The Witch in the Woods: The Transmigration of Hazel-Anne Davis
Chapter 27: Off To See The Wizard

Chapter 27: Off To See The Wizard

Zhu Deming returned to the Red Demon camp just as the sun was brushing the mountain’s edge, painting the sky in streaks of gold and ash. His cloak was heavy with forest scent—pine, loam, wildflowers—and something else he couldn’t name.

Something that was distinctly her.

He moved through the camp without fanfare, nodding once to the guards before ducking into Sun Longzi’s tent.

The general looked up from his seat beside the war map, his brow furrowing. "You were gone too long," Sun Longzi announced, before returning his gaze to the map in front of him. If he couldn’t get the weapon, he needed to bring the court something else.

Like information on Yelan.

"I found something," Zhu Deming replied quietly. "Someone."

Sun Longzi didn’t move, but the tension in the air thickened. "The woman with the child?"

"Yes and no," shrugged the Second Prince. "The woman was taking her daughter to the village’s healer."

"A village healer who doesn’t live in the village?" sneered Sun Longzi, his brain dissecting every bit of information in front of him. What woman would choose to live alone in the mountains?

It wasn’t normal.

"I didn’t exactly as why," answered Zhu Deming, walking over to where the pot and tea were. Pouring himself a cup, he sat down.

"But you did ask her for something. Don’t make me pull out your teeth. Tell me everything," said Sun Longzi, as he felt the beginning of a headache behind his eyes. There was too much to the village, and nothing was what it seemed.

"I asked if she knew a way to Yelan," Zhu Deming announced, carefully placing the cup back on the table. "And she offered to take us."

Sun Longzi turned, his eyes narrowing on the Second Prince, studying him. "She offered to take us... just like that?" There was a pause. "Out of what? Kindness?" Sun Longzi asked, his tone unreadable.

Zhu Deming didn’t answer right away. He poured himself another cup of tea from the pot near the brazier, thinking about what he should say. He could tell his best friend everything that had happened... but the very idea of it stuck in his throat.

Zhao Xinying was his, and he wasn’t exactly willing to share that experience with anyone, even Sun Longzi. "She didn’t ask for anything in return."

That wasn’t an answer. But it wasn’t a lie either.

Sun Longzi frowned. "And you trust her?" he scoffed, walking across the tent to sit beside the other man. Pouring himself a cup of tea, he waited for Zhu Deming’s response.

"I trust she knows the mountain," shrugged the Second Prince, his eyes unreadable over the rim of the cup.

Another beat passed.

Sun Longzi studied him. "You’re being tight-lipped," he sighed, shooting back the now-cool tea.

"I usually am," Zhu Deming said flatly. "Would you prefer I invent something so we can make this a conversation or something? I thought you were just looking for information on where the woman and child went."

Sun Longzi’s jaw flexed. "I don’t trust the well intentions of this village. She’s not a soldier. If she leads us to Yelan, we’re putting our mission—and our lives—in her hands. I’d prefer not to end up dead."

Zhu Deming set the cup down with a quiet clink. "Then I suggest we watch our step."

Silence hung between them again. But this time it wasn’t empty.

Eventually, Sun Longzi gave a short nod. "We go at dawn. No armor. No markings. Civilians only."

Zhu Deming acknowledged him with a slight incline of his head.

But just as he reached for the tent flap to leave, Sun Longzi spoke again—soft, but deliberate.

"She may not lie," the general said, "but that doesn’t mean she’s trustworthy."

Zhu Deming paused. "No," he agreed quietly. "It doesn’t."

But for the first time in his life, Zhu Deming was willing to trust a woman.

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I knew they were coming long before they stepped through the tree line. There was a change in the air when Zhu Deming was around... an almost spark. If I didn’t know that he was a human, I would think that he was a demon.

It was starting to stress me out a bit.

Letting out a long, controlled breath, I pulled myself together.

There’s a certain way men like that move—silent, sure, coiled like a bowstring, no matter how soft they intentionally made their footsteps. There was more warning in the silence than if they had stomped through the woods.

After all, most animals don’t worry about their footsteps unless they were hunting something.

I was already outside, kneeling in the garden and checking the herbs for bugs or disease when I heard them... or didn’t hear them. I didn’t bother to look up—not right away. I gave them time to see me first.

It’s always better that way.

The shorter one, by like an inch, Zhu Deming, walked like a man who had been here before. His feet were steady, and so was his breathing. But the tall one? He moved like a blade. Everything about him was sharp, polished, and silent. Even in plain clothes, I could tell exactly what he was.

A general. I assume THE general.

And not the kind that commands from behind walls.

I plucked a few leaves from one of the pepper plants and stood slowly, brushing dirt from my hands on my skirt. I didn’t bother smiling.

"You’re late," I said evenly, a tiny smirk appeared in the corner of my mouth when I looked over at Zhu Deming. "I thought you’d be here before dawn."

Zhu Deming bowed his head in acknowledgment. "Apologies," he replied, his deep voice sending a tingle of pleasure down my spine. Who knew I had a thing for voices?

The general, however, didn’t speak. He just stared at me like I was a bug to be dissected.

I met his gaze without flinching.

Up close, he was impressive—broad-shouldered, lean, with a face carved from war. His eyes were colder than frostbite, and the only thing louder than the silence between us was the judgment radiating off his bones.

"You must be the General," I said after a moment. If he really thought that the silent treatment would work on me, he had another thing coming. I grew up with more uncles than I could count, who thought they would have to pay per word. And if you think the God of Death was going to talk your ear off, you had another thing coming.

He didn’t confirm, only gave a shallow nod like I should be grateful that he even did that much.

Charming.

I turned and walked toward the house to quickly wash my hands. Daylight was burning, and I didn’t know how long this trip into Yelan was going to take.

"If you’re planning to follow me, I’d suggest removing anything metal that isn’t essential. That includes belt buckles, hidden knives, and whatever clever little tools you’re hiding in your boots." This time, I didn’t even try to hide the smile on my face. I mean, if push came to shove, I was going to use their metal before my own.

This was my only disclaimer that if they don’t want it disappearing, then they should leave it at home.

Behind me, there was a pause.

Then Zhu Deming murmured, "What about the traps? We might need the knives to cut ourselves down."

I shook my head in response. "The entire point of my taking you is so that you avoid the traps. Besides, if you do manage to spring one, you won’t be alive long enough to cut yourself down."

Wiping my hands, I spun around and looked at the two men. "Ready to go?"