The night air was thick with tension as the cloaked attacker disappeared into the darkness. Li Wei stood frozen, his mind replaying the fight he had just witnessed. Feng Rui, standing a few paces ahead, dusted his hands casually, as if the confrontation had been nothing more than a minor inconvenience.
"That was close," Feng Rui said, turning
back to Li Wei with a grin. "You alright there, scholar?"
Li Wei blinked, clutching the book tighter to his chest. "Who… who are you, really?"
Feng Rui's grin widened, his dark eyes gleaming with mischief. "Just a wandering soul, trying to keep things interesting." He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "And maybe someone who doesn't like bullies."
"That's not an answer," Li Wei muttered, stepping back.
Feng Rui chuckled, straightening up. "You ask too many questions. Haven't you heard? Curiosity can be dangerous."
Before Li Wei could retort, a distant bell tolled, its mournful chime echoing through the empty streets. Feng Rui's expression shifted, the playfulness in his eyes replaced by something sharper.
"We should move," he said, his tone unusually serious. "Lingering here isn't safe."
Li Wei hesitated but nodded, falling into step beside Feng Rui. The two walked in silence, the weight of the encounter pressing down on them.
As they reached the edge of the market district, Feng Rui gestured toward a narrow side street. "This way," he said, his voice low.
Li Wei frowned. "Where are we going?"
"To a place where we won't be interrupted," Feng Rui replied cryptically.
Li Wei hesitated but followed, his curiosity outweighing his caution. The side street twisted and turned, leading them to a secluded courtyard surrounded by crumbling stone walls. A single lantern hung from a wooden post, casting a dim, flickering light over the area.
Feng Rui gestured for Li Wei to sit on a weathered bench beneath a gnarled tree. "Let's take a moment to talk," he said, his usual light-hearted tone returning.
Li Wei sat reluctantly, his gaze fixed on Feng Rui. "Talk about what?"
"The book," Feng Rui said, nodding toward the tome in Li Wei's hands. "And why someone was willing to attack you for it."
Li Wei hesitated, his fingers tightening around the book's worn leather cover. "I don't know," he admitted. "I found it by chance. It's old, filled with poems and riddles that don't make any sense. I didn't think it was anything important."
Feng Rui raised an eyebrow. "Poems and riddles, huh? Mind if I take a look?"
Li Wei hesitated, then handed the book over. Feng Rui flipped through the pages with surprising care, his expression thoughtful.
"Interesting," he murmured, pausing on a page filled with intricate calligraphy. "These symbols… they're not just riddles. They're codes."
"Codes?" Li Wei leaned forward, his curiosity piqued.
Feng Rui nodded, tracing a finger over the faded ink. "Whoever wrote this was trying to hide something. And if that masked fellow is any indication, it's something valuable."
Li Wei frowned, his mind racing. "But what could it be? And why would someone think I know anything about it?"
Feng Rui closed the book with a decisive snap. "That's what we need to find out. But first, we need to make sure you're not being followed."
Li Wei's stomach twisted at the thought. "Followed? You mean there might be more of them?"
Feng Rui smiled, his expression oddly reassuring. "Don't worry, scholar. You've got me now."
Li Wei stared at him, conflicted. Feng Rui's words were meant to be comforting, but they only raised more questions. Who was this man, really? And why was he so willing to help?
As the night deepened, Feng Rui lit the lantern, its warm glow illuminating his face. For the first time, Li Wei noticed the faint scars that traced along his jawline, almost invisible in the flickering light.
"You've done this before, haven't you?" Li Wei asked, his voice quiet.
Feng Rui looked up, his expression unreadable. "Done what?"
"Fought like that. Protected people. You're not just some wandering rogue."
Feng Rui smirked, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Maybe I've picked up a few tricks along the way."
Li Wei's gaze lingered on him, searching for answers that Feng Rui wasn't ready to give. For a moment, the silence between them felt heavy, charged with unspoken words.
"You're an enigma," Li Wei said finally, his voice almost a whisper.
"And you're a puzzle waiting to be solved," Feng Rui replied, his smile returning.
The two men sat in the courtyard, the lantern's light flickering between them. Somewhere in the distance, the wind rustled through the trees, carrying with it the promise of the mysteries yet to come.