The Disciple Presents Himself
630 words
Han Li’s expression flickered slightly as he listened to the conversation he had just heard. He had not expected that the Wu family’s fake letter would be so brazen, but hearing Madam Yan’s resolute tone of voice told him that the matriarch of the Mo family was not a woman to be trifled with. She would rather fight than submit her daughter to a fraud. This was good information, but he still had a goal to achieve. The lingering threat of the Yin poison was a constant weight on his mind, making the retrieval of the Warm Yang Jade his top priority.
He reached into his bosom and retrieved the Mo family’s token of recognition—the Dragon Ring. With a flick of his wrist, he tossed it into the room. It landed on the floor with a crisp clink, instantly silencing the murmurs within.
Han Li waited, watching the window paper for any sign of movement. A moment later, he heard Madam Yan’s composed voice.
“Which esteemed personage has honored my humble home? I, Yan, did not welcome you from afar; please forgive my neglect.”
Before Han Li could answer, he heard a girl’s excited cry.
“How strange! It’s just a ring that came flying in! Mother, this ring looks so familiar… it’s just like the one you wear!”
There was a brief pause, then, “Mother, take a look!”
The sound of a ring being picked up reached him. Soon after, Madam Yan’s voice rang out again, filled with surprise.
Satisfied that she had recognized the token, Han Li gave a polite knock on the wooden door. “Disciple Han Li, sent here by Master Mo to pay respects to Master’s wife!”
A dead silence fell over the house. The words had clearly stunned everyone inside. It took a long while before Madam Yan’s voice finally invited him in.
Han Li pushed the door open and stepped inside.
His eyes first fell upon a stunning, thirty-something-year-old woman seated on a hardwood chair. She had a dignified bearing, a steady gaze, and held the Dragon Ring he had thrown in her hand. Behind her stood a delicate, fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl with a striking resemblance to the older woman, which meant she had to be Mo Cailuan.
Madam Yan regarded Han Li with a composed face, showing none of the turbulent emotions she must have been feeling. In contrast, her daughter was far less restrained. Mo Cailuan stared at Han Li with huge, dark eyes, a mischievous grin playing at the corner of her lips. She was the very picture of a lively, carefree girl.
After giving his own quick assessment, Han Li stepped forward, placed his hands together, and bowed respectfully.
“Greetings, Fourth Master’s Wife!”
A flicker of surprise passed through Madam Yan’s eyes. Han Li’s ordinary appearance was clearly not what she had expected from an envoy of her husband. She did not immediately return his greeting. Instead, she raised her left hand, showing off the matching ring on her own finger.
She gently pressed the two rings together. The dragon reliefs on their surfaces locked into place perfectly, as if they were cut from the same piece of jade, leaving a seamless fit.
“The token is genuine,” she said, her tone finally warming slightly. “But do you also have a personal letter from my husband?”
Without a word, Han Li produced the letter he had prepared and presented it with both hands. Seeing his respectful demeanor, Madam Yan nodded in satisfaction before taking the letter and opening it to read.
Han Li stepped aside and observed his Master’s wife’s expression. He knew he was being evaluated not just as a disciple, but as a potential son-in-law, and he wanted to know how she would receive him.