Chained to the Past (Part 1)

LUO FAN

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"Priest Luo," Abbot Mo said gently, breaking the silence, "let us return to our earlier discussion."

I set my teacup down, noting the weight in his tone. He rarely spoke without purpose, and when he did, it was often with careful deliberation. Whatever he was about to say, I knew it would not be something I wanted to hear.

"As I mentioned earlier, the Light Path Alliance has chosen to support Sect Leader Ruan this time," he continued, his voice calm but measured. "His condition has become widely known throughout the martial community, and his enemies have seen this as their perfect opportunity to strike. His life is in constant peril."

He paused, his steady gaze locking onto mine, allowing the weight of his words to sink in. "A retinue of dark-core cultivators has been assigned to escort him. Most are disciples from his sect, but interestingly, Sect Leader Ruan has refused to include any grandmasters in his group. He has accepted only those who volunteered to risk their lives."

A frown creased my brow. "Why would he refuse grandmasters? Surely he understands the danger he's in."

Abbot Mo nodded thoughtfully, his expression distant. "It is a strange decision, but Sect Leader Ruan has always been an enigma. Whether it stems from pride, strategy, or something we have yet to understand, only he knows. Regardless, the Endless Plain Sect, as a member of the Light Path Alliance, is expected to contribute to this cause."

I stared at him, momentarily stunned. "Are you going?" I asked, though I already suspected the answer.

Abbot Mo sighed, clasping his hands together as if in silent prayer. "You know that I had sworn off killing a long time ago, Priest Luo. That path is behind me. But the urgency of Han Xi's request cannot be ignored. I was hoping… that you might go in my place."

The air seemed to freeze around me. My mind refused to register the words at first. I opened my mouth, but nothing came out.

Finally, I forced myself to speak.

"Abbot Mo," I said quietly but firmly, "I owe you more than I can ever repay, but I am not the right person for this. Ruan Yanjun sold me out to Emperor Gao. He wanted to get rid of me. He will not want me by his side."

Abbot Mo's lips curved into a knowing smile, his eyes filled with quiet understanding.

"Priest Luo," he said softly, "do you still not believe that you are someone special to Sect Leader Ruan?"

A dry laugh escaped me, filled with nothing but bitterness. I shook my head.

"I don't."

He leaned forward slightly, his gaze steady and unwavering. "Regardless of what you choose to believe, his actions after betraying you tell a different story. He knew that letting you escape would make him an enemy of Emperor Gao, yet he still allowed it. He could have handed you back to the Silang Empire, preserved his reputation, and avoided any consequences. But he didn't. Doesn't that suggest even a trace of regret?"

I remained silent, my fingers tightening around the teacup. I didn't want to believe it. I couldn't believe it. Yet his words chipped away at the walls I had carefully built around my pain.

"I think," Abbot Mo continued, his voice gentle but certain, "that he would be more than pleased to have you in his group."

I exhaled slowly, trying to steady the storm of emotions swirling inside me. "Abbot Mo," I said at last, after a long pause. "At least explain to me. Why are you so determined to protect Sect Leader Ruan?"

Leaning back, he picked up his teacup, cradling it in his hands. As always, he let the tea cool before drinking it in a slow, deliberate motion, as if weighing his words.

"Like I told you earlier," he began, his voice quiet but heavy with memory, "I have witnessed war. I have seen commoners slaughtered for nothing more than the amusement of their oppressors. I have seen them starve, their bodies frail with hunger and despair, while helpless children stared up at me with vacant eyes—begging, silently, for a single crumb of bread."

He paused, his usually steady composure faltering. Tears welled in his eyes, as if the horrors of three decades past were still fresh, still raw.

"Foreign invaders. Barbarians. Rebels." His voice turned grave. "They were everywhere. Cities burned, families torn apart. There was no peace, no stability. But all of it changed when Sect Leader Ruan made a pact with the former emperor and expanded his sect's influence within the Wun Empire. His disciples were deployed to quell rebellions, to push back barbarian raids. Many of them fought alongside the imperial army, and together, they succeeded in repelling foreign invaders. Since then, aside from the occasional border dispute, Wun Empire has remained relatively peaceful."

He paused, lifting his cup to take a small, measured sip of tea. "Naturally, with Sect Leader Ruan securing the former emperor's favor, the Eternal Damnation Sect became the dominant force in Wun Empire. The other sects had only two choices—submit and accept their status as minor sects, or relocate to another empire. With both Wun and Xianru firmly under his control, Sect Leader Ruan became untouchable.

To the commoners, he was a savior, a protector who brought stability and order. But to the martial world? They saw through the façade. Many believed his so-called heroism was nothing more than a calculated display of power—an elaborate performance designed to force the former emperor into submission, to make him bow not out of gratitude, but out of fear."

I nodded, my thoughts drifting back to the man I once knew. "For someone who has spent time with Sect Leader Ruan, I can't say their accusations are baseless."

Abbot Mo's gaze didn't waver. "You are correct. His true intentions are questionable—perhaps even ruthless. But intentions don't change reality. What does matter is that for over two decades, he has kept both Wun and Xianru under his rule, suppressing all other sects from rising in power."

He exhaled, his voice taking on a heavier tone. "Now, tell me, Priest Luo—what do you think will happen if Sect Leader Ruan were to disappear?"

I considered the implications before speaking. "The Eternal Damnation Sect would weaken, and other sects would step in to fill the void. Perhaps a new balance would emerge."

Abbot Mo gave a faint smile. "That is an optimistic view, Priest Luo."

"Am I wrong?" I asked, curious to hear his response.

"You are not wrong," he admitted. "But you have overlooked the political consequences."

A frown tugged at my brow as I reconsidered my stance. "Without him, sects would vie for influence within the imperial courts. The strongest ones would seek power over the government."

"Precisely," Abbot Mo said approvingly. "You understand politics well."

I owed that knowledge to Ruan Yanjun, but I saw no reason to mention it.

"And that struggle for power," he continued, "would be ruthless. Bribery, backstabbing, assassinations—there would be no end to the bloodshed. Without a singular force maintaining control, the stability that Sect Leader Ruan has upheld, no matter how harsh, would disintegrate into chaos."

My jaw tightened as I envisioned the political and social upheaval that would inevitably follow Ruan Yanjun's downfall. The chaos, the power struggles, the countless lives that would be caught in the crossfire. And yet, part of me resisted the urge to sympathize with the man who had betrayed me.

Still, that was the worst-case scenario. Not all sects were corrupt. I had to believe that, for every power-hungry faction, there were others willing to compromise for the sake of peace. A part of me, untouched by the bitterness of betrayal, still clung to that hope.

"I still believe in the goodness of humanity," I said, my voice steady but contemplative. "Perhaps we are preparing for the worst, but it may not come to that. Many sects, I'm sure, would rather negotiate than plunge the continent into war."