Ji Chun quickly lay back on the bed, pretending to still be asleep and unaware of anything. After a while, he heard the door creak open, followed by the sound of Su Ran's footsteps drawing closer. Su Ran sat down on the edge of the bed, but Ji Chun kept his eyes closed, feigning sleep. When Su Ran returned to the room, he noticed that the monk's shoes on the floor had been moved. Glancing at Ji Chun, who was "soundly asleep" on the bed, Su Ran curled his lips in amusement, understanding exactly what had happened.
He thought to himself, Aren't you the monk who claims to disdain eavesdropping? Yet here you are, listening in on me—and pretending to sleep so poorly at that! Though he didn't expose Ji Chun, a sly smile crept onto his face as he quietly reached out and gently touched the top of the monk's head. To his surprise, the bald head felt quite pleasant to the touch. Seeing that Ji Chun remained motionless, still "asleep," Su Ran abandoned any pretense of subtlety and boldly placed his hand over the monk's head, stroking it a few times and even tapping it lightly with his fingers.
Ji Chun, still pretending to sleep, didn't react. Su Ran smirked mischievously, pinching the monk's cheek and pulling it slightly, watching as the usually stoic face contorted under his fingers. Let's see how long you can keep this up, he thought, pinching Ji Chun's cheek again. Finally, Ji Chun could no longer endure it and grabbed Su Ran's hand. Su Ran quickly withdrew it, with a triumphant smile on his face.
Ji Chun sat up, his eyes clear and alert, showing no signs of having just woken up. He glanced at Su Ran, who was trying to suppress a grin, and asked in a calm tone, "What's wrong?"
"You don't know?" Su Ran raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise. "Were you really asleep just now?" His expression made it clear he saw through Ji Chun's act.
Ji Chun, realizing he'd been caught, felt a wave of embarrassment. He turned his face away, avoiding Su Ran's teasing gaze, and replied stiffly, "No… I wasn't."
"Did you hear the orders I gave them?" Su Ran suddenly remembered the serious matter at hand and dropped his playful demeanor.
"I heard them," Ji Chun admitted, lowering his head. He felt even more ashamed for eavesdropping.
"Don't interfere," Su Ran warned, raising his chin and narrowing his eyes. "I originally planned to handle this without telling you. Since you know now, fine—but stay out of it. Put away your compassion and recognize who's at fault here."
Ji Chun knew Su Ran saw him as someone who meddled too much, but he didn't realize that Su Ran also viewed him as overly kind to a fault. Feeling a pang of guilt, Ji Chun looked up steadily and said, "I won't interfere in this matter." How could he possibly want to save someone who had harmed Su Ran?
"Good. A monk must keep his word," Su Ran replied, pleased that Ji Chun hadn't tried to dissuade him as he'd expected. Instead, Ji Chun had clearly stated he wouldn't interfere, which satisfied Su Ran immensely. He looked at Ji Chun with approval.
"Well," Ji Chun said softly, his heart softening as he saw Su Ran's satisfied smile. "Go to sleep."
"Mnn," Su Ran responded, and the two lay down side by side. Just as Ji Chun was drifting off, he heard Su Ran murmur softly, as if in a dream or a whisper meant only for him: "Listen to me from now on…"
---
The two had planned to leave after three days, but the old doctor's family insisted they stay longer, claiming their relatives in the village hadn't yet made arrangements for them. This delay stretched their stay by two more days. During this time, Su Ran's recovery progressed well. Thanks to daily applications of ointment, his external injuries had healed without a trace. As long as he avoided using his internal energy, he could carry out daily activities without issue.
Meanwhile, rumors about the funeral held at Liuyun Manor spread throughout Tongcheng. It was said that Liuyun Manor had offended the gods, as they had hosted two weddings and funerals within a single month. Despite the gossip, no one could confirm who from the manor had died. Su Ran, however, was far from pleased when he heard the news. He knew Yun Mushang was dead, but the woman he sought was still alive. Frustrated with his subordinates' incompetence, he dismissed most of them, sending them back to the Demonic Cult for punishment, while keeping a few capable ones to continue their search for the woman.
On the day of their departure, Ji Chun bid farewell to the old doctor, who assured them that his distant nephew, a doctor named He Can, would take care of Su Ran's secret. That afternoon, the old doctor suggested they go into town to buy supplies. The village, nestled in the mountains, had rugged terrain, making it difficult for most villagers to travel unless necessary. Since Ji Chun and Su Ran planned to stay for a while, they agreed it was a good idea to stock up on essentials.
Su Ran, who had spent years traveling the country, had little experience with mundane necessities. Ji Chun, having lived in the mountains since childhood, was equally unfamiliar with such matters, as the Shaolin Temple had monks dedicated to managing daily supplies. After wandering around town for hours, they returned to the pharmacy with only a few pots, bowls, and utensils. The old woman chuckled when she saw them. "You young people," she said, "life isn't just about pots and pans. What will you do if you get hungry? You can't always rely on restaurants!"
Su Ran stood with his arms crossed, his expression neutral, but inwardly he thought, If someone knew how to cook, wouldn't it be enough to just give them money to buy the ingredients?
Ji Chun listened carefully to the old woman's words and realized he hadn't given the matter enough thought. He nodded humbly and said, "We've never done this before. Could you kindly give us some advice?" The old woman smiled warmly, patting Ji Chun's arm. "Of course, of course, Young Dashi. You're such a thoughtful person. I'll write it all down for you." She then walked behind the counter, took out a piece of paper, and began writing.
As the old woman worked on the list, Ji Chun stood idly by, his gaze naturally drifting to Su Ran. They had been together all day, but only now did he notice that Su Ran's belly was unmistakably prominent. Despite his tall and upright figure, the protrusion looked out of place and somewhat peculiar. No wonder people on the street had been giving Su Ran second glances. At first, Ji Chun had assumed it was because of Su Ran's striking appearance, but now he realized there was more to it.
After a while, the old woman handed the list to Ji Chun. "I've written down everything you might need. Feel free to buy anything else you like while you're out." She then went to the counter, retrieved several dozen taels of silver, and handed them to Ji Chun. "Take this. These things will cost a fair amount."
Ji Chun quickly placed the silver back on the counter, declining politely. "No, we can't take your money. Please keep it."
The old woman waved her hand, smiling. "You two don't have much saved up. Let's talk about it later when you're more settled."
Su Ran, who had been standing to the side, felt a pang of discomfort. This old woman, who wasn't particularly wealthy herself, was offering them the money they had worked so hard to earn. In his life, he had encountered few genuinely kind people. Spending time with Ji Chun over the past few months had shown him that not all hearts were as dark as he had once believed.
Ji Chun and the old woman continued to insist on their positions. Although Ji Chun didn't have much money on hand, he had enough to get by and didn't want to take advantage of the old woman's generosity. The old woman, however, was sincere in her desire to help. Having no children or grandchildren of her own, she had come to see the two young men as family and didn't want to keep them at a distance.
"We have money," Su Ran interjected, stepping forward. He placed the silver back on the counter and pulled out a stack of banknotes from his robe. Walking up to the old woman, he said earnestly, "Thank you." He then handed the banknotes to the stunned woman. "Here, take this."
Ji Chun looked at Su Ran in surprise, noticing the faint redness in his ears. It was clear Su Ran wasn't used to such gestures. Ji Chun recalled how, during their previous stay with an elderly couple, Su Ran had left a banknote behind without a word of thanks, his demeanor as aloof as ever. But this time… Su Ran had actually said "thank you." He really had changed.
"This… this is too much," the old woman stammered, overwhelmed by the sight of so much money. She patted Su Ran's arm, urging him, "Take it back quickly. If someone sees this, it could cause trouble."
Su Ran smiled dismissively, his chin lifted slightly in his characteristic confident and arrogant manner. "No one dares to target me. Don't worry, you can keep it." Seeing the old woman's hesitation and fear, he added, "My family is in business. This amount is nothing to us." Without waiting for her to respond, he tugged at Ji Chun's sleeve and whispered, "Let's go." With that, he strode out of the pharmacy, Ji Chun following close behind.
Armed with the old woman's list, the two spent the rest of the day exploring Tongcheng. They hired a carriage to carry their purchases and didn't return until evening. The streets were bustling with people celebrating the Lantern Festival. Colorful lanterns lit up the wide avenues, and the riverside was particularly lively, filled with men, women, and children releasing river lanterns and making wishes. Talented scholars and beautiful ladies gathered to participate in lantern riddle games, adding to the festive atmosphere.
When they returned to the pharmacy, it was already late. The old doctor urged them to stay for two more nights, but Su Ran declined. Instead, he handed the coachman a silver tael and instructed him to take their belongings directly to the village on Yunwu Mountain the next day. Fortunately, the coachman knew the way and agreed readily.
Exhausted from their long day and having missed dinner, the old woman heated up some porridge for them. Ji Chun and Su Ran sat at a small stone table in the backyard, eating quietly. As they ate, they heard footsteps approaching from around the corner leading to the medicine shop. One set belonged to the old woman, but the other was unfamiliar. The old woman's voice carried a tone of concern as she spoke to the stranger. "My dear, what happened to you? Who could have done something so cruel…"