Li Wei's hand drifted upward, his fingers brushing along the bird's delicate feathers. The plumage shimmered faintly in the dusk light—soft, sky-blue quills patterned with faint streaks of silver that seemed to glimmer when touched. The creature tilted its head at the young man's bold familiarity, its small eyes blinking in puzzled agitation. For a heartbeat, it appeared ready to peck at him, but as the moments stretched, the bird sensed no malice flowing from Li Wei or Leng Yue. Instead, it clicked its beak and bent down, plucking at the sprigs of wild herbs that grew in clusters by the stream's edge. The gentle rustle of its feeding blended with the trickle of water that wound its way around scattered stones. ~
Li Wei exhaled softly and murmured, more to himself than anyone else, "This bird is quite strange… no divine spark dwells within it, and yet its aura is vast, as though it hides the strength of a mountain beneath the guise of a sparrow." His eyes narrowed with quiet observation, every flicker of movement catalogued in his mind. Few things escaped his sight, and even fewer escaped his suspicion.
Leng Yue, who sat cross-legged beside their small encampment, glanced up from where she had been carefully stacking scrolls and trinkets into ordered piles. Her brows knit, though she said nothing at first. The woman's attention lingered on the bird as it devoured the herbs, seemingly careless yet oddly purposeful.
When the bird had eaten its fill, it shook its feathers and lifted its head proudly. Then, with a vigorous beating of its wings—whup-whup-whup—the creature rose into the air. A chorus of piercing chirps rang out, sharp and fervent, echoing against the nearby hills. The fowl circled the pair restlessly, swooping low at times, then ascending, its harsh cries demanding acknowledgment. ~
Leng Yue stood, brushing dust from her robes, and followed its motions with a discerning eye. "I think this fowl is trying to tell us something…" she said, her voice quiet but firm. She folded her arms, the wind tugging strands of her dark hair loose from the braid that ran down her back. "Creatures of the wild do not sing in vain. When a bird cries so direly, it is not for merriment. It smells of calamity. Such cries are omens—signs that danger prowls near."
Li Wei's gaze followed the bird's restless dance through the air. He tapped his fingers against the hilt of his sword, a soft clink as metal met nail. After a long pause, he said, "Leng Yue, pack up our enclaves. We will be departing shortly." His tone was unhurried, calm as the river's surface, though his thoughts told another story. Let us hope the turmoil is still tame… yet how often do troubles come lightly when they fall upon my path?
Leng Yue did not argue. She extended her slender hand toward the array of pylons and wards that formed the skeleton of their camp. With a flick of her wrist, the air rippled, and one by one, each pylon folded in on itself, vanishing with faint pops of displaced air. The cooking tripod, the bedrolls, the lacquered chests—all dissolved into shimmering motes, which streamed toward the polished gem cradled in her palm. The gemstone, a relic the size of her fist, shimmered with aurora-like hues that rolled across its surface, capturing the entirety of their temporary home within. The task took only moments, but the artistry of it was no less wondrous.
Li Wei remained silent, watching her complete the task. His eyes wandered upward again. The bird had ascended higher still, cutting through the air toward a narrow cleft between two dark hills. The gap seemed less a passage and more a wound in the earth's flesh—jagged and foreboding. The bird dipped into the cleft, then reemerged, as though beckoning them onward. Its wings flared wide and its cries grew louder.
The young man frowned, skepticism clouding his features. Yet before he could dismiss the omen as mere coincidence, a glow shimmered faintly in front of his eyes. Lines of radiant text appeared in mid-air, bold and unrelenting, as though branded into reality itself:
[System Prompt: A disturbance brews within the valley. Take action to alter the course of lives. Reward: 1x System Ticket (Redeemable at System Store).]
Li Wei's lips tightened. A reward? A ticket? How quaint. This system of mine rarely stoops to hand out baubles unless it has already set snares for my feet. He clenched his hand slightly, the glow vanishing into sparks that dispersed into nothingness. "To think it grows bolder in forcing my hand… meddlesome thing."
The promise of reward should have pleased him, yet his heart was heavy. Such generosity from the system carried only hidden hooks. "A fat sheep in the market," he muttered under his breath, "often hides the butcher's knife behind its wool."
Still, the words of the prompt lingered. This was no optional diversion—the system made that clear. His usual tasks aligned with cultivating prestige, securing wealth, and flaunting status as a young master. This, however, was something else. An ambush of fate, thrust into his lap without warning.
Li Wei lifted his gaze to Leng Yue, who now secured the aurora-gem into her sash. He deliberated aloud, his tone measured. "It is very likely that there is a disturbance nearby. Should we act, lives will be lost. Yet peace may follow in its wake. Such is the way of war—fields must burn before they may bloom again." His eyes reflected the wavering flames of the setting sun, sharp and unyielding.
Leng Yue tilted her head, her eyes meeting his with an almost icy clarity. "Young master," she said softly, "we are already fugitives, cast adrift in this land with naught but our wits. If we intervene, there will be blood—but there will also be gratitude. It is no small thing to bind debts, even among strangers. Better to owe and be owed than to drift without tether."
Her words, though simple, struck like a smith's hammer. Cold reason, no indulgence of sentiment.
Li Wei studied her for a moment longer, then a faint smile curved his lips. He nodded slowly. "Good. Very good. You see the world clearly, Leng Yue. Let us not tarry further." His sleeve flicked outward with a crisp whoosh. At his gesture, clouds above churned, condensing swiftly into a thick white platform. Wisps of vapor curled along its edges as though woven from silk threads. He stepped aboard, his boots sinking an inch into the mist.
Leng Yue followed with practiced grace, her robes trailing behind her as she mounted the cloud. Once settled, she adjusted the gemstone at her waist and fixed her gaze upon the circling bird.
The fowl screeched once more, wings cutting across the dimming sky. It darted toward the shadowed valley, vanishing into its depths.
Li Wei narrowed his eyes. "Then let us see what beast's lair lies ahead…" His voice was low, carried away on the wind. The cloud surged forward, propelling the pair into the darkening horizon. The world below blurred—forest canopy, winding river, fractured stone all swept past as they pursued the bird's beckoning flight. ~
And so began a journey neither of them had sought, yet could not refuse.