Xie Lan was climbing for more than 4 hours already. She did a few stops to rest, but they were short and soon after them she rushed to the peak with renewed vigor.
Moreover, the fact that her father may die at any moment didn't make it easier. Every minute counts. The tights she had were torn and the soles of her feet were covered with scratches. But she persevered and did her best to climb the mountain. Fortunately for her, the road was pretty good, so she had steady progress. The peak was close. Maybe another hour or so and she will be there.
***
Finally, after another hour, a grimy sweaty panting girl reached the summit, only to see a back of a young man, who seemed to be meditating.
Although she knew that the master she was looking for will be expecting her at the top of the mountain, this person was too young. He can't be the great master, right?
"What are you waiting for? Come over."
He said.
"Um... Okay." She didn't know why, but she was compelled to listen and obey.
The man patted the ground at his right, signaling to her to sit at the place.
"It took you five hours to reach this place." he pointed out as soon as she sat.
She nodded and hummed in response. But the young man looked at her and raised his brow.
"When you are answering your master, make sure to vocalize the answer. I don't need a mumbling animal to serve me."
She was a bit offended by his remark, but once more she felt that is only right for him to behave in this way with her.
"Yes, master."
Xie Lan and the man stayed seated like this for quite some time. At some point, the sun started to go down over the horizon, marking the beginning of the night. Looking over the sunset, the man finally broke the silence.
"What are your plans after healing the father?"
"Can you actually help him, master?"
"There are not many things I am incapable of, Xie Lan."
"You know my name? But..."
"There are not many things, I don't know either. I am a creature beyond your understanding, mortal."
Xie Lan felt very strange. Every time her master said anything, she didn't dare to even breathe too loud. It was an absolute suppression, but strangely she wasn't against it. It felt... almost natural like this is just another absolute law of the universe.
His charisma was almost suffocating. His every word was imprinted in her memory, his every sentence was full of mysteriousness and every phrase was an embodiment of truth.
"Master, you said the price for healing of my father will be me serving you for a lifetime. I am ready to do so, but can you help my father now. He doesn't have much time left."
"No worries, girl. Breaking promises is not something I take lightly, so you don't need to fret. Moreover, your father still has a few days to live."
"Emituo Fo, master." man's voice was heard behind Xie Lan, surprising her. After quickly turning around, she saw a middle-aged Buddhist with a ring on his left hand.
The moment she saw that ring, she was electrocuted. Although it had nothing in common with the ring on her finger in terms of outer appearance, it felt very similar in terms of the power it was emanating.
"What brings you here, Yu Meng?"
Monk hesitantly looked at the girl beside them and said
"Master, this lady is...?"
"It's another servant of mine. You can be properly introduced to each other later. For now, tell me the reason for your appearance here."
"I got a call from the Xu family's elder about some strange curse case in the hospital."
"Ah, that. Yeah, I know about it. This girl is the daughter of the cursed man. Unfortunately, it's not something your organization may help with."
"Is that curse so strong?"
"Not really. But the problem here is that whoever cursed him, can do worse after you cure him. But that is something I don't care about. After all, these mundane tricks are for mortals to engage in."
"Um... master. Actually, the issue is that there may be people coming to the temple. And I assume the girl has a gift of power, right? She left a magic trail that leads right to your holy sanctuary."
"It's okay. In the end, it's impossible to hide forever."
"Emituo Fo, master. What are your orders for me?"
"There are none for now. I will contact you when your services are required. Leave."
After that, monk quickly apparated leaving only a slight sound of a bubble bursting.
'This is so magical' Xie Lan thought.
'He also said that I have a gift of power. Did he talk about the ring? Does it mean I will also be able to vanish like this?' Deep in her thoughts, she didn't notice how her master stood up.
"We are leaving."
"Master...?" but she couldn't finish, because the man put his hand on her shoulder and they apparated to the courtyard, where she started her journey.
Her first apparition wasn't a very nice experience. Nausea hit her as soon as they appeared in the temple and she tried to vomit but her empty stomach had nothing much to offer.
The elder who led her here met them and respectfully bowed to the man.
"Master!"
"Lead me to the man, they brought."
"Yes, master."
***
The healing process was finished in a flash. He entered the room, asked everyone to leave and then exited himself after 5 or so minutes with words:
"He will wake up in an hour." And left.
Xie Lan still couldn't believe the simplicity of the whole ordeal, but the result of it was lying in the bed in front of her. Her very father, free of sickness, was laughing and animatedly talking with his wife, brimming with life.
Suddenly her face paled for a second or two, while her pupils widened in shock. However, nobody noticed it due to the merry atmosphere in the room.
***
Later in the night, while everyone slept, Xie Lan quietly left her room.
Once again she walked towards the lonely cottage located in the very back of this temple. But this time, when she opened the door, she saw a normal corridor rather than a mountain.
The girl slowly entered the house. Her heart was beating so fast, she thought it will leave her chest. Her hands were shaking and her feet trembling. Eyes looking down. She somehow reached the door at the end of the corridor and knocked.
"Enter." master's voice was heard behind the door.
She turned the knob and entered the room.
In that room was a big double-sized bed, with nightstands on the sides.
At her right was a big cabinet and at her left stood a long wooden table with a lot of cupboards in it. A strange mechanical wonder was on top of it, connected by multiple wires with some other contraptions placed throughout the table.
Her master was sitting before the table, tinkering with one of the mechanisms.
"Close the door."
"Yes, master."
Xie Lan closed the door and not knowing what to do, decided to quietly wait for another order. However, just standing was already a tough order for this young woman.
In the morning she found out that her father had no hopes of survival. Later she led her family to this temple. Then scaled the mountain nearly barefooted. After that another mentally exhausting evening after her father's recovery.
She was exhausted both physically and mentally. Her legs were doing their best to keep her standing. But ideas about what may await her tonight did zero help to relieve her mind.
But the girl did her best to stand straight.
After ten minutes of continuous tinkering with some unknown device, the man finally put his instruments down on the table and stood up.
His hands were a little bit dirty, but he snapped his fingers and instantly his hands became clean. Then he looked at her and raised his brow. He smiled and asked:
"What are you standing there for?"
"...?"
The girl didn't know what to say. He gave a light laugh and said:
"Take off your clothes and let's begin."