That Fair-Faced 'Sage' {Completed}

59. Intruder

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"What is Zhao LanFeng to you?"

There was a silence after Healer Wang's question, and Shuǐ ChénLín's expression could only be described as surprised.

'Why would Healer Wang ask me that, above everything else?'

"Zhao LanFeng is my disciple, and my responsibility." But he found he suddenly didn't know what he saw Zhao LanFeng as...

His disciple?

His friend?

Maybe even a younger brother, as Lu Xian called him...

His uncertainty wasn't missed by Healer Wang, who drank from his gourd, before speaking again.

Healer Wang, "Let's say he is your disciple, and leave it there...

"The rock is a token of protection. A token that, like your necklace, can never be misplaced, or taken away by another.

"The stone will always return to the hands of the owner, and summon the previous owner, whenever they are in danger."

"Like what happened in Bronze City." Shuǐ ChénLín mused.

"Exactly." Healer Wang affirmed. "Your mother was by far stronger than your father, so she gave the rock to him, but he returned it, knowing he would be summoning her into danger.

"She left it after her death, and your father gave it to you, hoping it would summon him to protect you, if you were ever in danger...

"But it was useless. The rock would only be able to summon someone like your mother..."

He gave a meaningful pause, as he turned toward Shuǐ ChénLín. "Or you."

He turned to leave after that. "As our deal has been completed, I will leave you only one advice. I am extremely grateful that you saved him this time, but take the painted rock away from LanFeng."

His words snapped Shuǐ ChénLín out of his thoughts, and he swivelled to glare at Healer Wang in annoyance. "It's not your turn to interfere with such a thing!"

But Healer Wang had already vanished, and his voice echoed into Shuǐ ChénLín's ears.

"It's indeed not my place to say much, but if you don't want your disciple to suffer, then take the rock away from him."

Everything fell silent after that.

By the next day, Healer Wang was no where to be found on any of the boats.

Which would have been normal, except for the fact that they were right in the middle of the sea!

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That same day, LanFen had gone looking for Shuǐ ChénLín, with her guzheng. "Elder brother! I've come to perform my Lantern of Strings for you!"

Shuǐ ChangSheng and Elder Shuǐ had turned to Zhao LanFeng in surprise.

Lantern of Strings?

After Wang ShanMei, there was no known master of that technique!

The Zhao Clan now possessed the coveted technique, which had been famous in only the Wang clan!

But to their surprise, Shuǐ ChénLín covered his ears.

"Zhao LanFeng, I have no desire to listen to your Lantern of Strings technique again." And he had leapt away, back to their own boat.

But LanFen had followed him and kept bothering him. "But Elder brother, you liked it the last time!"