《Descension (BL Xianxia Cultivation Fantasy) STUBBED》


 Chapter 1: Its... Luo Fan

    CHAPTER 1


    ¡®It¡¯s¡­ Luo Fan¡¯


    <u>LUO FAN</u>


    ¡°Your Highness, forgive me.¡±


    The man¡¯s voice reached me like a distant echo, faint and blurred, as if carried by a wind I could no longer feel. I wasn¡¯t even sure it was real. My body was numb, racked with pain so deep that it felt like it belonged to someone else. I was too weak to move, too close to death to even open my eyes.


    I knew it was only a matter of time. The moment I fell asleep, I might never wake again.


    ¡°We must part ways from here,¡± the voice continued, trembling with regret. ¡°I¡¯ll lure the men away from you. May fate guide you¡­ I hope we¡¯ll meet again. Farewell.¡±


    And then, silence.


    I didn¡¯t know what was happening anymore. My memories were fragmented, fleeting like petals scattered in the wind. A group of men had been hunting me, their swords thirsty for my blood. I remembered someone saving me¡ªa stranger¡ªbut now, even that protection was gone.


    Once again, I was alone. Helpless.


    But what did it matter? I had already lost everything. My strength, my pride, my very purpose¡ªall of it had been stripped away. Fighting was no longer an option. Survival no longer a desire.


    It was over.


    I drew in a deep, shuddering breath, expecting it to be my last. My mind drifted further into darkness, and yet, I felt the faintest motion beneath me. The hard surface of wood pressed against my back¡ªit shifted, creaked.


    A wagon. I was being carried away.


    Where to?


    It didn¡¯t matter. I would be dead soon, and wherever my corpse ended up would be of no consequence.


    So long as they buried me, I would be content.


    *****


    <u>RUAN YANJUN</u>


    I glared at my disciple, my voice cold as ice. ¡°Are you telling me Wei Yusheng is dead?¡±


    Huang Wen nodded, his face taut with worry. He had been my disciple for over a decade¡ªsince I brought him into my sect at the tender age of twelve. By now, he knew me better than anyone else and understood the consequences of displeasing me.


    I let the silence stretch between us, allowing him to squirm under my gaze as I sipped my wine. Anger flared within me, but I softened my scowl. After five years in seclusion, my disciple had greeted me with joy upon my return. There was no need to spoil his mood... yet.


    ¡°When did this happen?¡± I asked, finally breaking the tension.


    ¡°A month ago, Master.¡±


    I turned away from him, walking toward the door of my private courtyard. The humid air carried the sharp tang of the lingering rainy season. The wind whipped through the trees, unsettling the leaves of the large plum tree that stood at the courtyard¡¯s center.


    The sight of it gave me pause.


    It felt like only yesterday that the sapling barely reached five feet tall. Now, it towered well over twice that height, its branches spread wide and heavy. Time had slipped past me unnoticed during my five-year seclusion, a period spent wrestling with the erratic surges of my demonic core.


    When I closed myself off from the world, I had thought Wei Yusheng would ascend to grandmaster by the time I emerged. I had even planned to approach him again with my¡­ proposal. And if he still refused, I would have taken matters into my own hands.


    Who could stop me?


    But now, this turn of events. Unexpected. Suspicious.


    ¡°How could a Level Six master cultivator die of poison?¡± I muttered, more to myself than to Huang Wen. ¡°Wei Yusheng was the sect leader of Ethereal Frost¡ªrenowned for their detoxifying elixirs and pills.¡±


    It didn¡¯t add up. Two years ago, a new Divine Mage had been proclaimed, also from Frost Mountain, someone who would have undoubtedly been capable of identifying any poison. How could Wei Yusheng, a man so steeped in the art of healing, fall victim to such a method?


    ¡°What¡¯s the name of the disciple who poisoned him?¡± I asked, my voice low.


    ¡°The disciple¡¯s name is Wei Fan,¡± Huang Wen replied.


    ¡°Are they related?¡±


    ¡°Not exactly. Wei Yusheng took the boy in as an orphan and gave him his surname.¡±


    I frowned, perplexed. A disciple from one of the continent¡¯s most righteous sects¡ªcommitting such a heinous act? It was unheard of. Even among the dark sects, disciples rarely turned against their masters. Loyalty to the hand that fed and trained them was a universal law.


    Curious.


    I took another sip of wine, letting the bitterness roll over my tongue.


    Huang Wen continued, as though sensing my interest. ¡°He isn¡¯t just an ordinary disciple, Master. Wei Fan was also the High Priest of Frost Mountain Tower. The healing elixirs he refined in recent years gained widespread acclaim for curing diseases that no one else could. That¡¯s why they named him the Divine Mage.¡±


    I raised an eyebrow, intrigued despite myself.


    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    ¡°And his martial talent?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s said to be exceptional. Rumor has it that he surpassed his master¡¯s cultivation level just months before the poisoning.¡±


    I turned back to my disciple, staring at him with renewed focus. This was no ordinary piece of information. This so-called Divine Mage, this Wei Fan¡­ his story had just taken a very interesting turn.


    ¡°He¡¯s a Level Seven,¡± I stated flatly. It wasn¡¯t a question¡ªit was the only conclusion that made sense. Wei Yusheng had been a Level Six cultivator, a master¡ªa title signifying one¡¯s eligibility to take disciples and even establish a sect. If this disciple had surpassed Wei Yusheng, then he must have reached Level Seven: grandmaster. The pinnacle for most cultivators.


    Huang Wen nodded hesitantly. ¡°That is the rumor, Master. But it has yet to be confirmed.¡±


    ¡°Did you go to Frost Mountain to confirm it?¡±


    ¡°I did, Master. Before the poisoning incident, I joined a hundred others who traveled there for the same purpose. But the Divine Mage refused to appear. Many suspected the claim was fabricated to elevate the Ethereal Frost Sect¡¯s status. Their rival, the Blazing Sun Sect, recently produced a grandmaster, while the Ethereal Frost Sect had only Master Wei and the Divine Mage to represent them.¡±


    It was suspicious, but I didn¡¯t care for the political games of light sects. I had been scouring this wretched continent for a worthy light-core grandmaster for too long to let this lead slip away. Rumor or not, I would take my chances.


    ¡°Where is that priest now?¡± I demanded.


    Huang Wen faltered, his mouth opening and closing like a fish gasping for air.


    I narrowed my eyes at him, my patience thinning. ¡°Are you going to answer me, or shall I rip it out of your tongue?¡±


    He snapped his mouth shut and cleared his throat nervously. ¡°Master, Wei Fan has been banished from the Kan Empire. No one knows where he is now¡­ or if he¡¯s even alive.¡±


    ¡°Where did they dump him? I¡¯ll find him myself.¡±


    ¡°M-Master, there¡¯s¡­ another matter,¡± Huang Wen stammered, hesitating.


    ¡°Speak,¡± I ordered sharply. ¡°And stop wasting my time.¡±


    ¡°As punishment for his crime¡­ Wei Fan¡¯s cultivation has been nullified.¡±


    I turned to glare at my disciple, my jaw tightening as fury boiled within me. I could already see myself tearing Frost Mountain apart, crushing that sanctimonious sect for destroying my only hope.


    But I forced myself to take a deep breath. Reckless anger would serve me no purpose. Instead, I drained the rest of my wine in one gulp, allowing its bitterness to ground me.


    I had heard of rare cases where cultivators regained their martial arts after nullification. It required painstaking effort, resources, and time¡ªbut it was possible.


    And as long as that priest still drew breath, there was hope.


    Desperation clawed at me, but desperation was a familiar companion. I would gamble everything for this slim chance.


    ¡°Tell me everything you know about this Wei Fan,¡± I commanded. ¡°Who nullified his cultivation, who investigated him, who sentenced him, and who ordered his banishment.¡±


    Huang Wen hesitated before asking timidly, ¡°M-Master, may I ask one question?¡±


    ¡°You may. One question only. Be quick.¡±


    ¡°There are several other light-core grandmasters across the continent, especially in the East. Why go to such lengths to find a missing priest when any grandmaster with a light core would suffice?¡±


    I smirked, a cold curl of my lips. ¡°I¡¯ve reviewed every light-core grandmaster on the continent and found them all unworthy. So, I began searching among the masters instead. Only Wei Yusheng met my requirements. Now that he¡¯s dead, his so-called ungrateful disciple is my next candidate.¡±


    ¡°But how can you be certain Wei Fan qualifies?¡±


    I glared at him, silencing him with a single look. ¡°I granted you one question, and one question only. Do not test my generosity.¡±


    Huang Wen immediately bowed his head. ¡°Forgive me, Master.¡±


    ¡°Now,¡± I said, my tone colder than before. ¡°Give me the information I asked for.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master,¡± he replied hastily, retreating to fetch what I demanded.


    *****


    <u>LUO FAN</u>


    I opened my eyes, but all I saw was darkness. The silence was so complete that I could hear my own unsteady breathing.


    Where am I? Am I dead?


    I tried to move, to feel something¡ªanything. My heart was still beating.


    I was alive.


    I wasn¡¯t sure whether to feel relieved or disappointed. I had already accepted my fate, resigned to death as the conclusion to my failures. Waking up now felt almost cruel, a prolonging of an existence I no longer wanted.


    I blinked several times, but the darkness didn¡¯t lift. It clung to me, oppressive and unyielding.


    Is it nighttime?


    A door creaked open, and I saw the faint outline of a shadow moving toward me.


    So, it wasn¡¯t complete darkness. Perhaps the light in the room was simply dim.


    ¡°You¡¯re awake,¡± a man said, his voice unfamiliar.


    This wasn¡¯t the man who had rescued me.


    ¡°W-where am I?¡± I rasped, my voice barely more than a whisper.


    ¡°You¡¯re in an inn,¡± the man replied. ¡°I found you unconscious in my wagon, buried under my merchandise. How did you end up there?¡±


    I struggled to recall. His words stirred something distant, fragmented¡ªthose final moments before I lost consciousness.


    ¡°S-someone¡­¡± My throat tightened as I forced the words out. ¡°¡­Put me there.¡±


    He sighed. ¡°I don¡¯t know why they didn¡¯t take you to a healer instead. When I found you, you weren¡¯t breathing. I thought you were a corpse.¡±


    His words stung, though I couldn¡¯t argue with them. I must have looked like death itself. ¡°I apologize¡­ for troubling you.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s no trouble,¡± he said with another sigh. ¡°I¡¯m just glad I found you before it was too late. I brought you here and called for a physician. You¡¯ve been unconscious for two weeks.¡±


    Two weeks?


    The shock left me silent. That much time had passed, yet I still felt no better. My body was weak, my limbs leaden, and my mind clouded with exhaustion.


    ¡°C-could I trouble you to light a lantern?¡± I asked. ¡°I can hardly see anything.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s daytime,¡± he replied, confused. ¡°The window¡¯s wide open. Can you not see?¡±


    His words struck me like a blow. I blinked, then blinked again. The darkness didn¡¯t change.


    ¡°You¡¯ve gone blind?!¡± he exclaimed.


    A lump formed in my throat, choking any response. I thought I had already hit rock bottom, but now, another catastrophe had found me.


    The man lightly tapped my shoulder, his voice softening. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to alarm you.¡±


    He hesitated before adding, ¡°I¡¯ve already sold all my merchandise. I¡¯ll be heading home to my family soon. If you want to come with me, I¡¯ll take you along. But¡­ I¡¯m worried about your health. You might not survive the journey.¡±


    ¡°Where am I now?¡± I asked, forcing my voice to remain steady.


    ¡°This is Guishan,¡± he said. ¡°The last town at the border of Wun Empire before crossing into the South.¡±


    The South.


    The southernmost empire on the continent¡ªXianru, renowned for its peace and prosperity. I had traveled far from Kan Empire, but not far enough.


    ¡°Where are you heading?¡± I asked.


    ¡°First, to the South to collect some debts. After that, I¡¯ll return to my hometown, Shishan, in the westernmost part of Wun Empire.¡±


    His journey was extensive, but the South would be closer.


    ¡°Where in the South?¡±


    ¡°To the city of Yueshu, near the capital.¡±


    I nodded faintly. The capital of Xianru lay at the empire¡¯s heart¡ªa place far removed from the reach of Kan Empire. Far enough for me to start anew.


    ¡°May I come with you to the South?¡± I asked hesitantly. ¡°You can drop me off wherever is most convenient.¡±


    ¡°What kind of place are you looking for?¡±


    I paused. ¡°I¡¯m not sure. You¡¯ve traveled widely. Could you recommend a place where I might settle down?¡±


    He sighed, his tone thoughtful. ¡°The countryside is peaceful, but life there is hard. In your condition, growing your own food might not be possible, and no one may be willing to take you in. A city might be better. You could find small jobs to sustain yourself¡ªor beg if you have to.¡±


    Beg?


    The word left a bitter taste in my mouth, but I swallowed my pride. I refused to believe it would come to that. There had to be good people out there, willing to help a blind man trying to rebuild his life.


    ¡°All right,¡± I agreed quietly. ¡°The city, then. Thank you.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll leave tomorrow at dawn. Can you manage?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll try my best not to burden you.¡±


    He shook his head. ¡°Don¡¯t think of yourself as a burden. I¡¯m willing to help however I can. By the way¡­¡±


    He pressed a small pouch into my hand. ¡°I found this on you when I discovered you. I¡¯m just a simple merchant and couldn¡¯t afford to pay the physician. I used a few pieces of silver, but the room and care are my contribution.¡±


    I tightened my grip on the pouch. That man¡ªthe one who had saved me¡ªmust have left it behind. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Thank you.¡±


    ¡°Are you hungry?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Wait here. I¡¯ll have someone bring you food.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± I said again. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡±


    ¡°Li Yao,¡± he replied. ¡°And yours?¡±


    I hesitated. Few knew my name. Most called me the High Priest of Frost Mountain Tower, but my surname¡­


    Wei.


    It carried weight. Recognition. And danger. Anyone searching for me would know it. Better to return to the name my father had given me¡ªthe name of a nobody.


    ¡°It¡¯s¡­ Luo Fan,¡± I said softly.

 Chapter 2: Na?ve and Blind

    Author: Yan Yan


    CHAPTER 2


    Na?ve and Blind


    <u>LUO FAN</u>


    I listened to the sound of the departing carriage until it faded into silence. Li Yao had left, leaving me in front of this inn.


    I might never see him again.


    ¡°Sir, this way, please.¡±


    The innkeeper guided me upstairs and into my room. Though I was blind, I could still perceive faint silhouettes¡ªenough to identify the bed and chair. Li Yao had warned me that this city was dangerous, though he insisted it was still safer than the neighboring ones.


    Dangerous? For someone like me, raised in isolation and unaccustomed to the complexities of the outside world, I wasn¡¯t sure what kind of peril he meant.


    But this was my life now. Whatever awaited me here, I had to face it. Adapt. Survive.


    That afternoon and night, I sat alone in my room, planning my uncertain future. Before he left, Li Yao had estimated that my remaining money would cover about six months of lodging and food. It seemed like plenty of time, but I was all too aware of my limitations. With my blindness, the odds of finding work were slim.


    As for cultivation¡­ that chapter of my life was over.


    The dream I had chased for so long¡ªthe pinnacle of cultivation¡ªwas no longer attainable. It had been ripped away, leaving me hollow. For weeks, I had grieved the loss, reliving the pain and humiliation over and over again. Now, with the faintest semblance of stability, I knew I had to let it go.


    My heart still ached at the thought of all I had worked for, wasted in an instant. But clinging to the past would only weigh me down.


    From this moment on, I would not think about cultivation again. It was time to move forward as an ordinary blind man, living an ordinary life.


    The next morning, I left the inn to explore Yueshu City. My first destination was the market.


    The innkeeper had given me simple directions: follow the street ahead, turn right at the first intersection, and I¡¯d find the marketplace.


    I made my way down the road, my cane tapping the uneven stone. The noise grew louder with each step, and after half an hour, I arrived at a place teeming with activity. The hum of voices, the clatter of goods, and the sharp calls of merchants confirmed it¡ªthis was the market.


    The chaos was overwhelming. My poor eyesight made it nearly impossible to navigate the crowded streets. Several times, I collided with strangers, earning sharp rebukes and curses.


    ¡°Watch where you¡¯re going!¡±


    ¡°Are you blind or just stupid?¡±


    The hostility was jarring, a far cry from the quiet life I had known. Li Yao¡¯s warnings echoed in my mind: Be careful of the people around you. Don¡¯t trust anyone so easily.


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    The people here were hurried, irritable, and indifferent. I could feel their glares even if I couldn¡¯t see them clearly.


    Then, pain shot through my chest.


    It was sudden and unbearable, as though an invisible hand had reached inside me and crushed my heart. My breath hitched, and my legs buckled beneath me.


    What¡¯s happening?


    I staggered, struggling to stay upright, but my body refused to obey. The strength I thought I had regained vanished, and I collapsed to the ground, crashing into someone.


    A pained cry reached my ears. ¡°Watch it, you fool!¡±


    I realized too late that I had fallen into a frail old man. He groaned in pain, trying to shove me off.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡ª¡± I tried to apologize, but my voice was cut short by a sharp blow to my chest.


    A fist struck me with such force that I curled up on the ground, gasping for air. My stomach clenched in agony, and the taste of bile rose in my throat.


    Before I could recover, another blow landed¡ªthis time to my head.


    The world tilted, and darkness swallowed me whole.


    When I woke, I found myself slumped against a cold, rough wall in an alley. Someone must have dragged me here to clear the street, discarding me like unwanted refuse.


    The chill in the air told me it was late afternoon. I tried to stand, but a sharp tightness gripped my chest, stealing my breath. The metallic tang of blood filled my mouth, and I doubled over, coughing violently until blood splattered the ground before me.


    Pain radiated through my body, sharpest in my stomach, where it felt as though my insides had been crushed and rearranged. My arms buckled, and I collapsed again, but I fought to stay conscious. Each breath was a struggle, and fresh blood coated my lips as I gasped for air.


    People passed by, their footsteps echoing in the narrow alley. Not one of them stopped. Not one even glanced in my direction.


    Li Yao¡¯s parting words echoed in my mind: People here are self-centered. No one spares a moment for the needy.


    Why had he brought me here?


    If this city was supposed to be better than others, what did the worse places look like? Was this what he had meant¡ªthat I hadn¡¯t yet seen the depths of human indifference?


    I clawed at the dirt, enduring the relentless pain. Slowly, my airway loosened, and I drew in a shaky breath. Relief was fleeting, though; I lay still for a while longer, gathering what little strength I could before forcing myself upright.


    The world blurred and spun around me, but I managed to stagger to my feet. I needed to return to the inn. At least there, I could rest.


    But as I wandered, I realized I was lost.


    ¡°Excuse me,¡± I called out to someone passing by.


    ¡°Hmph,¡± he grunted, shoving me aside.


    I stumbled, nearly falling. The people here weren¡¯t just indifferent¡ªthey were openly hostile.


    This place was nothing like where I came from, where such behavior would have been swiftly punished.


    Spotting a small shadow moving nearby, I recognized it as a child. Surely a child would show some kindness. I approached him cautiously.


    ¡°My child, could you point this blind man to the inn?¡± I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.


    ¡°Ten copper coins,¡± he said without hesitation.


    I froze, momentarily stunned.


    Even a child¡ªno older than five or six¡ªknew how to extort money. From a blind man, no less.


    Sighing, I reached for the purse tucked beneath my robe¡¯s lapel. My fingers brushed empty fabric. The purse was gone.


    Panic seized me. That small pouch of silver was my lifeline, the only thing giving me the courage to venture this far. Now it was gone. Without it, I had no idea how I would survive.


    ¡°Are you giving me the money or not?¡± the child asked impatiently.


    ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t have any,¡± I admitted. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    ¡°Then don¡¯t waste my time.¡±


    And just like that, the child vanished.


    I sighed deeply, bitter resignation settling over me. Even a child could be so merciless. This city wasn¡¯t just unfriendly¡ªit was a lawless place, full of thieves and opportunists. How could people live like this, stealing from others without a second thought?


    I resumed walking, clutching my aching stomach to dull the pain. Returning to the inn seemed pointless now¡ªI had nothing left to pay for a room.


    But I hadn¡¯t gone far before my strength began to wane. My legs trembled, and a sense of overwhelming weakness crept over me. It felt as though something was sapping my energy, leeching the life from my body.


    A chill ran down my spine. Poison?


    The thought struck me like a thunderclap. The only food I had eaten was the meal served at the inn.


    Who would want to poison me? And why?


    My legs gave out, and I collapsed against a wall, coughing up blood once more. My hands trembled, my fingers numb. Cold sweat drenched my skin as dizziness overtook me, and the world spun violently around me.


    I tried desperately to stay awake. Losing consciousness here would only make things worse. I had already lost my purse; if I blacked out, I might lose my clothes¡ªor worse.


    But it was no use. My body refused to obey, and my mind began to shut down. The alley around me faded into darkness as helplessness swallowed me whole.

 Chapter 3: The Woman With No Surname

    CHAPTER 3


    The Woman with No Surname


    <u>LUO FAN</u>


    When I opened my eyes, a shadow loomed over me. The scene felt eerily familiar.


    ¡°Li Yao?¡± I whispered faintly.


    ¡°My name is Jinjing,¡± a soft female voice replied.


    I froze.


    A woman?


    It was the first time I had ever been this close to a woman, and worse, I was in bed. The situation felt deeply inappropriate.


    I tried to sit up, but my chest tightened painfully, forcing me back down.


    ¡°Lie down,¡± she said gently. ¡°Don¡¯t try to get up. You¡¯re still weak.¡±


    Reluctantly, I obeyed, settling back onto the bed. ¡°Forgive me,¡± I murmured. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ inappropriate of me to meet you like this.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± she asked, her tone curious.


    I hesitated, unsure how to explain. The elders in Frost Mountain had always stressed proper conduct: a gentleman must present himself well¡ªdressed neatly, standing confidently¡ªwhen meeting a woman for the first time. And here I was, bedridden and disheveled.


    She didn¡¯t press the matter, instead asking, ¡°How do you feel?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± I lied. My stomach churned, and I still felt as if I might vomit. But admitting weakness felt even more improper. A man should be strong in the presence of a woman, not frail.


    ¡°Are you hungry?¡±


    I hesitated. I was starving, but my nausea made the thought of food unbearable.


    ¡°You should try to eat something,¡± she said, not waiting for my response. ¡°Let¡¯s start with soup.¡±


    Her shadow disappeared briefly, then returned. She sat at the side of the bed, close enough for me to feel her presence.


    I flushed, unsure how to address the impropriety of the situation. A man and a woman, alone in a room together¡ªit didn¡¯t seem right. But how could I voice my discomfort without offending her?


    ¡°You¡¯ve been unconscious for two days,¡± she said, interrupting my thoughts.


    Two days? I almost gasped. ¡°It¡¯s been that long?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I found you collapsed on the street on my way home. You didn¡¯t have anything with you, so I assumed you¡¯d been robbed.¡±


    Shame washed over me. I had lost the only money I had and now relied on the kindness of a stranger.


    ¡°Here,¡± she said, and the aroma of corn soup drifted toward me. She brought a spoon close to my lips. ¡°Open your mouth.¡±


    I hesitated, embarrassed. ¡°I¡¯ll try to eat on my own.¡±


    ¡°The physician advised you to stay flat for another day,¡± she replied matter-of-factly. ¡°You can¡¯t eat on your own like this. I¡¯ll feed you.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not proper,¡± I protested weakly.


    The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not proper for a man to be fed by a woman who isn¡¯t his wife,¡± I said, my voice barely above a whisper. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ degrading to a man¡¯s pride. And I don¡¯t want to taint your good reputation.¡±


    She laughed, the sound light but tinged with something else¡ªamusement or perhaps mockery. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I don¡¯t have a good reputation. I¡¯m just a prostitute.¡±


    Her words struck me silent.


    ¡°Or,¡± she continued, her tone teasing, ¡°does that wound your pride even more?¡±


    ¡°No! That¡¯s not what I meant,¡± I stammered quickly. ¡°The pride I meant¡­ was a man¡¯s pride against weakness.¡±


    ¡°Alright, then,¡± she said with a chuckle. ¡°If you don¡¯t mind a prostitute feeding you, open your mouth.¡±


    Though I felt more awkward than ever, I obeyed. She gently slid the spoon into my mouth, the warm liquid flowing down my throat. I coughed violently, sputtering.


    ¡°Are you alright?¡± she asked anxiously.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± I managed between coughs.


    She waited patiently until my coughing subsided, then continued to feed me, her movements careful and unhurried.


    ¡°There you go,¡± she said after a few more spoonfuls.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± I whispered. It wasn¡¯t much, but it was all my stomach could handle for now.


    ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡±


    ¡°You said your name is Jinjing,¡± I began hesitantly. ¡°What about your surname?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t have one,¡± she replied simply. ¡°My father disowned me when he learned about my¡­ job. I dropped my surname to spare my family further shame.¡±


    Her words carried no bitterness, only quiet acceptance.


    ¡°Is that really your job?¡± I asked, unsure how else to respond. ¡°Or¡­ are you just humoring me?¡±


    She laughed again, light and unguarded. ¡°Why would I humor you? Why would I lie?¡±


    ¡°Because you¡¯ve been so kind to me,¡± I said earnestly. ¡°You¡¯re the only person who bothered to help me, while everyone else just walked past as if I didn¡¯t exist. You¡¯re a good person.¡±


    She sighed. ¡°Do you think prostitutes aren¡¯t good people?¡±


    I hesitated, searching for the right words. ¡°My apologies. Perhaps I lack understanding of life in the city. I was raised in a remote place where women are scarce. Please forgive my lack of sensibility.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± she said thoughtfully. ¡°So, you¡¯re one of those na?ve young men who come to the city hoping for a better life.¡±


    That wasn¡¯t entirely true, but I couldn¡¯t tell her the truth. I had vowed to leave my past behind the moment I arrived here. ¡°I should have known better,¡± I said simply.


    She sighed again, the sound heavy with something I couldn¡¯t name. ¡°I understand. I felt the same way when I first came to the city. I thought life here would be easier than in the provinces. Instead, I ended up as a prostitute. I learned the hard way.¡±


    ¡°You can always go back,¡± I said quietly.


    She gave a bitter laugh. ¡°Even if I wanted to, my family wouldn¡¯t take me back.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    ¡°I stopped being a prostitute three years ago,¡± she continued. ¡°But once you¡¯ve been one, you can never escape it. No matter how many years pass, people will always see me as a prostitute.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t see you that way,¡± I said earnestly. ¡°I see you as a noble woman.¡±


    She laughed, but the sound quickly turned to soft sobs. The shift confused me. If only I could see her eyes, I might have understood what she truly felt.


    ¡°You¡¯re a very kind man,¡± she said, her voice trembling. ¡°I don¡¯t regret taking you in.¡± She paused, then asked, ¡°What¡¯s your name, by the way?¡±


    ¡°You may call me Fan,¡± I replied.


    ¡°Fan¡­¡± She repeated my name softly. ¡°What about your surname?¡±


    ¡°Like you, I¡¯ve dropped my surname,¡± I said, evading the question.


    Her laugh came again, this time lighter. ¡°Alright. Since I didn¡¯t share mine, I won¡¯t insist on knowing yours. But it¡¯s rare to meet someone as decent as you. It¡¯s refreshing.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m glad to have met a kind woman too,¡± I said honestly. ¡°You¡¯re the first woman I¡¯ve ever had a conversation with¡­ truthfully.¡±


    She gasped, then burst out laughing. ¡°Young man, you have a lot to learn if you want to survive in this city. Don¡¯t worry. When you¡¯re better, I¡¯ll show you around.¡±


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t possibly impose on you that long,¡± I said, flustered.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. It¡¯s not like you have anywhere else to go, right?¡±


    Her words struck me, leaving a hot flush creeping up my face.


    She was right. Where could I go?


    ¡°You¡¯ve probably spent a lot on me,¡± I said softly. ¡°I¡¯ll repay you when I¡¯ve recovered.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll hold you to that,¡± she said with a teasing smile in her voice. ¡°So, you¡¯d better get well quickly, alright?¡±


    I forced out a small smile, wishing desperately that I could see her face. ¡°You must be very beautiful.¡±


    ¡°Me? No, not at all,¡± she said with a laugh. ¡°I¡¯m too plain to look at. You, on the other hand, are far more beautiful than I am.¡±


    ¡°How could you call a man beautiful?¡±


    ¡°But you are,¡± she insisted. ¡°You have a very gentle face. Calling you ¡®handsome¡¯ wouldn¡¯t do you justice.¡±


    Before I could respond, a wave of nausea overwhelmed me. I turned to the side just in time to vomit, the contents of the soup she had so patiently fed me spilling onto the floor.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± I whispered, weak and ashamed as I lay back down.


    ¡°That¡¯s alright,¡± she said soothingly, wiping the corners of my mouth with a cloth. ¡°Here, take this medicine.¡±


    She placed a small pill in my mouth, her finger brushing lightly against my lips.


    The touch froze me for a moment, but I quickly pushed any thoughts of impropriety aside. She was doing everything she could to help a stranger, expecting nothing in return.


    Her kindness warmed something deep within me.


    Perhaps this city wasn¡¯t as bad as I had thought.


    As long as people like Jinjing existed, there was still hope for humanity.

 Chapter 4: Drunk vs Blind

    CHAPTER 4


    Drunk vs Blind


    <u>RUAN YANJUN</u>


    I yawned as I leaned back against the cushion. I had been sitting in this carriage since dawn. It was already past midnight yet I was still an hour away to Henmei District, the home of the Eternal Damnation Sect and the place of my main residence.


    I had come all the way from Wun Empire where I had been searching for the priest with a Natural Core.


    Most cultivators were not born with a core. Without a core, a cultivator could only cultivate until the third level.


    Cores, whether dark or light, could only be implanted by master cultivators, meaning they had to be at least level six cultivators.


    But there were very few who were born with cores already inside them, and they were called Natural Core Bearers.


    In the history of martial arts cultivation for the past five hundred years, there were only a handful that had made it past the seventh level, also called the grandmaster level, and they were all born with Natural Cores.


    That was the reason why this priest was that important to me. I didn¡¯t think I could find another light Natural Core bearer for the next decade or so.


    According to Huang Wen¡¯s information, Wei Fan had been escorted by several soldiers of Kan Empire to the City of Nan in Wun Empire. Nan was not a very big city, so I had initially thought that the search would not take long.


    It turned out, that Wei Fan had led a very private life within the confines of Frost Mountain and had been rarely seen in public. No one even knew his name. Although he was a prized alchemist and had recently made world-wide infamy for poisoning his own master, people only referred to him as the Divine Mage. Aside from his sect brothers who were unwilling to give out any information, no one even knew what he looked like.


    The search had lasted for a week and returned no significant results. I had to immediately head back to Xianru when I received a message that the newly-crowned crown prince had fallen seriously ill and the imperial physicians could not point out the cause of his illness. I had known about the jealousy among the eight princes and the battle for the most coveted crown prince position had been fierce, so I had immediately expected a foul play.


    In the meantime, I had ordered Huang Wen to correspond with the spies deployed near Frost Mountain to gather more information about Wei Fan and provide a more detailed portrait, even if they had to resort to abducting a few of Ethereal Frost disciples and force them to speak.


    I sighed.


    That Divine Mage was so elusive. He was draining off my patience. Many of those people who knew about the incident that Wei Fan had been involved with believed that the priest had been executed in secret so as not to alarm the Cultivation World, but I didn¡¯t buy it.


    The Cultivation World was not stupid. Just being a Natural Core Bearer had already made Wei Fan a rare treasure, so I was certain that some interested cultivators had come to his rescue and had taken him away.


    The question now is¡­ where in this whole damn continent has he gone?


    I reached over to my left and lifted the curtain so I could take a look at my location.


    I recognized the place. This was near the famous pleasure house that some of the Eternal Damnation Sect disciples would secretly visit during weekends. Unlike the righteous Light Sects, I was not very particular about the Eternal Damnation Sect disciple¡¯s virtue, as long as they would not compromise the reputation of the sect and gave priority to their duties and training.


    In more than an hour, I should arrive at my main residence in Henmei District. By dawn, I would have to travel for six hours going to the capital.


    I was about to drop the curtain when I noticed a commotion from a distance. A group of young drunk men seemed to have been harassing a woman, and when the woman resisted, one of them grabbed her around the waist and forced her to go with them.


    I took a good look at the woman and I recognized the familiar dress that the workers of the brothel wore as a uniform, so I assumed that she was one of those pleasure women.


    Those men probably thought that since she was a prostitute, then they could just take her away as they please.


    I probably would not have minded whatever they had intended to do with her, and watching such a scene was not of my interest, but when I saw another man who rushed into the scene and pulled the woman to hide behind his back, things became a little more intriguing, not because a hero had arrived but because¡­ the thin figure in white was holding a stick that he used as a cane.


    Is he blind?


    I smirked.


    Things had gotten even more interesting. I wondered what a frail blind man could do against three drunk men.


    One of the drunk men grabbed the woman¡¯s wrist and pulled her back to his side.


    After that commotion, I thought a fight would ensue, but the blind man unexpectedly cupped his hands and bowed his head to greet the drunk men. He was calm and polite even to those people who did not deserve an ounce of respect.


    ¡°Stop the carriage,¡± I ordered the coachman.


    Immediately, the coachman obeyed and the carriage came to a complete halt.


    That man looked interesting. He might provide me some form of amusement after a month of exhausting travel. Most foolish people who played the hero of saving a damsel in distress usually ended up beaten to death, but this man¡¯s ridiculous approach against a group of violent men was intriguing.


    Although I was some distance away, my sharpened sense of hearing allowed me to listen to their exchange of words.


    ¡°You have been mistaken.¡± The man in white¡¯s voice was gentle and calm like a deep-flowing river. ¡°The miss is not one of those women. She only works in the kitchen.¡±


    ¡°What are you saying?¡± the man holding the woman¡¯s wrist replied. ¡°I know her. She was the one who taught me some tricks in bed. Now that I¡¯m getting married, I need her to teach me more.¡±


    The other two drunk men laughed while the woman¡¯s face was red and flustered.


    ¡°She had already abandoned that job three years ago. If I may ask this gentleman to please respect her decision and let her go.¡±


    ¡°And what if I don¡¯t?¡±


    ¡°I plead you¡­ please let her go.¡±


    I chuckled. He stepped into the scene like a courageous little hero, and when he was challenged, his solution was to plead?


    How pathetic.


    The drunk men laughed boisterously, and the one holding the woman¡¯s wrist slowly and ceremoniously loosened his fingers as if to mock the polite fool.


    As soon as she was freed, the woman quickly ran to hide behind the man in white.


    ¡°There, I let her go,¡± the drunk man said tauntingly. ¡°Does that satisfy you?¡±


    The man in white lowered his head to acknowledge the drunk man¡¯s good deed. ¡°I appreciate your kind consideration.¡±


    Suddenly, the drunk man grabbed the man in white¡¯s chin. ¡°You¡¯re quite a beauty yourself. How about you take her place? I don¡¯t really mind bedding an untainted beautiful man over a worn-out pleasure lady.¡±


    I got even more excited that I found myself straightening my back in anticipation of a thrilling scene.


    This should be it. No man, regardless that he was blind and frail, would allow himself insulted in such a way. His courteousness would all end here.


    This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I¡¯m not into men,¡± he calmly replied instead.


    I frowned in disbelief.


    That foolish man was ludicrously too nice that even in the face of a perverted inducement he had still spoken in a very polite and calm tone. Other men would have straight away punched that creep¡¯s face already.


    The drunk man laughed. ¡°But I am. So what can you do about it?¡±


    The good man suddenly patted away the drunk man¡¯s hand. ¡°There¡¯s no more reason to prolong this discussion.¡± He turned away.


    ¡°Hey.¡± The drunk man grabbed the other man to his embrace. ¡°Damn, you¡¯re a bit too thin for my taste, but I don¡¯t mind.¡±


    When the drunk man was about to kiss the good man¡¯s neck, he was suddenly thrown backward.


    While the drunk men were initially confused at what had just happened, I saw it all too clearly.


    The man in white was not an ordinary fool after all. He knew some martial arts, and that move was not even basic. However, he was lacking in strength. If he had any, that hit on the drunk man¡¯s vital point in the stomach would have sent the man spitting blood on the ground.


    Regardless, he knew exactly where to hit, that even if he lacked strength, it was still enough to push the drunk man several steps away. Only cultivators beyond level three should be able to execute such a move.


    But this overly courteous man did not look like he was even a level one.


    When the drunk men had recovered from their initial surprise, they all glared at the man in white.


    ¡°You dare.¡± The drunk man tried a punch, but the man in white simply dodged it sideway and countered with another blow to his stomach. The rest of the men attacked, but they had all ended up on the ground, vomiting out whatever they had taken in.


    I was almost convinced that I might have underestimated the frail-looking man when suddenly, he collapsed to his knees and vomited blood. The woman immediately came to him and helped him up.


    I laughed inwardly.


    So the man was indeed sick and frail, yet he used all his strength to fight off a bunch of useless drunk boys to save a prostitute who he probably knew too well.


    That was quite a show with an interesting twist.


    I could say¡­ I was quite entertained.


    These people simply never failed to provide me with amusement whenever I was bored. That was why I liked watching them make a fool of themselves.


    ¡°You did not have to fight so hard,¡± the woman said, supporting the blind man¡¯s hand as they walked away. ¡°We should have just run away. Now, look at you.¡±


    ¡°As long as you¡¯re unharmed, it¡¯s all worth it,¡± the man returned.


    How sentimental. These two sounded like they were lovers.


    As they approached in my direction, I took a good look at the man¡¯s face.


    He was indeed beautiful. He not only had a beautiful face, but he was also tall. He looked too dainty for a man. But the drunk man was right, he was a little too thin. If he gained more weight, he would be even more stunning. He would certainly attract the attention of both men and women.


    However, although it was not the first time I had found myself admiring a man¡¯s beauty, I had never really taken any advances towards men. Even beautiful women hardly caught my attention recently. Perhaps because I had withdrawn from intimacy a long time ago. I probably had too much intimacy already it no longer provided me with the pleasure that I used to get from it.


    Regardless, I still found this man interesting enough that I would definitely come to check on him again some other time. I wanted to find out if those bunch of drunk morons would retaliate, and I wanted to know how his relationship with a seasoned woman would turn out.


    Those were just two of the interesting things that I should follow through with this play. This was way better than any of the plays I had watched on stage.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± I told the coachman.


    As the carriage moved forward, the two stopped and looked.


    The man¡¯s eyes followed the carriage as it passed right in front of him, but then I noticed that he was not actually looking but rather¡­ listening and following the direction of the sound.


    There was a glaze in his eyes, a blank look.


    I frowned.


    He was obviously blind, but I still saw a faint glow in his eyes, which meant he had not completely lost his vision. He could probably see shadows at least.


    After the carriage had made it pass them, I laughed out loud. The coachman probably thought I was crazy, but he was also probably used to it already.


    The show was getting even more interesting now.


    A sick, blind, and coreless martial artist who could execute some high-level skills but lacked the strength to do any significant damage¡­


    That was quite unheard of. I could not wait to see the next episode of his story. It was really worth looking forward to.


    *****


    <u>LUO FAN</u>


    ¡°Where are we going?¡± I asked Jinjing as I followed her down a pathway in the middle of tall grasses.


    This morning, after we had our breakfast, she had invited me out for a walk. It was almost noon now and we were supposed to go back to her house to cook for lunch, but she had decided to drop by this place first.


    ¡°We¡¯re here,¡± she replied and stopped.


    I also stopped.


    Although I saw nothing but dark and light, I still turned my head around. The tall grasses surrounding me were not exactly what I had thought. They looked very familiar to me. We¡¯re in the middle of a bamboo forest.


    ¡°What are we doing here?¡± I asked.


    ¡°You broke your stick last night, so I¡¯ll get you a new one.¡± She had her back on me, but I could clearly see her shadow holding a pointed object. I had an idea what it was but was not sure until I heard the sound of a knife chopping off something.


    Has she been holding that knife the moment we walked out of her house?


    ¡°Why do you have a knife with you?¡± I asked.


    ¡°After last night, I¡¯m afraid those men might come back for us,¡± she replied without turning to look at me. ¡°So I have to carry a weapon for our protection.¡±


    ¡°You should not point a knife against anyone. It¡¯s dangerous.¡±


    ¡°I will if it¡¯s necessary.¡±


    ¡°Do you even know how to use it? Have you ever fought with a knife before?¡±


    She sighed and paused from what she was doing. ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Then don¡¯t carry a knife or you might end up being the victim. When you¡¯re in danger, do not engage in a fight and just run if you can, so hold something that can distract instead to buy you time to escape.¡±


    ¡°Like what?¡±


    I found myself unable to answer. From where I grew up, violence and bullying were rare, so I had never felt the need to carry a weapon with me. Even though I used to own a sword, I had only used it for practice and duels.


    Then I remembered something that my sect brother had shown me before. ¡°I¡¯ve seen a small round object that produces a lot of smoke if you smash it against a hard surface.¡±


    ¡°A smoke bomb?¡± she asked.


    I nodded.


    She laughed. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve seen that too. However, it¡¯s not cheap. Only the rich can afford that.¡±


    ¡°How much is a piece?¡±


    ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, one piece is three silver coins.¡±


    I was speechless. If I had not lost my purse, I definitely would buy her one.


    ¡°I can¡¯t even earn that in a month, so let¡¯s forget about it. Our best course is to not make any enemies. So the next time we get into trouble, do not engage in a fight.¡±


    My own advice backfired on me. I had actually tried to avoid fighting with those drunk men, but I should have tried even harder.


    She was right. For the likes of us, we were not in a position to make enemies. We should just swallow our pride and scamper away like rats.


    ¡°My mistake.¡± I cupped my hands and lowered my head. ¡°I¡¯ll see to it that it will not happen again.¡±


    She giggled. ¡°You don¡¯t have to be so courteous with me.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re a woman. I must give you my utmost courtesy.¡±


    ¡°Fine, fine.¡± She laughed again. ¡°You are so nice. Were you raised in a temple or something?¡±


    I could not speak. I did not want to hide things from her after she had saved my life, but I did not want to recall my past either. I most especially did not want to even talk about it.


    I forced out a smile and wished she would not press further with her question, and I was glad she did not.


    She pulled the stick she just cut down instead and chopped the leaves off.


    ¡°I can probably do that,¡± I volunteered.


    ¡°No need,¡± she replied. ¡°This is my gift for you, so I should do all the work. I¡¯ll make it clean and smooth so you will not hurt your fingers.¡±


    My heart contracted.


    Who would not be moved by such kindness?


    ¡°That¡¯s so kind of you,¡± I said.


    ¡°Because you are good to me,¡± she replied. ¡°For a woman like me, most men see me as nothing but filth. But you¡¯re different from them. You see me as a woman regardless of my past, and you treat me with respect. Even if you can barely see, you brave the dangerous streets at night just to pick me up from the brothel, to make sure that I make it home safely, and you even defended me from those drunk.¡± She paused and I heard her sniff.


    I wondered why she was crying.


    ¡°It¡¯s only fair that I must return your kindness. You¡¯re the only man who had been good to me. I had almost forgotten how it feels to be a woman until you reminded me of it. You have brought back some self-worth that I had long lost.¡±


    My heart was filled with pity. I did not feel like I deserved her praises, however, because I used to regard women of her status as women who had fallen from grace. I used to view them as weak people who had easily succumbed to the devil¡¯s temptation.


    I was just a na?ve man back then. I had never understood the real meaning of suffering, of being poor. Although I was not rich and I barely owned anything, I had never experienced hunger, I had always had a room and a comfortable bed to sleep on, and I never had to pay for monthly rent or buy anything I wanted or needed. I could just write a request for anything, personal or not, and it would be delivered to me.


    But the outside world was different. Nothing was free. Everyone had to work just to eat, and even work was scarce. Many people couldn''t afford three meals in a day. Some could not even afford one.


    I knew better now. Although I had only been staying with Jinjing for two months, I had already learned a lot.


    ¡°Here.¡±


    Her voice woke me up from my deep pondering, and then I felt the tip of the bamboo stick touching my finger.


    ¡°See if it¡¯s good enough for you,¡± she continued.


    I took the stick and ran a hand along its length. It was smooth all the way to the other end. ¡°It¡¯s perfect. Thank you.¡±


    ¡°Wait. I¡¯ll make it even more special,¡± she said and took the stick back from me.


    I was not sure what she was doing, but from the movement of her arms, it seemed she was wrapping something around the stick.


    ¡°There you go,¡± she said and handed the stick back to me. ¡°That¡¯s my favorite scarf, so take care of it.¡±


    I smiled as I felt the silk wrapped around one end of the stick. Silk was a luxurious commodity that very few commoners could afford, so this must be precious to her. ¡°You don¡¯t have to put your scarf here. It¡¯s a waste of good fabric.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a gift, so of course it has to be special. If you refuse it, I¡¯d be offended.¡±


    For a moment, I was in a dilemma. She had already helped me a lot and I felt so bad that I kept taking from her, but I did not want to offend her generosity either. ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ll cherish it.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡±


    I stepped closer to her and hugged her gently. She momentarily stiffened, but a moment later, she raised her arms and stroked my back.


    ¡°Alright,¡± she said after I pulled away. ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here before the snakes find us.¡± She grabbed my wrist and pulled me out of the dense bamboo forest.


    I felt so light inside me. Although she was holding my hand, there was no malice between us. The touch was pure and innocent.


    It felt like I had just gained a sister. The sibling relationship we had developed over the past two months had paved away the awkwardness of us living together under the same roof. As the days passed, the bond only grew deeper.

 Chapter 5: Encounter with the Devil

    CHAPTER 5


    Encounter with the Devil


    <u>RUAN YANJUN</u>


    I sighed in relief when the carriage finally stopped in front of my private residence.


    I had just come from the imperial palace in Guan, the capital of Xianru. The crown prince¡¯s condition had rapidly deteriorated. He¡¯d been spitting blood for days already and the imperial physicians could not tell the cause of it.


    When I arrived in the palace a few days ago, he still could speak, but last night, he had fallen into a coma.


    At first glance, it looked like the crown prince had been poisoned, but I could not detect the toxins in his body. Even the palace¡¯s experts were clueless.


    It was a puzzle. I was certain that it was a poison and I even had a suspect as to who had masterminded it, but unless the poison was identified, treatment would be impossible, and connecting the crime with the culprit would be difficult.


    ¡°Greetings, Master.¡± Huang Wen bowed before me as I stepped out of the carriage.


    ¡°You¡¯ve returned,¡± I said as I headed directly towards the door, ignoring the servants who had lined up at the front yard to greet me. I was tired and wanted to rest.


    ¡°I returned just yesterday.¡± My disciple followed close behind me. ¡°Master, I managed to gather more information about the Divine Mage, and this will surprise you.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure? If it¡¯s the same useless trash that you¡¯ve been giving me before, don¡¯t even waste my time. I want to rest.¡±


    ¡°I assure you, Master. It will be worth your while.¡±


    I stopped and turned to look at him. ¡°Did you get the portrait?¡±


    He reached inside his lapel and handed me a scroll of paper.


    Unlike before, I wasn¡¯t that eager to take a look. I was probably too bothered by the condition of the crown prince that my search for the missing priest was no longer my priority.


    ¡°Fine then,¡± I said. ¡°Go get me some tea and let me hear what you got for me.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master,¡± he said and left.


    I sat by the tea table and unrolled the portrait.


    I frowned.


    It was a portrait of a beautiful woman.


    I was about to call Huang Wen back and punish him for playing a prank on me when I saw the name written at the bottom of the paper. I took a closer look at the woman¡¯s face until I noticed a striking resemblance to someone I had seen before.


    I slammed the portrait on the table and looked up.


    Could it be¡­ that blind man I had watched a few days ago?!


    *****


    <u>LUO FAN</u>


    ¡°Fan!¡± Jinjing exclaimed when she saw me standing across the road from the brothel. She ran towards me. ¡°I told you not to worry about me. You¡¯re ruining your reputation being seen around this promiscuous place.¡±


    I walked with her. ¡°It¡¯s not like anyone knows me around here, and honestly, I don¡¯t really mind what people think. If they judge me wrongly for a mistake they themselves have perceived, then that¡¯s their fault.¡±


    She sighed and held on to my elbow. ¡°Let¡¯s hurry. I¡¯m hungry.¡±


    ¡°You did not have dinner again?¡±


    ¡°I wrapped it up so we can share.¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t have to. I cooked something.¡±


    ¡°But this is special. It¡¯s meat.¡±


    I smiled. For people like us, meat was something we could hardly afford. For over two months that I had stayed with her, we only had meat twice. And that was probably the reason why she wanted to share her dinner with me because it was also the reason why I had bought meat for her. ¡°I also cooked meat.¡±


    She gasped. ¡°Where did you get meat?¡±


    ¡°I bought it.¡±


    ¡°And where did you get the money?¡±


    ¡°Remember that neighbor who¡¯d been complaining about his bad back. I volunteered to massage his back. He was satisfied with the result and gave me some copper coins.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­ you know how to massage? My whole body aches too. Standing for ten hours a day really takes a toll on my aging body. Could you give me a massage, as well? But I have no money to pay you with.¡±


    I forced out a smile. ¡°You don¡¯t have to, but I can only massage your feet and hands. Nowhere else.¡±


    ¡°Why not?¡±


    ¡°Because it¡¯s inappropriate.¡±


    She sighed. ¡°You are a very virtuous man. Maybe I should call you Mister Appropriate.¡±


    ¡°I just want to protect your dignity. What¡¯s wrong with that?¡±


    ¡°Because you treat me like I¡¯m a pure young maiden. You know very well that I¡¯ve long been stripped of my dignity, and I¡¯m old already.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re only twenty-nine. That¡¯s not too old. And it¡¯s not because you had a past means you have no more dignity left. Everyone deserves to be treated with respect.¡±


    She sighed and rested her forehead on my bicep. ¡°I wish all people think like you do.¡±


    ¡°They just don¡¯t know you well enough.¡±


    ¡°Do you?¡±


    ¡°Maybe not, but I know you enough to see that you¡¯re a good person. One good person is all I need and I¡¯m fine living in this place.¡±


    She laughed.


    ¡°And thank you for thinking about me that you had to save your dinner just to share it with me. I¡¯m really touched.¡±


    ¡°You also used your hard-earned money to buy me something to eat. We¡¯re even.¡±


    ¡°No, we¡¯re not. I owe you so much more, and I don¡¯t think I can ever repay you.¡±


    ¡°Ah, you¡¯re being overly melodramatic. Don¡¯t make me cry again.¡±


    From out of nowhere, a man suddenly landed right in front of us, so close he had practically intruded into our personal space.


    Jinjing squealed and her hand tightened around my arm.


    I, too, was stunned.


    In terms of height, I was already tall that an average girl like Jinjing barely made it pass my shoulder level, but this man was even taller. He also had broad shoulders. His body radiated power that I could not possibly match even if I were fully healthy.


    This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Just him standing there was already intimidating. The fact that I could feel Jinjing¡¯s trembling hand meant he probably even looked terrifying.


    He stepped closer to me, leaving just half an arm''s length between us.


    ¡°Divine Mage,¡± he uttered in a low voice.


    My eyes widened. His imposing figure had not frightened me, but the words that he had just uttered did.


    I took a step back.


    ¡°Wei Fan,¡± he continued, as if he was taunting me, or probably testing me to confirm my identity.


    I held my breath. I did not dare say a word.


    Did they hire this man to find me and finish me off? Or is this an ally of that man who had helped me escape?


    While I was unsure, it was best for me to keep my lips sealed.


    The man snickered. ¡°So this is indeed the banished disciple of Frost Mountain. You have gone astray too far. No wonder no one can find you.¡±


    I discreetly took a deep breath to calm myself down. For Jinjing, I had to look unperturbed, even if I had no chance against this man.


    ¡°Mister, do you need anything from me?¡± I asked courteously. I could barely see his face, but I saw the outline of his strong jaw when he turned sideway.


    He was taller than I was for probably half a foot, with broad shoulders that tapered to a narrow waist. He was physically fit, and even if I had lost my ability to sense someone else¡¯s cultivation level, I could tell his strength was enormous. If I were to fight him, I stood no chance. And my priority now was to stay out of trouble, especially since I had a woman in my company.


    He smirked and just stood there. Even if I could not see his eyes, the slight movement of his head told me he was studying me from head to toe.


    <u>RUAN YANJUN</u>


    I did not expect that the now infamous top disciple of Ethereal Frost Sect was this exquisite. He indeed lived up to the name of his sect, an ethereal beauty with a very cold expression and voice. The plain white robe that he wore and the simple lace that tied his hair only emphasized his natural charm.


    At my age, I had seen countless beauties already that they no longer appealed to me, but this beauty before me was someone I could not get my eyes off. He was a piece of art on his own, a breathing masterpiece. However, that woman beside him, who was clinging to him like a leech, ruined the perfection of the scene.


    I scowled at her. ¡°Only a whore clings to a man like a slug in public. Where¡¯s your decency?¡±


    The woman stared at me with her mouth agape, her cheeks flushed red, her eyes welling in shameful tears. Even the beauty before me was rendered speechless.


    Then I remembered that this was the same woman that those three drunk men had harrassed before, and the uniform she wore reminded me of what she was. ¡°Oh,¡± I sneered. ¡°You are a whore.¡±


    The woman quickly dropped her hands off the priest¡¯s arm and turned her head to the other side, hiding her shame away.


    ¡°Mister,¡± the former Divine Mage said. Although I had insulted his companion, he still spoke calmly and gently. ¡°This woman is my wife. Please treat her with the respect that she deserves.¡±


    I ran my eyes over him, and then I laughed. I was too old to be fooled by a priest who was wearing a plain white robe. ¡°I have not heard of a priest marrying a whore, and the more that I have not heard of a whore deserving of some respect. Don¡¯t tell me you have turned away from the teachings of your sect right after they¡¯ve kicked you out and decided to be the exact opposite of what they taught you instead.¡±


    I saw how his lips thinned. Apparently, the words I had said had gotten into him, yet he tried to keep his emotions at bay. When he spoke again, his voice remained calm yet unyielding. ¡°Mister, it¡¯s late. We should talk again some other time.¡± He turned to the woman beside him and reached for her hand. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    I watched as they passed by me. When I was watching that beautiful man fighting with those drunk men days ago, I was appalled. His inner strength was totally absent, his strikes were pathetic. Who would believe that this was once a seventh-level cultivator, recognized as the youngest grandmaster in the world, and despite him not appearing publicly, the Tianhui Sect, a sect known for its ranking system, had previously placed him ninth among the top ten cultivators in the whole continent.


    That ranking system was a joke, however.


    To think that I wasn¡¯t even on their list.


    Regardless, I did not mind it at all. I had no interest in attending their bi-annual tournament just to prove that I deserved the top spot in the ranking. Many of those cultivators who felt that they had been snubbed from the top ten, would do that. Not Ruan Yanjun.


    I liked to fight. To me, life was not worth living without fighting, without getting the opportunity to boast my prowess. But I had no time to fry small fish. Even fifty of those could not possibly satiate my hunger. They could leave me out of the list, but they all knew that there was a certain someone that even the top ten combined could never defeat, someone whose name they would rather not mention and pretend he never existed. That someone¡¯s name was Ruan Yanjun.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be expecting it,¡± I said aloud, but only the woman turned her head to glance at me.


    I kept my eyes on Wei Fan until they turned to a corner. Although his cultivation had been nullified, I had felt a spark from within him, as if the ember that had turned into ashes still had some flicker left and was simply waiting for a stimulant to make it glow once more.


    He was indeed special, even more special than his master. I could use a disciple like him. Nevermind if he¡¯d start again from nothing. I¡¯d nurture him until the light core he had been born with returned to life, and I¡¯d nurture him further until he was back to that same level he had once possessed.


    Huang Wen had assured me that Wei Fan had indeed reached the seventh level, and that was one of the reasons that had caused his fall from grace.


    With a smirk, I shook my head. That poor thing had to be punished and suffer for being so exceptionally talented.


    But from now on, he¡¯d be in good hands. Ruan Yanjun had no insecurities. In fact, I would love to make a rival out of him. It had been a while since I fought against a worthy opponent.


    Now that I found my subject, I should make sure I would not lose him again.


    I, however, had to attend to some important matters the next day, so I¡¯d have some of my disciples to keep an eye on him at all times.


    I might have scared him off earlier, so I did not want to aggravate the situation. Although I could simply abduct him and force him to submit to my whims, I would only resort to such means if necessary. In order to execute my plan, I needed his full, voluntary cooperation.


    Patience was never my virtue, but with Wei Fan, I¡¯d have to take things slowly and surely.


    *****


    <u>LUO FAN</u>


    ¡°That man is a freak,¡± Jinjing said softly as we entered the gate to her house. It was already late at night so we had to speak quietly so as not to bother the neighbors. ¡°To think that he¡¯s even so good-looking.¡±


    ¡°He is?¡± I asked. Although I knew that the man had an amazing physique, I wasn¡¯t sure about his face.


    ¡°He really is.¡±


    ¡°More handsome than I am?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re beautiful. He¡¯s handsome. You two can¡¯t be compared.¡±


    ¡°Why can¡¯t I be handsome?¡±


    ¡°Because you¡¯re beautiful.¡±


    The discussion was going in circles, so I might as well drop it. ¡°A good face does not define a character, perhaps.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right, except from you, I supposed.¡± She opened the door and let me in. ¡°You are beautiful both inside and out.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t stop humoring me.¡±


    ¡°Do you not believe?¡±


    ¡°We should eat. I¡¯m sure you¡¯re hungry.¡±


    I went to the stove and was glad that the ember had kept the food warm. I put it in a big bowl and brought it to the table. Jinjing had also placed two bowls, chopsticks, and the food she had wrapped up on the table.


    ¡°You must have caught that man¡¯s attention earlier,¡± she said as we settled down.


    ¡°What could I have done to catch his attention?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. Maybe because you¡¯re too beautiful.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s a man. How could he be interested in me?¡±


    ¡°That drunk man from before¡­ Chang Tao, remember? He was also attracted to you.¡±


    Who could forget that man?


    ¡°He was drunk he did not know what he was saying.¡±


    She sighed. ¡°You probably have never seen two men falling for each other.¡±


    I frowned. ¡°Is that possible?¡±


    She giggled. ¡°Fan, you really are too na?ve. In this city, it¡¯s not unusual to see that anymore.¡±


    I was speechless. I could not begin to imagine it.


    Two men?


    ¡°So¡­¡± I was so intrigued. I knew it was not proper to talk about such things with a woman, but I could not help my curiosity. ¡°How do they copulate?¡±


    She laughed again. ¡°Fan, it¡¯s not good to talk about those things over dinner.¡±


    My cheeks turned hot. ¡°I apologize.¡±


    ¡°Here, try this.¡± She put a few pieces of meat in my bowl.


    I took one in and forced out a smile.


    Before I went to pick Jinjing up earlier, I had been looking forward to enjoying a meal with her, but after encountering that mysterious man, I had suddenly lost my appetite.


    I tried to pretend that the man did not bother me much, but he actually did. Someone had already found out my whereabouts, and it was someone I could not defeat in battle. I was afraid that Jinjing might be implicated, and if I really cared about her, I should leave immediately.


    But where should I go? Without money, how can I sustain myself?


    ¡°Fan, I have a question,¡± she said, clueless about my dilemma.


    ¡°Just ask.¡±


    ¡°¡­Is it true what that rude man said earlier? That you¡¯re a priest?¡±


    I sighed and nodded. ¡°I was, but I¡¯m not sure if I still am.¡±


    ¡°That did not surprise me very much. Based on your personality and especially with the way you speak, I had expected it, but there¡¯s one thing I had not¡­ Were you¡­ a disciple of a sect?¡±


    I lowered my eyes and could not respond for a moment. ¡°It is true.¡±


    ¡°So you¡¯re proficient in martial arts? You lied to me when you said that you only know some basic things?¡±


    I sighed. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I did not mean to lie to you. It¡¯s just that¡­¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    I sighed again. ¡°Jinjing, I¡¯m not the same man as before anymore. I had done something terrible, and because of that, they had nullified my cultivation and banished me out of the sect.¡±


    She was silent. I was sure she was dumbfounded and was probably unsure if she could still trust me.


    ¡°Forgive me for keeping a secret from you. I was afraid that if you knew, you would not want to have anything to do with me anymore. I will leave first thing in the morning if my presence here is no longer wanted.¡±


    ¡°No.¡± She quickly put her hand over mine. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean that. I was just shocked. I didn¡¯t expect¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    She squeezed my hand. ¡°I still believe that you¡¯re a good man. I¡¯m sure that whatever you¡¯ve done, you did not do so intentionally.¡±


    I drew a deep breath of relief. ¡°Thank you. Someday, I will tell you all about it. Not now. It¡¯s still too painful to even think about it.¡±


    ¡°If you can¡¯t talk about it, you don¡¯t have to.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°One more question. Is Wei Fan your full name?¡±


    I sighed again. ¡°My master had given me that name, but I¡¯d prefer it if you call me by my real name. Luo Fan.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡± She pondered for a moment. ¡°I think I¡¯ve gotten used to calling you just Fan. I won¡¯t change it.¡±


    I smiled. ¡°I prefer it too.¡±

 BOOK 2 Chapter 52: Tournament

    BOOK 2


    CHAPTER 52


    Tournament


    LUO FAN


    Two Months Later


    A boisterous commotion at the far end of the market street drew my attention. A dense crowd of men had gathered around a makeshift arena in the open square. Just beyond them, I could make out groups of women standing beneath the shade of nearby trees, shielding themselves from the oppressive sun. Children darted through the chaos, their laughter mingling with the rising chatter, though any who tried to sneak a closer look at the spectacle were promptly shooed away by the adults.


    Even with my still-improving vision, I could see the wide arena clearly. At its center, two men were locked in fierce combat.


    ¡°A martial arts tournament?¡± I murmured, intrigued. It was surprising to see such a display in a modest town like this.


    Ruan Yanjun stood beside me, his arms folded casually as if he¡¯d seen this a hundred times before. ¡°Do you want to watch?¡± he asked, his tone indifferent yet carrying an edge of curiosity.


    I glanced at him, hesitating. ¡°Do we have time?¡±


    ¡°If it¡¯s about cultivation, we have plenty,¡± he said with a faint smile, already striding toward the crowd.


    I followed close behind, weaving through the throng until we reached a spot where we could see clearly. We were taller than most of the villagers, so it wasn¡¯t difficult to stand just a few feet back and still get a good view of the action.


    The two fighters in the arena were an interesting contrast. One was older, bulkier, his movements slower but forceful. The other was younger, wiry, and agile, moving with a precision that spoke of rigorous training. It quickly became apparent that the older fighter was struggling.


    The younger man¡ªhis name, Bao Bao, was shouted repeatedly by the crowd¡ªpressed the attack with relentless punches, forcing his opponent back step by step. Then, in a decisive move, Bao Bao leaped into the air, delivering a sharp kick to the man¡¯s neck before following up with an energy-infused palm strike to the chest.


    The older man crumpled to the ground in a heap, barely conscious.


    The crowd erupted into cheers as the referee declared Bao Bao the winner. The young fighter basked in their adulation, standing astride his defeated opponent with a smug grin and his arms raised high.


    ¡°Not even a minute,¡± someone near us muttered, impressed.


    ¡°He¡¯s incredible,¡± another man said to his companion. ¡°Reaching level three at just twenty-one? He has no rivals here. He should leave for a bigger city¡ªsect leaders would be fighting over him!¡±


    ¡°True, but he has his own plans,¡± the second man replied, nodding sagely. ¡°He¡¯s determined to build a sect here to honor his hometown. Someday, he even plans to challenge the Eternal Damnation Sect Leader, Ruan.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s bold,¡± the first man said with a laugh. ¡°But I think he could do it. Give him ten years, maybe less. Sect Leader Ruan better watch out.¡±


    I glanced at Ruan Yanjun, who stood silently beside me. Though his face remained composed, I could hear the faint sound of suppressed laughter in his throat.


    ¡°They don¡¯t know who they¡¯re talking about,¡± I whispered, trying to defend the villagers¡¯ pride.


    ¡°I¡¯m not offended, A-Fan,¡± he replied, his voice laced with amusement. ¡°They¡¯re just so... entertaining.¡±


    Meanwhile, Bao Bao was soaking in the crowd¡¯s adoration, his grin as wide as the horizon. I couldn¡¯t deny his talent¡ªhis moves were sharp, and his strength was impressive for his age. But his arrogance was glaring. He lacked the humility to temper his ambition.


    ¡°Our young champion wishes to give you more entertainment!¡± the referee announced, raising his voice to hush the murmuring crowd. ¡°Since the last fight was so quick, Bao Bao is open to challengers! Who dares to test their skills against our hero?¡±


    The square fell silent. No one moved.


    Bao Bao leaned toward the referee and whispered something, his expression cocky.


    ¡°Our champion,¡± the referee continued, now grinning broadly, ¡°is willing to fight two opponents at once!¡±


    Gasps rippled through the crowd. Still, no one stepped forward.


    ¡°I accept the challenge.¡±


    The voice rang out confidently, cutting through the silence like a blade.


    I froze. My stomach sank as I recognized the voice instantly. Turning sharply, I saw Ruan Yanjun striding forward, his hands clasped behind his back and his every step exuding an aura of arrogance so palpable it felt suffocating.


    ¡°Lord Ruan¡ª!¡± I hissed, but he didn¡¯t even glance my way.


    The entire square went dead silent. All eyes followed him as he crossed the open ground. His imposing frame, standing a head taller than most, cast a long shadow across the arena. Even the ever-cocky Bao Bao faltered, his grin slipping as his eyes widened in disbelief.


    Ruan Yanjun stopped in front of Bao Bao, his posture regal, his expression calm. His eyes, sharp and unyielding, locked onto the younger man.


    Is he really going to fight a level three?


    I thought he does not fight with nobodies? Or ants as he¡¯d called them.


    But here he was, standing before the stunned Bao Bao and a crowd that didn¡¯t even dare to breathe.


    I wasn¡¯t sure what was more shocking¡ªhis decision to fight or the absolute certainty in his eyes that this was going to be over in seconds.


    What on earth have you gotten yourself into this time, Lord Ruan?


    The referee was the first to recover from the shock, scurrying up to Ruan Yanjun with an awkward smile plastered across his face. "Ah... may I know this good man''s name, please?"


    Ruan Yanjun smirked, his hands still casually clasped behind his back. "My name is not important."


    The referee blinked, visibly taken aback. "But, sir, you must introduce yourself before we can allow you to¡ª"


    ¡°I don¡¯t fight with nobodies,¡± Ruan Yanjun interrupted, his tone sharp and cutting.


    This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    A collective gasp rippled through the crowd. The insult hit like a slap, and I watched Bao Bao¡¯s face flush a deep, furious red. His shoulders squared, and his jaw tightened as the crowd began murmuring, their excitement turning into simmering tension.


    Panicking, I pushed my way through the crowd and grabbed Ruan Yanjun¡¯s wrist, my heart pounding. ¡°My lord,¡± I whispered urgently, ¡°please let it go. This isn¡¯t worth it.¡±


    He glanced down at me, his smile softening for a brief moment¡ªbut only for me. Then, as if dismissing my plea entirely, he turned back to Bao Bao and gestured toward me.


    ¡°Here is your opponent.¡±


    It took me a moment to process his words. When realization struck, my stomach dropped.


    He couldn¡¯t mean me. Surely, he didn¡¯t just challenge Bao Bao on my behalf.


    The crowd collectively turned to stare at me, their gazes sharp as blades. I felt my knees weaken under the weight of their scrutiny, my pulse thundering in my ears.


    Bao Bao broke the silence with a snort of disbelief. ¡°You¡¯re joking, right? A level one?¡± He sneered, his eyes raking over my frail figure with disdain. ¡°A level two couldn¡¯t last a minute against me, and you¡¯re offering me a level one? What kind of farce is this?¡±


    I had, in truth, surpassed level two not long ago, though my outward appearance rarely inspired confidence in others. My frail frame, a lingering consequence of years of chronic illness, often led cultivators to dismiss me as a mere level one¡ªa weakling barely fit for the rigorous paths of cultivation.


    Neither I nor Ruan Yanjun ever went out of our way to correct this misconception. If anything, my taciturn nature and his mischievous streak seemed to encourage it. He had an almost cruel delight in watching their smug faces crumble the moment they realized their error.


    Ruan Yanjun chuckled darkly, the sound rich with mockery. ¡°Small-town hero Bao Bao, you think quite highly of yourself. Afraid, are you? Perhaps you worry that this half-blind, level one beauty will make a fool of you.¡±


    The insult landed squarely, and the young man¡¯s expression twisted into one of pure rage. His fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white.


    Beside me, I could barely find the words to argue. ¡°My lord,¡± I hissed, pulling his sleeve. ¡°What are you doing? I can¡¯t beat him¡ªhe¡¯s a level three!¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t think you can handle a level three?¡± Ruan Yanjun¡¯s tone was light, teasing, but his gaze was steady and unyielding. ¡°It¡¯s time to test what you¡¯ve learned these past two months.¡±


    Before I could muster another protest, Bao Bao barked, ¡°Fine! I¡¯ll fight him. But don¡¯t blame me if your disciple dies. This isn¡¯t my fault!¡±


    ¡°Do your worst,¡± Ruan Yanjun replied smoothly. ¡°Kill him if you must... that is, if you can.¡±


    Bao Bao¡¯s fury boiled over, and the crowd buzzed with excitement as he stormed into the arena.


    ¡°Lord Ruan, please¡ª¡± I tried one last time, my voice trembling.


    He bent closer, his voice dropping low enough for only me to hear. ¡°Trust yourself, A-Fan. You¡¯ll surprise even him.¡± Then, with a playful grin, he added, ¡°Oh, and don¡¯t use the Quickie. I¡¯d rather not hear the gossip about your so-called ¡®signature move.¡¯¡±


    I could¡¯ve strangled him if I weren¡¯t already petrified. He patted my shoulder and stepped back to the sidelines, leaving me to face Bao Bao alone.


    As the referee signaled for us to begin, Bao Bao leaned in with a sneer. ¡°You should surrender while you still have the chance. I won¡¯t be holding back.¡±


    I swallowed hard but refused to yield. My upbringing and pride forbade me from backing down, even though this was no longer a friendly match. It was a trial of survival, one I hadn¡¯t chosen but was now trapped in.


    We bowed, and before I could even raise my guard, Bao Bao launched into the air. His foot came down in a sharp arc, aiming straight for my shoulder. I spun to avoid it, but he immediately followed with another kick, his movements fast and unrelenting.


    For the next minute, I was on the defensive, barely dodging his blows. His attacks came primarily from his feet¡ªlightning-fast kicks that left little room for counterattacks. My arms and ribs throbbed from the few strikes I failed to block, and my breath came in ragged gasps.


    I parried another strike with my stick, but the force of his kick sent me skidding back several feet. Sweat dripped down my face as I steadied myself, glaring at my opponent.


    Bao Bao smirked, his confidence unwavering. ¡°Just as I thought. You¡¯re all talk. One more hit, and you¡¯re done.¡±


    I clenched my jaw, refusing to let him see the doubt gnawing at me. My energy reserves were nearly depleted, and my body screamed in protest with every movement. One more mistake, and I¡¯d be down for good.


    Ruan Yanjun¡¯s voice carried from the sidelines, cool and taunting. ¡°A-Fan, don¡¯t toy with him too much. End it already. He¡¯s not worth the effort.¡±


    I shot him a glare, silently cursing his audacity.


    Bao Bao¡¯s face twisted with fury at Ruan Yanjun¡¯s words, and he surged forward with another spinning kick aimed at my head.


    But this time, I saw an opening.


    Steeling my nerves, I shifted my weight and pivoted, narrowly avoiding the attack. As his momentum carried him forward, I raised my stick and struck the base of his spine with a sharp, concentrated blast of energy.


    The impact sent him stumbling, and before he could recover, I surged forward, channeling every last ounce of my strength into a precise palm strike to his chest.


    The air seemed to still as Bao Bao staggered backward, his eyes wide with shock. Then, with a heavy thud, he fell to the ground, coughing and gasping for breath.


    The crowd erupted into stunned silence.


    I stood there, panting and swaying, barely able to remain upright. My stick trembled in my grip, and my chest heaved as I tried to catch my breath.


    I glanced at Bao Bao, now curled into a pathetic heap on the ground. His body convulsed with pain, his face frozen in shock. For all his earlier bravado, he was now unable to speak, much less move.


    Ruan Yanjun¡¯s laughter broke the tension, rich and unrestrained as he sauntered toward me with the poise of a man utterly untouchable. He surveyed the crowd with a smirk that oozed disdain. ¡°This?¡± he began, gesturing casually to the defeated Bao Bao. ¡°This is the pride of your town? The so-called god-given miracle destined to rival the venerable Ruan Yanjun in a mere decade?¡± He paused dramatically, his smirk deepening. ¡°He can¡¯t even handle a half-blind, sickly level one. How utterly disappointing.¡±


    The crowd stirred uneasily, whispers turning to murmurs, murmurs to growls. I sighed deeply, already anticipating the chaos his words would incite. Could he not leave things alone for once? No, of course not¡ªthis was Ruan Yanjun. If there was an opportunity to provoke, he¡¯d seize it with both hands and a gleeful heart.


    As expected, his words were like a spark to dry tinder. Someone in the crowd yelled, ¡°Cheaters!¡± and the tension snapped. A wave of men lunged forward, their fury palpable.


    Ruan Yanjun didn¡¯t even flinch. With a single, elegant sweep of his hand, shimmering strings of energy arced through the air, striking the would-be attackers squarely in their chests. They were hurled backward with such force that they landed near the distant shade where the women and children had been standing. Those who hadn¡¯t been caught in the strike froze in their tracks, terror written plainly on their faces.


    ¡°It¡¯s the Devil of the South!¡± someone shrieked. ¡°Sect Leader Ruan!¡±


    And then pandemonium. The crowd scattered like leaves before a storm, scrambling to escape the very mention of his name. Only a few wide-eyed children remained, staring at him with something closer to awe than fear, until their mothers dragged them away.


    Ruan Yanjun laughed amidst the chaos, a low, amused rumble that sent shivers down my spine. ¡°I haven¡¯t even done anything serious, yet they scatter like frightened rats,¡± he said, his tone dripping with mockery.


    I sighed heavily, rubbing my temples as I felt the onset of a headache. ¡°Lord Ruan, I¡¯m starting to understand why the world insists on painting you as the devil.¡±


    He turned to me, his smirk playful, his tone laced with feigned innocence. ¡°Starting to? A-Fan, I am the devil. Why are you still unconvinced?¡±


    I rolled my eyes. ¡°Let¡¯s just leave. I¡¯m about to pass out.¡±


    His smirk shifted into something sly. ¡°Do you need this devil to carry you?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± I snapped, taking a step forward, only to stumble as exhaustion and pain caught up with me.


    Before I could fall, his arm slid around my waist, steadying me effortlessly. ¡°Stay still,¡± he said, ignoring my protests as he pulled my arm over his shoulder. ¡°Unless, of course, you¡¯d like me to carry you like a princess for all to see. Shall I?¡±


    My face flushed. ¡°Absolutely not.¡±


    ¡°Good.¡± His grip tightened, and we began to move slowly through the emptying street.


    He had to shorten his strides to match mine, his pace deliberately unhurried. ¡°At this rate, it¡¯ll be sundown before we reach the carriage,¡± he teased, his voice light and casual as if we hadn¡¯t just caused a town-wide uproar.


    ¡°The carriage isn¡¯t that far,¡± I muttered. ¡°You¡¯re exaggerating.¡±


    ¡°Shall I leave you here to fetch it? But then¡­¡± His tone grew mockingly serious. ¡°I¡¯d hate to find you strung up by an angry mob when I return.¡±


    I exhaled sharply, conceding defeat. His arm around my waist was both comforting and disconcerting, the weight of his presence simultaneously steadying and suffocating.


    ¡°Lord Ruan,¡± I said after a while, breaking the silence, ¡°does it truly amuse you to see me struggling like this? All of this¡ªyour provocations, your taunts¡ªit always seems like a game to you.¡±


    He turned to me, his expression softening just slightly, though the amusement in his eyes never wavered. ¡°Amuse me? A-Fan, I¡¯m proud. You defeated that deluded level three brat, even in your condition. Is it wrong for a master to feel pride?¡±


    ¡°I never agreed to be your disciple,¡± I countered, glaring at him.


    ¡°And I never agreed to take you as one,¡± he shot back smoothly, his lips curling into a smirk. ¡°You¡¯re far from worthy of that honor.¡±


    I clenched my jaw, biting back a retort. Every time I thought I¡¯d cornered him in an argument, he twisted his words to leave me flustered and frustrated.


    ¡°Then why did you call me your disciple?¡±


    ¡°Would you prefer I call you my servant instead?¡±


    I looked away, unwilling to give him the satisfaction of a response.


    His laughter was rich and deep, echoing through the empty street. ¡°My A-Fan, you truly never fail to amuse me.¡±


    As much as I wanted to make him stop calling me his A-Fan, I preferred to stay silent, knowing that anything I said would only add fuel to his fire. Some battles, I¡¯d learned, simply weren¡¯t worth fighting.

 BOOK 2 Chapter 53: Bitter Medicine

    CHAPTER 53


    Bitter Medicine


    I blinked groggily, my vision adjusting to the soft light filtering through unfamiliar surroundings. I was lying on a bed, its covers surprisingly plush, the room dimly lit by a lantern hanging near the door. The faint scent of sandalwood lingered in the air. My mind reeled. The last thing I remembered was dozing off inside the carriage. Yet, here I was, in an unfamiliar room.


    I tried to sit up, but a sharp ache shot through my muscles, a reminder of my fight with that level-three brat. My joints protested as I forced myself upright.


    Luck had been on my side that day. If my opponent hadn¡¯t been so reckless, I wouldn¡¯t have lived to see another sunrise. Of course, if I hadn¡¯t survived, Ruan Yanjun would likely have painted the streets of that town crimson in retaliation.


    A shiver ran through me as I became acutely aware of my attire. Or rather, the lack thereof. I was dressed in nothing but my sleeping robe. My face burned as realization struck. Who else could have undressed me but him?


    I swallowed hard, the thought of Ruan Yanjun¡¯s hands on me¡ªaiding me, undressing me¡ªsending my mind into a spiral of mortifying scenarios. That devil had a knack for toeing the line between propriety and chaos, and I had no idea which side he had chosen this time.


    ¡°No,¡± I muttered to myself, shaking my head vigorously. I wouldn¡¯t let my mind wander down that path. Whether he¡¯d done anything improper or not, it was better left unexamined.


    The soft creak of a door opening snapped me out of my thoughts.


    ¡°You¡¯re awake,¡± came the familiar, smug tone of Ruan Yanjun as he entered the room.


    I stiffened as he approached, carrying a small bowl in his hands. My stomach churned at the sight.


    Bitter medicine. Again.


    ¡°What happened?¡± I asked, forcing my voice to remain steady.


    He placed the bowl on the stand beside the bed, his expression unreadable but for the faintest trace of amusement in his eyes. ¡°You fell asleep in the carriage and wouldn¡¯t wake up, so I carried you here.¡±


    Carried me. Again. Like I was some fragile maiden.


    My fists clenched beneath the covers.


    ¡°And where is ¡®here¡¯?¡± I asked, doing my best to keep my tone even.


    ¡°In an inn along the road,¡± he replied. ¡°In two days, we¡¯ll reach my residence in Liuye City. You can finally rest properly.¡±


    The promise of respite was tempting, almost enough to make me forget the ordeal of the last two months. Almost.


    ¡°Drink your medicine,¡± he instructed, already turning to leave. ¡°I¡¯ll inform the innkeeper to prepare your breakfast.¡±


    The door clicked shut behind him, leaving me alone with the dreaded bowl. I stared at it, the dark liquid inside threatening to churn my already unsettled stomach. Two months of incessant training and unpalatable brews, all under the watchful eye of that devil. He claimed it was for my health, for my progress, but his methods were merciless.


    Since our departure from Henmei District, Ruan Yanjun had pushed me to my limits and beyond. Whenever the carriage passed a clearing, he¡¯d have the coachman stop so he could drag me out for impromptu training sessions. At first, they lasted an hour. By the time we crossed into Wun Empire, he had escalated to two grueling hours at dawn and another two at night. My protests about my failing health fell on deaf ears.


    ¡°You¡¯ll endure,¡± he¡¯d say. ¡°Your will is stronger than your body.¡±


    But was it? Each session left me crumpled on the ground, coughing violently, only to be carried back to my room like a maiden, which according to him was a punishment for failing to complete my training hours. Then came the endless stream of bitter medicines he forced down my throat, claiming they were the result of his extensive research.


    I turned my head away from the bowl, my resolve firm. Not this time.


    The door opened again, and Ruan Yanjun stepped in. His sharp gaze fell immediately on me, then on the untouched bowl. ¡°Does A-Fan want to take his medicine from my mouth?¡± he asked, his tone laced with warning.


    I shuddered but chose to ignore his threat. ¡°I¡¯ll drink it later.¡±


    His lips twitched, though whether in amusement or frustration, I couldn¡¯t tell. ¡°And by ¡®later,¡¯ you mean never?¡±


    I didn¡¯t answer, but my silence was answer enough.


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    He sighed dramatically, shaking his head as though dealing with a particularly stubborn child. ¡°If you don¡¯t need the medicine, then let¡¯s not waste time. Get up. We¡¯ll train now.¡±


    I froze, staring at him in disbelief. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°You heard me. If you¡¯re strong enough to refuse the medicine, then you¡¯re strong enough to spar.¡±


    ¡°Wait, wait, wait!¡± I said, scrambling to reach for the bowl. ¡°I¡¯ll drink it.¡±


    I tipped the bitter concoction back in one gulp, grimacing as the taste assaulted my tongue. He smirked, his victory clear.


    Satisfied, he leaned against the doorframe, his arms crossed. ¡°Good. That¡¯s my obedient A-Fan.¡±


    I glared at him, the fiery retort on my tongue dying as his smirk deepened. This devil always had a way of twisting everything to his advantage.


    How much longer could I endure this torment? As I wiped the bitterness from my lips, I wondered if Ruan Yanjun enjoyed watching me suffer¡ªor if there was something deeper behind that infuriating smirk.


    ****


    The warm afternoon light streamed through the cracks of the wooden window, painting golden streaks on the floor as I sat on the edge of the bed. My body was still recovering, but the quiet moment of peace was a welcome respite. It was then that the innkeeper knocked softly at the door, his voice polite yet slightly urgent.


    ¡°Priest Luo, there¡¯s a young man named Bao Bao requesting to see you.¡±


    I furrowed my brows. Bao Bao. The name was familiar¡ªthe brash, arrogant level-three cultivator I had faced just days ago. What could he want now? ¡°Bring him in,¡± I said after a moment¡¯s thought.


    When the door opened, the Bao Bao who entered was not the same proud figure I remembered. His posture was stiff, but there was no confidence in his gait. His head was slightly bowed, and the arrogance that had once clung to him like a second skin was now nowhere to be seen. He looked¡­ humbled. Meek, even.


    I gestured for him to sit. ¡°Please, make yourself comfortable.¡± Turning to the innkeeper, I added, ¡°Could you bring us tea and some snacks?¡±


    Bao Bao sat cautiously, his hands clenching his knees as if steadying himself. When he finally spoke, his voice was quiet, laden with uncertainty. ¡°I want to know,¡± he began, ¡°if I¡¯ve been wrong all this time. People have always told me that I have exceptional talent, that I¡¯m destined for greatness. Have I just been lying to myself?¡±


    I sighed, sympathy tugging at my heart. ¡°Bao Bao, you are talented. Few make it to level three at your age. But talent alone isn¡¯t enough. Perseverance and humility are just as important. If you keep striving, I¡¯m certain you can achieve the rank of grandmaster one day.¡±


    He shook his head, his jaw tightening. ¡°I used to believe that too. And I was tempted to think that you cheated to defeat me. But no matter how much I replayed the fight in my mind, I couldn¡¯t see how it was possible. I came here because I need to hear it from you. How did I lose to someone like you¡ªa level one?¡±


    I studied him, noting the raw vulnerability in his gaze. ¡°I think you already know the answer,¡± I said softly.


    He nodded slowly. ¡°I was reckless. I underestimated you. But even so, your timing, the precision of your strike¡ªit was beyond anything I¡¯ve seen. And the force behind your qi¡­¡± His voice trailed off as if he was afraid to continue. ¡°A level one shouldn¡¯t be capable of that.¡±


    I sighed, leaning back slightly. ¡°Then let this serve as a lesson, Bao Bao. Never judge an opponent by appearances. No matter their level, treat every battle as if your life depends on it. You never know what hardships or experiences they¡¯ve endured. Some martial artists lose everything and start from the bottom, learning to adapt in ways you might not expect.¡±


    His eyes widened, his mouth opening slightly in realization. ¡°You¡­¡± His words faltered.


    I offered a faint smile, acknowledging his unspoken understanding. ¡°Yes, Bao Bao. That¡¯s exactly the point.¡±


    He mulled over my words before nodding slowly. ¡°That makes sense,¡± he murmured. ¡°But the compacted force of your qi¡­ was that also from experience?¡±


    I chuckled faintly. ¡°It wasn¡¯t as strong as you think. But my master taught me techniques to concentrate energy in a single point, increasing its impact. That¡¯s why it seemed more powerful than it was.¡±


    ¡°Your master,¡± he said, his voice tinged with reverence. ¡°Sect Leader Ruan?¡±


    I inclined my head.


    He immediately cupped his hands and bowed deeply. ¡°Thank you for explaining. I feel¡­ I feel like I can move forward now.¡±


    I placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. ¡°Keep cultivating, Bao Bao. With determination, there¡¯s no limit to what you can achieve.¡±


    A brief smile flickered across his face. ¡°I hope the same for you, Priest Luo. May you regain what you¡¯ve lost.¡±


    He hesitated before asking, ¡°Priest Luo, may I ask one more thing? Do you think I could ever study under Sect Leader Ruan?¡±


    The question startled me, though I quickly masked my reaction. ¡°If you mean as his direct disciple, that is for him to decide. I can mention you, but I can¡¯t promise anything. However, joining the Eternal Damnation Sect might open opportunities for you.¡±


    His expression shifted, conflicted. I could see the turmoil in his eyes.


    ¡°You¡¯re at level three now,¡± I said gently. ¡°It¡¯s time to consider your path. If you wish to progress, you¡¯ll need a master to implant a core. But the Eternal Damnation Sect is a dark-core sect. Is that a path you¡¯re willing to take?¡±


    He swallowed hard, his gaze dropping to the floor. ¡°My hometown¡­ they¡¯ve always expected me to follow the righteous path.¡±


    ¡°Then perhaps you should seek a light-core master,¡± I advised. ¡°There are many in the Wun Empire who would be willing to guide you.¡±


    ¡°I only want to learn Sect Leader Ruan¡¯s techniques,¡± he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.


    Before I could respond, a familiar voice cut through the room like a blade. ¡°I¡¯m afraid you¡¯re not worthy.¡±


    Both of us turned toward the door. Ruan Yanjun strode in, his presence commanding as ever. He stopped beside Bao Bao, looking down at him with a smirk that held both amusement and challenge.


    Bao Bao immediately bowed deeply. ¡°Sect Leader Ruan.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s a reason I only have three direct disciples out of thousands in my sect,¡± Ruan Yanjun said. ¡°My standards are high. I only train cultivators with the greatest potential. Unfortunately for you, you don¡¯t meet my criteria.¡±


    Bao Bao opened his mouth as if to argue but quickly thought better of it.


    Ruan Yanjun¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°What¡¯s stopping you? Your hometown¡¯s expectations? Do you not have the courage to forge your own path?¡±


    Bao Bao¡¯s silence spoke volumes.


    With a smirk, Ruan Yanjun continued, ¡°I¡¯ll write you a recommendation letter. If you¡¯re serious, take it to Grandmaster Gao in Luzhong District. He¡¯ll evaluate you for the Eternal Damnation Sect. But be warned¡ªthe journey isn¡¯t easy, and the sect isn¡¯t for the faint of heart.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll think about it,¡± Bao Bao said, bowing once more. ¡°Thank you, Sect Leader Ruan. Priest Luo, thank you for your guidance. I hope we meet again.¡±


    As he left, Ruan Yanjun turned to me, his smirk softening into something unreadable. ¡°A-Fan, you attract interesting company.¡±


    I sighed, already bracing for another of his taunts. ¡°You only have yourself to blame for that.¡±

 BOOK 2 Chapter 54: Bottomless Well

    CHAPTER 54


    Bottomless Well


    The sprawling residence in Liuye City loomed before us, a grand yet understated testament to Ruan Yanjun¡¯s power. Unlike his opulent estate in Henmei District, this property was modest by comparison¡ªbut still vast enough to make me feel out of place. Situated in the heart of Wun Empire, its manicured gardens and serene courtyards offered a deceptive calm, belying the storm of relentless training that awaited me.


    ¡°We¡¯ll rest here for a week before continuing,¡± Ruan Yanjun declared, his tone as commanding as ever, as he accompanied me to my room with a pair of servants leading the way.


    Rest?


    I highly doubted that word meant the same to him as it did to me.


    True enough, the next morning, he announced an extended training schedule: three hours at dawn and another three in the evening.


    By the end of the first day, my body felt like it had been pummeled by a mountain spirit. My muscles screamed in protest, my lungs burned, and the ever-present sickness gnawed at me from within. Ruan Yanjun, of course, remained unfazed. He believed my will alone could conquer whatever poison was ravaging my body.


    Each session ended the same way: I collapsed in the dirt, coughing violently, only to be carried back to my room. There, he would force another vile concoction down my throat¡ªbitter brews that he claimed might help me recover. ¡°Might¡± being the operative word.


    The nausea these so-called remedies caused was unbearable, and any hope of improvement in my condition felt like a distant dream.


    One night, after another grueling training session, I lay sprawled on the bed, too exhausted to do more than breathe. The bitter taste of his latest ¡°medicine¡± lingered on my tongue, making me grimace. Meanwhile, Ruan Yanjun sat at a low tea table just a few feet away, a scroll in his hands. A scholar had delivered it earlier that day, and he had been engrossed in its contents ever since.


    ¡°Lord Ruan,¡± I said, my voice hoarse but determined.


    ¡°Mm?¡± he hummed, his gaze not shifting from the scroll.


    ¡°Are you experimenting on me again?¡± I asked bluntly.


    His noncommittal hum made me question whether he had even registered my words, but after a beat, he finally replied, ¡°Safe, I can guarantee. I¡¯d never give my A-Fan anything harmful.¡±


    The way he called me gave me the shudders. ¡°Why do you keep calling me that? Your ¡®A-Fan¡¯?¡±


    He glanced up briefly, his dark eyes gleaming with something I couldn¡¯t place. ¡°Are you not?¡±


    I frowned. ¡°I¡¯d prefer if you addressed me formally. Luo Fan will suffice.¡±


    ¡°Calling you ¡®Luo Fan¡¯ makes it sound as though we¡¯re mere acquaintances,¡± he said, his gaze returning to the scroll. ¡°We¡¯re far closer than that.¡±


    My frown deepened. ¡°Lord Ruan, what exactly do you think we are?¡±


    His lips quirked into a faint smirk. ¡°A-Fan, are you truly that oblivious? Haven¡¯t you figured it out yet?¡±


    ¡°I haven¡¯t,¡± I retorted, irritation creeping into my tone. ¡°So please enlighten me, so I can correct whatever misunderstanding you¡¯re harboring.¡±


    He sighed, finally lowering the scroll. ¡°Never mind. Think what you will. I¡¯ll think what I will.¡±


    Frustration bubbled within me, but I chose to let it go. There was no point in arguing with someone as maddeningly stubborn as him.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think these medicines are working,¡± I said, steering the conversation to safer ground.


    ¡°Indeed, they¡¯re not,¡± he admitted without hesitation.


    I shot him a sharp glare. ¡°Then why are you still giving them to me?¡±


    ¡°Like you said, it¡¯s an experiment,¡± he replied smoothly, as if that justified everything. ¡°They¡¯re completely safe, so it doesn¡¯t hurt to try.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not some test subject for your experiments,¡± I snapped.


    He turned to face me fully this time, his expression uncharacteristically solemn. ¡°A-Fan, we¡¯ve exhausted all conventional methods to cure you. Even the one who created the poison can¡¯t help you. What choice do we have but to search for a cure ourselves?¡± His gaze softened, though his voice remained firm. ¡°I¡¯m working for you, day and night. Every decision I make is with you in mind. So instead of complaining, show a little appreciation for my efforts.¡±


    Guilt tugged at my chest. Lowering my head, I murmured, ¡°I apologize.¡±


    He offered me a faint smile. ¡°Go to sleep. You¡¯ll need your strength for tomorrow¡¯s training.¡± His voice, though still commanding, carried a rare note of gentleness.


    I sighed, dread pooling in my stomach at the thought of another brutal session. The words ¡°dawn¡± and ¡°night¡± had come to mean only one thing ¨C torture.


    ¡°Are you not sleeping in your room?¡± I asked hesitantly.


    ¡°We had a deal,¡± he said simply.


    ¡°We¡¯re in your residence,¡± I pointed out. ¡°Your guards are everywhere. You don¡¯t need to worry about me running away.¡±


    "Until I¡¯m certain I can trust you, you¡¯re staying where I can see you," he said, his voice firm with finality.


    I let out a resigned sigh, knowing there was no point in protesting. Rolling onto my side, I turned my back to him, my gaze fixed on the cold, unyielding wall. ¡°Fine. Goodnight,¡± I muttered, my tone clipped.


    ¡°Goodnight, darling,¡± he replied smoothly, a teasing lilt in his voice.


    My shoulders stiffened, and I pressed my lips into a thin line, willing myself not to respond. But the playful edge in his words sent an unwelcome shiver down my spine, the term of endearment lingering in the air like a challenge I refused to rise to.


    *****


    <u>RUAN YANJUN</u>


    The soft flicker of candlelight cast wavering shadows across the walls of my private library as I pored over ancient medicinal texts. Outside, the residence was silent, save for the occasional murmur of disciples patrolling the grounds.


    A few hours earlier, Luo Fan had approached me, his expression unusually solemn. He had asked for permission to visit the temple and burn incense for Jinjing¡¯s birthday. I had agreed without hesitation, but not without precautions. Two level-five disciples were tasked with following him discreetly, ensuring his safety and preventing any attempts to escape.


    And yet, a nagging unease lingered. Even in his weakened condition, I couldn¡¯t shake the fear that Luo Fan might try to leave me. It was irrational¡ªI knew. Without my protection, he would be nothing but prey, a wounded deer surrounded by wolves. Still, the thought of losing him again gnawed at me.


    Perhaps it was paranoia, but I couldn¡¯t take the chance. My A-Fan was intelligent enough to understand that his survival depended on me. Whether he stayed willingly or because he had no choice hardly mattered. All that mattered was that he was here, within my reach.


    Over a year had passed since we began traveling together. In that time, he had become my constant companion, filling the once-echoing silence of my life with arguments, moments of quiet camaraderie, and his unyielding sense of righteousness. Even when we clashed, his presence had always amused me.


    I, Ruan Yanjun, the devil feared by all cultivators, had always been a loner. Trust was a luxury I couldn¡¯t afford. Even in sleep, I remained vigilant, ever alert to danger. While I did not fear death because I didn¡¯t think anyone was ever capable of killing me, I despised pain and the tedious process of recovery.


    Yet with Luo Fan, my restlessness eased.


    He was a paradox. A righteous priest with a pure heart, virtuous principles, and a stubborn spirit. He posed no threat to me and was perhaps the only person in this world I could turn my back to without worry of getting stabbed. When he was near, I could lower my guard. I could even sleep soundly, knowing he would never exploit my vulnerability.


    With him, I felt... safe. And for that reason, I refused to let him go. Even a devil like me needed companionship, and if coercion was the price, so be it.


    My thoughts were interrupted by the hurried footsteps of one of the disciples I had sent to shadow Luo Fan. He entered the library with his head bowed, his face pale.


    ¡°Sect Leader,¡± he stammered, his voice trembling. ¡°We... we lost him.¡±


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    I stilled, my grip tightening on the scroll in my hands. ¡°Lost him?¡±


    ¡°H-he had been kneeling in the temple for an hour,¡± the disciple continued, his words tumbling over one another in fear. ¡°We thought it safe to step away briefly. But when we returned... he was gone.¡±


    ¡°Fool!¡± I roared, rising to my feet and flinging the scroll to the ground. The sharp crack of parchment against the floor echoed in the room.


    The disciple dropped to his knees, his forehead nearly touching the ground. ¡°Forgive this disciple¡¯s incompetence. Punish me.¡±


    Though my anger burned hot, a deeper fear gripped my chest. Had I truly lost him again?


    The thought sent a chill down my spine. Without wasting another moment, I ordered the disciple to scour the city. Then I, too, set out to search.


    Luo Fan¡¯s condition meant he couldn¡¯t have gone far. I focused my search on the areas surrounding the temple, combing through alleys, gardens, and quiet corners. As the sun dipped lower in the sky, my desperation grew.


    After what felt like an eternity of searching, I finally found him.


    He was sitting near the edge of a cliff, perched on a flat rock, his silhouette framed by the warm hues of the fading sun. The golden light painted his pale skin and cast soft shadows over his delicate features, giving him an almost ethereal glow. My breath hitched, not from exhaustion, but from the sheer relief that he was still within my reach.


    I didn¡¯t approach him immediately. Instead, I stood at a distance, watching him silently. From where I was, he was turned slightly away, his profile clear but his attention far from me. He hadn¡¯t noticed my presence yet, his mind seemingly lost in another world.


    In his hands, he held the wooden staff that he never parted with, his fingers stroking the silk scarf tied to its hilt. I recognized it instantly. The staff had been a gift from Jinjing, and the scarf had once belonged to her as well. That knowledge only deepened the tight knot in my chest. He clung to those items as though they were a lifeline, a fragile tether to the woman he had lost.


    For a long moment, he sat there, still and silent, his gaze fixed on the horizon. The wind toyed with his loose hair, carrying with it the faintest whisper of his presence. He seemed completely oblivious to the world around him.


    Even after three months, he still grieved her.


    It wasn¡¯t the first time I had seen him like this. Countless times, I had found him sitting alone, his thoughts wandering far from the present. And every time, he would stroke that scarf, his silent tribute to the woman who once held his heart.


    I hated it.


    Every time I saw him like this, jealousy burned through me. It was a dangerous, ugly emotion, one I wasn¡¯t used to. But with Luo Fan, it surfaced time and time again. That scarf, that staff¡ªthey were constant reminders of the piece of his heart that would never belong to me.


    I wasn¡¯t sure when my feelings for him had grown so deep. What had begun as a flicker of intrigue had blossomed into something I could no longer ignore. At first, I told myself it was merely physical¡ªa simple desire sparked by proximity and circumstance. But as days turned into months, I realized it wasn¡¯t just his face or his form that captivated me. It was everything about him ¨C his gullibility, his unwavering righteousness, his stubborn resilience, and even his moments of vulnerability.


    It was maddening.


    I had lived for over a century, untethered by human emotions. Love was a concept I had always deemed beneath me, a weakness that I, as the devil of the dark sects, could not afford. And yet, this fragile, grieving man had carved his way into my cold, immortal heart.


    I hated how much power he had over me.


    If only he would look at me, just once, the way he had looked at her. If only he would allow me to fill the void she had left behind. I would give him everything¡ªprotect him, nurture him, even indulge his foolish ideals. But even as I entertained those thoughts, I knew one thing for certain¡­ My heart was something I could never truly give away.


    Not to him. Not to anyone.


    The idea of vulnerability, of placing my heart in someone else¡¯s hands, was intolerable. It wasn¡¯t just pride¡ªit was survival. To love Luo Fan fully would mean surrendering a piece of myself that I had guarded for a hundred years. And I refused to lose myself, not even for him.


    But that didn¡¯t mean I would let him go.


    Slowly, I approached him. My footsteps were deliberate, each one measured to give him time to sense my presence. Yet, he remained still, his focus never wavering from the horizon.


    When I finally stood behind him, I spoke, my voice low and calm. ¡°It¡¯s getting late. We should go.¡±


    He didn¡¯t respond.


    I stepped closer, the soft crunch of grass underfoot the only sound between us. ¡°A-Fan,¡± I said, my tone firm but not unkind. ¡°I will not leave unless you come with me. I have better things to do than stand here and watch you grieve. How much longer will you sit here, drowning in memories of someone who is no longer here?¡±


    At last, he stirred. Slowly, he lowered his gaze to the ground, his fingers still clutching the stick. His voice, when it came, was soft and distant. ¡°Lord Ruan,¡± he said, ¡°you will never understand.¡±


    The words stung more than I cared to admit.


    ¡°Because I¡¯m a devil?¡± I said, forcing a wry smile. ¡°Because I lack the capacity to feel grief or loss? You¡¯re right, A-Fan. I¡¯ve lived for over a century, untouched by the frailty of human emotion. But don¡¯t mistake that for ignorance.¡±


    He didn¡¯t reply, but his silence spoke volumes.


    Frustration bubbled within me, though it was tempered by a deeper ache¡ªa longing to shake him out of his sorrow, to make him see the world beyond his grief.


    ¡°Are you coming with me,¡± I asked, my voice sharper now, ¡°or shall I carry you like a princess again? Don¡¯t think I won¡¯t.¡±


    Still, he remained silent, his stubbornness a familiar thorn in my side.


    ¡°A-Fan,¡± I warned, my patience slipping, ¡°I¡¯m losing my temper.¡±


    ¡°Then lose it,¡± he said, his voice tinged with defiance. ¡°Beat me if you must. That¡¯s what you¡¯re best at, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°Ah, so you think I¡¯m just beating you for my own amusement?¡± My hands curled into fists at my sides, not from anger, but from the effort of restraint. He didn¡¯t understand¡ªhe never did. ¡°I¡¯m training you. If you took it seriously, you wouldn¡¯t hurt so much. Or is that the point? Do you intentionally fail so you can pass out and escape your grief, even if just for a moment?¡±


    His silence was all the confirmation I needed.


    My anger cooled into disappointment. No matter how much effort I poured into saving him¡ªcuring his ailment, restoring his strength¡ªhe seemed to lack the will to fight for himself. The fire that once defined him had dimmed, smothered by sorrow. And no matter how much I poured into him, it felt as though I was trying to fill a bottomless well.


    For a moment, the only sound was the wind rustling through the trees.


    ¡°A-Fan,¡± I said at last, my tone softening, ¡°I¡¯ll give you half an hour. If you don¡¯t return to the residence by then, I¡¯ll come back and drag you home myself. Don¡¯t test me.¡±


    With that, I turned and walked away, leaving him to his thoughts.


    As I left, I glanced toward the two disciples hidden nearby, their figures barely visible behind the trees. With a silent nod, I commanded them to keep watch.


    Even if he didn¡¯t value his life, I did. And I wasn¡¯t about to let him slip through my fingers again.


    *****


    <u>LUO FAN</u>


    The residence was cloaked in darkness by the time I returned. Servants greeted me promptly, ushering me to a meal they had prepared. The food was warm and fragrant, yet every bite felt heavy, like swallowing lead.


    After finishing my meal, I excused myself and retreated to my room. Exhaustion weighed heavily on my body and spirit, and all I wanted was to escape into sleep, if only for a few hours. But just as I was settling down, a knock interrupted the silence.


    A servant entered and bowed low. ¡°Young Master Luo, Lord Ruan awaits you at the training ground.¡±


    I exhaled slowly, suppressing the groan that threatened to escape. Of course, Ruan Yanjun wouldn¡¯t allow me even a single night¡¯s reprieve.


    Without a word, I rose from the bed, adjusted my robes, and followed the servant out into the cool night air.


    When I arrived at the training ground, I found Ruan Yanjun, standing in the center of the courtyard. His arms were clasped behind his back, his imposing figure bathed in the pale light of the moon. His expression was unreadable, but the tension in his stance spoke volumes.


    Trouble.


    ¡°If you¡¯re ready,¡± he said, his voice cutting through the quiet like a blade, ¡°attack me.¡±


    I sighed, my weariness bleeding into my voice. ¡°Lord Ruan, if you don¡¯t mind, could you allow me just one night to rest? Tomorrow at dawn, I¡¯ll resume training.¡±


    His eyes narrowed, sharp as steel. ¡°So you can wallow in grief over your lost love again?¡±


    I nodded hesitantly. ¡°I just need time.¡±


    His laugh was soft but devoid of humor. ¡°If you can land a single hit on me tonight, I¡¯ll grant your request. What do you say to that?¡±


    It was an impossible challenge, and we both knew it. How could someone like me¡ªbarely holding on to the remnants of my strength¡ªhope to touch an immortal-level cultivator like him? Yet, I knew there would be no escaping his demands tonight.


    He waited, his gaze boring into me as I stood frozen in place. ¡°Well?¡±


    I remained silent, unmoving.


    ¡°A-Fan,¡± he said, his tone laced with impatience, ¡°I¡¯m giving you the advantage of the first move. Or would you rather I make it instead?¡±


    ¡°Lord Ruan,¡± I began cautiously, ¡°am I really asking for too much? Just one night¡ª¡±


    His sharp glare silenced me. ¡°I already excused you from training this morning,¡± he snapped. ¡°Do not take advantage of my leniency.¡±


    ¡°A single day of rest won¡¯t make a difference,¡± I reasoned.


    ¡°Every day matters,¡± he countered. ¡°Miss even one, and your progress will suffer.¡±


    I lowered my gaze, unwilling to meet his piercing eyes. My silence was answer enough¡ªmy defiance a quiet plea for understanding.


    His tone softened, but only slightly. ¡°A-Fan,¡± he said, his words deliberate, ¡°I¡¯ve worked tirelessly to prolong your life. Don¡¯t make me regret it.¡±


    Reluctantly, I stepped forward and made a half-hearted attempt to strike.


    The fight that followed was a farce. I moved sluggishly, my attacks slow and probably too predictable. Ruan Yanjun didn¡¯t even bother to exert himself, sidestepping my strikes with ease. His counterattacks came with the precision of a master, each blow striking just hard enough to remind me of my inadequacy.


    ¡°Pathetic,¡± he muttered after a particularly weak attempt on my part.


    I couldn¡¯t argue. My heart wasn¡¯t in it. Every blow I took felt deserved. My limbs ached, but the pain was a welcome distraction from the hollowness inside me.


    He stopped abruptly, his movements freezing as he studied me with a mix of frustration and disappointment. ¡°You¡¯re not even trying,¡± he said coldly. ¡°Have you buried your dreams alongside her grave?¡±


    I flinched but said nothing.


    His eyes darkened, and with a flick of his wrist, he summoned a crackling orb of energy into his palm. It hovered there, pulsating with raw power.


    ¡°Fight back,¡± he ordered.


    But I didn¡¯t move.


    The orb shot toward me with terrifying speed, and I made no effort to dodge. The impact struck me square in the chest, hurling me backward into a wall. Pain flared through my body, momentarily disorienting me.


    When the haze cleared, Ruan Yanjun was crouched before me, his gaze fierce and unrelenting.


    ¡°Fool,¡± he growled, and before I could react, his lips were on mine.


    My eyes widened in shock. His kiss was anything but gentle¡ªit was an invasion, a forceful claim that left me breathless. I tried to protest, but the sounds were muffled against his mouth. His lips pressed harder, parting mine with ease, and then his tongue invaded, exploring with an audacity that left me paralyzed.


    It was wrong.


    It was so, so wrong.


    His kiss was hot, dominating, and unrelenting, stirring a storm of emotions I didn¡¯t want to confront. Disgust, confusion, and a faint, unwelcome flicker of something else all warred within me. This wasn¡¯t a kiss¡ªit was a battle, one I was losing without ever putting up a fight.


    When he finally pulled away, his breathing was ragged, his eyes blazing. I took the opportunity to hit him, but he quickly caught my wrists on each of his hands and pinned them on the ground above my head


    ¡°Here¡¯s my new rule, A-Fan,¡± he said, his voice low and dangerous. ¡°Every time you displease me, I¡¯ll kiss you. Unless, of course, you want to be kissed over and over again. In which case, by all means, continue your pitiful display.¡±


    I glared at him, my chest heaving as I struggled for air.


    He smirked, leaning closer. ¡°Or,¡± he added, his voice dropping to a whisper, ¡°if you crave my kisses, just say so. No need for dramatics.¡±


    Heat flooded my face, not from desire but from sheer indignation. I swallowed the anger rising within me, aware of the dark core within that fed on such emotions.


    ¡°I¡¯ll pretend I didn¡¯t hear that,¡± I said through gritted teeth. ¡°You¡¯ve made your point. Now let me go.¡±


    He released my wrists and stepped back, but not without a sigh of exasperation.


    As I tried to rise, a sharp pain shot through my chest. I pressed a hand to the ache, wincing.


    Ruan Yanjun¡¯s expression softened, though his voice remained stern. ¡°You¡¯re reckless,¡± he said, scooping me into his arms with infuriating ease. ¡°We should still be training, but instead, I have to waste time healing your self-inflicted wounds.¡±


    Self-inflicted?


    I wanted to argue, but the words died on my lips. Exhaustion and pain sapped what little strength I had left.

 BOOK 2 Chapter 55: Intimate Contact

    CHAPTER 55


    Intimate Contact


    The journey to the Duke of Yuheng¡¯s mansion was quiet, the clatter of the carriage wheels the only sound filling the air. I sat stiffly across from Ruan Yanjun, my eyes fixed on the passing scenery, refusing to meet his gaze. Anger simmered beneath my calm exterior, fueled by what had transpired the night before. His kiss¡ªuninvited, forceful, and overwhelming¡ªstill lingered in my mind, an affront I could neither forget nor forgive.


    For his part, Ruan Yanjun seemed unfazed by the tension, reclining with his usual air of dominance. His indifference only irritated me further, yet I kept my thoughts to myself. It wasn¡¯t as if my words would make any difference to him.


    By the time we arrived, the grand wedding ceremony had already concluded, and the banquet was in full swing. As our presence was announced, the Duke of Yuheng himself, along with the newlyweds, greeted us at the entrance of the grand hall. The respect they showed Ruan Yanjun bordered on reverence. Even the Duke¡¯s deference suggested that the Sect Leader¡¯s presence eclipsed that of Emperor An¡¯s daughter, a notion that unsettled me.


    ¡°This is Luo Fan, my disciple,¡± Ruan Yanjun introduced me, his tone neutral yet commanding.


    I noticed the subtle shifts in expression among the nobles. A few raised their eyebrows, their thoughts veiled behind polite masks. No doubt the rumors of my alleged affair with Ruan Yanjun had preceded us, and I could feel their silent judgment searing through me like an unspoken accusation.


    Inside the hall, we were led to a seat of honor near the newlyweds, but I remained tense. Ruan Yanjun, however, was immediately surrounded by nobles and officials eager to pay their respects. I took the opportunity to observe the room, trying to distract myself from the oppressive weight of being in his shadow.


    Amid the hustle and bustle of servants moving between tables, my gaze caught on a woman carrying a vessel of wine. Something about her movements set her apart¡ªher steps lacked the practiced grace of the other servants, her eyes scanning the crowd with purpose rather than servitude. She wasn¡¯t here to serve. She was searching for something¡ªor someone.


    When her gaze locked with mine, she froze. Her expression betrayed recognition, though I couldn¡¯t place her. My grip tightened around my bamboo staff, instinct warning me that she might be a threat. But then, she raised a finger to her lips, a silent plea for me to stay calm.


    Her gesture disarmed me. If she meant harm, it wasn¡¯t directed at me. But why was she here? When she turned and slipped into the courtyard, my curiosity overrode my caution, and I followed her.


    Beneath the shadow of a plum tree, she stopped and turned to face me. ¡°Priest Luo,¡± she began softly, ¡°you may not recognize me. We¡¯ve met before, but at the time, you were blind.¡±


    Her voice was familiar, refined with the cadence of nobility. My brows furrowed as I tried to recall her. ¡°May I know who you are?¡±


    ¡°I am Consort Fei, mother of the late Prince Sheng,¡± she said, her words heavy with sorrow and resolve.


    I stiffened, memories of her desperate plea for justice flashing through my mind. She had once come to me in tears, begging for answers about the poison that had killed her son. ¡°Why are you here?¡± I asked cautiously.


    ¡°I¡¯m searching for someone,¡± she replied, her tone clipped.


    The need for discretion was clear. For a consort of her status to disguise herself and infiltrate the Duke¡¯s mansion meant her purpose was not sanctioned by the court. ¡°You¡¯re looking for Consort Xie, aren¡¯t you?¡± I ventured.


    Her scoff was sharp, bitter. ¡°That wretched woman deserves to suffer for what she¡¯s done, but I don¡¯t wish her dead. Not yet.¡±


    I froze as realization dawned. ¡°You¡¯re after Prince Bai,¡± I said, the pieces falling into place.


    Her silence was all the confirmation I needed. The desire for vengeance burned in her eyes. She wasn¡¯t here to confront Consort Xie directly but to exact justice through the woman¡¯s son.


    As I studied her, I noticed the faint aura of cultivation surrounding her. She was no ordinary noblewoman¡ªher power had reached the second level. But against the guards surely protecting Prince Bai, it wouldn¡¯t be enough.


    Before I could voice my concerns, her gaze flickered past me, and without another word, she fled into the shadows. Turning, I found Ruan Yanjun approaching, his expression unreadable but his presence commanding as ever.


    ¡°So, that was Consort Fei,¡± he said casually, coming to stand beside me.


    I nodded, wary of his tone.


    ¡°She¡¯s after Prince Bai, isn¡¯t she?¡± he asked, his eyes glinting with dark amusement.


    I hesitated, but my silence betrayed me.


    A cruel smile tugged at his lips. ¡°Let her be. She deserves her chance at revenge. Whether she succeeds or fails, it will be... entertaining to watch.¡±


    My hands clenched at his callousness. To him, this was just another game, another story to amuse himself with. He didn¡¯t care about the tragedy that might unfold or the lives that would be destroyed in the process.


    ¡°Does everything have to be entertainment to you?¡± I asked bitterly.


    His smile deepened, but he said nothing, leaving the question unanswered as the weight of his indifference pressed down on me. My thoughts lingered on Consort Fei, knowing her path was fraught with danger. Justice wasn¡¯t what awaited her¡ªit was tragedy, and I hated that Ruan Yanjun seemed so eager to watch it play out.


    My chest tightened with suppressed frustration. His infuriating calmness only heightened the storm of emotions swirling within me.


    Just as I was beginning to wonder if the day could get any worse, a loud, self-assured voice cut through the air.


    ¡°Lord Ruan,¡± the man called, his tone a blend of arrogance and challenge. ¡°I¡¯ve heard tales of your greatness. Allow me, Jiang Wuying, brother-in-law to the Duke, to test your skill. Let us spar¡ªno cultivation, no tricks¡ªjust raw, unbridled skill.¡±


    I turned to see a tall man striding into the courtyard, his robes of deep crimson and gold a clear display of wealth and status. Jiang Wuying¡¯s sharp features were twisted into a cocky smirk, and his confident swagger drew the attention of several onlookers.


    Ruan Yanjun barely glanced at him. ¡°And why would I waste my time on you?¡± he asked, his tone dismissive.


    Jiang Wuying¡¯s smirk faltered but quickly returned, more pronounced this time. ¡°Afraid you¡¯d lose, Lord Ruan? Or are you simply too cowardly to face me without your cultivation to rely on?¡±


    Ruan Yanjun¡¯s chuckle was cold and sharp, cutting through Jiang Wuying¡¯s bravado. ¡°Afraid? Hardly. But if you¡¯re so eager to embarrass yourself, why not start with my disciple?¡± He gestured toward me with an infuriatingly casual wave.


    My stomach dropped. I shot him a glare, but he ignored me entirely, his smirk only deepening.


    He couldn''t possibly be serious about pushing me to fight a level four cultivator, could he?


    Jiang Wuying frowned, clearly unimpressed. ¡°Your disciple?¡± He sneered. ¡°A second-level cultivator? Do you take me for a fool?¡±


    Ruan Yanjun shrugged. ¡°Fighting me is a privilege, one you¡¯ll need to earn. If you¡¯re too proud to face him, then I suggest you leave before you embarrass yourself further.¡±


    The tension in the air thickened. Jiang Wuying¡¯s face darkened, and for a moment, I thought he might turn and leave. Instead, he clenched his fists and barked, ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll humor you. But if your disciple fails to entertain me, don¡¯t think you can hide behind him.¡±


    The crowd that had started to gather murmured in excitement, eager to witness the spectacle. My heart sank further.


    I turned to Ruan Yanjun, keeping my voice low. ¡°Lord Ruan, this isn¡¯t a fight I can win. Jiang Wuying is leagues above me in skill and strength.¡±


    Ruan Yanjun¡¯s eyes flicked to mine, his expression unreadable. ¡°A-Fan,¡± he said quietly, ¡°level means nothing when your mind is sharp. You¡¯ve faced greater odds before. Trust your instincts.¡±


    Before I could argue further, he leaned in close, his lips brushing my ear as he whispered, ¡°Win, and I¡¯ll give you two days free of training. Lose, and I¡¯ll kiss you right here, in front of everyone.¡±


    My face flushed with indignation as I pulled away, his infuriating smirk only growing. He wasn¡¯t bluffing¡ªRuan Yanjun never bluffed.


    I released my rising anger with a deep breath, stepping forward to face Jiang Wuying.


    ¡°Remember what I¡¯ve taught you,¡± Ruan Yanjun called lazily. ¡°And try not to embarrass me.¡±


    Jiang Wuying stood in the center of the courtyard, his stance loose but ready, his smirk radiating confidence. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± he said. ¡°I won¡¯t hit too hard.¡±


    The crowd tittered at his remark, their anticipation growing as the match began. Jiang Wuying was the first to move, a flurry of precise strikes and swift kicks that forced me onto the defensive.


    Sweat began to bead on my brow as I blocked and dodged, my mind racing. I couldn¡¯t match his speed or strength, but perhaps¡­


    Ruan Yanjun¡¯s words during one of our training sessions echoed in my mind.


    ¡®When you¡¯re not sure what to do, defend and observe. The more you know about your opponent, the better decision you can make.¡¯


    So I kept my defense and studied Jiang Wuyin¡¯s movements.


    His overconfidence made him predictable. His strikes, while powerful, lacked the finesse of someone truly focused. I noticed small openings in his movements, gaps I could exploit.


    The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    I bided my time, enduring his onslaught as best as I could. When he overreached on a sweeping kick, I saw my chance. Summoning every ounce of precision I had, I struck at a vulnerable meridian in his side¡ªa technique Ruan Yanjun had drilled into me endlessly.


    Jiang Wuying staggered, his eyes widening in surprise. The crowd gasped, and the murmurs grew louder. I took a step back, panting and aching but steady on my feet.


    Jiang Wuying straightened, clutching his side. His face was a mixture of anger and disbelief. ¡°Not bad,¡± he muttered, begrudgingly nodding.


    The match ended in a draw, the tension in the courtyard dissipating as the crowd erupted into applause. Jiang Wuying stormed off, his pride bruised but his reputation intact.


    Ruan Yanjun approached me, his eyes gleaming with approval. ¡°Next time, don¡¯t let him land so many hits.¡±


    I glared at him, my frustration bubbling to the surface.


    He laughed. ¡°My A-Fan hates me. But it doesn¡¯t matter. You won the match.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a draw,¡± I argued.


    ¡°Against a level four, you are the winner.¡±


    With my body aching and my mind spinning after the fight, I did not bother to argue with him any further.


    As the crowd began to disperse, I allowed myself a brief moment to catch my breath. My muscles were sore, my knuckles bruised, and the exhaustion from holding my ground against Jiang Wuying weighed heavily on me. Yet, there was also a faint glimmer of satisfaction. Despite everything, I had managed to avoid a public humiliation orchestrated by Ruan Yanjun.


    Just as I was preparing to slip away from the courtyard and its lingering onlookers, a middle-aged man approached me. His appearance was unassuming¡ªmore akin to a scholar than a cultivator¡ªwith sharp, intelligent eyes and an air of quiet authority.


    ¡°Priest Luo Fan,¡± he greeted, his voice steady and polite.


    I straightened and cupped my hands in greeting. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s me.¡±


    ¡°My name is Jin Tian,¡± he continued, a faint smile on his lips. ¡°I am the successor of the great scholar Zeng Lei.¡±


    The name caught me off guard, and I blinked in surprise. Zeng Lei was a legend, a scholar renowned across the five empires for his meticulous records of cultivation techniques. His books were a treasure trove of knowledge, detailing the mechanics of skills practiced by cultivators of all levels. Even Frost Mountain Sect had several volumes of his works.


    I quickly bowed deeper, my respect genuine. ¡°It¡¯s an honor to meet you, Senior Jin. The writings of the great Zeng Lei have been invaluable to my cultivation journey. His insights have guided me many times.¡±


    Jin Tian¡¯s smile deepened, and he inclined his head. ¡°I am pleased to hear that. Zeng Lei¡¯s legacy was one of dedication to understanding cultivation in all its forms.¡±


    Then his expression shifted slightly, curiosity shining in his eyes. ¡°I must ask, Priest Luo Fan¡ªwhat is the name of the technique you just used during the fight? I¡¯ve never seen anything like it before.¡±


    Before I could respond, Ruan Yanjun¡¯s smooth, arrogant voice cut in. ¡°It¡¯s called Intimate Contact.¡±


    I stiffened, my frown immediate. Of course, he would interject¡ªand with that name, no less.


    Jin Tian turned toward him, startled. His demeanor shifted instantly to one of deference. ¡°Sect Leader Ruan, forgive my impertinence,¡± he said, bowing low. ¡°I did not realize this technique belonged to you. My eagerness to inquire blinded me to your presence.¡±


    I bit the inside of my cheek, silently seething. Since when had I officially become Ruan Yanjun¡¯s disciple? True, he had been teaching me techniques¡ªsometimes against my will¡ªbut we had never formalized any master-disciple relationship. Yet, to outsiders, the assumption was natural. I was known as his¡­ companion, and he was a sect leader. Who else would have taught me?


    Ruan Yanjun¡¯s smirk deepened, and he crossed his arms, exuding an infuriating aura of smugness.


    ¡°But Sect Leader Ruan,¡± Jin Tian ventured carefully, ¡°may I ask why the technique is called Intimate Contact?¡±


    The question made my stomach churn.


    Ruan Yanjun¡¯s smirk turned devilish. ¡°Because,¡± he said, his voice low and deliberate, ¡°it was created by two people during intimate contact.¡±


    Jin Tian¡¯s eyes widened slightly before he nodded with a wide, awkward smile. ¡°Ah, I see. That explains it. Truly fascinating.¡±


    I couldn¡¯t tell if Jin Tian was genuinely gullible or merely playing along with Ruan Yanjun¡¯s shamelessness to avoid offending him. Either way, I wanted to disappear into the ground.


    ¡°Understood,¡± Jin Tian said, bowing again. ¡°Thank you for clarifying, Sect Leader Ruan. And Priest Luo Fan, thank you for allowing me to witness such a unique technique.¡±


    I returned the bow out of politeness, though my thoughts were less than courteous. Meanwhile, Ruan Yanjun stood there like an emperor, not bothering to return the gesture.


    As Jin Tian straightened, he added, ¡°I am nearing completion of my compilation of cultivator techniques. Once it is finished, I will ensure a copy is sent to the Eternal Damnation Sect.¡±


    ¡°I appreciate that,¡± I replied sincerely.


    When Jin Tian finally departed, I turned to Ruan Yanjun, my gaze sharp and unyielding. He noticed, of course, but pretended otherwise, diverting his attention to a cluster of guests who approached to congratulate him. His dismissal of my silent reproach burned more than it should have.


    I pressed my lips together, suppressing the words bubbling in my chest. Now that everyone believed I was his disciple, all the credit for my performance in the fight had naturally gone to him. They marveled at how the great Sect Leader Ruan had managed to mold a mere level-two cultivator like me into something worthy of recognition. My own efforts¡ªthe grueling hours of training, the bruises, and the mental fortitude it had taken to master his techniques¡ªwere nothing more than a reflection of his so-called greatness.


    As the murmurs of admiration for him swirled around us, I felt a pang of bitterness. I was no more than a tool, polished and displayed to elevate his reputation.


    Nearby, the bride glowered, her frustration evident. The spectacle had stolen the attention meant for her and her new husband, casting a shadow over what should have been her brightest moment. To restore order, the groom¡¯s mother stepped in, gently urging us back inside the main hall.


    Though the initial excitement around our fight subsided, Ruan Yanjun still monopolized a portion of the limelight. He wore the attention well, continuing to play the role of my master with seamless charm. It was infuriating but, in some ways, preferable. Better to be seen as his disciple than his toy¡ªa rumor already circulating among the guests.


    Their glances gave them away ¨C sidelong, knowing, and laced with curiosity. They whispered assumptions about why Ruan Yanjun and I always shared a room when traveling, even when other accommodations were available. I longed to dispel their misconceptions, but no one dared voice the rumors aloud¡ªnot in his presence. To address them unprompted would only deepen the awkwardness.


    Ruan Yanjun, on the other hand, basked in their attention, a behavior entirely out of character for a man who typically loathed social interactions. His rare amiability made my suspicions stir.


    Had he brought me here solely to assert his claim over me in front of an audience?


    Several guests approached to congratulate him for ¡°transforming¡± me into a capable fighter. He accepted their praise effortlessly, never correcting their misconceptions. His silver tongue worked its magic again when the Duke of Yuheng approached, expressing interest in exchanging words with me.


    ¡°My disciple is very shy,¡± Ruan Yanjun said smoothly when the duke addressed me directly. ¡°He struggles to interact in large gatherings, so I brought him here to help him break out of his shell.¡±


    I frowned, inwardly seething.


    Shy? I wasn¡¯t shy¡ªI was reserved, yes, but I had no trouble maintaining polite conversation. He was deliberately spinning this narrative to distance people from me.


    The duke nodded sympathetically. ¡°I see. Sect Leader Ruan, may I extend an invitation to both you and your disciple for tea at my estate tomorrow? It has been some time since your last visit, and there are matters I would greatly appreciate your insight on.¡±


    Ruan Yanjun sighed, as if the offer were a burden. ¡°I¡¯ll send word to your estate if we¡¯re free.¡±


    The duke¡¯s face brightened. ¡°Excellent. In the meantime, would you care to join me at my table for a cup of wine?¡±


    To my utter shock, Ruan Yanjun reached for my hand, lacing his fingers through mine in a casual yet possessive grip. Heat rushed to my face, and I stiffened. The duke¡¯s expression faltered, caught between surprise and awkwardness.


    ¡°My disciple is exhausted from the fight,¡± Ruan Yanjun explained. ¡°I should let him rest.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± the duke said hastily. ¡°Forgive me for being insensitive. Please, take care.¡±


    As the duke departed, I yanked at my hand, but Ruan Yanjun held firm, his grip unyielding as he led me toward the exit.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± I hissed under my breath.


    ¡°Keeping those hungry wolves from circling,¡± he replied, his tone light but laced with an edge. ¡°Do you see how they¡¯re looking at you? Like a pack of scavengers eyeing a defenseless lamb.¡±


    I glanced around. Sure enough, several guests watched us, their expressions speculative. But I doubted it had anything to do with what he claimed. They were staring because he was holding my hand so brazenly.


    ¡°They¡¯re staring because of you,¡± I muttered. ¡°Not me.¡±


    ¡°Believe what you want,¡± he said with a smirk, ¡°but if I let go, you¡¯ll have half the room clamoring for your attention. Do you want that?¡±


    ¡°Just let me go.¡±


    He ignored me, dragging me along until we were outside the main hall. Only then did he release my hand.


    ¡°Lord Ruan,¡± I said, my tone sharp, ¡°what exactly was your intention in bringing me here?¡±


    ¡°For you to enjoy yourself,¡± he replied casually, as if it were obvious.


    ¡°Lord Ruan,¡± I said through clenched teeth, ¡°I feel uncomfortable when you tease me like this. Please stop doing such inappropriate things.¡±


    ¡°Inappropriate? A-Fan, everything is inappropriate to you. If I stopped, I¡¯d die of boredom in days.¡±


    ¡°I think you know exactly what I mean.¡±


    He sighed, his expression softening slightly. ¡°A-Fan, haven¡¯t I told you? I never do things without reason.¡±


    ¡°Maybe so, but none of this was necessary.¡±


    He smiled faintly, his gaze unreadable. ¡°Perhaps not necessary, but effective. Like when I kissed you in front of your cousin. You should have seen his face. It was priceless. A perfect blow to his pride for insulting you.¡±


    I sighed, exasperated but unwilling to argue further. ¡°For the sake of peace between us, I¡¯ll let that slide. But I don¡¯t want it to happen again.¡±


    He chuckled, the sound low and amused. ¡°If you tempt me, A-Fan, I might not be able to resist.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± I shot back, ¡°I won¡¯t.¡±


    His laughter followed me as I walked away, and though I wished to be rid of his presence, a small, treacherous part of me lingered on his words.


    As we approached the gate, the sharp cry of a woman pierced the cool evening air, chilling me to my core.


    Ruan Yanjun froze mid-step, his sharp gaze narrowing toward the source of the sound. Without a word, he spun on his heel and marched back inside, his stride deliberate and unyielding.


    I hurried after him, my heart pounding with unease. The scream had come from the direction of the kitchen. By the time we arrived, a crowd had gathered, murmuring anxiously as they tried to peer past the kitchen door.


    The guards recognized Ruan Yanjun immediately and wasted no time clearing the path, pushing people aside with stern commands. As we entered, the metallic tang of blood assaulted my senses, making my stomach churn.


    Inside, the scene was ghastly. A woman¡¯s body lay crumpled on the cold tiles, her face turned away, her head a grotesque mess where her scalp should have been. The skin and hair were gone, stripped clean in a manner too precise to be the work of an animal.


    A healer knelt beside her, his hands glowing faintly with spiritual energy, though it was clear there was nothing he could do. The murmurs from the crowd behind us seemed to grow louder as the healer lifted his head, his pale face etched with horror.


    Ruan Yanjun, however, was calm¡ªeerily so. His expression darkened, his eyes narrowing with a dangerous glint.


    ¡°The Thread Reaper is back,¡± he murmured, his voice low but resolute.


    I turned to him, my breath caught in my throat. ¡°You know who did this?¡±


    He nodded, his jaw tightening. ¡°There¡¯s only one person who would do something like this.¡±


    ¡°Why would anyone¡­¡± I trailed off, glancing at the mutilated body. ¡°Why would anyone do this to a woman?¡±


    Ruan Yanjun¡¯s lips curled into a grim line. ¡°He collects hair. Beautiful hair. It¡¯s an obsession¡ªno, a sickness. The Reaper doesn¡¯t care about the person, only what they can give him.¡±


    The healer, who had remained silent until now, looked up sharply. ¡°Sect Leader Ruan, wasn¡¯t it you who killed the Thread Reaper years ago? Everyone thought you¡¯d put an end to him.¡±


    Ruan Yanjun¡¯s gaze remained on the body. ¡°I beat him to a pulp and threw him into a lake. Whether he drowned or clawed his way back out, I didn¡¯t stay to find out.¡±


    The tension in the room thickened. The idea that this monster had survived sent a ripple of unease through everyone present. The guards exchanged nervous glances, and the healer¡¯s hands trembled faintly as he continued his futile attempts to preserve the woman¡¯s dignity.


    Ruan Yanjun finally turned, his robe sweeping behind him as he strode toward the door. ¡°Let them investigate,¡± he said coldly. ¡°There¡¯s nothing more for us here.¡±


    I followed silently, casting one last glance at the horrific scene before stepping out into the hallway.


    The Duke intercepted us, his usually confident demeanor shaken. ¡°Sect Leader Ruan,¡± he said, his voice tinged with desperation, ¡°please, stay the night. Your presence would reassure the household and¡­¡± His words faltered as he glanced over his shoulder, as though expecting the Reaper to emerge from the shadows.


    Ruan Yanjun¡¯s eyes flicked to me briefly before he answered. ¡°No. I¡¯ll take him somewhere safe.¡±


    The Duke¡¯s face fell, his shoulders slumping. It was obvious he was terrified, hoping Ruan Yanjun¡¯s presence would ward off danger. But Ruan Yanjun¡¯s priorities were clear. Whatever power struggle or chaos the Thread Reaper¡¯s return might bring, he wouldn¡¯t risk me being caught in the middle of it.


    As we stepped out into the night, I couldn¡¯t help but feel a pang of guilt. The Duke¡¯s fear had been palpable, and I knew Ruan Yanjun¡¯s presence here could have saved lives. But I also knew better than to argue with him.


    The devil beside me had made his choice. For better or worse, he had chosen me.


    ¡°Do you think he¡¯ll come after us?¡± I asked hesitantly as we mounted the carriage waiting by the gates.


    Ruan Yanjun¡¯s gaze flicked toward the distant horizon, his expression unreadable. ¡°If he does, he¡¯ll regret it.¡±


    His words should have comforted me, but instead, they left me uneasy. Somewhere in the shadows, a monster was lurking, and I couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that this wasn¡¯t the last we¡¯d hear of the Thread Reaper.

 BOOK 2 Chapter 56: The Duke

    CHAPTER 56


    The Duke


    On the third day, I woke with unease knotting my stomach. Memories of the relentless training under Ruan Yanjun''s unyielding gaze made me brace for another punishing session. Yet, to my surprise, a servant arrived instead, bowing low to inform me that I was to prepare myself to accompany Lord Ruan elsewhere.


    The carriage ride was silent save for the rhythmic creak of the wheels. My attempts to decipher Ruan Yanjun''s intentions were met with his usual calm indifference.


    We arrived at the duke''s mansion, an imposing structure with ornate designs that spoke of wealth and influence.


    Inside, the duke greeted us with a polite yet lingering gaze directed at me. His scrutiny sent a ripple of discomfort through me. My vision wasn¡¯t sharp enough to discern whether his expression held disdain or admiration, but either possibility was unsettling.


    Ruan Yanjun must have noticed. He shifted his chair closer to mine, the subtle scrape of wood on marble drawing the duke¡¯s attention. A pointed clearing of his throat followed, a sound that carried the weight of a warning. The duke''s gaze quickly averted, and he began conversing with Ruan Yanjun, first about the Thread Reaper, and then they went on to discuss about matters of politics.


    Their exchange wove a narrative of intrigue and power struggles. The emperor of Kan had begun losing the loyalty of his court following rumors implicating him in the assassination of his predecessor. The crown prince, suspected of spreading these rumors, was gaining traction among the noble houses.


    As I listened, a strange excitement stirred within me. At the temple where I was raised, such worldly matters were deemed unworthy of our focus, yet here they unfolded with a complexity that fascinated me. I began to see the secular world as a battlefield where wealth, connections, and power determined survival. The poor were mere pawns, collateral damage in the ambitions of the elite.


    A sudden knock interrupted the conversation. A guard informed Ruan Yanjun that a letter had arrived, its courier insisting it be delivered directly to him.


    Ruan Yanjun''s brow furrowed. ¡°No one should know I am here,¡± he muttered before excusing himself.


    As soon as he left, the duke leaned closer, his demeanor shifting. ¡°You are quite remarkable,¡± he said, offering me a glass of wine. His voice carried a smooth, almost honeyed quality. ¡°The moment I saw you fight, I knew you are destined to be a grandmaster.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± I replied cautiously, accepting the wine but not drinking.


    The duke¡¯s gaze softened, his tone growing conspiratorial. ¡°Lord Ruan is a fearsome man, is he not? His influence extends across empires, his name whispered in fear. Did you know he holds the Xianru and Wun Emperors as little more than his puppets?¡±


    I stiffened. These were not details Ruan Yanjun had ever shared with me, but hearing them painted a clearer picture of his near-untouchable status.


    The duke¡¯s voice dipped lower. ¡°I¡¯ve also heard whispers about how he treats you. If it¡¯s true, you have my deepest sympathy.¡±


    His words set my thoughts spinning. Was this sympathy genuine, or a ploy to drive a wedge between Ruan Yanjun and me?


    ¡°Forgive my boldness,¡± the duke continued, ¡°but I cannot bear to see someone as beautiful and pure as you wasted in his hands. Stay here, and I promise to treat you with the dignity and care you deserve. Whatever you desire, I will provide it.¡±


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    I arched a brow, keeping my voice steady. ¡°Are you not afraid of what he might do if he learns of this offer?¡±


    ¡°He will not take you by force if you choose to stay willingly,¡± the duke replied with a knowing smile. ¡°His pride would never allow him to admit he cares enough to fight for you. He¡¯d feign disinterest and move on, as though you were merely a passing fancy.¡±


    Could that be true? Could Ruan Yanjun discard me so easily?


    ¡°I only wish to save you from him,¡± the duke pressed. ¡°His treatment of you has been... damaging. He flaunts you, tarnishing your reputation. Surely you deserve better.¡±


    I set the untouched glass down and met his gaze. ¡°I appreciate the offer, but I don¡¯t need rescuing. Whatever misunderstandings surround my relationship with Lord Ruan, I know the truth, and that¡¯s enough for me.¡±


    His expression faltered, but he reached out, his hand brushing mine¡ªjust as the door opened.


    Ruan Yanjun strode in, his presence dominating the room. His eyes flicked between us, sharp and unyielding. ¡°So this is why you lured me away,¡± he said coolly, taking his seat beside me. ¡°To steal what belongs to me.¡±


    The duke recoiled, shaking his head. ¡°No, my lord. That was not my intention. I admit I am drawn to the gentleman¡¯s beauty, but my offer was one of genuine care. He seemed pale and weary, and I merely wished to provide him with a place to rest.¡±


    Ruan Yanjun¡¯s lips curved into a smirk that did not reach his eyes. ¡°And you think I cannot provide that for him?¡±


    ¡°Of course you can,¡± the duke said hastily. ¡°There is nothing Sect Leader Ruan cannot provide.¡±


    Ruan Yanjun leaned back, his smirk hardening into something sharper. ¡°I don¡¯t consider you an enemy, Yuheng, but if you try to take what is mine, I assure you, this mansion you cherish so dearly will be reduced to ash.¡±


    The duke paled, stammering his apologies.


    Without another word, Ruan Yanjun seized my hand, pulling me to my feet. ¡°We¡¯re leaving.¡±


    I cast one last glance at the duke, whose expression teetered between regret and fear, before following Ruan Yanjun out.


    The ride back to Ruan Yanjun¡¯s residence was suffocating, not from the cramped space or the chill of the evening air, but from the weight of Ruan Yanjun''s presence beside me. He sat with an air of displeasure, his usual calm shadowed by something darker. I stared out of the carriage window, the passing scenery a blur as I replayed the events at the duke¡¯s mansion.


    ¡°What are you thinking?¡± His voice broke the silence, low and probing.


    I hesitated, not wanting to entertain his question.


    ¡°Are you considering his proposal?¡± he pressed, his tone sharper this time.


    I sighed but kept my eyes fixed on the horizon, unwilling to engage.


    He didn¡¯t take kindly to my silence. ¡°What do you think of him?¡± he asked, his words laced with a mockery that only Ruan Yanjun could wield so effortlessly. ¡°Do you believe he¡¯d make a better host than I am?¡±


    Host. The word grated against my nerves. I finally turned to him, my voice calm yet pointed. ¡°Lord Ruan, I think you¡¯re both disgusting. Fighting over nonsense. And over a man, no less.¡±


    His smirk returned, wolfish and amused. ¡°A-Fan, you¡¯re the only one to blame for that. If you weren¡¯t so beautiful, no one would be fighting over you.¡±


    I clenched my fists in my lap, forcing myself to remain composed. ¡°Lord Ruan, I am a man with dignity. I am not some toy for men like you to pass around as you please.¡±


    His gaze flickered, amusement giving way to something colder, more calculating. ¡°A toy? No, A-Fan. That¡¯s not the word I would use to describe you.¡± He leaned closer, the carriage jolting slightly as his weight shifted. ¡°I prefer to call you an asset.¡±


    His words stung, not because they were unexpected, but because they carried a kernel of truth I wasn¡¯t ready to confront.


    I let out a weary sigh, turning away from him. ¡°Lord Ruan, I don¡¯t want to argue. I¡¯m sure I would lose anyway.¡±


    Silence settled between us once more, but his gaze lingered, heavy and unreadable.


    It was only later that I began to piece together his motives. The pattern had been there all along, if only I had chosen to see it. Ruan Yanjun¡¯s calculated introductions to figures of power, the discussions he ensured I overheard, the way he encouraged me to grasp the nuances of political maneuvering¡ªit wasn¡¯t random.


    Every encounter, every conversation I was drawn into, had been part of a larger scheme. He wasn¡¯t just flaunting me or using me as a pawn. He was grooming me.


    For what?


    The answer loomed before me, both exhilarating and terrifying. He was preparing me to ascend to power, to become an emperor that he could manipulate.


    I cast a glance his way, his profile stark against the moonlight filtering through the carriage window. The enigmatic curve of his lips suggested he already knew the questions swirling in my mind.

 Announcement

    Dear Readers,


    The succeeding chapters are no longer available due to Kindle Unlimited''s exclusivity clause. If you¡¯d like to continue reading this series, you can purchase it on Amazon for just 99 cents or read it for free with Kindle Unlimited.


    For those not subscribed to KU, the books will be available for free during their Free Promotion period (one day per week). The schedule for these promotions will be posted here.


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    Book Links:


    Book 1: https://www.royalroad.com/amazon/B0DXWM2S1G</a>


    Book 2: https://www.royalroad.com/amazon/B0DZX9LJGX</a>


    Once the contract expires, I may reupload the chapters depending on the circumstances. If not, I¡¯ll ensure readers have the opportunity to access the books at no cost.


    Thank you so much for your support, your comments, and your likes!


    Sincerely,


    Yan Yan

 Free Promotion Schedule

    I''ve already scheduled the Free Promotion for Books 1 and 2 on Amazon, and here are the details:


    Book 1 Free Promotion Schedule: April 4, April 25, and May 16.


    Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    Book 2 Free Promotion Schedule: April 11, May 2, and May 23 (or sooner depending on the release date of Book 3).


    Thank you very much for your support!