"I am not foolish enough to have someone who can barely walk keep guard at night."
Those were the words that left Renshu's mouth.
Did I expect them? Not at all.
He did not raise his voice, nor did his expression change. His face remained calm, indifferent even—but the words themselves struck far harder than if he had shouted.
For a moment, no one spoke.
"Everyone," he continued, voice firm and commanding, "split into groups of two and share a tent. I will keep watch tonight."
Murmurs spread through the group. I noticed Rong Xu step closer, his expression hesitant, as though he were about to suggest sharing a tent with me. If I was a man, I might have agreed, but right now that would mean exposing myself. I couldn't risk it.
"And as for Aryan," Renshu added sharply, cutting through the noise, "you will settle in my tent."
That settled everything.
The others quickly dispersed, gathering their belongings and retreating to their assigned tents. I remained where I was, watching Renshu with a mixture of irritation and disbelief. He motioned for me to follow him toward the largest tent, the one clearly meant for him alone.
Why was he so adamant about this?
Inside the tent, the air was warmer, thick with the scent of fabric and oil from the lantern. Renshu turned to face me the moment the flap fell shut.
"You need to stop doing these things, Meilina," he said, grabbing my arm.
His grip was light, lighter than it should have been, but the contact alone sent a sharp, burning sensation through me. I stiffened. Beneath the sleeve of my clothes, a deep scar ran along my arm, one I had learned to ignore through sheer will.
I hid the pain carefully. He didn't need to see how weak I truly was.
"I don't understand what you mean," I replied, keeping my voice steady. "What risk did I take?"
"Don't act slow," he said. "You know exactly what I mean. Going out there, volunteering to keep guard—"
"Maybe I'll stop doing that when you stop treating me like a fragile bird," I snapped.
He studied me for a moment, then sighed.
"That's quite a lot of talking from someone who flinched when I touched her arm," he said quietly. "You realize I saw what that man did to you, don't you? I know you're injured. That's why I'm trying to keep you safe."
So he noticed.
"I brought water," he said after a pause, lifting a bowl. "Wash your makeup off, or—wait—"
Before I could react, he dipped his fingers into the water and wiped my face himself.
I froze.
His hand moved slowly, deliberately, brushing away the makeup I had so carefully applied. I stood there in complete shock, unable to decide whether to pull away or protest. Only after a few seconds did I manage to mutter something resembling an objection.
"Stop…"
"There," he said, pulling back with a satisfied smile. "You're welcome."
"I never said thank you."
"You were about to," he replied easily. "Like I said, you're slow."
"Hey—"
Before I could finish, he pressed a quick kiss to my forehead and immediately ducked out of the tent, as if he were fleeing the consequences of his own actions.
The absurdity of it almost made me laugh.
Once I was alone, I loosened my hair from its bun and lay down. I was grateful, truly grateful, that I hadn't been forced to cut it short. Men here wore their hair long anyway, but losing it would have felt like losing another part of myself.
---
Sleep did not come easily.
I tossed and turned, my mind racing. Tomorrow's work loomed ahead, the urgency of extracting enough bark within five days, the constant threat of thieves, and Renshu's unspoken worry pressing down on everything.
I took a few deep breaths and forced my eyes shut.
It didn't help.
Eventually, I gave up. Dawn would arrive soon enough anyway.
I pushed the blanket aside and stepped out of the tent.
"Meilina," a familiar voice said immediately, "sometimes I wonder if I should chain you to me."
I startled slightly. Renshu had noticed me almost instantly.
"Tied securely, preferably," he added dryly.
"Let me stay," I said quickly. "It'll be dawn soon. Nothing's going to happen—"
"Oh, certainly," he replied. "Because things always go according to plan when you're involved. Especially when you are in that state."
I frowned. "What state are you even talking about—oh."
I glanced down at myself.
Right. I was a woman now.
"I should've dressed properly," I muttered.
He paused, then chuckled softly. "I don't mind you being here," he admitted. "Actually… I realized something tonight."
"And that is?"
"You look better with your hair down." He tilted his head slightly. "I'll be sure to take back that hairpin I gave you next time."
Before I could respond, he pulled himself closer, his palm cupping my face.
"Right here?" I whispered. "Are you serious?"
"There's nothing wrong with seizing an opportunity," he replied, brushing light kisses along the side of my face. "Alright, go back inside now—"
WOOSH.
The sound was sudden and sharp, leaves rustling violently, branches shifting unnaturally.
Renshu's expression changed instantly.
He shoved me back toward the tent. "Inside. Now."
Before I could argue, he turned and moved toward the sound, sword already in hand.
I ducked into the tent and peeked through the opening. I watched him move cautiously through the darkness, his silhouette barely visible under the pale moonlight.
I wanted to follow.
But I couldn't, not like this. Not as a woman. Not with legs that might fail me at any moment.
That thought angered me.
What kind of thinking was that? Any help was better than none.
I acted quickly.
I lit the lantern, reapplied makeup with shaking hands, tied my hair back, and secured my sword at my side. Just as I finished, a dull thud echoed through the forest.
My heart dropped.
I rushed out of the tent.
"Renshu?" I whispered.
No answer.
I moved carefully, one crutch supporting me, the other hand gripping my sword. The forest was eerily silent, the moon casting broken shadows across the ground.
Where was he?
Panic crept in.
Calling out might give away my position, but waiting could be worse.
I made a decision.
I went to call out Rong Xu and everyone else.
"What? General Renshu?" he exclaimed, far too loudly.
The camp stirred. People emerged from their tents, weapons half-drawn, confusion spreading quickly.
I explained everything, the sound, the direction, the sudden disappearance.
"I saw no one," I said. "But I heard rustling… and then a thud."
Fear rippled through the group.
"Everyone, calm down!" Gao Ming shouted. "General Renshu must still be nearby. Search the area. Even if we don't find him, we remain here and continue extracting the bark. That is an order."
The forest seemed to close in around us.
And somewhere within it—
Renshu was missing.