New Friends

LUO FAN

— ✦ —

The journey to the secret location had been long and arduous, the dirt path winding through dense woods that seemed to whisper with every gust of wind.

When I finally arrived, I found myself standing before a secluded villa nestled in a grove of towering trees. The structure was elegant yet understated, shrouded by foliage that seemed to hide it from the world. The dirt path leading to it was just wide enough for a single carriage, its isolation perfect for clandestine gatherings.

Approaching the wrought iron gate, I noticed a man tending to the garden, his posture casual yet somehow alert. His tanned skin and calloused hands gave him the appearance of an ordinary gardener, but the sharpness in his eyes suggested otherwise. As I drew closer, I produced the letter Abbot Zhuge had given me, holding it out without a word.

He eyed the letter carefully, breaking the seal with practiced precision. After scanning its contents, he nodded and pushed the gate open with a creak. "You're expected," he said simply, his tone neutral. He gestured for me to enter before resuming his task, though I could feel his gaze linger as I walked through.

Inside the villa's courtyard, I spotted two men lounging near a stone bench beneath the twisted branches of a gnarled tree. The moment they noticed me, their conversation halted, and their gazes turned sharp, assessing me with quiet intensity.

Abbot Zhuge had already told me about them—they were both level five martial cultivators. Even without that knowledge, I could feel it. Their auras were strong and steady, like an unmoving mountain, radiating quiet but undeniable power.

With a quick mental adjustment, I reinforced the Spirit Cloak that Abbot Mo had taught me, ensuring that my true cultivation level was hidden, suppressed to appear as a mere level two. While I disliked deception, I understood the necessity.

"You're Luo Fan?" one of them asked, his voice courteous but firm. He was tall and muscular, his broad shoulders giving him an imposing presence. His long black hair framed a face that exuded calm confidence.

"Yes," I replied, bowing respectfully. "It's an honor to meet you."

They both scrutinized me, their eyes lingering on my frame, which was noticeably leaner than theirs.

"Are you serious?" the shorter one scoffed. He was wiry, with a sharp jawline and a perpetual smirk that hinted at mischief. "A level two? They sent a level two?" He laughed, the sound grating in the quiet courtyard.

"Cao Jian," the taller man said sharply, nudging him with his elbow. Then, he stepped forward and offered me a slight bow. "I'm Yu Guo. It's good to meet you, Priest Luo."

I returned his bow, grateful for his politeness. "Likewise."

Yu Guo gestured toward his companion. "And this is Cao Jian. Please forgive his bluntness. He has a tendency to speak before thinking."

Cao Jian crossed his arms and frowned. "I'm just being practical. A level two on a mission like this? The moment we cross into the Silang Empire, we might be ambushed. Who's supposed to protect him?"

Yu Guo's expression remained calm. "Not everyone on this mission is meant to fight. If Abbot Mo Wenyan sent him, then he must have a purpose beyond combat."

"That's correct," I said, meeting Cao Jian's skeptical gaze. "While I am here for a specific purpose, I can also defend myself. You don't need to worry about my safety."

Cao Jian raised an eyebrow, his smirk returning. "Alright then. Prove it. Let's spar. Show me that you can handle yourself against someone like me."

I hesitated. I wasn't eager to fight, but there wasn't much else to do while waiting. Reluctantly, I nodded. "Very well."

"Let's see if you can last more than ten moves," Cao Jian said, already unsheathing his sword.

I gripped my bamboo stick tightly, stepping onto the open ground with him. We agreed to keep it a purely physical match, with no enhancement from spiritual energy.

Even so, I could see the eagerness in Cao Jian's eyes, as if he believed this would be an easy win.

Cao Jian lunged first, his sword slicing through the air with precision. I deflected with my stick, the wood vibrating against the steel. He pressed his attack, his strikes swift and relentless, but I moved with the fluidity honed from years of training. I countered when I saw openings, using the flexibility of my weapon to throw off his rhythm.

Ten moves passed. Then twenty. Sweat began to bead on both our foreheads as the match stretched on. Cao Jian's initial smirk gave way to concentration as he realized I wasn't as easy to overwhelm as he had assumed. By the time we reached a hundred moves, he finally stepped back, raising a hand to signal the end of the spar.

"Not bad," he said, his tone grudgingly respectful. "I underestimated you."

I smiled faintly, lowering my stick. "Thank you for the valuable insight."

He gave me a grin this time, clapping me on the shoulder. "Alright, Luo Fan. You've earned my respect. I think we'll get along just fine."

Yu Guo approached, his expression warm. "Impressive, Priest Luo. I look forward to seeing what else you're capable of."

I nodded, relieved that the initial tension had dissipated. Though I wasn't sure what lay ahead, I felt a flicker of confidence. For now, at least, I had proven myself worthy to stand alongside them, even while keeping my true strength hidden.

❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖

Four days.

The tension in the waiting game had been growing thicker, but it seemed Cai Jian's response to it was to flirt with boredom. He lay sprawled on the grass, his elbow propping up his head, yawning as though determined to prove his jaw's endurance.

I smirked at his theatrics and set a bowl of diced fruits down beside him. "Some of these are overripe," I said, sitting down cross-legged near his head. "But we're running low on supplies, so you'll just have to deal with it."

He turned his head toward me, a sleepy grin tugging at his lips. "Luo Fan, feed me," he drawled. "My hands are stiff from lying down so long. I can't reach the bowl."

I raised an eyebrow. "It's right in front of your nose. If your hands are that stiff, you can use your mouth."

"Why are you so stingy?" he sighed dramatically. "It's just a small favor for an old friend."

"Old friend? Since when did that happen?" I shot back, shaking my head at his antics.

With a theatrical groan, he pushed himself up to a sitting position, stretching his arms in exaggerated movements. "Fine, fine, I'll do it myself," he said, grabbing the bowl. "But seriously, how much longer are we going to be stuck in this godforsaken place?"

Before I could reply, Yu Guo came sprinting across the courtyard, his face flushed with urgency. "Cai Jian, Luo Fan, get ready!" he called out, stopping short to catch his breath. "I spotted the retinue. They'll be here in half an hour."

Cai Jian and I exchanged a quick glance, our shared boredom evaporating in an instant. We scarfed down the remaining fruit as quickly as possible, then bolted toward the house like we were racing each other. Yu Guo followed closely, muttering something about grown men acting like children.

Over the past four days, we had all grown a bit too comfortable. With no one to impress, Cai Jian and Yu Guo had taken to lounging around in trousers and loose inner robes, while I had reluctantly followed suit under their influence. My former discipline nagged at me, but practicality had won out—until now.

Inside the house, we scrambled to make ourselves presentable. I retrieved a clean robe and meticulously straightened my hair before binding it neatly. When I stepped out into the front yard, I found Cai Jian and Yu Guo already waiting. Cai Jian, now fully dressed with his hair tied into a high knot, looked almost unrecognizable compared to his earlier disheveled state.

"Well?" Cai Jian asked, spreading his arms with a confident grin. "What do you think?"

I allowed a small smile. "You clean up nicely."

Before he could preen too much, Yu Guo grabbed my arm, tugging me away from the scene. "Ignore him," he said dryly. "He's fishing for compliments again. Let's go."

Cai Jian trailed after us, clearly amused. "Why are you always jealous when someone praises me, Yu Guo?"

"I'm not jealous," Yu Guo shot back, his tone sharp. "I've just noticed that since Luo Fan arrived, you've turned him into your personal praise dispenser."

"He's a priest," Cai Jian said, his tone light and teasing. "He's bound by duty to tell the truth. That's why he's never called you handsome—because you're not."

Yu Guo whirled around, scowling. "Shut up."

I sighed and extricated my arm from Yu Guo's grip. "You're both handsome," I said evenly, trying to end the argument before it escalated. "There's no need to fight over something so trivial."

"Luo Fan, I know I'm handsome," Yu Guo said matter-of-factly. "I've always known. Unlike some people, I don't need constant validation because I'm not insecure."

Cai Jian's smile faltered, irritation flashing across his face. "Are you implying that I'm insecure?"

"Did I say your name?" Yu Guo shot back.

"Enough," I said, stepping between them before things could get out of hand. "This is ridiculous. You're arguing over something completely pointless."

"Of course you'd think it's pointless," Yu Guo shot back. "You're beautiful, and you know it, so you don't have to worry about things like this. But for Cai Jian, it's obviously a big deal."

"Yu Guo!" Cai Jian snapped. "How dare you slander me like that?"

"At least I'm doing it to your face."

Cai Jian's eyes narrowed. "Fine. You owe me a fight. Tonight, at eight. Front yard. Luo Fan will judge."

Yu Guo shrugged, clearly unfazed. "I accept."

I groaned internally. These two were impossible. Rather than fan the flames, I bit my tongue and resolved to let them work it out on their own—preferably without dragging me into it any further.