Forgotten Tale of Jianghu

As soon as Sangguan Yun'er settled into her seat, Xin Long's words made her heart swell with satisfaction. She couldn't help but smile to herself, her lips curling slightly in amusement. Fixing her gaze on Xin Long, she let out a soft chuckle and said,

"Hah… even the way you speak has changed quite a bit. But no matter how much things change, those cold, indifferent eyes of yours remain the same."

The moment she said this, Xin Long glanced at her briefly before pouring a drink from the liquor jar in his right hand into a cup and offering it to her with his left. Just from the scent alone, she immediately recognized it as Hundred Blossoms Brew—the finest and most expensive liquor their establishment had to offer. She had already taken notice of its fragrance the moment she arrived at the table.

Taking the cup from him, she brought it to her lips and took a sip. The floral aroma lingered in her nose, the sweetness coating her tongue, while the warmth spread from her throat down to her stomach. It was the perfect drink to ward off the chill of winter—one she had long deemed as the best for such occasions. As the liquor coursed through her veins, spreading warmth throughout her body, she noticed Xin Long lowering the liquor jar and wrapping a cloth around his face once more.

His sharp gaze was no longer on her but instead swept across the surrounding tables, surveying the restaurant with wary eyes.

What was he afraid of?

She couldn't figure it out. But she was certain there had to be a reason.

Just as she was deep in thought, Xin Long suddenly rose to his feet, clenching his fists tightly…

"I'll be staying at the Fairy Blossom Pavilion in this city. If you still trust my dignity, then come share a drink with me at the time of the tenth bell at night.

But let me make one request—don't tell anyone you saw me. No matter what happens, don't let a single word slip… not even to your father."

With that, Xin Long took a few silver pieces from his chest and placed them on the table. Holding the liquor jar in his right hand, he turned and left the Pavilion without waiting to hear her response. She could only watch in silence, words forming on her lips yet left unspoken.

There had to be danger lurking around him—why else would he act this way?

The Fairy Blossom Pavilion was an establishment she had personally arranged. If she were to visit Xin Long there… the only option left for her would be to go in disguise.

Would she have to conceal herself just to meet him?

She was the cold and ruthless queen of Nan Hai City. And yet, to Xin Long, she had always been nothing more than a delicate flower—someone with a gentle heart…

…

Xin Long took the reins of the horse that had been swiftly brought to him, leaped onto its back, and let out a faint, knowing smile beneath the veil of his dark cloak. Without hesitation, he set off toward the Fairy Blossom Pavilion—a destination he had chosen deliberately.

The reason was simple.

Seeing Sangguan Yun'er inside Fairy Blossom Pavilion had made one thing clear: that establishment must be under the ownership of the Golden Tiger Fortress. And if that was the case, then the Fairy Blossom Pavilion was likely part of the same domain as well.

If she decided to accept his invitation and meet him there, it would be inevitable—she would have to either conceal herself or, like him, cover her face entirely. There was no other way.

And that was exactly what he wanted.

As he rode through the bustling streets, Xin Long reflected on his plan. He scanned the moving crowd before tilting his head back, pouring the last of his liquor down his throat.

Back at the Pavilion, Sangguan Yun'er had picked up the wine cup, only to immediately conceal her face behind a black veil. It was right after that moment that he had walked away.

It was all part of his plan.

Had he remained seated any longer, he would have been forced to share a drink with her—just as she had. And so, he had chosen to leave.

"Dignity."

A single word from their conversation lingered in his mind. A word he had thrown at her… yet now, it echoed back at him.

A dry chuckle escaped his lips. With a flick of his wrist, he tossed the empty wine jar onto the street and rode on.

"Crack."

The sound of a shattered wine jar reached his ears. To him, it was oddly satisfying—almost pleasant. He took it in with a quiet sense of amusement.

The rhythmic clatter of hooves, the chatter of passersby, and the lively hum of market stalls filled the night air. The glow of multicolored lanterns lined the streets, their soft light casting fleeting illusions of warmth upon the city. From above, the flickering lanterns and scattered lights painted a picture of beauty—one that could almost deceive the unknowing.

But to him, it was nothing more than a facade.

A false beauty masking the cold, ruthless truth beneath.

Nan Hai City, under the dominion of Golden Tiger Sangguan, would forever remain a city shrouded in darkness.

Would it not?

"Thump, thump, thump..."

The sound of bamboo tapping echoed ten times. At that moment, he opened the window and gazed down at the street.

Would she come?

Sometimes, understanding a woman's heart was more difficult than mastering martial arts. That uncertainty gnawed at him. His strength had grown, his inner energy refined, yet storming the Golden Tiger Fortress and taking his revenge on Sangguan was still beyond his reach. If he couldn't strike directly, he would settle for a different kind of revenge—a wound that couldn't be seen but would cut just as deep.

But if she didn't come, everything he had planned would crumble into nothing. That was why he was restless.

The necessary bait was already in place—one of Sangguan's martial artists stationed at the Peony Fairy Inn had been silently subdued. With precise timing, he had incapacitated the guard during his patrol and hidden him inside a room, out of sight. A single move, yet it would serve multiple purposes.

Then—

A figure approached.

Dressed in dark robes, their hair tightly wrapped in cloth, they moved with sharp, deliberate steps, a dagger glinting in their grasp. Even from this distance, he saw the moment they turned their gaze toward him. Their eyes—those familiar eyes—made his breath still for a fraction of a second.

Sangguan Yun'er.

Satisfaction.

Yes. That was what he felt.

The moment she arrived, a slow wave of satisfaction settled in his chest. He gave her a slight nod. Soon, she would be exactly where he wanted her—seated before him, with no escape.

A smirk tugged at his lips as he closed the window.

...

Inside the lavishly adorned room, he waited.

Seated beside the table, surrounded by an array of delicacies, time stretched unbearably. Only two more chimes of the clock remained before the antidote could counteract the Mind-Controlling Drug. The door had been left slightly ajar—an invitation. Entry would be effortless for her.

This was, after all, a guesthouse under Sangguan's control. The furnishings were luxurious, the decor exquisite. Even he had marveled at it upon stepping inside, though the admiration quickly turned into something else. A deeper, burning hatred.

The more he took in the elegance of this place, the more he loathed the man who ruled over Nan Hai City with an iron grip—Sangguan Jin Hu.

Just as his thoughts spiraled, she entered.

A shadow draped in black silk.

With a quiet motion, she closed the door behind her. Then, without hesitation, she unwrapped the dark cloth concealing her face and strode toward him.

He stood, his movements betraying an excitement he did not bother to conceal, and spoke to her.

"Thank you, Sangguan Yun'er, for trusting me enough to come."

On her face, he caught the fleeting traces of hesitation—an awkwardness that came with being alone in a room with a man. Of course. She was only eighteen. With her pride and status, no man had ever dared to share a drink with her in private.

Wasn't he simply fortunate beyond belief?

No.

Luck had nothing to do with it.

Xin Long had earned this moment. The fact that he had caught Sangguan Yun'er's attention was the result of his unwavering gaze—one that had met hers without fear. While others bowed before her, hesitant and deferential, his cold, steady eyes had looked straight into hers. And in that fleeting moment, she had remembered him.

That was all.

It was human nature, after all. The mind clung to what was unfamiliar, to what stood out among the ordinary.

Then—

A soft chuckle escaped her lips.

"Heh. Well, you gave me a good reason to trust you."

She knew nothing of the blood feud between her father and him.

Before her, she saw nothing more than a lone hunter—a quiet presence, harmless as a rabbit.

But tonight, she would receive something that would forever be etched into her memory.

Something…