Ch 5

The fire crackled softly, casting flickering shadows over the clearing. The night was calm, but Shu Yi couldn't shake her unease. Xiao Fang was sprawled out beside her, snoring loudly, while Chen Wei sat on the other side of the fire, his expression unreadable.

Shu Yi leaned back against a tree trunk, her hand resting on her pouch of alchemical vials. Though she had allowed Chen Wei to share their camp, her instincts screamed caution. The world wasn't kind to trusting souls, and she had learned that lesson the hard way.

"You don't sleep?" Chen Wei's voice broke the silence.

"I sleep when it's safe," Shu Yi replied, her tone curt.

Chen Wei chuckled softly, the sound carrying a hint of amusement. "You're quite the cautious one. Can't say I blame you. These roads are dangerous."

Shu Yi narrowed her eyes at him. "Exactly. Which is why I don't trust people who show up uninvited."

Chen Wei raised his hands in mock surrender. "Fair enough. But if I had ill intentions, wouldn't I have acted by now?"

"Or maybe you're just waiting for the right moment," Shu Yi shot back.

The scholar laughed again, shaking his head. "You're sharper than most. I'll give you that."

---

The Scholar's Past

Despite her mistrust, Shu Yi's curiosity got the better of her. "You said you're a scholar. What kind of scholar roams the wilderness alone?"

Chen Wei leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees. "One who values knowledge above comfort. I've spent years studying alchemical techniques from ancient texts. But books can only teach so much. Sometimes, you have to go out and experience the world to truly understand it."

Shu Yi frowned. "Alchemy, huh? What have you learned?"

Chen Wei's eyes glimmered with interest. "Enough to know that alchemy isn't just about mixing herbs and minerals. It's about balance. Harmony between the elements. The right combination can heal—or destroy."

Shu Yi's grip on her pouch tightened slightly. "Sounds like you've dabbled in the destructive side."

Chen Wei smiled faintly. "Only out of necessity. Knowledge without purpose is wasted, wouldn't you agree?"

Shu Yi didn't answer. Her own journey as an alchemist had been filled with trial and error, victories and failures. But purpose? That was something she was still figuring out.

---

A Midnight Intrusion

The conversation was cut short by the sudden snap of a twig. Shu Yi shot to her feet, pulling a vial from her pouch in one swift motion.

"Who's there?" she demanded, her voice low but firm.

Chen Wei rose to his feet as well, his calm demeanor replaced with alertness. Xiao Fang stirred in his sleep, mumbling incoherently.

From the shadows emerged three figures, their faces hidden beneath dark hoods. The glint of steel in their hands was unmistakable.

"Well, well," one of them said, his voice rough. "What do we have here? A cozy little camp."

"Bandits," Shu Yi muttered under her breath.

Chen Wei stepped forward, his hands raised in a placating gesture. "Gentlemen, we have no quarrel with you. Let's not make this more complicated than it needs to be."

The bandits laughed, the sound chilling in the quiet night. "Oh, it's not complicated at all. You hand over your valuables, and we let you live. Simple, isn't it?"

Shu Yi's eyes darted to Xiao Fang, who was now wide awake and staring at the intruders with wide, terrified eyes.

"Stay behind me," she whispered to him.

---

Alchemy in Action

One of the bandits took a step closer, brandishing his blade. "Come on, now. Don't make us wait."

Shu Yi smirked, holding up a small vial filled with a swirling blue liquid. "You want something valuable? Here. Catch."

She tossed the vial toward the bandits. The leader instinctively reached out to grab it, but the moment the vial shattered in his hand, a burst of icy mist enveloped him. Frost crawled up his arm, and he let out a pained howl, dropping his weapon.

"What the—?!" another bandit exclaimed, stumbling back.

Before they could recover, Shu Yi hurled another vial at the ground. This one exploded in a cloud of thick, green smoke, obscuring the bandits' vision.

"Run!" Shu Yi shouted, grabbing Xiao Fang's hand.

Chen Wei didn't need to be told twice. The three of them bolted into the forest, leaving the bandits coughing and cursing behind them.

---

The Aftermath

When they finally stopped to catch their breath, Xiao Fang collapsed onto the ground, clutching his chest. "That… was… terrifying!"

Shu Yi leaned against a tree, her hands on her knees as she panted. "Welcome to life outside the village, kid."

Chen Wei, remarkably composed despite the ordeal, adjusted his cloak. "Impressive work back there. Your alchemy is quite… unconventional."

Shu Yi shot him a look. "Unconventional or not, it worked."

Chen Wei nodded. "Indeed. But those bandits won't forget what you did. They'll come looking for us."

"Let them," Shu Yi said, though her tone lacked conviction. She was tired of running, but what choice did she have?

---

Unspoken Tensions

As they settled down again, Shu Yi couldn't shake the feeling that Chen Wei was hiding something. His calmness during the attack, his quick acceptance of their escape—it all seemed too convenient.

"Why didn't you fight back?" Shu Yi asked him bluntly.

Chen Wei raised an eyebrow. "I'm a scholar, not a warrior. Besides, you seemed to have everything under control."

Shu Yi wasn't satisfied with that answer, but she let it drop for now. Trusting him might be a gamble, but for the moment, she needed his knowledge—and maybe even his company.

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