The heavy wooden door with a metal frame was open. The smoke from the incense burners placed at the corners of the room filled the air. An old man was on the ground, his pupils dilated, his clothes in rags, his breathing heavy, and his extremities shaking. Foul waste was all over the ground, a pungent stench could still assault the senses of those even hundreds of steps away. The chains on the old man’s body were useless now, it would be a miracle if he was even alive.

Wuzui, in his new robe, came into this room under the Temple of Forgetfulness. He grimaced slightly at the stench, but did not let it bother him too much. He unchained the old man and carried him out of the room.

A giant bucket of warm water with gentle medicinal herbs soaked in was waiting for the old man. Without any discomfort, Wuzui undressed the old man, wiped his body clean and helped him get into the bucket.

“Water… water…” The old man murmured. He then was promptly served with a cup of warm tea. He drank all he could, and his sight refocused as the liquid went down to warm his body from inside.

“Lord of Green Bat Dragon, ” Wuzui announced: “You are free now. This monk will do all I - he can to help you heal and regain your ability to act just like a regular person. But what you’d do after that, it would be up to your own self.”

The old man tried to pull himself out of the bucket, but failed. “What happened? Did you poison me?!”

“No. In fact, the food this temple has been serving you has only contributed to your being still alive here.” Wuzui shook his head as he sat on a hay mat in front of the bucket and began twisting a string of rosary beads in his right hand with his eyes closed: “As a watcher, your site has long fallen, you could have perished with it long ago, should have. And thanks to the efforts of Master Liaoran, you are blessed to live on. The pain you just went through and endured, it was from your sin, and the ill karma the city forced upon you.”

“What do you mean I am free?”

“You are no longer restrained and contained by the temple, or the city. You are free to leave.” Wuzui responded: “The chain on you was broken. Your soul is still wounded, but by sacrificing your power, it was no longer fatal. As long as you stay away from crafts and rituals of ill power, you shall be as healthy and safe as any other.”

The old man moved his mouth but did not make a sound. Waves and waves of previously dormant, mixed emotions had rendered him speechless. He was ready to die, he had been ready for quite some time. The only question or doubt would be why he hadn’t already. Tears ran down his face, of relief, of suppressed anger and frustration, and of this bizarre irony.

“What do I owe?” After a while, the old man was finally able to get his words out, through a raspy, shaky voice: “There must be a price. Or ask. Or some kind of hold you have on me. Just tell me. ”

“There isn’t any.” Wuzui shook his head: “The master did not put any of it in place. I - this monk does not see any hold on you. Though this monk has but one ask - ”

“What?”

“That you no longer serve those who imposed the bind on you - those who did this to you, or those who were to inherit the deals. ” Wuzui continued twisting his rosary beads: “That all of this filth - all of this sin and crimes, be put behind you.”

It took more than half an hour before the old man could muster up enough of his own strength to stand up again - his Qi was but all gone, nary a trace of it remained in his meridians. This was perhaps the price he paid for staying alive after breaking the deal. One that he would no doubt make again in a heartbeat. He put on some plain, simple but clean clothing prepared by Wuzui, the new monk in charge of the temple.

“Tell me. Young master.” As he was about to exit the front gate, he stopped, looked back and asked: “Were the others so lucky?”

“This monk does not know.” Wuzui shook his head: “And this monk wishes not to project.”

As the old man was almost halfway down the lonesome path down the hill, he encountered a group coming up. He was nervous for a moment, but was relieved that this group did not seem to mean him or the temple any harm. So he continued his way down, after greeting them with a nod and a weary smile.

There were others out there. He should probably go visit them, and collect their bodies even if that would be the last thing he did.