take the east. Once we find where the Butterfly is held, we meet up before acting, regardless of whether there are guards. How does that sound?" Han Tanyi had fully recovered his composure. His demeanor was steady, and his plan was sound. Shui Linglong did not hesitate, darting away instantly, her voice lingering in the air: "I'll start from the east!"

"You are just as big a fool as I am." Where the moonlight touched the doorway, Han Tanyi watched her figure vanish and sighed to himself. These matters had nothing to do with her, yet she had allowed herself to be dragged in. If that didn't make her a fool, what did? At that thought, he suddenly felt at peace. While eight or nine out of ten things in this world go against one's wishes, there is always some consolation to be found. Perhaps this is what it means to know the cold before one can appreciate the warmth. There was nothing to complain about. He tightened his grip on the Qinghong sword and walked out into the night. If some things and some people are destined to be part of one's path, why not let nature take its course? The Central Plains martial arts world, the Blue Lotus Cult—those were all just excuses. As long as she was Shui Linglong and he was Han Tanyi, that was enough.