By the time I arrived at a clearing in the forest, my energy was nearly depleted, and I descended clumsily, my feet brushing against the treetops.
Suddenly, I heard a loud commotion. Startled, I spun around to see a figure leap through the air, blade raised. But before I could react, a girl darted in front of me. She blocked the attack with her bare hands, pulling me down to the ground with her.
“You…” she muttered, looking at me with piercing eyes. Her grip on my wrist was tight, and her voice carried a faint tremor. “Stay behind me.”
Her tone was cold and commanding, with an air of someone who was used to giving orders. She glanced behind her briefly, as if gauging the situation, and then turned her attention back to me.
“This is no place for someone like you,” she said sharply.
I couldn’t argue. I had no idea who she was or what her purpose was, but in that moment, I felt like a burden rather than an ally. My hands trembled as I clutched the hilt of my sword, my mind racing with possibilities.
The girl’s movements were swift and precise, her focus unwavering. In her eyes, I saw a deep resolve, as though she was prepared to face whatever lay ahead.
“I counted to ten, but you didn’t move,” I said, forcing her to lower her gaze.
“You’re the one who didn’t move,” she replied, breaking the silence first. “He’s not your master anymore, so stop caring about him.”
The girl’s eyes gleamed faintly, like a flickering flame. Her words felt like sharp needles piercing through the thin veil of calm I had tried to maintain. She paused, glancing at me from the corner of her eye, before adding lightly, “Don’t overestimate yourself. You’re just a distraction to him.”
Zijing, standing in the distance, looked exhausted. His gaze swept past the two of us, not resting on either of us for long.
“I’m not leaving her,” he said, his voice steady yet distant. His lips curled into a faint smile, though the expression didn’t reach his eyes. “If a woman like her can threaten you, then perhaps your abilities are far less impressive than I thought.”
“Really?” the girl raised her eyebrows. “Then I’ll leave it to you to protect her.”
She stepped back, her breathing slowing as if restraining herself. But even in her stillness, her presence seemed to press down on me, making it hard to breathe. I suddenly realized how many hidden wounds I must have carried without ever noticing them.
I couldn’t allow my reliance on Zijing to turn me into someone constantly seeking rescue. I had already depended on him far too much. Watching him with a mix of conflicting emotions, I thought to myself, at least he wouldn’t hurt me intentionally...
“Listen.”
Just as I was about to turn away, a sharp gust of wind snapped me back to attention. I heard a faint voice calling out, and as I shifted my gaze, the wind loosened the grip of a blade that had been raised against me. My heart skipped a beat. I barely managed to raise my hand, deflecting the strike with the hilt of my sword. The sound of clashing steel echoed as I staggered backward.
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