Homeward Journey

In the afternoon, the sunlight became lazy, shining through the sparser trees, casting long, slanted shadows on the forest path.

Ye Shu walked ahead, his pace steady, as if climbing or descending the mountain was no different to him. After eating, his detached feeling seemed to calm down, like a piece of jade soaked by a warm current, still warm and cool, but with a less aloof, cold, and distant edge. Occasionally, he would pause, waiting for his friend behind him, who was carrying a heavier burden and beginning to show signs of fatigue.

Chen Xu's backpack seemed heavier than when he arrived. His steps were noticeably slower, and his breathing heavier. But he kept talking, his excitement shifting to grumbling complaints. "Oh, my legs... they feel like they're not mine... Why does going downhill feel even harder than going up... Ye Shu, aren't you really tired? Have you been secretly practicing some extraordinary lightness skills?"

Ye Shu stopped and stood in the shadow of a crooked tree, waiting for Chen Xu to slowly move over. He pulled out the half-empty bottle of mineral water from the side pocket of Chen Xu's huge backpack, unscrewed it, and handed it to him.

"Save your energy." He said simply.

Chen Xu took the water, gulped down several mouthfuls, let out a long sigh, and looked at Ye Shu with resentment: "You are definitely not an ordinary person... Next time, next time I will have to bring a rope and let you pull me along..."

Ye Shu didn't respond. His gaze swept over Chen Xu's slightly trembling calves, then glanced at the gravel path winding down ahead. "Ten minutes," he said, then leaned against the crooked tree and closed his eyes. He wasn't tired; he just felt Chen Xu needed a break, and the shade was just right.

Chen Xu felt as if he had been pardoned. He immediately took off his backpack, sat down on a tree root, and pounded his legs. "Oh my goodness... But seriously, that chicken soup at the top of the mountain was delicious, right? My mom would be so happy if she knew you liked it. She'd let me bring more next time..."

Ye closed her eyes and softly hummed a response. The wind rustled through the leaves, and in the distance, an unknown bird chirped monotonously. In the silence, only Chen Xu's panting and muttering remained.

After a short rest, Chen Xu seemed to have regained some strength and began to feel restless again. He noticed a group of tiny ants crawling on the tree trunk that Ye Shu was leaning against, busy carrying some debris.

"Hey, Ye Shu, look at this ant, it's so interesting..." He reached out to touch it.

"Don't move." Ye Shu's voice was soft, but it carried an undeniable calmness. He still had his eyes closed, but he seemed to be fully aware of everything around him.

Chen Xu's hand froze in mid-air, and he withdrew it awkwardly: "I'm just taking a look..."

"They are on their own paths," Ye Shu slowly opened his eyes, his gaze fixed on those tiny creatures. There was no emotion in his gaze, only pure observation. "Each has its own direction, each has its own cause and effect. Your finger is like a landslide to them."

Chen Xu shrank his neck and whispered, "...You make me sound like a big villain." But he still withdrew his hand obediently and just tilted his head to look.

Ye Shu stopped talking and closed his eyes again.

Ten minutes passed, and he opened his eyes promptly and stood up straight. "Let's go."

Chen Xu wailed, resigned himself to his fate, and picked up his backpack, stumbling to catch up.

The descent seemed endless. Chen Xu spoke less and less, his energy clearly drained, and he moved mechanically. At one point, his foot slipped, loosening a rock, and he was thrown backward.

Ye Shu, who was walking a step ahead of him, seemed to have eyes on his back. He quickly turned sideways, extended his arm, and accurately supported Chen Xu's elbow, stabilizing his unbalanced body. The movement was smooth and natural, not even interrupting the rhythm of his own steps.

"Watch the road." Ye Shu's voice remained calm. He let go of his hand and continued moving forward, as if he had just casually brushed away a hanging branch.

Chen Xu broke out in a cold sweat, his heart beating rapidly. He looked at Ye Shu's thin but unusually steady figure, opened his mouth, and finally muttered, "...Oh."

Silence began to spread, with only the sound of footsteps and breathing.

The setting sun stretched their shadows very long, casting them on the winding mountain road. One was steady and quiet, while the other was dragging and swaying.

As they approached the foot of the mountain, they passed a small patch of wildflowers, their white petals gleaming warmly in the setting sun. Ye Shu paused.

Chen Xu didn't notice and almost bumped into him: "What's wrong?"

Ye Shu did not answer, but leaned forward slightly, and gently brushed his fingers across a small flower that was in full bloom. His fingertips stayed on the tender petals for a very short moment, as if feeling the last warmth and touch.

Then he stood up and continued walking forward.

Chen Xu looked at the flower curiously, then looked at Ye Shu's back, scratched his head, and followed.

Finally, they saw the parking lot at the foot of the mountain. Chen Xu almost cried with joy: "Here we are! My car! My sofa! My bed! I missed you guys so much!"

He practically rushed to his car, impatiently throwing his heavy backpack into the trunk, then slumped in the driver's seat and sighed, "I'm alive..."

Ye Shu stood beside the car, watching the setting sun. The horizon was already a brilliant sunset. The wind brought the faint hustle and bustle of the town below, mixed with the evening air of the grass and trees.

He opened the car door and got in. The air-conditioned air and the faint scent of car fragrance still lingered inside the car, completely different from the mountain air.

Chen Xu started the car and turned on the air conditioner, letting out a comfortable cool breeze. He turned on the music, which was a lively pop song. He hummed along for a few lines, then looked at Ye Shu: "How was it? Not bad today, was it? Didn't I lie to you?"

Ye Shu fastened his seat belt and looked out the window at the scenery passing by rapidly. The lights of the city gradually replaced the natural skylight.

"Yeah." He responded.

After a while, just when Chen Xu thought he would stop talking, he heard Ye Shu's extremely light voice, almost drowned out by the music:

"The color of the sunset is a bit like the oily spots in chicken soup."

Chen Xu was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter, almost unable to hold the steering wheel: "Ye Shu! You...you are a genius! That metaphor is perfect! Hahahaha..."

Ye Shu didn't explain, nor did he smile. He simply adjusted his sitting position slightly, sinking more comfortably into the chair, and then closed his eyes, as if tired, or as if immersed in some kind of comparison and aftertaste that only he could understand.

Outside the car window, dusk fell and the lights gradually came on.

The music in the car was blaring and my friends' laughter continued.

And Ye Shu, in this moving, noisy, warm fortress belonging to the human world, seemed to have fallen asleep, or as if he had just temporarily closed his senses and returned to his unreachable, silent divine realm.

Only this time, the edge of that area seemed to blur ever so slightly. Perhaps it was stained with a warm yellow like a star of chicken soup oil.