Chapter 12

(12)

"Didn't I tell you not to come?"

"It was just a coincidence that I happened to meet you. Please don't blame me too much for this."

Feng Jin smiled and continued.

"A fortune-teller I met recently said that the northeast direction was auspicious. So I set out without a specific destination, and I didn't expect to meet you here. If I had known, I would have brought more gifts…"

"…"

"How about we have a meal together since we've met like this? After all, we have a long-standing relationship, so you won't turn me away, right?"

Moved by his earnest request, Dan Ao followed reluctantly. As they walked side by side, Feng Jin asked a question.

"I heard you've been coming to the village more often lately? And you've been buying more medicinal herbs too."

"That's…"

Dan Ao was at a loss.

He was unsure how to respond.

If he told the truth, he would worry about Chao Aoliang and Fan Jie. But lying to Feng Jin made him feel guilty.

Just as he was trying to think of a plausible reason,

Thud.

Dan Ao bumped into a group of people walking from the opposite direction.

They were so engrossed in their conversation that they hadn't noticed Dan Ao.

Feng Jin quickly reached out and caught Dan Ao, who was about to fall.

"Are you okay?"

Dan Ao smiled bitterly.

"I'm fine."

"Thank goodness."

Feng Jin sighed in relief.

However, his face soon turned angry. The men who had bumped into them continued on their way without an apology.

"Look at this!"

Feng Jin's shout made the men stop.

"Ah!"

Dan Ao's eyes widened in surprise. He recognized the faces of the people he had bumped into.

They were the martial artists from the Wu Lin Alliance who had been looking for Chao Aoliang at the herbalist's shop a few days ago.

Feng Jin shouted at them.

"You seem to be from the Wu Lin Alliance. How can you be so shameless?"

"Shameless?"

One of the men stepped forward.

"Shouldn't you apologize if you've done something wrong?"

Feng Jin's words made the man frown.

His sharp eyes and cold gaze were intimidating.

"The members of our alliance are on official duty. So just continue on your way."

His voice was cold and intimidating.

Feng Jin's eyes turned fierce. The man's hand was subtly reaching for his sword, and his intention was clear.

"To threaten a civilian! Aren't you ashamed? How can someone representing the Wu Lin Alliance be so unrighteous?"

Feng Jin's rebuke made the man flinch.

His fierce momentum was not to be underestimated.

"State your name and affiliation."

The men's eyes turned hostile at Feng Jin's words, but he didn't back down.

"I will personally visit your alliance and formally protest this incident."

The Wu Lin Alliance members exchanged glances.

They realized the situation was serious. The man who had spoken first bowed.

"I am Guo Jia, the leader of the Pasa Team. May I ask for your esteemed name?"

"I am Feng Jin."

"Feng Jin?"

The man's eyes lit up as he repeated the name.

"Could you be from the Zhencheng Family?"

Feng Jin nodded.

"I may be unworthy, but I lead that family."

"…!"

Guo Jia's face froze.

He had guessed that Feng Jin was not an ordinary person, but he hadn't expected him to be the head of the Zhencheng Family.

"Why has someone who should be in Nanzhou come here?"

Guo Jia asked, belatedly showing proper etiquette, but Feng Jin's expression remained cold.

"Do I need to report my every move to the Wu Lin Alliance?"

Guo Jia smiled bitterly.

"Of course not. However, the situation here is not good, so I wanted to warn you…"

Guo Jia and his companions looked around, their faces showing discomfort. Everyone's attention was on them.

Guo Jia sighed.

'This is troublesome.'

The situation was indeed awkward.

In the end, Guo Jia bowed to Feng Jin.

"We sincerely apologize for our rudeness. Please forgive us."

"I am not the one to accept your apology."

Guo Jia's brows furrowed.

But he bowed to Dan Ao as if nothing had happened.

"I'm sorry, young master. Please forgive this Guo's mistake with a broad heart…"

Dan Ao nodded, forcing a smile.

He didn't want to get involved with them unnecessarily. After Dan Ao accepted the apology, the Wu Lin Alliance members quickly left.

Dan Ao sighed at Feng Jin.

"You didn't have to go that far…"

Feng Jin smiled as if nothing had happened.

"It wasn't for your sake. I've been dissatisfied with their recent actions."

Feng Jin continued.

"There's a fearsome villain called Blood Suction Venerable. They announced that they had eliminated him recently, but it seems the truth is different. The way they're sending people to investigate shows that."

"Ah…"

"Because of this, the atmosphere has become tense. I thought it was necessary to give them a warning. It's unfortunate when innocent civilians get caught up in the conflicts of martial artists."

As they talked, they arrived at an inn.

The inn was already filled with all kinds of delicacies, and there were no other guests. Feng Jin had rented the entire place.

Dan Ao looked at Feng Jin with a puzzled expression.

"Was this also a coincidence?"

Feng Jin laughed awkwardly.

"Come, sit down."

Feng Jin offered the seat of honor and served Dan Ao the food.

"Try this. The chef here is very skilled."

Feng Jin enthusiastically served Dan Ao, but he himself didn't eat much. He just watched Dan Ao eat with a contented look.

After some time,

Clack.

Dan Ao put down his chopsticks and looked at Feng Jin.

"This is the last time I'll meet you."

Feng Jin hesitated for a moment.

But only for a moment.

"Have you already finished eating? The dessert here is excellent. Dried persimmons cooked in honey and mixed with ginger and peanuts, served with Biluochun tea from Dongting…"

"Stop changing the subject."

Feng Jin smiled bitterly.

"Have I done something wrong to you without knowing?"

"No."

"Then have I disappointed you in some way?"

Dan Ao shook his head again.

"Then why do you keep your distance from me?"

Feng Jin sighed at Dan Ao's silence.

"If I knew the reason, I wouldn't feel so frustrated…"

"You're not alone anymore, you know."

Dan Ao smiled quietly.

"It's time for you to put down the burden in your heart."

"Little Master…"

"How long do you plan to be entangled in this?"

Dan Ao continued.

"This was all decided by your parents. No one blames you. So don't blame yourself anymore. You need to follow your own path too."

"That's a very hurtful thing to say."

Feng Jin continued.

"The grace I received from the two Little Masters is like the vast sea. How can I…"

"Everything you've done so far is more than enough."

"But…"

Dan Ao interrupted Feng Jin and asked a question.

"Do you remember the last words of your parents?"

Feng Jin nodded, recalling the moment.

"Your father said to make a lot of money with the medical skills you learned and enjoy a luxurious life."

"You remember what your father said too?"

"Of course. It was a bit unexpected, though."

'You must get married too. No, twice. I can't be the only one who suffers.'

It was a stark contrast to the usual righteous image.

Dan Ao smiled.

"They had a fight that day."

Dan Ao said to Feng Jin, who was smiling faintly.

"Don't try so hard like today. Forget everything and live your life. Just like your parents said that day."

Feng Jin, who had stopped smiling, silently sipped his tea.

After a while,

"On the day you were born, it snowed heavily."

Feng Jin's eyes became distant as he recalled the old memory.

"I was by your side when you took your first steps."

"…"

"You followed me so closely when you started talking."

"…"

"Was it when you were seven? You fell from a persimmon tree and got badly hurt. I carried you and ran."

Feng Jin looked at Dan Ao with a sad expression.

"Even though we're not related by blood, you are like family to me."

The sorrow in Feng Jin's eyes was palpable.

"No one else, but you, should not treat me like this."

"Auntie…"

"To forget the two of them and you… Don't you think it's too cruel?"

Dan Ao's heart ached.

He knew how much Feng Jin cherished him.

'If I tell him that I'm treating the two uncles, what would happen?'

He would abandon everything and follow without hesitation.

Feng Jin was that kind of person. But Dan Ao didn't want Feng Jin to be in danger.

He wanted him to live a happy life, at least.

He could enjoy his current status and reputation without being entangled with Dan Ao.

'That's what my parents wanted too.'

To achieve this, he had to be resolute.

He knew better than anyone that no reasonable excuse could change Feng Jin's stubbornness.

"Why do you keep your distance from me?"

Dan Ao looked at Feng Jin.

"Because I'm suffering."

"Huh? What do you mean…?"

Feng Jin's face hardened as Dan Ao continued.

"Being with you is painful. It reminds me of my parents."

"Little Master…"

"Please listen to me. For my sake, not for anyone else's."