Han Jie knelt down without hesitation, snatching the bandage roll from Shi Yang's hand. "You're wrapping this wrong. At this rate, you'll suffocate yourself before the bruises even heal."
Shi Yang gave her a flat look. "I was doing fine."
"You call this fine?" She tugged at the cloth sharply, forcing him to hiss as the knot tightened. "You've fractured at least one rib. And the bruising on your side—"
"I was handling it," he muttered, though the grimace on his face betrayed him.
Xiu Mei crouched at his other side, tugging the roll from Han Jie's grip with equal stubbornness. "Please, your idea of 'handling it' is making him suffer more. Look—if you tighten the bandages like that, he won't even be able to breathe properly." She pressed her hand against Shi Yang's chest, guiding his breathing while winding the cloth herself.
Han Jie's brow furrowed. "And you're an expert, suddenly?"
"Better than you," Xiu Mei shot back sweetly.
Shi Yang closed his eyes, trying to block out their bickering. "It's just bandages," he muttered under his breath. "Not a scholarly debate…"
But neither of them listened. They leaned over him from opposite sides, both trying to outdo the other. Han Jie dabbed at his bruises with a wet cloth, her motions brisk, almost aggressive. Xiu Mei blew softly on his wounds as she smoothed salve across his chest, her touch deliberately gentle, almost mocking Han Jie's roughness.
"You're smearing it everywhere. Do you even know what you're doing?" Han Jie snapped.
"At least I'm not scrubbing him raw," Xiu Mei retorted, her eyes glinting.
"I'm cleaning the wound."
"You're torturing him."
Shi Yang exhaled through his nose, somewhere between a sigh and a laugh. Two cultivators who could flatten a squad of guards, and here they were, fighting over who got to play nurse.
By the time they were done, his torso was wrapped neatly in fresh linen, a faint herbal scent rising from the salves. Xiu Mei gave a satisfied nod at her handiwork. Han Jie crossed her arms, clearly unwilling to admit it looked decent.
"Thank you," Shi Yang said at last, his tone dry. "Now, if you're both finished treating me like a battlefield trophy, can we leave?"
Neither replied. They only exchanged sharp looks before rising.
The three of them stepped out of the Floating Dreamers Pavilion into the cool night air. Lanterns swayed gently overhead, their glow casting long shadows on the cobbled streets. The sounds of music and laughter faded behind them, replaced by the distant chatter of merchants closing stalls and the occasional bark of a guard on patrol.
Shi Yang's steps were slower than usual, his body stiff beneath the bandages. Xiu Mei walked at his side, one hand hovering close in case he stumbled. Han Jie trailed just behind, watchful but pretending not to hover.
The streets were quieter now, the bustle of the market thinning into scattered voices and shuttered doors. The three of them moved steadily, the lantern light brushing over Shi Yang's pale face and the faint stiffness of his gait. Every few steps, Xiu Mei would glance at him from the corner of her eye, while Han Jie's silence hung heavier than the night air.
At last, the scent of broth and roasted duck drifted toward them. A modest restaurant came into view—its windows fogged with steam, the hum of conversation spilling out as the door swung open and shut with a steady rhythm.
Inside, the warmth hit them instantly. Dozens of cultivators, merchants, and travelers filled the tables, bowls clinking, laughter rising above the clatter of chopsticks. The waiter at the door raised a hand in apology before they could sit.
"Forgive us, honored guests," he said with a polite bow. "We are full tonight. But—" his eyes darted past them, toward the man who had just stepped through the entrance a moment before—"if you are willing, there is one booth large enough to share. Perhaps you and this gentleman might not mind sitting together?"
Shi Yang turned his head.
The man ahead of them wore a pristine white hanfu, his frame tall and slender. At first glance, he looked every inch a refined young noble—his robe embroidered with delicate silver waves, his hair tied with a pearl pin, his face smooth and elegant. Only on closer inspection did the sharpness of his jaw and the faint depth in his eyes betray him.
The waiter hesitated, waiting for a reply. "Shall I prepare the booth together, or would you prefer to wait separately?"
The stranger gave a soft laugh, his voice carrying a playful lilt that blurred the line between masculine and feminine. "I don't mind. Good company makes food taste better."
His eyes swept over Shi Yang's group, lingering for a heartbeat too long before he gestured gracefully with his sleeve. "If you three are not opposed?"
Shi Yang exchanged a glance with his companions. Xiu Mei gave a faint nod, her expression cautious but curious. Han Jie's hand twitched at her sword hilt, but she said nothing, only scowling as if the whole idea were beneath her.
Shi Yang inclined his head. "We don't mind."
The waiter beamed with relief. "Excellent! Please, this way."
He guided them toward a corner booth, large enough for four, half-hidden by a screen of painted bamboo. The stranger slid in first with effortless grace, his white robes settling neatly around him. Shi Yang lowered himself carefully onto the opposite bench, Xiu Mei slipping in beside him while Han Jie reluctantly sat at the edge.
Menus were placed before them, though the savory aroma of braised pork, sizzling peppers, and rice wine already filled the air. The stranger folded his hands, studying Shi Yang's face with unnerving calm, before smiling faintly.
"Then let us share a meal," he said softly. "After all… fate has already sat us at the same table."
He laughed lightly, lifting the slip of paper before him. "If the heavens have truly dealt me a band of new acquaintances, then it would be discourteous to refuse such kindness. So, tonight's drinks are on me." His eyes swept over them with a warm smile.
Shi Yang returned the smile, his voice calm yet carrying a faint edge of cheer. "Then the meals are on me. Go ahead and order whatever you'd like, fellow daoist. Tonight, we rejoice."