Wei Ji rubbed his forehead and forced the nightmare out of his mind. Lu Shaohua watched him carefully. She looked more awake now, her eyes soft but worried. She pushed herself up and rested her hand gently on his arm.

"Wei Ji," she said, "you really do look pale. Are you sure you're alright."

He let out a slow breath and nodded. "I'm fine. I just… need to walk a bit."

She tilted her head. "Then let's walk together. I don't want you wandering around alone after looking like that."

Her voice was small but firm. She would not leave him alone, and Wei Ji felt a quiet warmth spread through his chest. He nodded again.

"Alright. Let's go."

They got out of bed and stepped onto the cool wooden floor. Wei Ji grabbed a thin robe and wrapped it around her shoulders so she would not feel cold. She smiled faintly and held the cloth close. Together, they walked out of the room.

The hallway was dim and calm, the lanterns flickering lightly with the soft breeze drifting through the windows. The night air smelled of pine and dew. Wei Ji relaxed a little with every step.

Lu Shaohua glanced at him. "You were breathing hard in your sleep. You even shouted. I thought you were fighting someone."

He shook his head. "It was just a nightmare. I don't even know how it started."

She gave him a gentle nudge with her shoulder. "Nightmares fade. You don't have to hold onto them."

He gave a small smile. "I know."

They reached the main living room. Moonlight shone through the open windows, spreading across the floor like silver paint. She stepped ahead and stretched her arms out a bit, taking a long breath.

"It's nice," she said. "The house feels different at night."

Wei Ji nodded. "It's quieter. Calmer."

She looked at him again. "Better for someone who just woke up scared."

He raised an eyebrow. "You're teasing me."

She grinned lightly. "Only a little."

They walked further inside, toward the courtyard door. The wooden floor creaked slightly beneath their feet. Lu Shaohua touched the wall as they walked, dragging her fingers across its smooth surface.

"We never walk around late like this," she said. "It feels strange but nice."

Wei Ji chuckled. "You've always liked doing things at strange times."

She gave him a playful glare. "And you've always liked pretending you don't."

He shook his head. "I like sleeping at normal hours."

"That's a lie," she whispered. "You cultivate until midnight most days."

He stopped walking and she nearly bumped into him. He looked down at her, and she blinked up with innocent eyes.

He sighed. "You always catch me."

She smiled proudly. "That's because I watch you."

He opened the courtyard door. Cool night air rushed in, refreshing and gentle. The moon hung high, bright and full, far from the broken red one that haunted his dream.

They stepped outside. The garden around the house was quiet. Fireflies floated among the trees. The stone path glowed softly under the moonlight.

Lu Shaohua walked ahead a few steps, then turned to him with her hands behind her back. "Show me where you usually sit when you think too much," she said.

He raised a brow. "How do you know I have a place for that."

"You're Wei Ji," she said with a small laugh. "Of course you have one."

He sighed but pointed toward a small bench under a willow tree. "There."

She walked over and sat without waiting for him. She patted the space next to her. "Come. Sit."

He sat down beside her. The leaves of the willow swayed above them, casting moving shadows across their faces.

She leaned against him lightly. "Do you want to talk about the nightmare."

He hesitated. "Not really. It was just… strange."

"Strange how," she asked softly.

He thought for a moment. "There was someone chasing me. Someone strong. Too strong. The sect was destroyed. Everyone was gone."

Her expression softened. "That sounds horrible."

He nodded. "It felt real."

She reached out and took his hand, her fingers small and warm in his. "You're safe now."

He looked at her. Her face was calm. Her eyes were full of quiet certainty. It made his chest tighten, but not with fear.

"You know," she said softly, "every time you have a nightmare, it ends the same way."

He blinked. "It does."

She nodded. "Yes. You always wake up. And I'm always next to you."

He stared at her, unsure how to answer that. She continued.

"So even if you dream about monsters or scary things, you still wake up with me beside you. Isn't that enough to calm you."

He let out a slow breath. "It is."

She smiled and rested her head on his shoulder. "Good."

A long quiet filled the courtyard. Wei Ji listened to the rustling leaves and her soft breathing. The nightmare seemed so far away now.

After a moment she spoke again. "Do you still feel scared."

He shook his head. "Not anymore."

She lifted her head. "Good. Then you can relax."

He smirked. "You're ordering me now."

She smiled widely. "If you don't listen, I'll drag you back inside."

"With your small arms," he teased.

She gasped and smacked his shoulder. "My arms aren't small."

"They are," he said calmly.

She smacked him again. "You bully."

He gave a light laugh. "Fine. Your arms are mighty."

She nodded proudly. "That's better."

He shook his head in amusement. "You're impossible."

She leaned closer, her voice soft. "But you like me."

He didn't deny it. "I do."

She looked satisfied and stood up. "Come on. Let's walk again."

He rose from the bench and followed her. They moved along the stone path, her bare feet stepping lightly on the cold stones. She hummed a little tune, swinging his hand with hers.

Wei Ji watched her with a small smile. The fear in his chest had faded completely. Her presence washed it away like water washing away ink.

As they neared the house again, she suddenly stopped and turned to him.

"Wei Ji," she said, voice quiet but clear.

"Yes."

"If you ever have a nightmare like that again… wake me. Don't sit there alone and hold it in."

He paused. "You're already beside me. I don't want to disturb you."

She stepped closer. "You won't disturb me. I want you to rely on me. Even if it's small things. Even if it's stupid things. I want to be the person you turn to."

Her eyes shined a little under the moonlight.

Wei Ji felt something warm grow inside him again. He reached out and gently brushed her hair.

"Alright," he said quietly. "I'll wake you next time."

She smiled brightly. "Good."

Then she tugged his sleeve. "Let's go inside. I'm getting cold."

They returned through the courtyard door and walked slowly back down the hall. The lanterns still flickered gently. The room was warm again as soon as they stepped inside.

Lu Shaohua pulled him toward the bed. "You still look tired. Come sleep."

Wei Ji sighed but nodded. "Fine."

She crawled onto the bed first and flipped the blanket open. "Hurry."

He slipped in beside her. She wrapped her arms around him immediately, her warmth pressing close.

"Better," she said softly.

Wei Ji let his eyes close again.

This time, he felt no fear.

Only peace.

And the steady heartbeat of the woman who slept so close to him.

Wei Ji drifted back into sleep far more easily this time. The warmth beside him, the steady rise and fall of Lu Shaohua's breathing, the soft weight of her arms around him all pulled him into a gentler darkness. No sharp fear. No echo of running. No crimson moon hanging above ruins.

Instead, he felt sunlight.

Warm, soft, familiar sunlight.

He opened his eyes inside the dream, and the world around him took shape like ink spreading across paper. He stood on the central platform of his old sect. The air was clean. The wind brushed against his robes with a calm he had not felt for a very long time. The sky above was blue without a single cloud, the kind of clear sky that only appeared in places filled with strong spiritual energy and even stronger harmony.

He blinked slowly. "This… this is my sect."

Not the burning ruins. Not the corpses. Not the shattered halls he saw in nightmares.

This was the sect he remembered before the war. Before the fear. Before the Demon Queen's shadow. Before everything fell apart.

He heard laughter nearby.

He turned and saw disciples sparring in the courtyard. Their wooden swords clacked against each other. One of them tripped and fell, and the others burst into laughter while helping him up.

Wei Ji felt his throat tighten.

He took another step and heard voices from behind him.

"Senior brother Wei Ji, you woke up early again."

He turned to see a young disciple running toward him, waving excitedly. Behind the youth were others carrying baskets of herbs, chatting and smiling. They moved past Wei Ji with nods of respect, but their eyes were filled with affection.

As if nothing bad had ever happened.

As if the world was still safe.

As if the sect never knew death.

"Wei Ji," another voice called.

This one was older. Calm. Steady.

He knew that voice.

His master stood near the stairs leading to the pavilion. His white hair fluttered in the breeze. His hands were clasped behind his back, and a small knowing smile rested on his lips.

"Wei Ji. Come speak with me."

Wei Ji froze for a moment.

His master.

He had buried his master with his own hands. He remembered the blood. He remembered the cold body. He remembered the bitterness in his chest when he lowered the coffin into the earth.

But here, his master looked alive. More alive than Wei Ji remembered.

Wei Ji slowly walked toward him.

"Master," he said softly. "I… I didn't expect to see you."

His master looked at him with warm, gentle eyes. "You look tired, my disciple."

Wei Ji felt his chest tighten again. His voice came out low, almost a whisper.

"I am tired."

His master nodded. "Sit with me."

They sat on the pavilion steps together, watching the disciples below.

Wei Ji did not speak at first. He simply watched them move, breathe, laugh, and grow. It felt unreal. It felt too peaceful. Too perfect.

His master spoke first.

"This place," he said, "is the home you always cherished."

Wei Ji nodded slowly. "Yes."

"And the home you feared losing."

Wei Ji lowered his head. "I lost it."

His master hummed softly. "Perhaps. But only on one path."

Wei Ji looked up. "What do you mean."

His master smiled again. "There are many paths in life. Some are bitter. Some are bright. Some drown in blood. Some are built in peace. You grieve the path where everything was destroyed. But look carefully."

He gestured toward the courtyard.

Wei Ji watched the disciples again. The sun struck their faces. Their laughter rose into the air like music. Everything was alive.

"Take in this path as well," his master said. "It is part of you too."

Wei Ji felt something warm fill his chest. Something he almost forgot he could feel.

Hope.

He let out a slow breath. "I missed this place."

His master nodded. "I know."

"And I miss all of you."

"We never truly left," his master whispered. "We live in your heart. That is enough."

Wei Ji closed his eyes. The words hit deeper than he expected. The dream felt fragile, like a memory wrapped in warmth.

A small child ran past the pavilion stairs suddenly.

Wei Ji opened his eyes.

He knew this child.

He remembered the little brat who always followed him around with wide eyes and stubborn confidence.

"Senior brother Wei Ji," the child shouted. "Watch me. I finally learned the first sword form."

Wei Ji stood and watched as the boy took a stance and swung the wooden sword in wide arcs. His movements were sloppy, his footwork messy, but he had spirit. Real spirit.

Wei Ji felt himself smile.

"You improved," Wei Ji said. "But you're still forgetting one thing."

The boy blinked. "What is it."

Wei Ji pointed at his legs. "Your stance. It's too weak. You'll fall over if someone pushes you."

The boy frowned and tried again. He widened his stance too much, nearly falling backward.

Wei Ji laughed. "Not like that."

He crouched down and adjusted the boy's feet with gentle hands. "Here. Feel the ground. Make your stance firm but natural."

The child nodded with serious eyes. "I will try again."

Wei Ji stepped back and watched. The boy swung once more, and this time the stance held.

"That's it," Wei Ji said softly.

The child lit up and ran off again.

Wei Ji stood there for a long moment, taking in the faces, the voices, the bright sky, the soft wind.

This was his sect.

This was what he fought for.

This was what he lost.

But in this dream, he could hold it again.

He whispered, "Thank you."

His master's voice came from behind him. "You should go now."

Wei Ji frowned. "Go… where."

"Back," his master said gently. "Someone is waiting for you. Someone who wants you to wake up in peace, not in fear."

Wei Ji blinked.

As the world slowly began to blur around the edges, he heard the disciples laughing one last time. He saw the courtyard glow. He saw the sun shine brighter.

And then everything dissolved like mist.

Wei Ji gasped as his eyes snapped open.

The room appeared again. The moonlight, the soft warmth of the blanket, the faint smell of pine drifting from outside the window.

And Lu Shaohua's hand resting lightly on his arm.

He looked to the side.

She was still sleeping beside him, her breathing quiet and steady, her face calm and relaxed.

Wei Ji stared at her for a long moment.

His heart felt strangely full.

He whispered, barely audible.

"I'm home."

And this time, there was no fear in his voice at all.

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