The Shield's Echo 

In the hushed aftermath of the brutal encounter, Hong Yi's pale lips parted, releasing words that hung in the air like fragile echoes.

"Zhang Wei," he began, his voice carrying a mix of exhaustion and a peculiar happiness. "I did it. I protected you, for once."

His words danced on the precipice of a chuckle, but the undertone of blood in his breath tainted the mirth. Hong Yi, despite the evident pain, managed a feeble chuckle, tainted with specks of blood.

"Guess... I finally got to repay the favour," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

Zhang Wei's eyes met Hong Yi's, a silent understanding passing between them. For every time Zhang Wei had shielded Hong Yi, there was an unspoken agreement that their bond transcended mere duty. As the words hung in the air, the weight of gratitude and camaraderie intertwined, painting the scene with a bittersweet hue.

"Stay quiet, Hong Yi," Zhang Wei's voice was firm, a desperate plea underlying the command. He looked into Hong Yi's eyes, his own reflecting a mixture of determination and worry.

"I always dreamt I'd be the one protecting you," Hong Yi managed a weak smile, his breath laboured. "The Gods answered me finally."

"You've more than repaid any debts, my friend. Save your strength," Zhang Wei couldn't help but crack a small, pained smile.

"You know, we always end up in the middle of trouble, but this... this is a bit much, even for us," Hong Yi's chuckle was interrupted by a wince of pain.

"Quiet now," Zhang Wei insisted, adjusting his grip on Hong Yi's wounded body. "We'll get through this."

As the words hung in the air, the sounds of distant battles and the rustling leaves created a sombre backdrop to their exchange. The stream continued to carry away the evidence of their struggle as if nature itself bore witness to the trials faced by these two friends.

Hong Yi, undeterred by Zhang Wei's insistence on silence, diverted his focus to the generals.

"Do you think General Li Feng would be proud of the way I held my ground back there?" he asked, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"You fought valiantly, Hong Yi. General Li Feng would have seen that," Zhang Wei hesitated, his eyes reflecting the weight of the question.

"But would he be proud?" Hong Yi pressed a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes.

Zhang Wei's jaw tightened, his silence conveying more than words ever could. He didn't want to entertain the possibility that their actions might bring disappointment to their revered general. The sounds of battle in the distance seemed to echo the internal struggle within Zhang Wei.

"Hong Yi, we need to conserve your strength. Save your words; we'll talk later," Zhang Wei, desperation tightening his voice, implored Hong Yi to remain silent.

The crimson-stained hand, now coated in a mixture of mud and blood, trembled as it sought to staunch the relentless flow from Hong Yi's wound. The urgency in Zhang Wei's eyes matched the gravity of the situation, a silent plea for Hong Yi to understand the imminent danger of his condition.

"Zhang Wei, promise me you'll tell General Li Feng that I fought with all I had. That I didn't falter when it mattered," yet, Hong Yi persisted, his words carrying both determination and a touch of vulnerability.

Zhang Wei swallowed hard, grappling with the request.

"You fought like a warrior, Hong Yi. Rest now, we'll discuss this later," he finally conceded, though his expression hinted at the burden of unspoken promises.

The conversation settled for a moment, the tranquillity of the riverbank contrasted sharply with the chaos that surrounded them. Hong Yi, despite the pain etched across his face, continued to gaze into the distance, seeking reassurance in the unspoken bond between warriors.

Zhang Wei's silence spoke volumes, torn between the harsh reality and the promise he couldn't bear to make. The sounds of distant clashes served as a dissonant backdrop to their conversation, a cruel reminder of the chaos that surrounded them.

"Rest now, Hong Yi. We'll talk about this when you're stronger," Zhang Wei murmured, the denial in his words a feeble attempt to shield both of them from the inevitable truth. As the river's gentle murmur intertwined with the echoes of battle, Zhang Wei's gaze remained fixed on Hong Yi, a silent vow to navigate the turbulent waters ahead.

In the hushed ambience, Hong Yi, against Zhang Wei's plea, veered into another topic.

"Zhang Wei, do you think... do you think General Li Feng will remember me?" The question hung in the air, heavy with the unspoken knowledge of impending farewells.

Zhang Wei, already teetering on the edge of anger, snapped.

"Hong Yi, I told you to keep quiet! Save your strength!" His raised voice echoed through the riverbank, a manifestation of the bubbling rage within him—a reaction to the helplessness that encroached with each passing moment.

Hong Yi, however, refused to relent. His response was a sudden flare of anger, an eruption born of the acceptance he clung to.

"Why can't you accept it, Zhang Wei? Why can't you face the truth?" The words, laced with frustration, cut through the air, challenging Zhang Wei's grasp on hope.

Zhang Wei's eyes, once clouded with sorrow, now glittered with fury.

"Because I won't give up on you, Hong Yi! I won't accept that you're just going to die here!" His words, a desperate plea, clashed with Hong Yi's acceptance of fate.

In response, Hong Yi's anger flared.

"Stop lying to yourself! I've accepted it, Zhang Wei. Why can't you?" The riverbank bore witness to their clash of emotions, a battlefield where two friends grappled with the inevitable, each carrying their burden of emotions and regrets.

Amidst the tumult of emotions, Hong Yi's sudden burst of anger exacted a heavy toll. He coughed violently, a gruesome symphony of struggle and despair that sent a vivid spray of blood into the air. Zhang Wei, gripped by a sense of helplessness, could only watch in agony.

As the crimson mess stained Hong Yi's lips and spilt onto his armour, Zhang Wei's heart wrenched. A silent prayer escaped Zhang Wei's lips, a plea to whatever force held sway over life and death. At that moment, the riverbank became a sacred space, a stage for the final act of a friendship tested by the cruel hands of fate.

Hong Yi, in the throes of his physical torment, managed to beg Zhang Wei for a simple request.

"Just hear me talk, Zhang Wei. Answer if you want." His voice, now weakened and filled with pain, carried an earnest plea for connection in the face of impending separation.

Tears continued to stream down Zhang Wei's face as he stared into the eyes of his dying friend. The unspoken frustration and unacceptance of the situation clawed at Zhang Wei's insides. With a reluctant nod, Zhang Wei acquiesced to Hong Yi's plea, the weight of his own emotions a burden that threatened to crush him. The river, a silent witness to this poignant exchange, flowed ceaselessly, carrying with it the echoes of a friendship hanging in the balance.

In the hallowed quiet that followed, an unspoken understanding settled between Zhang Wei and Hong Yi. The once turbulent currents of conflicting emotions now flowed in a shared stream of sorrow and acceptance. The riverbank, a canvas for their final exchange, held the weight of a friendship forged through trials and now tested by an unrelenting destiny.

Zhang Wei, still cradling Hong Yi in his arms, felt the tremors of his friend's weakening body. Each shuddering breath became a silent testimony to the ephemeral nature of life. The realization hung in the air like a heavy fog, as both friends grappled with the inevitability of their impending parting.

Amid this poignant moment, the gap between acceptance and denial began to blur. Zhang Wei, despite his earlier reluctance, found himself embracing the shared reality with Hong Yi. The hope that Zhang Wei had clung to, like a delicate thread, now frayed and finally snapped. The river, once a witness to their struggle, seemed to carry away the remnants of that hope, leaving only the raw, unfiltered truth in its wake.

Hong Yi, with a gaze that mirrored both pain and peace, began to speak. His words, a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, wove a tapestry of memories, laughter, and shared dreams. Each syllable held the weight of a lifetime of camaraderie, a testament to the bond that transcended the mortal coil.

As Zhang Wei listened to Hong Yi's voice, a profound stillness settled over the riverbank. The sounds of nature seemed to hush in reverence, allowing the echo of a friendship's final chapter to resonate. In that shared silence, the two friends found solace. The unspoken words and the quiet nods spoke louder than any eloquent farewell could convey.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows on the riverbank, Zhang Wei and Hong Yi clung to the bittersweet beauty of the moment. In the embrace of their shared understanding, they navigated the delicate balance between acceptance and denial, finding a fleeting serenity in the face of an inevitable farewell.