"Young Master, Wenshi knows that you and Ji Chun Dashi are traveling the world together, but you don't have a woman to take care of things. If you take me with you, I'll do anything you ask!" The woman knelt on the ground, pleading desperately.
Su Ran's eyes flickered as if he had suddenly recalled something. A slow, knowing smile curled at the corners of his lips. His voice softened as he extended a hand toward the woman. "Very well, get up."
A flash of surprise appeared in Wenshi's eyes. She nodded shyly, placed her delicate hand in Su Ran's, and stood up with practiced grace. She lowered her gaze and called out softly, "Young Master~"
Ji Chun's expression darkened instantly. Without a word, he turned and continued walking. Out of sight, out of mind.
And so, what was supposed to be a journey for two became a journey for three. Su Ran wrapped an arm around Wenshi's slender waist, and seeing the monk's increasingly unpleasant expression, his amusement only grew. He smiled contentedly, the sight of his beautiful face making Wenshi even more infatuated. Her resolve to marry him strengthened.
After another two hours of walking, Wenshi began to tire. But seeing Ji Chun striding ahead without pause and Su Ran showing no signs of stopping, she bit her lip and pushed forward, unwilling to be a burden. However, exhaustion soon overtook her. She hesitated before whispering, "Young Master Su, why don't we stop for some water and rest?"
Su Ran saw through her act but chose not to expose her. Instead, he called out lazily, "Ji Chun Dashi, let's take a short break. Wenshi is a woman, after all."
Ji Chun turned with a cold expression and saw Su Ran casually pick up a stone to sit on while Wenshi wiped the sweat from his brow and offered him water with a bright smile. They made a picture-perfect pair.
For some reason, the sight unsettled him. It was irritating—deeply, inexplicably so. His face grew even darker. Unwilling to be near them, he moved to a separate spot and sat down. Though his back was turned, he could still hear their playful teasing—Su Ran's smooth words, Wenshi's flustered protests. His irritation mounted. He had no reason to interfere, yet he found himself silently seething. Were they not ashamed to flirt so brazenly in front of others? How utterly… improper!
After resting for a while, the journey resumed. Ji Chun's pace was noticeably faster than theirs, as if deliberately widening the distance. Wenshi, of course, was delighted by this. Su Ran, on the other hand, smirked, his eyes flashing with smug satisfaction.
As night fell, they finally arrived at a dilapidated temple and decided to rest there for the night and plan their next steps in the morning.
The moment Ji Chun stepped inside, his eyes fell on a broken Buddha statue standing at the temple's center. Without hesitation, he approached, knelt, and paid his respects. Then, spotting a dusty broom in the corner, he picked it up, shook off the grime, and began sweeping away dirt and weeds.
Su Ran had no intention of doing such menial work. Instead, he leaned against a pillar, watching the monk silently take on the task of preparing their resting place. His gaze then shifted to Wenshi, who stood idly nearby. Annoyance flickered in his eyes.
He shot her a cold glare, filled with blame and dissatisfaction.
Wenshi, used to being doted on at Huanxi Garden, had never needed to lift a finger. Now, being stared at for no reason, she felt aggrieved. Tears welled in her eyes. Su Ran was no longer treating her with the same tenderness as before, and the realization left her deeply unsettled.
She turned her gaze toward Ji Chun, who was still working diligently. A thought struck her.
Ji Chun was about to clear away some weeds when he suddenly caught the scent of rouge. A soft voice followed, "Master, let me handle this. You should rest."
He glanced up to see Wenshi kneeling beside him, her expression earnest. His voice remained steady as he declined, "Thank you, Benefactor, but I will take care of it."
"No, no, Master, please rest," Wenshi insisted. Ignoring the dust and dirt that would sully her fine clothes, she gathered the weeds and carefully laid them beside the Buddha statue.
Ji Chun didn't want to be near her, so he had no choice but to sit elsewhere. He pulled out a water pouch and took a sip—only to see Su Ran sauntering toward him.
"Dashi, what do you think of that girl?" Su Ran asked, his tone laced with amusement.
Ji Chun couldn't discern his intent, so he simply replied, "She is… simple and hardworking."
"Pfft—" Su Ran let out a laugh. "That's the first time I've heard a woman described like that. You really are a foolish monk." He grinned and added, "It's going to rain tonight. How about I give you this girl?"
Ji Chun's face darkened. "Give her to me?" he asked coldly. "I am a monk."
"So what?" Su Ran chuckled. "You can return to secular life anytime." Then, with a smirk, he teased, "Besides, Dashi you've already done things unbefitting of a monk. What's one more?"
Ji Chun's temper flared. Was Su Ran simply toying with him out of boredom? Why bring up this nonsense again? He shut his eyes, unwilling to entertain the man's provocations any longer.
By the time Wenshi finished spreading the straw into a makeshift bed, night had fully fallen. Ji Chun stepped outside and looked up. The sky was shrouded in thick, heavy clouds, not a single star in sight.
The scent of rain lingered in the air.
In the dim light of the temple, Ji Chun closed his eyes and silently recited the Heart Sutra. Yet, no matter how hard he tried to focus, the soft, alluring laughter of the woman echoed in his ears, disrupting his peace. Annoyed, he took a deep breath, attempting to suppress his discomfort. Outside, the wind grew fiercer, rattling the temple's doors and windows. Suddenly, the woman let out a sharp cry, "Ah!"
Ji Chun instinctively turned to look, thinking something had happened. Instead, he saw the woman clinging fearfully to Su Ran, her eyes wide with terror, her lips trembling as if genuinely frightened. Su Ran, who had initially wanted to push her away, caught sight of Ji Chun watching them. He hesitated, then pulled the woman closer, wrapping his arms around her protectively.
"Young Master, I'm still cold," the woman cooed, nestling into Su Ran's embrace. Su Ran played along, rummaging through her bag to find a piece of clothing. He draped it over her shoulders and asked softly, "Is that better?"
Before the woman could respond, an object flew across the temple, landing squarely on her head and shoulders. Startled, she flinched and raised her hands to shield herself, only to realize it was a piece of clothing.
"I beg you both to maintain some decorum in the presence of the Buddha," Ji Chun's cold voice cut through the air, sharp with warning and impatience. "I'll lend you that robe, Guniang, so you don't catch a cold tonight."
Su Ran raised an eyebrow but said nothing. He pushed the woman aside with a look of disgust and muttered, "Go sleep over there." He then took the garment from her, draped it over himself, and lay down. As he settled, a fleeting thought crossed his mind: the monk's scent was far more pleasant than the overpowering rouge on the woman.
The night deepened, and the wind outside howled relentlessly, stirring up dust and fallen leaves. The temple, long abandoned and neglected, offered little shelter. Cold air seeped through the cracks in the walls, making it difficult for the three to sleep peacefully.
At some point, Su Ran felt something brush against his waist. Instinctively, he swung his arm, throwing the unknown object aside. A sharp cry followed—the woman had been knocked to the ground, sobbing in the darkness. Ji Chun, roused by the commotion, frowned and reached for a candle. He lit it, casting a faint glow over the scene. Su Ran sat upright, his face dark with anger, fists clenched as if ready to strike.
Though Ji Chun disliked the woman, he couldn't stand by and let her come to harm. He approached with the candle and said sternly, "Guniang, here are some clothes to keep you warm. Please take my spot for the night." His tone was firm, leaving no room for argument.
The woman, trembling with fear and gratitude, took the candle and nodded. "Y-yes, of course," she stammered, tears streaming down her face. She quickly moved to Ji Chun's spot, her mind made up: she would leave at dawn. This man was too unpredictable, and she couldn't risk staying any longer.
Su Ran sat on the ground, glaring coldly at Ji Chun. A hint of sarcasm laced his voice as he remarked, "Dashi, you're quite the gentleman when it comes to women."
Ji Chun, unwilling to engage, replied tersely, "Not as much as you, Sect Leader Su." With that, the two fell silent, lying down back-to-back. Only then did Ji Chun feel a sense of calm, allowing him to drift into a more restful sleep. Su Ran, too, let go of his usual sharpness and vigilance, finally finding some peace.
When Ji Chun awoke the next morning, the woman was gone. Recalling the events of the previous night, he guessed she had left on her own. Beside him, Su Ran still slept soundly. A few strands of black hair fell across his fair, beautiful face, softening his sharp features. In sleep, he looked almost serene, a stark contrast to his usual cold demeanor. Ji Chun found himself staring, momentarily lost in thought. Shaking his head, he quickly rose, feeling a pang of shame, and went outside to wash up.
When he returned, Su Ran was awake. "That woman's gone?" Su Ran's voice was hoarse, his expression unreadable. His eyes, still heavy with sleep, gave nothing away.
Ji Chun's face darkened at the question. Why was Su Ran so concerned about her now? After nearly killing her the night before, did he actually care? Or was it something else? "Let's go," Ji Chun replied coldly, turning to gather his things.
Su Ran yawned, stretched, and got to his feet. He pulled on his coat and stepped outside to wash his face. When he returned, he found Ji Chun waiting by a rock. Without a word, Su Ran walked over and said, "Let's go."
And so, the two continued their journey as usual.
Author's Notes: I love you guys (づ ¯3¯) づ