Hours passed slowly. The sun dipped toward the horizon, and the inn's lanterns were lit, casting warm, golden circles on the wooden floor. Nie Xiaohuan and Lin Wuyue shared quiet conversation outside the inn, discussing their preparations for the investigation, while Xiuyuan remained inside, silently reviewing the case in his mind.
Eventually, he rose. Without haste, he made his way to the nearby stream, a narrow ribbon of water running just beyond the village, reflecting the fading light. The cool water ran over his skin, carrying away the day's fatigue. He let the current brush over his shoulders, arms, and chest, muscles relaxing under the quiet motion, but his mind remained focused, turning over every detail of the case.
After bathing, he wrapped himself in a simple cloth and rested in a small secluded spot inside the stream's embankment. The shadows lengthened, the forest beyond darkening as the first stars pierced the evening sky. Xiuyuan sat with his back against a tree trunk, eyes closed, listening to the faint rustle of leaves, the distant calls of birds settling for night, and the subtle rhythm of his own breathing.
Then a sound cut through the quiet—a soft, deliberate movement from behind a nearby tree. Leaves rustled unnaturally, and a low, almost imperceptible hum vibrated through the air. Xiuyuan's eyes snapped open instantly, sharp and focused. Every muscle tensed, every sense aligned.
Without a word, he rose from the stream, droplets glinting on his bare shoulders and chest. His movements were deliberate, practiced, fluid. One hand reached for his sword, the familiar weight of the hilt grounding him. The cloth remained around his waist, but his upper body was exposed, every motion controlled, poised, and ready for whatever waited beyond the tree line.
He took a measured step toward the sound, eyes fixed, breath steady, every nerve alert. The mist from the stream curled around his feet as he advanced, the forest now dark and foreboding. The quiet village behind him seemed distant, irrelevant—the only focus was the presence that had stirred in the shadows, and the calm, unwavering readiness of Ling Xiuyuan.
Xiuyuan stepped closer to the tree, muscles tensed, eyes fixed on the shadow that had moved through the mist. Every sense was alert, the faint hum of the forest around him almost deafening in its quiet.
Suddenly, a loud, panicked shout cut through the air:
"Snake!"
Xiuyuan froze, startled. His head snapped toward the sound, and his eyes went wide. Behind the tree, a figure flailed—hands waving, robes twisted—and Xiuyuan's breath caught as recognition struck him.
"Shen Lianxiu?!" he exclaimed, eyes widening further.
Before he could process more, he saw it: a snake coiled around Lianxiu's shoulders and neck, its head poised and striking. Without hesitation, Xiuyuan's hand shot out. One precise movement, and the snake was lifted away from Lianxiu and hurled back into the bushes with a hiss.
Xiuyuan turned immediately to Lianxiu, who had fallen onto the ground, trembling and wide-eyed. Then Lianxiu let out a bizarre, wide laugh, as if caught in a prank.
"Since when have you been following us?" Xiuyuan demanded, still panting slightly from the sudden adrenaline, sheathing his sword with a sharp motion.
"Hm… since you departed?" Lianxiu scratched his head sheepishly and pushed himself up, dusting off his hands and robes.
Xiuyuan's frown deepened. "Why is it that whenever we meet, I always catch you… watching me bathe?"
Lianxiu waved his hands frantically. "But I promise! I have no dirty thoughts!" His wide eyes were earnest, almost comical.
Xiuyuan shook his head irritably, slipping his outer robe back on and tightening it over his chest. "I told you to focus on your cultivation improvement," he said sharply, voice low but tense.
Lianxiu laughed, a light, mischievous sound that seemed to fill the quiet clearing. "Yes! But then I thought… it's better to be on the case with you. It's good for my improvement… and also… for us."
A faint blush crept across his cheeks.
Xiuyuan's irritated frown remained, but his ears betrayed him—tinged red beneath his calm exterior. His heartbeat had picked up slightly, a rhythm he tried to ignore as he adjusted his robe.
He took a slow breath, casting one more exasperated glance at Lianxiu. "Be serious about your cultivation. This is not playtime."
Lianxiu's smile lingered, though his cheeks still carried the faintest rose. He nodded quickly, trying to appear obedient, but the mischievous glint in his eyes betrayed his amusement. Xiuyuan turned away, stepping toward the path, each step measured, his focus returning to the task ahead—but the warmth of the night, and the laughter lingering in his ears, lingered as well, betraying the calm exterior he tried to maintain.
The path back to the inn was shrouded in the deep blue of night, only the faint glow of lanterns in the village casting dim light on the winding trail. Xiuyuan walked ahead, steady and composed, his thoughts still tracing the events at the stream. Behind him, Lianxiu followed quietly, careful to keep his distance, though the faint blush from earlier lingered on his cheeks.
As they approached the inn, Xiuyuan noticed two figures waiting outside, their postures tense, eyes scanning the darkened path. Nie Xiaohuan and Lin Wuyue. The moment he came into view, they both rushed forward.
"Shixiong! The tree is in action again!" Nie Xiaohuan called urgently, breath sharp. "Just now a man saw it—and escaped alive, luckily!"
But then his gaze fell behind him.
His eyes went wide. "Lianxiu? How are you here…" His voice faltered slightly, a rare break in his usual composure. Shock lingered in his tone, betraying the sudden impossibility of the situation.
Lianxiu scratched the back of his head, offering an awkward laugh. "Well… it's a long story…"
Nie Xiaohuan shook his head sharply, exasperation written across his face. "You're impossible!"
Lin Wuyue remained slightly behind, her expression tense, hands clasped in front of her, but her lips curved faintly in a quiet smile at the absurdity of the moment.