The horse's pace quickened as the path began to steepen, the mountains looming closer. Anchhi could feel Shuo Jin's gaze on the back of her head. There was something about him—something dark and mysterious, something that both intrigued and unsettled her. She didn't know what to make of it, of him.
Yet here she was, sitting on the same horse as Shuo Jin. Why had she agreed to this? Why had she let him take her away from the ruins of her life?
The tension between them was palpable. Anchhi felt the weight of it in every breath she took, every brush of his arm against hers. She tried to focus on his words, on the journey, but her thoughts kept drifting back to the man behind her—the man who had suddenly become her only ally, her only refuge.
As the path became steeper, the horse slowed, carefully navigating the rugged terrain. Anchhi shifted slightly in her seat, trying to find comfort on the saddle, but every movement seemed to bring her closer to Shuo Jin, her back pressing lightly against his chest. She could feel the warmth of him, the steady rise and fall of his breath, and it unsettled her in ways she didn't quite understand.
"You never answered my question," she said, her voice quieter than she intended.
Shuo Jin's brow furrowed in confusion. "Which one?"
"Why offer to take me with you? Why help me?" she asked, turning her head slightly to glance at him. "You made it clear enough that I'm no longer your responsibility. And yet... here we are."
His jaw tightened for a moment, as if he was considering his answer carefully. He kept his gaze fixed on the path ahead, the muscles in his arms tensing slightly as he adjusted the reins. "I didn't offer out of pity," Shuo Jin replied, his voice steady but with an edge to it. "I know what it's like to have your world fall apart. To be cast out, with nowhere to turn. I could have left you back there... but I didn't."
Her eyes narrowed, catching the subtle shift in his tone. "So, what? You expect me to thank you for your... mercy?" Her words dripped with sarcasm, but beneath it, there was a deep well of hurt.
His grip on the reins tightened, his patience starting to wear thin. "I don't expect anything from you. I offered you a way out because living in the capital would only lead to your ruin. If you hadn't noticed, you have no allies left."
Anchhi turned sharply, her eyes flashing with indignation. "And I suppose you think traveling to some desolate mountain with a man I barely know is a better option?" She could feel the heat rising in her chest, the fury and pain she had been bottling up starting to spill over.
He let out a frustrated sigh, his voice low and clipped. "I didn't have to offer you anything. But since I did, I suggest you make the best of it."
She turned to look at him, the anger she had felt moments before starting to melt away. For the first time, she saw a glimpse of the man beneath the hard exterior, the man who had been shaped by loss and pain, just like her.
But before the moment could linger too long, Shuo Jin's expression shifted back to its usual stoicism. "Besides," he added, his voice regaining its edge, "I'm not entirely heartless. Just mostly."
Anchhi couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh. "Well, you certainly know how to make a woman feel reassured."
He raised an eyebrow, his lips twitching into the faintest smirk. "Reassurance isn't exactly my specialty."
Anchhi rolled her eyes, her mood lightening despite herself. "Clearly."
For a few moments, there was an uneasy truce between them, the tension easing slightly, though it never fully disappeared. They continued to ride in silence, the mountain path winding ever upward. The sun was starting to dip behind the peaks, casting long shadows across the rugged terrain.
~~~~
Anchhi glanced back at him, hoping for some assistance, but as expected, he remained stoic, already dismounted from the horse with effortless grace, barely sparing her a glance. Typical, she thought, biting back her frustration. She stumbled slightly as her feet hit the ground but managed to steady herself.
Her breath caught in her throat as she looked up at the manor nestled among the towering mountains. It was dusk, the last light of the sun casting an ethereal glow over the snow-covered peaks. The structure before her was magnificent—an imposing yet elegant manor made of dark wood and stone, sitting like a crown in the middle of nowhere. She wrapped her arms around herself, shivering as snowflakes drifted lazily down.
"How does anyone survive in such a place?" she muttered under her breath, her voice a whisper as her gaze roved over the surroundings.
Shuo Jin, sensing her unasked question, glanced at her, his face still unreadable. "My grandmaster built this manor," he said, his tone casual, as though they were discussing something as mundane as the weather. "We lived here during my training days."
Anchhi's head snapped toward him, her eyes wide. "You... lived here? In the middle of nowhere?"
He nodded, as if it was the most natural thing in the world. "It served its purpose."
Before she could ask anything further, the door to the manor opened, revealing an elderly man dressed in thick robes. He smiled warmly, bowing deeply in respect. "Welcome back, Master Shuo Jin."
Anchhi blinked, bewildered. She hadn't expected anyone else to be here, especially not someone living alone in such harsh conditions. The caretaker seemed unfazed by the bitter cold, his eyes sparkling with a familiarity that told her he had been here a long time, possibly even since Shuo Jin's youth.
His name was Tianyu. He led them inside, and the warmth of the manor immediately enveloped her. She sighed in relief, her body thawing as she glanced around the lavish interior. The wooden beams of the ceiling were intricately carved, and tapestries adorned the walls, depicting ancient scenes of battle and nature. Everything here felt rich, regal, yet there was a quiet simplicity to it.
Shuo Jin turned to her. "Your chamber is down the hall. Get some rest. We begin early tomorrow."
Her brow furrowed in confusion, but before she could ask what he meant by "begin," Shuo Jin had already walked away, his long coat billowing behind him.