Walking along a winding path, Ji Chun followed its twists and turns until it led him to the end of a serene valley. There, flowers and grass bloomed in vibrant colors, warblers and butterflies danced in the air, and a towering waterfall cascaded from a mountain so high its peak was lost in the clouds. The waterfall fed a clear, bubbling stream, beside which stood a modest thatched house about ten feet away. Ji Chun was struck by the beauty of the place—it was nothing short of a paradise. But who could live in such a secluded spot?
As he approached the house, Ji Chun noticed the door was slightly ajar. He knocked gently, but there was no response. Pushing the door open, he found the interior empty, with a thick layer of dust covering everything. It seemed no one had lived there for a long time. Yet, the necessities of daily life were neatly arranged, though spider webs clung to the corners and a faint stench of decay lingered in the air. Venturing further inside, Ji Chun discovered a dried-up human skeleton lying on a bamboo bed. This, he surmised, must have been the owner of the house.
With a sense of reverence, Ji Chun carried Su Ran, who was still unconscious, to a bamboo chair. He bowed several times to the skeleton, offering his apologies, and then carefully moved the remains to a bamboo mat on one side of the room. After spreading clothes from his bag over the mat, he gently laid Su Ran on the bed and covered him with a quilt. Searching the cabinet, Ji Chun found two thin quilts and used one to further warm Su Ran. He then went outside to fetch water, boiled it, and used a damp handkerchief to wipe Su Ran's face. Once done, he carried the skeleton outside and gave it a proper burial.
After completing these tasks, Ji Chun ventured out to find food. The mountain was rich with fresh fruits, large and delicious, which he gathered in a basket. After washing and eating a few to satisfy his hunger, he returned to clean the house, removing the layers of dirt and dust. By sunset, the place was tidied, and Su Ran remained resting in the outer room with his eyes closed.
Suddenly, Su Ran stirred, his sensitive ears catching a faint sound from the inner room. Rubbing his eyes, he stumbled inside, only to find Ji Chun there. Su Ran looked around, confused and disoriented, his beard messy and his expression bewildered. "What is this place?" he muttered, his voice tinged with irritation.
Ji Chun, accustomed to Su Ran's brusque demeanor, replied calmly, "I don't know."
"Is there anything to eat?" Su Ran asked, his hand resting on his empty stomach.
"Some fruits," Ji Chun answered, stepping outside to retrieve a few washed fruits and handing them to Su Ran. Without hesitation, Su Ran began eating hungrily, his usual air of authority as a sect leader forgotten in his hunger. Ji Chun watched him for a moment before turning away and heading outside.
By the stream, Ji Chun gazed at the towering peaks and the cascading waterfall, the water splashing and flowing into the deep slate and bluestone crevices between the mountains. His thoughts drifted to Xue Yao and Ouyang Gongzi, wondering if they had escaped danger. The Gang Sect was a mystery to him, and now, stranded in this secluded valley with Su Ran, he saw it as an opportunity to recover and plan their next steps. The path they had followed ended here, and returning the same way might lead them into the hands of the Tian Gang Sect. For safety, they would need to find another route down the mountain.
"There's fish?!" Su Ran's voice broke Ji Chun's reverie. Turning, Ji Chun saw Su Ran's face light up with excitement. Without waiting for a response, Su Ran removed his shoes and socks, rolled up his sleeves and trousers, and waded into the stream. With swift movements, he caught several fish, tossing them onto the bank with a splash. Mud and water sprayed onto Ji Chun's face, prompting him to finally speak up. "Benefactor, all living beings have spirits. You should—"
"Shut up!" Su Ran snapped, cutting him off. "I was going to roast these fish as a thank-you for saving me, but if you're going to lecture me, forget it! You can stick to your fruits, and we'll each go our own way."
The tension between them was evident, each displeased with the other's actions. Ji Chun, his face cold, turned away and walked off, his sleeves fluttering in the breeze.
Seeing the monk's indifferent expression, Su Ran's anger flared, and a flicker of murderous intent flashed in his eyes. You bald fool, how dare you give me the cold shoulder! Though his rage burned fiercely, Su Ran couldn't shake the memory of being carried to safety by this very monk in the cave, moments from death. Despite his usual unscrupulous nature and lack of gratitude, the scene lingered in his mind. Annoyed, he scratched his beard and glanced at the fish writhing on the ground, which now seemed like an eyesore. With a few splashes, he tossed the fish back into the stream.
His face dark, Su Ran picked up two fish, drew a dagger from his waist, and stabbed them repeatedly. The blood dripped onto his hands, and as he inhaled the metallic scent, his anger began to subside. After cleaning and skewering the fish on branches, he realized he had no way to start a fire. Then he remembered—the monk had a flint. His eyes narrowed with calculation, and a hypocritical smile spread across his face as he placed the fish in a basin.
"Ji Chun Dashi? So you're here," Su Ran called out as he entered the inner room, his tone unnaturally cheerful. Ji Chun was meditating on a straw mat, his eyes closed. When he raised his eyelids slightly, he immediately understood Su Ran's intentions. In just a few days, Ji Chun had come to know this man well—a ruthless, cunning figure who would say anything to get what he wanted, his demeanor shifting as quickly as the wind.
Unfazed by the monk's silence, Su Ran pressed on. "It's already dark outside, and I can hardly see a thing. I was worried I might break something, so I fumbled around and found a few candles." He took a step closer, his voice softening. "Dashi, I recall you have a flint. Would you lend it to me to light the candles?"
The room was indeed pitch black, save for the faint moonlight streaming through the window. Ji Chun, without opening his eyes, replied, "The flint is in the bag by the window." Su Ran retrieved it with a satisfied grin, heading outside to start a fire and roast the fish.
After devouring two fish, Su Ran felt his strength return, and even the pain from his wounds seemed to fade. He lit a candle and took it with him as he explored the area, getting a sense of the terrain. The mountain air was chilly, and soon he began to feel the cold seeping into his bones. Reluctantly, he returned to the house.
Ji Chun was preparing the bed when he heard the door creak open. He slowed his movements, aware of the problem at hand: there was only one low bed, and both he and Su Ran were tall, broad-shouldered men. Sharing the bed was out of the question. As he pondered this, Su Ran entered and immediately noticed the same issue. The thought of sharing a bed with a monk—let alone one he considered an enemy—filled him with disgust.
Their eyes met, and in that moment, an unspoken understanding passed between them. The room fell into an awkward silence.
"Ah-choo! Ah-choo!" Su Ran sneezed twice in quick succession, breaking the tension. He felt a pang of embarrassment—he hadn't sneezed like this since he was a child. The idea that he, a martial arts master, could fall ill was almost laughable.
Ji Chun averted his gaze, spread the quilt on the floor, and took another from the cabinet. After blowing out the candle in the outer room, he returned and glanced at Su Ran, who was sitting at the table drinking water. "Go to sleep," Ji Chun said in a deep voice, lying down on the floor and pulling the quilt over himself. The room was plunged into darkness as the candle's flame was extinguished by a gust of wind.
Su Ran climbed into the bed, a strange emotion stirring within him. Are you stupid or just hypocritical, treating your enemy with such kindness? he wondered.
In the middle of the night, the wind howled outside, rattling the doors and windows violently. The fragile door panels threatened to give way, and the eerie sound of debris being tossed about by the wind only added to the unsettling atmosphere. The night was alive with the cries of the storm, making it hard to find peace.
Suddenly, a blinding flash of lightning lit up the bedroom floor, illuminating the blanket covering Ji Chun before plunging the room back into darkness. A deep, thunderous roar followed, shaking the air as if the heavens themselves were splitting apart. The doors and windows, not fully closed, were flung open by a powerful gust of wind. A biting chill swept into the room, forcing both men to pull their quilts tightly around themselves.
Ji Chun braced himself against the wind, stood up, and secured the window tightly. He then went to the outer door, blocking it to keep the storm at bay. Gradually, the wind subsided. Returning to his makeshift bed, he lay down in the cold quilt, half-closing his eyes. Sleep eluded him; the cold was too relentless.
Su Ran, too, was struggling on the bed. Despite the closed doors and windows, he shivered uncontrollably, his teeth chattering. He tried to summon his inner strength to warm himself, but exhaustion left him powerless. Soon, the sound of heavy rain joined the storm, the relentless patter of water against the roof a testament to the downpour outside.
"Come... sleep on the bed," Su Ran called out, his voice nasal and trembling from the cold. He sounded weak, almost lifeless.
Ji Chun, numb with cold, didn't hesitate. His only thought was the desperate need for warmth. Dragging his quilt toward the bed, he spread it over Su Ran, then lifted a corner and lay down beside him. Su Ran immediately pressed his body against Ji Chun's, seeking the monk's warmth. He wrapped his arms around Ji Chun's waist, burying his head against the monk's shoulder and tucking his legs between Ji Chun's.
At first, Ji Chun stiffened, resisting the closeness. But as their bodies pressed together, the cold began to ebb, replaced by a comforting warmth. Reluctantly, he relaxed, allowing Su Ran to cling to him. Gradually, the warmth seeped into both of them, and drowsiness took over. Unconsciously, Ji Chun tightened his arms around Su Ran, holding him closer.
In the quiet of the storm, the two men found solace in each other's warmth, their shared heat a small but vital reprieve from the cold night.