Chapter 26 : Variables
The inner chamber was smaller than Yan expected.
Cracked plaster lined the walls. The stone floor had been repaired so many times a lantern was placed on the table.
The light of the lantern reached the Iron braces fixed to the wall which seemed to contain dried blood marks.
Yan noticed them before anything else.
At the far end of the room, Elder Chao sat behind a narrow wooden table. His robes pooled loosely around the chair. His posture looked relaxed, but the air itself felt compressed.
For a moment, neither spoke
“What do you want?” Chao looked at Yan.
Yan took a slow breath, then said out loud “I want to join your faction.”
Chao leaned back slightly “You aim high for a lowly servant.”
Yan met his gaze “I am not lowly.” Yan paused for a second.
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“And you know it.”
Chao’s eyes narrowed.
The pressure came without warning, Yan felt a severe headache, he kept his hand on the head and bent down, the breathing became heavier.
For a moment, the room belonged entirely to Chao.
Then the headache vanished.
Chao folded his hands.
“What do you want?” he asked again.
“I want to cultivate.”Hearing the answer, Chao studied him the way a butcher studies unfamiliar livestock.
“Why should I help you?”
Yan did not lower his eyes.“Because it helps you.”
The elder’s fingers tapped once against the table.
“You are useful,” Chao said calmly. “That much is obvious.”
His gaze sharpened.“But usefulness is not loyalty.”
A faint smile touched the corner of his mouth.
“I dislike variables.”
The word lingered
Then Chao leaned forward slightly. “But congratulations.” Yan did not react.
“You pursued me.”
The elder laughed softly and it stopped. “What if you betray me?
Yan looked at Chao who was looking back at him.
He took a deep breath and said "Then I betray you"
The head ache came again, Yan felt his head might burst, he fell on the floor.
"Hope you remember the pain"
Chao stayed silent for a second and stared at the door.
Then waved his hand.“Go.”
Yan did not move immediately, he slowly stood up “I will send someone to teach you a classical script,” Chao continued.
“You will need it.”
Then Chao looked at him one last time.
“And from this moment…”
The elder’s eyes held no warmth.
“You are my man.”