If these enemies were truly after Zijing, there was no way I could avoid being caught with him. I couldn’t abandon him, but I also couldn’t afford to slow him down. If I did, and I was captured, I could potentially reveal Zijing’s location or “letters” [a subtle implication of sensitive information] to the enemy.
I began to consider my options. If I were caught, I would have to end my life before giving away any information. But if Zijing survived and the tribe found out about my failure, the consequences would likely be even worse.
“Together…” The word escaped my lips unintentionally, but the determination behind it was clear.
Zijing glanced back at me, his expression unreadable. But there was a faint flicker of emotion in his eyes, as though he was silently acknowledging my resolve.
“Let them chase me instead,” he finally said.
There was something profound in the simplicity of those words. My chest tightened, a swirl of emotions threatening to overwhelm me. For a moment, I felt a strange warmth—an unspoken connection between us, built in the midst of chaos.
I bit my lip, forcing myself to focus. “Don’t let yourself drag yourself down,” I muttered.
Zijing unsheathed his sword and charged forward, slashing through the underbrush with precision. I stumbled after him, struggling to match his pace. Just as we reached a small clearing, he turned, and for the first time, I caught a glimpse of his full strength. His blade gleamed in the dim light, and with a flick of his wrist, he sent a wave of sharp energy toward the pursuers, splitting the trees and forcing them to retreat momentarily.
We descended the slope together, leaping across boulders and streams. Behind us, the pursuers regrouped, but their torches flickered weakly in the distance. Zijing stood on a rock, his silhouette outlined by the faint moonlight. His calm yet commanding presence seemed untouchable, as though no one could approach him.
For a moment, I couldn’t tell if we were escaping, or if Zijing was simply leading them to their defeat.
I stumbled and ran, but before I could get far, the soldiers caught me again.
I was dragged in front of a woman. She was mounted on a celestial horse, looking down at me from her elevated position. “Who are you?” she asked.
“I…” Words caught in my throat as I felt her gaze bore into me. The overwhelming pressure left me at a loss. I was too terrified to speak, too frightened to even consider lying or attempting to escape. Everything about her demeanor warned me of danger.
Before I could stammer out a reply, a flash of white light descended from the sky. A figure clothed in white landed gracefully before me, their back turned toward me as they faced the soldiers. The tip of their sword pointed toward the distant mountains, radiating an air of unyielding confidence.
It was Zijing! My master!
I wasn’t sure how close our bond truly was, but at that moment, seeing him step forward filled me with an indescribable sense of relief. How could I possibly handle this mission or explain myself to the tribe if something had happened to him? I wanted to cry with gratitude, but I forced myself to remain composed.
“Hmm,” Zijing didn’t look at me but asked the woman on the horse, “Are you here to collect debts?”
The woman’s gaze sharpened as she met Zijing’s question. “Just a minor matter,” she replied casually.
Zijing’s tone was calm, not betraying even the slightest emotion. He didn’t seem to care much for the woman’s answer. It was as if he could see through her pretense. His steady voice carried authority, making me feel both awestruck and safe.
This Zijing… he was truly someone to be admired!
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