Chapter 6: Refuge Among the Trees

The forest stretched endlessly before them, its towering pines casting long, jagged shadows across the uneven ground. Li Feng stumbled over roots and loose rocks, his breath ragged, and his legs aching. Mei Lian moved ahead with ease, her steps light and measured as if she were part of the forest itself.

"Keep up, kid," she called over her shoulder, her tone somewhere between teasing and scolding. "If you lag behind, they'll find us before you can blink."

"I'm trying," Li Feng muttered, though the sharp edge of his tone was dulled by exhaustion. The jade ring felt heavier than ever, pressing against his chest with every labored breath.

Mei Lian stopped abruptly, raising a hand for silence. Li Feng nearly ran into her but caught himself just in time. She tilted her head, listening intently. For a moment, the only sound was the faint rustling of leaves in the breeze.

"They're close," she murmured. Her eyes flicked toward a dense thicket to their left. "This way."

Without waiting for a response, she slipped into the shadows of the trees. Li Feng hesitated for only a heartbeat before following. The branches clawed at his arms and legs, but he pushed through, determined not to fall behind.

After what felt like an eternity, they emerged into a small clearing, hidden by a ring of ancient oaks. At its center was a shallow cave, barely more than an overhang of stone, but it was enough to shield them from prying eyes. Mei Lian crouched near the entrance, scanning the forest with sharp, calculating eyes.

"This will do for now," she said. "We'll rest here until nightfall."

Li Feng dropped to the ground, leaning back against the cool stone of the cave. His chest heaved as he struggled to catch his breath. Mei Lian, on the other hand, seemed completely unfazed. She paced the clearing, her movements quick and precise as she checked for signs of pursuit.

"How do you do that?" Li Feng asked, his voice hoarse. "You barely look tired."

Mei Lian shot him a wry smile. "Years of practice. When you spend your life running, you learn how to keep going."

Her words were casual, but there was an undercurrent of bitterness that Li Feng didn't miss. He wanted to ask more, but the look in her eyes warned him not to push.

Instead, he shifted his focus to the jade ring. It rested against his chest, warm to the touch, as if it were alive. He held it up, studying the intricate carvings that seemed to glow faintly in the dim light.

"What is it about this ring that makes it so important?" he murmured, more to himself than to Mei Lian.

"You tell me," she said, sitting down across from him. "You're the one carrying it like it's your lifeline."

Li Feng hesitated. He hadn't told her much about the ring or the Azure Dragon Clan. Part of him didn't trust her, but another part—the part that remembered how she had fought to protect him—wanted to believe she could be an ally.

"It's… a family heirloom," he said finally. It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't the whole truth, either. "My father said it's tied to our legacy."

Mei Lian raised an eyebrow. "That's vague."

"I don't know much more than that," he admitted, his frustration clear. "He died before he could tell me everything."

Her expression softened slightly, but her tone remained pragmatic. "If it's valuable enough to make Shen Longwei hunt you down, it's more than just an heirloom. You need to figure out what you're carrying, and fast."

Li Feng nodded, though he wasn't sure how to do that. His father's teachings had always been cryptic, filled with riddles and lessons he hadn't fully understood. Now, with the weight of the ring and the fate of his clan resting on his shoulders, he wished he had listened more closely.

"Teach me," he said suddenly, looking up at Mei Lian.

She blinked, caught off guard. "Teach you what?"

"How to survive. How to fight like you do." His voice was steady, his gaze unwavering. "I can't do this on my own."

Mei Lian studied him for a long moment, her green eyes searching his face. Finally, she sighed and stood. "Fine. But don't expect me to go easy on you."

The hours that followed were grueling. Mei Lian drilled him relentlessly, correcting his stances, his strikes, even the way he moved through the forest. Her methods were harsh but effective, and though Li Feng's body ached, he felt a glimmer of hope for the first time since the attack on his village.

"Your biggest problem," Mei Lian said, circling him like a predator, "is that you think too much. Fighting isn't about overanalyzing. It's about instincts. Reaction. You hesitate, and you're dead."

Li Feng nodded, wiping sweat from his brow. "I'm trying."

"Try harder," she snapped. "Again."

He squared his stance, focusing on the movements she had shown him. This time, his strikes were faster, more fluid. Mei Lian nodded approvingly.

"Better," she said. "But don't let your guard down."

As if to prove her point, she lunged at him. He barely managed to dodge, stumbling backward but staying on his feet. She grinned, a hint of mischief in her eyes.

"You'll get there," she said. "Eventually."

As the sun dipped lower in the sky, the forest grew quieter. Li Feng leaned against a tree, his body sore but his mind sharper than it had been in days. Mei Lian sat nearby, sharpening her dagger with a small whetstone.

"Thank you," he said quietly.

She glanced at him; her expression unreadable. "Don't thank me yet. We're not out of this."

Before he could respond, the jade ring began to glow faintly, its light pulsing in time with his heartbeat. Mei Lian's eyes narrowed as she stared at it.

"What's it doing?" she asked.

"I don't know," Li Feng admitted, his voice tinged with unease.

The glow grew brighter, casting strange shadows across the clearing. Mei Lian rose to her feet, her hand on her dagger. "Whatever it is, it's not subtle. We need to move."

Li Feng hesitated, torn between his growing trust in her and the secrets of the ring. But as the light intensified, he realized there was no time for hesitation.

"Let's go," he said, slipping the ring back into his sash.

As they disappeared into the forest, the glow faded, leaving only the faint sound of rustling leaves in their wake.