The sun was high, casting long golden spears through the canopy, and for the first time in days, the team moved with laughter on their lips.
After nights of clawing fog and silent slaughter, they'd been assigned to a day shift — an exploration mission, meant to chart a safe route toward the sixth outpost.
The shift felt like mercy.
Tian Lian joked as she adjusted the strap on her shoulder. Fan Tuo mimed the overdramatic tumble he took dodging a Shadow Monster's tail swipe, earning a round of laughter from Mei Lin and the others.
It was a good day.
And then there was Lu Chen. The porter, the rear guard, burdened with packs of provisions, scrolls, and talismans.
He walked behind them, quiet, as always. But the way they glanced at him now — not quite direct, but with a new weight — had changed.
After the nights, how could it not?
He had saved Mei Lin twice. Cut down monsters that outclassed most of them. Held the line when the second defense collapsed.
And when it was over, he said nothing. Just wiped his blade clean and returned to the healer's side, as if none of it had happened.
Mei Lin slowed her steps until she was walking beside him. Her tone was light, but her eyes were steady.
"Hey," she said, brushing a loose strand of hair from her face. "Back there… thank you. You saved me. Twice."
Lu Chen kept his gaze on the forest path ahead. "You would've done the same."
She gave a soft laugh. "I don't know about that. You moved like someone who's been fighting those things your whole life. Not like a porter."
He didn't answer.
She didn't press. But after a breath, she added, "I owe you. If there's anything I can do to repay that, just say the word. Seriously."
That was when the others joined in, breaking the moment like sunlight through clouds.
Fan Tuo turned with a grin, "Alright alright, now I have to ask—where did you learn to fight like that? Because you didn't look like some backup logistics guy last night."
Tian Lian nudged him. "You saw how he vanished. That wasn't instinct, that was training."
Even the usually gruff Bo Jian turned his head from the front, a rare smirk on his face. "Come on, don't be stingy. We're a squad now, yeah?"
Lu Chen looked at them — their eyes bright, their interest genuine, their laughter not mocking but welcoming.
He thought of a dozen ways to lie like what Zhen Yuan told him not to expose himself. But instead, he just offered a half-truth with a shrug.
"I learned a few things. Before all this."
"You were from the inner sect?" Tian Lian guessed.
"Maybe," he replied, noncommittal.
Fan Tuo threw an arm dramatically around his shoulders. "Well, wherever you came from, we're keeping you. You're our lucky talisman now."
The others chuckled.
And for a moment, Lu Chen let himself breathe.
He wasn't sure what this was yet — if it was real or just temporary relief between battles. But it was something.
Not orders.Not missions.Not survival.
Just people.
And maybe, just maybe, something worth holding onto.
They gathered near the base of a broken ridge, where the sun still reached through the canopy and the scent of burnt talismans lingered. The healer, Mei Lin, was treating Fan Tuo's shallow wound with practiced ease, while Bo Jian stood at the edge of the clearing, keeping silent watch with his axe planted firmly into the earth.
Tian Lian pulled out a dented ration box, plopped down onto a stump, and flashed a grin at Lu Chen. "You've fought beside us now, carried our junk, saved our hides… I say that earns you a seat at the fire and a proper round of names."
The group chuckled in agreement.
Mei Lin gestured to herself first. "You already know me. Mei Lin. Healer. Don't die too fast and I might patch you up."
Next came Tian Lian, her tone playful. "Second damage dealer. Spears and fire. Flashy, fast, and according to Bo Jian, 'annoyingly optimistic.'"
Bo Jian didn't deny it. He just grunted. "Bo Jian. Tank. Shield wall. I don't talk much."
Fan Tuo leaned in dramatically. "Main damage dealer — Fan Tuo. Blade specialist, shadow-step footwork, and the best looking, obviously." He winked. "I also keep track of morale. You're welcome."
A tall, quiet man at the back nodded in Lu Chen's direction. "Ke Zhen. Finisher." That was all he said — his dual blades said the rest. Precision. Silence. Kill.
Then, all eyes turned to Lu Chen.
He hesitated. The fire crackled. The shadows of the trees swayed just slightly, though the mist had not yet returned.
"Lu Chen," he said finally. "Courier. Rear guard."
Tian Lian raised a brow. "That all?"
Lu Chen met her gaze calmly. "That's enough for now."
Bo Jian nodded in approval. "He's a quiet one. Good."
Fan Tuo laughed. "You fit right in then. Half of us are hiding things anyway."
The mood lightened. Rations were passed around, old stories shared — mostly of close calls and awkward mishaps. Even Ke Zhen cracked a smile when Tian Lian retold the story of Fan Tuo accidentally slicing his own boot strap mid-sprint.
Lu Chen sat at the edge of it all, not quite in the circle, but no longer outside it.
For the first time in a long while, he wasn't alone.
Lu Chen didn't quite remember the last time he sat like this — among people, hearing the sound of casual chatter, laughter that wasn't forced. He chewed slowly, the warmth of the fire brushing against his face, but the warmth didn't reach the weight sitting quietly in his chest.
He used to be a loner. Not by choice, not entirely.
Otherwise, there was Xiao Li.
The name lingered in his mind like the flicker of a half-burnt candle.
Xiao Li was everything he wasn't — bright, loud, unafraid to speak, to smile, to draw people in like moths to flame. A natural leader, someone who shone without trying. People followed Xiao Li even when they didn't understand him. They believed in him.
And yet... he's gone.
Lu Chen's fingers curled slightly, his food untouched.
He glanced around the group again — Fan Tuo's exaggerated storytelling, Tian Lian's easy laughter, Mei Lin's quiet eyes that always seemed to notice more than she said. Even Bo Jian, gruff and distant, stood at their perimeter like a silent wall that promised protection.
It was strange.
He didn't belong here. Not really.
And yet, a part of him — buried deep beneath steel and scars — wished this could last a little longer.
The weather was good. Crisp air, sun filtering through the canopy in golden threads. The place was good too — the clearing tucked safely between ridges, guarded and still. And the people…
The friends — maybe that word was too early, too fragile. But it hovered there.
They were good too.
Fan Tuo's jokes, loud and shameless, somehow filled the silence in a way that wasn't annoying. Mei Lin, whose gratitude was quiet but genuine. Tian Lian's endless optimism, Bo Jian's silent steadiness. Even the finisher, Ke Zhen, with his cocky grin and sharp instincts.
He never thought he'd find something like this again.
As the group settled into the easy camaraderie of their shared meal, a soft ding echoed in Lu Chen's mind, breaking through the warmth of the moment.
[System Notification: Character Cards Obtained.]
He blinked, surprised. It was a rare occurrence, one that hadn't happened since... well, it didn't happen often. The cards weren't something he was accustomed to receiving, but they had their uses.
In his mind's eye, a series of names and images flashed by, each accompanied by a brief description:
Tian Lian – Qi Condensation Level 5...
Fan Tuo – Qi Condensation Level 9...
Bo Jian – Qi Condensation Level 5...
Mei Lin – Qi Condensation Level 10...
Ke Zhen – Qi Condensation Level 9...
And then…
His fingers tightened around his bowl, a strange feeling stirring in his chest. Character cards.
It was a strange thing to be seen. To be recognized.
But it also made him feel... real, in a way.
Tian Lian caught his slight shift in posture and grinned. "Something wrong, Lu Chen?" she asked, leaning in with her characteristic mischievousness.
He shook his head, forcing a small smile. "Nothing."
The others continued to chatter, but for a brief moment, Lu Chen held onto the flickering sense of... belonging.
It was a rare thing, and he wasn't sure how long it would last, but for now, it was enough.
Tian Lian stood up, brushing off her hands as she packed away the last of the rations. The sounds of the forest around them were strangely calm, the air still carrying a hint of moisture from the morning mist that had yet to dissipate. But there was no time to linger in peace.
"Alright, everyone," she called out, pulling out the map once more. "We've got to make it back before nightfall. The shadows aren't kind when the sun dips, and I'd rather not test our luck again."
Fan Tuo nodded, his earlier jokes fading as he became more focused. "Right. We've got about a few more hours before the sun's fully down. We move fast, we move smart."
The others gathered around as Tian Lian traced the map with her finger. "We're not far. Just a few more kilometers up the path, and the sixth outpost should be beyond the next ridge. If we're lucky, we'll make it there with daylight left."
Bo Jian adjusted his stance, checking his gear. "Lucky or not, we've still got a fight ahead. Let's not forget that."
Mei Lin, who had been cleaning her medical supplies, glanced up with a serious expression. "The healer's job doesn't stop when we reach the outpost. We'll need to rest, but I can't do much if we're injured or worse. Stay sharp."
Lu Chen stood at the edge of the clearing, watching the conversation unfold. His gaze drifted briefly to the path ahead. They had found it. The path to the sixth outpost.
The air was thick with the weight of unspoken words. He knew it wouldn't be an easy trek, but they had no choice.
Tian Lian packed up the map, glancing up at Lu Chen. "You good to go?" she asked, her tone as casual as ever, though her eyes were alert, scanning the horizon.
He nodded, tightening his pack. "Ready."
With that, the group gathered their things and moved into formation, continuing their journey toward the sixth outpost. The path, though hard-earned, was clear now. They had fought their way through the shadows, but the real challenge lay ahead: getting there before the dark descended.
The sun was already starting to dip lower, casting long, cool shadows across the trail. The pressure was on now, the sense of urgency tangible in every footstep. The winding trail ahead, though well-marked, still seemed to stretch endlessly before them.
As they walked, the air grew heavier with every step, as though the forest itself was holding its breath, waiting. They had found the way. But would they make it?
Lu Chen felt the weight of the moment, the final stretch ahead, and the faint flutter of something deep within him. The team was moving as one now, not just out of necessity, but out of something more.
It was a strange feeling — to be part of something greater, something that was pushing forward despite the odds. Despite the shadows that waited just beyond the light.
With every step, they drew closer to the outpost.
And closer to their next battle.