The scent of rubbing alcohol and sterilized linens instantly replaced the crisp mountain air. Midway through checking if he had a fever, the stranger's eyes flew open. They were sharp, dark and calculating, completely unlike the soot-stained, rough commoner's clothes he wore. With an agonizing gasp, his large calloused hand shot out clamping around her wrist with a crushing grip.
"Don't move"
Her voice was entirely unaffected by his sudden aggression and without exerting much force, she firmly pried his heavy fingers off her wrist with cool indifference causing him to narrow his eyes at her. Without stopping her inspection, she continued.
"If I hadn't stitched that artery, you'd be a corpse feeding mountain wolves. Stay still"
The man blinked through the haze of the fever. With difficulty, he observed the almost abandoned house he was in before turning to examine the woman in front of him. His job had let him deal with many physicians in the capital yet none possessed this kind of cold, miraculous efficiency.
"Who...who are you?" he rasped.
She offered him a small knowing smile as she sat calmly beside him. He felt unnerved and tense at that look.
"A simple blacksmith snuggled in a tool crate doesn't carry a hidden pouch of secret formulas notes. I saved your life, now let's discuss your value"
"Where is the merchant who brought me here?"
"Long gone, likely halfway back to the capital by now"
The man's face hardened as murderous intent seeped out from him, he tried to sit up, his arrogance warring with pain.
"Then you know my worth and what I can do? Name your price. Gold? Silver? And get me a horse while keeping your mouth shut and I might let you keep your life".
Just as he opened his mouth to continue rambling, she interrupted him.
"I don't need your gold"
He froze for a second as her eyes locked on him with a gaze that made him feel exposed and stripped of his secrets.
"I want your skills. You're a master artisan who has been pushed to the edge of the world. You have a choice, you can try to leave here, die of infection in the snow and feed the mountain wolves or be hunted down by those who put that blade in your chest"
She briefly paused as she let the reality grasp him before continuing,
"Or you can build for me and in exchange, you get to stay alive"
He scoffed, a bitter pained sound escaping him as he replied.
"Work for you? You think a few iron bars are enough for me to work my masterpiece?"
"No. But I could let you die now, steal those techniques and hire another one. You're not irreplaceable"
Her words hit a nerve as his expression turned darker.
"You have no idea what it takes to survive in this exile territory woman, you have to...
Click!
The heavy wooden door swung shut as someone stepped in. He didn't even see the man enter, only felt the air in the room grow heavy and suffocating. Curious to know who possessed such a commanding aura he turned to face him and his words faltered replaced by absolute shock.
Standing there was a man shoulders squared and gaze fixed on him with a chilling precision. In all his lives of dealing with merchants, and high ranking nobles, he had never felt the air on his arms stand up like this. The man face became clearer as he stepped forward making his eyes go terrifyingly wide. The man then spoke,
"We don't have any idea huh?"
His voice was resonant, low and lethal with authority and his jaws dropped at the unmistakable recognition. He had seen that face on many official scrolls while working. He heard of the news that the man was exiled and probably died, who would have thought. He finally whispered, his voice trembling as his composed facade already shattered into absolute awe.
"General....? Commander.....? War God?"
He didn't smile or agree, simply leaned forward and looked at him with a gaze that made him shudder before speaking.
"The Commander or general is dead. Here, I'm just a man building a home for his family. And you, master artisan, are currently a guest who will make himself useful by understanding that my 'little fortress' is the only thing standing between you and a grave in the snow"
Understanding dawned on the man as he nodded.
"What should you be addressed as?"
"Yan Huai"
He swallowed feeling the notes in his vest was suddenly worthless scraps of paper in their presence.
"The commander..... I mean Master"
He whispered, his eyes darting between the towering man and the calm woman beside him.
"The capital believes you fell in the Northen passes. The emperor himself signed the mourning decree"
With a flat tone devoid of emotion, Mu Wei interrupted,
"The emperor signs whatever keeps him asleep at night"
Before the men can turn this into an interrogation, she stepped between them, her shadow falling on Yan Huai.
"That's enough history for one morning"
She picked a fresh, clean cloth dipping it in a bowl of steaming water as her voice cut through the tensed atmosphere. She pressed the warm cloth firmly against Yan Huai's shoulder forcing him back into the kang as he winced and gasped at the sudden pain. He tried to sit up in protest but one look stopped him
"Lie down"
She commanded, her gaze brook-no-arguement sharp. He obediently laid back down under her intimidating gaze. Su Xiao wiped the sweat and blood seeping out again.
"Keep agitating your chest, you'll split the internal stitches and drown in your own blood before being useful. I have no joy in repeating those stitches again"
Mu Wei watched her handle him with a subtle, protective glint in his eyes before his gaze hardened back onto Yan Huai.
"What is your story?"
Letting out a ragged breath as he realized there was no point in lying, he spoke up,
"I refused to forge the flawed armour the corrupt Ministry of War demanded for the Frontline. They tried to execute me for treason so I fled and paid the merchant to smuggle me here"
"Good. That means we have a common enemy"
"What do you need me to do Master?"
"You recuperate here without worries. After that, you forge the structural braces for my stronghold. Do we have an understanding?"
The cold, ruthless gaze locked in him and he slowly nodded his voice drowsy. Mu Wei exchanged glanced with Su Xiao before stepping out of the door, his posture turning back into the rough leader as he walked to the construction site.