LUO FAN
It was already afternoon when we decided to head back home. Along the way, I heard the sound of clanging blades. I stopped, grabbing Jinjing's wrist as I listened.
There was a fight not too far away.
Have the disciples of Eternal Damnation encountered an enemy? Has someone come for me?
I saw a movement to my right. When I turned, a shadow dashed towards me.
I immediately pulled Jinjing behind me and used my stick to deflect the man's oncoming blow. The stick hit his wrist, holding back the blade from reaching me, but the impact had thrown me backward.
Jinjing caught me in her arms, preventing me from falling to the ground.
"Step aside," I quickly told her with a gentle push when I noticed that the attacker was quickly charging towards me. I dodged away from his weapon and whirled to his back while he retrieved his balance. I hit him on the shoulders but without enough strength, the blow was probably too soft that it did not even make him budge. As though someone had just patted him on the shoulder, he swiftly turned around and countered with a swipe.
I had dodged too late and had already anticipated a slash across my arm, but then from out of nowhere, something hit the man on the nape and his blade froze barely an inch away from me. A moment later, he collapsed on the ground.
I knew the sound of that weapon that circled the perimeter. A blade wheel, like the weapon of Huang Wen.
"Priest Fan!" Huang Wen's voice finally erupted. Before I could find out where he was, he had already landed before me and pulled me away. "Come with me."
I quickly grabbed Jinjing with me and we all ran through a thicket of trees until we made it to a clearing where two horses awaited.
Huang Wen practically threw us over one horse and mounted the other. Immediately, we left the place. I did not think it was safe for us to return home so I followed Huang Wen's lead. I could not see very well so Jinjing assisted me with the reins.
After about half an hour, Huang Wen finally slowed down, and so we did too. We traveled for one more hour until Huan Wen pulled over before a high wall.
Jinjing held on to my elbow as I moved my eyes upward. When I saw an arc shape above, I realized that I was not staring at a wall but at an imposing gate that was as high as a tree.
"Where are we?" Jinjing whispered behind me.
"Is there anything written above the gate?" I returned.
She tilted her head up. "Henmei District."
Just as I thought. Huang Wen had just led us to his master's domain.
"Isn't this the home of Eternal Damnation Sect?" she asked.
"It is."
"Why did he bring us here?"
Before I could answer, the heavy gate slowly swung partially open, allowing just enough space for a horse to enter.
"Welcome back, Senior Disciple Huang," two guards greeted in chorus as they stepped out of the gate.
Huang Wen nodded at them and turned his head in my direction. "Priest Luo, follow me."
I obliged and found an endless plain ahead.
"The place is empty," Jinjing said while turning her head around. "Is this where the disciples train?"
"This is probably an open field where disciples assemble."
"It's huge."
"It has to be. Eternal Damnation Sect has thousands of disciples in Xianru Empire alone. There are thousands more in Wun Empire."
"So where do the disciples stay?"
"Probably where we're heading to."
We traveled for another hour or so until Jinjing started to squirm behind me.
"Are you alright?" I asked.
"I'm just not used to riding but don't worry. I'm fine."
We had been riding for probably three hours already and my betrothed was exhausted.
I spotted another tall gate guarded by several men with a tower on each of its sides. The guards didn't even utter a word as we approached and immediately opened the gate. Being a direct disciple of Ruan Yanjun, Huang Wen must be well-known throughout the district.
As we entered the gate, a busy road greeted us. Behind the gate was a desolate place, but this one looked like a flourishing city.
We passed by several shops and restaurants until Jinjing leaned closer to whisper in my ear. "The dumplings smell so good. I'm hungry."
I smiled when I heard a growl coming from her stomach.
"Disciple Huang," I called. "If you don't mind, could we stop over for a quick meal?"
"We'll be arriving in the main residence soon," Huang Wen replied. "Dinner will be served there."
"How long?"
"A few minutes."
The few minutes turned out to be another half an hour. By the time Huang Wen stopped before a residential gate, Jinjing was already slumped on my back, her head resting on my shoulder.
The isolated enclosure before us must be the private residence of Ruan Yanjun, right in the middle of Henmei District.
I sighed. Two days ago, I had declined Ruan Yanjun's invitation to stay in his residence, but it looked like it would be inevitable this time.
Huang Wen leaped off his horse and came over to help Jinjing down. When it was my turn to descend, a sudden contraction tightened my chest.
I tried not to make a sound and closed my eyes to suppress the pain. This was probably caused by the burst of energy that I had exerted when I defended against the attacker earlier. The long travel had exacerbated my exhaustion.
"Are you alright?" I heard Jinjing ask.
"I am," I replied in between gasps.
But I was not. My surroundings were spinning around and I was about to lose my balance. Before I knew it, I fell off the horse.
Jinjing screamed but I did not drop to the ground. A pair of arms managed to catch me in time.