The door opened slowly, and a man stepped in, carrying a small bundle of medicine in one hand and an elegant carved staff in the other. The staff wasn't ordinary it had faint glowing markings along its surface that caught the light with a soft shimmer. His movements were calm and unhurried, as if he already knew there was no danger inside the room.
He wore a neat, simple robe layered with light fabric, giving him a composed and refined appearance without being overly elaborate. His expression stayed relaxed, almost indifferent, as he stepped in. Xu Yang's eyes narrowed immediately, his body tensing despite the lingering weakness.
"Who are you?" he asked, his voice sharp.
The man didn't react to the hostility. He simply set the medicine aside and raised one hand slightly, a quiet gesture meant to slow things down. "Wait," he said calmly. "Take a breath first." Xu Yang didn't move. His gaze stayed fixed on him, guarded and untrusting. "Answer me."
"You're in no condition to question anything right now," the man replied evenly. "That's not your decision to make," Xu Yang shot back, his tone tightening. "I asked who you are."
The man studied him for a brief moment, as if measuring how much strength was actually behind that defiance. "Someone who kept you alive through the night," he said simply.
Xu Yang's eyes narrowed slightly. "That doesn't tell me anything."
"It tells you enough for now," the man replied without irritation. "If I meant you harm, you wouldn't be awake." Silence stretched between them. Xu Yang didn't lower his guard. "Where am I?"
"My home."
"Why bring me here?" Xu Yang pressed.
"You were dying," the man said, his voice still calm, but firmer now. "That seemed like a good enough reason." Xu Yang's jaw tightened slightly. He didn't look convinced but he didn't interrupt either. "And you expect me to just trust you?" he asked after a pause.
"I don't expect anything," the man answered. "But you should understand your situation first." Xu Yang's gaze flickered briefly, then returned to him. "Then explain it."
The man exhaled quietly, as if deciding not to argue further. "Start by breathing properly," he said instead. "Your body hasn't recovered." Xu Yang didn't respond immediately, but the tension in his shoulders shifted just slightly enough to show he heard him.
The man stepped closer anyway, his presence steady and non-threatening. Without asking, he reached out and gently took Xu Yang's wrist, checking his pulse. His touch was firm but controlled, practiced in a way that suggested long experience.
"Chen Yu," he said after a moment.
There was a brief pause before he added, "You met me last night." Xu Yang's brows drew together, confusion flickering across his face. " Last night?" The memory did not come to him but for Chen Yu, it was clear.
Rain had poured heavily over the village outskirts, the storm swallowing sound and sight alike. Visibility had been poor, the world reduced to shifting shadows and relentless noise. And in the middle of it, barely visible beneath the downpour, lay a collapsed figure near the muddy path. Xu Yang.
His condition had been unstable. His body was cold from the rain, his breathing uneven, and something else lingered around him an unnatural disturbance, faint but unmistakable. Not a simple injury. Something deeper, something wrong.
When the man saw him, he paused for a brief second, his calm expression breaking just slightly into alert focus. His eyes moved quickly over Xu Yang's condition, reading every detail. " He's barely holding on," he muttered under his breath. Then a sharper concern crept into his tone as he stepped closer. "Hey… can you hear me?"
Xu Yang didn't respond.
The man crouched slightly, checking his breathing and pulse, his brows tightening. "Don't tell me you're already unconscious…" he said quietly, almost like he was annoyed but there was clear seriousness underneath it. His gaze flicked over the rain-soaked injuries again. "What happened out here…?"
He exhaled, looking around once as if expecting someone else nearby. "No traces… nothing obvious." A pause. "You really picked a bad place to collapse."
His attention returned to Xu Yang, and his voice lowered slightly, more controlled now. " Stay alive for a few more minutes."
Chen Yu had not hesitated. Time had mattered more than questions. He lifted Xu Yang immediately, adjusting his grip so the injured man was held securely against his shoulder, one arm supporting his back and the other steadying his legs. The rain outside was already turning heavier, wind cutting across the ground and blurring everything into a moving curtain of cold water.
As he stepped out, the storm hit them instantly. Xu Yang's weight pressed against him, but Chen Yu didn't slow down. Instead, he tightened his hold slightly, keeping him stable as they moved forward through the uneven, muddy path. "Don't lose consciousness," he said calmly, his voice steady even under the noise of thunder. "Stay awake if you can hear me."
Xu Yang didn't respond, but his breathing remained faintly steady. Chen Yu continued walking, carefully choosing each step to avoid slipping. The staff in his other hand helped him maintain balance, occasionally touching the ground to steady their movement when the wind grew stronger. "This weather… you really picked the worst time to end up like this," he muttered, more to himself than to Xu Yang.
A gust of wind forced him to pause for a moment. He shifted Xu Yang slightly higher on his shoulder and tightened his grip again. "Hold on," he said quietly. "We're almost there." Xu Yang's body trembled faintly from the cold, and Chen Yu immediately adjusted his robe over him, shielding as much of him from the rain as possible. "You're heavier than you look," he added under his breath, though there was no irritation in his tone, only focus. Step by step, he moved through the storm, the village lights still distant and blurred ahead. "Just a little further," Chen Yu said again, steady and controlled. "Don't pass out on me now." Only after a long, difficult walk through wind and rain did the outline of his home finally come into view.
Through the night, Chen yu worked in silence after bringing Xu Yang inside. He carefully supported Xu Yang's weight as he guided him into a prepared inner room, laying him down on a clean wooden bed used for emergency treatment. A folded cloth was placed under his head, and his soaked outer layer was removed just enough to treat the injuries without exposing him to the cold.
Xu Yang's breathing was still uneven, his body trembling faintly from exhaustion and rain. Chen yu checked his pulse again, then turned immediately to his supplies without wasting a second. Herbs were crushed slowly in a stone bowl, mixed with measured precision. Warm water was prepared, bandages were laid out neatly, and medicinal paste was blended with steady, practiced movements. The room filled with the faint, earthy scent of healing herbs.
" Stay still," Chen yu said calmly as he began cleaning a wound along Xu Yang's arm. "You're making it harder for yourself."
Xu Yang didn't respond properly at first. His consciousness drifted in and out, body reacting weakly whenever medicine touched his injuries. But Chen yu's hands remained steady, carefully wrapping the bandage without rushing or hesitation.
Time passed in quiet repetition cleaning, applying, wrapping, checking. As the night deepened, Xu Yang suddenly stirred again. His fingers tightened weakly against the cloth beneath him, and his breathing turned unstable as awareness briefly returned. His voice came out broken, faint, and unsteady.
"Don't… leave…" he murmured. "I know… I was wrong…" Chen yu paused for a moment, his hands stilling as he looked down at him. Xu Yang's grip tightened slightly again, like he was trying to hold onto consciousness. "Please… don't leave me…"
For a brief moment, the room felt heavier.
Chen yu exhaled quietly, then resumed wrapping the bandage around Xu Yang's arm with calm precision. "I'm not leaving," he said in a steady voice. "But you need to stop talking and rest." Xu Yang didn't fully respond, but his tension slowly eased as exhaustion pulled him back under.
Chen yu adjusted the blanket over him, checked his pulse again, and ensured the breathing remained stable before returning to the remaining injuries. His movements never stopped controlled, careful, unwavering.
"…You'll live," he murmured under his breath, more to himself than to Xu Yang. "Just don't make it harder than it already is."
The night continued in silence, filled only with the soft sound of herbs being prepared and steady hands working through injury after injury, keeping Xu Yang alive until morning slowly approached.
Outside, the storm had continued without mercy. Inside, Xu Yang had remained unconscious. And Chen yu had stayed awake. "You were found near the village," Chen Yu said in the present, his tone calm, as if recounting something ordinary. "You were in no condition to stay out there." Xu Yang listened, his expression still guarded, but some of the tension in his shoulders eased.
" You saved me," he said quietly. Chen yu gave a small nod, nothing more.
Xu Yang lowered his gaze for a brief moment before speaking again. " Thank you."
The words were simple, but sincere.
Silence followed not uncomfortable, just still.
Xu Yang shifted slightly and tried to stand, but the moment he put weight on his legs, his balance faltered. His body wasn't ready. The strength he expected wasn't there.
He frowned slightly, steadying himself against the edge of the bed. " I'm going home," he said, voice low but firm, as if that alone should settle the matter. Chen Yu didn't even look surprised. He simply set aside the cloth he was holding and turned toward him. "No," he said calmly. "You're not."
Xu Yang's eyes narrowed. "I didn't ask."
"And I didn't say you had a choice," Chen Yu replied, still composed. A short silence passed between them. Xu Yang tried to take a step again, but his knees weakened immediately. Chen Yu moved closer without hesitation, catching him before he could fall.
"You can barely stand," Chen Yu said, steadying him. "Where exactly do you think you're going in this condition?"
Xu Yang clenched his jaw. " I've been worse."
"That doesn't make this fine," Chen Yu said firmly, guiding him back toward the bed. "If you leave now, you won't make it far."
Xu Yang looked away, frustration flickering across his face, but his strength gave out before his pride did.
Chen Yu moved immediately, steadying him before he could fall. "Don't push it," he said. "You're not fully recovered." Xu Yang exhaled quietly, frustration flickering across his face, but he didn't argue this time. Slowly, he sat back down. " How long?" he asked.
"A few days," Chen Yu replied. "Rest. Let your body stabilize."
Xu Yang hesitated, then nodded once. "Fine." Chen Yu didn't respond immediately. He simply turned, picking up the bundle of medicine again. "I'm going to the forest," he said. "There are herbs I need to collect."
He paused briefly near the door, glancing back just once. "Stay here. Don't move around too much."
Xu Yang frowned slightly. "You're just going to leave me alone in your place?" he asked. "Aren't you afraid?" Chen Yu stopped for a moment, as if the question didn't really require much thought. Then he replied calmly, "If I was afraid, I wouldn't have carried you here last night." Xu Yang's eyes narrowed a little. "So you trust me that much?" he asked. "Isn't it stupid to trust someone so easily?"
Chen Yu finally turned his head slightly, looking at him properly this time. "Trust has nothing to do with stupidity," he said evenly. "It has to do with judgment."
A brief silence followed. Xu Yang studied him for a moment. " And your judgment told you I'm not dangerous?"
"It told me you were dying," Chen Yu corrected calmly. "Everything else can be decided after you're alive." Xu Yang didn't respond to that immediately, his expression tightening slightly as if he couldn't decide whether to be annoyed or unsettled.
Chen Yu adjusted the bundle in his hand again. "Besides," he added, voice steady, "if you were going to cause trouble, you already had plenty of chances last night."
That earned a faint pause from Xu Yang.
" That's not comforting," Xu Yang muttered under his breath. "It's not meant to be," Chen Yu replied simply. He turned fully toward the door again, stepping out this time without hesitation. "Stay here," he said once more, calmer but firm. "I'll be back before long."
And with that, he left. The door closed softly behind him, leaving Xu Yang alone in the quiet room.
Elsewhere, the morning did not feel calm. Lin Chen's eyes snapped open, and the first word that left his lips was soft but immediate. "…Xu Yang." He froze for a moment, staring blankly ahead as if the name itself had pulled something loose inside him. Then, all at once, everything from the night before came rushing back the argument, the sharpness in his voice, the anger he hadn't controlled, the way Xu Yang had stood there in silence before turning away… and walking out into the storm.
"No," Lin Chen murmured under his breath, his fingers tightening slightly against the blanket. "That's not how it was supposed to end."
He sat up slowly, as if the weight of the memory was physically pressing him down. "I shouldn't have said that…" he muttered, gaze unfocused. "I should've stopped him."
A brief silence followed. His jaw tightened as the realization settled deeper.
"Xu Yang…" he called again softly, almost like he expected an answer. But only silence returned.
Lin Chen pushed himself up quickly, his chest tightening as the memory settled heavier than he expected. " Xu Yang… where are you?" he murmured, his voice quieter now, less certain than before. He tried to reason with himself, but the thoughts didn't feel convincing. "He couldn't have gone far… right?" The words sounded hollow even to him. Xu Yang had been injured, barely steady on his feet. There was no way he could have gone far in that condition.
His hand tightened unconsciously at his side. "…Why can't I find him?" He didn't wait any longer. Stepping outside, he was immediately met with the lingering chill of the storm. The ground was still damp, the air thick with the scent of rain, and everything felt colder than it should have.
Without hesitation, he moved toward the edge of the village. His gaze lowered, scanning the ground carefully. It didn't take long to notice it. There was little bracelet's chain , just enough to catch his attention. Lin Chen crouched slightly, studying them with a focused expression. " this looks…" They didn't continue. Not clearly. Not the way they should have.
His frown deepened as he traced the marks with his eyes. "…This doesn't make sense." The trail didn't extend like someone walking away. It broke apart, scattered unnaturally, as if something had interrupted it midway… or shifted it entirely.
"I already searched whole village…" he muttered under his breath, his voice carrying a hint of frustration. " so why I can't still find him ?" His expression darkened slightly as unease settled in. "Where did you go…?"
He stood there in silence for a moment before adding, quieter this time, " You're not that easy to lose track of…" But even as he said it, uncertainty crept in. Something about this didn't feel right. It didn't feel like Xu Yang had simply walked away on his own. It didn't feel like something he would do. Lin Chen remained still, staring at the broken traces in the mud, the silence around him pressing heavier with each passing second.
And for the first time, he felt it clearly.
This wasn't normal.
But he didn't yet know why.
Far from the village, in a place where light barely existed, the world felt wrong. The ground was cracked and dark, veins of molten fire running through it like rivers, casting a dim, flickering glow across the surroundings. From time to time, bursts of lava erupted in the distance, rising like fountains before collapsing back into the burning flow.
Twisted trees stood scattered across the land, their branches bare and lifeless, wrapped in heavy, rusted chains that clinked softly whenever the hot wind passed through them. The air itself felt dense oppressive, as if it carried something unseen.
In the middle of that unnatural stillness, a figure stirred. The masked man's fingers twitched before his eyes slowly opened. For a moment, his vision was unfocused, adjusting to the dim, shifting glow of firelight reflecting off the dark surroundings. Nothing about this place felt familiar. He inhaled slowly, testing his body. There was no sharp pain tearing through him only weakness, a lingering heaviness that made even small movements feel controlled and deliberate.
"I'm… alive?"
The words came out low, almost disbelieving.
He pushed himself up slightly, steadying his breath as fragments of memory began to surface. Rain falling endlessly. Threads tearing through space. That sharp, unnatural sensation like something cutting through reality itself. "That attack…" he murmured under his breath, voice tightening faintly. " should've ended me." His thoughts paused there. Then shifted. " Someone…"
His brows drew together beneath the mask as he looked around again, scanning the strange, burning landscape. " Who brought me here?" His gaze lowered slightly as he tried to force his memory further back, pushing past the fragments that refused to connect. His hand tightened against the ground, breath slowing as he focused.
"No… there was someone " he muttered quietly.
"I wasn't alone…" His voice dropped, more certain this time. " There was someone there before I lost consciousness."
He closed his eyes briefly, trying to hold onto the image but it slipped, incomplete.
"I fought the Threads.. I remember that much," he continued under his breath. "They were stronger than before… not normal… something was different…" His jaw tightened slightly. "And then…" A pause. He can't recall anything. His eyes opened again, frustration surfacing beneath the calm. " Why can't I remember?" He exhaled slowly, forcing himself to stay steady. "That person…" he said again, quieter now. "they were close."
Another faint fragment surfaced just enough to unsettle him. " Watching… or… waiting?"
He frowned slightly. "No…"
A small shake of his head. " They stepped in." The realization settled slowly, uncertain but persistent. " They saved me."
Silence returned once more, heavier than before. The masked man looked around at the burning landscape again, the chains, the molten rivers, the unnatural stillness pressing in from every direction. " Then why bring me here?" No answer came.
Elsewhere Chen Yu was deep inside the forest, moving carefully through uneven ground where medicinal herbs grew only in rare, scattered patches. The deeper he went, the quieter everything became, until even his footsteps felt strangely distant. He crouched near a shaded rock, brushing aside wet leaves as he examined a small herb growing in a narrow crack. "Still not enough," he murmured softly, shifting forward without hesitation.
Behind him, between the trees, something started flowing slow, silent, and unnatural, like a dark river spreading across the forest floor. It wasn't water. It didn't reflect light. It absorbed it completely, swallowing the faint brightness between the trees as it moved.
Chen Yu paused slightly, still facing forward.
" Hmm?" he muttered under his breath, sensing the shift but not turning fully yet.
The flow behind him grew faster, thicker, closer.
Only when it reached the roots near his feet did he finally turn his head. And then he saw Threads. Not a few and not scattered but full wave. Spreading like a living tide through the forest, sliding between trees, climbing over stones, pouring forward without sound as if the ground itself had opened and begun to bleed darkness. The forest beneath it seemed to disappear wherever it passed, leaving only that unnatural moving void behind.
Chen Yu's eyes narrowed instantly.
" So it's already this far out." Before he could take another step, the Threads surged upward. They didn't attack randomly. They chose. In a single coordinated motion, they wrapped around his ankles first, then his legs, then shot upward across his body as if they already knew every movement he would make before he made it. Chen Yu shifted back once, but the moment he did, the Threads adjusted instantly, tightening their formation around him. More emerged from behind him. From above. From both sides.
The forest itself felt like it was being rewritten in real time. Chen Yu lifted his staff to defend himself, but before he could complete the motion, another wave of Threads struck, coiling around his wrist and locking his arm mid-air. The staff slipped slightly from his grip, held halfway before another strand tightened and pinned it completely.
His expression sharpened not fear, but focused recognition. " Interesting," he said quietly. The Threads surged again, faster this time, climbing toward his chest and neck, tightening with increasing pressure as if reacting to his awareness itself. Chen Yu's breathing slowed, still controlled but now restricted, as he looked at the spreading darkness surrounding him without moving.
" So this is what you've become…" he murmured. And the forest fell completely still as the Threads closed in.