The Voyage In The Blizzard - Chapter 27
“What do you mean?! Lei! Where are we going?”
Longwei’s loud shout almost shook the snow on the branches.
“We are going to the Burned forest.” Lei answered.
Hearing this Longwei left speechless.
Since the very childhood he was hearing many legends and stories about this place which is called “The burned forest.”
Localizing right between two mountains, next to the frozen lake, this forest was the only place where dragons lived. And according to legends, this was truly horrifying place where every single tree was burned and where, one could hear the voices of ones, who had died under the raged flames of winged creatures.
When Longwei wanted to ask something again Lei stopped him by simply casting an angry look at him..
Following him through the dense forest, he sank into the distant memories from his childhood.
Remembering his father, his voice, his kind look, he felt himself child again.
But now, looking at Lei’s broad back, he knew that he is no more a child. And the man who is walking in front of him, can mean a lot, or can be forgotten.
Thinking about many things, sinking into melancholy he did not even notice that Lei had stopped.
“Where do you think you’re going? There is nothing. Only the abyss.” Lei said.
As if waking up Longwei looked back at Lei. Without saying anything he nodded his head and went closer.
“Longwei, I am sorry.” Suddenly Lei said. His eyes were full of frozen but still, warm emotions. “I am sorry for that night. I just was so scared about you. That you went to the battlefield. And that you could die out there. I was scared and… Well, about what happened. If you are disgusted, then you can hit me. I won’t get mad.”
Hearing this from Lei himself was a bit strange and funny.
Holding his laughter hard Longwei covered his face with the scarf just to hid his reddish cheeks.
Looking away, Longwei coughed and then said, “Don’t worry. I am not mad at you.”
“Good.” Lei replied and turned around. “Let’s go.”
“Lei wait!” Longwei stopped him.
“Um… You know…” Without knowing how to say it he looked down as if he felt ashamed.
“What?”
After a moment of hesitation Longwei shook his head and without saying anything further went ahead.
Walking in front, he felt Lei’s gaze on himself. Trying hard not to laugh, he somehow was very cheerful. In spite of the Ju-Long and his blackmailing. Maybe that was because still, he did not know how much Love is restricted in this world.
Being all alone with Lei, after all these days, he was happy.
When they reached the second cliff, Longwei took a deep breath and it was as if a thousand sharp needles pierced him from the inside. Frosty freshness was everywhere. Shaking off the frost from his eyelashes and the ends of his hair, he rubbed his palms together. The stiff fingers felt like part of the ice that covered the big rocks by the trees.
The snowstorm had subsided long ago, but the wind, mixed with frost, still wandered here and there.
Looking down to where the cliff led, Longwei breathed out just as loudly and something warmed his body.
Turning to Lei, he noticed that he was looking directly at him. The frosty look pierced him more than the frost itself. Feeling a certain fear from that gaze, Longwei walked away and frowned and said, “Why are you always looking at me like that? Stop looking like that.”
Slowly approaching him, Lei changed his expression to a more kindhearted one, but that didn’t make him less intimidating.
When he was almost behind Longwei, he turned to him. Meeting with their eyes, for a moment they felt sparks that heated this frosty air.
Looking at each other, they were like fire and ice. But with every second they changed roles and someone became fire, and someone ice.
Looking at Lei, Longwei had time to wonder how long you can look into someone’s eyes and still not feel the passage of time. Before, without experiencing this, he was lost. But Lei’s stern and calm gaze made his heart beat faster every second.
Suddenly, breaking the silence and throwing sparks, Lei said, “What have you done to me. Longwei.”
Approaching him closer, Longwei approached his face. The frost on his long eyelashes fluttered with every blink.
Fixing his gaze on Lei’s red, chapped lips, Longwei involuntarily touched his chin and in the next moment pulled him towards him.
Cold lips covered him with a warm wave.
Freezing in this position, Longwei felt Lei’s lips gradually begin to grow warmer from his breath.
Feeling Lei’s hand on his shoulder, Longwei wanted to move away, but Lei pulled him towards him.
With the coming of night, Lei, leaving Longwei under a pine tree, went for branches.
Still unable to return to his old thoughts, Longwei’s hands were shaking and his skin burned as if a red-hot stone was sliding over it.
Taking a deep breath, he smiled.
The fire painted his face with a warm color. Stretching out his hands to the fire, he looked up at the sky.
Fatigue, slight hunger, weakness due to excess feelings fell on him.
Sprawled in the cold snow, but not feeling the cold, he closed his eyes.
Hearing footsteps, he said, “I kindled a fire. And the weather is fine. I think we shouldn’t look for a cave. We can stay right here.”
“You’re right. The weather is really nice.”
There was a voice that didn’t belong to Lei.
Ju-Long, standing over him, held branches in his hands. “I’m sorry I scared you.”
Jumping up like a frightened cat, Longwei grabbed Lei’s sword and exclaimed, “You!”
There was a dull laugh. Without opening his face, Ju-Long, knowing the fact that Longwei would not do to him anything, confidently approached him.
Through a curtain of darkness, two rather sly eyes looked at him. Holding his sword, Longwei said, “What are you doing here?!”
“Well, why so rude. I’m not an enemy. I just know your little secret. Although, you know, the word I know is not appropriate here, I heard your secret. This afternoon you were not very worried about the noise you created.”
Longwei raised his sword and furrowed his brows. His snow-white face was covered with a red color of fury.
“You are just a miracle Longwei.” He said without taking his eyes off.
“What do you want from us?”
Coming even closer Ju-Long brazenly and confidently grabbed his hand and forcefully lowered it down. “I just want your little help. That’s all. There is nothing to be so angry about.”
Standing close to him, Ju-Long stroked his cold hand.
Pushing him away, Longwei restrained himself from punching him.
Puffs of smoke rushed out of the nose making him look like an angry bull.
“Do you know, all those qualities that are in you will never bring you to the heights. You will forever live the life of a small stone like this, which only can watch the lives of others. I’m sorry for you. I’m sorry, even though I don’t know you.”
Longwei calmly looked at him and the same sly and confident smile flashed across his face.