What's going on here? Though inwardly surprised, Su Ran maintained his cool demeanor and walked over slowly, like an emperor observing his subjects. Ji Chun noticed Su Ran's arrival, stood up, took the skewer of roasted fish, and handed it to him. "Here, eat."
Su Ran didn't bother with politeness. He took the fish directly, hooked the bench Ji Chun had been sitting on with his foot, and bent down to sit. But as he did, a sharp pain shot through his body. "Hiss—" He winced, awkwardly kicked the bench aside, turned his face away, and began eating the fish.
Meanwhile, Ji Chun returned to the room, lit a candle, and neatly spread clean bedding on the bed. He gathered the dirty linens from the floor and carried them to a large basin under the shed. Finding some soap nuts, he began washing them.
As the night grew deeper, Su Ran had already returned to his room. Seeing the neatly made bed, he couldn't help but feel a flicker of surprise. What exactly was that monk up to?
He sat quietly by the table, waiting to see what Ji Chun would do when he returned. But after a long wait, there was still no sign of him. Growing restless, Su Ran glanced outside impatiently.
He glanced outside and saw that the monk was still washing clothes. Suddenly, he felt his own behavior was childish and strange. He took off his coat, climbed into bed, pulled the quilt over himself, and made sure to blow out the candle before lying down. *That bald donkey, how dare he come in here!* After a whirlwind of random thoughts, Su Ran finally succumbed to his drowsiness and soon fell into a deep sleep.
Ji Chun, having finished his tasks, glanced into the room. Seeing that the man had gone to bed, he felt relieved, as it would prevent any further disputes. The sky was now pitch black, and the rain that had been falling for a full day and night had finally stopped. He hoped the weather would clear up by tomorrow, making it easier for them to find their way down the mountain. As it was getting late, he closed the door and settled down to sleep on a table outside...
---
"Ji Chun, you've worked hard on your journey," Hui Kong said, his weathered and aged hand gently patting Ji Chun's shoulder as he greeted him with warmth.
"Shifu, it is my duty as your disciple," Ji Chun replied respectfully, bowing his head in humility.
"Did you encounter anything new along the way? This was your first time descending the mountain, so I imagine you've gained a deeper understanding of the martial world," Abbot Hui Kong said with a kind smile, guiding him to sit on a chair. He seemed genuinely interested in Ji Chun's journey.
Suddenly, the image of that arrogant and domineering man flashed through Ji Chun's mind, followed by a series of shameful scenes. He froze, unable to meet his Shifu's eyes, and remained silent for a long time.
"Ah? Why aren't you saying anything?" Abbot Hui Kong asked, turning to look at him. The familiar, kind expression on his face had faded, replaced by one of disappointment.
Abbot Hui Kong knew... Overwhelmed by guilt, Ji Chun rose from his chair and knelt before his Shifu, bowing his head as he spoke in a low voice, "I have disgraced the sect. I am willing to accept any punishment you see fit, Shifu."
"Ji Chun, among all your fellow disciples, you were the one with the highest level of comprehension and the most Zen- minded. How could you commit such a filthy and despicable act? I must have been mistaken... mistaken..." Abbot Hui Kong turned his back to him, shaking his head repeatedly.
"Shifu..." The words cut deep into Ji Chun's heart like a knife, causing him immense pain. This was the man he respected most—the one who had raised and taught him like family since childhood, personally instructing him in the ways of the temple. Yet now, he could hardly believe the disappointment in his Shifu's voice.
Yes, he had violated the temple's most sacred precepts. How could Abbot Hui Kong ever forgive him? Overcome with dejection and bitterness, Ji Chun felt utterly lost. The guilt in his heart made him want to say something, to make amends, but...
"Enough," Abbot Hui Kong interrupted, waving his sleeve. In a hoarse and weary voice, he delivered his final decision: "You may leave."
Leave? Ji Chun had been in the temple for as long as he could remember. If he were to leave, where would he go? It felt as though the very meaning of his life had been stripped away in an instant. No longer able to maintain his composure, he cried out uncontrollably, "Shifu—!"
Bang...
The sound of a heavy object hitting the ground jolted him awake. He had been thrashing in his sleep, knocking over the items on the table. Ji Chun sat up, drenched in cold sweat, his heart still racing. He wiped his forehead with his sleeve, trying to calm the lingering anxiety from the dream.
As he sat there, panting and trying to steady his breathing, a figure emerged from the inner room, staring at him in surprise.
Noticing the man stepping out, Ji Chun quickly composed himself and grabbed a broom to sweep up the debris on the floor. He couldn't tell what the man was thinking as Su Ran leaned against the doorframe of the inner room, gazing thoughtfully in his direction. For some reason, whenever Ji Chun felt Su Ran's eyes on him, a strange sensation washed over him, forcing him to lower his head and focus on sweeping.
A few shards of the broken cup had scattered into the corner near the wall, where the broom couldn't reach. Ji Chun moved the table to create more space and was about to sweep the fragments out when Su Ran suddenly exclaimed, "Look!"
Following Su Ran's gaze, Ji Chun saw a large landscape painting—half the height of the wall—slowly slide to the side, revealing a hidden door behind it. There's actually a secret passage here! Su Ran's face lit up with excitement as he strode forward to inspect it. Assuming there was no immediate danger, he pushed the door open with one hand, revealing a dark, narrow passage.
"Let's go in and take a look," Su Ran said, tilting his head slightly. It wasn't clear if he was speaking to Ji Chun or to himself, but he quickly found a candle, lit it, and stepped inside. Ji Chun hesitated for a moment, then grabbed a few fruits, stuffed them into his bag, and followed. He thought this passage might lead them out of the mountain.
After walking for over an hour, they still hadn't reached the end. Su Ran crouched on a stone to rest, examining the tunnel by the dim candlelight. It was damp, stuffy, and utterly unremarkable. The two continued forward, pausing to rest when tired and then pressing on. The entire journey was silent, as if they had silently agreed not to speak to each other.
The darkness was absolute, and time seemed to stretch endlessly. Both men grew increasingly hungry and exhausted, eventually stopping again. They weren't sure if the path ahead would lead them out of the mountain. Most people might have turned back after such a long, directionless trek, but both Su Ran and Ji Chun shared a stubborn determination to see things through to the end.
The silence was suddenly broken by a loud "Grrr——" sound. Ji Chun glanced in Su Ran's direction—the noise had come from him. Su Ran touched his stomach, looking slightly embarrassed. Fortunately, the darkness hid his face, and he quickly turned away.
Ji Chun suddenly remembered the wild fruits he had packed before leaving. He pulled out two and held them in his hand, hesitating as he looked at Su Ran. Su Ran, meanwhile, was starving. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the fruits in Ji Chun's hand, which only made his hunger more unbearable. He touched his flat stomach and, trying to maintain his composure, casually asked, "Hey, what are those?"
Why is this man...? Ji Chun thought for a moment but couldn't find the right words to describe Su Ran. He settled on interesting in his mind. Without overthinking it, he handed one of the fruits to Su Ran and said in a low voice, "Eat it."
Su Ran took the fruit without hesitation. He had never eaten this type of wild fruit before, but to his surprise, it was delicious. He devoured it in two bites, and his stomach finally felt somewhat settled. As he finished, the corners of his mouth curled up involuntarily.
This monk... Could it be... that he likes me? Otherwise, why would he be so nice to me? The thought amused him, and he found the idea of a solemn, rigid monk falling for a man both hilarious and intriguing. But almost immediately, he scolded himself for such a ridiculous notion, feeling a wave of self-disgust.
The two continued their journey. The candles had burned out, leaving them to navigate the darkness by feel. Fortunately, the passage seemed safe, or they would have been in serious trouble. Ji Chun walked slightly ahead, with Su Ran close behind. They relied on each other's presence, using their breathing to gauge the distance between them.
After what felt like an eternity, Su Ran's patience began to wear thin, and his steps grew erratic. Suddenly, his forehead bumped into the back of the monk in front of him. Both men froze, startled by the unexpected contact.
"Huh..." Su Ran exhaled, his heart racing. It was unnerving to bump into something in the pitch-black darkness. He had never paid much attention before, but now he realized something: this monk was actually taller than him!
After this brief setback, they continued walking for what felt like an eternity. During a break, Ji Chun handed Su Ran some fruit to replenish his energy. Finally, they saw the end of the tunnel! As they approached the exit, sunlight streamed in, illuminating their faces clearly for the first time. Both looked pale and disheveled, as though they had been trapped for two or three days.
Stepping out of the cave, they found themselves in a deserted field overgrown with weeds and trees, clearly neglected for years. However, they were certain they had made it out of the mountain. Following their instincts, they walked for a while longer until they spotted an official road ahead, with a few pedestrians passing by. They exchanged glances, realizing that after such a grueling and arduous journey, they had finally returned to the light of day.
"Benefactor Su, I must go to the town to search for news of Xue Yao and Young Master Ouyang. I'll take my leave now," Ji Chun said, clasping his hands together and nodding to Su Ran before turning to leave.
"Whatever!" Su Ran waved his hand dismissively. All he wanted was to return to the inn, take a hot bath, and enjoy a hearty meal.
Just as Ji Chun took a few steps, Su Ran suddenly called out, "Wait! I'll go with you. We're heading the same way anyway."
Ji Chun was clearly reluctant to travel with Su Ran. The relationship between them was already complicated, and he hoped to avoid further entanglement. In a deep, firm voice, he declined, "Benefactor, you are a leader of your sect, and I fear it would be inappropriate for us to travel together." His implication was clear: they should go their separate ways and not interfere with each other.
Hmph! You bald donkey! If you don't accept my kindness, you'll have to face the consequences. Su Ran's eyes glinted with a cold edge. He clenched his fists but forced a friendly smile, leaning slightly forward to whisper in Ji Chun's ear, "Dashi, haven't we already been... intimate? Why are you so afraid of me now?"
Ji Chun's expression darkened instantly. This man was threatening him. Struggling to suppress the anger rising in his chest, his face turned icy, and his voice was as cold as winter frost. "Benefactor, do as you please."
Author's Notes: Please share ദ്ദി(˵ •̀ ᴗ - ˵ ) ✧
Translator's notes: I think I love Su Ran. Struggling a little bit with the formalities I'm trying to keep as much pinyin as possible if you see any mistakes please let me know and they will be fixed accordingly. Thanks.