CHAPTER 21

Danger Rising

LUO FAN

I was standing by the window of the inn where we stopped for the night, watching the faceless figures of people walking down the street below when I heard footsteps approaching. We had been traveling together for quite a while already so I had developed a deeper familiarity with his movements. Even the sound of his breathing and the smell of his soap were already known to me.

“Do you want to go out?” Ruan Yanjun asked from behind me.

I turned to him. “I’m fine just watching from here, my lord.”

He approached me and looked out of the window, probably to see what was so interesting to watch from there. “There’s nothing to see here.” He looked at me. “Your eyes are in a distant far. What are you thinking?”

I shook my head. I had been thinking a lot indeed, but I wasn’t sure if I should tell him about it.

“There’s a market not too far away,” he said. “If you wish to take a look, I have the time to accompany you. I’ll buy you anything you want.”

His invitation was tempting, but I could not possibly take more from this man. “I have to decline.”

He leaned closer to me, his face just an inch from mine. “I heard that the wine here is good. Should we go try it out?”

I forced out a smile. “Thank you, my lord, but in my current condition, I can no longer handle any strong drinks.”

He sighed and took my hand. He pressed his fingers over my wrist. “You’re right. Your pulse is weakening by the day. We need to get that herb soon so you can continue your research.”

I nodded and pulled my hand away. I was relieved he had let go without getting offended.

“I have news for you,” he said. “It’s about your former sect. Are you interested?”

I thought I did not want to hear anything about my former sect anymore, but right now, I realized I was hungry for information. “I am.”

“Ethereal Frost Sect has elected a new leader. Can you guess who it is?”

To me, only one of the four elders had the qualification. “Is it Elder Ye?”

“The name provided to me is not Ye.”

Perplexed, I was briefly speechless. “Who could be more qualified than Elder Ye?”

“Your sacred Frost Mountain has been infiltrated by traitors, so of course they will not allow the most qualified person to lead, otherwise, their efforts would have been futile.”

“Then who is the new leader?”

“Someone named Sun Qi.”

I frowned. “I’m afraid I have never heard of him before.”

“You haven’t… because he is not a disciple of Ethereal Frost Sect.”

I gasped. “How could they let an outsider take over the sect?”

He smirked. “Why are you so upset?”

That was the only time that I realized that I was indeed upset.

I cleared my throat and calmed myself down. “Does Lord Ruan happen to know anything about that new leader?”

“Not much… aside from one.”

“What is it?”

He leaned closer to me and whispered, “He is rumored to be the lover of Crown Prince Wei Jiayi.”

My eyes widened.

No way!

Prince Jiayi had been my sect brother for years, and he was a man through and through. How could he get romantically involved with another man?

I shook my head. “I don’t believe that rumor. It’s absolutely false.”

“Does it sound ridiculous?”

“Of course, it is. I have my issues with the crown prince, but accusing him of such reprehensible conduct is uncalled for.”

“Reprehensible?” he returned. “Do you find men in a relationship with another man reprehensible?”

My heart stopped beating when I realized the words I had uttered so carelessly. I had forgotten that this man was also rumored to be in a relationship with Emperor Yin. I must have offended him.

I cleared my throat and lowered my head. “Forgive the words I had recklessly blurted out, my lord. I was speaking in accordance with the teachings of the Ethereal Frost Sect. I mean no offense.”

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“Does A-Fan think he has offended me?”

I preferred not to respond just to be safe.

He snickered. “What if I told you that I agree with you? That such kind of relationship is indeed reprehensible.”

The more that I was confused.

Have I been mistaken?

Have I been a fool for believing that he was in a relationship with another man?

“A-Fan,” he said. “I confess that you are a beauty to behold, but I’m satisfied just staring at you. No need to implicate ourselves in what you call a reprehensible conduct.”

Heat burned my cheeks and it crept further down to my neck and ears. I must have looked like a steamed crab to him right now.

Has he always known how I perceive him?

And does he think I was trying to imply something?

“I didn’t mean it that way, my lord,” I said defensively.

He laughed deeply. “You’re even more beautiful when you’re blushing.”

I turned away and faced the window. I would not want to show my face to him ever again.

He laughed louder and the more that it embarrassed me.

A moment later, when he probably realized that I was already upset, he stopped laughing.

“A-Fan, are you sure you don’t want to take a look at the shops?” He probably realized he had overdone taunting me and now he wanted to pacify me.

“What’s the use of looking around if I can’t see what I’m looking at?” I replied.

“Alright. Why don’t we play instead?”

There was a chess board on the tea table. Even if I could only see one color, I could still differentiate black from white through their shades.

However, I was not in the mood to play.

“Lord Ruan, do you mind if I ask you something?” I asked instead.

“Why do you always ask my permission whenever you ask something?” He sighed. “What is your question?”

“I’m just wondering… you’ve been… really kind to me.”

He chortled. “When have I been kind to you?”

I smiled inwardly. Of course, he was not. I could tell that his kindness was not genuine. It was all a pretense. And that was exactly what I wanted to find out.

“You are, my lord. You’ve not only treated me well but you are also concerned about my well-being. You are also adamant to find a cure for my illness and even went to the extent of finding out more about my master’s death. That’s also beside the fact that you have saved my life twice already.”

He sighed. “You are simply overreacting. Those are nothing. It’s not kindness.”

“You may not see it that way, but for someone like me who had fallen so hard, you’ve given me hope.”

He sighed. “Fine. Take it however you wish.”

“However, I know that Lord Ruan will not be wasting his precious time without gaining a benefit. But no matter how much I think about it, I can’t seem to figure out what his lordship possibly needs from me. I’ve already lost my cultivation, I’m unable to refine anything on my own, and I’m naïve and ignorant I cannot possibly offer you any insights about anything.”

“A-Fan,” he said. “I’m a businessman. There is something we call as investment. For now, aside from the fact that staring at your beautiful face placates me, you are indeed completely useless to me.”

Heat crawled all over my face. I wasn’t sure if it was because of his flattery or because he had branded me as ‘completely useless’.”

“But some of the best things start from nothing,” he continued. “Soon, I’ll reap the rewards of my effort.”

“I can’t seem to understand.”

“Then stop thinking about it. Whatever I have planned for you will benefit you more. Trust me.”

Those last two words again. They always gave me the chills.

“Come,” he said as he reached for my hand. “There’s a restaurant just across the road. Since you’re not in the mood to walk around or play, let’s eat instead.”

I was not in the mood to eat either, but I could not keep declining his invitation. “I’ll just get my stick.”

“No need. Pretend I’m your stick tonight.”

I followed him without resistance.

How can I even pretend that a tall and masculine man is a stick? A bough or a tree trunk will probably make better objects of comparison.

“You have not been using the cream I gave you, have you?” he asked.

I figured he must have felt the callus on my hand. I did not want to tell him that I never even opened the jar of cream.

He sighed. “Tonight, before you go to bed, use it. I won’t leave your room unless I see you use it.”

RUAN YANJUN

As I led Luo Fan down the stairs, I noticed several pairs of eyes watching us. Ever since we arrived in town, those men had been lurking about, and I knew what they wanted. They wanted what I held in my hand—this precious priest of Frost Mountain.

They probably had not figured out who I was yet, and that was why they were that audacious to even get that close to me. So I’d show them who I was, and I’d let them know that their target did not come here unprotected.

I pretended I did not notice them and helped Luo Fan down the last set of stairs.

“Watch your steps,” I said in a tender voice as I pulled him closer to me. I even smiled at him for the men to see the degree of intimacy that we shared.

I felt him stiffen, but just like before, he preferred not to utter a word and tried to pull away.

I tightened my grip on his hand and leaned closer as if I was about to whisper sweet nothings in his ear. “Stay close. There are suspicious men around us.”

He stopped struggling and allowed me to lead him out of the door. I felt them following us.

There were more of them outside and probably some of them were disguised as workers. I did not bring any disciple with me so I had to scout the perimeter on my own, but I could not leave Luo Fan unprotected in his room, and that was why I had incessantly convinced him to come with me so I could investigate the matter and keep him safe at the same time. He didn’t have to know it either.

As we crossed the street, I saw more of those men, but this time, they weren’t looking at their target but at me, their eyes hungry for a fight.

I smirked inwardly.

Will they really dare?

I waited for them to attack, but one of them suddenly gestured for the others to stand back.

Has someone recognized me?

“Lord Ruan, is something wrong?” Luo Fan asked when he noticed my steps slowing down.

“It’s nothing, darling,” I replied and he flushed, his eyes wide as he immediately raised his guard against me.

I smiled at him, only because he could not see it.

This priest never failed to amuse me. Even while surrounded by dozens of enemies, his beautiful blushing face still managed to fascinate me.

“What about those suspicious men that you said earlier?” he asked.

“I was mistaken. Let’s proceed.” We headed straight to the restaurant just across the road.

As we stepped inside, the usual noise inside any dining establishment suddenly stopped. While most turned their heads to look at us, some men sitting by their tables with their food untouched looked away, avoiding eye contact with me.

I pretended to pour all my attention into the beauty with me and headed upstairs with dozens of wide-open eyes following me. When they thought I was far enough and could not hear them, they started whispering to each other.

This was the countryside where homosexuality was frowned upon. Their utter shock at seeing two men holding each other’s hands was expected, but it did not bother me one bit.

When we made it to the second floor, I saw a familiar face sitting alone in the corner. Unlike the other men downstairs, this one was brave enough to meet my gaze, even glaring at me.

I flashed him a smirk and wrapped a possessive arm around Luo Fan, pretending to keep him away from something on the floor.

The man’s jaws tightened as his eyes widened, almost popping out of their sockets.

I suppressed the urge to laugh aloud or Luo Fan would suspect. I didn’t want this priest to worry. I wanted him to feel secure and let me worry about those men who were after him. If he learned of their presence, he might not want to continue traveling with me.