The night was quiet.
Too quiet.
The prison stood heavy in the darkness.
Guarded.
Silent.
Unforgiving.
But tonight—
Something slipped through that silence.
A shadow.
Moving carefully.
Calculating every step.
Li Xian stood at the outer wall, his face hidden beneath a dark covering.
No hesitation.
No fear.
Only urgency.
"…Han…"
A faint whisper.
Then—
He moved.
Quietly passing the outer guards.
Too quick to be seen.
Too precise to be caught.
Inside—
The prison corridors stretched long and cold.
And there—
He found him.
Zhao Han.
Chained.
Injured.
Barely conscious.
Li Xian froze for a moment.
"…Han…"
His voice broke slightly.
"…I'm here."
No response.
Han didn't move.
Didn't open his eyes.
But Li Xian didn't waste another second.
He stepped closer.
Kneeling down.
His hands trembling slightly as he carefully checked Han's injuries.
"…This is bad…"
His expression darkened.
Without hesitation—
He took out medicine.
And began treating the wounds carefully.
"…Hold on…"
He whispered.
"…Just hold on."
His hands were steady.
But his heart wasn't.
Every movement—
Every second—
Was filled with regret.
"…I'm sorry…"
A whisper.
Barely audible.
"…I'm so sorry…"
After a Moment
Han's breathing began to steady slightly.
Li Xian didn't stop.
He gently lifted him.
Careful.
Protective.
Like he was carrying something that couldn't be broken.
Outside the Prison
The night air was cold.
Still.
No one noticed.
No one stopped him.
Because by the time anyone realized—
They were already gone.
Far Away
Deep within a quiet forest—
A small, hidden house stood in silence.
Li Xian placed Han gently on the bed.
Carefully.
Like he was afraid he might break.
Then—
He stood still.
Watching.
Breathing unevenly.
"…I'm sorry…"
His voice cracked.
"…I know…"
"…you'll never forgive me."
A pause.
"…And that's okay."
His hands tightened slightly.
"…I don't deserve it."
Silence filled the room.
Heavy.
"…Just…"
His voice softened.
"…please…"
A long breath.
"…stay alive."
His eyes lowered.
"…That's the only thing I need from you."
Another pause.
"…Alive."
That word—
Carried everything he couldn't say.
Everything he couldn't fix.
Everything he had lost.
"…For now…"
His voice was quiet.
"…this is all I can do."
A step back.
"…I'm sorry…"
"…for being too late."
"…for being weak…"
"…for being a coward."
His hand trembled slightly.
But he didn't stay longer.
Because if he did—
He might not be able to leave.
So he turned.
And walked away.
Leaving behind—
The one person he couldn't afford to lose.