The woman's purse was stolen in an instant. She was so frightened that she froze, stunned and unable to react. When she finally gathered her senses, she instinctively wanted to chase after the thief. But before she could move, she saw the thief's body fly through the air, crash heavily to the ground, spit out a pool of blood, and faint. The scene unfolded before her eyes, leaving her terrified and speechless.
A cold-faced man stood in front of her, his expression icy. Her legs weakened under his frosty gaze. Su Ran glared at her briefly before tightly grabbing Ji Chun's hand. He turned his head slightly toward the crowd and asked coldly, "Where is the pharmacy?"
A brave man in the crowd pointed eastward and stammered, "Go straight... go straight, and you'll see Renyitang Pharmacy."
Ji Chun was trying hard to endure the stinging pain in his eyes when he felt his hand being grasped by the man beside him. Su Ran pulled him forcefully in a certain direction. Though Ji Chun was unaccustomed to the darkness clouding his vision, he felt an unexpected sense of peace in that moment.
"Hmph, you bald donkey, mind your own business!" Su Ran muttered coldly under his breath. Ji Chun couldn't see Su Ran's irritated expression, but the thought of it somehow eased the pain in his eyes, leaving him feeling oddly relaxed.
They hadn't walked far when Su Ran pulled Ji Chun up two steps. As they were about to enter the pharmacy, Ji Chun tripped over the threshold, nearly falling headfirst.
"Be careful!" Su Ran's voice carried a hint of panic. Just as Ji Chun was about to fall, Su Ran yanked his arm, pulling him upright. Ji Chun stumbled into Su Ran, catching a whiff of the man's distinct fragrance.
"Hmmm!" Su Ran groaned softly as Ji Chun bumped into him. He pushed Ji Chun away, though with only a fraction of his strength, and scolded in a low voice, "Clumsy blind monk!"
Ji Chun said nothing but silently tightened his grip on Su Ran's hand. He couldn't help but notice how smooth and tender Su Ran's hands were, a stark contrast to his own rough palms. It was hard to believe this man practiced martial arts.
"You! Come and look at his eyes!" Su Ran barked at the doctor behind the counter, his tone arrogant and domineering.
"Y-yes," the old doctor stammered, stepping forward. He was so short that he had to tiptoe to examine the tall monk. "Dashi, please sit down first," he said cautiously.
"Thank you, doctor," Ji Chun replied politely. He squinted, reaching out to feel for the stool. Before he could find it, Su Ran grabbed his hand and guided him to the seat. Ji Chun hesitated for a moment but sat down when Su Ran commanded, "Sit!"
The old doctor carefully examined Ji Chun's eyes, wiping away the white powder on his face with clean gauze before applying medicine. "It's nothing serious. You'll be healed by tomorrow," the doctor assured.
Ji Chun nodded, clasped his hands together, and bowed. "Thank you, doctor." He reached for the bag on his back to retrieve some silver, but Su Ran interrupted, "I've already paid. Let's go."
Ji Chun paused, then stood and took a step forward. Suddenly, he stopped and stretched out his hand, as if guided by some unseen force. After a moment, Su Ran took his hand, and the two walked out of the pharmacy.
They arrived at the inn, but it was still early, too early to rest and too early for dinner. For a while, they stood awkwardly, unsure of what to do. Eventually, they found a corner seat, ordered two pots of tea and a plate of snacks, and sat in silence.
Ji Chun, who rarely spoke, remained quiet. Su Ran, unable to bear the stifling atmosphere, broke the silence. "I heard your Shaolin Xisui Jing can transform anyone, even someone with poor aptitude, into a martial arts genius. Is that true?"
"The Xisui Jing is overrated in the martial arts world," Ji Chun replied modestly. "It's merely a technique to strengthen the body."
Su Ran raised an eyebrow, half-serious, half-teasing. "Oh, Ji Chun Dashi, you're too humble. If it's so ordinary, why not share the secret with me? I'd like to strengthen my body too." He stared blatantly at Ji Chun, taking advantage of the monk's temporary blindness.
Ji Chun chuckled. He knew exactly what Su Ran was after. "Does Sect Leader Su wish to become a monk and join me as a Buddhist disciple?"
Su Ran, caught off guard by Ji Chun's rare display of humor, felt his face grow warm. He cursed inwardly, What are you laughing at, you damn monk? Clearing his throat, he pretended to be serious. "No, no, Dashi. You downplayed the Xisui Jing, so I was just following your lead."
Ji Chun, enjoying their banter more than he expected, decided to play along. "If you truly wish to learn, I'm willing to teach you. But you'll have to call me Shixiong."
A faint smile played on Ji Chun's lips, making his already handsome face even more striking. The mischievous glint in his expression seemed at odds with his monk's attire, leaving Su Ran both confused and flustered.
Although Su Ran knew Ji Chun couldn't see him, he still turned his face away, his ears turning slightly red. In an irritated voice, he said, "You want me to call you, a lousy monk, Shixiong? Hmph! You couldn't even handle it."
Ji Chun's lips curled into a faint smile. He could tell from Su Ran's tone that the man was annoyed, so he chose not to respond. Instead, he picked up his cup and took a sip of tea. As he drank, Su Ran's handsome face appeared in his mind. The tea suddenly tasted so fragrant that it almost made him feel intoxicated. At the same time, he felt a pang of confusion. Why had he been so restrained in the past?
That evening, the two had dinner together before retiring to their rooms. Ji Chun lay in bed for a long time, unable to fall asleep. Though his vision was still pitch black, Su Ran's figure kept appearing in his thoughts. He reflected on their journey since they first met, feeling as though fate had tied them together, bringing them into each other's paths time and time again. When they first met, Ji Chun had despised Su Ran, but now, to his surprise, he found himself enjoying the man's company. Life truly was unpredictable.
The next morning, Ji Chun woke from his dreams. The world around him gradually shifted from blurry to clear—his vision had finally returned. It felt comforting to see everything so vividly again. He got up, washed, and stepped out of his room. As soon as he opened the door, he saw Su Ran yawning and closing the door of the adjacent room. The sight filled Ji Chun with an inexplicable sense of warmth.
"Huh? You can see now?" Su Ran stepped closer, examining Ji Chun carefully.
"Yes," Ji Chun replied simply.
They went downstairs together and ordered breakfast. As they ate, the sound of gongs, drums, and firecrackers erupted outside. A lively commotion filled the air as people gathered to watch the excitement. It was clear that a wedding procession was passing by, and the scene was quite sensational. Guests from the inn rushed out to catch a glimpse. Ji Chun and Su Ran exchanged a glance, neither particularly interested in joining the crowd. But then, they overheard a conversation at the next table.
"I didn't know that the Second Young Master of Liuyun Manor was getting married. How did this happen so suddenly? I wonder what kind of woman could marry into such a prestigious family. She must have accumulated a lot of good karma in her past life!"
Ji Chun paused, his chopsticks hovering mid-air. Liuyun Manor... The name stirred a memory. When he was young, the head of Liuyun Estate, Yun Fengyang, had visited Shaolin with his second son. Ji Chun had played with the Second Young Master back then. Could today's wedding be for his brother?
Noticing Ji Chun's distracted expression, Su Ran said, "Let's go see what's happening!" Without waiting for a response, he stood and headed for the door. Ji Chun had no choice but to put down his chopsticks and follow.
Outside, a large crowd had gathered. Fortunately, both men were tall enough to see over the throng. The wedding procession was lavish and grand, stretching down the street. The groom, a young man of about eighteen or nineteen, rode a tall horse, leading the bridal sedan slowly forward. Behind him rode another man who bore a striking resemblance to the groom. Ji Chun felt a strange sense of familiarity. Could that be Yun Zizhuo, the Second Young Master of Liuyun Manor?
Ji Chun took a step forward, squinting to get a better look. The man's features did resemble Yun Zizhuo from his childhood memories, though time had clearly changed him.
"What are you staring at?" Su Ran's cold voice cut through Ji Chun's thoughts. There was an unmistakable edge of displeasure in his tone. Why was this monk so fixated on that man? Sure, he was handsome, but still—what a perverted monk!
"Hmm?" Ji Chun turned to Su Ran, surprised by the man's irritation. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Keep watching if you want," Su Ran snapped, rolling his eyes. He pushed through the crowd and walked away.
Ji Chun wanted to follow but was blocked by the surging crowd. Frustration bubbled up inside him. Why were there so many people? His interest in the spectacle faded, and he was about to return to the inn when he noticed the man who looked like Yun Zizhuo break away from the procession. The man rode his horse toward the crowd, dismounted, and approached Ji Chun. The onlookers parted respectfully, murmuring greetings.
"Hello, Second Young Master!" they said, bowing slightly.
The man acknowledged them with a polite nod before stopping in front of Ji Chun. He hesitated for a moment, then called out uncertainly, "Xiao Chun?"
Ji Chun's face darkened. There was no doubt now—this was Yun Zizhuo, the boy he had played with as a child. Yun Zizhuo was five years older and had always called himself "Gege." Back then, Ji Chun had been quiet and reserved, but Yun Zizhuo had always sought him out, often dragging him away to play during moments when his Shifu and Yun Zizhuo's father were deep in discussion. Ji Chun's Shixiong's would inevitably scold him, and Yun Zizhuo would then beg for mercy on his behalf.
"Amitabha, Yun Gongzi. It's been a long time," Ji Chun said, clasping his hands together and bowing politely, his tone distant and formal.