Within the hallowed grounds of the Qing Shan Sect, disciples immersed themselves in their relentless training, their swords slicing through the air with precision and grace. The sect was once again stirred with the vibrant cadence of another bustling day.
The past few months had been an absolute nightmare for Lu Ye. He now understood why no disciple could endure staying with Damu Lan for long. It was neither his attitude nor his speech that became the problem, rather, it was the grueling, merciless training he provided.
Yet, Lu Ye somehow managed to weather it all. He had no other option but to remain fiercely loyal to his master solely because a mere piece of paper requested so.
Given that Damu Lan had no other disciple, Lu Ye had to make do with making the most of his free time by practicing alongside disciples of different masters.
The air resonated with the metallic clang of clashing swords, while the swift movements beneath their feet stirred up a whirlwind of dust, momentarily blinding one's vision.
Thud!
Lu Ye lost his grip, tumbling heavily to the ground. Laughter erupted from all corners, the echoes of mockery filling the air. Apparently, Lu Ye had become the laughingstock, defeated by none other than Hua Ran, a renowned disciple whose skill surpassed all others, favored by Zhang Xi Yi, the master himself.
The sword pointed menacingly above Lu Ye, who writhed in pain on his lower abdomen. Unlike the other disciples, Hua Ran's facial expression did not display a mocking smirk despite his victory. Instead, a solemn and humbled expression settled upon his features.
"You are far too weak," he declared, his eyes twitching with a mix of disappointment and frustration. "It has been three months, yet I see no improvement whatsoever. Can you truly deem yourself a disciple of the greatest martial artist?"
Lu Ye fell into an unsettling silence, his gaze cast downward in a gesture of resignation. He knew all too well the depths of his weakness. But what could he do? Each time he attempted to focus solely on his opponent, a searing pain pierced through his head like needles. An unwelcoming fog invaded his mind and vision, an unwavering distraction that hindered his progress at every turn throughout the past months. Moreover, he couldn't even manage a proper night's sleep. Those same nightmares kept haunting him every single night, permiting only fleeting moments of rest before jolting him awake in desperation.
Seeing Lu Ye's uncharacteristic silence, Hua Ran slowly lowered his sword, a flicker of concern crossing his eyes. In a blink, he noticed the pallor that had washed over Lu Ye's complexion, his skin glistening with excessive sweat as he struggled to catch his breath.
Alarmed, Hua Ran asked hastily, "Hey, are you alright?" But his words seemed to fall on deaf ears as Lu Ye's consciousness slipped away.
.
Lu Ye found himself shrouded in a misty realm within his dream. Before long, the surrounding grew dark, and he fell into an endless abyss. The faint sound of droplets echoes in the void, though not a single one was seen. As Lu Ye plummeted into the seemingly bottomless abyss, screams of countless men and women pierced the air, their desperate cries mingling with the suffocating darkness. It was a realm devoid of light and hope, where an insidious grip tightening around his throat, constricting airways and leaving him gasping for air. Each breath became a desperate struggle, as if an unseen force sought to strangle the life out from his very being.
It was the same nightmare again.
"Help..." he managed to gasp, his voice barely a whisper, as he mustered the last bit of his fading breath. His eyes welling with tears of despair that words could not convey, hopeless and pleading for salvation.
Disciple. Disciple. Disciple!
Within the depths of his final dream, a reassuring voice echoed, resonating through the ethereal realm.
With a heavy exhale, Lu Ye's eyes fluttered open, and he rose from his pillow. The dream lingered, its surreal nature leaving him struggling to grasp its meaning.
His gaze swept across the room, and the first image that met his eyes was his master by his side. Damu Lan's face was carved with a rarely seen expression of concern. His brows furrowed, drawing together in a display of worry. A single tear trickled down from Lu Ye's eyes, marking the moment when he could finally draw a breath, as if a weight had been lifted from his unsettling heart. The sight of his master brought a comforting reassurance, casting a calming spell upon his troubled soul.
"You are awake, Lu Ye."
A man, his hair gracefully tied downward at the nape of his neck and his bangs draped over his forehead, obscuring half of his face with an air of mystery, walked towards Lu Ye and Damu Lan. His countenance radiated a serene smile gracing his naturally gentle and soothing demeanor. In his hand, he held a vial containing herbs and medicine, seemingly made specifically for Lu Ye's well-being.
A hoarseness gripped Lu Ye's throat, rendering him voiceless. His lips parted slightly, but no sound escaped. Thus, he resorted to a mere blink, his gaze shifting towards Damu Lan, silently conveying his curiosity about the man standing elegantly in front of him.
With perceptive insight, the man understood the unspoken questions lingering in Lu Ye's eyes. Wasting no time, he introduced himself with a reassuring smile. "I'm Cang Ren," he began, his words flowing like a soothing melody. "I used to dedicate myself to the art of sword before, but now my path revolves around studying poisons and medicinal remedies."
Lu Ye nodded, noting his comprehension of Cang Ren's words.
Concern etched upon his features, Damu Lan pressed further, his voice laced with worry. "What happened to him?"
Cang Ren paused, allowing a weighty silence to surround the space before responding. "Judging by his condition, it appears that he collapsed due to overpractice, exhaustion and pressuring demands that made his mind restless."
Surprise painted Damu Lan's expression as the words sank in. He had never imposed such an excessive burden on his disciple, pushing him beyond his limits in his studies and training—perhaps he indeed did, but he made sure that Lu Ye had a good meal, a comfortable place to stay and ample time to rest after a hellish training. Never once did he force Lu Ye to surpass anyone, nor did he push Lu Ye to overcome his own limits. He was fine with Lu Ye finding his own path and growing at his own pace.
Turning his gaze towards his dedicated disciple, he asked with a mixture of unease and confusion, "Why did you push yourself to such length? I never asked you to strive so relentlessly in your practice and studies on your break and free time."
Lu Ye's head lowered, his expression marked by a deep frown. As his lips parted, the sensation of regained speech emboldened him to speak from the depths of his heart, "You are...the greatest martial artist. I have to become a disciple worthy of you. I don't want to bring shame upon your name, master."
The words hung in the air, freezing Damu Lan in place. Never before had he encountered such a disciple, one who held such deep veneration and a burning desire to honor his master's legacy. All this time, his selection of disciples had always been guided by a genuine passion for his sword style, not as a mere stepping stone to personal renown.
Tenderly, Damu Lan's hand came to rest upon Lu Ye's head, his touch gentle yet firm, then probed the matter further, "What did they say to you, disciple?"
"Not much. They laughed at me for showing no improvement over the past months..." Lu Ye responded, his voice tinged with a mixture of vulnerability and frustration.
Damu Lan let out a weary sigh upon listening to Lu Ye's experience. He positioned his fingers beneath Lu Ye's chin and raised it with force, gently compelling the disciple to meet his gaze.
"To become a worthy disciple of mine, you must always hold your head high and believe in your own ability," Damu Lan declared, his tone serious and resolute. "There is no need to heed the words of those who are not me. Do you understand?"
"Yes... master," Lu Ye replied.
As if peering into the depths of Lu Ye's soul, Damu Lan caught a glimpse of an inner radiance emanating from his eyes. In response, a soft smile, one that had long been absent, graced upon Damu Lan's features. A rarely witnessed phenomenon that had remained unseen for centuries, a smile that had long been hidden.
Cang Ren hurriedly interrupted, urging Damu Lan to end the master-disciple session and allow Lu Ye a peaceful rest. Once Damu Lan had left, Cang Ren hastened to Lu Ye's side, meticulously inspecting his entire body. "This is strange. It has been an eternity since I last saw him smile."
"I know right? That startled me as well." Came the unexpected arrival of Jin An, who stood before Lu Ye, their faces now merely inches apart.
"Master Jin,"
"How long have you been here?"
"I've been here even before RanRan brought you in," Jin An replied nonchalantly, a hint of mischief dancing in his eyes. "I was idling about when I noticed Damu Lan came in and couldn't resist eavesdropping." His slender hand gracefully held a fan, his fingers tapping against it in a rhythmic pattern.
"I see. RanRan...as in, Hua Ran? Did Senior Hua carry me all the way?" Lu Ye's curiosity sparked as he sought clarification.
"You guessed right," Cang Ren confirmed with a nod. "When you suddenly collapsed, he rushed here with worry. He even blamed himself for causing it by defeating you in the sparring match," he added.
"How kind of him," Lu Ye responded sincerely, with genuine gratitude in his voice as he remarked.
A brief silence surrounded them, until Jin An shattered the awkwardness with an unexpected question.
"Who are you?" Jin An's words pierced through the air, causing Lu Ye to startle, his expression frozen in surprise.
Taken aback, Lu Ye could only manage an uncertain "eh?"
"The last time—or rather, the last time the immortals—saw him smile was centuries ago," Jin An stated, his voice and expression turning serious. "For him to smile solely because of a dedicated disciple is highly unusual. Who are you to Damu Lan?"
Lu Ye responded with a wistful smile, his expression carried a touch of melancholy. "I am Lu Ye, a disciple of Qing Zhu Jun," he began, "Lu Ye is Lu Ye. I am but a mere nobody."
Jin An's eyes widened with overwhelming shock upon hearing Lu Ye's response. His mouth hung open, struggling to find words as he lowered his hand fan, demanding clarification. "What...did you just say?"
Surprised by Jin An's sudden change in behavior, Lu Ye remained silent, unsure of how to proceed. However, Jin An's forceful insistence pressured Lu Yeforced to repeat his previous sentence. "What did you just say?! My ears must have been lying to me, I need to hear it again!" He yelled out loud.
Before Lu Ye could respond, a wave of anger surged forth from Cang Ren, who couldn't tolerate Jin An's disrespectful outburst. "YOU DAMNED CRAP OF A PIG, get the hell out of here and let my patient rest in peace!" He exclaimed.
Jin An, who was offended, replied even more fiercely, "Cang Ren! How dare you degrade me like that!"
As Cang Ren forcefully cast Jin An out of the room, the door slammed shut with a resounding bang. The scene left Lu Ye stunned. His words caught in his throat, his mind devoid of words. Moreover, he did not expect someone as composed and outwardly beautiful as Cang Ren could unleash such an insult. Now, Lu Ye was even more bewildered and uncertain about the true nature of those around him.
"I'm sorry about that, it must have been shocking for you," Cang Ren admitted, his hand instinctively reaching to fix his hair.
Lu Ye nodded hesitantly, offering a slight, awkward smile, "Uh...yes, it did catch me off guard."
"My first impression is ruined thanks to that stupid jerk of a bastard," Cang Ren muttered.
Regaining his composure, Cang Ren wore another smile and expressed, "You don't have to like me if you don't. I get it all the time."
Lu Ye shook his head, a thoughtful expression on his face, "Ah, no. If you don't hurt or mock others, I don't think it should be a problem if you curse—or maybe not." He trailed off, unsure of how to fully express his thoughts on the matter.
"Hahaha! I once had someone tell me something similar in the past, but that was after he carved a deep warning onto me," Cang Ren chuckled, his tone laced with a hint of bitterness.
Curiosity piqued, Lu Ye leaned in, asking, "what happened?"
Cang Ren's smirk took on a mischievous behavior as he replied, "Hmm? You really want to know?"
"Well, if you don't mind sharing," Lu Ye responded cautiously.
Cang Ren paused for a moment, contemplating, before finally stating, "Let's save that story for another time. It's quite an unpleasant memory for me." Interrupting Lu Ye's attempt to continue the conversation, he shifted his focus to retrieve another herb, presenting it to Lu Ye. With a sincere tone, he added, "Anyway, what Jin An said is true. Damu Lan hasn't smiled in centuries. So I get why he was so enthralled. No need to think too much of it."
"No, I don't mind it at all. It was just shocking to me," Lu Ye reassured him.
After a long pause, Cang Ren's next words caught Lu Ye off guard, almost causing him to choke on the drink he just swallowed. "Your master actually suffers from an illness," Cang Ren revealed.
"What...?" Lu Ye managed to utter, his voice filled with disbelief.
"It's an illness that affects both the mind and the heart," Cang Ren explained solemnly. "Sadly, it is incurable. The only things that can help maintain his sanity are reassurance and minor medicines I could provide."
"Ah, I'm the only one who knows about this, so I ask you to keep it a secret between us," he added, stressing the value of keeping things confidential.
"Why did...you tell me?" Lu Ye asked.
Cang Ren offered no direct answer, only responding with a vague, "I wonder why."
But, beneath his enigmatic response, Cang Ren couldn't help but acknowledge the fact that Lu Ye must hold significant importance to Damu Lan. Being the only person capable of bringing back the long-lost smile on Damu Lan's face. The way Damu Lan had treated Lu Ye spoke volumes, leaving little doubt in Cang Ren's mind.
With a heavy sigh, Cang Ren gathered the remaining medicines and quietly walked away, leaving Lu Ye peacefully resting on the bed.
"Master... an illness..."
Lu Ye wanted to know wht kind of illness did Cang Ren meant, but he couldn't shake off the sense of being an outsider, hesitating to delve deeper into his master's affairs.
His head throbbde briefly, the result of overthinking, but he dismissed the idea of sleeping, knowing that the nightmare would return to torment him again. Instead, he chose to settle on the bed, seeking relaxation until he found respite.
.
The sound of vigorous knocking reverberated through the air, piercing the tranquility of the night. Damu Lan, his brow furrowed, made his way to the door to confront the persistent visitor. Opening it, he found Jin An standing there, unapologetically knocking with urgency, seemingly devoid of any shame or guilt.
Jin An wasted no time in getting straight to the point, his words pouring forth hurriedly. "Your disciple!"
Damu Lan, dressed in his nighttime attire, his breath heavy and his face flushed, his disheveled hair cascading around him, looked at Jin An with a mix of fatigue and irritation.
"What of him?" Damu Lan questioned, uninterested.
Jin An continued, "you know, when your disciple talked to us earlier, it reminded me of the conversation we had. The one when you spoke about Mo Yun's revival!"
"I still recall the very first time Mo Yun introduced himself to us, using his signature blunt style. It went something like this: 'Mo Yun is Mo Yun. Mo Yun is but a mere nobody.' You know, that nostalgic line—"
Nevertheless, not all of Jin An's words ached Damu Lan. Frustration sculpted across his face, Damu Lan snapped, "I don't care. Scram."
The sudden shift in Damu Lan's behavior caught Jin An off guard. Though he had grown accustomed to being dismissed by Damu Lan many times in the past, he had not expected it at this particular moment.
"Damu Lan, are you drunk again?" Jin An asked, oblivious to the underlying complexities of the situation.
"I said, scram!" Damu Lan yelled, slamming the door shut. His room, situated in a secluded spot atop the mountain, ensured that his outburst would go unheard by others.
Left hanging with no other option, Jin An let out a sigh, realizing there was nothing more he could do. "Just a while ago he was so worried about his little disciple. He needs to chill a little," he muttered as he left the scene with a slight pout on his face.
.