Shadows Of Betrayal

The night was silent, interrupted only by the rustling of leaves in the wind. Li Mei sat at the edge of the small fire, hugging her knees, trying to fight off the chill that seeped into her bones. Feng Wei, as usual, was busy sharpening his sword, while Zhang Rui leaned casually against a tree nearby, smiling as though he had no cares in the world.

"You know," Zhang Rui began, his tone full of intrigue, "there's an easier way to handle this. You could hand Li Mei over to the kingdom, Feng Wei. For the right price, you could gain your freedom. We all could."

Li Mei stiffened. She looked at Zhang Rui with pure hatred. "How can you say that? You know what they would do to me."

Zhang Rui shrugged. "I'm not saying it's the best option, but it's the most realistic one. We all know they won't stop until they catch you. Isn't it better to surrender than to keep running like this?"

"We won't surrender," Feng Wei replied without looking at him, his tone cold as steel. "Li Mei will not become a tool for their ambitions."

Zhang Rui sighed, as if disappointed by the response. "You're stubborn, Feng Wei. You know this isn't just about Li Mei. It's about survival. You're a warrior; you should know when it's time to give up."

Feng Wei stopped sharpening his sword and looked at Zhang Rui with sharp eyes. "If you try to convince me again, you'll regret it."

Zhang Rui simply chuckled, but he didn't push further. Li Mei watched their exchange carefully. Zhang Rui always had a sly demeanor, but this time, she felt something more dangerous hidden behind his words.

******************

The next morning, their journey continued toward the Xiyan border. Zhang Rui walked at the back, occasionally glancing at Li Mei. She felt his gaze, and though she wanted to ignore it, the unease lingered.

"I'm only trying to help," Zhang Rui suddenly said, breaking the silence.

Feng Wei snorted. "Help who? Yourself?"

Zhang Rui smiled, though his smile felt more like mockery. "I'm helping all of us. Do you think we can live like this forever? The kingdom has endless resources. They'll find us sooner or later."

"But not with your help," Feng Wei retorted, quickening his pace as though he wanted to leave him behind.

Li Mei felt uneasy. The journey was hard enough without Zhang Rui constantly stirring up tension. But she knew that, despite his untrustworthiness, Zhang Rui still had useful skills, especially in reading situations and finding loopholes.

***********************

That night, they arrived at a small village at the foot of a mountain. Feng Wei decided to stay in a simple inn. The owner, an old man with sharp eyes, observed them intently as they entered the small room with three beds.

After dinner, Li Mei stepped outside to get some fresh air. As she walked through the inn's backyard, she overheard Zhang Rui talking to someone. She quickly hid behind a large tree, trying to listen.

"Are you sure you can handle this?" Zhang Rui's voice was low but confident.

"I just need time," answered another voice, unfamiliar and shadowed. "But remember, Tianxu is impatient. If you fail to deliver the girl, you know what will happen."

Zhang Rui chuckled softly. "I won't fail. But you need to convince them to increase their offer. This girl isn't ordinary; she's the prophesied Phoenix child."

Li Mei felt her blood freeze. They were talking about her.

"I'll deliver your message," the voice replied before disappearing into the darkness.

When Zhang Rui returned to the inn, Li Mei quickly rushed to her room. She looked at Feng Wei, who was cleaning his sword, and said with a trembling voice, "I overheard Zhang Rui talking to someone. He's planning to hand me over to Tianxu."

Feng Wei turned, his expression calm though his eyes flashed with danger. "I suspected as much. He's too cunning to be left unchecked."

"What should we do?" Li Mei asked.

"We can't just get rid of him," Feng Wei replied. "He knows too much about us. But don't worry, I'll make sure he can't betray us."

Li Mei didn't know what Feng Wei planned, but for now, she chose to trust him.

*********************

The next day, they continued their journey northward. Zhang Rui seemed unusually cheerful, even offering to help Li Mei carry her bag. But Li Mei knew better than to accept his help.

When they stopped at a narrow path flanked by steep cliffs, Feng Wei suddenly halted. He turned to Zhang Rui, his sword drawn.

"This ends here," Feng Wei said coldly. "You've been planning to betray us, haven't you?"

Zhang Rui looked startled but quickly regained his composure. "What are you talking about, Feng Wei? I've done nothing."

"Don't pretend," Feng Wei growled. "I know you spoke to someone at the inn. You're trying to sell Li Mei to Tianxu."

Li Mei stepped back, feeling the tension in the air grow heavier.

Zhang Rui sighed, as if disappointed that his secret was out. "Fine, I admit it. But what other choice do we have? We can't keep living like this, Feng Wei. You know that."

"We will survive," Feng Wei said firmly. "With or without you."

Zhang Rui smirked. "You need me, Feng Wei. You know that. I may be cunning, but I also know how to deal with Tianxu. Without me, you don't stand a chance."

Feng Wei was silent for a moment, then slowly lowered his sword. "You stay with us, but if you try anything again, I won't hesitate to end you."

Zhang Rui's smile was thin, though fear flickered in his eyes. "Alright, Feng Wei. I'll play by your rules… for now."

Li Mei felt relieved that the situation didn't end in violence, but she knew the tension between them would only grow. This journey was far from over, and danger lurked in every step they took.