“Hah... hah...”
Jiang Ci carried Lu Yan on her back, trudging forward. The cold rain washed the blood from Lu Yan's body, soaking into Jiang Ci's clothes and staining them a pale red. Bloody water dripped from the hem of her robe onto the gravel road, diluted by the rain and quickly vanishing from sight. The shouting behind her grew more and more distant, as if separated by a thick fog. She could not hear what they were calling out, nor did she want to. Carrying Lu Yan, she continued forward without looking back. She felt the gentle breath of the man on her back, puffing against her neck, beat by beat. It was warm. He was still alive.
“You were just fine... You're just sleeping for a bit... just a bit...” Her voice was very soft, as if she were coaxing him, or perhaps coaxing herself. “I will make you wake up. I will definitely make you wake up...” No one answered her. Lu Yan's head rested on her shoulder, his hands hanging down and swaying gently with her steps. Rainwater dripped from his fingertips, splashing into tiny puddles on the ground.
Chen San looked up at Du Qi. “Ah Qi, what do we do?” His voice was quiet, his throat still raspy as if choked by smoke. He did not know who else to ask.
Du Qi shook his head. What to do? He wanted to know the answer as well. Shiyi had used a secret technique to save their group, yet they could do nothing to help him, and now he had even been taken away. A sudden surge of anger welled up in his chest—not at anyone else, but at himself. Frowning, he took a deep breath, trying to suppress the rising fury.
“How should I know? Look at Shiyi's cultivation companion. Does she look like someone who can be reasoned with?” He glanced at Jiang Ci's receding back before withdrawing his gaze. Her figure was already far away, reduced to a faint, blurry speck.
“I'll stay here. I'll go check on them tomorrow.” After a long silence, this was the only plan he could come up with. Chen San remained silent. He could not think of anything better either. Leaning against the battlement, Su Li tucked her scorched tail away. She pulled her hand from her sleeve and stared at the burn scars on her palm left by the flames. Hearing Du Qi's words, she raised her eyes, her tone carrying a hint of impatience.
“First, release me from this restraint.” She was too lazy to break the seal Du Qi had placed on her herself. It wasn't that she couldn't, but rather that it was unnecessary. What if forcing her way out triggered some sort of backlash? That would only be looking for trouble.
Du Qi fell silent. He knew what she meant. But he absolutely could not release her here. Once released, if Su Li had any ill intentions toward them, every single one of them would be finished. He glanced at Chen San, who was staring at Su Li. He glanced at Yao Wu, who was still unconscious. Then he looked in the direction Jiang Ci had gone; her silhouette was almost completely lost to view.
“I will release you, but not here.” His voice was not loud, but every word was clearly enunciated. Su Li's brow furrowed even tighter, her tone growing increasingly impatient. “Then follow me back to the Central Continent.” She was not negotiating; she was informing him. The Central Continent...
Du Qi's fingers clenched inside his sleeve. The Central Continent... He had not returned there in a very long time. There were people there he did not wish to see, debts he did not wish to settle, and memories he did not wish to recall. He glanced in the direction Jiang Ci had departed; her figure had completely vanished into the curtain of rain. He withdrew his gaze and looked at Su Li, noting the unresolved contract on her, the scorched tip of her tail, and the lingering exhaustion in the depths of her eyes.
“Fine,” he said.
Chen San whipped his head around to look at him, shock filling his eyes. “Have you lost your mind? Are you going there to die?”
Du Qi did not look at him, keeping his eyes fixed on Su Li. “I will return with you to the Central Continent. Once we arrive, I will release you from the contract.” Su Li stared at him for a long time. The corner of her mouth twitched, curving upward. “At least you know what's good for you.”
She turned and walked down the city wall. After a few steps, she noticed Du Qi had not followed. Stopping, she looked back at him. “Not coming?” Du Qi glanced at Chen San, then at Yao Wu, and finally at the still-smoldering ruins. It felt like a farewell.
“I'm coming.” He followed after her.
Chen San watched Du Qi's departing back. He opened his mouth to say something, but swallowed the words. He did not know what else he could possibly say. Lowering his head, he gently eased Yao Wu off his shoulder and propped him up against the wall. The rain continued to fall, washing over Yao Wu's face, the wound on his severed arm, and the gash on his chest that was still seeping blood. He showed no signs of waking, his breathing faint. Sitting beside him, Chen San took off his outer robe and draped it over Yao Wu. Only then did he realize his robe was also soaked; he had forgotten he had been out in the rain. He pulled the robe back off, wrung out the water, and draped it over him again. It was still damp, and he was at a complete loss. He did not know where to go. As a mere martial artist, the martial arts hall he relied on for survival had been completely blown to pieces. With a heavily injured Yao Wu in tow, where could he possibly go? In the past, there had always been someone else to make decisions for him, but now that person was gone. He had to think for himself.
Only he and Yao Wu remained on the city wall, surrounded by the shattered ice and ashes that had not yet been cleared. The rain poured heavier and heavier, washing away the charred marks, diluting the dark red blood stains, melting the shards of ice, and dispersing the ashes. The city had fallen, the people had departed, and he was the only one left awake. Leaning against the wall, he stared up at the sky, wondering when the rain would finally stop.
Jiang Ci carried Lu Yan up the mountain path. She had walked this path before, back when they were heading down the mountain. At that time, she had been on his back, and his steps had been steady. Now, carrying him, her steps were far from steady. The gravel beneath her feet poked her soles painfully, causing her to almost slip several times. She did not stop, hoisting him a little higher to ensure he rested securely on her shoulders.
“Almost there, almost there...” Her voice was incredibly soft, though whether she was telling him or herself was unclear. Lu Yan was lean, and carrying him shouldn't have been too heavy, but for Jiang Ci, he was still far too heavy.
Halfway up the mountain, she set Lu Yan down to rest. Gently caressing his face, her fingers traced the cracks covering his skin, and tears involuntarily welled up in her eyes once more. Sniffling, she felt she had recovered a bit of strength. She hoisted him back onto her shoulders and continued walking.
The wooden cabin on the mountain was still there, its door open, the stove cold for a long time. She laid Lu Yan on the bed, stripped him of his wet clothes, and tucked him in beneath the blankets.
She squatted before the stove to light a fire. Her hands were trembling, but whether it was from the cold or her turbulent emotions, no one could tell. It took her several tries with the flint before the tinder finally caught. The firelight illuminated her face, casting a warm red glow. She added water and rice to the pot, then sat by the stove, waiting for it to boil.
The porridge bubbled and boiled. She scooped a bowl of it and carried it to the bedside. Scooping up a spoonful, she blew on it to cool it down before bringing it to his lips. He did not open his mouth. The porridge trickled down the corner of his lips, dripping onto the pillow. She scooped another spoonful, blew on it again, and brought it to his lips once more. Still, he did not open his mouth. Setting the bowl down, she leaned over the edge of the bed and stared at him. Those cracks on his body... She reached out and gently touched them, her fingertips meeting fissures that felt cold and hard.
“Didn't you say... porridge doesn't taste good once it gets cold...” Her voice was very soft, as if she were afraid of waking him. There was no response. She collapsed against the bedside, burying her face in the blankets.
Her voice choked up again. “Then wake up quickly and eat some while it's hot...” Her sobs rose and fell. Even the birds sheltering from the rain under the eaves could not bear to listen, spreading their wings and flying away into the rainy sky.
It was still raining outside, a soft pattering sound. She could not hear what was being said, nor did she want to. Once she was exhausted from crying, she simply lay quietly by his side, listening to his faint breathing, beat after beat after beat.
Rate on N.U.
