CHAPTER 25

Protecting the Unworthy

LUO FAN

It felt like the heavens struck me dead. The whole world went very still while I stiffened like a corpse.

It was only when I felt a tap on my back that I gasped for air.

“Relax,” Ruan Yanjun said. “You’re as pale as a ghost.”

My whole body felt cold and numb. My fingers trembled frantically.

For months, I had grieved my master’s death. I had blamed myself for it. I had allowed them to nullify my martial arts in atonement for my crime. I had willingly subjected myself to torture and had swallowed all the shame and humiliation.

And now this monk is telling me that my master has been alive all along?

I felt so betrayed. I wanted to scream and smash something, but I held all those emotions at bay. “Where is he?” My voice cracked.

“He has secluded himself ever since. He may not want to see anyone, especially you.”

“If you know where he is, please tell me.”

Han Bao looked away.

“Priest Wei is waiting for an answer,” Ruan Yanjun said. “Tell him what you know.”

“I heard he’s somewhere near the border to the east, living as a hermit on top of a hill near the town of Suyang,” Han Bao replied. “As for the exact location, I’m afraid I don’t know.”

I turned to look at Ruan Yanjun. “Do you mind, Lord Ruan, if I take a break from my job so I can go search for my master?”

“You don’t have to take a break. That’s part of the reason why I’ve taken you here. We’ll both go and meet your master.”

I lowered my head to him. “Thank you.”

He did not respond and turned his attention back to Han Bao. “Since you are the source of this poison, check on our priest and undo the damage you’ve done.”

Han Bao did not respond, but I felt a hand reaching for mine. He placed my arm across the table and pressed his fingers over my wrist.

A moment later, he sighed.

“I’m afraid I cannot undo what has been done. There is no cure for the White Vulture, and because it’s not really a poison, it’s not something that requires neutralization. In other words, an antidote is not possible.”

“Are you telling me that there’s nothing you can do?” Ruan Yanjun asked.

The monk lowered his head in shame.

Ruan Yanjun sighed. “Since you’re useless after all…” He paused and turned to me. “A-Fan, he’s all yours now. Seek justice for what he’s done to you.”

I immediately understood that Ruan Yanjun wanted me to kill Han Bao as retribution for his crime. I was stupefied.

I did resent the monk, but I had no intention of killing him. “Lord Ruan, I assume that you’ve made a deal with Monk Han. He’s done his part. You have to keep yours.”

“Oh, but his information is not very useful. He only admitted to his own crime. Why should I provide him protection in exchange for some garbage?”

“Lord Ruan, you must not back out from a deal.”

“I’m a businessman, A-Fan. A deal is not finalized unless I see the goods delivered in perfect condition. So far, he has delivered me rotten goods. It’s not a good deal.”

“Then fine, do not provide him protection, but let him go.”

He looked surprised. “A-Fan, you are still suffering because of what this monk has done to you, yet you’re letting him go?”

“He’s already regretted what he’s done.”

“Regret? Are you sure? As far as I know, this monk is rotten to the core and will not hesitate to kill you once he gets another opportunity. So be wise and nip the bud before it flowers.”

I shook my head. “I won’t.”

“Then I’ll kill him for you.”

I grabbed his hand. “Lord Ruan, if you kill him, I won’t follow you anymore.”

“A-Fan, do you realize the danger he poses to humanity? He has created a dangerous weapon, and he will make it again, and he will even pass the knowledge to someone else, and then the weapon will be everywhere. People will be suffering from a disease that has no cure. Is that what you want?”

Of course not. I would never want something like that. Although Ruan Yanjun made a good point, I wanted to give the monk a chance to redeem himself.

“I understand your perspective, my lord, but Monk Han is an excellent alchemist. This world only has a handful of him. I’ve already lost my cultivation. He’s the only one that’s left. Let’s give him a chance. With his skill, he can help a lot of people.”

“A-Fan, I’ve put up with your demands quite a few times already. This time, I will no longer heed it.” Ruan Yanjun turned to his disciple who was standing by the door. “Kill this monk in front of me.”

When the disciple stepped forward, I quickly stood up and hurried to the other side of the table. I pulled Hao Ban right behind me. Alchemists rarely cultivated their martial arts. Most of them were very passionate about refining they’d rather use their precious energy to create magical potions and elixirs rather than splurge it for physical training.

Judging by Han Bao’s frail frame, I was certain he was one of those alchemists.

“Do not touch him,” I warned.

Ruan Yanjun sighed. “A-Fan, step aside or I’ll carry you like a bride and parade you all over town.”

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His threats only strengthened my resolve to protect Han Bao. “Lord Ruan, if I can defeat your disciple, will you give me Monk Han as a reward?”

Ruan Yanjun laughed. “Since you asked for it, then of course. I’ll give you two Han Bao’s if you want, but perhaps I should let you know that the disciple you wish to challenge is an Elite Cultivator.”

Elite Cultivator, a level five.

I tightened my grip around my stick.

“Do you still wish to proceed?” Ruan Yanjun taunted.

I took a deep breath. I had already given my challenge. I should not back out now regardless of the obvious outcome, but I had an idea. “I do, but you must not interrupt, otherwise, I win.”

He smirked. “A-Fan, you’re trying to outwit me in my own game.”

Ruan Yanjun was a highly intelligent person, so he knew exactly what I had in mind.

I knew that he would not allow me to die.

“Fine,” he continued and turned to his disciple. “Gong Meng, do not go easy on our priest, but do not kill him.”

Gong Meng bowed to his master before approaching me.

I took a deep breath and initiated an attack with my stick. He easily grabbed my stick and then my wrist. He twisted my arm around and tried to lock it behind my back.

I knew that move. If I failed to get away from him right at that moment, I’d end up in a position where my only option was to surrender not only because it was too painful but because there was really no escaping it.

Before he could completely subdue me, I quickly turned the other way. When he refused to release my arm, I feigned an upward punch to his face. While he raised his free hand to cover his face, my fist landed on his stomach.

He briefly froze, not because it was painful but because he did not even feel anything at all. I knew that I did not have the strength to inflict any pain on an elite fighter like him, so that punch was also another fake to make him lower his guard and give me an opportunity to poke my finger at a very precise spot on his stomach.

This was one of the most basic moves that my master had taught me at a young age. It was supposed to be a trick to temporarily paralyze an unguarded opponent to get an opportunity to escape, but during our travel, Ruan Yanjun had made some minor modifications and had even given it a name — Intimate Contact. According to him, in order to properly execute the move, a delicate touch right on the perfect spot would give maximum stimulation, so it requires both precision and a bit of time.

I succeeded and Gao Meng grunted in pain, but despite my best effort, it was not enough to paralyze him.

His grip on my arm, however, loosened and I took the opportunity to disentangle myself from him, but before I could step farther from his reach, a palm hit me in the back, paralyzing me for a second or two.

He did not follow up his attack, as if he was intentionally giving me time to recover. When I did, I attacked him with my stick but he managed to block it.

I kept hitting him but he just kept blocking and dodging my every move. I could tell that he was in a dilemma. In my current condition, he was probably afraid that if he weren’t careful, just one hit from him would kill me in an instant, and his master would be furious.

By doing just that a dozen more times, he had managed to wear me down until I could no longer breathe. As I tried to grasp for air, my chest tightened. I quickly took several steps back and vomited blood.

“That’s enough.” Ruan Yanjun stood up.

Gong Meng immediately stepped back and I heard him exhale a deep breath as if he was relieved that it was over.

Ruan Yanjun quickly came over and grabbed me by the arm.

“You must be deranged risking your fragile life just to save your murderer?” he grunted.

“Lord Ruan,” I struggled to say. “You interrupted. I win.”

His fingers tightened around my arm and I could imagine him clenching his teeth in indignation. “Fine,” he grunted and released me.

I lowered my head before him. “Lord Ruan, I thank you for your kindness.”

He chuckled.

I approached Han Bao who had withdrawn to the farthest corner of the room. “You hold a secret of the royal family that they’d rather bury with you. It’s no longer safe for you to stay here. I suggest you head to the east. There are many Buddhist sects there who will be willing to take you in.”

He lowered his head to me. “I will heed Priest Wei’s advice. I thank you for your grace, although I am not worthy to receive your kindness. Please accept my utmost apology.”

“Go and lead a new life. I hope I will not regret sparing you, and the next time we meet, call me Luo Fan.”

He lowered his head again. “I understand.”

“Gong Meng,” Ruan Yanjun said to his disciple. “Escort Monk Han to Silang Empire and make sure he does not stray. Help him find a place to settle down before you leave him.”

“Yes, Master,” Gong Meng said and came to get Han Bao. The travel to Silang Empire would take months, but the disciple did not even pause to consider and just did as he was told.

But that’s what disciples were expected to do—obey their master’s order without complaint. If it were my master who had ordered me, I would have immediately complied too without uttering a single protest.

My master…

I lowered my eyes as I remembered the face of the man who had raised me from childhood, the man I thought I would never see again.

“Shall we go?” Ruan Yanjun’s voice was thick with suppressed indignation.

I quickly looked in his direction and realized that we were the only ones left inside the house.

Without saying another word, he turned towards the door.

He was unmistakably frustrated and annoyed with me.

*****

RUAN YANJUN

Inside the carriage, on our way back to the inn, Luo Fan was silent.

I stared at him, had been staring at him for a while already.

He puzzles me. I simply cannot understand how his mind works, how his heart forgives so easily.

Han Bao had poisoned him. He had lost his sight and had been suffering for months for that reason, yet not only had he refused to seek revenge but he had even tried to save the life of his poisoner.

Just thinking about it upset me. He was such a disappointment. I had too many plans for him, but it seemed that we might not get along well.

I disliked self-righteous people. I had thought that after everything that Luo Fan had gotten through, he would soon see through the hidden evil inside human beings and start questioning the teachings of his sect.

But it did not look like such would be happening soon.

He was still adamant to hold on to his chosen path, and it was starting to annoy me.

If he remained this way, I did not think he could be the person that I had envisioned him to be.

He would be nothing but a failure.

My deep contemplating was interrupted by the sound of his cough. He covered his mouth, and when he lowered his hand, I saw blood on his palm and a little more at the side of his mouth.

Although I was still upset with him, I could not remain idle and watch my precious priest suffer.

I pulled out a handkerchief and reached over to wipe the side of his mouth, and then I took his hand and wiped the blood off his palm.

Just like all those times that I had touched him, his stiffening body told me his discomfort, but he did not utter any word of protest. He probably knew his crime and he was afraid he would displease me more.

“Did you take your medicine?” I asked in a low, calm voice.

“I did,” he replied softly and weakly. That brief fight from earlier had caused him a lot of damage.

“Take another pill.”

He reached inside his bag for the jar of pills. After swallowing one down, he sighed. “The medicine is no longer as effective as before. It’s as if the White Vulture has developed a resistance against it.”

I tightened my hands until my knuckles turned white.

The only thing that was keeping him alive was losing its effect.

I was on the verge of losing my temper, but when I saw his face and noticed how calm he looked despite death knocking at his doorstep, my anger subsided. I smiled and gently pulled him in my arms instead.

He stiffened but showed no resistance. He probably had no energy to put up a fight.

I smiled again and took full advantage of the situation. His body had lost even more weight, but he still felt good in my arms, and the smell of his hair was immaculate.

“Don’t worry about that,” I whispered tenderly. “We will find a way.”

He did not say a word, but the tension in his body remained. His guard was up, just waiting for me to make a wrong move so he could throw his fist in my face.

I laughed inwardly and stroked his back. “You’re tired. Take a rest. The road ahead is bumpy. I’ll hold you so you won’t fall off the couch.”

I did not think that excuse would work on him, but when I looked at him, his eyes were already closed.

His body slowly softened in my embrace. He had fallen asleep so fast.

I watched his face. He looked so peaceful in his sleep, and even more beautiful. Just staring at him had wiped away all my frustration.

I smiled and softly pressed a kiss on his temple.

This foolish priest was lucky to have such a pretty face that was so calming to watch, otherwise, I would have beaten him up earlier.

I still could not understand why I was so enamored by his beauty, to the point that I wanted him for myself.

But he was a priest. I knew that he would never indulge himself to that level of debauchery, so I could only admire him from a distance and touch him a little from time to time.

And so far, I was content. There was no need to get into a complicated relationship. Certainly, all of these would come to pass, and I did not have to worry myself about getting rid of him after I tire of him.