Wei pushed the hunting knife into Chun's hand and said in a low voice that allowed no argument, "Take it. Don't come over."
Then he turned around. His eyes locked onto 'Cliff Tiger''s face.
His voice trembled, but there was a stubborn, almost obsessive firmness in it.
"'Cliff Tiger'… let's fight like men. No knives. No axe. Just fists."
For a second, 'Cliff Tiger' was stunned. Then he bared his smoke-yellow teeth and grinned, cruel and twisted.
"Sure. Got guts, huh? Kid, I'll play 'men' with you today."
He spun the axe easily in his hand, as if showing off, then took a big step forward and lowered it toward the ground.
Wei drew in a deep breath.
He cupped his fists together in front of him, his back straight and tight, just like his father had taught him—
offer a proper salute before a duel.
But in the very next instant, the axe traced a strange arc in the air.
The blade never came down.
The wooden handle smashed hard into Wei's lower abdomen.
Pain exploded inside him.
His vision went black. The air caught in his throat, unable to go up or down.
His body collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut, knees buckling as he dropped heavily to the ground.
"You sneak attack! Have you no shame?" Chun screamed as she rushed forward, her eyes red as if they might bleed.
'Cliff Tiger' sneered and swung his fist backward.
A dull thud.
Wei saw sparks burst across his vision before he fell flat to the dirt.
Before he could even try to rise, a heavy boot crushed down on his head, grinding his face into the soil. The stench of rotting leaves and damp earth flooded his nose.
The axe blade, however, lifted and pointed steadily at Chun.
Its cold edge flashed. The girl froze mid-step.
"Like men?" 'Cliff Tiger''s voice was low and vicious.
"Can 'being a man' fill your stomach? Idiot."
He lifted his foot and kicked Wei hard in the ribs.
Wei let out a muffled groan, curling up like a shrimp.
Chun lunged like a wounded leopard, screaming as she slashed the hunting knife at him.
The blade tore through his robe, ripping a long gash.
The sound of splitting cloth cut sharply through the night.
Instead of anger, 'Cliff Tiger' laughed.
He grabbed Chun by the hair and yanked her down, forcing her face against Wei's back. Her weight pressed onto him, making it hard to breathe. Her cries mixed with his broken groans.
"You little brat. Don't want to live either?" 'Cliff Tiger''s voice slithered close to their ears, like a snake's tongue.
"Move again and I'll chop you up first. Then I'll make him watch."
Wei's fingers clawed at the dirt until his nails tore and bled, but he couldn't get up. He forced his head up slightly. His mouth was full of blood and mud.
His voice was hoarse and broken, yet his eyes burned as he stared at 'Cliff Tiger'.
"It's… not… fair…"
'Cliff Tiger''s laughter turned colder, like ice scraping across rusted iron.
"Fair? You think the world's fair?
Your father was worshipped by the hunters like some kind of god.
What does he have that I don't?
Those people wouldn't even look at me. Why?"
He suddenly crouched lower, leaning close to Wei's face.
"When your father nodded to the General, he was much smarter than you are now.
He begged the General to spare your mother and the rest of the village… Do you know what he said in the end?"
Wei's pupils shrank.
"He promised like a dog. Said he'd even eat shit if the General asked him to!"
In that moment, something in Wei's eyes darkened.
'Cliff Tiger' was still cursing, lifting his foot to kick him again, when sudden footsteps echoed from deep within the forest above. Voices followed. Torchlight flickered over the cliff edge, red and unsteady like blood.
'Cliff Tiger''s face changed instantly.
He spat a curse.
Forgetting about tormenting them further, he grabbed onto the vines along the cliff and climbed swiftly, like a startled beast vanishing into the dark.
Chun trembled as she helped Wei sit up.
Wei spat out mud and blood and looked toward the path where 'Cliff Tiger' had disappeared. He spat again in that direction.
"He ambushed me. I… forgot to dodge…"
He turned and saw Chun's messy hair, the tear streaks on her face, her collar pulled crooked from being dragged.
For the first time in his life, Wei felt a humiliation that sank deep into his bones. Especially in front of a girl. The helplessness, the shame, the guilt—they coiled around him like poisonous snakes.
"Chun… I'm sorry. I dragged you into this."
She shook her head, her voice choked but firm. "It's fine… Just don't be so reckless again!"
"I'm not afraid of him…" Wei muttered, almost to himself. "I just didn't expect… a grown man wouldn't fight fair."
He looked down at his hands, smeared with mud and blood. Slowly, he clenched them into fists until his knuckles turned white.
He swore silently that he would never be this foolish again.
"We have to go," Chun said, gripping his arm. "Those people will be here any moment."
Wei nodded, but he didn't move right away. He lifted his head and stared at the flickering firelight above the cliff. 'Cliff Tiger''s last words still echoed in his ears.
In that moment, he understood.
Some things, once shattered, could never be put back together.
-----------------
In the dark forest, only the sound of hurried footsteps remained.
They pushed forward with difficulty, brushing aside exposed roots and low-hanging vines. The ground was uneven, the shadows thick between the trees, as if the night itself had weight.
"How much farther?" Chun asked in a low voice. Her breathing was still unsteady.
"Not far."
Wei answered quickly, but there was a clear edge of anger in his tone.
Chun heard it.
She slowed half a step and said softly, "You're… still angry?"
"He lost someone in his family. Of course he'd talk nonsense." Her voice was quiet but firm. "I don't believe a single word he said. Not one."
She paused, then added more gently, "Uncle and Auntie are good people. Truly good. There aren't many like them in this world…"
Wei clenched his teeth and said nothing.
They walked for a long time along the narrow path. Gradually, the road widened. The land began to rise, the soil under their feet turning soft and slippery. Each step sank slightly before sliding forward.
Chun's eyes began to move more often—forward, then back over her shoulder.
"Wei…"
He didn't answer right away.
"We're almost at the wooden bridge, right?"
"Mm."
Wei reached out and pushed aside a clump of bushes in front of him, but his movements began to slow. His steps faltered.
He stopped.
His nose twitched slightly.
A faint scent drifted through the air.
"…Do you smell that?" he asked.
Chun looked around, puzzled. "Smell what?"
The wind shifted.
A thin trace of roasted meat floated toward them.
She hesitated. "How could anyone be cooking at a time like this?"
But the smell didn't fade.
It grew stronger.
Not just meat.
There was something else mixed in—
a sharp, bitter scent. Like burnt leather.