Damn it! Don't go towards it!

Chun peeks from the corner of the building, the night market was busier than ever and this was an advantage to them "On the left, stall 5 and 7 are up for grabs while 1, 3, and 9 are a little sus on the right but I'll risk it" she looks at Xue "After grabbing what we need, we make a run for the diner alley and up the roof" Chun nods.

They waited for a moment before blending in with the sea of people, their hands and feet swiftly moving in coordination as they pickpocket and grab things from the stalls "Hey you!" the guy manning stall 9 saw Chun's hand but she already got what she want before dashing away to their earlier plan.

They were jumping one roof to the other with a smile "Today was bountiful! The shopkeep didn't even see my face" Chun laughs "You should be more careful" Xue shook his head "There's always the element of surprise even if one is careful" she chimed.

Arriving at rundown apartment, they went up to their room which was only good enough for 1 person but they manage to share the tiny living space they had "Winter is near, we should stock up on food and clothes" Xue puts away the things they got "I have somewhere to be tomorrow. Day after that I'll be meeting Mu Qing, she has another delivery so I'll negotiate" they sat on their bed as they silently ate the heated can of soup and bread.

Xue only knows that in the daytime, Chun's out probably doing small labor to earn them a few cash to budget and when she meets Mu Qing, she's probably delivering parcels and whatnot while he stayed back in the apartment. Chun never told him that her day job was being an anonymous underground mma fighter while her delivery service with Mu Qing was with shady people for a reasonable price or exchange. This only started doing this almost 4 years ago after Xue got in an accident while in their run. The woman named Mu Qing offered her the job and she was desperate, her only family was in the hospital. After Chun's multiple deliveries, Mu Qing covered the billing expenses of the hospital and got them the cramped apartment which was more than enough for the two. Since then she continued her job while keeping it a secret from Xue.

Chun and Xue started preparing to go to sleep when they heard a weird noise, on instinct they pulled out their daggers but they only saw a bright blue to teal vortex where the door should br "What is that?" Xue nervously fidget when in an instant, its sucked in the stack of cans near it "I don't know and I don't plan on knowing. Pack up, we'll find a different place to stay the night" Chun first started packing their necessities then turned around and saw Xue slowly walking to the vortex "It's like there's something in it" he mutters.

"Damn it!" Chun runs and dragged him "Don't go towards it! In those dumb movie, the person who does that dies first" she sling the bags over her shoulder as she opened the window, Xue mimicks her. They tried to jump out but a force started pushing then in the whirl.

Holding on to the windowsill but to no avail they were forcefully shoved in the weird swirling cloud.

×××

With a sudden gasp for air, Chun shot up waiting for her eyes to adjust 'Xue!' was the first thought that crossed her mind. Scanning her surrounding, most of their bags were scattered and Xue was also just waking up "Are you alright?" she runs to him and checked. He brushed her off "I'm fine Chun. Just a little shaken up" she nods and started picking up their things

They were in a forest and not far from them was a clear river "..We should find civilization first" Xue nods and pointed at the opposite direction of the river's current "Not much animals are around so I'll assume that it wouldn't be far" he spoke after analyzing the area.

After walking for almost an hour, they saw people who wore traditional clothing bustling on the street "Is there an event or something in this place?" Chun mutters as they walked around but both were weirdly stared at "Excuse me miss" Xue caught the attention of a young maiden "Where is this place? and is there any bus stop near here?" the girl looked at them strangely "You must not be from around here. This is the Shahe City and there is no bus here..that's the first time I've heard of it" the two thanked her before sitting in an alleyway "Tell me we're dreaming" Chun blinked a few times "We can't just be magically transported in Hebei" she mutters "And it looks like a different time" Xue added.

A couple of shadow from above passed by and when both looked up, they see people on a sword...flying! "What the fuck was that?! There's no bus but there are flying swords?!" Chun jumped on a roof and so did Xue.

"I'm so confused, that's impossible" Xue breaths out.

Chun noticed the people paying in gold, silver, bronze, and copper 'Are those the currency needed? Then that means our savings are useless' she looks at Xue who was still dazed at the flying people "Xue, let's go and make shelter" both jumped down and started walking again.

"Let's just take lodging for a night and figure things out" Xue suggested but Chun pointed at the stalls "Our money doesn't work here. We're back to square one"

They eyes had a mischievous glint and nodded to each other, it was just like the night before. Taking whatever they can without being noticed and they started walking towards the forest again.

"Well that was a breeze" Xue chuckled "Did you also get a money pouch" Chun asked as she dangled two "Do you even need to ask?" he shook the pouches he got.

"We can't settle for lodging if this is what we have, It's better to make our own little place" Chun bites on an apple as they sat on the grass.

Xue started a fire and was heating a can of soup "Do you think that those people in yellow are the authorities?"

"Maybe, but they don't look like they're patrolling"

"Yeah they seem to be in a rush to go somewhere"

Both of they ate as they silently process what was going on and where they are "If there are flying swords then that means there's a way for us to go back" Chun nods "And all we have to do is know where to look and how to do it"

After their lunch they decided to build a small hut "I'll go back to the city and gather supplies" Chun puts on a facemask "I'll do the planning" Xue rolled his eyes.

×××

Both were huddled in a corner "Why would you bring that guy here?" Xue glanced at the boy by the window who was smirking "Nothing, I just thought he should have dinner with us" Chun shrugs "I don't even know how long our food will last for us and now you invite someone" he was in disbelief "Look if he decides to stay with us then we can ask him to go on a run with us, so I don't see the problem" she muttered "What if he tells on us?" Xue know how reckless Chun can be but bringing in a boy who they have no idea of his being whatsoever, in a world they're not familiar with is just too much. Chun pats his shoulder "I just have a feeling that he wouldn't and he said his name was Xue Yang"

"Sorry we don't have much" Chun laughed awkwardly as both her and Xue started preparing dinner "It's okay but aren't your parents going to be mad?" Xue Yang asked as he sat on the cushion "We don't have parents. How about you don't you have one" Xue curtly countered "I do but they could care less" this made the atmosphere awkward.

Chun broke it immediately "Ah..that's okay, you can always come by if you feel lonely" Xue almost dropped the pan he was holding. Yep Chun stole a fuck ton of things but it was mostly necessities "And you're lucky since I'll be making chocolate fudge! Tonight"

Xue Yang tilts his head "Cho..colate..fudge?" Xue facepalmed "Chun are you forgetting something"

"Oh! Right! It's just something Xue and I enjoy after a meal on some days"

They sat on the mismatched cushions on the floor as they started to eat Xue Yang suddenly pulled out a knife on Xue's neck but the two also had their daggers on Xue Yang's "I told you so" Xue side glanced at Chun "Xue Yang, put the knife down" she smiled calmly at him and for a second Xue Yang falters before thrusting the knife.

Chun pushed back Xue and gripped on Xue Yang's wrist while the two siblings had their weapon on him "What do you even get out of this?" Xue asked but Xue Yang avoided the question "You two are fast to react"

"You live and you learn" Chun disarmed him and made him sit properly "We don't want blood on our food now can you please just eat" she sighed.

After the eventful dinner, they each had a piece of chocolate fudge and the Jie's even had tea "Who would've thought we'll have a stock of nice tea" Chun sips her drink while Xue and Xue Yang enjoyed the sweet treat.

"How did you learn to make this" Xue Yang tries to mask his pleased and excited expression "Want me to make you some whenever you come?"

"Will you really?"

"As long as we have the ingredients"

They continued to talking until Xue finally warmed up to Xue Yang. All conversations come to an end and that's when Xue Yang had to go back. The two only escorted him out of the forest and both went back to their new home to discuss their situation.

===

A/N:

Current OCs

Name: 街春 Jiē Chūn

Courtesy Name: 花 Huā

Name: 街雪 Jiē Xuě

Courtesy Name: 寒 Hán