Forest mulch gathered around the tips of Tao Hua's feet, gliding along the ground and whipping past in a flurry. At this point, his shoes were practically dyed in earthy colours, matching his awfully terrible complexion.
This man was so drearily exhausted he hadn't even a second to think about his misery or anger toward Shan Si. He felt as though this was all done purposefully, and by the master of treachery himself.
His hurt, on the other hand…that would certainly resurface later. Rest assured.
"PLEASE!" Tao Hua begged, pressing his hand to Shan Si's arm.
"Heh." And so, Shan Si did as he was told in the most fashionable way possible.
He stopped.
However, due to this, Tao Hua slammed right into his back, face first. It was so rough he almost indented his own features, as if it were a signature signed especially for Shan Si. This was intentional on his part, as most things seemed to be.
"So, he speaks," Shan Si said, standing stiller and straighter than the trees surrounding them. Tao Hua only muffled nonsense, his lips soaking the blackish—gold fabric, and his eyelashes brushing along the glistening patterns. Shan Si merely continued, as if there wasn't a man planted right on his back. "Finally. He speaks. I like it when he speaks."
The woods whispered midst the peculiar scene. Shan Si lifted his arm, looked at it, and then simply brushed it off. The swish of his hand rhythmically matched Tao Hua's heavy breathing.
To paint this picture best—he was bent into this man, with his hands dangling at both sides. But it only took one loud inhale, the lift of those dirty hands, and a shove against Shan Si's back side for Tao Hua to free himself of this choking hazard.
"THE WOODS?!" he yelled, his fingers wrapping around the fabric and nearly tugging it.
Shan Si's brows furrowed, watching as his sleeve quickly crawled up his arm, catching on the crease of his elbow. So, he roughly tugged it back.
WHAP.
Tao Hua's face rammed right back to where it started.
"Yes," Shan Si said, patting the sleeve into place. "The woods. Is there a problem?"
"Mmmf—mmfffmmf???" Tao Hua said ever-so-daintily. To translate for those who may not understand the language of dismay, Tao Hua said: "Yes—it's a big problem!"
"What of it? I see no problem present." Shan Si answered, somehow deciphering exactly what Tao Hua said. After a moment more of muffling, he leaned forward, twisted his body, and grabbed Tao Hua's hair. The poor princess looked no better than he had leaving Siyue, except now his face was reddened with impact.
One eye closed, he hobbled a bit, reaching up to Shan Si's hand. He didn't like the way it felt, or the way Shan Si handled his hair—but what more was there to expect from a man with little to no care for others?
Whimpering a bit, he moved his hand between his head and Shan Si's grip, lessening the tug. "B-But…you said not to get into any more danger. This…"
"It's not dangerous. I think you misunderstood, Tao Hua." Shan Si let go of his head, to which Tao Hua sighed in relief. Rubbing his head, he glanced up at Shan Si, prompting Shan Si to continue. "It's dangerous for you—but not for me. Stay by my side, and it won't be anymore dangerous for you, either. Understood?"
"And!—" Tao Hua paused, leaning a bit to the side and hesitating.
"And what? You have an awfully bad habit of either saying too much or too little. Speaking your mind won't kill you."
"The stories!" Tao Hua inhaled, shrinking back into himself a bit. After slightly brushing out the already matted hair, he lowered his hands and shyly pressed them together, twiddling each finger awkwardly. "Um…you've heard them, right? The, um, the ones about it being haunted...or something? With lots of Yaoguai, and stuff. Ghosts."
"Sure have." Shan Si lazily blinked a few times, and the look he gave Tao Hua had "seriously" written all over it. His eyebrows rose; however, and he let out a loud laugh. "You're really more scared of a few silly ghost stories than your father, too?! Amazing, Tao Hua! A true hero!"
"I'm serious!" Tao Hua retorted, his cheeks blushing. "Why Buzhi Forest?!"
Tao Hua's hands trembled at the thought, and all the stories he'd read. The more he thought about it, the more his heart raced, and his fingers followed in its honour.
They stumbled over each other, sweat coating with each passing second. Shan Si was nothing but a madman dressed in fancy clothes. A sadistic, moody madman!
To explain Tao Hua's fear, Buzhi Forest was a well known location in Zhonglai. Famous, in fact. Too many citizens, it was akin to the Fox Spirit. Upon first glance of this magical forest, they'd see a wistful forest filled with the potential of a midsummer.
That's where the likeness played a role. This forest was anything but welcoming, nor was it as majestic as first thought. It's often said that the further one travels, the less enchanted they become until they've realized it was nothing more than a deceptive spell.
But at that point, it was too late. They were already in the heart of the forest, and this forest had a big heart. Big hearts struggled with letting things go, and this entity was no different from a poet facing unrequited love.
Tao Hua was unsure what exactly the inside of the forest entailed; there simply were no books that properly portrayed it. Rather, there wasn't a solid image. Many stories told a different tale. Some say it's like walking into the demon king's lair, all red and apocalyptic, while others say it's like passing through the entrance to a world inverse.
They hadn't yet reached that part, however.
"Yeah?" Shan Si said, placing his hand on the pommel of his sword. His thumb rolled around the knot, and soon, a sickening smile crossed his face. "Who do you think created those stories?"
Tao Hua stared up at him in complete disbelief, but Shan Si didn't care. He glanced up at the sky, peering at the moon between the rustling leaves.
"Far past midnight."
In the wake of Tao Hua's stupor, he hadn't registered Shan Si pacing through the area, nor did he notice him approach until a pair of heavy hands planted on his shoulder.
He jumped, his heart nearly leaping out of his chest. When he looked around, he saw no one, by when he side glance, that's when he saw the face of Shan Si.
"Pretty talented, huh? Never thought you'd be face-to-face with a famous author, right? I'll sign autographs later."
Tao Hua's entire complexion nearly went blue with fear, just as his lips stiffened.
"The sun'll rise soon. Let's get going," said Shan Si. Suddenly, Tao Hua was being shoved further into the forest, and to his complete reluctance.
They skidded across the forest floor, so much so that Tao Hua struggled to keep up. Eventually, he just gave in to Shan Si's shoving, but that didn't stop him from jumping or clenching his eyes shut at every sound, whisper, or rustle.
Through that time, he pleaded over and over, "Please no," until the words started to sound wrong.
But they soon came to a stop, and when they did, the hands lifted off his shoulder. Tao Hua peeked open an eye, only to find Shan Si now examining a fat, fallen tree.
Tao Hua's other eye snapped open, and in a quiet, shaky voice, he asked, "What is it…?"
Shan Si had a troubled look on his face, growing more and more concerned the longer he looked at it. "A tree."
This was not at all reassuring.
Tao Hua stood there, looking up at him with a horrific expression, almost willing to give out at any moment. "What's…wrong with it?"
Shan Si's brows lifted, as if he had just realized something. Turning to look at Tao Hua, he let the human earthquake stand in the deafening silence a moment longer before a small smile crossed his face. "Ghosts."
"…" Tao Hua's face completely fell. Shan Si just side-glanced at the tree once more before approaching Tao Hua. Though he tried to play it off, something was brewing beneath his smile.
"Come on—don't be like that. I'm kidding," he said, stopping before Tao Hua. This only aggravated Tao Hua more, and he could feel his body aching from this treatment. Shan Si, however, just pressed his hands to Tao Hua's sides, tucking them under his arms. "Nothing will harm you if I'm here. Let's go."
Then suddenly, Tao Hua was now facing Shan Si, face-to-face. Given their height difference, this was a statement. He blinked a few times, his arms hanging over Shan Si's hands and puffing out awkwardly.
Then, he wiggled his feet.
Nothing. No leaves crunching, no twigs breaking, only air. So, he wiggled them more until he bent his neck to find that his feet nearly matched the size of Shan Si's.
This wasn't any mere magic, however; it was perspective. Shan Si had lifted Tao Hua in the air like a child would a kitten.
Eyes widening, Tao Hua reached for Shan Si's shoulders, grasping them tightly.
"W-What are you—"
"Two birds, one stone. We've still got a long journey yet."
But before he could say anything, Shan Si spun around, Tao Hua's body swaying sideways in the process. So, he loudly cried with every weary might he had to offer.
It wasn't much.
"SHAN SI!"
Chapter end.