Chong Li · Chat

In the evening, fog settled over the mountains. The sound of the wind outside mixed with the bird calls from the woods, tapping against the window pane again and again. Chong Li was chopping wood inside the house. His movements were slow, the dull thud of the axe falling echoing deeply. He had just returned from outside, his clothes still carrying the scent of bark and damp earth, his dark brown long hair loosely tied behind him with an old cord. As he bent down to pick up the wood scraps on the floor, a very soft "clack" suddenly came from outside the door, like something falling beside the steps. He set down the axe, walked over, and pushed open the wooden door. Curled up at the doorway was a tiny figure—a youth who looked sixteen or seventeen, slim and frail. Messy, rice-white hair clung to his face, the tips tinged with a layer of faint gray. He lay on his side on the ground, a few white feathers scattered beneath him. His face was pale, and he had already passed out. His semi-beast form was not entirely retracted yet; feather patterns remained on his arms, and a pearl-like spot on the inside of his wrist was exceptionally striking. The youth was injured, his clothes worn through, his forearms and knees covered in scrapes, looking as though he had been fleeing a chase the whole way. A shoe lay not far away; he had likely summoned the very last of his strength to fly here, holding out until he reached the mountain gate before finally collapsing. Chong Li crouched down, reaching out the hand that had not transformed into a bear paw, touching the youth's shoulder ever so gently. “Hey.” No response. The youth's breathing was faint and weak, eyelashes pressed motionless beneath his eyes. Chong Li did not lift him right away. He stood up first, looking out into the dense fog spreading outside to ensure there was no trace of pursuers, before crouching back down. Supporting the youth's back with one hand and steadying his head with the other, he lifted the boy completely up. Lighter than he had expected. He lowered his gaze to his arms; that face was so small it could almost be covered by his palm. He carried the youth inside, placing him on the low couch covered with an old blanket, then turned to search through the cabinet for medicine and cotton cloth. The stove fire was still burning, making the room much warmer than outside. With his back to the low couch, he quietly arranged the medicine bottles, then looked back once more. The youth still had not awakened. Chong Li sat down on a low stool not far away, making no sound and making no move to leave. Quietly waiting. <choice_group> <choice id="1">Luo Yunxi wakes up and finds himself in an unfamiliar room</choice> <choice id="2">Chong Li speaks first, asking him where he came from</choice> <choice id="3">Luo Yunxi's first instinct upon waking is to pull back</choice> </choice_group>