Chapter 79: Hidden Wounds

~~~

A day passes by.

It does not do so quickly. It lingers. It overstays its welcome like a very annoying guest, making every second a test in patience. Liu Jin expects to be called back to Branch Master Ruan’s throne room at any moment, yet that does not happen. Throughout the entire day, he remains undisturbed.

Why? Liu Jin can only speculate. Perhaps, Branch Master Ruan wants to make sure Ren He—the disciple he wounded yesterday—is fully healed. If that is the case, Liu Jin may have to wait for a full week, perhaps even a month. It is not a pleasant thought, yet there is not much, if anything, Liu Jin can do about it.

Thus, Liu Jin sits down and cultivates for the entire second day.

It is not the worst place to do so. While the Dragon Veins in the area are inferior to those in Eastern Port City, the mansion is located right above one. The land must have been quite expensive to buy, though it is unlikely that was an issue for the Eternal Raging Valley.

On the fourth day, Liu Jin reaches the Second Level of the Nascent Realm. It is a small breakthrough, one that was long overdue. Had Liu Jin’s mind not been so preoccupied with other things during the previous months, he’d have reached it a long time ago. Compared to repairing Ren He’s broken Dantian, bringing his new power under control proves remarkably easy.

On the fifth day, a disciple knocks on his door. It is the same one who brought him here. He brings with him food and news.

“Branch Master Ruan will see you in a week.”

“Is that so?” Liu Jin bites down on the bread the disciple has brought for him. The gesture is unneeded, yet appreciated. “I don’t suppose I can trouble you for your insight?”

The disciple’s lips form a thin line. For a moment, Liu Jin is sure he is about to close the door on him.

“I do not know what Branch Master Ruan will ask of you. I do not know what he will tell you. I only know that you will be alone with him. There will be guards outside, but no one else will be in the room with you.”

Liu Jin blinks.

Could it… Could it be that not even his own Sect knows what is wrong with Branch Master Ruan?

The answer comes to Liu Jin the instant the thought finishes forming in his head. Of course, they don’t. Certainly, they might suspect something is wrong with him (they’d have to be fools not to), but a man who’d use his own disciples as a way to test a doctor’s skill would never trust them with such sensitive information.

That is why Ruan Goutin has behaved in such a boorish way with the Five Blessings Group. He uses the Eternal Raging Valley’s name as a blunt instrument because anything less would mean exposing his vulnerability. It is why he has taken the doctors by force and why none have survived.

Branch Master Ruan trusts no one and has no one.

Branch Master Ruan is… alone.

“I recommend that you be careful with what you say. Should you displease him…”

The disciple does not finish. He does not need to. That not a single doctor has come back from meeting Branch Master Ruan says it all.

“What of my servant? Is he being shown the same courtesy as me?”

The disciple raises an eyebrow.

“Do you truly care?”

“As you told me the other day, my servant is exactly that, mine. Of course, I care. I will not have him harmed by the petty whims of others.”

The disciple stares at him for a long while. “He is being treated fairly.”

Fairly. A word that can mean many things.

“And should Branch Master Ruan dispose of me?”

The disciple stares at him for a while. “You… you truly do care, don’t you?”

“It is due to my actions that he and I are here. If I die due to it, that is one thing. However, there is no reason for him to do so.”

It is not that he particularly cares for Lei Kong as a person. It is just simple basic decency. It was he who dragged Lei Kong into this. If his lack of foresight were to lead Lei Kong to his death, well, Liu Jin would feel at least a little guilty.

That is just normal.

“I doubt Branch Master Ruan will care much for what happens to a servant,” the disciple replies after a while. “Should something unfortunate happen to you, I will make sure to throw all your possessions out like trash.”

In other words, he’ll ensure Lei Kong is thrown out instead of killed.

“Thank you.”

The disciple snorts.

“This Yan Chao has done nothing worth being thanked over. This is the minimum the Eternal Raging Valley should do for you. If I didn’t do at least this much after you saved Ren He, I would not be able to show my face to anyone.”

“All the same, I thank you. I have recently learned that those who bother to do at least this much are rarer than I expected.”

Yan Chao sighs and looks away. “I doubt I will be able to visit again. Branch Master Ruan’s gaze is no longer focused on Ren He’s recovery. Gather your strength and organize your mind. For what it is worth, I hope you’ll survive.”

“What a coincidence. I hope I survive as well.”

~~~

Just as Yan Chao says, Liu Jin is called to Ruan Goutin’s throne room once a week has passed.

This time no one accompanies him inside. The disciples take him to the throne room, but they do not step in. When the doors close, Liu Jin is left alone with Ruan Goutin.

Liu Jin’s steps barely make any noise, yet he feels them echo loudly in his ears. Once he is within thirty steps of the throne, Ruan Goutin speaks.

“Kneel.”

Liu Jin does so. Gracefully. His eyes are fixed on the floor, not daring to meet Ruan Goutin’s gaze.

“I see you have more than recovered since we saw each other last. Tell me, what do you think of my hospitality?”

“I was given a bed to sleep in and a roof over my head. I have been safe and protected, my lord. What person could take issue with that? I can only thank my lord for deeming me worthy of such kindness.”

Ruan Goutin laughs.

“Well spoken. It seems the days gone by have not dulled your wit.”

Qi glows in one of Ruan Goutin’s hands as he traces a pattern in the air. The Qi of those outside suddenly cannot be sensed. The silence becomes complete. A barrier of some sort. That has to be it. Ruan Goutin activated a barrier to separate the throne room from the outside, preventing anyone from being able to overhear them.

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“You are allowed to take fifteen steps.”

Liu Jin rises to his feet and walks towards Ruan Goutin. Once he has taken fifteen steps, he stops.

“You are allowed to take fifteen more steps.”

Fifteen steps more. Doing that would place him right before the throne, close enough to touch Ruan Goutin should he hold out his hand. Even so, Liu Jin does not allow hesitation to appear on his face as he complies.

“Kneel.”

Again the order is given. Again Liu Jin obeys.

“I have called you here so that you may be of service to me. Yet, there is no guarantee that you will be useful. You have passed my test, but that only tells me you are not completely incompetent.”

Liu Jin forces himself to remain still. Repairing a broken dantian in under fifty seconds is not enough to make Branch Master Ruan believe in his skills?

Just how serious is his condition for that to be the case?

“Even so, that you are still here makes you far more competent than most. It would be foolish to deny that, and even more foolish not to allow you the opportunity to prove yourself.”

“I can only thank my lord for his generosity.”