Distant sounds of nature, mixed with the tense cries of some people, came to the young man's ears muffled, from afar, as if he was underwater. Although he sincerely tried to listen. His head ached, and his eyes remained closed: there was no strength to lift the eyelids. His breathing seemed ragged and rapid; every limb felt filled with lead.
– Lao Wu, wake up! – someone shouted, making the young man's temples throb with pain.
Now he could feel the wet soil under his fingers, and the disgusting smell of burnt flesh and iron hit his nose. The senses started to work sharply, bringing the lying person to consciousness. The screams of people became closer, louder, more furious. He wanted to cover his ears with his hands, just not to hear the sounds of someone's agony, but the failing body still barely obeyed its owner.
– Lao Wu, we have wounded! You have to wake up!
Wu Zhe Kai immediately opened his eyes and blinked at the gray sky in confusion. His lips parted, releasing a weak groan and hoarse gurgling sounds from his throat. Blood in there caused the healer to cough.
The attempt to roll over was unsuccessful, but natural stubbornness and medical knowledge did not allow him to give up. Wu Zhe Kai understood that he would suffocate with blood if he did not change his position soon.
Sticky mud, which had soaked the blood of many, stained the palms with crimson and scarlet, forcing the man to remember what should have long ago been left in the past.
– Why... why am I here? Why again? – his throat was torn by uncried tears, but the words flew out of dry lips.
– Lao Wu! Finally!
Someone's hands clasped the young man's shoulders, helping him sit up. Calloused fingers, as dirty as Wu Zhe Kai himself, wiped the trickle of blood from the corner of his lips. The healer tried to focus his gaze, but the features of the man's face were blurred as if carelessly drawn with dull paint. However, Wu Zhe Kai did not need to see this man to understand who he was.
– Lao Heng, why... am I here?
– What's wrong with you? Have you forgotten? – the man's voice was tense, but at the same time excited. – You went to get herbs, but you were gone for too long! The captain sent me on a search. The wounded won't stop arriving. We are losing the ground! We need that medicine!
– I told you... I won't do it again.
With the help of a comrade, Wu Zhe Kai was able to get to his feet. Trying not to stagger, he leaned on the proffered shoulder and exhaled quietly.
– This medicine of mine has too many side effects. People are going crazy, Lao Heng. You saw it yourself.
– I don't care! We must win! This is the Emperor's order!
– For me, there are only the lives of my patients that matter! I will not risk them to satisfy someone's pride!
– Lao Wu, you will get yourself executed for such words!
– I don't care.
Wu Zhe Kai spent the emerging strength to stubbornly move away from his friend, heading towards the sounds of crossing swords and war cries. His weakened legs sank into the damp soil, and his blurred gaze played with Zhe Kai in an illusion, making him see non-existent shadows and blurry silhouettes.
Now he was even grateful for this because he knew the true horrors of war. Far too often he saw how the life faded, leaving him just disfigured corpses.
The sound of footsteps came from behind. The familiar hands and the constant smell of metal accompanying this man once again enveloped Wu Zhe Kai. The man led him towards the tents.
The familiar bustle, the smell of many ground herbs... the healers who were wearing themselves out with am endless work... the groans of wounded soldiers...
That was Wu Zhe Kai's personal Hell. And yet again he was here.
– Lao Heng, you know, – Wu Zhe Kai said quietly when the warrior helped him to sit on a wooden chair. – I had a strange dream. In this dream, I died and found myself in an unusual world. It resembled ours but was not at all like it. It was a calm and gentle place... but for some reason, I could not find true peace in there.
The young man felt a rag soaked in a medicinal solution being placed over his eyes, and his wounded palms were being skillfully wrapped.
– There in that dream, in that world, I met different people. Even found true friends in three of them. You'd have liked them too.
– Are you saying that my friendship is not enough for you?
Despite the words, Lao Heng's voice sounded playful. That caused Wu Zhe Kai to laugh quietly and shake his head.
– You are my old friend. Devoted and faithful. You set your goals and know your aims. I have always admired you and strived to help you in everything, – Wu Zhe Kai thought for a moment then continued. – But the gap between us only widened with time. Your aspirations no longer coincide with mine. Your unbridled devotion to the Emperor invariably bordered on mortal danger. And I don't know what to do any longer.
– How can we contest the decisions of the Son of Heavens, Lao Wu? His Majesty wants what's best for everyone.
– Is this so? – the healer shuddered from sudden pain and scolded the man. – Your bandaging skills have gotten better, but you still have to learn the difference between the living person and the inanimate weapons.
– Sorry. I haven't measured my strength again.
There was a rustling of fabric heard, and then came the creaking of leather straps as Han's palm rested on the hilt of the sword. Wu Zhe Kai wanted to remove the blindfold, but the request stopped him.
– Rest a little and then make the medicine, Lao Wu. You know how important this is.
The retreating footsteps echoed sharply in Wu Zhe Kai's ears like drum beats. As if announcing a nonspoken verdict. His dry, white lips twitched into a thin line, forcing him to scratch the surface of the dirty hanfu with his nails.
– My dream... my dream... It began like that... – Wu Zhe Kai inhaled sharply, clutching his head with his hands. – My dream... began with my death.
Somewhere in the distance a deafening explosion was heard, then the crying of a child tormented the ears. It replaced the screams of his comrades. Bright tongues of voracious fire spread under Wu Zhe Kai's feet, swallowing the healer and carrying him with ashes deeper into distant, terrifying memories.
***
– Find him and deliver him to the commander! Alive! This is a personal order. At once!
– Yes, Lord!
The footsteps of many trained soldiers echoed through the village in the dead silence of the night. Their prickly looks and rude speech struck terror in the hearts of ordinary peasants, but how could they resist the imperial army that was fighting on the border? Of course, they could not, they could only watch resignedly as strong warriors broke into their houses, searched barns, and disturbed frightened children just to find one single person.
No one could utter a word against them, even men hid behind the backs of their confused women who were clutching crying children to their chests. No one tried to go against the armed warriors, realizing that they were carrying a heavy load, and now they were only carrying out the next order – searching for a deserter.
What had this man done? Why would he run away? For what purpose? What would happen to him now?
Leaving a battlefield, attempting to defect, was a terrible crime. But being hounded by an entire trained squad? How awful the crimes of that man should be? He had probably deserved a severe punishment.
Another door swung open with a roar, straw rustles, and a little girl's cough was heard. The warrior looked at the little girl with a cold gaze, clutching a dry pea in her hands, and left after checking the piled firewood.
The girl's sparkling eyes followed the retreating back until his footsteps faded away behind the closed door. The baby smiled and hurried to climb onto the table located under the open window. She carefully bent down so that her voice sounded as quiet as possible, but the one lurking in the fetid waste heard her.
– Master healer, he left. Run quickly!
The familiar gaze of green eyes rushed upward, looking gratefully at the exhausted, yet smiling face. The girl had difficulty maintaining her balance, but still confidently handed the man a crust of bread.
Wu Zhe Kai stood up, trying his best not to inhale the smell he exuded, and tightly clutched to his chest a plump bag filled with the ingredients for a formula known only to him.
– I'll come back, – he promised. – Wait for me and I will come back to cure your cough. Keep the bread for yourself, you should eat well.
The little girl smiled happily before nodding and disappearing inside the house. Forsome time Wu Zhe Kai listened to the distant voices and then rushed towards the dark forest. He couldn't let down the people who hid him from the imperial army at their peril. Now he needed to get lost in the wild as quickly as possible, bypass all known defensive towers, and cross the border...
He exchanged his chance for a peaceful existence in his homeland for betrayal in favor of the lives of good people.
The warriors were ready to put their lives on the line. He, the healer, was ready to do anything to help and save the living.
***
The dark forest wrapped the running Wu Zhe Kai into silence and coldness, unable to help or delay the lit torches pursuing him. The voices grew louder, becoming a tight wave, and all he could do was run.
Further and further into the wild frontier, nearly falling and afraid of producing even the slightest sound.
A branch broke under the healer's footstep, a thin fabric got reaped by a thorny bush. The heart of the young man was beating like a thrashing bird in his chest. Tears choked him, and self-loathing overwhelmed. Fingers were frantically squeezing the damn bag with the damn ingredients. The only desire that overwhelmed him for now – was brewing in his mind.
He wanted to end that torment: just take out the knife and stab himself in the neck. And then his corpse would be found by soldiers or wild animals following the trail... then this would no longer matter.
He wouldn't care what they do to his cold body. Maybe they would leave it to rot under the dripping rain and falling dry leaves. Nobody needed Wu Zhe Kai anyway. He wished he had understood that earlier.
It was getting light. The light from the lamps and torches swelling from the wind-gusts makes the shadows lengthen and distorted. Agile bloodhounds can smell the filth too well even in drizzling rain. His whole plan consisted of hastily thought-up little things that depended mainly on luck. What was he even counting on?! He was just a hunted rabbit surrounded by fierce wolves. There is no way to hide from the watchful eye of the Son of the Heavens.
Wu Zhe Kai swallowed the lump in his throat and turned around to see how long he could maintain the illusion of a possible escape.
It was at this moment that the whistle of an arrow and a scream were heard nearby. The emaciated body, no longer able to endure this torment, tilted and collapsed onto the dirty slope.
Wu Zhe Kai gave out a loud moan, as he broke the tip of the arrow protruding from his hand, and dashed, quickly sliding down the wet ground. Earth and sky got mixed and melted into a whirligig.
Streams of water graciously embraced the floundering man into their icy arms.
Wu Zhe Kai tried his best to reach the surface in a desperate attempt to gasp for air. He scooped up the water with his hands and, once he managed to rise, his eyes widened.
The bright light blinded him, forced to turn his face off, and put his palm to the forehead in search of protection from this merciless glow. Goosebumps ran down Wu Zhe Kai's spine when his watery eyes caught an emerald reflection in the mirror-clear marble.
That moment the healer truly wanted to go blind.
These feelings were incomprehensible, inexplicable. But he was ready to find himself among the dying soldiers again. Anything would be better than being here.
Wu Zhe Kai slowly turned around, lowering his hand, trying to avert his eyes from the emerald eyes of the majestic golden dragon, that meekly wrapped his tail around the back of the grand imperial throne.