CHAPTER 26

Master and Disciple Reunion

LUO FAN

From Qushan, we went northeastward. It had taken a week before we arrived in the quiet town of Suyang, but from there, we could no longer use the carriage, so we had to walk through narrow pathways towards a desolate place.

Along the way, we met just two people and they had no idea about a hermit living in that area, until the third person, a woodcutter, pointed in a certain direction and told us to keep going until we saw a lone cabin.

For five hours, we climbed a series of hills and crossed three streams, until finally, Ruan Yanjun spotted the cabin.

My chest suddenly tightened.

I had prepared myself for this encounter, mentally and emotionally, but the closer we got to the cabin, the more anxious I became. Different emotions stirred within me.

I wasn’t sure how to react once I stood face-to-face with my master. With this much resentment inside me, I was afraid I would break down the moment I saw him, but part of me might be glad to finally be relieved of this guilt that had been weighing me down for so long.

When we made it to the door, Ruan Yanjun knocked.

“I don’t accept visitors,” the voice from the inside said. “Please leave.”

I was dumbfounded. That voice. It was indeed my master.

He is alive!

My heartbeat pounded against my chest even more frantically.

“I’ve traveled for months, from South to here,” Ruan Yanjun replied in a threatening tone. “And you’re telling me to leave? Are you certain that’s what you want?”

The voice was silent for a moment. “Sect Leader Ruan, or shall I say… His Majesty of Xianru and Wun,” Wei Yusheng returned in a sarcastic tone. “Why does this old hermit deserve a visit from the world’s most venerable immortal?”

Ruan Yanjun smirked. “I got bored and had nothing else to do, so I thought I might try being a hermit, and so I came for your advice.”

The hermit chuckled. “Build your cabin somewhere else. This hill belongs to me.”

Ruan Yanjun sighed. “Prince Wei Yusheng, stop the crap. I have something to show you. Are you going to open this door or should I break it down and make a fire out of it inside your cabin?”

The voice was again silent. A moment later, the door opened.

My lips parted open when the familiar frame of my master emerged from the door. My eyes didn’t blink. My fingers trembled.

My heart stopped.

At first, my master regarded Ruan Yanjun who was standing like a wall before him, until his head turned in my direction.

I wasn’t sure about his reaction at the sight of me. I wished I could see. I wished to know if he felt even a little bit of regret over his deception.

“Wei Fan?” he uttered.

Tears welled in my eyes but I held them back. I could not decide whether to get down on my knees and pay him respect or yell out all my anger at him. All I felt was the irresistible urge to break down and sob.

But I suppressed all of that. It would upset my master if I showed weakness in front of him. Even if he had betrayed me, I still valued his teachings, otherwise, my twenty years of discipleship under him would have been for nothing.

After the initial shock, my master let us in and we all sat by the tea table. Just like before, Ruan Yanjun refused to drink the tea that Wei Yusheng had offered. He did not let me drink anything either.

Ruan Yanjun started by talking about Han Bao, and about everything that the monk had confessed.

“Were you aware that the drug you’ve taken in was a paralyzing drug?” Ruan Yanjun asked.

“… I was.”

“Did you take it in voluntarily?”

“I did.”

“In other words, you were a part of the grand scheme to frame your disciple for murdering you.”

For a long time, Wei Yusheng was silent as if he was pondering if he should confess.

With a deep sigh, he started talking. “The plan that was conveyed to me was to frame up Wei Fan for attempting to murder his master to have a reason to banish him from the empire. That was what I had agreed on.”

“You did not agree that he’d be poisoned, his martial arts be nullified and he’d be escorted all the way to the remote town of Panmen in Wun Empire to be executed?”

I turned to look at Ruan Yanjun. I was surprised that he knew the details of my ordeal. He had never even asked me about it.

Wei Yusheng shook his head. “Wei Fan is practically my son. I raised him from the age of five. I had changed his name to protect him, to keep him alive. How could I allow such a thing to happen to him? I admit I had lost face when he became a grandmaster, but I’d rather hide away in shame than have him die over it.”

“Are you saying that you are also a victim of this conspiracy?” Ruan Yanjun’s tone had a hint of sarcasm.

“The plan was simple. I’d take the drug while drinking tea with my disciple and collapse. Wei Fan will get the blame and be banished out of the empire. And then I’ll wake up and everything will resume as it was. But when I woke up, things had happened differently and I was told to remain dead. That was why I came here, so I could remain dead and atone for my sins.”

Ruan Yanjun chortled. “If you really wanted to atone for your sins, all you had to do was come out and tell the truth. But you’ve chosen to hide instead. Didn’t you pity your disciple for what he’d been through because of you? If you indeed see him as your son, you should have done something and not hide your tail in between your legs and bury yourself in this desolate place.”

“Lord Ruan, things have become complicated. The supposed-to-be simple scheme has gotten out of hand and my own family is responsible. Not only are they my blood relatives, but they are also the authority in this empire. I still have my family and relatives on the maternal side. If I exposed the conspiracy, my innocent maternal relatives would be wiped out.”

“Wei Yusheng, you are a master cultivator, and you have the whole Ethereal Frost Sect at your disposal. Although you’ve been replaced as the Chief, your disciples are still loyal to you and will obey you nonetheless. Unless the emperor sends a battalion of soldiers to wipe out your relatives, you are very much capable of protecting them.”

“…It’s not as simple as it seems.”

Ruan Yanjun smirked. “Let me guess. Some other sects are involved, and they threatened to wipe out your entire sect should you try anything.”

My master did not respond, which meant that Ruan Yanjun must have guessed the truth.

I wondered where Ruan Yanjun had been getting his information, and why had he never discussed all those things with me. He’d been wasting his time teasing me instead.

Ruan Yanjun sighed. “The Light Sect Alliance leader favors your sect greatly that he’d even given you a position in the alliance despite you not being a grandmaster, and he was also the one who pushed for your disciple to be the new Divine Mage then.”

That was true. At that time, I did not feel like I deserved to be the Divine Mage. I was only twenty-three then.

Han Xi, the current leader of the Sacred Sphere Sect and officially recognized as the number one cultivator in the martial arts community had been a homeless child and had been taken in by the former Chief of the Ethereal Frost. He had become a disciple of the former Chief and had developed a friendship with Wei Yusheng. After the former Chief’s death, Wei Yusheng had taken over the position and Han Xi had to bid his farewell to return to his hometown in Silang Empire, where he founded his own sect, the Sacred Sphere Sect. That was the reason why he had always placed the Ethereal Frost Sect on a pedestal despite lacking in achievements compared to other sects.

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“By now, Han Xi should already know that Wei Fan still lives,” Ruan Yanjun continued. “Eventually, he’ll also find out that the childhood friend he had grieved for, who’s supposed to be dead, is in fact very much alive… You can’t hide forever. Sooner or later, the rest of the world will find out the truth. Your beloved Ethereal Frost sect, known for its modesty and virtue, will crumble in disgrace… Can you handle that?”

Wei Yusheng remained silent.

“Wei Yusheng,” Ruan Yanjun said, breaking the long silence. “If the truth leaks out, the emperor and the crown prince will come out clean. You will take all the blame instead. What’s the use of keeping your family alive if they have to live in shame for what you’ve done?”

“If you were in my situation, how would you have dealt with it?” my master asked a long moment later.

Ruan Yanjun smirked. “None of that would have happened to me. Before any of my disciples surpassed me, I would have gotten way ahead already. You are way much older than your disciple. You’re one of the few who’ve reached the fourth level at such a young age. I had to admit that even I thought so highly of you then. Who would have thought that you would reach the level of your competence so soon, that the sixth level was all that you could achieve in your whole lifetime.”

“It’s because of an injury that has stopped my progress.”

“Do not blame your incompetence on an injury. If you are really that great, no injury can stop you from achieving a higher level. Admit the truth that you simply do not have the talent to move further. Just like the emperor, you are simply inadequate, yet you overly value yourself that you thought you could do better than the late Emperor Xin could.”

Wei Yusheng was dead silent and it made me suspicious, especially that Ruan Yanjun had put emphasis on the name of the deceased emperor.

Does my master have to do with the assassination of the former emperor of Kan Empire?

I had heard of that rumor before but I had ignored it because, at that time, there was no way I would see my master in that light. But now that some hidden things had revealed themselves, it was highly probable, especially that every attempt to investigate the assassination of the former emperor had produced very little result, and the current emperor did not seem bothered by the inaction.

“Sect Leader Ruan,” my master said. “Let’s not drag the former emperor’s name in this subject. Let him rest in peace.”

“Rest in peace? How can he rest in peace while his murderers hunt down his descendant like an animal? Or are you afraid that his descendant will know and will seek justice from those who have caused his father’s death?”

My master was silent while I sat there pondering.

Does the late Emperor Xin have a descendant? Rumor said that he only had one son and had also been killed on the night of the murder. Unless he had another child from one of his concubines, or an illegitimate child somewhere else.

The more I heard, the more that I was confused. Politics was indeed a very complicated matter. I thought I had learned much already listening to Ruan Yanjun’s lectures, but my knowledge was still far too little.

“Don’t you have anything else to say?” Ruan Yanjun asked.

“That is as far as my knowledge is concerned.”

“Isn’t there… a far deeper reason why simply nullifying the Divine Mage’s wugong is not enough? That they had to get rid of him?”

“If there are, only those people concerned can tell.”

“Are you saying you’re not one of those people concerned? Are you saying, you haven’t noticed the familiar face before you?” Ruan Yanjun paused and slowly leaned toward my master. “Doesn’t that pretty face remind you of someone else?” he whispered.

My master gasped in surprise.

I could not comprehend what they were talking about, whether they were referring to me or someone else. I was not one to interrupt the elderly’s conversation, but this time, I could not help it.

“Do I look like someone else?” I asked.

They both turned to me.

“Why don’t you refer that question to your master?” Ruan Yanjun returned.

I turned to my master.

Wei Yusheng sighed. “There’s no one.”

Ruan Yanjun chortled. “Don’t that pair of eyes that glitter despite a heavy load of grief look familiar?”

“Lord Ruan, that’s enough.”

“Don’t they look beautiful? Because if you ask me, I find them really alluring.”

“Please leave.”

I stiffened. I knew my master too well. He rarely showed anger, but I knew if he was at his limit, and this was one of those rare instances.

“Fine, we will leave. But regardless if you don’t speak, your disciple will eventually know everything, and when he does, you’d better be prepared to face retribution. You might as well warn your brother and your nephew about it.”

“If I did, they’d stop at nothing to kill Fan.”

“So you’d rather keep it to yourself, is that what you intend to do?”

Wei Yusheng did not answer.

“And I thought you were loyal to the emperor.” Ruan Yanjun sighed. “Regardless, even if you tell them, you think that anyone could dare lay a finger on my A-Fan with me around him?”

“Your A-Fan?”

I thought I had to explain to my master so he would not have the wrong idea. “Lord Ruan has his own way of teasing me. It does not mean anything.”

Ruan Yanjun laughed. “As you can see, your disciple is that naïve he still doesn’t realize that I had laid my claim over him. As his closest kin, do you give your blessing?”

“That’s just not possible.”

“After what you’ve done to your disciple, do you think you’re still worthy to be his master?”

My master turned away.

“Prince Wei, you have lost the right to call yourself a master, but apparently, since he has found out that you’re still alive, your disciple still sees you as his master and has traveled for thousands of miles just to see you. You have to release him or he will be forever bound to you and will never move on from your betrayal.”

I held my breath, waiting for my master’s answer.

“Are you asking me to release him so you can take him in?” my master asked.

Ruan Yanjun smirked. “If what you mean is that I wanted him to be my disciple, you are mistaken. That’s not what I want, and I’m sure you still remember what I have come to Frost Mountain for twenty years ago.”

My master sighed in relief. “I see.”

I frowned. It seemed that the two had some tacit understanding about something that I could not understand.

“Do you think it’s still possible?” Wei Yusheng asked.

“There’s no certainty, but I wouldn’t leave any stone unturned.”

“If all else failed, will you give me your word that you will not kill him out of frustration?”

Ruan Yanjun smirked. “Do you think I’d be foolish enough to kill a man with such rare beauty and talent? I’d rather flaunt him to the entire world regardless if that is all he’d ever be.”

My cheeks turned hot. Even in my master’s presence, Ruan Yanjun could be so bold and shameless.

My master turned to me and was probably staring at me. A moment later, he sighed.

“A-Fan,” he said. “Sect Leader Ruan speaks bitter truth. I am no longer worthy to be your master, so from this moment onward, I release you from your oath. But I have one last order to give you.”

I moved to kneel right in front of him, cupped my hands, and lowered my head. “I’m ready to take your order, Master.”

He sighed again. “I need you to regard Sect Leader Ruan as your guardian. Remain by his side and obey him for as long as his wishes don’t go against the virtues that have been taught to you.”

I stiffened. Certainly, my master should have known what the devil Ruan Yanjun is, so why is he trying to give me away to him?

“Will you accept the final order?” he asked.

Although hesitant, I nodded. “Yes, Master.”

“Now, rise.”

I rose to my feet and returned to my seat beside Ruan Yanjun. The devil had been quiet, but I knew he was happy that I had just acceded to my master’s behest.

“A-Fan.” My master probably noticed my distress. “I wouldn’t entrust you to Sect Leader Ruan for no reason. Someone in the palace wants you dead at all costs. Now that you’ve shown yourself up, cultivators and mercenaries alike will be coming for your head. I am not in a position to protect you, and even if I were, my cultivation level is inadequate. I cannot think of anyone else who can protect you better than the leader of the Eternal Damnation Sect. Just being with Sect Leader Ruan will dissuade anyone from getting anywhere near you, so it’s best that you stay close to him.”

I nodded. My master made a good point. I only wished he knew what a terrible companion Ruan Yanjun was, how he had always made me feel uncomfortable with his teases.

“Master, I don’t understand. Why are they so determined to kill me? I have already lost my cultivation, why am I still a threat to them?”

“Stop asking questions,” my master replied. “You both should leave now.”

Slowly, I rose to my feet. Although I did not think I was ready to forgive, I still bowed to my master before I headed for the door.

“Wait.” My master stood up and took something from a drawer, and then he approached me. “Here.”

I took the herb he handed me. I fondled it but could not quite recognize it.

“It might help improve your condition. Find someone to refine it for you.”

I gasped when I realized that it was the herb that Ruan Yanjun and I had been looking for, the Molun Herb. “You were that person we encountered in the forest.”

My master seemed surprised. “So Lord Ruan was the one who defeated the guardian?”

Ruan Yanjun smirked. “I’m surprised you didn’t even notice.”

“I’d been fighting the guardian for two days and I was weak and injured. When someone had taken away the guardian’s attention from me, my priority then was to get the herb and escape. Have I realized your identities, I would have handed over the herb right then and there.”

“Guardians of legendary herbs are level seven. What made you think you can defeat it on your own?”

That was correct. Two years ago, I was also level six when I chanced upon the Molun herb and had to fight the level seven guardian. I was lucky that Hei Bo, my senior sect brother who was also a level six, was there to help me. But even with the two of us, it had taken us the entire day to defeat the guardian.

“I took the risk before anyone could get their hands on the herb,” my master replied.

“And you took the herb for your former disciple, I suppose?”

“For an obvious reason, of course. Why else would I hand the herb over?”

Ruan Yanjun smirked but did not say anything.

“Thank you, Master,” I said as soon as I got an opening to speak.

“Here’s another one.” My master took my hand and pressed a cold hard object on my palm.

I remembered the round chained pendant that I had seen him wearing for the past twenty years. I was sure this was it.

“That used to belong to your mother,” he said.

I looked at him in puzzlement. “My mother? How did—”

“Don’t ask. Just take it.”

I held back whatever question I wanted to ask and lowered my head to him. “Thank you, Master.”

“I am no longer your master. You should have known that by now.”

I pressed my lips tight. After what had transpired between us, I knew it would be close to impossible to mend things between us, but I still felt the sting of hearing right from him that he was no longer my master.

He turned to Ruan Yanjun who was standing a few feet away. “Lord Ruan, I now place my disciple under your custody. Please take care of him. He does not know anything about the secular world. With your guidance, I’m sure he’d learn to adapt and be independent.”

“You don’t have to tell me that,” Ruan Yanjun replied. “I’ll do that of my own free will.”

“Lord Ruan,” my master said again. “It’s best if he does not know, not while he’s in that condition.”

“Don’t worry, I will not be the one to tell him,” Ruan Yanjun replied. “But I will lead him to the truth. Even if I won’t, your disciple is not witless. Eventually, he will know.”

“What is it exactly that you’re planning for him, my lord?”

Ruan Yanjun smirked. “One more empire under my fingers wouldn’t be bad, I suppose.”

Wei Yusheng sighed. “Just as I thought.”

“Now, warn your brother. It might not take long.”

His brother? Is Ruan Yanjun referring to Emperor Zhang of Kan Empire?