The Reticent Blade-Chapter 72 - Strange Old Man

Xiangxi has many mountain ranges, and Five Gods Summit is situated within a particularly perilous peak.

Five Gods Summit is named so because the entire sect is built on top of five closely situated peaks, which were connected by iron chain bridges at their summits. Clouds and mist obscure the view below.

Forsaken Phoenix Tang Jinnian and Flowerless Butterfly Rao Shuang were currently at the foot of Five Gods Summit. She looked up at the sect gate of Five Gods Summit not far away, then glanced at the leisurely man beside her, who was busy puffing out smoke.

"It seems this is the place," she said, "Are you planning to walk up there... and openly rob them?"

Tang Jinian exhaled a puff of green smoke and raised his eyebrows slightly. "A bunch of rats who only hide behind corpse puppets are nothing to worry about," he scoffed.

Rao Shuang secretly pursed her lips and muttered, "You're talking like you don't hide behind puppets yourself."

Pah— Tang Jinian lightly tapped the pipe on Rao Shuang’s head, causing a flurry of ash to flutter down like snowflakes.

Rao Shuang waved her hand to brush away the ash as she jumped aside and glared at Tang Jinnian.

She found that Tang Jinnian was looking at her with a nonchalant expression.

"You should realize who you’re talking to. Shouldn’t you show me some respect?"

"You! Hmph!" Rao Shuang wanted to retort but decided against it. She simply snorted coldly and turned her head away.

Tang Jinian ignored the woman who had been following him for several days and began walking towards the mountain gate.

Seeing that he ignored her, Rao Shuang had no choice but to follow him.

"Don’t blame me for not warning you," Rao Shuang sarcastically chided from behind, "Five Gods Summit is quite famous in the martial world. It won't be as easy as you make it out to be.

"If you go up the mountain by yourself to seize the sect’s treasure and end up being captured, no one will come to your rescue. You'll be nothing more than a joke."

"Who said I’m going by myself?" Tang Jinian puffed out smoke, "Aren’t you here too?"

"Me?!" Rao Shuang's eyes widened. "You’re counting me in? I’m not going to mess around with you!"

"Hmm?"

Tang Jinian seemed even more surprised than she was and looked at her curiously.

"Why aren’t you coming? With your exceptional lightness skills, you’re the best at sneaking around."

"Psh!" Rao Shuang was instantly enraged and began cursing Tang Jinian, "You’re the one who's sneaking around! You’re a troublemaker!"

Tang Jinian was unbothered by Rao Shuang’s outburst and waved his hand casually. "Don’t worry... I’ll handle the fighting, and you can take care of the theft. I’ll even cover you while you’re at it... I’m working much harder than you."

"I’m not going!" Rao Shuang stopped, crossed her arms, and pointedly turned her head away from Tang Jinnian.

Tang Jinian also stopped, turned around, and looked at the sulking woman beside him. "You're really not going?"

"I'm not going!" Rao Shuang refused to look at him. "Regardless of whether you succeed or not, such openly stealing like that... is just disgraceful!"

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"Heh..." Tang Jinian placed his pipe under her chin to tilt her face toward him, "What if... I insist you go?"

"You!" Rao Shuang’s cheeks flushed red, and she swatted at the pipe resting on her chin, "Go away! If you want to go, go yourself!"

Tang Jinian leaned closer, narrowing his eyes. He whispered, "Flowerless Butterfly... don’t be ungrateful..."

The two were already standing close, so their faces were almost touching as he leaned in .

Flowerless Butterfly instinctively wanted to step back but was quickly caught by Tang Jinnian’s hold on her chin. He continued, "Even if you’re not afraid of me killing you... what about your fan?!"

As soon as the words were out, Tang Jinnian reached into Rao Shuang’s sleeve and swiftly yanked something out!

Rao Shuang was caught off guard, and it was already too late by the time she reached out to protect it. Fully alert, she saw Tang Jinnian holding her feather fan in his hand, twirling it with a playful smile on his face.

"You!" Rao Shuang glared at Tang Jinnian, her teeth clenched. "Forsaken Phoenix! It’s a complete waste of your talents to engage in such filthy deeds!"

"Heh," Tang Jinian snickered lightly. "So killing people isn’t filthy?"

"What could you know?! I only kill those who deserve it!" Rao Shuang insisted loudly.

"Killing is killing, there’s no such thing as killing the right or wrong person. You're lying to yourself," Tang Jinnian said while tossing the fan in his hand.

"You!" Rao Shuang felt exasperated. "There's no point arguing with someone as heartless as you!"

Tang Jinnian smirked. "Since it’s pointless to argue, let’s just go." With that, he led the way up the mountain.

Rao Shuang gritted her teeth, staring at his retreating figure for a while before following him.

The two climbed the mountain path without encountering a single soul. The surrounding forest was deathly silent, and the only sound came from their measured footsteps, making the silence even more unsettling.

Rao Shuang frowned and said with a hint of disgust, "No wonder people in the martial world avoid dealing with the Five Gods Summit. Who knows what kind of people come out of this cursed place?"

"Hey, it might really be haunted," Tang Jinnian chuckled and joked, "If it’s already like this before we even enter the mountain gate, there must be quite a few bodies buried here."

"Mhm, you’re not wrong about that, young master," someone said from around the bend.

The path had ended, and a tall mountain gate stood not far in front of them. An old man was sitting at the doorway of a house next to the gate.

Tang Jinnian looked up at the mountain gate, where the three large characters read "Five Gods Summit." He raised his eyebrows in curiosity at the old man sitting on the doorstep. "Didn’t expect to find a living person here... Who are you?"

"Ke ke," the old man laughed, his dry voice extremely unpleasant, "Although I’m just an old man with one foot in the grave, I’m still alive for now,"

"But you, young master, might not have long to live. Why not prepare some 'furniture' here? Ke ke... it seems to me like you need it."

"Ha ha! You're an interesting old man," Tang Jinnian looked at the old man with a glint in his eyes. "So tell me, what exactly is this ‘furniture’ you’re talking about?"

"Ke ke... You’ll find out when you go inside," the old man did not stand up but simply pointed to the inside of the house.

Tang Jinnian and Rao Shuang exchanged a glance and walked over together. As they passed the old man and opened the door, they saw inside the room was filled with coffins laid out in every direction!

Rao Shuang cursed under her breath and turned to leave. Tang Jinnian’s lips curled into a cold smile, but he showed no sign of losing his cool. He turned to the old man outside the door.

"What are you trying to say?"