LUO FAN
I paused in the middle of the dirt path, staring up at the steep hill that loomed before us. To gather the vital herbs needed for the medicine, we had no choice but to climb it, though the scorching midday sun made the task far more grueling than it should have been.
Turning back, I saw Jinjing approaching slowly, her steps hesitant. At first, I thought she was simply tired, but as I looked closer, I noticed something else—her distant expression, as if her mind was lost elsewhere.
This was unlike her. The Jinjing I knew was vibrant and full of life.
With a sigh, I approached her. She did not even notice me until she nearly walked into me, and I had to steady her by her shoulders. Finally, she looked up, startled.
"Are you alright?" I asked.
For a moment, she didn't respond. "Y-yes," she stammered.
I frowned. She had been acting strangely since yesterday, ever since she'd received a letter from her family. When I asked about it, she claimed she wasn't feeling well.
I did not believe her, of course.
"Let me see the letter you received yesterday," I said firmly. My tone reminded me of Ruan Yanjun's commanding demeanor, but Jinjing was my betrothed, soon to be my wife. I had a right to know what was troubling her. I did not see it as crossing the line.
She stared at me and did not answer.
"Where is it?" I asked again.
She hesitated, avoiding my gaze. "I… left it at home," she finally said.
I compressed my lips into a thin line, recognizing the lie but choosing not to push her further. "Do you want to rest?"
She nodded, and I led her to the shade of a large tree.
As we ate our simple lunch, Jinjing remained uncharacteristically quiet.
"Jinjing," I began, breaking the silence. "We're about to get married, yet you're keeping things from me."
Her eyes widened slightly, but she shook her head. "I'm not hiding anything. It's just so hot—it's draining me."
"Is that the truth?"
"Of course." She forced a smile and leaned closer to me. "You're overthinking." She picked up a piece of dumpling and stuffed it into my mouth. "Now stop worrying and eat."
I smiled despite myself and chewed. For a moment, it seemed like she was back to her usual self, but I wasn't fooled. Whatever burden she carried, it wasn't something she was ready to share, so I decided to wait.
*****
Our journey had been another success. Within hours of arriving in the village, we'd sold out every last batch of medicine.
As we made our way home, descending a rugged hill, my heightened senses prickled with unease. A faint presence lingered in the distance, shadowing our steps. The sensation of being watched clung to me, impossible to shake.
I glanced over my shoulder, expecting to see a familiar figure in the shadows—perhaps one of Ruan Yanjun's disciples, sent to keep an eye on me, a silent reminder of the devil's lingering interest.
Jinjing noticed my unease and her grip on my arm tightened. She whispered, "Fan, what's wrong?"
"Someone's following us," I replied, keeping my voice low.
Her eyes widened, but she remained calm. We had encountered trouble before, and she knew better than to panic. She looked around, searching for the source of the disturbance in the air, but she couldn't see what I could feel.
Suddenly, a young man emerged from the shadows, blocking our path. He wore a mask that covered the upper half of his face, revealing only piercing, dark eyes that gleamed with malicious intent.
Without a second thought, I stepped forward, placing myself protectively in front of Jinjing. She had retreated behind a large oak tree, her eyes wide with terror as she watched the unfolding scene.
The man's presence was palpable, and the way he held himself suggested that he was a cultivator. The air around him vibrated with a sinister aura that sent chills down my spine.
The young man unsheathed his sword, the blade glinting menacingly in the sunlight. The familiarity of his stance, the way he held the weapon with such ease—it was as if he was a mirror image of someone I knew. A chilling suspicion began to take root in my mind.
Could this man be Bai Li, the man who had claimed to be an informal teacher to Chang Tao?
My first meeting with Bai Li in the market had probably been a coincidence, but now I was certain that he had come to Xianru for a purpose, and that was to hunt me down.
He was a third level, which was odd. The Crown Prince of Kan, or whoever had ordered this man, had probably figured out that Ruan Yanjun had retracted his protection over me so they were confident that a level three was enough to eliminate me.
The man charged toward me.
His blade was swift, slicing through the air with deadly precision.
Despite his speed, I managed to dodge and parry each strike with surprising agility. Years of martial arts cultivation had honed my senses and reflexes to a razor's edge, allowing me to anticipate his moves before he even made them.
Yet, with each block, I felt my strength waning. My breath came in ragged gasps, and the sickness that had plagued me for so long sapped my energy. Sweat dripped down my face, and my arms trembled under the strain.
The weight of the stick grew heavier with every clang against the sword, my once confident swings now a tad slower.
When I felt I could no longer hold out, I unleashed a move I had sworn never to use again, a technique that had once taken a life. Channeling the last reserves of my energy, I thrust my stick forward, striking the masked man with a force that sent him stumbling back.
I didn't wait for him to recover. I grabbed Jinjing's hand and pulled her into the dense forest. "Let's run!"
We sprinted through the underbrush, each step a desperate push against the uneven terrain. Branches lashed at our faces, the dense forest clawing at us as though trying to drag us back. But we couldn't stop—not with danger so close behind.
As we emerged from the woods into the clearing, the cool air kissed my sweat-drenched skin. The silence was eerie. I couldn't tell if the masked man had given up or was lying in wait.
My vision wavered, the edges darkening as exhaustion clawed at me. My legs trembled, no longer able to support my weight. The ground swayed beneath me, and I collapsed to my knees, gasping for air as the world blurred around me.
The sharp, metallic taste of blood filled my mouth, hot and cloying. A cough tore through me, splattering crimson onto the grass below. My body had reached its limit.