The morning sun filtered gently through the narrow cracks of the shutters, scattering golden light across the wooden floor. Xu Ming stirred awake, stretching beneath the quilt that smelled faintly of clean wood smoke. He blinked, realizing the mat beside his bed was already empty—Shen Li had risen before dawn again.
No surprise there. That man seemed to live half his life in the mountains.
Xu Ming sat up, rubbing his eyes. His body still wasn't quite accustomed to waking so early, but he had begun to enjoy the rhythm of this life—cooking, tidying, planning the small patch of soil outside, and teasing his husband just enough to watch the faintest flicker of emotion break across that stoic face.
He slipped into his clothes, tied his sash loosely, and padded to the door. A pot of water simmered gently on the stove—Shen Li had thought ahead to leave it warming. Xu Ming smiled faintly. The hunter wasn't expressive, but small gestures spoke louder than words.
Today, he decided, he wouldn't sit at home and wait. He was restless, curiosity tugging at him.
When he'd first arrived, he'd felt trapped in the quiet valley, but now he wondered: what exactly did Shen Li do on those long hunts? What kind of world lay beyond the ridge?
He packed some simple food into a bundle, slung it over his shoulder, and stepped into the crisp air. The mountains rose before him, shrouded in drifting mist, solemn and ancient. He took a deep breath and followed the narrow trail that wound upward.
The Ascent
The path was steep, roots and stones jutting out at odd angles. Xu Ming moved slowly, steadying himself on branches when needed. His modern body hadn't been built for this kind of climbing, but Liu Ziyu's body was sturdy despite past malnourishment. Sweat soon dampened his tunic, yet he pressed on stubbornly.
Birds scattered when he passed, startled into flight. Squirrels chittered, darting across tree branches. The mountain felt alive—teeming with sounds, scents, and whispers of leaves.
Halfway up, he found prints in the mud—boot treads, broad and firm. Shen Li's. Xu Ming smirked.
Got you, hunter. Let's see what you're hiding up there.
The trail grew narrower, forcing him to squeeze between brambles. He hissed when thorns caught his sleeve, tugging threads loose. Muttering under his breath, he freed himself and pressed on.
Finally, he heard something ahead: the faint twang of a bowstring, followed by the muffled thud of an arrow striking wood.
Xu Ming crept forward until he glimpsed a clearing. There stood Shen Li, tall and unyielding, drawing his bow with effortless precision. His posture was fluid, powerful—each movement honed by years of practice.
Xu Ming froze, momentarily caught off guard.
He had known Shen Li was handsome in a rugged way, but here in the open light, with his hair tied back, sharp jawline set in concentration, and his body taut with focus… it struck Xu Ming like an arrow itself.
Heat rushed unbidden to his cheeks.
Careful, Xu Ming. Don't get too obvious.
He stepped forward deliberately, crunching a twig beneath his foot so as not to startle him.
Shen Li turned at once, bow lowering slightly, expression unreadable. "Why are you here?"
Xu Ming tilted his head innocently. "What, am I not allowed to climb a mountain? You vanish every day before sunrise. I was curious."
A faint crease formed between Shen Li's brows. "It's dangerous. There are wolves. Snakes. You shouldn't be here."
Xu Ming spread his arms theatrically. "And yet, here I stand. Alive. You can't keep me locked in the courtyard forever, husband."
The word slipped from his lips teasingly—"husband." He watched, triumphant, as the tips of Shen Li's ears darkened almost imperceptibly.
The Discovery
Shen Li exhaled softly, lowering the bow completely. He didn't argue further, but his gaze swept the undergrowth as though measuring threats. Xu Ming knew then—Shen Li wouldn't send him away, but he'd keep watch more carefully now.
Good enough.
As they walked together through the forest, Xu Ming's sharp eyes caught glimpses of plants he half-recognized. His mind, still wired with fragments of modern knowledge, scrambled to match them.
Then, kneeling by a moss-covered rock, he spotted it: slender stalks with clusters of green leaves, the faintest tinge of red at their base.
His breath caught.
"Ginseng," he whispered, crouching low. "Wild ginseng. And not just any—this one's mature."
He touched the soil gently, heart pounding. Back in his original world, such a root would sell for thousands, even tens of thousands. Here, in a rural village where medicine was scarce, its value might be beyond imagining.
"Don't touch it," Shen Li's voice broke in, calm but firm.
Xu Ming glanced up. "You know what this is?"
Shen Li's gaze lingered on the plant. He nodded slightly. "Hunters sell them to traders sometimes. Rare. Dangerous to gather—those who seek them too eagerly often lose their way in the mountains."
Xu Ming arched a brow. "And you? Do you ever dig them up?"
"Only if I stumble upon one." Shen Li's eyes narrowed faintly. "Why do you look at it like treasure?"
Xu Ming chuckled. "Because it is treasure. With this, you could trade for grain, cloth, tools—almost anything. And…" He hesitated, lowering his voice. "It heals. Strengthens. Saves lives."
He thought briefly of Madam Wang and her greedy brood. If they knew… no, better they never learn. This was something to guard, not flaunt.
Shen Li studied him for a long moment, as though weighing his sincerity. Then he said simply, "If you want it, I'll help you dig it."
Xu Ming blinked, startled by the unexpected offer. His chest warmed. He shook his head lightly. "No need. Better to let it grow longer. A root like this, if cultivated carefully, could be worth even more."
Shen Li made no comment, but the faintest curve touched his lips. Approval? Perhaps.
Tension Beneath the Pines
They continued upward until they reached a rocky outcrop. From here, the valley spread below them—rolling forests, a ribbon of river, the faint speck of their home at the edge.
Xu Ming sank onto a stone, wiping sweat from his brow. "This view… it's beautiful."
Shen Li stood beside him, silent, the wind tugging at his sleeve.
For a while, neither spoke. The air between them grew taut, humming with something unspoken. Xu Ming found himself sneaking glances at Shen Li—at the strong lines of his arms, the steady calm in his gaze, the way he seemed carved into the landscape itself.
Dangerous. Absolutely dangerous.
He forced a laugh, breaking the silence. "If I faint from exhaustion, you'll carry me back, won't you?"
Shen Li's eyes flickered toward him. "…Yes."
The blunt reply caught Xu Ming off guard. His throat tightened, and he looked away quickly, ears burning.
What is this? Why does one word from him make my heart stumble like a fool?
He fumbled with the bundle he had packed earlier, pulling out a small piece of flatbread. "Eat. I packed enough for two."
They shared the food quietly. Shen Li accepted it without complaint, though Xu Ming noticed he chewed slower than usual, as if unused to someone else preparing for him.
When Xu Ming brushed crumbs from his lips, he caught Shen Li watching him—eyes dark, unreadable.
For a heartbeat, the forest stilled.
Xu Ming's chest tightened. The wind carried the faint scent of pine and earth, but all he could sense was the man beside him—the warmth of his presence, the gravity pulling him closer.
He laughed lightly, forcing the tension to ease. "Careful, Shen Li. If you stare at me like that, I might think you've fallen for me."
It was meant as a joke, yet the silence that followed made his pulse race.
Shen Li didn't look away.
Xu Ming swallowed hard, the air suddenly too thin. His skin prickled with awareness, every nerve alight. He turned quickly, pretending to admire the valley again.
Fool. Stop getting ahead of yourself.
And yet, in his heart, a seed had already taken root.
The Descent
They made their way back down in the late afternoon, the forest bathed in golden light. Shen Li walked slightly ahead, occasionally steadying Xu Ming with a hand when the path grew treacherous. Each brush of skin left Xu Ming more rattled than he cared to admit.
By the time they reached the valley floor, twilight had settled. Their small courtyard glowed faintly with lamplight. Xu Ming exhaled, shoulders relaxing as the familiar sight came into view.
He shot a sidelong glance at Shen Li. "Next time you sneak off, don't be surprised if I follow again."
Shen Li's lips curved, almost imperceptibly. "…Do as you like."
The simple words sent warmth spiraling through Xu Ming's chest.
When they entered the house, Xu Ming busied himself with preparing dinner, but his mind wandered back to that mountaintop—the closeness, the heavy silence, the way Shen Li's gaze had lingered.
Something was shifting between them. Subtle, fragile, like new shoots pushing through the soil.
And Xu Ming, for all his bravado, wasn't sure he was ready.
But one thing was certain: this life was no longer empty.
It was beginning to bloom.