Ruan Yanjun smirked. "If what you mean is that I wanted him to be my disciple, you are mistaken. That's not what I want, and I'm sure you still remember what I have come to Frost Mountain for twenty years ago."
My master sighed in relief. "I see."
I frowned. It seemed that the two had some tacit understanding about something that I could not understand.
"Do you think it's still possible?" Wei Yusheng asked.
"There's no certainty, but I wouldn't leave any stone unturned."
"If all else failed, will you give me your word that you will not kill him out of frustration?"
Ruan Yanjun smirked. "Do you think I'd be foolish enough to kill a man with such rare beauty and talent? I'd rather flaunt him to the entire world regardless if that is all he'd ever be."
My cheeks turned hot. Even in my master's presence, Ruan Yanjun could be so bold and shameless.
My master turned to me and was probably staring at me. A moment later, he sighed.
"A-Fan," he said. "Sect Leader Ruan speaks bitter truth. I am no longer worthy to be your master, so from this moment onward, I release you from your oath. But I have one last order to give you."
I moved to kneel right in front of him, cupped my hands, and lowered my head. "I'm ready to take your order, Master."
He sighed again. "I need you to regard Sect Leader Ruan as your guardian. Remain by his side and obey him for as long as his wishes don't go against the virtues that have been taught to you."
I stiffened. Certainly, my master should have known what the devil Ruan Yanjun was, so why is he trying to give me away to him?
"Will you accept the final order?" he asked.
Although hesitant, I nodded. "Yes, Master."
"Now, rise."
I rose to my feet and returned to my seat beside Ruan Yanjun. The devil had been quiet, but I knew he was happy that I had just acceded to my master's behest.
"A-Fan." My master probably noticed my distress. "I would not entrust you to Sect Leader Ruan for no reason. Someone in the palace wants you dead at all costs. Now that you've shown yourself up, cultivators and mercenaries alike will be coming for your head. I am not in a position to protect you, and even if I were, my cultivation level is inadequate. I cannot think of anyone else who can protect you better than the leader of the Eternal Damnation Sect. Just being with Sect Leader Ruan will dissuade anyone from getting anywhere near you, so it's best that you stay close to him."
I nodded. My master made a good point. I only wished he knew what a terrible companion Ruan Yanjun was, how he had always made me feel uncomfortable with his teases.
"Master, I don't understand. Why are they so determined to kill me? I have already lost my cultivation, why am I still a threat to them?"
"Stop asking questions," my master replied. "You both should leave now."
Slowly, I rose to my feet. Although I did not think I was ready to forgive, I still bowed before my master before I headed for the door.
"Wait." My master stood up and took something from a drawer, and then he approached me. "Here."
I took the herb he handed me. I fondled it but could not quite recognize it.
"It might help improve your condition. Find someone to refine it for you."
I gasped when I realized that it was the herb that Ruan Yanjun and I had been looking for, the Molun Herb. "You were that person we encountered in the forest."
My master seemed surprised. "So Lord Ruan was the one who defeated the guardian?"
Ruan Yanjun smirked. "I'm surprised you didn't even notice."
"I'd been fighting the guardian for two days and I was weak and injured. When someone had taken away the guardian's attention from me, my priority then was to get the herb and escape. Have I realized your identities, I would have handed over the herb right then and there."
"Guardians of legendary herbs are level seven. What made you think you can defeat it on your own?"
That was correct. Two years ago, I was also level six when I chanced upon the Molun herb and had to fight the level seven guardian. I was lucky that Hei Bo, my senior sect brother who was also a level six, was there to help me. But even with the two of us, it had taken us the entire day to defeat the guardian.
"I took the risk before anyone could get their hands on the herb," my master replied.
"And you took the herb for your former disciple, I suppose?"
"For an obvious reason, of course. Why else would I hand the herb over?"
Ruan Yanjun smirked but did not say anything.
"Thank you, Master," I said as soon as I got an opening to speak.
"Here's another one." My master took my hand and pressed a cold hard object on my palm.
I remembered the round chained pendant that I had seen him wearing for the past twenty years. I was sure this was it.
"That used to belong to your mother," he said.
I looked at him in puzzlement. "My mother? How did—"
"Don't ask. Just take it."
I held back whatever question I wanted to ask and lowered my head to him. "Thank you, Master."
"I am no longer your master. You should have known that by now."
I did not say a word.
He turned to Ruan Yanjun who was standing a few feet away. "Lord Ruan, I now place my disciple under your custody. Please take care of him. He does not know anything about the secular world. With your guidance, I'm sure he'd learn to adapt and be independent."
"You don't have to tell me that," Ruan Yanjun replied. "I'll do that of my own free will."
"Lord Ruan," my master said again. "It's best if he does not know, not while he's in that condition."
"Don't worry, I will not be the one to tell him," Ruan Yanjun replied. "But I will lead him to the truth. Even if I won't, your disciple is smart. Eventually, he will know."
"What is it exactly that you're planning for him, my lord?"
Ruan Yanjun smirked. "One more empire under my little fingers wouldn't be bad, I suppose."
Wei Yusheng sighed. "Just as I thought."
"Now, warn your brother. It might not take long."