Chapter Thirteen: The Visitor

Though he blamed himself, such an enchanting woman would make it difficult for anyone to truly avert their eyes. Just like Han Tanyi at this moment—though he wanted to look away, his gaze was unwillingly drawn to her again and again. His actions were tinged with childishness, perhaps because of this very struggle. Perhaps for this reason, Shui Linglong suddenly broke into a smile. It seemed nothing out of the ordinary, yet in the eyes of this young man, her smile became all the more alluring, making him even less daring to look at her directly. Instinctively, he shifted his body, trying to distance himself a little. Only then could he barely steady his heart enough to ask, “Miss Shui, I—?”

He had intended to ask something, but as soon as he spoke, he found himself confused, unsure where to begin. Truth be told, the situation had changed too abruptly. His memory still lingered in the tavern, on the fleeting figure by the open door. Now, after regaining consciousness, he found himself in this unfamiliar place. How he had arrived here, what had happened in between, and the whereabouts of Old Su—all was a mystery, impossible to unravel so easily. Thus his words stalled, and he lapsed into silence.

“Is there something you wish to ask?” Seeing his bewildered state, Shui Linglong could not discern his intent. She ventured to prompt him, but she too grew confused midway, not knowing from which angle to approach the matter. The silence between them grew awkward, though not for long. Suddenly, a voice drifted in from outside the door: “Linglong, you are far too lacking in propriety! Even if he is your intended, that step has not yet been taken. You should mind your conduct.”

The voice was gentle, scolding without true reproach. Yet, Shui Linglong’s posture instinctively became more reserved. Standing by the bed, she hurriedly stepped back and quickly drew up the veil that had been hanging nearby, restoring her appearance to the one he had first seen. Perhaps, for Han Tanyi, this was no bad thing—for to gaze too long upon such a woman was to risk losing composure. Even so, he could not relax now, and his eyes involuntarily sought hers, silently questioning: what did “intended husband” mean? Such a phrase would be difficult for anyone to accept lightly.

But this was neither the time to ask nor to answer, for the owner of the voice had already entered, walking slowly, her every movement exuding a carefully restrained grace. Both Han Tanyi and Shui Linglong turned their gaze upon her. She was an extraordinarily elegant woman, her figure in no way inferior to Shui Linglong’s—perhaps even more graceful. Her face was obscured by a white veil, lending her an air of mystery. Han Tanyi’s instinct told him she must also be strikingly beautiful, and her status within the Blue Lotus Sect must be considerable. After all, Old Su, who stood nearby, was deferential in her presence, as was the maid who had entered earlier, whose expression seemed tinged with fear.

“Mother!” Shui Linglong bowed respectfully in greeting. The address startled Han Tanyi. Judging from her bearing and gait, she seemed only a few years older than Shui Linglong—perhaps four or five at most—making it plausible for her to be an elder sister, but a mother? He found it hard to accept. His gaze flickered between the two, searching for any clues. The woman did not immediately respond to her daughter, but instead fixed her gaze upon Han Tanyi, even leaning closer in an inexplicable way that made him feel uncomfortably pressured.

There was a kind of intimidation in her presence. Han Tanyi had seen many figures of consequence in his life, but never before had he felt such an instinctive fear, as if he could not move even if he wished to withdraw. His expression grew grave, uncertain of her intentions. The only solace was the faint, unique fragrance in the air, similar to that which clung to Shui Linglong—light and soothing, but ultimately no antidote to his unease. The closer she drew, the more suffocating the pressure became, until even his face grew flushed.

Fortunately, the moment did not last long. She withdrew, a slight smile gracing her lips, and nodded gently. Taking Shui Linglong’s hand, she appeared almost tender. Although Shui Linglong called her “mother,” it was clear she felt much the same as Han Tanyi—unable to meet her gaze, she turned her head aside, as if the pressure were too much. The relief was immediate; Han Tanyi felt he could finally breathe again. Yet as he watched the newcomer’s hand settle on Shui Linglong’s, a fresh worry arose within him.

“Linglong, your taste is not bad. This boy is fairly handsome—his nose is a nose, his eyes are eyes. But most importantly, he’s timid. Men—what you must fear are the bold ones, the shameless ones with honeyed tongues, just like your deadbeat father. Men are all the same: the kinder you are to them, the less grateful they become, the less they care. In front of you, they will say anything to please you, smother you with affection, but behind your back, they’ll say the same things to other women. Isn’t that right, Su Qingyang?” What began as a mother-daughter conversation ended with a sharp turn; her eyes snapped toward Old Su, glaring at him. The previously serene Old Su immediately showed fear—a look Han Tanyi recognized from their first encounter at the inn.

“You are right, my Lady. I heed your words,” Old Su replied meekly, suddenly transformed. Han Tanyi was at a loss for words. Strangely, he found himself agreeing with the woman’s cynical view. A surge of self-reproach welled up in his heart. “Butterfly, oh Butterfly, am I like what she says? My heart holds you, and yet, when I see another beautiful woman, it still pounds uncontrollably. Tell me, am I as wretched as those men? If so, I am truly afraid and ashamed. Tell me, what should I do?”

Of course, these were only silent musings. He would never voice them in front of these people. Even with his questions, now was not the time. The more pressing matter was to understand his current circumstances. With this in mind, the youth’s thoughts snapped back to the present. Suddenly, his heart jolted in alarm—the title “Sect Leader.” Why did those two words sound so extraordinary? Could this woman be none other than the infamous Demoness of the martial world—Water Lotus?

Now, Han Tanyi was truly terrified. The name Water Lotus had been a nightmare in the martial world for over a decade. Even his master, the renowned Daoist of Tianji from Qilian, would grow solemn when speaking of her, recalling the great battle from more than ten years ago. After that, the Blue Lotus Sect and Water Lotus vanished, and the martial world only then began to relax its vigilance. Yet who would have thought that the legendary demoness—presumed long turned to dust—would now stand before him, alive, and Shui Linglong was her daughter?

More troubling was the fact that he, an outsider, had somehow become entangled with these people. And from her own mouth, she had spoken of him as a “betrothed.” What was going on? This was no careless remark—if even one woman accepted it, it was as good as settled. Everything felt bewildering. Lost in thought, Han Tanyi’s eyes naturally shifted to Shui Linglong, hoping to find a clear answer. At that moment, he discovered she too was watching him. When their eyes met, her face flushed red and she quickly looked away, shy as a young girl, the emotion intensified by her mother’s presence.