The forest had begun to breathe again.
A thin mist coiled low over the forest floor, wrapping around moss-laced trunks and curling through the broken branches like whispers of forgotten memory. Shafts of light pierced the canopy, golden and warm, falling over the makeshift camp in gentle strokes—nature apology after the storm.
They all had survived. It is the next day after Zhu Zhuqing woke up.
Zhu Zhuqing was resting against a fallen log, still wrapped in Li Wei teal coat. Her expression was calm, but her eyes moved steadily now, alert and quiet as ever. Li Wei sat nearby, his legs crossed as he activating the buff toward Zhu Zhuqing.
[BuffRide: Ex-Aid]
The card still floated faintly in the air like a spiritual sigil before fading back into his driver. The effects were slow but certain—gradual tissue mending, cellular regeneration, and nerve recovery. His own face, pale under the morning light, was more drawn than usual, but no longer ragged.
"You're overdoing it," Zhu Zhuqing said softly, her voice a little stronger than earlier. "You look worse than me."
Li Wei gave a tired smile. "You're not the only one who's stubborn."
"I learned from the best," she murmured.
Nearby, Ning Rongrong was busy folding the tarps and blankets, her brows furrowed with precision as she worked. She kept glancing toward them, not intrusively, but with quiet concern. Xiao Wu sat with her back to a tree trunk, legs stretched out in front of her, idly twirling a twig in her fingers.
Meng Yiran emerged from the woods, her serpent-patterned cloak dusted with dew. "Dean Flender said that no unusual beast traces within two kilometers," she reported. "Looks like we've got a quiet window to move."
Zhao Wuji stood up from his crouch near the fire pit. "Good. We'll break camp within the hour."
He glanced toward Zhu Zhuqing. "Are you able to travel?"
"She's not walking," Liu Erlong said firmly, emerging from the bushes behind Meng Yiran. She carried a leather scroll and a small herbal satchel in one hand.
"You can barely stand," Li Wei said. His tone was clipped but low, almost gentle. "No."
"…So you're carrying me?" Her voice held the faintest hint of teasing, rare from her. Almost like a gift.
"Yes," he said, simply.
Before she could say another word, he slipped one arm under her knees and the other beneath her back.
He lifted her into a princess carry—effortlessly, as if she weighed nothing at all.
Zhu Zhuqing cheeks flushed immediately. Her arms reflexively wrapped around his neck for balance. She was too tired to resist, too surprised to argue—and, perhaps, she didn't want to.
"I'm not a princess," she muttered under her breath.
Li Wei mouth twitched in the closest thing he gave to a smile. "Too bad," he said. "You're mine to protect right now."
As the group gathered their gear, Ning Rongrong watched from behind the flap of her travel cloak, silent. She said nothing—only looked at Li Wei back as he carried Zhu Zhuqing gently through the brush.
Xiao Wu stood beside her, chewing her bottom lip. "He never used to look at anyone like that," she said quietly.
"...No," Ning Rongrong whispered. "He didn't."
Flender landed moments later, descending from the treetops with a rush of wind. His cloak fluttered behind him, hawk-like eyes scanning everyone quickly. "We've got two choices: push straight north through the canyon route or swing wide along the Spirit River bend. The first is faster but exposed."
"We'll take the canyon," Li Wei said without hesitation. "Fewer large beasts, and the narrow paths mean fewer ambushes. I can send rider to scout ahead."
"I'll go with you," Meng Yiran offered immediately.
Zhao Wuji nodded. "I'll take rear guard. Liu Erlong and Flender will stay with the main group and Zhuqing."
They moved like clockwork now—each role understood, each rhythm practiced through pain and experience. A small group, but one forged in fire.
As the group packed up, Xiao Wu moved next to Zhu Zhuqing. She crouched low, a half-smile on her lips. "So… you planning to keep scaring us like that?"
Zhu Zhuqing chuckled weakly. "No promises."
Xiao Wu's smile faltered for a beat before she looked away. "Well… good. Just don't go dying. I'd hate to be the prettiest girl on the team by default."
Ning Rongrong scoffed from the side. "Excuse me?"
That broke the tension. For a moment, there was laughter—even from Zhu Zhuqing, which drew wide eyes from Xiao Wu and a smug look from Rongrong.
__________________
Sometimes after that.
Li Wei walked at the head, each step sure despite the weight he carried—not that Zhu Zhuqing weighed much to him. She rested her head against his shoulder, her breaths warm against his neck, her body curled lightly into his hold.
"You don't have to… do this," she murmured once.
"I want to," he replied.
Silence stretched between them—peaceful, this time.
As the group formed up and began the trek through the forest's edge, Li Wei walked near the front with Meng Yiran while holding Zhu Zhuqing, her gait sharp and ready, Serpent Cane hold in her right hand. The forest grew thinner as they neared the canyon, rock replacing root underfoot.
Zhao Wuji followed behind with Xiao Wu, who had become unusually quiet again. She kept stealing glances toward Zhu Zhuqing, a war within her eyes. Ning Rongrong walked beside Liu Erlong, occasionally offering one of her buffs to lighten the group's fatigue.
_____________________________
Hours passed. The forest gave way to cliff-lined passes, the air cooler here, wind whispering down from the heights. The scent of stone and cold water replaced ash and smoke.
Zhao Wuji signaled for a break at the ridge.
As the group settled down for water and rest, Li Wei knelt and gently lowered Zhu Zhuqing onto a blanket beside a stone. He adjusted her posture, tugging his coat snug around her, his movements precise—tender in a way that few had ever seen from him.
Zhu Zhuqing looked up at him.
Her throat worked once, but the words caught. Then—quietly, carefully—she reached up and placed her hand on his.
"You saved me, thank you for that." she said.
"I didn't want to lose you, and we're also a teammates." he replied, voice raw.
She held his gaze for a long moment. Then, unexpectedly, she whispered. "If you always carry me like this… I think I might never want to walk again."
Li Wei blinked. His ears turned a little red—but he didn't look away. Instead, he leaned down and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear."Then I'll carry you," he said. "As far as you want."
Then she added softly, "When I woke up… and you were the first thing I saw… I felt safe."
Li Wei throat tightened. "You don't need to say that."
"But I want to." She reached for his hand. "I meant it."
He nodded, fingers closing gently around hers.
Ning Rongrong was watching from across the ledge, a flicker of emotion passing through her. She turned away before it settled.
Xiao Wu sat farther back, knees hugged to her chest. She didn't look at them at all.
Flender watched the team from above the ridge, wings folded behind him, expression thoughtful.
"We may have nearly lost someone," he murmured to Liu Erlong, who stood beside him. "But I think… they're stronger after it."
"They have just become strong not only in power," Erlong added. "but also in bond."
_________________________
As the sun almost fall, Flender gathered everyone together.
"We're a day out from the city. We'll rest tonight at the foot of the canyon. After that, it's a straight path home."
"Good," Zhao Wuji said. "We need real walls. And reports to write."
Liu Erlong stretched, her arms cracking. "Let's just not almost die next time."
They laughed, tired and hoarse, but it was real.
For the first time in days, it felt like the future existed again.
And even though the path ahead was uncertain, and the world darker than ever before—they moved forward together.
Because the threads between them had been tested.
And they had held.
_____________
Night fell slowly.
As stars blinked into view one by one, the group ate in silence. Around the fire, their usual banter was subdued, their movements tired, but their hearts were warm with something hard-won.
Li Wei sat with Zhu Zhuqing close to him, her shoulder tucked beneath his arm, her head leaning softly on his chest.
"You're sure you're comfortable?" he asked her one last time.
Zhu Zhuqing eyes closed, her voice a whisper. "With you? Always."