The night was quieter than it had been in days, the echoes of battle fading as Feng Rui and Li Wei found temporary refuge in a dense forest. They sat by a small fire, its gentle crackle the only sound between them. Feng Rui carefully tended to the wound on his side, wincing slightly as he tied a strip of cloth around it.
Li Wei, seated across from him, watched with a mix of guilt and admiration. "You didn't have to protect me like that," he said softly. "You could have been seriously hurt."
Feng Rui glanced up, his usual smirk returning despite his pain. "What kind of friend would I be if I let you face those goons alone? Besides, you did alright back there. That… whatever that was—it threw them off."
Li Wei frowned, his gaze dropping to the book resting beside him. "I don't know what happened. I didn't mean to do anything. It just… happened."
Feng Rui leaned back against a tree, his expression thoughtful. "There's more to you than you let on, scholar. That much is clear."
Li Wei sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I'm just a teacher from a small village. I've never even fought anyone before. I don't understand why this book has anything to do with me."
Feng Rui chuckled softly. "Life has a funny way of pulling you into things you're not ready for. But hey, you've got me. I'll make sure we get through this."
Li Wei met his gaze, something warm stirring in his chest at Feng Rui's words. "Why do you care so much?" he asked before he could stop himself.
Feng Rui blinked, caught off guard by the question. His usual playful demeanor faltered for a moment, replaced by something more vulnerable. "Maybe I see a bit of myself in you," he admitted, his voice quieter. "Lost, unsure… but capable of more than you realize."
Li Wei felt a flush rise to his cheeks and quickly looked away. "You're impossible," he muttered, though his lips twitched into a faint smile.
The tension eased, and Feng Rui shifted closer to the fire. "Speaking of impossible, I'm starving. You're the brainy one—know how to find something edible around here?"
Li Wei rolled his eyes. "You're asking me? You're the one who's been wandering for years. Shouldn't you know how to survive in the wilderness?"
Feng Rui grinned. "Oh, I can survive just fine. I just figured you might want to impress me."
Li Wei threw a small twig at him, and Feng Rui dodged it with a laugh. For the first time in days, the two of them felt a sense of normalcy, as fleeting as it might be.
As the night deepened, the fire burned low, and the two of them sat in companionable silence. Feng Rui leaned back, staring up at the stars through the canopy of trees.
"Li Wei," he said suddenly, his tone uncharacteristically serious.
Li Wei turned to him, his brows furrowing. "What is it?"
"There's something I've been meaning to tell you," Feng Rui began, his gaze still fixed on the stars. "About the book, and… about me."
Li Wei's heart skipped a beat. "Go on."
But before Feng Rui could speak, the faint sound of footsteps reached their ears. Both men tensed, their earlier comfort vanishing in an instant.
"Looks like we're not alone," Feng Rui murmured, his hand instinctively moving to his weapon.
Li Wei clutched the book, his pulse quickening. The firelight flickered, casting shadows that seemed to stretch and twist around them.
Whatever peace they had found was gone, replaced once again by the haunting reality of their journey. But as Li Wei glanced at Feng Rui, he found reassurance in his steady presence.
No matter what lay ahead, they would face it together.