The forest. Lu Jinchen and Rong Xi.
Morning crept quietly into the forest, pale light spilling between the trees and brushing against the damp ground. Birds stirred above them, their soft calls echoing through the lingering mist.
Lu Jinchen opened his eyes.
For a moment, he remained still, watching the faint glow of dawn filter through the branches overhead. Then he pushed himself up, stretching his arms slowly as his muscles pulled tight and then released.
He rolled his shoulders, rotated his neck, and stepped away from the nearly dead fire to run through a few controlled movements—simple exercises to reawaken his body after the cold, uneasy night on the forest floor.
Behind him, the leaves rustled.
Rong Xi stirred and pushed herself up, brushing dirt and twigs from her sleeves. "Good morning, Mr. Lu," she said quietly.
He gave a brief nod. "Good morning. We should pack up and start heading down the mountain."
"I agree," she replied at once.
