Morning arrived with the soft rustling of leaves and a faint mist that clung to the forest floor. Li Wei stirred awake, his mind still foggy with sleep. The fire had long since burned out, leaving behind only cold embers. Feng Rui was nowhere in sight, but the stranger sat perched on a low branch, watching him with an unsettling smile.
"Good morning, scholar," the stranger said, their voice light but laced with something Li Wei couldn't place. "Your protector is scouting the area. Thought I'd keep an eye on you."
Li Wei sat up, clutching the book instinctively. The stranger's gaze flickered to it, and their smile widened. "Still guarding it like a treasure chest, I see."
"Because it is one," Li Wei replied quietly, his voice firm despite his nerves.
The stranger chuckled, dropping gracefully to the ground. "You have spirit. I like that. But spirit alone won't keep you alive, especially with what's coming."
Li Wei frowned. "What do you mean? What's coming?"
The stranger's expression shifted, their amusement giving way to a more somber tone. "You don't know, do you? That book… it's not just a relic. It's a key. A key to something people would kill to possess."
"A key to what?"
Before the stranger could answer, Feng Rui emerged from the shadows, his expression hard. "That's enough," he said, his voice sharp. "We don't need your riddles."
The stranger raised their hands in mock surrender. "Just making conversation, Feng Rui. No harm done."
"Come on, Li Wei," Feng Rui said, ignoring the stranger. "We're leaving."
Li Wei hesitated but stood, his trust in Feng Rui overriding his curiosity. As they began walking, the stranger called after them. "If you ever want real answers, you know where to find me."
---
The journey back to the main road was silent, the tension between Feng Rui and Li Wei palpable. Li Wei kept stealing glances at Feng Rui, his mind racing with questions.
Finally, he couldn't hold it in any longer. "What are you not telling me?"
Feng Rui glanced at him, his expression unreadable. "What do you mean?"
"The book. The danger. That stranger said it's a key. A key to what, Feng Rui?"
Feng Rui sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It doesn't matter. What matters is keeping it out of the wrong hands."
"But why? Why are you protecting me? Why are you risking your life for this?"
Feng Rui stopped walking, turning to face Li Wei. "Because someone has to."
Li Wei's breath caught at the raw intensity in Feng Rui's eyes. "That's not an answer."
"It's the only one I can give you," Feng Rui said softly.
The vulnerability in his voice surprised Li Wei, and for a moment, the tension between them shifted, giving way to something unspoken.
---
As they reached a clearing, the sound of voices broke the fragile calm. Feng Rui held up a hand, signaling for Li Wei to stay back.
Peering through the underbrush, they saw a group of masked figures gathered around a makeshift camp. Their leader held up a parchment, their voice carrying over the distance.
"The book is close," the leader said, their tone cold and commanding. "Find the scholar. Bring him to me alive. Kill anyone who stands in your way."
Li Wei's stomach dropped, and he turned to Feng Rui, his face pale. "They're looking for me."
Feng Rui nodded grimly, his hand already on the hilt of his sword. "Stay behind me, no matter what."
Before Li Wei could respond, the masked figures began to disperse, moving with precision and purpose.
Feng Rui grabbed Li Wei's arm, pulling him deeper into the forest. "We need to move. Now."
---
As they ran, Li Wei's mind raced. The weight of the book in his arms felt heavier than ever, its secrets a burden he was no longer sure he could bear.
Feng Rui's pace was relentless, his focus unwavering. But even as he led Li Wei to safety, his thoughts were consumed by the growing bond between them. Protecting Li Wei had started as a duty, but now, it felt like something more.
And that terrified him.
---
Hours later, as the sun began to set, they found shelter in a hidden cave. The air inside was cool and damp, the faint sound of dripping water echoing through the space.
Li Wei collapsed onto the ground, his chest heaving. "How long… can we keep running?"
"As long as it takes," Feng Rui said, his voice steady.
Li Wei looked at him, his expression weary but determined. "You can't protect me forever."
Feng Rui knelt in front of him, his gaze intense. "I'll protect you as long as you need me to. No matter what."
Li Wei's breath hitched at the sincerity in Feng Rui's words. "Why do you care so much?"
Feng Rui hesitated, his eyes searching Li Wei's face. "Because you matter. More than you know."
The air between them grew heavy, charged with emotions neither of them could put into words.
In that moment, Li Wei realized that Feng Rui wasn't just his protector. He was his anchor, the one person who made him feel safe in a world that had been turned upside down.
And for Feng Rui, Li Wei was no longer just a responsibility. He was someone worth fighting for.
Someone worth risking everything for.