A man stood in the doorway, clad in plain but immaculate monk's robes, his bearing calm and implacable. The wooden staff in his grip, carved with ancient symbols, struck the floor again with a quiet thud that somehow silenced the room.
"Abbot Mo," I murmured under my breath, throat tightening.
Of all people… he was the last I'd expected to find here.
"Abbot Mo? Is he a grandmaster?" Xiao Delun whispered behind me, his voice trembling with excitement—as if this entire disaster were a theater performance meant for his amusement.
But the atmosphere inside the brothel shifted the moment Abbot Mo stepped into the hall. His presence alone silenced the chaos. Even the crackling spiritual energy that had filled the air just moments ago seemed to dissipate, drawn back by the gravity of the man now standing in the doorway.
With a calm yet commanding motion, he struck his staff against the floor once more.
His eyes swept across the ruined hall—broken tables, frightened women, the remains of blasted walls—and finally landed on us.
"You two are destroying this place," he said, voice deep and grave.
The weight of his disappointment hit harder than any of Vitale's strikes.
"This brothel," he continued, "may not be sacred to you—but it is home to these women. Are you not ashamed of your actions?"
Before I could answer, a pair of delicate arms slid around mine. A courtesan leaned in, pouting as she spoke in a mockingly sweet tone. "Abbot Mo," she cooed, "this handsome one here is not to blame. He only came seeking a bit of fun, but that lunatic—" she pointed an accusatory finger at Vitale "—he's the one who flipped the tables and scared everyone. This good priest," she added, pressing herself closer, "was just trying to help."
I stiffened. "That's not—"
But I stopped. What could I even say? That I'd been dragged here half-asleep by a drunken merchant? That I had no interest in this place or its pleasures? Whatever I said, it would sound like an excuse.
From the street, a drunk voice rang out. "Three holy men walk into a brothel! Now we've seen everything!" Laughter followed.
Abbot Mo paid the crowd no mind. His gaze locked on mine.
"Priest Luo," he said slowly, "I did not expect to find you in a place like this."
His tone wasn't angry, but it hurt. The kind of disappointment only someone you looked up to could deliver.
My ears burned. "It's not what it looks like, Abbot Mo," I began, voice low. "I was brought here against my will—well, not exactly dragged, but—"
"Do not lie to him!" Vitale interrupted loudly. "It is exactly what it looks like." He thumped his chest with one hand and raised his book with the other. "This holy priest came here to cleanse a den of debauchery. These women rejected the truth. They spat on righteousness and mocked the divine. They deserve punishment!"
The courtesan beside me hissed and stepped forward. "Who are you to punish us? This establishment is registered and taxed. We're not criminals!"
"Silence," Abbot Mo said softly.
The room fell still. Even the woman recoiled, cowed by the gentle yet absolute force in his voice.
Turning to Vitale, Abbot Mo let out a weary breath. "You've developed quite the reputation, Priest Vitale. This isn't the first incident tied to your sermons. Why do you persist in offering salvation where it's neither requested nor welcome?"
Vitale stood tall, unyielding. "Because this holy one knows what's best. Even the unwilling must be led toward the light. Someday, they will thank me."
Abbot Mo's expression grew steely. The air shifted.
"And do you realize," he said, voice quieter now, but sharper, "that your actions may result in a formal reprimand from your church? You may believe your intentions are noble, but your methods have crossed the line. If you continue, I will personally petition the Holy State to revoke your evangelical rights in this empire."
For the first time, Vitale faltered. His fingers tightened around his book.
"This holy priest will withdraw," he said through clenched teeth. "But I will return. My mission is sacred. These places must be cleansed."
"Then direct your energies to the upcoming congregation," Abbot Mo said firmly. "If you truly wish to be useful, your presence is needed there—not here."
Vitale straightened, wounded pride brimming beneath his forced composure. "This holy priest shall attend," he said curtly. "But you cannot stop me from fulfilling my mission."
Abbot Mo struck his staff once more.
"This is your final warning. The empire's peace is not yours to disturb. If you defy this again, I will intervene."
Vitale gave a stiff bow. "Understood. This holy one shall cause no... unnecessary trouble."
The energy in the room deflated like a bell jar finally opened. I let out a slow breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding.
After Vitale stormed out of the brothel in a swirl of offended righteousness, Abbot Mo turned his gaze toward me. His expression was as sharp as ever—unyielding, penetrating—and I felt my spine straighten involuntarily. His eyes alone were enough to make me feel like a guilty child being chastised.
"Abbot Mo," I began, flustered. "It's not what it seems. I did enter this place of my own free will, but only because I was dragged here to resolve the situation."
His stern expression didn't shift, but something behind his gaze softened—just barely. "Let us leave," he said simply, already turning toward the door.
I gave a small bow and moved to follow. As I stepped away, the courtesan who had been clinging to my arm reached for me one last time. Her tone, when she spoke, was gentler than before.
"Priest Luo," she said, voice touched with gratitude. "At least stay for a cup of tea. We wish to thank you properly."
I paused, then cupped my hands and bowed to her respectfully. "Your words are thanks enough. I must decline."
Outside, a large crowd had gathered beneath the glow of lanterns and moonlight. Their whispers were a mixture of amusement and disbelief. As I scanned the sea of faces, my eyes landed on a familiar figure near the front—Huang Wen.
His presence surprised me. Ruan Yanjun was nowhere in sight, but just seeing Huang Wen unsettled me. If he was here, that meant word had spread farther and faster than I'd expected.
Before I could make sense of it, several women from the brothel burst out behind me in a flurry of laughter and color.
"Priest Luo!" one of them called. "At least let us show our gratitude! You can have fun with all of us tonight!"
Another chimed in playfully, "It's free for you, handsome!"
A roar of laughter followed from the crowd.
"Priest Luo, blessings like this don't fall from the sky every day!" someone hollered, causing more cackling.
My face flamed with embarrassment.
"Leave the priest alone!" Huang Wen's voice rang out, crisp and commanding.
The noise ceased instantly and all heads turned to Huang Wen.
"He is a man of virtue and does not indulge in such pleasures," Huang Wen continued. "If you wish to thank him, find a more appropriate way."
The crowd murmured in amusement, but no one dared defy him openly. One of the women pouted, undeterred. "But what could be more generous than a night of pleasure?"
Abbot Mo's sigh was barely audible, but his patience had clearly run thin. Without another word, he seized my wrist and pulled me through the throng, weaving past stunned onlookers with surprising haste.
Behind us, the laughter resumed, fading slowly into the night air as we distanced ourselves from the chaos.
Just as we rounded a corner, Xiao Delun ran up to us, breathless and grinning. "Priest Luo!" he gasped. "At least ask the girls if I can take your place!"
I shot him a glare. "No. That would imply I accepted their offer, which I didn't. That kind of suggestion would dishonor my path."
He groaned dramatically. "You really are a virtuous man. Fine. I'll suffer with dignity."
Moments later, Li Yao stumbled into step with us, panting. "They're still chasing after you, Luo Fan! Run!"
Before I could react, Abbot Mo tightened his grip and quickened his pace, dragging me like a disobedient disciple through the dim streets. Laughter and teasing echoed behind us, but I barely heard it over the rush of blood in my ears.
We stopped outside the inn. Abbot Mo released me and turned with his usual composed poise.
"Is this where you're staying?"
I nodded, brushing my hair from my face, my breathing still heavy. "Yes, Abbot Mo."
"Then go inside and rest," he said. "Avoid places of temptation. Do not stray again."
"I—" I opened my mouth, lowering my gaze in search of words to explain, to express my guilt, or perhaps my gratitude.
But when I looked up again… he was gone.
Completely.
Not a single footprint, not a shift of wind, not even the faintest lingering aura.
It was as if he had never been there.
Moments later, Xiao Delun and Li Yao arrived, both wheezing and wide-eyed.
"Where's the monk?" Xiao Delun asked, looking around.
"Gone," I said, still staring at the empty street.
Li Yao straightened, patting his chest as he caught his breath. "I didn't think traveling with Priest Luo would bring us face to face with two grandmasters in one night."
Xiao Delun nodded, eyes bright. "Clearly, staying with you leads to big encounters. We should never part ways again!"
I let out a breath and sighed inwardly.
Traveling with these two would either lead to enlightenment... or my early death.