Xu Yang stayed on the edge of the village roof, half-hidden in shadow, watching everything without moving. Too many eyes now... Not searching loudly, just narrowing the space. His tail flicked once, restrained, before becoming still again. They're not chasing me yet. They're shrinking the world until I have nowhere left to go...His gaze followed one of the travelers as they passed a well, pausing too long, too deliberately.
The man reached for the bucket but didn't pull it up. Instead, his eyes slowly moved across the village before he continued walking. That one isn't even trying to hide it... Xu Yang shifted his gaze toward another traveler standing near a shop. He was talking casually with a villager, but his eyes kept moving toward the houses. A third person stood near the village entrance, pretending to fix his sandal while watching the road. They don't need to hide. They just need to wait for me to stand out...
Xu Yang lowered his head slightly. His fingers rested against the roof tiles, and his claws slowly pressed into the wood. If I stay here, I become predictable...His eyes moved toward the road. If I move, I become traceable...His claws pressed a little harder. Either way... I'm being shaped...He exhaled slowly. So this is what "Heaven watching" looks like up close...A faint irritation crept in under the fear. It's... annoyingly patient...
Xu Yang's ears moved he heard sound of footsteps below.One of the travelers walked past the granary, then suddenly stopped. Xu Yang's eyes narrowed. The man looked around once before continuing. Xu Yang didn't move. He watched until the traveler disappeared behind a house. Only then did he slowly relax his claws. Maybe not. Or maybe he's just waiting....His ears tilted slightly back. I don't like being part of someone else's map...
Xu Yang shifted his weight carefully and looked toward the fields outside the village. The grass moved gently in the wind, but there was no one there. Still, something felt wrong. The village looked peaceful, yet every small movement seemed to have a reason behind it. He looked back at the road. The same travelers were still there, spreading themselves through the village without staying in one place for too long. They're not looking for something. They're waiting for something... Xu Yang's tail moved once beneath his robes. I need space or I need to stop being where maps matter at all...
The village had returned to its sleepy rhythm, but Xu Yang knew better. Nothing here was normal anymore. He crouched atop the roof of the granary, ears flicking at every distant sound. Below, villagers went about their chores, unaware of the threads weaving around them, threads of probability and fate subtly bent by forces they could never see. Heaven is watching, Xu Yang thought. But it's patient... too patient. He could feel it in every step he took, in the way the wind carried the faint smell of incense from nowhere, in the way shadows lingered longer than they should. His claws flexed beneath his hands unconsciously.
"Not bad," a voice said quietly.
Xu Yang froze. His ears snapped back, and his body went completely still. He hadn't heard anyone approach. Slowly, he turned his head. Qing Li had stepped silently onto the rooftop opposite him, dark blue hair catching the pale sunlight, eyes like silver flames scanning him.Xu Yang stared at him for a moment before narrowing his eyes. He really knows how to appear at the worst time. "You're hiding well." Qing Li continued, leaning lightly against a beam. "Better than I expected."
Xu Yang's tail twitched under his robes. He kept his eyes on Qing Li, but his expression remained calm. "I didn't expect you to follow me again." Xu Yang said flatly, keeping his tone even. Qing Li tilted his head, studying him."You're hiding something, but it's subtle. I can't tell whether it's intentional or instinct." Xu Yang's eyes flickered for a moment. That question was more troublesome than it sounded. He looked away toward the village below, then back at Qing Li. "Why are you really here?" Qing Li smiled faintly. "To see how far you'll go. To see how much you're willing to risk to remain unnoticed."
Xu Yang's gaze hardened. "If Heaven wants to find me, they will. I don't need you reminding me." Qing Li chuckled. "I'm not reminding you. I'm testing you." Xu Yang's ears twitched slightly. "You seem to enjoy that." Qing Li looked at him for a moment, then gave a small smile. "A little." Xu Yang sighed and looked away. "I knew it." "You make it easy." Xu Yang glanced back at him. "How?" "You react to everything."
Xu Yang's eyes narrowed. "I do not." Qing Li raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Xu Yang stared at him for a moment before turning away again. "...Don't look at me like that."
Qing Li's lips curved slightly. "Like what?" "Like you already know I'm lying." "I didn't say you were lying." Xu Yang glanced back at him. "You didn't have to." Qing Li gave a quiet laugh and folded his arms. "You're more sensitive than I thought." Xu Yang's ears twitched. "And you're more annoying than I expected." "You expected me to be less annoying?" "I was hoping." Qing Li smiled. "That's unfortunate."
Xu Yang shook his head and looked toward the village below. For a moment, neither of them spoke. Then Qing Li's expression changed slightly as his eyes moved toward the road. "But you're right about one thing." Xu Yang looked at him. "What?" "You should be careful about who you think is watching."
Xu Yang's expression became serious again."Then what is the first rule?" Xu Yang asked, narrowing his eyes. "Never underestimate who is watching," Qing Li replied softly, almost whispering. "Even someone who doesn't want to be seen can be the most dangerous observer."
Xu Yang blinked. Something in Qing Li's tone made him uneasy, a subtle weight behind the casual words. He studied him for a moment. "You always talk like you know more than you say." Qing Li shrugged. "Maybe I do." "That's not an answer." "I know." Xu Yang frowned at him. Qing Li's lips curved slightly. "You really don't like unanswered questions." Xu Yang stared at him."What do you think?!" "I've noticed that." Xu Yang gave him a flat look. "You notice too much." "It's part of the job." "What job?" Qing Li smiled. "Watching you complain, apparently."
Xu Yang stared at him. Qing Li looked away as if he hadn't said anything."I don't have time for your riddles." Xu Yang said, stepping closer to the edge of the roof. "I just live to survive. That's all." Qing Li's expression softened just slightly, as though evaluating the truth behind the words. "Yet you're not just surviving," he murmured. "You're preparing and Calculating." Xu Yang paused. It was true. Every day, he measured distances, memorized paths, calculated how to move without leaving traces. But even he did not realize how closely he was mimicking Heaven's own methods. "You know why I'm here," Xu Yang said finally, voice low. "Because Wang Xiao is nearby."
Qing Li's smile vanished. His eyes narrowed sharply, focusing on Xu Yang. "Don't you really know him?" "No," Xu Yang admitted. "Not yet. But… I've heard this name. That's enough for now." Qing Li watched him for a few seconds. "You're curious." Xu Yang looked at him. "I'm careful." "Those two things aren't very different." "They are to me." Qing Li gave a quiet laugh. "Fine."
Xu Yang frowned. "Why does that sound like you're agreeing just to avoid arguing?" "Because I am." Xu Yang shook his head slightly. "You're strange." "I've heard that before."Qing Li's posture relaxed, but his gaze did not waver. "Then stay hidden. But remember this someone will notice the smallest irregularity. And when they do…" Xu Yang didn't respond. He only nodded slightly, retreating to the shadows.
That night, Xu Yang prowled the rooftops, instincts alert. He sensed movement in the darkness, a presence observing from the treeline.He realised that it was Qing Li. Xu Yang went still for a moment. …Of course it's him...His tail flicked once, restrained. Why is he still here?... Is he following me specifically… or just everything that happens around me? His ears angled slightly back. What does he even want from this?... A pause. I'm not valuable enough for this much attention. He shifted slightly on the rooftop, keeping his posture low. Unless I am… and I just don't know why...
Xu Yang narrowed his eyes slightly into the dark. Is he watching me? Or guarding me? Or waiting for something to happen because of me...His claws pressed lightly against the tiles. I don't like that kind of patience.he paused for seconds then If you're going to do something, just do it...He exhaled slowly. Don't stand there pretending I'm interesting...
Above the village,stars gleamed faintly through clouds.Xu Yang curled atop the roof, tail wrapped around his arms, eyes scanning the darkness. Soon..The quiet won't last forever...Then his ears suddenly twitched. Somewhere behind him, something whispered his name.When he looked there was no one.