As evening descended, we arrived at a modest inn for the night. It was a small establishment, but the warm light spilling from its windows and the lively hum of conversation from its restaurant promised a comforting reprieve after our long day of travel.
Inside, however, the restaurant was packed. Every table on the main floor was taken—only the lofted area on the second floor had seats remaining. A wooden sign by the stairs indicated the prices there were significantly higher, clearly reserved for wealthier patrons.
"For once, let's try a special seat," Xiao Delun suggested, already eyeing the staircase.
"I'm afraid I can't afford such a luxury," I replied, glancing up at the upper level.
Xiao Delun turned to me, amused. "You're a sect leader, and you can't indulge in a nicer seat for one evening?"
Li Yao chimed in, a note of curiosity in his tone. "Your disciples revere you as their master, yet you deny yourself the simplest comforts?"
I offered a modest smile. "My sect is small and poor. I can't justify extravagance while my disciples struggle to eat three meals a day. What kind of master would I be if I squandered the little we have?"
Li Yao looked genuinely taken aback, while Xiao Delun stroked his chin in thought.
"Fine," Xiao Delun said after a pause, grinning. "I'll pay for tonight's meal—for all of us. Consider it a gesture of goodwill."
Li Yao laughed and nudged him with an elbow. "Business must be good."
"Not especially," Xiao Delun admitted. "But I'm too hungry to stand around. And I've been craving a little ambiance."
Without waiting for a reply, he started up the stairs, leaving Li Yao and me trailing behind.
Li Yao leaned over and said in a low voice, "His family's quite wealthy. He usually pinches copper like a miser, but now and then, he splurges on things like this."
Before I could respond, Xiao Delun turned back midway up the steps. "What are you two doing down there? Let's go!"
Reluctantly, I followed, though a quiet discomfort settled in my chest. My thoughts drifted to my disciples on Guidao Island, training and working without pause. Could I really sit in comfort and luxury while they struggled?
As we climbed the stairs, Li Yao's eyes fell on the bamboo stick in my hand. "Why do you carry that thing everywhere? You're not old enough to need a walking stick."
I chuckled. "It's my weapon."
Li Yao blinked, casting incredulous glances between me and the stick. "That's your weapon? How do you even hurt anyone with that?"
"It's served me well so far."
He frowned. "But you're a sect leader. Shouldn't you be wielding a sword? Something with dignity?"
"Swords are expensive," I replied with a faint smile. "This poor priest can't afford one."
He sighed, shaking his head. "I've never heard of a sect leader who can't even afford a proper weapon."
We reached the second floor before I could respond. A kindly gentleman greeted us there and introduced himself as the owner of the establishment. He led us to one of the remaining tables. There were only four in total on the upper level, and two were already occupied. Xiao Delun chose a spot near the window that overlooked the softly lit streets of the town below.
Once we were seated and the owner had taken our order, Xiao Delun leaned back with a satisfied sigh. "See? Worth every coin."
I nodded politely, though I wasn't so sure. My gaze wandered to the other patrons—until it caught on a familiar presence.
Partially veiled by a curtain of semi-transparent beads, seated at the next table, was a figure I recognized instantly. Even with only his outline visible, that powerful stillness, that commanding posture—it could only be Ruan Yanjun.
My breath hitched. I looked away quickly, heart pounding. The distance between tables and the veil of beads offered some semblance of privacy, but my pulse quickened all the same. Was it mere coincidence… or fate again?
"You look pale," Li Yao said, snapping me out of my thoughts.
"Nothing," I replied too quickly, shaking my head. "Just tired."
I focused on the table, willing myself to stay composed. Perhaps he hadn't even seen me. Or perhaps… he wouldn't acknowledge me at all, not after the way we'd parted.
Still, that quiet tension refused to leave me. As if the strings of fate that had once bound us were drawing taut again, ready to snap or pull us violently together once more.
"It's that man again," Li Yao whispered, leaning slightly toward me.
I followed his gaze—and froze. We were looking at the same figure.
"I didn't expect him to be here as well," Li Yao continued in a hushed tone. "We saw him earlier today at the tea shop."
Xiao Delun, catching on, turned his head slightly. "Oh, that one. Yes, we've been crossing paths with him for three days now. It's uncanny. I think he's heading in the same direction as us."
"Do you know him?" I asked, masking my unease behind a casual tone.
Xiao Delun shook his head. "How could we? He's so... refined. Too quiet. And his gaze is downright unsettling. He carries himself like someone important. Maybe a noble. Did you see that carriage outside the teashop earlier? Only the wealthiest clans can afford something like that."
"You mean your family isn't rich enough for such extravagance?" I asked, forcing a lighthearted tone.
Xiao Delun grinned. "My family may be well-off, but not that well-off. If we were, I wouldn't be traveling back and forth across Xianru and Wun trying to sell silk and spices."
Li Yao chuckled. "At least your seat have special cushions. I can hardly afford that luxury."
I sighed. "If I had a simple wagon, or even an ox cart, I'd be overjoyed not to walk every step of every journey."
Xiao Delun frowned. "Why should a fine priest like you travel around riding an ox cart? That ruins your stature."
We all laughed, but my eyes kept straying to the next table—where Ruan Yanjun sat behind the beaded curtain, quiet as a statue, yet radiating that same formidable presence that made him impossible to ignore.
"Priest Luo," Xiao Delun said suddenly, lowering his voice. "Can you tell if that man is a cultivator like yourself?"
"He is," I replied, keeping my tone even.
"What level?" Li Yao asked, already leaning forward in anticipation.
"Level nine," I said without hesitation.
Both men stared at me as though I'd grown horns.
"You're joking," Xiao Delun said after a pause. "Everyone knows only Sect Leader Ruan ever reached that level."
I gave a silent chuckle, offering no correction.
"Seriously though," Li Yao said, nudging me. "What's his real level?"
I knew they wouldn't believe the truth even if I repeated it. "Why are you both so curious about every cultivator you meet?" I deflected instead.
"Simple," Xiao Delun said, flashing a grin. "We like to bet. It's fun keeping track of the grandmasters we spot during our travels. So, is he one or not?"
"He's a grandmaster," I confirmed.
"I knew it!" Li Yao cried out, digging into his sleeve to produce a small roll of parchment. Xiao Delun had already pulled out an inkstone and brush, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
"What are you writing?" I asked, frowning.
"His description," Li Yao replied. "We're building a record. It's important to be accurate. So what's his name?"
I paused. "How would I know that?"
"Fair enough," he sighed. "I'll just describe him."
"Be discreet," I warned. "Don't stare too long. Just one glance."
"Why? Does he mind being looked at?"
"He does."
"How can you tell?"
"I can feel it," I answered simply, eyes downcast. "He's already annoyed."
Li Yao straightened immediately, lowering his gaze. "Alright. No more staring. I've seen enough."
"You should both leave him be," I murmured. "He's not someone you want to provoke."
They nodded, though Xiao Delun seemed reluctant to put away his brush. Still, the message had landed.
Despite my calm words, my chest tightened. Ruan Yanjun's presence was more than an unexpected complication—it was a storm waiting to break. And though I told myself I didn't want him to notice me, a small part of me couldn't deny the pull of his gaze, even when I wasn't looking directly at him.
The tension between us felt inevitable, like two opposing forces locked in orbit, always circling, always on the verge of colliding again.
"I wonder what his fighting style is like," Xiao Delun murmured, his gaze lingering on the beaded curtain that partially concealed Ruan Yanjun and Huang Wen. "He's taller and more solidly built than most cultivators I've seen. He must be incredibly strong."
Li Yao nodded, tapping his fingers thoughtfully against the table. "True. But I don't think he's that fast. Between him and the Night Fall Sect's top disciple, Zeng Heng, I'd bet on Zeng Heng."
"You've seen Grandmaster Zeng Heng fight?" I asked, my interest piqued.
"Of course," Li Yao replied, eyes gleaming. "We've watched him compete a few times. He's amazing—every strike clean and precise, his movements like flowing water. I didn't dare blink during his matches."
"But the one we really want to see in action is Sect Leader Ruan," Xiao Delun added, his voice lowering slightly, as if speaking of a legend. "It's just unfortunate no one dares to challenge him anymore. He's beyond reach."
Li Yao turned to me, an eager glint in his eyes. "Priest Luo, if we're lucky enough to see him at the congregation, would you challenge him?"
I frowned, taken aback. "That would be both arrogant and foolish. Sect Leader Ruan is a level nine cultivator. I haven't even reached grandmaster level. He could defeat me within ten moves—if not less."
"What about a friendly match? Just for entertainment?" Li Yao pressed. "We've never seen an immortal-level cultivator fight."
I shook my head. "He wouldn't accept. Sect Leader Ruan only fights opponents he deems worthy." I paused, a faint ache stirring behind my calm tone. "I'm nowhere near his league."
Both men fell silent, visibly disappointed.
Moments later, Ruan Yanjun and Huang Wen rose from their table. Even the subtle motion of them standing drew attention. Their steps were unhurried but deliberate—quiet thunder rolling through the floorboards. My companions stared, captivated.
"He has a certain bearing," Xiao Delun said, almost reverently. "There's something about him... a pressure. I can't explain it."
"You can feel it?" I asked quietly, surprised.
"Yes," he said, glancing at me. "It's like the air shifts around him. He doesn't need to speak to command a room."
"Give me your left hand," I said.
He blinked, then offered it without hesitation. I placed three fingers against his wrist, lightly pressing against his vitality gate. After a moment of silent reading, I nodded.
"You have an excellent foundation," I told him. "You would've made a fine cultivator."
A wistful expression softened Xiao Delun's face. "I wanted to be, once. My brother was a cultivator. He died young. My parents made me promise never to follow the same path. I was the only son left, and I didn't want to hurt them more... So I gave it up."
"I see," I said gently. "That was a difficult sacrifice. But a noble one."
Li Yao gave a short laugh, lifting his hand. "And as for me, they all said my foundation was too weak, so I gave up before I even began."
I took his hand and tested his vitality gate. His pulse was uneven, the flow of energy sluggish and fragmented. I lowered his hand with care.
"Were they right?" he asked, though the answer was already in his eyes.
I gave a reluctant nod. "Cultivating with such a fragile foundation would be dangerous. Your body might not withstand the strain. It could damage your organs."
Li Yao let out a long breath, leaning back with a resigned smile. "That's what they said. It still stings to hear it again. I've always admired cultivators—what they can do, what they stand for. But I suppose I was never meant for that life."
Xiao Delun reached over, clapping him on the shoulder. "You're damn good at what you are, though. Not everyone needs to wield swords or summon wind and fire to make a mark."
Li Yao chuckled, though the sound was tinged with wistfulness. "I suppose you're right."
As the echoes of Ruan Yanjun's footsteps faded into the night, I leaned closer to my companions, lowering my voice so no one else could hear.
"I lied to you both earlier," I confessed, the words bitter on my tongue. "I actually know the man we were just talking about."
Li Yao and Xiao Delun both straightened, their curiosity immediately reignited. They leaned in eagerly, eyes wide with anticipation.
"So, who is he?" Xiao Delun asked in a hush, nearly bouncing in his seat.
I hesitated for a beat, knowing full well the ripple my next words would cause. Then I said quietly, "He's the very person you were just gossiping about."
They froze.
"You don't mean—" Xiao Delun started.
"Sect Leader Ruan?" Li Yao finished, his voice cracking.
I nodded once. "Yes. That was Ruan Yanjun, the Sect Leader of the Eternal Damnation Sect. A level nine cultivator."
For a breathless moment, they sat in stunned silence, staring at me as though I'd just admitted to drinking tea with a celestial beast. Then their disbelief gave way to awe.
"You actually know him?" Li Yao blurted out.
"Very few people have seen his face, let alone spoken to him," Xiao Delun added, still pale. "Even grandmasters rarely meet him in person."
"I was… fortunate enough to cross paths with him," I said modestly.
"But how?" Li Yao pressed. "How do you meet someone so... untouchable?"
I paused before replying, then explained, "I was part of the group that escorted him to the Silang Empire when he temporarily lost his power."
Their jaws dropped.
"You traveled with him?" Xiao Delun echoed, his voice almost reverent. "Not just an encounter—you actually journeyed with him?"
"For a time, yes."
"But you didn't even greet him," Li Yao said, frowning. "Why not?"
"I tried earlier at the tea shop," I admitted. "But he ignored me. I don't think he remembers."
The two exchanged disbelieving glances.
"How could anyone forget you?" Xiao Delun said.
"Especially a grandmaster with sharpened senses like his," Li Yao added. "Are you sure it's not something else?"
I gave a small shrug. "It's possible he simply chose not to acknowledge me. Regardless, it's probably for the best."
Xiao Delun leaned forward. "Why didn't you tell us earlier?"
"Because cultivators like him have heightened perception," I replied. "He might have been listening to every word we said."
Li Yao turned pale. "You mean… he could've overheard all that?"
"It's entirely possible."
Xiao Delun clutched his chest. "I didn't say anything offensive, did I?"
Li Yao groaned, covering his face. "Oh no—I said he wasn't fast enough! I even bet on Zeng Heng over him!"
I raised a hand, trying to calm them. "You don't need to worry. Sect Leader Ruan isn't petty. He won't harm someone over idle remarks."
"But the rumors say…" Xiao Delun lowered his voice to a whisper, "that he's ruthless. That he'd snap a neck just to make a point."
"That's exaggerated," I said evenly. "He has some wickedness, yes—but not impulsive. He's intelligent, and he takes pride in his image. He won't stain his hands over something so meaningless."
"So… he's evil but calculated?" Li Yao asked, still visibly unsettled.
"Exactly. If he kills, there's a purpose behind it. He doesn't act without reason."
Xiao Delun exhaled, shoulders slumping in relief. "Then we're safe. Li Yao and I are just humble merchants. No wealth, no influence."
"Correct," I said. "Killing you would bring him no benefit."
Li Yao relaxed, sinking back into his seat. "That's a relief. What about you, though? Could he gain anything by… hurting you?"
I hesitated, the question cutting closer than I liked. "Nothing," I said at last. "Not anymore."
Once, he might have used me—to influence Kan Empire or as a pawn in his larger ambitions. But that time had passed. Whatever power I held in his eyes, I had already given back.
"Then we're all safe," Xiao Delun concluded with a relieved smile.