Chapter Forty-Five: Reminiscence
“To have me join the Blue Lotus Sect? That is absolutely impossible! As a disciple of Qilian, I would rather die than…?” Such a condition was, indeed, a great temptation. Though not considered a benevolent force in the martial world, the Blue Lotus Sect, led by Water Lotus, had once held its ground against the four great sects single-handedly in that fateful battle sixteen years ago—a display of power that commanded awe. If he were to join the Blue Lotus Sect and wed Shui Linglong, then, once Water Lotus passed away, the position of sect leader would undoubtedly fall to him. To master Water Lotus’s skills would make him a figure of unmatched power, enjoying both fame and fortune, the heights most could only dream of. Yet, for Han Tanyi, none of this held any sway. Born and raised in Qilian, he had always harbored a deep-seated aversion for the Blue Lotus Sect—a hatred so instinctive he would rather not even lay eyes upon them, much less join their ranks. His gaze was resolute, not a hint of wavering as he refused without hesitation.
“You’d rather die than join the so-called ‘demonic’ sect, is that it? Boy, I had thought that someone Linglong favored would be different, but it seems you are no more than an ordinary man of the martial world. Righteous sects, demonic cults—aren’t these merely names given by the world? In your eyes, my Blue Lotus Sect is a wicked cult, yet does your Qilian Mountain or Bright Moon Manor appear any different in ours?” A cold sneer crept onto Water Lotus’s face, brimming with ridicule and sending a chill down one’s spine. Han Tanyi instinctively recoiled, a surge of fear overcoming him under such sudden pressure. He caught himself and managed, with effort, to stand his ground.
In truth, Han Tanyi found himself at a loss for words. Right and wrong were never so easily discerned, and once a conviction took root, it was near impossible to alter. He wished to retort, yet found no foothold from which to begin. Water Lotus stepped forward, and in a swift motion, seized Han Tanyi by the throat. The difference in their statures made the scene slightly awkward, but the sense of oppression was unmistakably intense.
“You’ve stayed in my Blue Lotus Sect for two days now. Have you ever seen us act with the cruelty described in rumors, slaughtering without restraint? Boy, let me tell you, Linglong’s feelings for you are genuine—so deep she’d even throw her life away for you. What more do you want? Or do you truly believe I wouldn’t dare end your life?” Her words were laden with reproach. Water Lotus was clearly no gentle soul. Though Han Tanyi outwardly maintained his obstinacy, the guilt in his eyes was plain for her to see, impossible to conceal. Threats might be an effective tactic, but to move the heart was far more powerful.
Han Tanyi was not particularly afraid of death. From the moment he entered the Blue Lotus Sect, he had not expected to leave alive. Life and death were, by now, matters beyond his concern. But when it came to owing a debt of affection, repaying it would be near impossible—especially given their circumstances. In this moment, silence seemed the only possible response. His eyes held a lost, aimless look; he couldn’t even bring himself to glance at Shui Linglong in the distance.
“If you kill him, you will have no daughter left in this world!” Han Tanyi did not fear death, but he did have something he feared. And at this moment, that fear was realized in the most unwelcome way. Summoning strength from who knows where, the frail Shui Linglong broke free of her maids’ support, her gaze fixed unwaveringly on Han Tanyi. Her voice, though soft, was imbued with desperate force, enough to make the man before her tremble. Her words only deepened his sense of helpless entanglement.
“This worthless boy—I cannot fathom what you see in him. If you want a good man, the world is full of them. I could find you any you wish. But as for this boy, today he must be shown the true power of our Blue Lotus Sect, lest he think we are easily trifled with!” Water Lotus, clearly angered by Shui Linglong’s defiance, tightened her grip on Han Tanyi’s neck. The pressure left clear marks where her fingers pressed into his skin. Han Tanyi, already struggling, found it harder and harder to breathe, his face flushing red. Yet Water Lotus hesitated; with her strength, ending this young man’s life would require no effort. But she held back, perhaps considering her daughter’s feelings. Shui Linglong was her own flesh and blood—she understood her daughter’s temperament better than anyone. If she forced the matter, she might lose her daughter as well, which was a price too steep to pay.
“He is who he is—no one can change or replace him. Love, if it were so easily swayed, Mother, then why have you, after all these years, still not let go? If you cannot, how can I, your daughter, be any different? Had it not been for that man back then, even the combined might of the four great sects would have been no match for you!” Shui Linglong shook off the two maids, taking slow but determined steps forward. Her words, firm and unwavering, left no room for doubt. Even Water Lotus could not help but tremble—whether from the words or her daughter’s resolve, it was hard to say.
“Never mention him in my presence again!” Water Lotus’s tone sharpened, as though a vital nerve had been struck. Her aura flared, bristling and dangerous, sweeping through the clearing. Even Han Tanyi, standing closest, felt the overwhelming force. Old Su and the maids shrank back in fear. In that moment, Han Tanyi understood: this woman was truly the most infamous figure in the martial world, her reputation as the greatest under heaven well deserved.
The alliance of the four great sects—Han Tanyi knew well what that meant. The Battle of Three Wolves, the fall of the Blue Lotus, was the most oft-repeated tale from taverns to teahouses. But who that man was, he could not guess, nor what truly transpired that day. His little junior sister had often begged their master to recount the story, but the old man always avoided it. Clearly, it was not a tale to be proud of. At this moment, only Shui Linglong maintained a semblance of composure, as if she had long expected her mother’s reaction. Yet even so, her body was too frail; the surge of spiritual energy forced her to stumble back several steps.
“If you do not wish me to speak of him, then I shall not. He was a faithless man, yet you still cannot forget him. Why, then, am I not allowed to fight for the one I love?” Unable to move forward, Shui Linglong stood her ground, her expression as stubborn and resolute as Han Tanyi’s had been. Emotion overcame her, and she coughed violently before regaining her breath and composure. “I love him—that is my affair. For the sake of love, I am willing to do anything. Whether he loves me or not is his affair; whether he stays or leaves, that is his choice. I will not force him, just as you did not force yours. We are mother and daughter, after all—isn’t this temperament inherited from you?”
Shui Linglong’s words revealed no hint of retreat. The mention of inheritance seemed to strike a chord with Water Lotus. Her anger softened, and her gaze grew helpless as she looked upon her daughter’s pale face. After a long, hesitant pause, she sighed lightly. “Enough, enough. As you say—what can I do? We are mother and daughter. It is fate, a curse upon us both. Do as you will.”
With those words, Water Lotus released Han Tanyi and, without pause, leapt to Old Su’s side. Grabbing him as easily as plucking a chicken, she bounded away into the forest and vanished from sight, with the maids quickly following after. Only Shui Linglong remained, standing unsteadily in the wind, as though she might collapse at any moment. Han Tanyi wished to go to her—no matter his feelings, she had done all this for him. Even if he could offer nothing else, at least he could help her stand. Yet he did not move, for Shui Linglong stopped him: “No, don’t come any closer. You do not belong here and should not linger for anyone’s sake. You heard me—I love you, but that is my affair. Whether you stay or go is your choice; I will not stop you. If you leave, never return—never let me see you again, or I will kill you myself. Forget me, forget the Blue Lotus Sect, forget all of this. Promise me you can do that, can’t you?”