The tension in the air was palpable as Feng Rui and the hooded attacker circled each other. The firelight danced across their blades, the faint crackle of flames the only sound breaking the silence.
"Stay back, scholar," Feng Rui called over his shoulder, his voice steady but edged with warning.
Li Wei clutched the book tightly, his breath quickening. He hated this helplessness, standing by while Feng Rui risked his life for him again.
The hooded man struck first, his curved blade whistling through the air. Feng Rui deflected it with a swift movement, the sound of steel on steel ringing out like a bell.
"Impressive," the man sneered. "But you can't protect him forever."
Feng Rui smirked, his blade glinting. "I don't need forever. Just long enough to take you down."
Their blades clashed again, sparks flying as the fight intensified. Feng Rui moved like water, fluid and unpredictable, his strikes precise and deadly. But the attacker was no amateur—he matched Feng Rui blow for blow, his movements equally skilled.
From the sidelines, Li Wei's mind raced. He couldn't just stand there. His eyes fell on the notebook he had been writing in earlier. Inspiration struck like lightning.
---
"Feng Rui!" Li Wei shouted, flipping open the book and tearing out a blank page. "Distract him!"
Feng Rui, mid-parry, glanced briefly at Li Wei. "Kind of busy here, scholar!"
"Just do it!" Li Wei insisted, his voice filled with a confidence he didn't feel.
Feng Rui's lips quirked into a grin. "Alright, then."
He launched into a series of feints and rapid strikes, forcing the hooded man onto the defensive. Li Wei, meanwhile, hurriedly scribbled something onto the page with the charcoal stub he always carried.
With a deep breath, he stepped forward, holding the page out in front of him. "Stop!" he called, his voice firm.
Both fighters froze, their gazes snapping to Li Wei.
The hooded man's eyes narrowed. "What are you doing, boy?"
"This," Li Wei said, his voice steady despite the fear coiling in his chest. "This page contains a piece of the book's code. If you kill us, you'll lose the key to unlocking it forever."
The man's blade wavered, uncertainty flickering in his dark eyes. "You're bluffing."
"Am I?" Li Wei challenged, stepping closer. "Do you really want to take that chance?"
The man hesitated, his grip on the blade loosening slightly. Feng Rui seized the moment, darting forward and disarming him with a swift motion. The curved blade clattered to the ground, and Feng Rui pressed the tip of his sword to the man's throat.
"Nice work, scholar," Feng Rui said, his tone light but his eyes sharp. "But don't do that again. You almost gave me a heart attack."
Li Wei exhaled shakily, his legs feeling like jelly. "Noted."
---
With his opponent subdued, Feng Rui leaned in closer. "Who sent you?"
The man glared at him, defiant. "You're wasting your time. The book's secrets belong to us. You'll never unlock its power."
"We'll see about that," Feng Rui said coolly. With a sharp jab to a pressure point, the man slumped unconscious to the ground.
Feng Rui straightened, sheathing his sword. "We should leave before more of his friends show up."
Li Wei nodded, but his mind was racing. "What did he mean, the book's secrets belong to them?"
"Probably some cult or secret order," Feng Rui said dismissively, though his tone betrayed a flicker of concern. "Whoever they are, they're serious about getting that book. And that means we need to be even more serious about keeping it safe."
---
They didn't stop until they were miles away, the forest canopy sheltering them in a sea of shadows. Feng Rui found a secluded clearing and set up camp, his movements efficient and silent.
Li Wei sat by the new fire, staring at the book in his lap. "Feng Rui," he said softly.
"Hmm?" Feng Rui replied, busy sharpening his blade.
"Why do you do it? Protect me, I mean. You don't have to."
Feng Rui paused, glancing at him. "I could ask you the same thing, scholar. Why do you keep following me into danger?"
Li Wei's cheeks flushed, but he met Feng Rui's gaze. "Because I trust you. Because… I don't want to do this alone."
Feng Rui's expression softened, a rare glimpse of sincerity breaking through. "Well, there's your answer. I don't want to do this alone either."
The warmth in those words settled over them like a blanket, and for the first time in a long while, Li Wei felt a flicker of hope.
The night passed quietly, the stars above bearing witness to the unspoken bond growing between them—a bond forged in fire, but tempered by trust.