—
Ling Xi's amber eyes lingered on the chicken as Mù Xuán continued laughing, pointing at him with a finger, head thrown back, silver hair catching the morning light, shimmering like threads of moonlight.
He closed his eyes slowly, the air around him seeming to thicken, heavy and almost still.
When he opened them, the amber hue shifted subtly, glowing faintly, a strange golden shimmer that flickered like sunlight through molten metal.
The chicken froze instantly, its body stiffening.
—
He walked toward it slowly, Mù Xuán's breath caught as she watched, frozen halfway through a laugh.
Her blue eyes widened, silver hair catching sunlight as if reflecting her astonishment.
He reached the chicken, its tiny body stiff as stone under his gaze.
—
With a smooth motion, he lifted it, holding it effortlessly.
Mù Xuán's mouth fell open.
He turned to her, expression unreadable, and extended the chicken toward her.
"Here."
—
Her mouth opened, then closed.
She didn't move at first, just stared at the ruby hen in his hands.
Her mind raced. Her heart beat rapidly.
She then took the chicken with trembling fingers, feeling its warmth and slight weight as he didn't say a word, just turned and walked away.
—
Her eyes flicked to the entrance of the chicken house as her mind raced.
He froze the chicken… and she had seen it.
The chicken began to struggle again, tiny claws scraping the air, beak pecking weakly snapping her out of her daze.
She tucked the hen carefully under her arm and closed the wooden gate behind her then ran toward the house.
He could… freeze things.
Without words. Without gestures. Just his eyes.
What kind of power was that?
She'd never seen or read it anywhere.
—
Inside, the living room was empty.
The faint scent of morning dew lingered in the air.
Her pulse quickened as she ran toward the lake, instinctively knowing where he would be.
By the golden lake, he sat cross-legged, water rippling gently against the stones at his feet.
His hands rested on his knees, wet, probably after washing.
The sunlight glinted off the water droplets on his face and hair.
The golden surface of the lake reflected his still form like a painting, untouched and serene.
—
She stepped closer, trying to steady her racing heart.
His gaze was fixed on the lake, unreadable.
She opened her mouth to speak but froze.
She didn't know his name.
—
Before she could think, he stood, expression unreadable, cold as stone.
His amber eyes flicked to her with that quiet precision that made her stomach tighten.
"Where is my sword?" His voice was low, sharp, slicing the morning calm.
"In the house," she said, voice soft, heart thudding.
He didn't answer.
What was wrong?
A bad feeling rose in her chest.
Did he… want to leave?
Was it because of what had happened earlier?
Her laughter? She swallowed hard. Surely… it was only a joke…
Was he that... petty?
—
He nodded slightly and walked past her heading towards the house.
She scrambled after him, almost tripping over a stray rock.
—
"Hey! What are you doing? Do you want…?"
Her voice trailed off as she tried to catch up, heart hammering.
He didn't answer.
—
Inside, he looked around the small room and then moved toward the zither, hand reaching for his sword.
Her pulse jumped violently.
Her hands clenched at her sides as she watched him.
Her chest tightened.
Her heartbeat quickened.
She didn't want him to leave.
Was she… stupid? She paused, a lump forming in her throat, swallowing hard.
—
Mustering courage, she stepped in front of him.
"What's wrong? Is it because of what happened in there…? I'm sorry… okay… don't leave…"
He turned his head, amber eyes narrowing at her.
There was a pause, a long, tense silence that made her chest tighten.
Then, with a subtle flick of his finger, he pressed gently on her forehead.
—
She pouted, lips forming a small, confused O, eyebrows knitting together in bewilderment.
He smirked faintly, voice low, amused yet pointed.
"Are you… stupid? Telling a stranger not to leave… what if he's someone bad?"
Her voice tumbled out before she could stop it. "You're not a bad person."
He blinked slowly, a flicker of surprise crossed his otherwise unreadable features before his expression hardened again.
"You don't know me," he said, shaking his head slightly, amber eyes cold and sharp. "Do you even know my name?"
She shook her head. "But… you can tell me."
—
Long fingers brushed a stray lock of hair from his face.
He closed his eyes for a heartbeat, calm.
Then, with a voice smooth, quiet, and low:
"Ling Xi."
He turned, walking outside, leaving her rooted in place, mouth forming another small O.
"Ehh?…"
—
Looking at him leaving, panic surged through her.
She looked down at the hen in her hands, squeezing it gently.
It relaxed instantly, curling its tiny body as if in response.
She carefully placed it in the kitchen, breathing heavily, before dashing outside again.
—
The mist from the forest lay like a soft veil over the path ahead.
Shadows of the twisted trees bent under the light breeze, curling in strange, unnatural shapes.
The golden lake behind her mirrored the tension, still.
—
He stood on the path leading into the forest, posture was rigid, tense, shoulders squared, amber eyes fixed on the mist ahead.
—
"Are you really leaving?" she asked, voice urgent, almost breaking walking towards him.
He nodded slowly, a single, deliberate motion that broke her.
Then, pointing toward the curling mist, he said, "Don't tell me… this forest..."
"What about it?" she asked, confusion evident on her face.
His eyes, cold and calculating, scanned the mist. "This… is the White Mist Forest, right?"
—
Her brow furrowed. "Is that… what you call it?"
He glanced at her briefly, amber eyes unreadable, then back to the forest, fingers tightening around his sword.
His body was poised, ready for anything.
The air seemed to thicken between them.
'This girl…' His thoughts churned, 'She's not a simple Guardian… there's more to her…'
A memory flashed through his mind — the Queen's man... who had entered this forest, only to emerge screaming of monsters, falling onto his own sword.
Did she…?
—
He exhaled slowly, voice low, dangerous.
"All those events… happening here… did you…?"
—
Mù Xuán blinked, tilting her head, lips parting.
Her eyes were wide, sparkling with faux innocence, and her small hands lifted slightly, palms open, as if pleading, teasing, yet entirely disarming.
Her lips quivered as if ready to speak, a soft, mischievous smile playing at the corners, her hair catching the sunlight, strands brushing her cheeks, accentuating the softness of her expression.
"What events?" she asked softly, voice laced with playful curiosity, head tilting slightly, eyes wide, lips parted in a small, innocent pout.
—
He looked at her, and for a moment, her innocence, her subtle mischief, made him pause.
—
Blinking, he quickly looked away, his face returned to cold, expressionless control. "Which… is the path of leaving?"
Her heart twisted.
Did he still want to leave? Why…?
She thought she had distracted him… had softened him somehow.
—
"Ling Xi… why do you want to leave?"
Her voice broke slightly, soft but insistent.
He stood there, amber eyes fixed on the mist, barely a breath in the silence, his figure a sharp silhouette against the soft morning light.
He turned slightly, his eyes catching hers for a fraction of a second — distant, unreadable, yet full of something she couldn't name.
—