Reunited with the Devil

LUO FAN

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The intersecting roads stretched before us, framed by the quiet trees that swayed gently in the breeze. Cai Jian yawned, loudly and dramatically, as we settled in to wait. "How long are we going to stand here?" he groaned, his boredom palpable.

"To pass the time, we can talk about the same silly subjects you two love to bring up," I teased lightly.

Cai Jian grinned mischievously. "Alright then, Luo Fan, let's discuss something I've been curious about. What do you use on your face?"

I blinked at him, confused. "What should I use on my face?"

"Your skin," he said, pointing a finger at me. "It looks like it's been polished by the heavens. I can't even see your pores. Be honest, are you a woman disguised as a man?"

Yu Guo burst into laughter. "Not every man has skin as rough as desert sand like yours," he quipped.

"Says the guy with two volcano craters on his forehead," Cai Jian retorted, gesturing toward Yu Guo's twin dents.

Unbothered, Yu Guo ran a hand over the scars on his forehead. "I got these from a childhood disease. At least I survived it."

Cai Jian waved him off and turned his attention back to me. "Seriously, Luo Fan. What's your secret? Share it with me."

I shook my head, bemused. "I don't have one. I just use ordinary soap."

"No creams? No potions?" Cai Jian pressed.

"Well," I admitted, "someone did give me a cream once, but it was for the callouses on my hands, not my face."

Yu Guo, suddenly intrigued, held out his hand, palm up. "Did it work? I've got callouses all over my hands from wielding my sword."

I glanced at his palm, rough and scarred from years of hard training. "It worked for me," I said, showing him my hand.

Yu Guo grabbed my hand and studied it intently. "Your hands used to look like mine?"

"Worse," I replied.

Cai Jian leaned in, running a finger across my palm with exaggerated reverence. "This is from a cream? Who gave it to you? I need some of that magic."

I hesitated, my stomach twisting uncomfortably. I couldn't tell them the truth. I couldn't say the cream had been a gift from Ruan Yanjun. "I… don't remember," I lied. "It was a long time ago."

Cai Jian scoffed. "Don't be stingy, Luo Fan. We're all men here."

"That's exactly the problem," I countered, managing a weak laugh. "We're men, and yet here we are talking about skincare."

Before the conversation could spiral further, the sound of hooves and creaking wheels reached our ears. All three of us straightened instinctively, turning toward the road where the entourage was expected to appear.

My pulse quickened, thudding heavily in my chest. Was it anticipation? Or was it nerves? I tried to shake the feeling off.

Why should I be nervous? I told myself. It wasn't as if I had volunteered for this mission.

I sighed and forced myself to breathe evenly. Ruan Yanjun. The thought of seeing him again sent an unbidden rush of emotions through me—resentment, bitterness, confusion… I couldn't tell.

What would he do when he saw me? He had already sold me out once, made it clear that I wasn't worth keeping. Would he be angry to see me here? Or would he be indifferent?

I clenched my hands at my sides.

It doesn't matter, I reminded myself. If he ordered me away, I'd leave without complaint. Abbot Mo couldn't fault me for it.

The sound of the retinue grew louder, breaking through the stillness of the forest. My companions adjusted their postures, their expressions growing serious. The moment of truth was near, and despite all my attempts to steady myself, my heart refused to calm.

Finally, a tall, muscular man on a jet-black horse emerged at the forefront of the entourage. His imposing figure was enough to intimidate, and his stern expression made him appear even more formidable.

The horse under him snorted and shook its mane, clearly weary from the weight it had borne for the day. The rider surveyed us with a sharp, evaluating gaze, and I instinctively straightened my posture, unsure why I felt the need to appear composed.

Behind him followed three identical carriages, their exteriors unmarked, making it impossible to discern which one carried the infamous Sect Leader Ruan. The retinue was a fortress on wheels, the arrangement likely a precaution to deter assassins. Each carriage was flanked by men on horseback—dark-core cultivators, their presence palpable and oppressive. I counted six riders initially, though there were likely more concealed within the carriages.

The leader pulled his horse to a stop in front of us, his penetrating eyes scanning over each of us. His gaze lingered on me longer than I liked, and I fought the urge to fidget under his scrutiny.

"Names and sects," he barked, his voice sharp and commanding.

Yu Guo stepped forward first, bowing slightly. "Yu Guo of the Sacred Sphere Sect."

"Cai Jian. Sacred Sphere," Cai Jian added, his tone casual as if introducing himself at a festival.

Then it was my turn. I took a deep breath and stepped forward. "My name is Luo Fan. I'm here on behalf of Abbot Mo Wenyan of the Endless Plain Sect."

The leader's sharp eyes narrowed as he studied me. The corners of his lips tugged into a sardonic smile. "Endless Plain Sect?" he repeated, his voice laced with mockery. "Of course. How could that soft donkey acquire a higher-level disciple when he himself can't even make it to the master's level?"

Cai Jian laughed, though the humor quickly drained from his face when he noticed my calm, unbothered expression. He cleared his throat awkwardly and stepped back.

I met the leader's gaze evenly. I wasn't offended. I had anticipated this reaction when I chose to mask my true cultivation level as Abbot Mo had taught me with the Spirit Cloak technique. Appearing as a mere level two cultivator had its advantages—most importantly, it kept Ruan Yanjun from suspecting how much progress I had made. I had no intention of reigniting his plans to exploit me.

The leader, apparently satisfied with my lack of reaction, pressed further. "I assume you're not a fighter, then?"

"I'm not a disciple of the Endless Plain Sect," I replied. "I'm here to return a favor for the Abbot."

"Fine," he said brusquely. "If you can't fight, you'll need to make yourself useful in other ways. Do you know how to cook?"

I hesitated, unsure how to respond.

His brow furrowed, and he answered his own question. "I'll take that as a no. Can you heal?"

"I'm not a healer," I admitted. "But I can make medicines."

"Good enough," he said with a curt nod. "That must be why the Abbot sent you."

Was that why Abbot Mo had chosen me? I wondered silently, though I doubted it. My presence here was likely a calculated move on the Abbot's part, but his reasons remained unclear.

"I'm Peng Enlai," the leader finally introduced himself. "You three are now under my command. You will obey my orders without question. I trust you've been briefed that this mission is confidential. If I even suspect that any one of you is here to spy, you'll be dealt with harshly."

We bowed our heads in acknowledgment.

"Let's move," Peng Enlai ordered, tugging at the reins of his horse.

Yu Guo stepped forward and pointed to the right. "This way."

The retinue moved, the carriages rolling by one after another. My eyes lingered on them, my curiosity rising despite myself.

Which carriage is Ruan Yanjun in? I wondered. Did he see me?

I quickly shook the thoughts away, frustrated with myself for even caring.

It doesn't matter which carriage he's in, or whether he saw me or not, I scolded myself. But my pulse quickened against my will as the retinue passed.

Why was I even thinking about him? After everything he'd done, why did the thought of facing him still send an ache through my chest?

I swallowed hard and followed the others, resolving to keep my focus on the mission—and not on the man who had once shattered my life.

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