Our hearts, two stars, and the sea

Chapter thirteen- Rivers, Hands, And Temples

Honestly, Shen Yuan isn't even surprised anymore. Bad luck and misery seems to follow him wherever he goes. Which is how he finds himself here; clinging to Shang Qinghua for dear life as they float down a river.

See, what happened is a rather simple explanation; while walking Shen Yuan got thirsty. Shang Qinghua told him to drink the river water but Shen Yuan refused because he said it was gross. Who knows where that water's been? Shang Qinghua then decided he was going to drink water for himself so Shen Yuan followed him down to the river. There was a hill and Shen Yuan tripped over a rock and like dominoes they fell into the rushing waters of the river.

This is how they got to where they are now.

"Bro! Grab a branch or something!" Shen Yuan shouts, clutching tighter onto Shang Qinghua like he's a raft.

"Maybe if you weren't RIPPING MY ARMS OFF, I could grab onto something!" Shang QInghua responds.

"I don't want to drown!"

"Doesn't mean you need to take me down with you!"

"What happened to friendship and loyalty? Does that mean nothing to you anymore?"

"Oh shut the- HOLY SHIT!"

"WHAT IS IT NOW?"

"W-W-WATER-!"

"OF COURSE THERE IS WATER! IT'S A RIVER, DIPSHIT!" Shen Yuan cries out, glaring at Shang Qinghua.

"IF YOU WOULD HAVE LET ME FINISH YOU WOULD HAVE HEARD ME WARNING YOU ABOUT THE WATER FALL UP AHEAD!" Shang Qinghua yells.

"WHAT?! TRY TO GRAB ONTO SOMETHING!"

"IT'S TOO LATE WE'RE GOING OVER!"

"WAIT-!"

Shen Yuan was cut off as they reached the edge of the waterfall and plummeted down.

'At least i have a creative death.' Shen Yuan thinks.

After a few seconds of falling, they land in the water. Shen Yuan just flails around since he can't swim. Shang Qinghua manages to grab Shen Yuan by the back of his robes and swim to shore.

Shang Qinghua grabs hold of something stone and quickly pulls them onto shore. They both flop down onto the sand, facing the sun and panting.

"That was..." Shen Yuan starts but trails off.

"...terrifying." Shang Qinghua finishes. He then realizes he is still gripping the stone thing he used to pull them onto shore. He turns and looks at it, his eyes widen and he immediately jumps back onto Shen Yuan.

"WHAT THE HELL?!" Shang Qinghua screeches.

"What are you-? HOLY CRAP!"

What is it, is a stone hand. The hand's elbow is buried in the sand but the rest of it is visible. It looks old and its fingers are held together, as if you're supposed to place something in it.

Upon realizing it was a statue, Shang Qinghua calms down but is still creeped out.

"Dude dont scare me like that again." Shen Yuan huffs, pulling out his fan and fanning himself to try to get at least a bit dry. They're both drenched and cold. It will take several hours to get back to the camp since it was a two hour walk to the river, then they were carried downstream for god knows how long.
"If we want to make it back before dark we should start walking back." Shang Qinghua suggested. Shen Yuan nods and Shang Qinghua stands up. Shen Yuan expects Shang Qinghua to help him up, but instead he continues to walk. Shen Yuan gets up himself and follows after Shang Qinghua.

Since when did Shang Qinghua stop being such a pushover?! Can Shen Yuan exchange this best friend for another one! Please and thank you!

They continue walking, and it is then they realize; they don't know where they're going.