The casualness of his words made my heart ache. I wondered how many similar moments he had experienced in the past—moments where no one was there to help him. I sat beside him, grinding the herbs with trembling hands. In the stillness, the only sounds were the soft rustling of the forest and the occasional crackle of the fire. Though I remained calm on the surface, my mind was racing.
I looked at him, unable to hold back my question. “Why do you insist on traveling alone? There are so many mountains, so many dangers. Why not let someone accompany you?”
“Because no one can be trusted,” he replied simply, his tone detached as he leaned against the tree behind him. The faint scent of herbs mixed with the cool evening air, creating a strangely peaceful atmosphere. I didn’t know whether to feel comforted or disheartened.
I stayed silent, biting my lip, as I applied the paste to his wound. When I finished, he closed his eyes, murmuring, “Get some rest. Tomorrow will be another long day.”
But even as I lay down, I couldn’t stop staring at him. The faint firelight illuminated his pale face, and the weariness etched into his features made him seem oddly vulnerable.
I stayed by his side for a while, pondering how I could possibly leave someone like him behind. No, that was impossible. I fetched some water, carefully poured it into a bowl, and gently lifted his head to help him drink. Zijing remained silent, his breathing steady but weak.
“Have you ever trusted anyone?” I asked softly.
“Hm…”
How could I ask such a thing? When the words left my lips, I immediately regretted them. What was I expecting? An honest confession? For a question like this, I knew Zijing’s response would be nothing but silence. I kept my head lowered, pretending to focus on the task at hand, giving him the space to choose whether or not to reply.
“What kind of person are you?” I asked again, as if to myself.
“A…” He paused for a moment, then chuckled lightly. “Just a passerby. Forget I said anything.”
Zijing didn’t ask any more questions, and neither did I.
His wounds required proper treatment, and I knew we needed to find medicinal herbs. Unfortunately, Zijing couldn’t walk on his own just yet. I had no idea how long this forced delay would last, but for now, all I could do was support him. Slowly, carefully, we made our way down the path together.
Zijing remained silent, though I could sense he was suppressing some unspoken thoughts. With every few steps, he let out a soft, almost inaudible sigh.
“How much longer can you go on like this?” I finally asked.
He glanced at me briefly, as though surprised by my words. For a moment, I felt as though I had crossed some boundary, but I couldn’t hold back my frustration. “You should’ve let me handle it!” I blurted out, my voice trembling slightly. “Why do you always insist on doing everything yourself?”
He didn’t respond.
The more I thought about it, the more irritated I became. Surely, it wasn’t the first time Zijing had pushed himself too far, and it definitely wouldn’t be the last. Why did he have to keep doing this? Did he think I was incapable of helping him?
I took a deep breath, forcing myself to look at him. His face was pale, but his expression remained as unreadable as ever.
“Are you mad at me?” I asked cautiously, meeting his gaze.
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