Forgotten Tale of Jianghu

The Shaohua restaurant loomed large, a grand two-story establishment.

The moment Xin Long stepped inside, the clamor of voices filled his ears — martial artists, townsfolk, and travelers crowded the round tables, eating and drinking with unrestrained energy.

The waiters darted back and forth, their movements a blur as they struggled to keep up with the endless orders.

Xin Long's sharp gaze didn't miss the subtle shift in the room. Some patrons' eyes widened at the sight of Bai Jing Jing standing beside him — a ripple of recognition spreading through certain groups.

It was clear that while some knew her as the fiancée of Xu Zhu Han, others did not.

But that didn't matter.

Drawing attention was precisely his intent.

That was why he had asked the inn's errand boy for the name and location of Kunming City's most renowned and upscale restaurant.

By appearing here with Bai Jing Jing, those who recognized her would remember him — and even those who didn't might prove useful one day.

"Let's head upstairs…" Xin Long said, tilting his head slightly to glance at Bai Jing Jing.

Without waiting for a response, he moved through the bustling tables, leading her toward the staircase.

As they ascended, a waiter noticed them and quickly stepped forward.

"This way, young master and young lady — there's an open table just over there..."

The waiter rushed over in a flurry of motion, pointing to an unoccupied round table as he spoke.

Xin Long gave a slight nod of acknowledgment and followed the waiter without a word, his steps steady, ignoring the curious gazes that trailed behind him.

He noticed something as they walked — every waiter wore the same white uniform, with the tavern's name, Shaohua, embroidered neatly on their backs.

This uniformity bred discipline. It fostered order.

Yet, to Xin Long, it also hinted at something else — a lack of individuality, a subtle rigidity that meant these waiters would rarely act on their own initiative.

Despite the time it took to reach their table, Bai Jing Jing hadn't uttered a single word. Xin Long noticed this, though he chose to act as if he hadn't.

Too much talk could lead to mistakes.

She was no foolish chatterbox like some pretentious socialite — her silence was deliberate, restrained.

It confirmed what Xin Long already suspected — Bai Jing Jing was not the kind of woman who would prattle meaninglessly.

Reaching the table, Xin Long pulled out a chair with his left hand, gesturing for Bai Jing Jing to sit.

"Bring us the best dishes you have," he said coolly, turning his gaze to the waiter standing nearby.

Bai Jing Jing inclined her head slightly in acknowledgment before seating herself, calm and composed.

Her actions were quiet, but Xin Long couldn't help but notice the faint flicker of respect in her clear, green-tinged eyes.

Was it admiration?

Perhaps.

But to Xin Long, this was merely the fruit of his own unwavering confidence — a natural result of someone steadfastly believing in their own choices.

Then, without preamble, he broke the silence.

"Did your younger sister stay behind at the manor?"

It was a simple question, yet weighted with subtle intention.

Bai Jing Jing's response was just as steady.

"No..." she replied. "Chu Cao is at the Silent Serenity Apothecary, helping out..."

Bai Jing Jing answered Xin Long's question with steady composure, her voice calm and unwavering.

Her gaze fell upon him — his jet-black, well-fitted robes spoke of quiet precision. His long hair, meticulously combed and tied, betrayed not a single strand out of place.

There was an undeniable stillness about him, a sharpness beneath the surface, as if every word and every movement was carefully calculated.

She noticed the weapons he carried — a sword wrapped in cloth slung across his back, and another sword hooked discreetly at his waist.

A man who walked with death by his side.

Cold… Unyielding…

The thought crossed her mind: He is too calm.

Then… do I have the right to ask where you're from and where you're headed?

Her voice was casual, but her green-tinted eyes locked onto Xin Long, studying him, searching for a flicker of reaction.

But there was none.

Xin Long's expression didn't shift — not even a muscle twitched.

The sharpness in his gaze didn't waver, like a blade pressed silently against her throat.

And then, his reply, as blunt as ever—

I've already told you.

His voice cut through the silence like a blade through silk — calm, flat, yet oddly heavy.

Bai Jing Jing observed him, her thoughts spiraling.

What kind of man is he?

Where does he come from?

Is he truly just a hired blade?

If so… who has he come to kill?

Questions clawed their way into her mind, a sudden rush of burning curiosity.

But above all, one thought lingered.

Was this Xin Long's true skill?

Not just his sword, but the way he commanded a person's attention, pulling them in until they were caught in the gravity of his silence.

Just then, Bai Jing Jing noticed a young servant carrying a long tray, stepping carefully toward them. The scent of freshly cooked dishes drifted through the air, a warm fragrance curling into her nose.

The surrounding noise — the clamor of voices, the clinking of cups — pressed into her ears like a constant murmur. Yet, even amidst the chaotic backdrop, she became aware of something else.

Eyes.

Several martial artists scattered around the room — silent, watchful — stealing glances at her and Xin Long. Some subtle, others less so.

The servant placed the dishes before them. Neither she nor Xin Long spoke a word as they ate, the silence between them unbroken.

But from time to time, she could feel it.

Xin Long's gaze.

Each time she looked up, she caught his cold, sharp eyes — unwavering, calm, yet piercing straight through her.

Was he… studying her? Interested in her?

Impossible.

In less than six days, she would be wed — the future bride of none other than Young Master Xu, the pride of Kunming City.

Time crept by.

The dishes on the table gradually emptied, and the air grew heavier with unspoken thoughts.

A sudden, hurried clatter of footsteps echoed from the upper floor.

Bai Jing Jing turned her head toward the staircase, her gaze drawn to the source of the noise.

And there he was.

Her betrothed, Young Master Xu — descending with a small entourage of followers in tow, his presence as commanding as ever.

Bai Jing Jing's heart gave a slight stir, and she shifted her gaze back to her table — back to Xin Long.

And that's when she saw it.

Xin Long was already looking at Young Master Xu.

His cold, predatory stare followed the man's every step — not with surprise, but with an eerie calmness, as if he had expected this moment all along.

His expression didn't change.

Yet, the weight of his gaze felt heavier than a sword's edge.

The sound of approaching footsteps grew louder.

Bai Jing Jing heard it — steady, unhurried — each step closing the distance between them.

And once again, she saw it.

Xin Long's eyes.

Sharper now, like twin swords reflecting a distant light — cold, calculating, and unblinking.

Then...

"Well, well… Young Master Xu Zhu Han himself, descending from on high."

Xin Long's voice broke the silence — smooth, mocking, carrying a faint smile that never reached his dead, black eyes.

"What's the matter? Afraid someone might steal your little bride-to-be?"

Bai Jing Jing's heart lurched.

She hadn't expected those words — so direct, so venomously casual — to slip from Xin Long's lips like a knife sliding from its sheath.

And yet, there he stood.

Calm... Unbothered…

His gaze flicked past her, landing on the man behind her — Young Master Xu.

Dressed in a crimson martial robe, Xu Zhu Han's striking face was a mask of restrained anger. His lips were pressed into a thin line, smooth and poised. But it was his eyes that gave him away — a flash of irritation beneath their surface calm.

Behind him stood four guards, silent and disciplined, swords hooked at their waists.

Their stillness spoke volumes, like hunting dogs waiting for their master's command.

Xin Long's gaze lingered on them for the briefest moment — a flicker of recognition — before returning to Young Master Xu.

These men… they were clearly Xu Zhu Han's chosen bodyguards.

Bai Jing Jing's mind spun.

What did Xin Long want? Why was he provoking him?

And why…

Why did it feel like all of this — the meeting, the words, the tension — was exactly what Xin Long had anticipated all along?

Xin Long extended his right hand, gesturing toward an empty seat.

"A friend and a brother—come, join us for a meal, Young Master Xu…" he said softly, a subtle smile tugging at his lips — polite in form, but dripping with mockery beneath the surface.

His voice slid through the air like a blade wrapped in silk.

For a brief moment, silence reigned.

"Bai Jing Jing…" Xu Zhu Han's voice, low and controlled, broke the quiet, "You would do well to watch yourself..."

The sweetness of his tone was a thin veil for the fury simmering underneath.

"In just a few days, you will be my wife... Sitting here alone with another man, like this — only tarnishes my honor… Surely, you understand that..."

His words struck like a whip — sharp, meant not only for Bai Jing Jing but for Xin Long as well.

Bai Jing Jing's face darkened, her lips pressed into a tight line. For the first time, a flicker of anger crossed her usually composed expression — a flash in her eyes that she tried, but failed, to suppress.

And Xin Long saw it.

He noticed the way her fists clenched in her lap, the way her breathing shifted ever so slightly.

Yes.

This was the moment he had been waiting for — the crack in her facade, the glimpse of a woman caught between duty and resentment.

His black, lifeless eyes absorbed every nuance of her reaction.

It was exactly what he wanted.

Without a word, Xu Zhu Han circled the table, finally lowering himself into the chair Xin Long had offered.

The room seemed smaller now.

His guards moved silently into position, each man taking his place at the four corners of the table, their hands never straying far from the hilts of their swords.

A silent display of power.

Xin Long didn't even blink.

Instead, he simply tilted his head, his smile deepening — as though this, too, was a move he had anticipated.

Bai Jing Jing's heart flared with a sudden spark of anger at Xu Zhu Han's accusatory words. Yes. For the sake of his so-called honor, he had trampled on hers. This was not some secret meeting between her and Xin Long, nor were they sitting so close that it would draw suspicion. They were in plain view, surrounded by others — yet Xu Zhu Han had chosen to speak as if they were sharing an intimate moment.

She knew well enough — Xu Zhu Han's words did not stem from love or genuine affection. The truth was simple: the two of them had met only four or five times, each encounter stiff and formal, never once exchanging a carefree laugh or a warm smile. There had never been anything more than polite, distant conversation.

And Bai Jing Jing? She had only agreed to this engagement because of her father's wishes — not out of love. Xu Zhu Han's reputation as a powerful man, one who held the prestigious Dragon-Tiger title, had made him a convenient choice. She had accepted him for his status, for the lack of drama he brought, and for the way his carefully measured actions seemed to reflect a sense of discipline and order.

But love? No. There was none.

As Bai Jing Jing's thoughts circled back to her relationship with Xu Zhu Han, she cast a sideways glance at him as he settled into the seat beside her.

With a wry smile tugging at her lips, she spoke, her voice laced with mockery.

"Xu Zhu Han, so you're saying that having a simple meal with Xin Long — a friend — in broad daylight somehow wounds your honor? Heh... I'll remember that."

The words were light, but the sting behind them was unmistakable.

Even as she spoke, Bai Jing Jing found her gaze drifting to Xin Long once more. Despite the sharp exchange between her and Xu Zhu Han, Xin Long remained silent, his expression calm, almost indifferent. His dark eyes reflected no surprise, no interest — just a cool stillness, as though none of this concerned him.

Then, breaking the tense silence, Xin Long suddenly spoke. His words were polite, yet distant, a thin veil of flattery that rang hollow.

"Young Master Xu, I heard about the upcoming martial arts tournament... I must say, I admire the thoughtfulness behind your efforts to maintain peace in Kunming City..."

Bai Jing Jing's ears caught every word, but her mind lingered elsewhere.

The moment Xu Zhu Han sat down, Xin Long's once faint smile vanished, replaced by an icy serenity. His face and gaze, which had seemed almost inviting when he first greeted them, now bore the calmness of a still lake — cold and unyielding.

She wondered — how was she ever supposed to understand this man?

End – 41