CHAPTER 3: Part 3

Wei Lin Jiang's eyelids fluttered. A few moments later, they opened slowly only to close back again. He shook his head restlessly as a soft groan escaped his chapped lips. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead set with deep lines and his breaths started coming in short gasps.

Luo Ran's face instantly became shrouded with a veil of worry. Wiping the sweat on his forehead with the sleeve of his robe, Luo Ran spoke in a voice dripping with anxiousness, "Xiaowei? What is wrong?"

"Huh?" Xiaowei exclaimed and his eyes snapped open again; his gaze lidded and drowsy as if he were still in half slumber. The moment his gaze landed on Luo Ran, the haze cleared and his lips curved into a wide smile, "Xian Shen! I knew you would never abandon me."

Luo Ran's face washed over with relief. Placing his fingers against his neck to take his pulse, he asked, "How are you feeling now?"

Xiaowei paused for a moment; as if assessing his own condition. He flexed his arms and then propelled himself into a sitting position, "I feel a little sore but other than that I feel fine."

The worry on Luo Ran's face instantly got replaced with anger. He grabbed Xiaowei's left ear and scolded, "Why didn't you tell me that you were poisoned? If I had been a bit more late, you could have died!"

Lin Jiang scratched his head and looked at Luo Ran sheepishly, "I did try to tell you, Xian Shen…."

Luo Ran's eyes narrowed and his eyes bore into Xiaowei, "Do you want to say that it was my fault?"

Xiao Wei waved his hands and shook his head, "No… no, no way…. I wouldn't dare, Xian Shen. If I hadn't tried to trick you earlier you have believed me."

Luo Ran's grip on his ear increased and he raised his eyebrows as if waiting for Xiaowei to say something more.

"Ow! That hurts… Xian Shen, please let me go," Lin Jiang begged, trying to free himself from his grip. But, Luo Ran held on. His expression hardened, "Now that you know it is your fault, what should you do?"

"W…What should I do?"

"You must promise never to trick me again," Luo Ran's voice rang with a firm warning.

Xiaowei's gaze darted around restlessly. He didn't want to make a promise that he couldn't keep. His eyes twinkled and he smoothly changed the topic, "Xian Shen, the admiration and respect I have for you has grown ten times. You even managed to save me from the dangerous poison."

Luo Ran's face flushed slightly and his hand dropped to his side. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Lin Jiang scurried away from him. Keeping a watchful eye over Luo Ran, Xiaowei continued to flatter him, "The poison was so strong and It spread so quickly that I didn't even get a chance to perform first aid…." His voice grew hoarse with emotions, "I thought I was going to die today but you saved me again." Lin Jiang paused to give him a deep bow before adding, "I am grateful for your help, Xian Shen."

Luo Ran shrugged it off and spoke in a nonchalant voice, "It is no big deal, Xiaowei. I just used some of my inner energy to dispel the poison."

Wei Lin Jiang gaped at him with a blank expression as if Luo Ran had spoken in some ancient tongue. His eyebrows furrowed and his eyes lit up with an intense spark of curiosity, "Inner energy?"

Luo Ran's eyes flashed with something; his expression turned blank but when he replied his words were laced in nonchalance, "It's nothing…. You are a peasant from a small village. You won't understand.

"We have a lot of cleaning to do, Xiaowei. We mustn't waste any more time," Luo Ran changed the topic and started walking inside. But before he could take even a few steps, Xiaowei overtook him and blocked his path.

He crossed his arms over his chest, his expression glum and his gaze cold, "What do you mean by that, Xian Shen? Are you looking down on me because I am from a small village?"

Luo Ran's face flushed and he stuttered, "I…I didn't mean it like that, Xiawei."

Lin Jiang raised his hand and continued in a slightly depressed voice, "It's okay Xian Sheng. You don't have to explain…" He lowered his head and pursed his lips, "It is all my fault. I shouldn't have forgotten my place."

"Hey! Don't be like this, Xiaowei…." Luo Ran said in a voice laced with desperation. "I really didn't mean to hurt you…." He placed his hand on Lin Jiang's shoulder and continued, "I consider you as my friend. I would never look down on you."

Wei Lin Jiang raised his head to look at Luo Ran; his eyes ablaze with curious enthusiasm, "If you really consider me your friend, show me what all your inner energy can do."

The color drained from Luo Ran's face and lines of worry embossed themselves on his forehead. "I haven't been able to cultivate properly in a very long time, Xiao Wei. Plus, I used most of my energy to heal you…."

Lin Jiang's face fell the moment he heard these words. A deep scowl formed on his face and he interrupted, "It's okay, Xian Shen…." Drawing in a deep breath, he continued in a shaking voice, "I think I made a mistake in judging you. You are just like the others." Hurt flashed through his eyes as his gaze bore into Luo Ran. His lips open and closed several times before he finally stated, "It would be better if we part ways…."

Luo Ran was too stunned to reply. The person who had nagged him to death to accompany him, now wanted to part ways?

Wei Lin Jiang cast a long, hard look at Luo Ran. Then, he spun around and trudged down the stairs that led to the courtyard. He had still not recovered fully; so his steps were uneven and wobbly. He stumbled a couple of times but he continued walking….