LUO FAN
My eyes snapped open. It was the middle of the night and I had blown out the candle before I had gone to bed earlier, but although I could not see anything in the darkness, I had undoubtedly heard a pair of feet lightly landing on the floor. The intruder must have come from the window that I had left open to allow the fresh air in.
"Your Highness," a voice whispered.
I stiffened.
It had been a while since anyone had addressed me like that.
In Kan Empire, the status of a Divine Mage was equivalent to that of a prince, and that was why people used to address me as one.
That meant the intruder was someone who knew me.
"It's me, Liang Yuan."
I jolted up from the bed.
Liang Yuan! My senior sect brother in Frost Mountain?
"Is it really you?" I asked, my breathing unsteady, stirred by sudden excitement.
"Of course. Must I show you proof?"
I took a deep breath to calm myself down. The reason I had gotten so excited was because I had already recognized his voice.
"No need. I know your voice too well."
A light lit up. He must have kindled a ball of light in his hand, just like how he used to do when the two of us had been assigned to investigate a disturbance inside the cave at the foot of Frost Mountain. He had always carried with him a small crystal ball that he imbued with light energy so he did not have to carry a torch to light his way in dark places. It was more convenient.
"Can you see me now?" he asked.
I shook my head. "I can only see a black silhouette of your figure."
"So it's true." He slowly sat down beside me. "You're blind."
I did not answer. This man had been one of my closest friends in Frost Mountain, and his mother was Prince Yusheng's maternal cousin. Since I was adopted by Prince Yusheng, we grew up referring to each other as cousins, as well. Regardless of our closeness, there was a reason why I had not sought his help when I needed it.
It was because he was also a close friend and the personal general of the crown prince of Kan Empire. Ever since I met him, he had always been very loyal to Crown Prince Jiayi. Twice, he had risked his life saving the crown prince's life.
And that crown prince had been the one who had insisted that my cultivation be nullified as compensation for my crime.
So naturally, I held deep resentment over Crown Prince Jiayi. I could not trust his loyal general either.
"What are you doing here?" I asked.
"I've been searching for you."
"Why are you searching for me?"
"A-Fan, we're sect brothers. Of course, I wanted to find out where you are to make sure that you are fine."
"I'm no longer a member of Ethereal Frost Sect."
"Nonsense. Even if you've been banished, I still see you as my brother. Don't you feel the same?"
I sighed. "I'm fine. You don't have to worry about me."
"Earlier today in the restaurant, I saw you together with the Eternal Damnation Sect leader. What exactly is your relationship with him?"
I froze and my cheeks flared.
He must be the one that Ruan Yanjun had mentioned earlier who kept staring at me and was giving us a hard stare.
"Do you have a relationship with Sect Leader Ruan?"
I heaved another sigh and shook my head. "We have no such relationship. He was just making a show. I don't know for what purpose, but knowing Sect Leader Ruan, he's not someone who'd do silly things for no reason."
"You seem to adore him."
"I do adore him for many things, especially his profound knowledge of politics and war, and not to mention his mind-blowing fighting skills, but that is all."
"How did you end up with Sect Leader Ruan in the first place?"
As I noticed that he seemed to be fishing for information, my senses had come to an alert and I decided to put my guard up. "It's a long story."
"A-Fan." He reached for my hand and held it in between his. "We've heard a lot about Ruan Yanjun before, and you know very well that he is a devil in human form. Do not trust him. Whatever his purpose is for taking you in, it's not for you but for himself."
I pulled my hand off his grip. A few times in the past, he had held my hand that way, and it had always made me feel uncomfortable. "I know that."
"Then come with me." He grabbed my hand again. "I'll get you out of here and take you to a place where he cannot find you."
I was dumbfounded. For a long moment, I could not utter a word.
"I will protect you myself," he continued.
His words were promising, but I could not trust him either. He might be planning to deliver me to the palace to be executed. At least Ruan Yanjun did not want me dead… for now.
"Yuan, you're only tempting death. There's no place we can hide, and once he finds us, he won't be very forgiving."
"There is a place. Trust me."
Those last two words… Whenever Ruan Yanjun uttered those words, the more I could not trust him. The same with Liang Yuan.
"I won't go with you." I tried to pull my hand again, but he gripped it even tighter.
"You have to come with me right now. I'm the only one who can protect you."
"You think you're more capable of protecting me than Sect Leader Ruan?"
"He is only using you. He protects you for his own benefit, and once your usefulness is over, he'll kill you. You have to escape while you still have a chance."
I had also suspected that, but with Ruan Yanjun, I saw a better chance of survival.
"I won't go with you," I decided.
"Don't be stupid." He stood up and pulled me towards the window. "Whether you like it or not, I'll get you out of here."
"I cannot go with you!" I growled, keeping my voice low so as not to wake up the other guests, especially Ruan Yanjun who was only two rooms away. If he caught Liang Yuan with me, it would only end up bad and I did not want my cousin killed.
"You have to before it's too late!"
Although I was physically weaker, I fought with all my strength and he stopped trying to drag me out of the window. He knew that if I continued to struggle, it's either we'd fall to the floor and make a noise or drop a long way to the ground below.
"What are you doing?" he grunted in between gasps. "That man is a devil. Don't tell me you've bonded with him."
"It's not that." I was also struggling for breath. "I am indebted to him. I promised to pay him back by working for him."
"How much do you owe him? I'll pay for it. I'll send the money over to him the moment we reach our destination."
"Stop it!" I spat. "I told you I'm not going with you. I'm doing fine just now, and I am well aware of my situation. I can handle the risks that will come in the future."
"A-Fan, you're underestimating the devil. He won't give you a chance. I guarantee that. So stop being foolish and come with me!"
He tried to reach for me again but I patted his hands away. He insisted until we ended up exchanging blows. He was a fifth level. I was no match against him.
He managed to grab both my wrists and locked them with just one hand behind my back, and then he pinned me against the wall, restraining my movement.
We were both breathing hard that none of us could speak a word for a moment.
I pressed my forehead against the wall as I thought of a way to escape from my situation. I should have made a commotion earlier to wake Ruan Yanjun up.