The Weight of His Presence (Part 1)

LUO FAN

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When Yu Guo called me over to attend the meeting, I was still busy feeding the horses. Their soft neighs and eager chomping felt far more pleasant than the tension I imagined awaited me in the main hall. But duty called, and I hurried to finish before reluctantly making my way to the villa.

As I entered the hall, the air was thick with animated voices. The entire group was already in the midst of a heated debate, their faces set in frustration and determination. No one even glanced my way as I quietly slipped in and took the only vacant seat behind Yu Guo.

I surveyed the room, taking in the scene. Fourteen men and three women sat around the large oval table, their diverse robes and insignias indicating the various sects they hailed from. As expected, about half of them belonged to the Eternal Damnation Sect.

One glaring absence immediately stood out to me—Ruan Yanjun was nowhere to be seen.

Relief washed over me. I wasn't sure I was ready to face him yet.

The discussion revolved around finding a way to traverse the treacherous territory of the Illusive Ghosts Sect without drawing their attention. Strategies were being proposed, but none seemed to gain unanimous approval.

It was then that Peng Enlai's gaze landed on me.

"I see our lowest-level member has finally decided to join us," he said, his deep voice dripping with mockery. His sharp eyes swept over me as he continued, "For those who haven't had the pleasure, this fine gentleman here is Luo Fan, sent by none other than Abbot Mo Wenyan."

Every eye in the room turned toward me, their scrutiny heavy and unrelenting. I rose slowly, keeping my composure, and offered a polite bow. "It is a pleasure to meet you all," I said evenly.

"And who sent you?" one of them asked, pretending not to have heard Peng Enlai.

"I represent Abbot Mo Wenyan of the Endless Plain Sect," I replied, my tone calm.

"Mo Wenyan?" The man arched a brow, a smirk playing on his lips. "The famed fourth-level monk sent… a second-level representative?"

The room erupted into laughter, a chorus of mocking chuckles and murmurs.

I remained composed, my hands folded before me. I had spent months cultivating patience on Guidao Island. No insult could stir me now.

When the laughter subsided, I offered a serene smile. "If you believe I am unfit to assist, I can leave immediately."

Peng Enlai snorted. "Leave? You've already heard too much. If you walk out of here, I'll have no choice but to kill you."

I met his gaze without flinching. "Then let us proceed."

Before Peng Enlai could reply, another voice broke in. "Luo Fan?" A tall, wiry man at the far end of the table narrowed his eyes. "Are you the exiled Divine Mage of the Kan Empire? Wei Fan, the one who lost his cultivation and sight?"

The question struck me like a sudden gust of wind. I hadn't expected anyone here to recognize me, much less know my former name. My past, which I had spent so long trying to bury, had followed me even here. Yet, for the first time, I didn't feel the usual pang of shame.

I lifted my chin. "That is correct."

The man grinned, introducing himself. "I'm Tao Yuan, Senior Disciple of Eternal Damnation Sect. It's a rare honor to meet someone with a story as infamous as yours."

"I'm honored," I replied evenly, ignoring the ripple of whispers that ran through the room.

"Four years, wasn't it? Or was it five?" Tao Yuan continued. "The last we heard, you'd been blinded and stripped of your martial arts. Yet here you stand, eyes healed and back to level two. Not bad for someone who was written off from the list of grandmasters."

"Thank you," I said, my tone neutral.

But not everyone was impressed.

"Why waste our time with someone who can barely defend himself?" A man with a hard jawline and piercing eyes said, his voice tinged with disdain. "This mission is dangerous. He'll only slow us down."

Tao Yuan turned to him, his expression suddenly sharp. "Show some respect, Dai Meng. Between you and Luo Fan, Sect Leader Ruan would choose him without hesitation."

Dai Meng bristled, his fists clenching. "Are you saying Sect Leader Ruan would pick a second-level weakling over a fifth-level cultivator like me?"

"Exactly," Tao Yuan said, a smirk forming on his lips. "Luo Fan isn't here for his level. He's here because he was once Sect Leader Ruan's… favorite." He let the word linger, his voice dripping with insinuation.

Whispers spread around the room, quickly turning into muffled snickers.

Tao Yuan leaned forward slightly, his voice dropping, though it was loud enough for everyone to hear. "They traveled together for over a year. Shared the same room every night. Sect Leader Ruan even spent a fortune searching for a cure to save him. Do you really think you can compete with that, Dai Meng?"

My face burned. Tao Yuan's words, though laced with sarcasm, were far too close to the truth. The laughter that followed only deepened my discomfort.

I forced myself to stay calm, to keep my expression neutral, but my hands curled into fists beneath the table. I had come here prepared for challenges, but not for this—being reduced to a humiliating footnote in Ruan Yanjun's story.

The room fell into an uneasy hush as Dai Meng's voice broke the air with his exclamation.

"He is that man!" Dai Meng's eyes were wide as he turned to face me, his expression a mix of surprise and awe. Without hesitation, he cupped his hands and bowed deeply. "Pardon me for my improper remark earlier."

The shift in the room's energy was almost tangible. Following Dai Meng's lead, the rest of the group—men and women alike—followed suit, their gestures of respect unmissable. It was as though, in an instant, I had transformed into someone they ought to revere.

I stood, unmoving, for a moment, watching the strange display. It was flattering, perhaps, but also deeply unsettling. When I finally spoke, my voice was steady but firm, as I refused to let the situation spiral into misconceptions.

"You are all mistaken," I said, straightening my posture. "The relationship between Sect Leader Ruan and me was purely political. He had his goals, and I had mine. The only reason he stayed close to me was for my protection. Given my history, I was a fugitive of Kan Empire, exiled and hunted. He was merely ensuring I stayed alive long enough to serve his purpose."

The group exchanged glances, nodding slowly as if my explanation made sense. But their amused, knowing smiles betrayed their disbelief. It was clear they were unconvinced and found my defense amusing.

"Does that mean…" Peng Enlai, who had been listening in silence for some time, suddenly paused, narrowing his eyes at me as if piecing something together. "You were also that fugitive being hunted down by Marquis Kong?"

Heat crept up my neck. Now that part of my identity was exposed, the rest was falling into place far too quickly.

"But to many, you've become quite the hero." Peng Enlai's eyes gleamed with mischief, his lips twitching as though he was barely holding back a laugh. "Especially for mutilating that bastard's dick."

That was all it took. His laughter burst out, a deep, thunderous sound that instantly set off the rest of the room. The air filled with their amusement, laughter rolling through the space—loud, boisterous, almost deafening.

"Luo Fan!" Cai Jian called out, struggling to keep a straight face. "So… where did you put the missing piece?"

I paused, and with a straight face, I said, "I fed it to him."

The response was instant. The laughter doubled, some even slapping their knees as they struggled to breathe. It took a while before the noise began to subside, though a few snickers lingered.

Peng Enlai wiped tears from the corner of his eyes as he finally caught his breath. "Now you've heard it," he declared, addressing the room. "So don't mess with our priest here. He's a cleansing storm. He'll make you swallow your own filth and put an end to your bloodline."

The laughter sparked again, though more subdued this time. I sighed and allowed the chaos to wash over me, resigning myself to their humor.

Eventually, Peng Enlai raised a hand to quiet the group, his expression shifting to one of seriousness.

"However," Tang Yuan said, his tone pointed, "you are the lowest-ranked among us. Even the three ladies over there are at the fourth level. So what exactly do you bring to the group?"

Before I could answer, Peng Enlai cut in with a sly smile. "Nonsense. He was once revered as the Divine Mage of Kan Empire. In his homeland, his status is akin to that of a prince. Surely His Highness has some clever ideas on how we might infiltrate or bypass this sect's territory."

He gestured to the map pinned to the wall, its corners curling slightly.

I took a step forward to examine the map, pondering his words. Without thinking, I said, "Find another way."

Peng Enlai raised a brow. "There is no other way."

"Then let's make a way," I replied courteously, aware that I had to tread carefully not to offend him. "There are fifteen of us, all capable. If we must clear a path through a forest to avoid passing through their territory, then so be it. Even if it delays us for a few days, it's better than risking detection."

My suggestion came from personal experience. During my time evading the Nightfall Sect, I had often strayed from established paths, creating my own trails to avoid being tracked. It was a strategy that had saved me before, and I hoped it would resonate now.

Tao Yuan crossed his arms and tilted his head. "Are you saying we're going to clear a path wide enough for the carriages to pass through?"

I shook my head. "We'll go by foot. The carriages can stay on the main road and be driven by one or two of us. They can meet us at a designated point beyond the sect's territory."

The room fell silent again, the weight of my words settling over them. Faces turned thoughtful as they considered the practicality of my plan.

"It's unconventional," Yu Guo said finally. "But it makes sense. It minimizes the risk of detection. The sect won't expect us to split up."

Peng Enlai studied me, his expression unreadable. Finally, he nodded. "Very well. We'll discuss it further before we make any decisions. But, Luo Fan," he said, his tone both amused and firm, "if this plan fails, it's your head."

I inclined my head slightly. "Understood."Bottom of Form

The room shifted in an instant, tension thickening like a coiled rope ready to snap. Every head turned toward the door behind me. Even without looking, I felt it—the weight of his presence pressing into the air like a storm rolling in.

Ruan Yanjun had arrived.