Chapter Ninety: The Reason for Rescuing People

“Do you still take me as your disciple?” Though Shen Wansan’s voice was not loud, the instant he repeated those words, Han Tanyi only felt as though someone had driven a needle straight through his heart. It was a pain beyond words, so sharp that his body could not help but give a faint shudder. At that moment, he did not know how to answer. He turned his head slightly away, as if by doing so he could flee from the matter. Silence was perhaps the best reply.

Shen Wansan gave a soft sigh as well, then said, “I know that for you, making such a decision is no easy thing. There is no need to rush. Rest your body well, think it over carefully. Young Master Shao, you too may consider what this old man has said. If you are willing, I shall await your honored arrival at Bright Moon Manor at any time.”

Having said this, Shen Wansan did not linger. For him, the purpose had already been achieved; there was no meaning in continuing to wear away at this in such a manner. If he pressed too hard, he might even provoke resentment. His steps were unhurried. When the moonlight fell faintly upon him, it only deepened the silver sheen around him.

Watching his receding back, Shao Changchun suddenly felt that this old man, too, was only a pitiful soul; or perhaps, he was also a fortunate one. He was pitiful because he was too stubborn, and fortunate because he had always known what it was he truly wanted.

Little by little, with the widening distance, Shen Wansan’s figure grew increasingly hazy, until he was almost indistinct. Only then did Shao Changchun flick his sleeve gently, and the door, following the current of his inner force, eased itself partly shut.

Inside the temple, all was hushed. Han Tanyi remained as he was, still turned away and saying nothing. Yet he did not dare close his eyes, because the moment he did, the scenes upon the high platform would return to him. It was a memory of unbearable agony. Each time it swept through his mind, the pain in his heart seemed to deepen for no reason at all.

Shao Changchun glanced sideways at the young man. His eyes were full of concern, yet in the end he still said nothing. In such a situation, he did not know what to say. Perhaps the more he said, the heavier the boy’s sorrow would become. If that were truly so, it might be better to remain silent. Perhaps only the passage of time could wash away the wound, both from the body and from the soul.

Only when a person knows how to bury hardship in the depths of the heart, and to lick their own wounds in silence, may they truly be considered mature. The martial world, after all, never believes in tears.

At that moment, the medicine seemed to have reached the proper stage. Its rich fragrance, riding on the rising heat, continuously drifted upward until it filled the entire space. It was impossible to keep standing there the whole time; that would have been far too awkward. Shao Changchun could only walk over to the medicine pot. He poured out the decoction and extinguished the fire in one smooth motion, yet he merely placed the bowl of medicine not far from Han Tanyi, without handing it to him.

First, it was still too hot and truly not fit to drink. Second, with the young man’s present state of mind, he likely would not be able to drink it anyway.

“I still have some matters to attend to, so I’ll leave this here. When it has cooled, or when you can bring yourself to drink it, take it. After all, I went to some trouble to get it. You mustn’t—” In the end, Shao Changchun still did not say the rest. For him, some words simply could not be spoken.

By then, Han Tanyi was no fool. He naturally understood the plain meaning beneath the other’s words. Shao Changchun’s figure moved slowly toward the temple entrance. As he walked, he seemed to be thinking of something. Han Tanyi still sat with his back turned to him. Only when the half-closed door had fully shut did he turn around and look at the place where the medicine had been set. Of course, since it had just been poured from the fire, the steaming heat was unavoidable.

“Who exactly is he?” Han Tanyi murmured softly.

Truth be told, he could not see through him. He only felt that there was something familiar about this young man, yet he could not at once remember where he had seen it before. From Shen Wansan’s words, he also had a strong intuition: Shao Changchun might be only a disguise. He might be, and he might not be. Perhaps he truly did have some connection to the Blue Lotus Cult. Otherwise, a man as deep and calculating as Shen Wansan would never have spoken such words without cause.

It was a mystery, but he did not want to ask. Sometimes, knowing the answer is not necessarily a good thing. Better to leave it thus. If he did not speak, then he would not ask either. When they met, he might be treated as a friend; when they did not, he was no different from a stranger.

Night was always a frightening presence, especially in unfamiliar places. In such a darkened world, people’s fear did not arise from how different day and night might be, but simply because they could not see, and their ears heard nothing at all. Not knowing, perhaps, was the true root of fear.

Of course, all these reasons were likely of little use to the person before them.

Upon the eaves, his speed was astonishing. Even the most agile monkey could not match him. Roofs were ordinarily perilous places; one never knew where one could step and where one could not. Yet in his eyes, it was no different from level ground. As he raced forward, the tips of his feet seemed merely to touch down lightly, and his whole body leaped away. Each bound carried him at least several yards. Very quickly, a whole street was left behind, and not far ahead a tall tower had already come into view, rising at the end of the road.

“Cult Master!”

Two voices rang out almost at once. Though not loud, they were heard with remarkable clarity. At that moment, the moving figure suddenly stopped.

In the darkness, it was impossible to make out his features. All that could be seen were two black silhouettes slowly stepping out from the eaves on either side of the tower. Leaving aside everything else, their voices alone carried unmistakable respect. A man and a woman stood on left and right, as if awaiting the newcomer’s instructions.

“Release Shao Changchun. The martial gathering has already ended, and keeping him imprisoned now serves no purpose. As I said before, his Eastern Flower Gate has, in the end, rendered service to my Blue Lotus Cult. Therefore, you must treat him with proper courtesy and not let him suffer too much hardship. Do you understand?”

There was no need to guess at the voice. It was precisely Shao Changchun, come out from the temple. More accurately, at this moment he was no longer Shao Changchun.

His tone was calm, but it was unmistakably one of command. The two shadows naturally could not disobey. As soon as he finished speaking, one of them replied, “This subordinate will see to it at once. It is only—”

Only what? The speaker did not continue. She understood that there were some matters one could ask about, and some one ought not. Sometimes, knowing too much is not a good thing.

Even if she said nothing more, the Cult Master understood as well. Given his status and standing, there were things he need not explain to his subordinates at all. For some reason, he happened to have such a thought today. After a brief pause, he went on, “Water Right Envoy, you may be counted among the founding elders of my Blue Lotus Cult. The reason I saved that young man Han Tanyi was not because of any private grudge or affection. It is simply that his present state came about because he was implicated by my Blue Lotus Cult. Clear are grievances and favors; since he bears no enmity with my cult, he should not suffer this calamity for no reason. I save him only to make up for a debt owed. Once he recovers somewhat, we shall be strangers, with nothing further between us. Do you understand?”

“This subordinate understands.”

Perhaps that was the only answer. She was, after all, merely a subordinate; how could she go against his wishes? Yet in that instant, a voice still muttered in Water Lily’s heart: Whether I understand or not makes little difference in the end. But does the Cult Master truly think this way, or are these merely empty words, spoken against his own heart? Perhaps only he himself knows.

Han Tanyi, though he truly did resemble Shao Donghua from sixteen years ago in some ways, was still not him. Back then, your feigned death could deceive Shao Donghua’s eyes, but if you were to stage it again, how would you justify yourself? Could it be that you mean to drag my Blue Lotus Cult toward annihilation once more?

“Good. Do as I instruct. Also, Left Envoy Su, investigate this man Xiao Jinghao for me. People of the court have always kept their distance from the affairs of the martial world. This man is likely no ordinary person!”

With Water Lily’s words stirring her thoughts, Water Linglong herself no longer knew exactly what she felt. She was already a woman of nearly forty, yet possessed the face of someone around twenty. The person she had once loved was gone, and now a figure with a similar likeness had suddenly appeared. Was this not the trickery of fate? Ah.

Perhaps Water Lily’s concern was not without reason. Even she herself could not make sense of why she had saved that young man. So be it. Since she could not understand it, then let it remain muddled for now. At the very least, she could still find other things to occupy her mind, rather than dwelling in endless vexation.