Chapter 107: Phantom
Feng Jiao Xue didn’t say anything as she helped Mo Tianze up the stairs of the old inn.
The hallway smelled of dust and old wood, and the lights flickered like they hadn’t been fixed in years. She held the key tight in her hand, the weight of it heavier than it should be. Mo Tianze leaned against her a little more than usual. He didn’t say anything either, but his ears were low, and his tail dragged tiredly along the floor.
He was always so careful not to show weakness. But even the strongest have their limits.
The floor creaked under their steps. Each sound echoed in the silence between them. A silence that wasn’t cold but full of unspoken things.
She found the room at the end of the hallway. The door creaked when she opened it, and the hinges groaned like they hadn’t been oiled in a decade. It was small, barely big enough for two people, but it had a bed. That was enough.
She guided him over to it, helping him sit. His eyes were already starting to shut, like he was fighting sleep but losing.
"You should rest," she said quietly.
Mo Tianze gave a small hum in response. He didn’t even argue. That’s how she knew he was really exhausted.
Feng Jiao Xue pulled the blanket over him and tucked it in a little at the sides. She paused for a second, looking at his face. His features were soft now, peaceful. She reached out, brushing a stray strand of silver hair away from his cheek.
He looked younger like this. More boy than beast. A strange ache filled her chest something gentle and heavy all at once. Like sorrow disguised as warmth.
She turned away and went to the window. The sill was wide enough to sit on, so she did, one leg bent up, the other dangling slightly off the edge. She opened the window a little. Just enough for the wind to come in. It was cooler here, and the air smelled like smoke, damp stone, and fried street food.