They ran for several blocks, Li Wei's hand still clamped around Ren's arm, her pace relentless. Ren, despite his growing exhaustion, kept up, his imperial training kicking in. He focused on her, on the urgent set of her jaw, the worried flicker in her eyes.
He felt nothing, no sense of being followed, but he trusted her senses implicitly.
Finally, Li Wei slowed, pulling him into a narrow alleyway between two buildings. She pressed herself against the wall, pulling Ren close, her breathing ragged. She scanned the street they had just left, her eyes narrowed, searching for any sign of pursuit.
"Are they... gone?" Ren whispered, catching his breath.
Li Wei shook her head, her gaze still fixed on the alley's mouth. "I don't know. The presence... it's gone now. But it was there. Strong. Too strong to be a mere coincidence." She finally turned to him, her eyes wide, a hint of desperation in them. "I... I didn't think this through, Kaelen. I just reacted. I don't actually know where to bring
you."
Ren blinked, surprised by her admission. The unflappable general, admitting to a lack of a plan. It was a rare moment of vulnerability. "Then where are we going?"
Li Wei bit her lip, her gaze darting around the grimy alley. "My residence. It's... it's the only place I can think of right now. It's close, and it should be secure enough for a short time." She hesitated, a faint blush creeping up her neck. "My parents are not home. They are on a business trip. So it will just be us."
Ren nodded, his mind already weighing the risks and benefits. It wasn't ideal, but it was better than leading a potential threat to his own family. "Very well, General. Lead the way."
Li Wei nodded, her composure slowly returning, though the blush lingered. She led him out of the alley and down a few more streets, her pace still brisk, but less frantic. They soon arrived at a modern, two-story house, nestled in a quiet residential area. It looked unassuming, blending perfectly with its neighbors.
Li Wei quickly unlocked the front door and ushered Ren inside, closing it swiftly behind them. The interior was neat, tastefully decorated, reflecting a quiet, organized life.
"Wait here," Li Wei instructed, her voice still a little breathless. "I need to check the perimeter. Ensure we weren't followed." She moved with the silent efficiency of a trained operative, checking windows, drawing curtains, her senses extended.
Ren stood in the entryway, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings. He heard a door open and close upstairs, and then, a familiar, exasperated voice.
"Ren?! What are you doing here?!"
Maya stood at the top of the stairs, her arms crossed, a thunderous expression on her face. Her eyes narrowed, first at Ren, then at Li Wei, who had just emerged from checking the back door.
The sight of Ren, in a girl's house, with that girl, and no parents in sight, clearly did not sit well with her.
"And Li Wei!" Maya continued, her voice rising, a distinct note of outrage in it. "What is the meaning of this? Bringing my brother to your house when your parents aren't home?!" Her gaze, sharp and accusatory, fixed on Li Wei. The mundane world, with its teenage drama and possessive siblings, had just collided with the ancient war in the most awkward way possible.