Choice

The sun was brigh, the birds were singing,  but Jian who was laying on a bed wasn't feeling it at all. A couple of days had passed since that cultivator of the ghost path had kidnapped him, threatening him, and almost killed him, but it still felt like yesterday. He could vaguely feel the clawed hand of that man on his throat.

'FUCK!' internally cursed Jian as he slowly got up from his bed, drank a cup of water from the porcelain cup not far away,  and then tried not to wince from the pain. The cultivator had done quite a number on him as two of his ribs were broken , and maybe more of them cracked. He didn't head his body though as he opened the wooden door and got out.

*chirp...chirp...

What greeted him was a big one story building made out of stone and wood, a feng shui garden, numerous bodhi trees,  and several monks wearing their brown robes. A sense of calm would wash over him normally if he saw this sight, maybe even make him hum a little song, but he was looking for someone right now. He started to slowly wander around the place until he came across a monk about his age.

"Hey you, stop for a moment." yelled Jian and the monk immediately stopped and turned around.  When he saw that it was Jian who had called for him, he immediately rushed towards him."

"Amitabha Buddha,  sir , what are you doing out of your bed?! You are in no condition to walk around. Let's head back...

"Stop! I'm not sitting down or laying into a bed until I talk with that nun, what was her name again.....ahhh Cui Suyin! Take me to her."

".....

The monk was immediately startled as he heard the name, and he immediately said some sutra's. This of course annoyed Jian as he was not in the mood. 

"Hey, what are you doing? Are you going to take me to her, or do I have to find her myself?"

"Sir...I can't do that.  If I disturb senior Cui,  I'll definitely get punished.  Please,  please calm down and rest for now....when she becomes available I'll tell her you're looking for her."

As Jian was about go ditch the monk and got looking for Cui Suyin on his own, she instead came to him. She looked the same as the first day he had seen her,  even though she had quite a fight with the ghost cultivator that night. Numerous trees were fell, boulders cracked and earth overturned in their fight,  but she seemed to be completely fine. This made Jian be jealous of the cultivators prowess .

"Senior Cui!" reverently greeted the monk , and Cai returned the gesture.  She then quickly dismissed him to do some task leaving  Jian and her face to face. "It seems that those ribs of yours have healed if you're shouting so loud. Or maybe it's that you're hurting so much because you couldn't bear it? Tell me...which is it?"

"Hmphhh....it doesn't matter which is it." angrily said Jian as he pointed at Suyin" Is it true,  is the letter I just read true,  is she really gone?"

"I'm not sure of what you've read? Care to explain?"

Hearing those words Jian wanted to shout at her , but he still hadn't lost it. To shout at a cultivator was only asking for a beating. He swallowed his words and slowly spoke."You...stop insulting my intelligence. I know that she wouldn't have done something like that without talking to you first. So, where is she, tell me!"

Cai Suyin's face became solemn and she sighed. " Amitabha Buddha,  I know that you are upset,  but this is the best decision for both of you. As long as you are alive she is in danger. Those ghosts and demon cultivators have no morals and won't stop at nothing to get to you. It's better this way....

"To hell it is! You taking her somewhere and not telling me isn't fair.  I'm her brother....her brother,  do you understand? "

"I do...but it was her choice. She was the one who chose to walk that path. She was offered  to become a nun of the temple,  but she refused,  and it's better that she did. The protection she would have received wouldn't be enough to protect her....so the second option.

Moving far away to a different territory is the best next option for her. She would have to start from scratch,  but at least she would be safer than around you."

"I get that...I understand, but why can't I know where?  I'm her brother,  her only living relative on this world,  I need to know."

"But can you stay away from her....

Those words were like a cold bucket of water thrown on his face.  He knew deep down that what Suyin said was the truth. That night even though Suyin had fought her hardest against the ghost cultivator,  he had managed to slip away,  albeit heavily injured. It was unknown if he was alive,  nearby,  or if he had spread rumors about Jian beeing an old soul. One thing was for certain thought,  he was going to be a target for as long as he lived from now on.

"Isn't there a way for me to meet her? No way at all?"

Cai Suyin thought for a while and then she spoke. " If you were a powerful enough cultivator you would have the power and the leverage to deter any ghost or demon cultivators looking to hurt your sister,  but it's very difficult. The road to cultivation is not as simple as you mortals portray it to be...

"But it's not impossible,  is it? "

Cui Suyin furrowed her brows at Jian's words. She knew what he was thinking,  but couldn't bring herself to discourage him. That motivation was good for both him and her as with a little convincing she could get him on the good sides of the Three Peeks.  The situation had become somewhat direct as recently ghost and demon path cultivators had become more bold,  and devine path cultivators as her had continued to dwindle. The appeal of regular sects made talented cultivators avoid the monasteries who were quite strict on their doctrine,  and chose the more comfortable path.

'Those just path cultivators may support us and fight alongside us against the ghost and demon path cultivators,  but only superficially. They are more concerned on their flashy sword moves and techniques to see the real danger. The abbot says that there is nothing to worry about, but he is getting old.  I'm not sure is as strong as he was 100 years ago.'