Chapter 159: Stone Paths

Morning came quietly. Fragile light slipped through the edges of the window before the sun had fully risen.

Ru Yi stirred slowly, her awareness returning in pieces rather than all at once. Warmth was the first thing she noticed instead of the cold hard ground she’d slept on. It wrapped around her in a way that felt unfamiliar yet strangely comforting.

She shifted, instinctively leaning into it.

Her fingers curled against fabric, her body pressing closer in a bid to chase the warmth without thought. Her breath was still slow with sleep as she buried herself deeper into the space that held her.

The space around her was quiet and safe. At least before her eyes snapped open and she realized she was in bed with the one person she should avoid at all cost.

Han Shuying.

Ru Yi immediately pushed herself up, the movement sharp enough to break the stillness of the room entirely. She pulled away with more force than necessary, her breath catching when a chill slithered down her back.

The sudden motion was enough to wake Han Shuying up. Her brows knitted faintly when her eyes peeled open, the transition from sleep to awareness was slower.

For a second, she said nothing. Her gaze was on Ru Yi, as if trying to recall what she was doing there.

Ru Yi didn’t meet her eyes. "We need to get ready," she said, her voice composed, though it was a fraction higher than usual.

She quickly moved away, needing more distance between them. "It’s almost dawn."

Han Shuying watched her for a moment longer before shaking her like it would get rid of the sleep still in her eyes. "Are you sure the others will be up by now, or do you need to check on them?"

Ru Yi nodded. "They’re never late."

Neither of them mentioned how their bodies had been pressed together while they slept, or how perfectly Ru Yi fit in Han Shuying’s arms.

Ru Yi moved quickly, gathering what little they had set aside. She adjusted her clothing with ease.

Han Shuying followed at her own pace, slower, but no less deliberate. Her gaze occasionally went to Ru Yi before settling somewhere else again.

Within minutes they were ready.

The room was left as it had been found, untouched and void of any belongings...like no one had ever stayed there.

They stepped out into the early morning air together, the chill sharper now, biting against the skin as they sky remained dim. The first signs of sunrise only beginning to stretch across the horizon.

Yexue and Lieyin were already there, prepared and waiting.

Yexue’s gaze immediately went to the new pair, her expression tightening as her eyes moved between Ru Yi and Han Shuying.

"Did she do anything to you?" Yexue asked once Ru Yi got close. "Are you alright?"

Ru Yi couldn’t meet her eyes when she answered, "Yes." She gestured to the two horses by their side. "I thought we were getting an extra horse."

"I couldn’t find anyone strong enough to make the journey," Lieyin answered. "Good thing we have Shuying’s horse."

"But that means we’ll have to share again," Ru Yi mumbled. After waking up stuck to Han Shuying in such an intimate manner, she definitely didn’t want to ride with her.

"Ru Yi can ride with me," Yexue said.

Lieyin scoffed. "No way I’m getting on the same horse with..." she looked at Han Shuying with so much disdain, "her."

"I’m not trying to have you pressed against my chest either," Han Shuying muttered, trying to stifle a yawn.

"Yexue, she’s an old friend of yours." There was a bite in Lieyin’s voice. "Why don’t you ride with her?"

"No!" The two women yelled at the same time.

"I’ll ride with Han Shuying," Ru Yi said in a defeated tone. "And we need to get going, there’s no time to be arguing."

Yexue looked like she wanted to argue, but she closed her mouth and turned to secure the final strap on their horse.

The others moved in silence, each taking their role without needing instruction. They adjusted their packs, checked what little provisions they carried before setting them in place.

It was a simple routine. Familiar and grounding in a way.

"I think we’re set," Ru Yi announced after checking the two horses.

"Let’s go." Han Shuying placed a hand on her horse before stretching the other one out to Ru Yi. She took it without a comment and mounted the horse smoothly.

Han Shuying moved just as easily, swinging up behind her in one controlled motion. She was close enough that the space between them was minimal. Unavoidable.

Yexue noticed but said nothing. She mounted her own horse, before feeling Lieyin settle in behind her. Watching with displeasure as Han Shuying tightened her grip on the reins.

The gates of Emberfall stood open before them, the road stretching outward into uncertainty and distance.

There was winding silence between them before Lieyin broke it. "How long until we reach the mountains?"

Han Shuying didn’t answer immediately, measuring the distance in her mind rather than the land itself. "If we keep this pace, three days," she said at last. "Four if the terrain slows us down."

"That’s too long," Lieyin muttered under her breath.

"You’ll have to deal with it," Han Shuying replied, but not unkindly.

Yexue shifted in front of Lieyin. "And Qingyue? Do you think we can get to her before she enters the mountains?"

Han Shuying shrugged. "That depends on how fast she’s moving and if she’s alone."

"She’s traveling with a guide," Lieyin answered. "That’ll still be faster than us."

Yexue frowned, her frustration surfacing again. "Does that mean we won’t catch up?"

"I didn’t say that," Han Shuying replied. "I said she has a lead. Catching up to her depends on how fast you’re willing to go and how long you rest in between."

Ru Yi spoke then. "Which means we can still meet her before she goes into the mountains." At least there was hope. "We should ride faster."