LUO FAN
The way back to Xianru had taken us over two months. Along the way, we had dropped by the residence of a famous alchemist named Ma Huan.
He was a level six so I was confident that he would do a fine job with the rare plant. It would take him a month to finish refining the elixir so Ruan Yanjun had decided that we should just come back for it later because anyway, we'd be traveling back to Kan Empire after a couple of months.
I suspected that Ruan Yanjun had intentionally set that up. He knew it would take a while to refine the herb and had decided to leave it in Wun Empire so I'd be forced to travel with him again.
I really meant to fulfill my promise to him, but he probably could not trust me enough and wanted an additional guarantee.
It was already late at night when we made it to Jinjing's house. Ruan Yanjun got out of the carriage first and reached for my hand as I went down.
"You have a week to rest," he said. "Early morning on Monday, I'll come pick you up."
I nodded. "Lord Ruan, thank you very much for all the help."
Just as I turned away, he grabbed my hand. I stopped and turned back to him.
"Your enemies are now aware that you're here," he said. "Are you sure you're safe here? Why don't you stay in my residence instead? Take the woman with you."
"I thank you for the offer, but we won't feel very comfortable surrounded by servants. We are both servants ourselves."
"Tell her I'm offering her a job in my residence. I'll pay three times what she earns in that brothel. That way, she may be saved from people's prejudice. It will save both yours and her reputation."
"I have to talk to her about that."
He sighed and stepped closer to me, too close that I froze. I may not have stepped back, but I put my guard up. The moment he attempted to touch me inappropriately again, I would not hesitate to punch him in the face regardless of the consequences.
"A-Fan." His voice was very tender as he gently squeezed my hand. It gave me that spine-chilling sensation once again. "I've given my word to your former master that I will protect you, but since I have to attend to some important matters and you refuse to come along, I'll be leaving some of my disciples to look after you. So if you see them lurking about your house, don't mind them. They're just doing their job."
I nodded. "Lord Ruan worries too much. I don't think those who wish me dead will come all the way here. They might have already seen how worthless I have become. They will not waste their time on me anymore."
He smirked and gently tapped my cheek. "My A-Fan is really naïve. Once you learn the truth, you will not think that way."
I did not bother to let him elaborate anymore. He had been telling me that same thing several times already. Even if I asked, he would not answer me anyway.
I pulled my hand off his grip and took a step back. "Goodnight, my lord," I said and turned away again.
"I'll wait here until she opens the door for you."
I knocked on the gate. A moment later, I heard the door open.
"Who is it?" Jinjing asked. That was already her soft voice, but it was still too loud especially since the night was so quiet.
The wall surrounding the front yard was only at the height of my chest. From where I stood, I saw a frame of an approaching woman holding a lantern.
My heart fluttered. It had been months and I missed her. "It's me."
She suddenly stopped with a gasp. "Fan?" she asked. Suddenly, she ran to the gate and pulled it open. "Fan!" she exclaimed as she put down the lantern and hugged me tight. "I was so afraid that you had forgotten me already. You've been away for too long."
I gently wrapped my arms around her and stroked her back. "Why should I forget you? I promised you I'd be back, didn't I?"
"I'm so happy! I miss you so much!"
"I miss you too." While she was on the verge of laughing and screaming, I tried to pacify her, especially since Ruan Yanjun was just behind me.
Then I heard the sound of a carriage leaving. When I turned, Ruan Yanjun was not there anymore, and the carriage was already several yards away.
He did not even greet Jinjing. Not even a word of goodbye to me.
Did he get jealous? Was he annoyed by the emotional reunion between me and Jinjing?
I smiled inwardly. If he were indeed jealous, I should be happy. That must have hit him hard. That would teach him not to take me for his toy, because unlike him, I was not into men.
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