Guanlin and Yuanli sat on a broken log, a bonfire lit in front of them as they cooked the fish they caught over skewers.
"Are we almost there?" Guanlin asked.
Yuanli nodded. "We'll arrive tonight. It's perfect—plucking the passion fruit at night strengthens its abilities."
Guanlin nodded at the information, though time still felt like water dripping slowly from a jar.
"Here, eat this. It's already cooked," said Yuanli, handing him the fish.
"You eat first. Mine's almost cooked too," Guanlin replied.
"Just take it," Yuanli insisted.
He hesitated, then handed her his slmost cooked fish.
He started biting onto it even though it was still hot.
"Slow down, it's just starting to cool off." Said Yuanli.
"What will you do afterward?" Guanlin asked, xhewing on his food.
"Probably visit my grandparents and see my siblings," Yuanli replied. "My father's busy serving the Heaven Sect, so I usually go there with my siblings."
"Heaven Sect?" Guanlin asked, puzzled.
"What? You thought only the Shadow Sect and the Magic Sect are the only sects that exists in the world?" Yuanli laughed.
"It's not like that, but I thought of it" Guanlin admitted. "I've never really been outside of the Golden Palace. This is my first time."
"Then you probably don't know how many sects exist outside it," she said.
"May I ask… what is the Heaven Sect?" Guanlin asked.
"They train in unique martial arts and techniques with their deciples," Yuanli explained.
"Such as?"
"Controlling swords without even touching them, that's one unique thing. It's called the Heaven's Wind martial art. They probably don't teach that in the Shadow Sect—since it's all about assassination there."
"Heaven's Wind martial art?" Guanlin murmured, eyes drifting to his sword. No, it was just an illusion… I used my hands…
"Where is it located?" he asked.
"Very close to the Golden Palace. Lower Guangzhen region."
"Is Guangzhen really that close to Golden Palace?"
"Don't believe me? Go see for yourself when you get back," she said.
Guanlin paused. "Let's go," he said suddenly, standing.
"What?" Yuanli blinked, rising too. "We just started eating!"
"Eat it on the way," Guanlin replied, already walking.
"Wait for me!" Yuanli called, blowing on her hot fish as she scrambled after him.
The bonfire crackled behind them, still burning.
Later that evening
They finally arrived in Xiping, greeted by bustling streets and noisy vendors around the place.
"So this is Xiping?" Guanlin asked in awe as his eyes darted around.
"Yep!" Yuanli grinned. "See that cliff over there?" She pointed.
He squinted. "That one?"
"Yes, that's where the passion fruit tree is."
"Then what are we waiting for?" Guanlin smiled. "Let's go."
They stepped into the crowd, focused on their goal.
"This place is as lively as Zhongyin… I already miss it," Guanlin thought.
Yuanli suddenly darted toward a vendor's stand, her eyes fixed on a hairpin. Mesmerized, she ran over it.
"Yuanli!" Guanlin called, then quickly clamped a hand over his mouth. Too loud! He gestured instead. "Come back!"
"I'll be right there! Just checking something!" she called back.
"Wah, mister, how much is this?" she asked the vendor, picking up the pin.
Someone stepped up behind her. She tries noticed it but suddenly ignored it.
"I've changed my mind, I don't want it anymore." Yuanli smiled.
She was about to put the hair pin down when an arm suddenly grabbed her waist.
Reacting instantly, she gripped the attacker's hand, spun, and slammed them to the ground.
"Thief!" she gasped.
Guanlin rushed over at her scream, only to be blocked by masked men—swords drawn and pointed at his throat.
Townspeople screamed and scattered. Clearly, these men were infamous in the town.
The pinned man rose and knocked Yuanli back.
She rolled, stood, and narrowly dodged a sword strike.
Bending down, she did a swift cartwheel and kicked him in the face.
"Yuanli! Be careful!" Guanlin shouted, frozen by the blades pointed at him.
The two masked men shoved him into a wall.
The first scoffed. "Sword on your back and yet you don't use it? Even being useless is somehow useless. This one is a different kind one" he laughed.
"Letting a girl save him too!" the other laughed.
Yuanli stood ready. She slapped a talisman onto the ground. A glowing circle formed—and hundreds of butterflies erupted from it.
As the men staggered, blinded, she grabbed Guanlin's hand. "Run!"
"A fairy!" one of the men yelled.
"Where are we going?" Guanlin panted.
"I don't know. Hopefully Somewhere safe!" Yuanli said, still holding onto Guanlin's hand.
They ran for their life as the men started chasing after them.
After a while of running, they fled into the forest, breathless and worn.
"Who were those guys?" Guanlin gasped, his palms on hisnknees.
"No idea," Yuanli replied, catching jer breath.
They thought they were sfae, nut more emerged from the shadows of the forest.
The man from earlier stepped forward, sword raised.
"You're a fairy," he smirked.
"What do you want?" Yuanli asked, standing protectively. Scared, Guanlin clutched her robe, trembling in fear.
Suddenly, someone launched at them from behind—but a dart shot into the man's chest, causing him to fly backwards.
They all looked up. A cloaked, masked man stood in the trees. He leapt down, landing in front of Guanlin and Yuanli, his dark cloak dancing with the wind, his sword drawn.
"Who is he?" Guanlin whispered.
"No idea," Yuanli murmured.
"Lan Sheng," the strange man called out, "Still robbing and killing for gold? Haven't you had enough of it?"
"Feng Baiying!" Lan Sheng snarled. "Attack!"
His men surrounded them.
"Guanlin, lend me your sword!" Yuanli said urgently.
"D-Do you know how to use it?" Guanlin asked, trembling.
Running out of time, she didn't answer and just took it from his back.
Baiying charged first, slicing with ease in everyone's chest as their bodies drop to the ground. Yuanli followed, graceful and precise.
Guanlin remained frozen on the ground, as chaos danced around the dimly lit forest.
"Is your friend really that much of a coward?" Baiying asked between blows.
"He's scared. You wouldn't understand," Yuanli replied, slashing a man's throat.
"Then why carry a sword?" Baiying asked, flipping backward.
"Don't underestimate him. He killed a mighty bear," Yuanli snapped.
She leapt back, raised Guanlin's sword—then suddenly, a storm of butterflies burst from it, swarming the enemy.
Unbeknownst to them, Lan Sheng was already crawling quietly behind Guanlin.
"You're a fairy?" Baiying asked, stunned by her magic.
"Isn't it obvious?" Yuanli retorted.
Suddenly, Lan Sheng grabbed Guanlin's ankle and bolted.
"Yuanli!" Guanlin cried as he was dragged through the dirt.
Lan Sheng cackled. "They can't save you now! HAHAHHAHA!"
"Let go! I don't have anything!" Guanlin cried.
Lan Sheng ran, dragging Guanlin's weak body on the ground, unable to stand up.
But then—Lan Sheng stopped from his tracks
Guanlin sat up despite the pain, trying to escape—until he saw a figure in front of them.
"…Zhong Jinxiao?" he said, his voice weak.
Jinxiao stood before them, sword drawn, his eyes and his are hands shaking in fury.
"Who are—?"
Before Lan Sheng could finish, Jinxiao shot forward, slicing his head clean off.
Guanlin tumbled free, his body bruised and scraped.
Jinxiao sheathed his sword and approached him closely, his eyes shaking.
"Childe Zhong! Where have you—Bro Lin?!" Wen Lu gasped, arriving.
Guanlin sat awkwardly, brushing off dirt from his clothes and his body.
"G-Guanlin, are you okay?" He asked slowly.
Jinxiao gently reached out his hand, but suddenly Baiying grabbed Guanlin, pulling him behind his back.
Startled, Jinxiao drew his sword.
"Who are you?" Baiying asked, raising his weapon protectively.
"I should ask you. Give him back to me!" Jinxiao growled.
Wen Lu stepped forward, blade ready.
"Who are you, what are you going to do with him?!" He hissed.
Feeling weak, Guanlin suddenly fainted in Baiying's arms.
Worried, Jinxiao came closer to check but was then stopped.
"Don't come closer!" Baiying barked, sword raised.
"We know him!" Wen Lu protested.
"And how can I trust that?" Baiying snapped.
"And how cane we trust you?" Jinxiao shot back.
He turned, lifting Guanlin carefully on his arms. Yuanli arrived, panting.
"Is he okay—Childe Zhong? Wen Lu?" she asked, noticing them in disbelief.
"Childe? You're from a noble family?" Baiying asked, eyes narrowing.
Zhong Jinxiao didn't reply. His gaze pierced into Baiying his sword still raised.
"You know each other?" Baiying asked, glancing ag Yuanli.
"Yes, we do," she answered firmly.
"Childe Zhong, lower your sword. He seems like a good guy," Wen Lu said.
"Not unless he gives Guanlin back!" Jinxiao snapped.
Baiying hesitated—then slowly laid Guanlin down.
"I saved them from those guys earlier. You should be thanking me," Baiying said.
"He's right. He saved us both," Yuanli added.
Jinxiao sheathed his sword, then gently lifted Guanlin into his arms.
"Let's go," he said coldly, turning to leave.
"It's already late. Where will you go?" Baiying stopped. "Also your friend is badly injured, where will you take him?" He warned.
"Yuanli can heal him," Jinxiao said without turning around.
"I can't treat him well without a proper place to stay in." Yuanli replied.
"Childe Zhong, please… let this kind man help Guanlin," Wen Lu pleaded.
"My name is Feng Baiying," the man said.
"Brother Feng." Wen Lu bowed respectfully. "My name is Wen Lu, and this is my master, Zhong Jinxiao. We come from the Shadow Sect of the Golden Palace. We are deeply sorry for veing rude to you earlier."
"The Golden Palace, hmm?" Baiying raised a brow. "I've heard good things from the Golden Palace—especially about your assassins."
"I'm Song Yuanli," she said calmly. "And that's Lai Guanlin."
Baiying gave them all a quick once-over. "Alright. You can stay at my place for the night and I mean just for this night." he said with a smile.
"Sounds like an improvement already," Jinxiao muttered under his breath.
"What was that?" Baiying narrowed his eyes.
"My Childe means he's very grateful," Wen Lu laughed awkwardly. "Please, Brother Feng, lead the way."
----------
Guanlin lay quietly in bed as Yuanli gently cleaned the bruises along his chest and arms. The room was dim, lit only by a single oil lamp on the wooden table.
"Are his wounds that serious?" Jinxiao asked, hovering near the doorway.
Yuanli didn't look at him, her voice cold. "I thought you were heading back to the Golden Palace."
"Childe Zhong felt guilty for leaving," Wen Lu spoke up quickly. "I also convinced him to return and help out Guanlin."
Yuanli finally glanced at Jinxiao, her eyes sharp. "So there's still a shred of empathy in you after all, Childe Zhong."
She stood and pulled the blanket over Guanlin, tucking him in with care. "He needs to rest until tomorrow morning. Now leave."
Jinxiao hesitated. His gaze lingered on Guanlin's bruised face—his stomach tightening with guilt—before he finally turned and walked out without a word. Wen Lu followed him, casting one last look at Yuanli.
Yuanli closed the door behind them, letting out a quiet sigh as she leaned against the frame.
Please let tomorrow be kinder than today.