Chapter 278 - Let It Be

"The Dragon-Binding Hand..." Rao Shuang’s tone carried undeniable astonishment. "Is it the same Dragon-Binding Hand, Zhou Yuzhu, who ‘bound three thousand tails in the East Sea’?"

Tang Jinnian continued organizing the gadgets in the box and replied nonchalantly, "It’s not that mystical. People from the jianghu love to exaggerate and spread rumors. Don't believe everything that you hear."

Rao Shuang bit her lip. "The Dragon-Binding Hand was truly unparalleled in reputation back then. Even if there’s some exaggeration, how far could it go? It’s said that in Xuanhua Prefecture, he single handedly infiltrated Wolf Tail Mountain’s Nine Wolves Stronghold to save a stranger—a woman.

"Amidst a hundred bandits, he beheaded the stronghold chief and rescued her, retreating unscathed. Such skill couldn’t possibly be fake. I remember that for a time, half the jianghu was talking about him. I even heard that many orthodox sects sent invitations, asking him to become a guest elder, but he suddenly disappeared a few years ago..." Her voice trailed off, and her gaze settled on Tang Jinnian’s face.

"Mm." Tang Jinnian nodded, replying casually, "I’ve heard about it. That may have happened."

"Then how did he end up..." Rao Shuang started to ask but stopped, realizing that Tang Jinnian didn’t seem particularly interested in the topic.

Tang Jinnian raised his head slightly, casting a sidelong glance at Rao Shuang. His lips curled into a faint, bemused smile. "How did he end up with me?"

His gaze sent a chill down her spine. Swallowing nervously, Rao Shuang nodded.

Tang Jinnian shifted his gaze back, closing the lid of the box. As he fiddled with an intricate lock in his hand, he spoke carelessly, "Two years ago, I took a contract to eliminate the leader of the Golden Roc Sect, Ruan Wentian. The Dragon-Binding Hand happened to be visiting Ruan Wentian.

"When I struck, he caught me in the act. I initially planned to deal with him as well. As it happens, I accidentally learned he was from Xianlong Port, so I captured him to make him work for me. At first, he resisted and called me some vile heretic... He claimed he would never stoop to my level.

"But after a few rounds of medicine and some suffering, he became obedient... I forced him to ingest a potent poison that acts every six months. Without my antidote, he’d face a fate worse than death, so he has no choice but to listen to me and care for my mother since I’m often away hunting rare treasures."

Click—

The lock made a crisp sound as Tang Jinnian set some sort of mechanism, and the lock snapped shut in an instant.

Tang Jinnian put the box back in the cabinet and shook his head with a sigh.

"The jianghu is nothing but a murky pond. Everyone is mixed in together. Where are all these supposed great heroes? Where are all these so-called villains? And what of righteous and evil sects? When someone knows they’re about to die, they forget all of that. Everyone looks the same. Pathetic and vile."

Rao Shuang bit her lip and said nothing. She didn’t consider herself a particularly virtuous person but deep down, she couldn’t entirely agree with what Tang Jinnian was saying.

"Are you done eating?" Tang Jinnian interrupted Rao Shuang’s thoughts.

"Ah? Oh... Yes, I’m full," Rao Shuang quickly replied.

"

Mm

." Tang Jinnian lifted the curtain and walked out. His voice came from the front room, "Then come out with me for a bit."

Rao Shuang followed him out, only to see the old woman slamming her chopsticks on the table. "You rascal! Just got back, and you’re running off again? Can’t even finish a proper meal, can you?"

Without looking back, Tang Jinnian had already stepped out of the courtyard. He waved a hand and said, "I’ll be back for dinner."

Rao Shuang jogged to catch up, turning back briefly to say to the old woman, "Take your time with your meal, Auntie."

The old woman’s frown vanished in an instant, replaced by a cheerful smile. "Alright, alright, take it slow, young lady. Be careful!"

Rao Shuang caught up to Tang Jinnian in a few quick strides.

"Where are we going?"

Tang Jinnian gestured forward with his chin. Following his gaze, Rao Shuang saw the Dragon-Binding Hand, Zhou Yuzhu, standing in front of a small house not far from the old woman’s courtyard, looking straight at them.

Rao Shuang felt a surge of curiosity. Zhou Yuzhu appeared to be waiting for the two of them.

As the two approached, Tang Jinnian pulled out a thick stack of silver notes from his pocket and handed them over, saying, "Take good care of her. If anything goes wrong, you know the consequences."

The man who had been revered throughout the jianghu as Dragon-Binding Hand was now fawning over Tang Jinnian, bowing and scraping as he said ingratiatingly, "Of course, Young Master Tang. I treat her as if she were my own mother—"

Tang Jinnian’s brow furrowed. "Who’s your mother?"

Slap!

Zhou Yuzhu didn’t hesitate to slap himself across the face. "Look at me, speaking nonsense. How could I ever be blessed enough to be the her son? My apologies, my apologies..."

Tang Jinnian gave Zhou Yuzhu a cold glance and said icily, "Take care of yourself." With that, he turned and walked away.

Rao Shuang found it impossible to reconcile the burly man before her with the legendary hero, Dragon-Binding Hand. She stared blankly at Zhou Yuzhu, who now seemed timid and servile, lost in thought.

Zhou Yuzhu watched as Tang Jinnian walked further away, his expression hesitant as if he wanted to say something. When he lowered his head, he noticed the beautiful woman by Tang Jinnian’s side staring blankly at him. He forced a flattering smile in her direction.

Tang Jinnian had walked a short distance before turning back, scolding Rao Shuang angrily, "Are you coming or not?"

𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Rao Shuang snapped out of her daze.

"Young Master Tang..." Zhou Yuzhu seemed to summon a great deal of courage and finally called out.

Tang Jinnian raised an eyebrow. "Hm?"

Under Tang Jinnian’s sharp gaze, Zhou Yuzhu’s hard-earned courage immediately deflated. Yet, he still stammered, "Uh... It’s almost been six months... About the antidote..."

Tang Jinnian appeared to realize something. "Oh, I almost forgot." With that, he pulled a small glass vial from his pocket and casually tossed it over.

Zhou Yuzhu fumbled to catch the vial, then launched into a torrent of gratitude.

Rao Shuang recalled something Tang Jinnian had said earlier, and for no particular reason, she found the scene before her somewhat disheartening.

The two left amidst Zhou Yuzhu’s endless words of thanks.

As they walked, Rao Shuang, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly spoke up, "Hey, can I ask you something?"

Tang Jinnian tilted his head slightly. "Go ahead."

Rao Shuang hesitated for a moment before continuing, "Since you’re not short on money, why let the her live in such a... uh, that old house?"

Tang Jinnian’s lips curved into a faint smile. "You mean such a run-down house?"

Rao Shuang felt a little embarrassed—she had managed to hold back but Tang Jinnian had noticed what she meant anyway.

Tang Jinnian spun his jade tobacco pipe in his hand, and for the first time, Rao Shuang saw a gentle smile on his face. He softly said, "Her eyesight isn’t good. If she moved to a new place, she might bump into things. She’s lived in that old house for decades. She knows where everything is, even with her eyes closed... So it’s better not to change it."