The Reticent Blade-Chapter 277 - Endless Questions

The old woman’s enthusiasm made Rao Shuang uncertain. As she stood there, unsure of what to do, she suddenly heard someone approaching from behind.

"Who... who are you?" a voice called out from behind her.

Rao Shuang turned her head and saw a middle-aged man standing outside the bamboo fence, holding a food container in his hand.

Hearing the man’s voice, the old woman cheerfully turned around and called out, "Dazhu! Come in, come in."

The man nicknamed Dazhu eyed Rao Shuang cautiously before he responded to the old woman’s invitation by saying, "Ah, Auntie Li, I’ve brought you your meal."

Rao Shuang took a closer look. The man before her had a muscular frame, with a menacing scar running from his neck down to his chest that was obscured by his clothes. His rugged, outlaw-like demeanor was at odds with his kind words. The juxtaposition was impossible to ignore, putting her on guard.

"Oh my..." The old woman went up to the man, tiptoeing to pat him on the shoulder. "You’ve worked so hard, bringing meals to this old woman every day..."

"It’s my duty, it’s my duty." Dazhu replied with a simple, honest smile. "Young Master Tang specifically instructed me. It’s no trouble at all."

The wooden door creaked open, and Tang Jinnian emerged. Evidently, he had overheard the conversation. He immediately spotted Dazhu in the courtyard and said coldly, "Come in."

Dazhu froze momentarily upon seeing Tang Jinnian. His gaze quickly turned apprehensive, but he hurriedly went inside after hearing Tang Jinnian’s command.

The old woman’s poor eyesight made her oblivious to what was quietly going on, but Rao Shuang saw everything clearly and her curiosity deepened.

The old woman remained as cheerful as ever, still holding onto Rao Shuang’s hand as if she were reluctant to let go. Smiling, she said, "You haven’t eaten yet, have you, young lady? Come inside and have some food."

Rao Shuang snapped back to her senses and quickly replied, "Ah... alright."

Just as they reached the doorway, voices drifted out from inside the house.

"Still here?" It was Tang Jinnian’s voice. "Were you trying to stay and eat with us?"

"Forsaken... Young Master Tang..." Dazhu’s voice trembled, clearly intimidated by Tang Jinnian, but there was a trace of urgency he couldn’t hide. "The medicine..."

Tang Jinnian’s tone was laced with impatience. "Come get it tomorrow. Now leave."

"Yes... Understood..."

The wooden door was abruptly pushed open, and Dazhu almost bumped straight into Rao Shuang. He quickly lowered his head, muttered an apology, and hurriedly walked away.

The old woman didn't even have the time to call out to Dazhu before the fierce looking man was gone.

"That Inky," the old woman muttered softly, "What’s the harm in letting someone stay for a meal?"

The nickname was so amusing that Rao Shuang couldn’t help but suppress a laugh. As she helped the old woman into the house, she whispered, "Um... His childhood name was Inky?"

"Exactly!" The question opened the old woman’s floodgates, and she suddenly became animated. "Young lady, you wouldn’t believe it! When this child was young, oh my, his skin was so dark he looked like he rolled around in ink!"

Rao Shuang had always assumed Tang Jinnian’s sun-kissed tan complexion was the result of years spent traveling the jianghu, exposed to the elements, but she never considered that he was always like that.

"Mother!" Tang Jinnian’s voice suddenly rang out beside her.

Rao Shuang looked over to see that he had already set out the food from the container onto the table. He was now seated at the table, his temple visibly twitching, as he said irritably, "Let’s eat!"

The old woman pouted. "What’s so wrong with being darker? There’s nothing you can’t talk about..." Nevertheless, she shuffled over to the table and sat down, pulling a chair over so that Rao Shuang could sit beside her.

Tang Jinnian served a bowl of rice for the old woman, then another for himself, but completely ignored Rao Shuang. He began eating without a word.

Rao Shuang pouted on the side before serving herself.

"What’s your surname, young lady?" the old woman asked again.

Rao Shuang had just picked up a bite of food when she heard the question. She quickly set down her chopsticks and respectfully replied, "My surname is Rao, and my given name is Shuang."

"Rao is a good surname," the old woman murmured to herself. She then asked, "Where is your family from?"

Rao Shuang glanced at Tang Jinnian, but he kept his head down, focused on his meal, and didn’t react. Awkwardly continuing the conversation she replied, "I’m from Yongde Prefecture in Sichuan."

"Sichuan..." The old woman lowered her head in thought. "That’s quite far..."

"Then... Are your parents well?"

Rao Shuang swallowed nervously, realizing that this old woman was seriously vetting her as a potential daughter-in-law. "I have no parents. I was raised by my master."

"Oh..." The old woman nodded thoughtfully before turning to ask again, "Master? What kind of master?"

Just as Rao Shuang was about to respond, Tang Jinnian suddenly interjected, "Embroidery, a master who taught her to embroider."

The old woman didn’t suspect anything and nodded in satisfaction. "Embroidery is wonderful. You can even open a shop to sell your work. The handkerchiefs at the embroidery shop on the next street are so expensive!"

"Mm..." Tang Jinnian responded vaguely.

"Hey"—the old woman patted Rao Shuang’s arm—"how did you and my Inky meet?"

Rao Shuang looked at Tang Jinnian for help, unsure how to answer the question. Should she tell the old lady they met after fighting?

Tang Jinnian put down his chopsticks when he noticed his mother's curiosity. On Rao Shuang's behalf he answered, "We met while doing business in Meizhou."

"Why did you go to Meizhou again?" The old woman frowned. "Last time, you said you had to deliver some medicinal herbs to the south and would return in three months, but it took nearly half a year." There was a trace of reproach in her tone.

Tang Jinnian paused, took a bite of food, and then replied, "There was an issue with the herbs during transit. The price couldn’t be agreed upon, so it took longer."

The old woman, a little annoyed, said, "That’s why I told you to just stay at home. Our Tang family has been famous for its carpenters for generations. With your skills, where can’t you earn money? Why insist on running around doing that business, leaving an old woman like me alone at home? It’s a good thing Dazhu comes by every day. Look at Auntie Wang’s son next door! He already has three children, and the eldest is attending school!"

"I understand." Tang Jinnian nodded, stood up, and said, "I’m done eating. Enjoy your meal, Mother." With that, he went into the inner room.

The old woman rolled her eyes with an exasperated expression.

Rao Shuang glanced at the curtain leading to the inner room, set down her chopsticks, and said, "I’ll go check on him."

Rao Shuang entered the inner room and saw Tang Jinnian taking a wooden box out of a cabinet. He then began pulling things out of his pockets, some of which she recognized, while others she had never seen him take out before.

"What’s this..." Rao Shuang asked as she saw Tang Jinnian take out a glass bottle filled with a murky purple liquid.

"Residue from the Transcendence Stone," Tang Jinnian replied casually. "The stone’s medicinal properties are strong, so even the residue can be used for something."

Rao Shuang nodded, half-understanding, then suddenly remembered something and asked tentatively, "That Dazhu... is he from the jianghu?"

Tang Jinnian nodded. "His martial arts are decent. I’m away from home most of the time, and my mother’s eyesight isn’t good, so someone has to look after her. I poisoned him so if he wants to live, he has to work for me. I give him an antidote every six months. I."

"Who exactly is he?" Rao Shuang raised an eyebrow.

"Two years ago, he was quite well-known in the jianghu," Tang Jinnian said without even looking up, as if it were a trivial matter. "They called him... the Dragon-Binding Hand."

Rao Shuang drew a sharp breath, exclaiming in shock, "It’s actually him?!"

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