Ch 4

As the sun began to set, Shu Yi and Xiao Fang wandered deeper into the wilderness. The fading light painted the horizon in shades of orange and purple, but neither of them had the energy to admire the view.

"Shu Yi, my legs hurt," Xiao Fang whined.

Shu Yi glanced back at him, rolling her eyes. "Your legs hurt? I'm the one carrying all the supplies."

"You're also the genius alchemist," Xiao Fang said with a cheeky grin. "I'm just a kid."

"Smart mouth for a kid," Shu Yi muttered. "Alright, we'll stop here for the night. But don't expect a luxury inn."

She found a small clearing surrounded by trees and set her pouch down. Xiao Fang plopped onto the ground with a dramatic sigh.

---

Setting Camp

Shu Yi gathered some dry sticks and started a fire. Xiao Fang watched her, resting his chin on his hands. "You're really good at this."

"Good at what?" Shu Yi asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Surviving," Xiao Fang said. "If it were just me, I'd probably be crying in a corner somewhere."

Shu Yi smirked. "Well, stick with me, and you might actually survive this crazy world."

As the fire crackled, Shu Yi pulled out a small pot and started mixing herbs and powders from her pouch. Xiao Fang's curiosity got the better of him. "What are you making now?"

"A simple energy tonic," Shu Yi said. "It's not much, but it'll keep us going until we find real food."

Xiao Fang sniffed the bubbling mixture and wrinkled his nose. "It smells weird."

"It's not meant to taste good," Shu Yi said, pouring the liquid into a small cup. "Here, drink this."

Xiao Fang hesitated. "Do I have to?"

Shu Yi gave him a stern look. "Unless you want to collapse from hunger tomorrow, yes."

Reluctantly, Xiao Fang took the cup and sipped the tonic. He gagged but managed to swallow. "That's the worst thing I've ever tasted!"

Shu Yi laughed. "Welcome to the life of an adventurer."

---

The Mysterious Stranger

As they sat by the fire, Shu Yi's ears picked up the faint sound of footsteps approaching. Her hand instinctively went to her pouch, ready to grab a vial.

"Stay quiet," she whispered to Xiao Fang, who immediately froze.

From the shadows emerged a figure clad in a long gray cloak. The stranger stopped a few steps away, raising their hands. "I mean no harm."

Shu Yi narrowed her eyes. "Then why are you sneaking around?"

"I smelled the fire," the stranger said. "I've been traveling for days and thought I might find some company."

Shu Yi didn't lower her guard. "Who are you?"

The stranger pulled back their hood, revealing a young man with a calm, friendly face. "My name is Chen Wei. I'm just a wandering scholar."

"A scholar?" Shu Yi asked skeptically. "What's a scholar doing out here in the middle of nowhere?"

Chen Wei chuckled. "Looking for inspiration, I suppose. But it seems I've only found trouble."

---

An Uneasy Alliance

Despite her reservations, Shu Yi allowed Chen Wei to sit by the fire. He pulled out a small pouch of dried meat and offered it to them. Xiao Fang's eyes lit up.

"Real food!" Xiao Fang said, grabbing a piece before Shu Yi could stop him.

Shu Yi studied Chen Wei closely. "Why are you being so generous?"

Chen Wei smiled. "It's basic courtesy. Besides, you saved me from another night of eating bland rice cakes."

Shu Yi took a piece of meat but didn't let her guard down. "Alright, scholar. If you're staying here, don't try anything funny."

"Of course," Chen Wei said with a polite bow.

As the night wore on, the three of them talked about their travels. Chen Wei claimed to be researching ancient alchemy techniques, which piqued Shu Yi's interest.

"Alchemy, huh?" Shu Yi said. "Maybe you're not as useless as you look."

Chen Wei laughed. "I could say the same about you."

---

Foreshadowing Trouble

As the fire began to die down, Shu Yi felt a strange unease. Something about Chen Wei didn't sit right with her, but she couldn't put her finger on it.

Xiao Fang was already asleep, snoring softly. Shu Yi glanced at Chen Wei, who was staring into the fire with a thoughtful expression.

"Why are you really out here?" Shu Yi asked quietly.

Chen Wei looked up, his calm smile returning. "Like I said, I'm just a scholar. Nothing more, nothing less."

Shu Yi didn't press further but made a mental note to keep an eye on him. Trust was a luxury she couldn't afford.

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