Mist curled around Long Fei, cool against his skin, but he remained focused on Shui Yi, not allowing it to blur his vision. He had seen this kind of determination before on the battlefield, in the eyes of warriors who refused to yield even as death loomed over them. She was no soldier, but she was relentless.
He stood on a crag above the river, arms folded, his expression carved from stone as he watched her struggle against the relentless current. The waterfall's roar echoed through the valley, drowning out the sound of her ragged breaths. The water surged against her limbs, dragging her back each time she pushed forward. Her fingers clawed at the slippery rocks, her body trembling from exhaustion.
And yet, she refused to stop. He could see her every move from where he stood.
His chest tightened at the sight of her struggling. He was proud of how far she had developed, but pride was dangerous. He wanted to tell her, to offer the words she sought, but he could not. He must not allow any complacency to trickle into her training. She could not afford to slow down, not even for him. She needed to be independent, for he could not guarantee his survival. Yet, he must ensure she survives. The fireballs that had shaken the heavens were a warning. Time was running out. They needed to leave this realm as soon as possible.
His gaze flickered toward Ling Yue, perched like a bird at the water's edge, lazily splashing the shallows with her toes. She had nearly died, and she was far better trained. Would his guardian be enough to protect the mermaid princess if he weren't around?
Memories surfaced, uninvited: the glow of the moonlight on Shui Yi's face, the way she had rested against him when she was weak, the warmth of her lips when she had inadvertently returned the Sacred Pearl to sustain his life. His fingers curled at his sides. He had let himself soften. He had allowed himself to believe, for even a moment, that he could reach beyond his duty. But duty was all he had ever known.
A sudden splash. She disappeared without a trace. Long Fei's breath hitched, his body tensing, but before he could move, she broke the surface, coughing, gasping, clinging desperately to a jagged rock. The instinct to rush to her side burned through him, a painful reminder that he had grown too attached. But he quelled it, as if he could extinguish it by forcing the air out of it. He let out a subtle sigh of relief. She must not get used to him rushing to her aid. She must endure to survive without him. His presence must fade into the background, like the wind that passes unnoticed, leaving no trace of itself.
She glanced up toward him as she clung to the jagged boulder, eyes searching his. He met her gaze, suppressing his emotions. "Again." His voice was cold. Impassive.
He noticed a trace of disappointment flash across her face, but she did not utter a word. She took a deep breath and turned back toward the waterfall. Her arms trembled as she braced against the rushing current, her legs buckling under the pressure, but she forced herself back up.
Ling Yue climbed up and landed beside him, letting out a low whistle. "Even I'm starting to feel bad for her."
Long Fei remained silent.
His guardian tilted her head, watching the mermaid with knowing eyes. "She's doing all this for you." Her voice was quieter now, almost careful. "You do realize that, right?"
His jaw clenched. He realized it all too well. A part of him wanted to close the distance. To soften his voice. To offer the words she longed for. But what would be the point? It was dangerous by his side with powerful enemies on his heels. The more she reached for him, the further he would have to step away. She would be safer that way.
A sharp gasp echoed through the valley, sending a jolt through his chest. His ears strained to catch the sound, the unmistakable sign that she was reaching her limit. Shui Yi had broken through the strongest current, stumbling onto the rocks beneath the waterfall's thundering force. She turned back, chest heaving, triumph flickering in her expression. She looked at him again, waiting.
He forced himself to remain still; he clenched his fists, hidden beneath his folded arms. "Again," he said.
The light in her eyes dimmed, but she nodded. Without complaint, she stepped back into the water.
Ling Yue sighed, shaking her head. "You're really going to keep this up?"
His voice was taut. "It's necessary."
She studied him for a long moment, then exhaled. "For whom?"
He did not answer. Instead, he watched Shui Yi fight against the water, each step forward bringing her closer to strength. Closer to survival. Closer to the moment when she would no longer need him. That was the only victory he could allow himself.
She dipped under the water but hadn't resurfaced. The water churned violently where she had been, but there was no sign of her. A sharp tension coiled in his chest. His mind screamed for restraint. But survival meant nothing if she was already gone. The thought shattered his resolve.
He dove in. Panic swallowed him as he plunged beneath the surface. The cold hit him like a blade, water rushing past his ears, deafening, disorienting.
Then, he spotted her silver locks. Shui Yi drifted, her arms suspended in the current, hair swirling around her in luminous ribbons. Her lips were slightly parted, bubbles escaping in slow, delicate spirals. Too still. His chest tightened. He surged forward, wrapping an arm around her. He pressed his lips to hers, breathing life into her. His hand cradled the back of her head, his heart hammering against his ribs. With a burst of qi, he kicked to the surface, then flew them out of the water and onto the rock bed.
Ling Yue rushed forward the moment Shui Yi's body hit the ground. Long Fei halted beside her, muttering without looking back, "Keep it a secret."
She froze mid-step, but he had already left. A faint shimmer of golden qi danced around him, drying him completely as he leaped back, swift as the wind. His long ebony hair settled, arms crossed, his gaze stern as though he had never left his spot.
A beat of silence. Then Shui Yi shuddered with a gasp.