The night stretched on as Li Wei and Feng Rui left the fortune teller's stall. The narrow alleyway was cloaked in silence, broken only by the occasional flicker of a lantern's light against the damp walls. Li Wei's mind was a whirlwind of thoughts—the cryptic note, the prophecy of the Phoenix King, and the unsettling weight of the fortune teller's warning.Feng Rui, on the other hand, seemed entirely unbothered. He strolled beside Li Wei with his hands clasped behind his back, whistling a cheerful tune that felt entirely out of place in the oppressive atmosphere.
"You don't seem worried at all," Li Wei muttered, casting a sideways glance at him.Feng Rui smirked, his gaze fixed on the sky. "Why worry about things we can't control? Besides, life's much more interesting when you leave a little room for chaos."
Li Wei frowned. "Chaos isn't something to take lightly."
Feng Rui stopped abruptly, turning toface Li Wei with an amused expression. "Ah, there it is. That serious scholar's frown." He stepped closer, tilting his head slightly as if studying Li Wei's face. "Tell me, Li Wei, do you ever smile?"
Caught off guard, Li Wei stepped back, his ears burning. "That's none of your business."Feng Rui laughed, the sound light and melodic. "You're fascinating, you know that? All wrapped up in your little world of rules and logic, yet here you are, chasing a mystery that defies both."
"I'm not chasing anything," Li Wei shot back. "I just want answers."And I just want to see what happens when the scholar steps out of his library," Feng Rui said, his voice dropping into a softer, more serious tone. "You might be surprised what you find when you stop trying to control everything."
Li Wei stared at him, unsure how to respond. Feng Rui's words carried aweight that belied his playful demeanor, and for a moment, Li Wei wondered what secrets this man was hiding beneath his easy smile.
Before he could dwell on it further, a faint rustling sound broke the silence.
Li Wei stiffened, his hand instinctively moving toward the book tucked under his arm. "Did you hear that?"
Feng Rui's smile faded, his posture shifting subtly as he turned toward the source of the noise. "I did."
The alleyway seemed to darken, the flickering lanterns casting elongated shadows against the walls. The rustlinggrew louder, accompanied by the faint scrape of something against stone.
Li Wei's heart pounded in his chest. "What is it?"
Feng Rui held up a hand, silencing him. His playful demeanor was gone, replaced by a sharp focus that madehim seem like an entirely different person. "Stay close," he whispered.
Before Li Wei could respond, a figure emerged from the shadows. It was cloaked in black, its face obscured by a mask. The figure moved with an eerie grace, its footsteps barely making a sound as it approached."Give me the book," the figure demanded, its voice low and distorted.
Li Wei tightened his grip on the book, his mind racing. "Who are you? What do you want with this?"
The figure took a step closer. "That book doesn't belong to you. Hand it over, and I won't have to hurt you."Li Wei's breath caught in his throat, but before he could respond, Feng Rui stepped between them, his posture relaxed but his eyes glinting with a dangerous edge.
"I'm afraid that's not going to happen,"Feng Rui said, his voice calm but laced with steel.
The figure hesitated, clearly caught off guard by Feng Rui's confidence. "This doesn't concern you," it said.
"Oh, but it does," Feng Rui replied, a faintsmile playing on his lips. "You see, I've taken quite an interest in this book—and in him." He nodded toward Li Wei. "So if you want it, you'll have to go through me."
The figure didn't respond, but thetension in the air was palpable. Without warning, it lunged forward, its movements quick and precise.
Feng Rui reacted instantly, sidestepping the attack with a grace that seemed almost effortless. He grabbed the figure's arm, twisting it sharply and
sending the assailant stumbling backward.
"Stay back!" Feng Rui called over his shoulder to Li Wei.
Li Wei watched in stunned silence asFeng Rui faced off against the attacker. There was a fluidity to his movements, a confidence that suggested he had done this many times before.
The figure recovered quickly, drawing a small blade from its cloak and charging again. But Feng Rui was ready. He dodged the blade with ease, his movements almost playful as he danced around the attacker.
"You're going to have to do better thanthat," Feng Rui taunted, his smile returning.
The fight was over in moments. With a swift, calculated strike, Feng Rui disarmed the figure, sending the blade clattering to the ground. He grabbed the attacker by the collar, slamming them against the wall with surprising strength.
"Now," Feng Rui said, his voicedangerously calm. "Why don't you tell us who sent you?"
The figure struggled against his grip but said nothing.
Feng Rui sighed. "Suit yourself." He released the figure, stepping back just enough to give them room to escape. "Go back to whoever sent you and tell them this: the book stays with us."The figure hesitated for a moment before turning and disappearing into the shadows.
As the silence returned, Li Wei found his voice. "How... How did you do that?"
Feng Rui turned to him, his smile softening. "Let's just say I've had some
experience dealing with unwanted guests."
Li Wei stared at him, questions swirling in his mind. Who was this man, really? And what had he gotten himself into?