The forest was too quiet.

He Xuan scanned the shadows, hand on his weapon. Beside him, Shi Qingxuan was… kicking a pebble.

Loudly.

“We’re supposed to be sneaky, right?” Qingxuan whispered—way too loudly to be considered a whisper.

He Xuan’s eye twitched.

A branch snapped somewhere ahead. Enemy movement.

Qingxuan inhaled—about to ask another useless question.

He Xuan didn’t let him.

He grabbed Qingxuan by the front of his robes and shoved him against a tree, one hand over his mouth.

Qingxuan let out a muffled squeak. His eyes went huge.

“Be. Quiet,” He Xuan hissed.

Qingxuan nodded quickly, cheeks puffed under He Xuan’s hand.

(Youre Qing Xuan)