Light in the Dark (Part 1)

LUO FAN

When I opened my eyes, the blinding white light above me made me think I had left the mortal world. It was so bright that it felt otherworldly, as though I had stepped into the realm of immortals.

I blinked slowly, my breath caught in my throat. Was I alive, or was this the afterlife?

"You're awake?" a low, resonant voice spoke, shattering the silence.

I froze. For a fleeting moment, I thought I recognized the voice. Could it be... him?

"Lord Ruan?" I whispered hesitantly.

"My name is Mo Wenyan," the voice replied gently. "I am the abbot of this monastery."

Relief washed over me, mingled with confusion. For a moment, I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. I was relieved beyond measure that it wasn't Ruan Yanjun. I couldn't bear to see him again—not after everything. If he had been the one to save me, he would have used it as another chain to bind me, another reason to exert control over my life. The thought made my chest tighten.

No. From this moment forward, Ruan Yanjun would no longer exist in my thoughts. I still felt the ache of betrayal, but I didn't want to waste any more energy on him. He wasn't even worth my hatred.

As my vision adjusted, the light softened, and I turned toward the source of the voice. A tall figure with a serene expression and a shaved head came into view. His robes were pristine white, and his posture exuded an air of calm authority.

I tried to sit up to greet him properly, but pain flared in my chest, forcing me to stop mid-motion.

"Don't move just yet," the abbot said, his tone soothing but firm. "Your body is still recovering. Rest for a few more days before attempting anything strenuous."

I glanced around at my surroundings. I wasn't lying in a bed but on what seemed like an altar, cushioned with a simple mattress. The room itself was small, modest, and open to the sky above. The sunlight streaming down created a warm, golden glow that seemed to pulsate with energy.

"What is this place?" I asked, my voice hoarse.

"This is where I meditate," Abbot Mo replied, his gaze steady. "The energy here is potent with light essence. It's an ideal place for you to strengthen your light core. Yours was nearly extinguished when your dark core went out of control."

I stared at him, dumbfounded. "So you know?"

He sighed, folding his hands in front of him. "I know who you are. You are Wei Fan, once known as the Divine Mage of Kan Empire."

His words left me breathless. My identity was a secret I had worked hard to bury. "You know who I am?"

"Don't worry," he said with a small smile. "No one else knows you're here, and I have no intention of revealing your presence."

Relief flooded through me, and I exhaled shakily. "Thank you, Abbot Mo. And… thank you for saving my life."

"We are both light cultivators," he said simply. "It is only natural to help each other in times of need. But I do have one question for you."

I met his gaze, my heart pounding. "Please, ask."

His expression remained calm, but his eyes were piercing. "How did a dark core end up in you?"

I averted my gaze, shame prickling at my skin. "It was implanted by someone."

"Ruan Yanjun?" he guessed, his voice tinged with curiosity.

I stiffened. "You know about him?"

He nodded. "I happened to be near the marquis's estate when I heard about a 'beautiful man' being delivered there. The gossip was… unsettling. They said that Ruan Yanjun had grown tired of his 'toy' and gifted him to the emperor. The emperor, in turn, wagered him in a gambling game with the marquis. The marquis won and claimed his prize. When I heard these vile rumors, I couldn't ignore them. I stayed near the mansion, observing, and I found you just in time—falling from that cliff."

His words struck me like a blow. The humiliation burned anew, and my hands clenched into fists. The idea that I had been treated like a pawn, a mere object to be gambled away, was unbearable.

"Didn't the guards pursue you?" I asked, my voice barely audible.

"No one saw me," he replied with a faint smile. "The marquis's men were too focused on retrieving you to notice me. I was able to spirit you away before they could react."

I sighed heavily, the weight of my predicament pressing down on me like a stone. "Abbot Mo," I said, my voice tinged with exhaustion, "as soon as I can walk, I have to leave this place. I've mutilated the marquis, and I'm certain he won't rest until he sees me dead. I don't want to drag you or this monastery into my troubles."

The abbot smiled softly, his expression calm and reassuring. "Don't worry about me or the monastery. I brought you far from Donghai. For now, they're still searching for you there. Should their efforts lead them here, I will know in advance."

His confidence gave me a small measure of comfort, but it wasn't enough to ease the knot of anxiety in my chest.

"Abbot Mo," I hesitated, afraid of what his answer might be, "do you not disdain me for having two cores? One of them... so dark?"

He shook his head slowly, his serene expression unchanged. "Like you, I follow the righteous path. Disdain is a negative emotion, one I strive to avoid. Besides," he continued, his gaze kind, "this isn't your fault. You didn't choose this path, nor did you seek to disrupt the balance within you. It was forced upon you."

The kindness in his voice lifted a burden I hadn't even realized I was carrying. "Lord Ruan implanted the dark core in me while I was asleep," I admitted, the memory still searing with resentment. "I never consented to it. When I confronted him, he claimed he did it to prove a theory. In other words, he used me as an experiment."

The abbot remained silent for a moment, as though carefully weighing his words. Finally, he nodded. "I have heard that Sect Leader Ruan has long been fascinated by the concept of dual cores. I also know he attempted to implant a light core within himself once, but his dark core was too strong. It devoured the light core almost immediately. That failure must have driven him to find another candidate—someone with a weakened light core where a dark core could thrive. You were, unfortunately, the perfect choice."

"That's what he told me," I muttered, bitterness lacing my words. "But why? What could he possibly hope to gain from this? Why did it have to be me?"

Abbot Mo's calm demeanor didn't waver. "Sect Leader Ruan is unpredictable, even among those who know him well. His motives are often unclear, even to his closest allies. But," he added gently, "you are fortunate. Whatever his purpose, you've escaped his grasp. You are free now. From this moment forward, your choices are your own."

Free. The word rang hollow in my mind. I didn't feel free. Not with this dark core within me, threatening to consume everything I had fought for. "I want to get rid of this dark core," I said firmly, my hands curling into fists at my sides. "If there's a way, I'll do whatever it takes."

The abbot's expression grew somber, and his sigh carried the weight of truths I wasn't prepared to hear. "The dark core inside you is no ordinary creation. It comes from a demonic core, a power older and more malevolent than any of us. Not even a grandmaster could disintegrate it."