The lantern's flame flickered, casting fleeting shadows across the stone walls as the night deepened. Li Wei couldn't shake the feeling that he was teetering on the edge of something far larger than he had ever imagined. The book in his hands, once an insignificant curiosity, now felt like a heavy burden—one thatcould draw far too much attention.
Feng Rui leaned back against the tree, his eyes not leaving Li Wei as he slowly ran a hand through his disheveled hair. There was a certain stillness to him now, a quiet that suggested he was weighing his words carefully. Li Wei had seen theplayful, carefree side of him, but this was different—more guarded.
"Do you think I'm just a fool, following you into this madness?" Li Wei asked, his voice rough, filled with frustration. "I didn't ask for this, Feng Rui. I didn't ask for any of this."Feng Rui's eyes softened, a flicker of something far deeper behind his smile. He stood up and moved closer, his steps light but purposeful. "You're no fool, Li Wei. You're just… caught in a game you didn't know you were part of."
Li Wei's heart skipped a beat. "A game?"
Feng Rui nodded slowly, the flickering lantern casting shadows across his face, making him look more like a man haunted by his past than a carefree wanderer. "This book is the key, Li Wei. And whoever wrote it… whoever has been protecting it, they've been hiding something. Something important."
Li Wei swallowed hard, his fingers tightening around the book once more. "But why me? Why would anyone come after me for something I don't even understand?"
Feng Rui paused, his expression unreadable. "Because you're not as innocent as you think."
Li Wei stared at him, a twinge of unease rippling through him. "What are you talking about?"
"Did you ever wonder why the masked man attacked you? Did you ever stop to think that there's more to this book than you realize?" Feng Rui stepped closer, his gaze intense. "This book has more than just riddles and poems. It holds clues—clues to something far more
dangerous."
Li Wei's mind raced, his breath quickening as he tried to make sense of everything. His hands trembled as he looked down at the worn cover of the book. "But I don't… I don't know what it means. How am I supposed to understand it?"
Feng Rui's eyes softened, and he placed
a hand on Li Wei's shoulder. "Because you've always been meant to understand it."
The words hung in the air, weighty and cryptic. Li Wei looked up at him, the confusion on his face mixing with a growing sense of dread. "I'm not sure I can do this."
"You don't have a choice," Feng Rui replied, his voice low and steady. "They're already looking for you."
A chill ran down Li Wei's spine. "Who?"
Feng Rui didn't answer immediately, his
gaze turning toward the distant horizon, as if he could feel the weight of eyes watching them. "I'll explain more when the time is right," he said finally, his voice tinged with urgency. "For now, we need to leave. Before they find us."
Li Wei's mind swirled with questions, but the urgency in Feng Rui's voice left him no room to protest. He nodded slowly, standing up and clutching the book
tighter to his chest.
They left the courtyard, slipping into the shadows of the narrow streets, their footsteps barely making a sound on the cobblestone roads. As they moved deeper into the city, the distant echo of bells rang through the night, signaling the closing of the gates. Li Wei couldn't
shake the feeling that they were being herded toward something he couldn't yet comprehend.
The further they walked, the more Li Wei felt the weight of the situation pressing down on him. Feng Rui led the way, his movements fluid and confident, yet there was something in his eyes—something haunted—that told Li Wei this
wasn't just about protecting a book. This was about something far more personal. Something that Feng Rui had been carrying for a long time.
As they reached the edge of the city, Feng Rui stopped suddenly, his hand going to his belt where a blade rested. He turned to Li Wei, his voice barely above a whisper. "We're not alone."
Li Wei's heart raced, and he instinctively reached for the small dagger he carried. But Feng Rui shook his head, a warning in his eyes. "Stay behind me."
Before Li Wei could respond, shadows moved from the alleyway ahead. Figures cloaked in darkness emerged, their movements swift and deliberate.
Feng Rui's posture shifted, a predatory
gleam flashing in his eyes. He stepped forward, drawing his blade with the ease of someone who had done this countless times before.
Li Wei's breath caught in his throat as the figures drew closer, their faces hidden beneath dark hoods. One of them stepped forward, and a cold voice echoed from beneath the cloak. "You've made a mistake, Feng Rui. The bookbelongs to us."
Feng Rui's lips curled into a dangerous smile. "Over my dead body."
The first figure lunged toward him, but Feng Rui was faster. The blade flashed through the air, and the figure collapsed, lifeless, onto the cobblestones. Another stepped forward, but this time, Feng Rui was ready. He moved with deadly precision, dispatching each figure with
ruthless efficiency.
Li Wei watched in stunned silence, his heart racing as Feng Rui moved like a force of nature, a whirlwind of grace and violence.
When the last figure fell, Feng Rui wiped the blood from his blade and sheathed it. He turned to Li Wei, his face unreadable. "This is far from over," he said quietly. "They won't stop until they
get what they want."
Li Wei nodded, the weight of the night's events crashing down on him. He was in deeper than he had ever imagined, and now, there was no turning back.