The journey to the Whispering Peaks was as treacherous as it was beautiful. Snow blanketed the ground, its pristine surface glistening under the weak sunlight. Towering pine trees lined their path, their branches heavy with frost, while a biting wind howled through the mountains.
Li Wei clutched his cloak tighter around himself, his breaths forming clouds in the freezing air. Feng Rui walked ahead, his movements steady and confident, as if the cold did little to affect him.
"Do you ever feel the cold?" Li Wei asked, his voice muffled by the scarf wrapped around his face.
Feng Rui glanced back, a teasing smile on his lips. "Are you asking because you're freezing or because you're curious about me?"
Li Wei's cheeks flushed, though whether it was from the cold or embarrassment, he couldn't tell. "Both," he muttered, avoiding Feng Rui's gaze.
Feng Rui chuckled, pausing to wait for him. "I've spent a lot of time in places like this. You learn to endure."
Li Wei didn't reply, but his admiration for Feng Rui grew. Despite his enigmatic nature, Feng Rui had an undeniable strength, both physical and emotional, that Li Wei couldn't help but respect—and perhaps, envy.
---
As the day wore on, the landscape grew harsher. The path narrowed, winding along the edge of a steep cliff. Li Wei tread carefully, his heart pounding with every step.
"Stay close to me," Feng Rui said, his voice uncharacteristically serious.
Li Wei nodded, focusing on placing his feet exactly where Feng Rui's had been. The snow beneath their boots crunched ominously, threatening to give way at any moment.
Halfway across the narrow ledge, Feng Rui suddenly stopped, holding up a hand.
"What is it?" Li Wei whispered.
Feng Rui didn't answer immediately, his sharp eyes scanning the cliffs above. After a moment, he unsheathed his sword, the blade gleaming even in the dim light.
"We're not alone," he said quietly.
Li Wei's stomach dropped. "What do you mean?"
Before Feng Rui could respond, a whistle sliced through the air. He grabbed Li Wei and pulled him to the ground just as an arrow embedded itself in the rock wall behind them.
"Ambush!" Feng Rui shouted, pulling Li Wei to his feet. "Run!"
Li Wei didn't need to be told twice. He sprinted after Feng Rui, his heart pounding as more arrows rained down around them. The attackers were hidden among the cliffs, their black-clad figures barely visible against the snow-covered rocks.
Feng Rui moved with the grace of a predator, deflecting arrows with his sword as they fled. "This way!" he called, leading Li Wei toward a cluster of boulders that offered some cover.
Once behind the rocks, Feng Rui crouched low, his eyes scanning the cliffs. "Stay down and don't move," he ordered, his voice firm but calm.
Li Wei nodded, his hands trembling as he clutched the book against his chest.
Feng Rui leaned around the edge of the boulder, his expression grim. "They're after the book. They must have been tracking us since the town."
Li Wei's heart sank. "What do we do?"
Feng Rui smirked, his usual confidence returning. "We fight."
---
The battle that followed was a blur of movement and sound. Feng Rui moved like a shadow, his blade a silver streak as he engaged their attackers. Li Wei watched in awe and terror, feeling useless as the conflict raged around him.
One of the attackers broke away, heading straight for Li Wei. Panic surged through him as the man raised his sword, but before the blade could strike, Feng Rui appeared, blocking the attack with ease.
"I told you to stay down!" Feng Rui snapped, his voice tinged with both anger and worry.
"I—" Li Wei stammered, but Feng Rui didn't wait for an explanation. He dispatched the attacker with a swift strike before turning to face the others.
Despite being outnumbered, Feng Rui held his ground, his movements precise and deadly. Slowly but surely, the attackers began to retreat, their confidence waning in the face of his skill.
When the last of them fled, Feng Rui sheathed his sword and turned to Li Wei, his expression softening. "Are you hurt?"
Li Wei shook his head, his voice barely above a whisper. "No. You saved me."
Feng Rui sighed, crouching beside him. "You need to be more careful, scholar. I can't always protect you."
Li Wei looked down at the book in his hands, guilt gnawing at him. "This book… it's brought nothing but trouble."
Feng Rui placed a hand on his shoulder, his grip firm but reassuring. "It's not the book's fault. The people chasing us would have found another reason to hunt you. But as long as I'm here, they won't lay a finger on you."
Li Wei's eyes met Feng Rui's, and for a moment, the world around them seemed to fade away. "Why do you care so much?" he asked, his voice trembling.
Feng Rui hesitated, his gaze softening. "Because I've lost people before. I won't lose you too."
Li Wei's breath caught in his throat. The sincerity in Feng Rui's words, combined with the intensity of his gaze, left him speechless.
The moment stretched on, heavy with unspoken feelings. But before either of them could say more, the sound of distant footsteps broke the silence.
"They're regrouping," Feng Rui said, his tone sharp once more. "We need to keep moving."
Li Wei nodded, standing on unsteady legs. As they continued their journey, the memory of Feng Rui's words lingered in his mind, a warmth that refused to be extinguished even in the bitter cold.