The forest was unnervingly quiet, the rustling of leaves the only sound accompanying their slow trek. Ling Tianyi's expression was a mixture of wariness and indifference, his steps deliberate but without urgency. Zhi Yue, walking a few paces ahead, practically radiated mischief.
"So," Zhi Yue began, turning to walk backward as he smirked at Tianyi, "what's the plan, oh mighty celestial? Keep wandering aimlessly until something interesting falls into your lap? Or are you just pretending to know what you're doing to impress me?"
Tianyi didn't even glance at him. "I don't need to impress you."
"Of course not!" Zhi Yue exclaimed, feigning offense. "How could the great Ling Tianyi, fallen immortal extraordinaire, care about impressing a lowly demon like me? But seriously," he leaned closer, voice dropping conspiratorially, "are you this grumpy with everyone, or am I just special?"
"You talk too much," Tianyi muttered, picking up his pace.
Zhi Yue laughed. "I'll take that as a compliment."
The distant sound of screams interrupted their banter. Tianyi halted, his head snapping toward the noise. Zhi Yue, however, groaned loudly, throwing his arms up.
"Oh, great. Mortals in distress. Let me guess," he drawled, "you're going to charge in, save the day, and collect their undying gratitude? Or is this where you deliver a long speech about how humans are no longer your problem?"
Tianyi's expression darkened, his eyes fixed in the direction of the chaos. "They aren't my problem," he said flatly, "but I won't stand by and watch meaningless slaughter."
Zhi Yue blinked, then grinned, clearly amused. "Color me surprised. The Ice Block has a conscience. Alright, lead the way, oh noble one. I could use some entertainment."
Tianyi didn't wait for him to finish and broke into a sprint.
"Wait, wait!" Zhi Yue called after him. "What's the rush? The corpses will still be warm by the time we get there!"
They emerged into the village, and chaos greeted them. Rogue cultivators clad in tattered robes clashed with terrified villagers, who wielded pitchforks and broken farming tools. Snarling beasts—hulking, twisted creatures with glowing red eyes—prowled between the combatants, their growls reverberating in the smoky air.
Tianyi stepped forward, summoning his fragmented spiritual energy to form a faintly glowing sword. The blade flickered, its light unsteady, but it was enough to draw the attention of the attackers.
"Oh, lovely," Zhi Yue muttered from behind him. "A half-dead sword for a half-dead immortal. This is going to be good."
Tianyi didn't respond, already launching himself into the fray. He moved with precision, his blade cutting through the air to strike down a beast lunging for a cowering villager.
Zhi Yue leaned against a charred post, arms crossed, a smirk tugging at his lips. "You call that a sword stance? Even a mortal child could do better. Come on, Tianyi, show me something impressive!"
Tianyi's strikes were effective but lacked the fluid grace of his prime. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he parried an attacker's blade and kicked another back.
"Are you trying to intimidate them with mediocrity?" Zhi Yue called, cupping his hands around his mouth for effect. "Because I think it's working! They're laughing at you instead of running!"
Tianyi gritted his teeth, ignoring the demon. He drove his sword into the ground, unleashing a shockwave that sent two beasts sprawling. But his movements were sluggish, and his breathing labored.
A rogue cultivator seized the opportunity, rushing at Tianyi with a wicked grin. The blade was mere inches from Tianyi's side when it stopped mid-air, caught between two fingers.
Zhi Yue stood there, his expression one of feigned boredom. "Tianyi, Tianyi, Tianyi," he sighed, shaking his head. "What would you do without me?"
The cultivator snarled, trying to pull his blade free, but Zhi Yue didn't even flinch. With a lazy flick of his wrist, he sent the man flying into a nearby wall.
"There," Zhi Yue said, dusting his hands off. "Saved your life. Again. You're welcome."
Tianyi straightened, his grip tightening on his sword. "I didn't need your help."
"Oh, clearly," Zhi Yue replied, gesturing at the broken remains of Tianyi's last opponent. "You were doing a fantastic job getting skewered. Truly inspiring."
With the attackers defeated, the villagers gathered around them, their expressions a mix of fear and gratitude. Tianyi stood apart, his presence cold and unapproachable, while Zhi Yue basked in the attention.
"Please, sirs," one villager stammered, thrusting a basket of fruit toward Zhi Yue. "Take this as a token of our thanks."
Zhi Yue accepted the offering with a flamboyant bow. "Why, thank you, kind mortals! Your devotion is truly heartwarming. If only all humans were this generous."
Tianyi, however, turned his gaze toward an old woman who approached hesitantly. Her hands trembled as she held a small talisman close to her chest.
"The temple," she began, her voice shaky. "It's been our guardian for as long as we can remember. But recently… something's changed."
Zhi Yue tilted his head. "A temple, huh? Let me guess, you've been worshiping some benevolent god who's decided to take a vacation?"
The woman shook her head, tears welling in her eyes. "The light from the statue—it kept us safe. But months ago, it went out. The beasts, the cultivators—they came not long after. They said they'd destroy it, but we couldn't let them. The temple has protected us for generations."
Zhi Yue's smirk returned, and he chuckled darkly. "Oh, how touching. Mortals fighting for their useless gods. Did it ever occur to you that maybe it wasn't a god protecting you all this time? Perhaps a demon was doing all the hard work while your statues collected dust."
Gasps rippled through the crowd, but Zhi Yue only shrugged. "What? Just offering some perspective. You're welcome."
Tianyi shot him a sharp look. "Enough."
Zhi Yue grinned, unrepentant. "Oh, come on. I'm just saying what everyone's thinking. Well, except for you, because apparently you're too busy brooding to think."
That evening, as the villagers tended to their wounded, Tianyi and Zhi Yue stood on the outskirts of the settlement.
"You really don't remember anything, do you?" Zhi Yue asked, his tone unusually serious.
Tianyi's brow furrowed. "What are you talking about?"
Zhi Yue's crimson eyes gleamed in the fading light. "The things you've forgotten… they'll either save you or destroy you. That's the fun part of all this, isn't it?"
Tianyi frowned, his grip tightening on his broken sword.
The next morning, Zhi Yue stretched dramatically, yawning as they prepared to leave the village.
"So," he said, his tone light. "What's the plan, oh fearless leader? Are we visiting this mysterious temple, or are we just wandering aimlessly again?"
Tianyi regarded him coldly. "You already knew we'd end up there, didn't you?"
Zhi Yue grinned. "What can I say? I'm good at predicting your every move. Shall we?"
They walked in silence for a while before Tianyi broke it. "Why do you act like a fool but fight like a king? You mock me, but you're hiding something. What are you really after?"
Zhi Yue's grin widened, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Let's just say I owe you. And for now, that's all you need to know."
Tianyi's gaze narrowed, suspicion etched into his features. But before he could respond, a chill ran down his spine.
In the shadows of the forest, a figure watched them, its presence a heavy, malevolent force that seemed to drain the air of warmth.
"Well, well," Zhi Yue murmured, his tone dark and teasing. "Looks like someone's taken an interest in us. Isn't this exciting?"