The Valley of Echoes was quiet.
Too quiet.
Li Fenghuo landed on a stone ledge first, dust kicking around his boots, heat flickering faintly from his qi. Shen Qianye landed a heartbeat later—silent, barely disturbing the air, like he belonged in every place Fenghuo wished he didn't.
Fenghuo crossed his arms. "Great. Nothing but rocks and fog. Perfect place to get ambushed and die with someone I don't like."
Shen Qianye didn't even look at him. "If you stopped talking for three breaths, you'd notice something."
"Oh? What is it, oh wise Moon Immortal?" Fenghuo muttered.
Qianye walked ahead, robes drifting behind him like drifting silk. He knelt and pressed his fingers to the ground. "Qi distortions. Something tore through here recently."
"Oh." Fenghuo blinked. "…Okay, that was actually useful."
Qianye straightened, giving him a look that wasn't quite smug, but definitely leaned in that direction.
"Stay behind me," Qianye said.
"No."
"It wasn't a suggestion."
Fenghuo stepped right past him on purpose. "If a beast shows up, I'm the one who fights it head-on. You can stay behind me."
The air shifted. Just barely.
Fenghuo didn't notice at first—but Qianye's expression tightened, almost like he was… displeased.
Interesting.
Before Fenghuo could poke at that reaction, a low growl rumbled through the fog. A tremor rolled under their feet. Stones slid down the valley slope.
Shen Qianye's hand went to his sword. "It's coming."
Fenghuo cracked his knuckles, fire gathering in his palms. "Good. I've been itching to hit something."
The fog split open—and a massive beast lunged out. Crooked horns, blackened fur, eyes glowing scarlet with demonic qi.
It roared and charged straight at Fenghuo.
Shen Qianye moved instantly—too instantly.
He stepped in front of Fenghuo, sword flashing like a streak of moonlight.
"Oi! I said I'd fight—!"
Qianye didn't answer. He simply cut.
The slash cleaved through the beast's front leg, sending it stumbling.
"He's mine!" Fenghuo shouted and launched forward.
Flames burst from his arms, coating his fists as he slammed into the beast's jaw. The impact cracked like thunder, sending it flying back into the valley wall.
Fenghuo landed lightly, spinning to smirk—
—and froze.
Shen Qianye was standing behind him.
So close that Fenghuo could feel the faint coolness of his qi brushing against his neck.
"What are you— move back!" Fenghuo snapped, stepping away too quickly.
Qianye's brows had drawn together, almost a frown. "You left your flank open."
"I handled it!"
"You were reckless."
"Worry about yourself, not me!"
A flicker of something unreadable crossed Qianye's eyes.
Annoyance?
Concern?
Fenghuo didn't know, and he hated that he didn't.
The beast roared again from the rubble, dragging itself up.
Fenghuo pulled fire into his palm.
Qianye raised his sword.
They attacked at the same time.
Fire and moonlight collided, spiraling around each other. For a heartbeat, the energies intertwined—bright, blinding, strangely harmonious. The blast tore through the beast, slicing clean through its corrupted core.
It fell.
Silence flooded back into the valley.
Fenghuo breathed deeply, chest rising and falling. "Well. That wasn't too bad."
Shen Qianye slid his sword back into its sheath. "Your technique is sloppy."
"So is your personality."
Qianye looked at him then—really looked at him. Silver eyes steady, something soft but hidden. "Your fire qi… reacted strangely when you were hurt."
"I wasn't hurt."
"You were close enough."
Fenghuo bristled. "Why do you care?"
A long moment passed.
Qianye lowered his gaze, just slightly. "Because we're a team for now."
Liar.
That didn't sound like a reason he believed in.
Not fully.
Fenghuo opened his mouth to argue—but a cold wind swept the valley. The ground vibrated beneath them.
A second presence.
Stronger.
Older.
Watching.
Shen Qianye's hand tightened on his sword. "We're not done here."
Fenghuo swallowed hard, fire flaring in his palms unconsciously.
Somewhere deep in the fog, a voice whispered—the kind that brushed against the soul.
"So… the two of you have returned."
Fenghuo felt his blood run cold.
Returned?
They'd never been here before—had they?
He glanced at Shen Qianye, and for the first time, Qianye looked uncertain.
Just for a heartbeat.