"Do you doubt?" Ruan Yanjun asked.
I slowly shook my head. "I can't understand why anyone would poison me. I am practically dead."
He laughed mischievously. "Some people are just too evil that to see you dead is not enough for them. They want to see you suffer until your very last breath."
I pulled my hand away. "I don't feel any poison."
"You can't feel it, but it's there, slowly destroying your internal organs. It's a very slow killer. As days pass, you'll only get weaker and weaker until you feel like something is eating you up from the inside. The pain will be so unbearable that you'll wish for death. But you'll be too weak to even end your own life. You can only lie there and wait in agony. But death will not come so soon. Every second will feel like hell."
The words he'd said made me shudder. My fingers turned cold.
The man slowly leaned closer towards me and whispered, "Someone… wants you… to die… a terrible death."
My whole body froze in fear.
Is he telling the truth? Will I really die in such a miserable way?
He laughed devilishly, and so I thought that he must be amusing himself at my expense. "Lord Lan, please do not humor me."
"I have no reason to humor you. If you do not believe me, then don't. I'll just sit back and watch you suffer. That poison in your body is a rare one. I'd like to know how long you can last and how horrible the pain and damage it causes a person. If I found the effect satisfactory, I might use it to another person for my own amusement, then I don't have to be bored for a while."
I clenched my fist that was resting on my lap. I had known from the very start that this man was not a good person. I should have followed my instinct and did not come here to meet him.
And I did not think he was a friend of my master. The Chief of Frost Mountain would never make friends with the devil.
"Then I refuse to go with you," I said, my decision final.
"Are you sure?" His voice carried a malicious tone. "Your companion over there seems to be enjoying herself. She's clueless. I haven't had fun with a woman for a while now."
My cheeks flared and I tightened my fists. This man was even worse than I had initially thought. I should never have agreed to meet him.
"I'll ask her to return what you've paid her," I said calmly. "Do not harm her."
"Why are you very protective of that woman?" he asked. "Is her life really that precious to you?"
"…It is."
He sighed. "I'll give you some time to think about it. As for now, there's someone that I need you to see."
"Who is it?"
"You'll know when we get there."
"I don't wish to go anywhere with you."
"Priest Wei Fan, you're a world-renowned alchemist. That was why you were given the title of Divine Mage. Even though you've been banished, I hope you still have not forgotten your vow. This man that I need you to see has been ill for a while now, and he is close to dying. Are you just going to ignore him?"
I swallowed. "Give me his location and I'll find a way to get there."
"I'm afraid they will not allow you in unless I accompany you."
"I believe you're a very wealthy man. You can afford the services of the best physicians in this empire. I'm not a healer. I only refine elixirs and manufacture medicines for certain diseases."
"The imperial physician himself has already diagnosed this man multiple times. He could not tell what was wrong. And you know what I think?" He leaned forward towards me. "I think he has the same poison as you have."
My breath got caught in my throat. "You really believe that I've been poisoned?"
"The condition of your body is identical with this man. He, too, keeps vomiting blood. And I do not think this is a disease. You both have been given the same untraceable noxious substance that's slowly destroying your internal organs. This man is now bedridden. Soon, you might be too. If you agree to go check on him, you might find a cure for him and you'd be greatly rewarded. You will also save your own life."
"If I knew what poison I have, I would not be suffering until now."
"If you take a look at it from another person, perhaps you'll able to see it."
I pondered about it and thought he made a good point. "If I agree, how far should we have to travel?"
"Not that far. Maybe six hours. But you might have to stay there for a few days while you conduct some research and experiments. All expenses will be paid for, and you'll be paid for your effort as well so you'll have something to bring home to your so-called wife. Isn't that a good deal?"
I thought about it. There was nothing more that I wanted but to give something to Jinjing. She had incurred a lot of debt because of me. I wanted to make things easier for her.
"So…" He leaned sideways, resting his head on his hand. "Priest Wei Fan, do we have a deal?"
"Before anything, I have a request. I wish to disengage myself entirely from Ethereal Frost Sect, so I wish to revert to my original name, Luo Fan."
"…Luo Fan?"
I nodded. "My biological father is Luo Zhong. I wish to honor him by carrying his name."
"I see." He nodded a couple of times. "From now on, I shall call you Luo Fan then. I think it sounds better too, and while you're bearing another name, no one will know about your real identity."
Something about what he'd said made me pause and think.
Does that mean he has no intention of selling me out to Kan Empire? Or is it just a trick to make me feel complacent?
"Since that's been settled," he said. "Let's go back to our discussion. What is your decision?"
I was about to respond when I heard a pair of footsteps rush in.
"Ruan Yanjun," a hoarse voice echoed around the empty place.
I stiffened.
I know that name. The infamous sect leader of the Eternal Damnation Sect, the largest sect in all five empires, one that had driven all other rival sects out of Xianru and Wun. A name linked to the murders of dozens of grandmasters and thousands of commoners. A name synonymous with the devil.
My eyes widened as I stared at the outline of the man before me.
Am I sitting right in front of the notorious Devil of the South?