♧♧♧♧♧
For nearly two days, Ling Wei had stumbled through the dense forest, her once vibrant spirit reduced to a flicker of sheer willpower.
Every step was a battle against the relentless elements and her own deteriorating condition. Her face had grown pale, a ghostly contrast to the mud and grime that coated her skin. Her body, now gaunt and frail, trembled with cold and hunger. The berries she had found offered little nourishment, and the lack of clean water left her parched and weak. Every muscle in her body screamed for rest, every thought blurred by an overwhelming fatigue.
Her modern attire, now in tatters, hung loosely from her frame. The reflective vest, the utility belt with its rusted tools, and the scuffed hard hat were all remnants of a world that seemed increasingly distant. Her short-cropped hair, unevenly cut, added to her disheveled appearance, making her look like a young boy abandoned in the wilderness.
Ling Wei's vision blurred as she trudged forward, each step a Herculean effort. She was on the verge of collapse, her body and mind pushed beyond their limits. She barely registered the sounds of axes and saws in the distance, the rhythmic thudding and buzzing blending into the background noise of the forest. Her focus was solely on putting one foot in front of the other, a mechanical movement driven by the faint hope of survival.
Then, through the haze of exhaustion, she saw them. Figures moving among the trees, their forms solid and real in the otherwise dreamlike landscape. She opened her mouth to call out, but her voice was a mere whisper, her strength too depleted to shout.
"Human," she muttered under her breath, the word barely audible even to herself.
As she took another faltering step, her body finally gave out. Ling Wei collapsed to the ground, her vision darkening as the world tilted around her. The last thing she felt was a sharp pain in her arm, as if it had been stepped on. She tried to open her eyes, her face pressed into the mud, and saw a teenage boy, his face etched with surprise and pure horror. Then, everything went black.
*****
Xiao Lin, feeling the call of nature, wandered to a secluded tree near the stream. The air was cool and fresh, with the scent of damp earth still lingering. He found a spot behind a large oak, far enough from the group to have some privacy. As he finished relieving himself, a sudden movement caught his eye.
Turning to investigate, Xiao Lin's foot caught on something protruding from the ground. He stumbled, arms flailing for balance, before landing awkwardly on one knee. "Ow!" he muttered, more startled than hurt. He looked down, expecting to see a fallen branch, but his breath caught when he saw it was an arm.
"Hey! There's someone here!" he shouted, his voice cracking with panic.
"Sounds like a little girl," Xiao Feng joked while trying to hide his nervousness from the previous scary stories.
"Maybe he saw the old woodsman?" Xiao Han joked along, but his smile faded when he saw Xiao Lin's frantic expression.
The others rushed over, jokes fading quickly as they saw Xiao Lin's pale face and shaking hands. "What is it?" Wu Chen asked, hurrying to his side.
"There's a person unconscious by the stream. I don't know if they're alive," Xiao Lin panted, pointing to the figure lying motionless among the roots of the tree.
Wu Chen and Zhao Tao rushed over. Wu Chen, braver than Zhao Tao, quickly approached the fallen figure, checking for signs of life. He first noticed the muddied rabbit pelt cape and the short haircut typical of young boys who had not yet reached the coming-of-age ceremony.
He assumed this might be a young slave who had been abandoned in the deepest part of the forest and unfortunately got caught in the storm. The young man was soaked and filthy, his clothes torn and covered in mud. His appearance was ghostly pale, and his breathing was barely noticeable.
"We need help here!" Wu Chen's voice carried through the clearing, drawing the attention of the other workers. He knelt beside the body, his rough hands gently turning the unconscious figure over.
Wu Chen also noted the strange items the person held tightly — a tube, a rugbelt with unidentifiable tools, and a hard hat that looked somewhat similar to a farmer's hat but was surprisingly sturdy.
"Are they alive?" Escort Chun asked, hurrying over.
"It's a boy, judging by the haircut," Wu Chen assumed, his voice steady. "But he's in bad shape. Zhao Tao, help me lift him."
Zhao Tao's eyes widened. "He's alive?"
Master Wu nodded, placing a finger under the young man's nose. "Yes, but faintly," he confirmed, lifting the unconscious person. "He's light as a feather and cold as a corpse. This boy needs water and warmth, quickly!"
Within moments, the woodcutters had gathered around, their faces a mix of curiosity and concern. Escort Hua brought warm water to the pale lips of the unconscious boy, who lay on a makeshift wooden table where the cutting tools were placed. His clothes were unlike anything they had seen before—strange and unusual, clearly not from their region. The rugged belt he clutched tightly was filled with unfamiliar tools. When they tried to pry open his hand to take the items, they were met with resistance, prompting puzzled glances and whispers among the onlookers.
"Where do you think he came from?" Xiao Lin muttered, his eyes wide with curiosity.
"I've never seen clothing like that," Xiao Han added, examining the tools with a cautious hand. "These don't look like anything we use."
Escort Hua gently trickled warm water into the boy's mouth, her face etched with concern. "He's very weak," she said quietly. "We need to get him back to the boat and find help quickly."
Master Wu nodded in agreement, his expression serious. "Let's use the wagon," he decided, covering the slightly shivering body with his cloak. Given Master Wu's well-built frame, his cloak looked like a huge blanket, enveloping the entire body of the unconscious person.
Wu Chen realized how light the person was, noting the similarity in height to his niece, Wu Meifen. He carried the unconscious figure horizontally, with one arm under the shoulders and the other under the knees, and gently placed them on the wagon they would use for transport.
"I've never seen someone in such a state," Zhao Tao murmured, his voice tinged with worry.
"Xiao Feng, take the wagon," Master Wu said, his voice firm. "Escort Chun and Escort Hua will accompany you back to the boat."
Escort Chun Haoyu and Escort Hua Meilin led the way, making sure the path was safe and clear. The rain had stopped, but the ground was still slippery from the recent storm.
"Be careful with the wagon," Xiao Feng cautioned, his hand steady on the wagon while holding the person with the other. "We need to make sure he doesn't get hurt further."
As they made their way back to the boat, the boy's strange attire and mysterious tools weighed heavily on their minds, raising questions that would have to wait until his safety was assured.
×××××
Upon reaching the boat, Escort Chun Haoyu carefully lifted the unconscious figure aboard. One of the boatmen, likely the healer, immediately began to assess the person's condition more thoroughly. "This person's pulse is weak, but she's hanging on," he said. "We need to get her to a warm, dry place."
pronouns sound the same when spoken but different in writing
The captain, hearing the commotion, rushed over. "What happened? Who is this?"
"We found him unconscious by the stream," Escort Chun Haoyu explained while carrying the figure into one of the cabins of the boat. "We don't know who he is or where he came from."
"And how long he's been unconscious," Escort Hua Meilin added.
They left the patient and the healer inside the cabin to avoid disturbing the healer's assessment. The captain reassured the two escorts and Xiao Feng that the boat's healer knew what he was doing. "Don't worry," the captain said firmly. "Our healer has handled situations like this before. He'll make sure that person gets the care needed."
Given this assurance, they decided to leave the unconscious person in the boat to be taken care of. Chun Haoyu turned to Hua Meilin and said, "Meilin, it would be best if you stay behind to monitor the situation. Keep an eye and make sure the healer has everything he needs."
Hua Meilin nodded, her expression serious. "Understood. I'll stay and make sure everything's looked after."
Chun Haoyu then addressed Xiao Feng, "Xiao Feng, we need to return the wagon to the harvesting site and inform the others of the circumstances. They need to know, we can't let this incident halt their work."
Xiao Feng agreed, though his eyes lingered on the closed door of the cabin for a moment longer. "Right. Let's get back and let them know. They'll be worried and distracted if we don't return soon."
As they prepared to leave, the captain added, "We'll take good care of the patient. You can count on us."
Escort Chun Haoyu and Xiao Feng clasped their fists in respectful thanks before disembarking from the boat. As they walked back to the harvesting site, Chun Haoyu spoke, "It's important that we keep everyone informed. We'll explain everything and ensure that work continues smoothly."
Xiao Feng nodded, his mind still on the unconscious person they had left behind. "I hope he'll be alright. It's a relief knowing he's in good hands."
They continued their journey back to the site, pulling the wagon with a brisk pace despite the muddy ground left by the recent storm. Upon arriving, they were greeted with curious and concerned looks from the rest of the group.
"How was it?" Wu Chen asked, worry etched on his face.
"He's in rough shape but alive," Escort Chun reassured them. "The healer is confident the person will recover with proper care. For now, everyone needs to focus on your work here, and we escorts will ensure everything continues smoothly."
Master Zhao Baiyi nodded, appreciating the update. "Alright, let's get back to work. We can check on the progress later."
With that, the group resumed their tasks, their minds now split between the work at hand and the mysterious young person they had found.
Despite the unexpected incident, work had to continue. The storm had passed, but its effects lingered.