Chapter 114: Macarius

"It seems quite complicated," a mocking voice drifted from behind Luo Hanyai, as if someone had been waiting for a long time.

Luo Hanyai set down his notebook and slowly turned around, startled. It was not at all what he had expected; he had assumed Manluo would be watching him from the shadows. Instead, it was a strange old man. Luo Hanyai looked him up and down. The man was dressed in a simple white linen robe, and though his hair was white with age, the slight smile playing on his lips immediately established him in Luo Hanyai’s mind as an "all-knowing sage." There was a sense of composure about him, a natural, intimate smile that exuded the confidence of someone who held everything firmly in his grasp.

What Luo Hanyai loathed most was exactly that feeling—the feeling of being controlled. He feigned ignorance and spat at the old man. "What? Whether it's complicated or not is my business. Who are you? What does it have to do with you?"

"My, what a temper. What’s wrong? Are you feeling frustrated? Do you need me to help you vent?" The old man clearly hadn't expected such a response, yet he maintained his natural, friendly smile. He shook his head, sounding a bit cynical—or perhaps, he had simply adopted a tone even more unscrupulous than Luo Hanyai's. He kept his confident air, but at that moment, he seemed more like a brazen scoundrel, fearless and unbridled, as if he had seen through everything and had Luo Hanyai exactly where he wanted him.

Luo Hanyai furrowed his brows, his eyes instinctively darting away from the old man’s gaze. He scanned the room, treating the old man as if he were mere air, frantically searching for clues while his heart raced with anxiety.

"Young man, might I have the honor of knowing your name?" The old man did not care about Luo Hanyai’s attitude. He paced around him leisurely, observing him from every angle, much like a lecher sizing up his prey.

"Hey! Back off, you creep. Stop hovering in front of me." Luo Hanyai fought to remain calm, but he was infuriated by the old man's provocation. He knew clearly that he was at a disadvantage in this game, but he didn’t believe he had lost yet. He still had a chance to turn things around, if only he could seize it...

The old man stared at Luo Hanyai’s grim face for a moment, then, as if he could no longer hold it back, he burst into exaggerated laughter, clutching his stomach.

Luo Hanyai’s expression remained dark. He said nothing, simply watching the old man in silence, waiting for what would come next.

"Oh, you’ve got some potential after all, kid. You realized where the problem lies so quickly?" The old man nodded in satisfaction, his eyes reflecting the look of someone observing an unpromising protégé.

"Who exactly are you? Stop playing these mind games!" Luo Hanyai glared at him, his clothes already soaked with sweat. This was the first time he had encountered such a situation, and it felt terrible. For the first time, Luo Hanyai felt his pride, his intellect, being completely suppressed. The old man’s gentle gaze washed over his defenses like water, peering into all his secrets, leaving him feeling like a lamb stripped bare, waiting for the wolf to strike.

"I am who I am, a firework of a different color." The old man seemed to enjoy teasing Luo Hanyai, his lips curling into an ambiguous, half-smile.

"Hmph, forget it if you won't say. I have no reason to stay here any longer. Goodbye." Luo Hanyai turned decisively, ready to head back the way he came, seemingly having no intention of ever seeing this old bastard again.

"Wait! Let's talk this over!" The old man shook his head helplessly, seemingly caught off guard by Luo Hanyai’s abruptness. "You can call me Macarius."

"Macarius?" Luo Hanyai tilted his head, his mind spinning. The name felt familiar, but he couldn't for the life of him remember where he had heard it.

"Heh, now that you know my name, can we have a proper chat?"

"Chat? About what? What is there to talk about?" Luo Hanyai stared intently at Macarius, firing off a string of questions like a machine gun.

"Young man, don't be so rash. From the moment I appeared, I haven't shown any malice. I don't know why you're so hostile toward me," Macarius asked, looking genuinely puzzled.

"This..." Luo Hanyai paused. When he thought about it, it was true. All his hostility stemmed from a mere feeling, without any logical basis. It was pure dislike, or perhaps, an instinctive fear—a fear of a wisdom that could control everything.

"Then you can call me Ba Ba," Luo Hanyai said, rolling his eyes, attempting the same trick again.

"Oh?" Macarius smiled, sighing with what seemed to be genuine disappointment. "Why bother? We both know these little games. I’m old enough to be your grandfather; why act like this?"

"I can't explain it, but I just feel uneasy." Luo Hanyai blinked and instinctively lowered his head. Gone was his previous calm and resilience; if the earlier Luo Hanyai was like a machine of absolute coldness, he now resembled a child who had done wrong, confessing before an elder.

"Haha, so that's it," Macarius laughed heartily. "You don't need to be like that. I only came here to tell you one thing."

"Oh? What is it?" Luo Hanyai asked, startled and confused.

"You'll understand when you see this." Macarius placed a tarot card in Luo Hanyai's hand, his expression profound.

"You..." Luo Hanyai didn't look at the card immediately. Something had dawned on him, and he was struck with terror. He took a deep breath. "Saint Macarius! Are you Saint Macarius?"

"A name is just a label; it represents nothing. Besides, how do you know this is my real name? Aren't you afraid I'm just giving you a fake one?" Macarius straightened his linen robe, looking at Luo Hanyai with deep, piercing eyes.

Luo Hanyai’s eyes brightened, as if he had grasped something. "Indeed, it is just a label. I understand. Thank you for your guidance..."

"As long as you understand, that is all that matters!"

The old man who called himself Macarius waved at him with a satisfied look. A soft light emanated from his white linen robe, washing over Luo Hanyai like a mother’s gentle touch. He couldn't help but close his eyes. When he opened them again, the space was empty. The old man was nowhere to be seen.

"I still have a long way to go." Luo Hanyai shook his head, setting aside the emotions the old man had stirred within him, and turned his attention to the tarot card.