As the winds howled across the desolate mountains, the biting cold seeped through their cloaks, but Lusi and Wushi pressed forward. The path was steep and treacherous, lined with jagged rocks and ice-covered ledges that seemed ready to crumble under the slightest pressure. The higher they climbed, the more the temperature dropped, and with it, the tension between them.
It had been hours since their last battle, but the silence that hung between them was palpable. Lusi walked ahead, her eyes focused on the distant peaks, trying to ignore the flutter of thoughts that tugged at her. She could feel Wushi's presence behind her, steady and strong, but something had changed between them since the ambush. It wasn't just the close call with the attackers or the brief moment of physical closeness—they both seemed to be treading around an invisible line neither dared to cross.
A gust of wind hit them, nearly knocking Lusi off balance. Wushi's hand shot out instinctively, gripping her arm firmly to steady her.
"Careful," he murmured, his breath visible in the cold air.
Lusi stiffened at his touch but quickly pulled away, nodding her thanks without meeting his eyes. "I'm fine," she said briskly, quickening her pace.
Wushi said nothing, but his gaze lingered on her retreating form. There was something weighing on him, something more than the enemies they'd faced or the journey ahead. He couldn't shake the memory of Lusi in his arms, even if only for a fleeting second. That closeness had stirred something deep within him, something he hadn't expected and wasn't entirely sure how to handle.
As they climbed further, the path narrowed, forcing them to walk closer together again. Lusi couldn't help but steal glances at Wushi, his stoic face set in stone as he led the way. She had always admired his strength and skill, but now there was something more—something unsettling about the growing connection between them. She wasn't sure if she wanted to confront it or bury it under the pressing matters at hand.
After what felt like hours of climbing, they finally reached a plateau. The view from the top was breathtaking—a sprawling landscape of snow-capped mountains stretching endlessly in every direction. The sight should have been peaceful, but the weight of their situation hung heavily in the air.
"We should rest here," Wushi suggested, breaking the silence. "It'll be dark soon."
Lusi nodded, grateful for the suggestion. Her body was sore from the climb, and she could feel the weariness in her limbs. As they set up camp, the tension between them continued to grow, unspoken words hovering just below the surface.
The fire crackled in the quiet night as they sat across from each other, neither speaking. Lusi stared into the flames, her thoughts swirling in a thousand directions. She wanted to ask him what was wrong, to address the strange shift between them, but every time she opened her mouth to speak, the words died on her lips.
Wushi, on the other hand, was fighting his own internal battle. His mind kept replaying the scene from earlier—the way she had felt in his arms, the way her breath had quickened when their eyes met. It had been a brief, innocent moment, but the impact of it had been anything but. He had faced countless battles, defeated enemies more powerful than most, but this—this strange pull toward Lusi—left him feeling uncertain for the first time in years.
Suddenly, Lusi broke the silence. "Wushi, I think we need to talk."
Her voice was steady, but there was a tremor underneath it, as if she was unsure of what exactly she wanted to say. Wushi looked up from the fire, meeting her gaze across the flames.
"I agree," he said, his voice low but firm. "There's something between us that we can't ignore anymore."
Lusi's heart skipped a beat. She hadn't expected him to be so direct. "I don't—"
Before she could finish, a loud crack echoed from the nearby cliffs, followed by the distant sound of rocks tumbling. Both of them shot to their feet, eyes scanning the darkness.
"Someone's here," Wushi muttered, grabbing his sword.
Lusi quickly armed herself with her poisoned needles, her senses sharpening. They moved in sync, silent as they approached the cliff edge where the noise had come from.
But instead of an enemy, they found something much more ominous—a series of large cracks forming in the ice beneath their feet, spreading rapidly toward them.
"The ground's unstable!" Wushi shouted, grabbing Lusi's arm as the ground beneath them gave way. In an instant, they were tumbling down the mountainside, rocks and ice crashing around them.
Wushi wrapped his arms around Lusi, pulling her close as they fell, his body shielding hers from the worst of the impact. The fall was short but violent, ending with a hard thud as they hit a snowbank below.
Lusi groaned, her head spinning from the fall. Wushi's grip loosened as he checked to see if she was hurt. "Are you alright?" he asked, his voice laced with concern.
"I'm fine," she said, wincing as she sat up. "But that was too close."
They were stranded once again, alone in the cold night. But this time, something had shifted between them—whether they were ready to admit it or not, the bond between them was growing, and the feelings they had tried to bury were starting to surface.
As they lay there in the snow, the weight of unspoken emotions hung in the air, heavier than the threat of the next enemy waiting to strike.