Chapter 102: The Weight of a Past
The Crimson Forest clearing glowed under the soft light of a late afternoon sun,
the air rich with the earthy scent of damp soil and the gentle rustle of leaves,
the terrain dotted with patches of herbs that Luo Shuang tended with meticulous care,
their vibrant colors a stark contrast to the forest's shadowed depths.
Luo Shuang, an eighteen-year-old with silver hair cascading like moonlight,
returned often to this glade, her wiry frame moving with a practiced grace,
her calloused hands leaving behind small offerings—food, salves, woven trinkets—
each gesture a quiet thank-you to the mysterious man who had saved her life.
Liu Ren, his long black coat swaying faintly in the breeze,
stood as a silent guardian, his dual auras—righteous flame and corrosive dark—
a subtle shield against the wandering beasts that threatened her work,
his reserved nature softening with each act of protection.
Though he spoke little, his actions spoke volumes,
his cold precision dispatching threats with a flick of flame or a wave of corrosive energy,
the air crackling with a sharp hiss as beasts retreated, leaving Luo Shuang unharmed.
One stormy night, the forest darkened under a torrential downpour,
rain drumming against the canopy with a relentless rhythm,
the wind howling through the trees as lightning split the sky with a booming crack,
forcing them to seek shelter in a cave, its walls echoing with the storm's fury.
Luo Shuang huddled closer to the small fire Liu Ren had kindled,
the warmth a stark contrast to the chill seeping through her thin tunic,
her silver hair damp and clinging to her face as she glanced at him.
"Have you ever loved someone?"
she asked, her voice soft and hopeful,
her eyes searching his shadowed profile with a vulnerability she rarely showed.
Liu Ren's gray eyes darkened, a storm of memory brewing within,
his voice low and rough as he turned to the fire, avoiding her gaze.
"No… but I had a family I loved. Not by blood, but by bonds stronger than that. They're gone now."
In his mind, a memory surfaced—
a youth with curious, bright eyes reading Human Feelings by a campfire,
turning to Liu Ren with an innocent question.
"Ren, what is this feeling called love?"
Liu Ren had shrugged, his voice uncertain.
"I don't know about love—never felt it myself."
The youth then turned to another, his face a mirror of Lin Xuan's,
asking with a childlike earnestness,
"Big Brother, can you tell me about this?"
The other youth, his voice gentle and thoughtful, replied,
"I don't know much about love, but I think it's something—or someone—you want to protect."
Back in the present, he began, then paused, his expression shifting as he corrected himself,
his tone softening with a protective edge.
"I don't know much about love, I just want to protect you."
Liu Ren's hands clenched into fists,
revealing a jagged scar across his palm, the skin pale against the firelight,
his voice breaking as he continued, his gaze fixed on the flames.
"I am running from someone and searching for someone.
I seek a lost brother, who is also my disciple, torn from me by fate.
And I flee those who'd erase me—people who fear what my origin is.
The name I gave wasn't true—my true name is ShenYi Ren. But forget that ShenYi surname."
Luo Shuang leaned forward, her voice gentle but insistent,
her silver hair glinting as she shifted closer to the fire.
"Who are you searching for?, and who are you Running from?"
He turned away, his profile stark against the cave wall,
his voice a strained whisper, thick with emotion.
"If I told you more, Shuang'er, you'd be a target.
Let it rest—I've said too much already."
Tears welled in her eyes, her heart aching at the pain etched into his words,
and she nodded slowly, her hand resting lightly on his arm in silent support.
"I won't press, Ren… but I'm here if you need me,"
she said, her voice trembling with empathy,
the fire casting dancing shadows across the cave's rough interior.
Liu Ren glanced at her hand, then at her tear-streaked face,
his expression softening slightly as he covered her hand with his,
the scar brushing her skin with a rough warmth.
"You're braver than you know, Shuang'er.
Thank you for staying—
it's more than I deserve."
She smiled through her tears, her voice steadying with resolve.
"And you're not as alone as you think.
We'll face whatever comes—together."
The storm outside raged on, the rain drumming a steady beat,
but within the cave, a quiet intimacy grew,
Luo Shuang shifting closer to share the fire's warmth,
her silver hair brushing his coat as she leaned against the wall.
"Tell me about him—your brother, your disciple,"
she ventured, her tone careful,
hoping to ease the burden he carried.
Liu Ren sighed, his voice low as he stared into the flames.
"He was like a son to me.
Cold, Calm, But when it comes to his family,
He could do anything.
Fate ripped him away, and I've been searching ever since.
Those who hunt me… they want him too, for what he might become."
Luo Shuang's eyes widened, her empathy deepening.
"That's a heavy load, Ren.
But if he's anything like you, he's fighting to survive too."
He nodded, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"Maybe.
I hope so. But for now, my fight is here—protecting you."
She blushed, looking down at their joined hands,
the warmth of his words sinking into her chest.
"You don't have to do it alone, you know.
I'm not as fragile as I look."
Liu Ren chuckled dryly, a rare sound that lightened the mood,
his gray eyes meeting hers with a flicker of amusement.
"I'm starting to see that, Shuang'er.
You've got a spirit that doesn't break easy."
The conversation turned to lighter topics,
Luo Shuang sharing stories of her herb-gathering adventures,
her voice animated as she described a near-miss with a thornvine,
Liu Ren listening intently, his silence a comfortable backdrop.
"Do you ever get tired of running?" she asked later,
her voice soft as the storm began to wane,
the rain softening to a gentle patter.
He paused, his gaze distant, then nodded.
"Every day.
But stopping means giving up—and I can't do that.
Not until I find him, or until they catch me."
Luo Shuang squeezed his hand, her resolve firm.
"Then don't stop.
But let me walk with you, even just a little.
You saved me—let me return that favor."
Liu Ren looked at her, his eyes softening further,
a rare vulnerability breaking through his guarded demeanor.
"You're a stubborn one, Shuang'er.
Alright… but stay close. The forest isn't kind."
She laughed, a light sound that echoed in the cave,
her silver hair catching the firelight as she settled beside him.
"I've managed so far.
And with you here, I feel safer than I have in years."
Their connection deepened with each shared moment,
a quiet refuge amid his turmoil, the cave filled with the patter of rain,
the mysterious wanderer's sorrow and her empathy a fragile bond,
their trust a bow to the burdens they carried into the uncertain future.
Liu Ren whispered, almost to himself,
"Protecting you… maybe that's my love, after all."
Luo Shuang heard it, her heart skipping,
and she leaned her head against his shoulder,
the storm outside fading as a new warmth grew between them.