It is said that the appearance of the fire phoenix symbolizes rebirth and transformation, but Li Hao was certain that this was not a true fire phoenix. I also had an inkling that it wasn't a real fire phoenix; I could somehow sense the stiffness in its flight, more akin to a flying device like a hot air balloon, and the fire and oil it spewed carried a scent similar to gasoline sprayed from a modern-day fuel truck.
As Li Hao pulled me along, I pondered while running. Gazing at the fire phoenix that appeared and disappeared in the sky, I had just witnessed a spectacular yet catastrophic banquet. As it flew across the night sky and dove down, spraying fire and oil, it brought endless fireworks and chaos to the feast. What was strange, though, was that after such a disaster, our young hearts were tightly connected by the miracle of the fire phoenix.
The dark horizon was traced by the wild trajectory of the fire phoenix. Beneath the night sky, Li Hao and I, two strangers who had only met twice, somehow found ourselves chasing the mythical fire phoenix. And we were holding each other's hands tightly, as if we were in love.
"We will definitely unravel its secrets; I can see through it at a glance, this is not the legendary fire phoenix," Li Hao said to me, out of breath but full of a man's spirit.
I nodded shyly, my eyes sparkling with unknown but trusting light, believing in his judgment. We set off from the racetrack, each step treading in the afterglow of the fire phoenix's light. Everything around us faded away in fire and smoke, leaving only our strong desire to solve the mystery of the fire phoenix.
Following the trail carved by the fire phoenix, we ventured into the wild mountain paths. The trail through the mountains was quiet and mysterious, accompanied only by our breathing and heartbeat. The flaming silhouette of the fire phoenix flickered in and out of sight in the sky, like a dream guiding us, and in this dream, it was less a chase and more a journey. It seemed to be leading and recording the night views before our eyes and the amazement in our hearts.
As we delved deeper into our pursuit, in the vast emptiness of the night, the line between dreams and reality began to blur. Our tacit understanding was like silent whispers echoing off the surrounding cliffs. Our gazes conveyed trust and mutual understanding, and in this pursuit, something special began to bloom silently like wildflowers in the mountain breeze.
"I also don't think it's a real fire phoenix; it seems more like a flying apparatus," I chimed in agreement.
"Flying apparatus? What is that?" Li Hao asked, puzzled.
"Well, it's sort of a thing that can fly," I momentarily forgot that 'flying apparatus' was a modern term, unheard of by someone from the ancient past.
"Oh, it feels like something I just saw in the Central Plains—a sky lantern, except it has a different shape, and it's a bit like a kite," Li Hao said, gesticulating with his hands.
"That could be," I agreed.
Together, we chased after the fire phoenix, all the while keeping our eyes on it.
The fire phoenix, bathed in starlight, seemed to grow larger and larger, as if, after an ordeal of life and death, it was about to provide us with the answers to our puzzled quest. In our hearts, its fiery wings began to fan the flames of our eagerness for answers amid the glow and ashes. We were getting closer to it.
Our hearts drew nearer under the blaze of the fire phoenix, our heartbeats quickening with our fervent pursuit. As we neared the mountain peak, the place where the fire phoenix was faintly visible, a strange, cold light suddenly flashed on the path ahead—a group of figures clad in black surrounded us as swiftly as lightning.
The leader of the men in black, with eyes cold as ice, gestured, and several of his subordinates charged towards us. It turned out they, too, were after the fire phoenix, but their motive seemed more inclined to conceal all of its mysteries. Li Hao stood bravely, fighting them off one against ten, displaying extreme valor. Overwhelmed, I was caught in the chaos by a masked figure, my mouth covered so I couldn't make a sound.
Li Hao was defeated, cornered by the men in black, and as they whisked me away, his helpless anger surged like the tide, readable in his eyes. He was trapped by several men in black while I was dragged away. I could only imagine his look of despair, with the only clue being the night sky illuminated by flames and the traces of the fire phoenix. He endured a lonely night, ceaselessly searching and inquiring after my whereabouts.
The group of men in black bound me and covered my mouth. I was panicked, my heart pounding in a way it never had before. I didn't understand why these men in black appeared out of nowhere, their reasons and purposes for abducting me—did they also have some connection to the fire phoenix? I could feel their urgency as they hurriedly traveled, and in shock and terror, I passed out.
I didn't know how much time had passed when I woke up, finding myself captive, but I still pretended to be unconscious. I heard them speaking in Turkic and some in Chinese, sporadically mentioning words like 'Khan,' 'Eastern Roman delegation,' and 'Tang king.' As a traveler from another time and space, I speculated through the clues of these men in black that a grand conspiracy might be afoot. This conspiracy was not only about the secret of the fire phoenix but also tied to the fate of the entire Tang Dynasty. It was very possible they intended to use the power of the fire phoenix to subvert the existing delicate order.
Li Hao, exhaustively fatigued, slumped against a large stone. But the thought of me being kidnapped bolstered him to stand up and continue the pursuit. His eyes gleamed with a resolved light as he utilized the scouting skills honed in his long tenure in the Western Regions to quickly locate the men in black's secret hideout.
After a difficult reconnaissance, he found where I was being held—a secret base deep in the forested mountains. He approached cautiously and cunningly, nimbly avoiding the men in black's lookouts and traps. A chilly wind under the moonlight brought an aura of menace as he moved deeper into the dark forest.
As if ignited within him, the flame of determination was stronger than ever. The dark night could not obscure his single goal—to save me. He conceived a rescue plan. Utilizing disguises and decoys to cover his approach, he stealthily neared the men in black's secret base. The cold moonlight reflecting off his resolute face as determination kindled in his chest like fire.
After a series of heart-pounding stealth maneuvers, he finally found where I was being held captive. By starting fires all around, he created a smokescreen and successfully rescued me. At the critical moment, the two of us made it back into the depths of the forest, evading the pursuit of the men in black. In the moment of escape, our eyes were filled with the shock and emotion of being reunited.
It was then, through the sparse woods, that a dazzling light pierced our view. Following that light, we unexpectedly came across the fallen fire phoenix. Despite its flame having died out, the remains of the fire phoenix still harbored an indescribable power and mystery. Li Hao and I approached carefully, filled with awe as we looked upon the shell of this once majestic creature.
As we marveled at the fire phoenix, the leader of the men in black and his core members found us again. Under the moonlight, in the cold night wind, the leader let out bursts of cold laughter, signaling his men to kill us. I didn't understand why they would murder us senselessly, perhaps the remains of the fire phoenix were the key to unlocking their conspiracy.
Faced with merciless enemies, Li Hao and I stood our ground. Just when we thought we were surely going to be defeated and killed in the fierce fighting, an unexpected turn of events took place. My father and the rescue personnel from the delegation, unable to find Li Hao and me and hearing that we had gone after the fire phoenix, feared for our safety and came searching for us in large numbers, arriving just in time.
The arrival of the rescue personnel disrupted the attention of the men in black, and Li Hao took the opportunity to counterattack. The leader of the men in black lost his balance in the chaos and almost got captured, but in the end, he managed to escape. The remaining members of the men in black scattered and fled after their leader's failure.
Soon, the quiet of old returned to the jungle. Our group stood by the remains of the fire phoenix, witnessing the end of this mysterious and cruel conspiracy. Although we weren't sure what secrets the fire phoenix hid, we knew it hid a grand conspiracy for certain.
Next to the remains was one of the men in black who had died in the fight. Li Hao went over to uncover his identity, and the crowd gathered around. When the black cloth was lifted, everyone was shocked—it was a Turkic man, with yellow hair somewhat resembling Li Hao's, but his other features were entirely different. I approached and was taken aback; wasn't this a Russian man? My mind was filled with confusion, weren't the Turkic people the ancestors of modern Turks? How could there be a Russian among them? It seemed likely that the Turkic states, through a long history of ethnic integration, had incorporated many peoples from northern China. Thus, in the Turkic states, the presence of Sogdians, Chinese, Slavs, and Turks wouldn't be surprising.
Everyone was abuzz with incredulous chatter. Why would a Turkic person attack the Eastern Roman delegation on the land of the Tang Dynasty?
Under the delegation's protection, Li Hao and I breathed in the fresh air deep in the forest, feeling an unprecedented sense of security. After a life-and-death ordeal, we looked at each other, feeling not only the joy of survival but also the mutual dependency and emotions that came after the disaster. Amidst the blazing phoenix and the settled ashes, our bond was tested and, seemingly, ratified by heaven and earth.
However, the atmosphere of happiness did not last long. Just as everyone breathed a sigh of relief, a man in black, ghost-like, emerged, his bow tensed with arrows ready to release deadly intent. He silently shot an arrow at me. The arrow sliced through the quiet of the night sky with lethal precision, striking directly at my heart.
"Mei er!" Li Hao's cry shattered the stillness of the night, and everyone's attention was instantly focused on me. The father and the delegation acted swiftly, but the appearance of the man in black was so unexpected that everything happened in a split second. After releasing his arrow, the assailant quickly fled, and though part of the group gave chase, they couldn't catch up.
Blood stained my dress red as I felt the color drain from everyone's faces under the starry sky. Li Hao held me, racked with pain, as if his world was collapsing. My father and the delegation members rushed to provide first aid amidst an atmosphere of chaos, panic, and sorrow. Although I was gravely wounded, my hand still clutched tightly onto Li Hao's, my eyes flickering with reluctance and deep affection, and my lips formed a bittersweet but precious smile. I knew that even if life was slipping away, I wished to leave my last bit of love to this person before me.
Li Hao's tears kept falling on my face, a mixture of love and despair. The air still carried the smoky scent of the fire phoenix's conflagration, but it could no longer hide the bitterness of our parting in this moment. Some in the delegation were praying, others were busy, but all sounds seemed so faint and distant.
On this night of courage and love, Li Hao and I thought we could contend with fate, never anticipating the fragility of life so starkly revealed at this moment. The shadows of disaster had swiftly and cruelly overwhelmed our once hopeful future.