LUO FAN
When we arrived in Zhaoyun City, the capital of Silang Empire, I was unprepared for the sheer number of light cultivators casually walking the streets. Unlike Wun or Xianru, where light cultivators were shunned or suppressed, Silang offered them sanctuary. It was as though the city thrived on their energy—temples adorned every street, their golden spires glinting in the sunlight, and vendors openly sold charms infused with light energy.
Ruan Yanjun wasted no time securing accommodations at a luxurious inn. The choice of lodging reflected his status, with a private courtyard, elegantly furnished rooms, and a serene pond filled with golden koi. The extravagance surpassed anything I had ever experienced, and while I admired the beauty, I couldn't help but feel out of place.
To my surprise, he told me I was free to explore the city—and even encouraged me to visit the temples if I wished.
"Don't wander too far," he said as he handed me a pouch of coins. "But take the chance to enjoy yourself."
The words sounded foreign coming from him. Ruan Yanjun, who watched me like a hawk and rarely let me out of his sight, was granting me freedom?
I didn't hesitate. The moment he turned away, I was out the door, the sound of bustling city life drawing me forward.
Despite a lingering weariness in my chest, I spent the entire day roaming the streets. I visited temples where light cultivators shared their wisdom with eager smiles and open hearts. Their kindness was exhilirating, but I kept my guard up. My dark core, though faint and almost unnoticeable, could betray me if I wasn't careful. The mere thought of them discovering my secret made my skin crawl. In their eyes, dual core bearers like me were unnatural—a breach of heaven's order.
It was late by the time I returned to the inn, my legs aching but my heart light. The warmth of the city had made me forget, if only for a moment, the strange journey that had brought me here.
When I reached courtyard, however, I was met with an odd stillness. Ruan Yanjun was gone.
"Where is Lord Ruan?" I asked one of the staff.
"He left shortly after you did this morning," the attendant said, bowing politely. "He instructed us to take care of your needs until he returns. He mentioned he would be gone for a week."
"A week?" I echoed, surprised.
The attendant nodded and retreated, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
Ruan Yanjun never left without telling me. His absence felt unnatural, unsettling. Over the past two weeks, during our journey from Baixu City, he had been uncharacteristically quiet. Restless, almost. There were moments when I caught him clutching his chest or gritting his teeth, his expression clouded with pain.
Each time I asked what was wrong, he would dismiss me with the same curt reply, claiming it was nothing.
But it wasn't nothing. I'd seen how his steps faltered, how his eyes dimmed in moments of quiet. Even though he had seemed to recover once we reached Zhaoyun City, his sudden departure now painted a clearer picture.
He was hiding something from me.
I sat on the edge of my bed, staring at the moonlit courtyard beyond the window. Was he seeking a remedy for whatever plagued him? And if so, why couldn't he tell me?
A familiar frustration bubbled up inside me. Ruan Yanjun carried the weight of his secrets like a shield, pushing away anyone who tried to get too close. And yet, despite knowing that, I still found myself worrying.
He was my captor, my protector, and—though I hated to admit it—my source of stability in a world that often felt like it wanted to devour me whole.
I clenched my fists, trying to banish the unease that gnawed at me. He was strong—stronger than anyone I'd ever met. Whatever he was facing, he would overcome it.
Wouldn't he?
The thought hung heavy in the air as I lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling. The city's distant hum was a comfort, but it wasn't enough to quiet the storm in my chest.
*****