The fire crackled softly in the darkness, casting flickering shadows on the faces of Lin Xi, Su Qinghe, and Liú Jùn. Shēng Lóng, the Guardian who had once fought alongside Su Qinghe's ancestors, sat across from them, his weathered face lined with years of battle and loss. Despite his aged appearance, there was a powerful presence about him—one that made it clear he had not lost the strength that had earned him the title of Guardian.
"I left that life behind long ago," Shēng Lóng began, his voice low and gravelly. "But I see now that the world cannot move forward without confronting the darkness once again."
Su Qinghe, seated beside Lin Xi, nodded gravely. "We don't have much time. Hēilóng Dì's forces are growing, and we've already encountered his commanders."
"Commanders?" Shēng Lóng's eyes narrowed. "You mean he has already begun to raise his armies?"
Lin Xi exchanged a glance with Su Qinghe, remembering their battle in the ruined temple and the sheer force they had encountered. "Yes. The Black Dragon Emperor's followers are everywhere, gathering strength. We barely escaped with our lives."
Shēng Lóng leaned forward, his eyes sharp. "That means we have even less time than I thought. The relics are key to stopping him, but they will also make you targets. If you're to survive this fight, you need more than just courage—you need strategy."
Liú Jùn spoke up, his voice tense. "Do you know where the other relics are?"
Shēng Lóng shook his head. "The relics were scattered across the land after the last war. Even I don't know where all of them are hidden. But there are legends, stories passed down through generations. If we can follow the clues, we may be able to find them before Hēilóng Dì does."
Lin Xi felt a flicker of hope. They had a plan, a way forward. But the weight of the task ahead was still heavy on her shoulders. "Where do we start?"
"There's a temple in the Eastern Wastes," Shēng Lóng said after a long pause. "It's said that one of the relics was hidden there, deep within the earth. But the Eastern Wastes are dangerous—few who venture there return."
Su Qinghe didn't hesitate. "Then that's where we'll go."
Lin Xi glanced at him, admiring the way he always took charge with such certainty. But there was also a part of her that worried—worried that his unwavering resolve would lead him into danger he couldn't escape. She had grown to care for him more than she ever expected, and that made the risks of their journey even more daunting.
Shēng Lóng studied them for a moment, his gaze lingering on Lin Xi. "The two of you—your fates are intertwined, aren't they?"
Lin Xi's heart skipped a beat at his words. She wasn't sure what he meant, but there was a depth to his question that unsettled her. "What do you mean?"
Shēng Lóng's eyes softened. "I've seen bonds like yours before. It goes beyond comradeship. Be careful—such connections are powerful, but they can also be dangerous. You'll need each other in the battles to come, but don't lose sight of the greater goal."
Lin Xi felt Su Qinghe's gaze on her, but she couldn't bring herself to look at him. The weight of Shēng Lóng's words pressed down on her, making her more aware of the unspoken tension between them. The battle ahead was all-consuming, but her heart couldn't help but cling to the growing connection with Su Qinghe. Yet, there was no room for those feelings now.
"We won't fail," Lin Xi said quietly, her voice filled with determination. "We're ready for whatever comes next."
Shēng Lóng nodded, though his eyes still held a trace of caution. "Good. Then we leave at dawn. The Eastern Wastes are unforgiving, and we'll need every moment of daylight we can get."
As they settled down for the night, Lin Xi found herself unable to sleep. The fire had died down to embers, and the stars twinkled overhead, bright and distant. She glanced at Su Qinghe, who was lying a short distance away, his face turned toward the sky. He looked peaceful, but Lin Xi knew better. They were all carrying the weight of this mission, and it was only going to get heavier.
After a moment of hesitation, Lin Xi stood and walked over to where Su Qinghe lay. She sat down beside him, careful not to wake Liú Jùn or Shēng Lóng. The air was cool, and the silence between them was comfortable, but charged with something unspoken.
"You're worried," Su Qinghe said, his voice quiet but certain.
Lin Xi smiled faintly, looking down at her hands. "You always know what I'm thinking."
"You're not hard to read," he said with a small smile of his own. "But I'm worried too."
Lin Xi glanced at him, surprised by his admission. Su Qinghe rarely showed any sign of doubt or fear, always the pillar of strength in their group. "I thought you were never afraid."
Su Qinghe's expression softened as he looked at her. "I'm always afraid. But it's not the battle that scares me—it's losing the people I care about."
Lin Xi's heart skipped a beat at his words. She hadn't expected such honesty from him, but it made her feel closer to him in a way she hadn't before. The tension between them, the unspoken feelings—they were all there, just beneath the surface.
"I care about you too," Lin Xi said quietly, her voice barely a whisper.
For a moment, they sat in silence, the weight of her words hanging between them. Then Su Qinghe reached out, gently placing his hand on hers. It was a small gesture, but it was enough to convey everything they couldn't say out loud.
"We'll make it through this," Su Qinghe said, his voice firm. "Together."
Lin Xi nodded, her heart swelling with emotion. "Together."
As the night wore on, Lin Xi and Su Qinghe sat in the quiet of the forest, their hands still entwined. The battles ahead were daunting, and the dangers they faced were unlike anything they had ever known. But in that moment, they found solace in each other—a bond that would carry them through the darkest of days.