“I can not take this path,” I answered.
“As long as I can follow you, I will take any path.”
Old Master Rong's face changed. He said with chagrin, “Ah Jin, I don't need anyone to follow me anymore. I have enough money to last me until I die of old age!
You're dragging me down, do you understand?!”
“I…”
Old Master Rong's words hit me hard. Maybe I had been drinking too much. After all, I had never felt this bad before.
Old Master Rong no longer needed me. Ninth Boy didn't need me either. I had become a fist floating in midair, with no body and no brain.
Where was I supposed to land? Where was I supposed to settle?
“I understand.”
I nodded, feeling an ache in my eyes and nose.
“Old Master Rong, I won't cause you any trouble. I'll leave at dawn tomorrow.”
Back at Old Master Rong's place, I lay on the sofa and couldn't fall asleep. What is wrong? Why has everything changed?
That stupid “brain” – without the “fist”, couldn't he just run away? Why risk himself like that? Where did all his usual cleverness go?
Damn it.