CHAPTER 32

Drink His Heart Out

LUO FAN

After dinner, Ruan Yanjun sent Jinjing to rest in her chamber and told me to stay for a while. We moved to the tea table in the main hall. I knew he had a lot to tell me, and I also had something to tell him.

“When did you propose to her?” he asked, his voice thick with bitterness.

“Two days ago.”

“I just turned my back on you and you immediately got yourself engaged?”

“I don’t see anything wrong with that. We’re both single and of age for marriage.”

He took a deep, exasperated breath. “Of all women.” He looked away and sighed once again. “If you just wanted to get married, you should have told me and I would have found you a more suitable wife.”

“I’m not getting married just for the sake of getting married.”

“Then for what? For love?” He smirked. “You barely know that woman. Don’t tell me you’ve fallen for her already.”

“It’s not that hard to fall for her, and we get along pretty well. I’m sure it will work out.”

He scoffed.

“Lord Ruan, do you not like her for me?”

“Don’t ask such a foolish question. If your master learned I had married you off to a former prostitute, he’d despise me.”

“My discipleship with my master has ended. It’s not his place to concern himself about my personal decisions anymore.”

“A-Fan, you were raised in an isolated place and you’ve only been in the secular world for less than a year. There are many things that you still do not know. Are you sure you don’t need any advice?”

I shook my head. “I may be naïve, but I do know what I want and who I want. I can make decisions for myself.”

He sighed. “As you wish then. As long as you both fulfill the conditions, I’d have no objection.”

“Lord Ruan,” I said. “You know very well that Jinjing is not very educated. She only knows the basic things that she needs for survival. The conditions you have imposed on her might take years for her to accomplish.”

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

“That’s all up to her. Are you in such a hurry to marry her?”

“I’m hoping to get married to her within this year.”

He smirked. “In your current condition, blind and sickly, how do you expect to protect your family?”

Again, he made me speechless.

He suddenly stood up. “Since you had the courage to propose, perhaps you also have the strength to fight me.”

I stiffened. “I did not mean it that way.”

“It doesn’t matter what you mean. You’ve been on medication for so long already, you should have made some improvement by now. Since you want so much to get married, show me that you are at least capable of protecting yourself.” He headed for the door. When I did not follow him, he looked back at me. “Are you coming or should we fight right here?”

With a sigh, I stood up and followed him outside.

“If you can last for at least ten moves, then I’ll allow you to get married.”

I stiffened.

Ten moves against a level nine?

Even a level six might not be able to last that long. How much more with a level zero like myself?

Why won’t he just tell me straight that he had no plan of allowing the wedding to push through?

True enough, after just three moves, I was down on my knees, gasping for breath.

“How pathetic,” he said as he looked down on me. “I didn’t even use half my strength. Now, tell me. How can you protect your family if you can’t even protect yourself?”

I did not say anything. The more he reminded me of that, the more I felt pathetic.

He walked away. I could sense the disappointed, frustration, and anger in his footsteps. He was probably frustrated that after he had spent so much time and money for me, I had not shown any improvement, disappointed that I wasn’t what he had expected, and angry that despite my failures, I still had the gall to get married.

Huang Wen came and escorted me to my room. After he had given me a bowl of bitter medicine, I felt a little better.

“I think master is just jealous,” he whispered.

I gave him a warning look. “If he heard you speak such words, he’ll kill you.”

“Don’t worry, he’s in his room right now. The servants told me he just asked for a strong bottle of wine. I think he’s going to drink his heart out tonight.”

I shuddered and he laughed.

“Priest Luo, now I’m really convinced that my master has a thing for men.” He laughed again.

“Huang Wen, do not disrespect your master behind his back.”

He stopped laughing and cleared his throat. “I’ve spoken too much. I’ll leave you to rest now.”

“Where is Jinjing’s room?” I asked. Earlier, Ruan Yanjun had asked his servants to escort Jinjing to her room but did not allow me to follow her.

“Far from here. Master has made sure you two won’t have a chance to sneak into each other tonight.”

I sighed. “Will she be safe?”

“She is a hundred percent safe. You don’t have to worry about her.”

RUAN YANJUN

I chuckled bitterly and poured more wine into my cup. I was already tipsy, but I wanted to drink some more.

I was still so pissed I wanted to tear down the walls of the whole house and burn the debris down.

I just could not accept the fact that my A-Fan, my beautiful precious priest, had chosen a prostitute to settle down with.

Soon, if my plans were to be realized, I’d have full control of Luo Fan like I had control of the emperors of Xianru and Wun, but what benefit would I get from a woman without any education and with a disgraceful background? She’d only taint the good name of my A-Fan.

But I could not stop him from marrying the woman he liked should he insist. So I had to put pressure on that woman to make her a little reputable and presentable at least. Then someday, I’d urge Luo Fan to get a second wife.

I chugged down the contents of my cup but I still could not feel any better. I still felt… bitter?

No. Just downright disappointed.