The Gorge Confrontation

Chenwei stepped into the narrow gorge, his voice cutting through the early morning fog like the edge of his blade. "Not one step further."

Wen Yuhan, Zhou Lianyi, and the veiled woman halted, their surprise barely concealed. The woman shifted, her veiled face unreadable, but Lianyi's brows pulled together in a mix of shock and frustration.

Lianyi took a step forward, his hand already reaching for his sword, though his expression was tinged more with anxiety than anger. "Junior Brother Li," he said, voice tight. "Step aside. I don't have time for this. Move."

Chenwei's hand went instinctively to his own sword, his fingers tense on the hilt. "I can't do that," he replied, voice hard. "For your own safety, Fourth Young Master. This is too dangerous. The elders should be involved."

Lianyi's jaw clenched, his impatience clear, but there was a flicker of worry beneath his anger. "I ask you to move a second time, Chenwei," he said, voice low with warning. "I won't ask again."

Chenwei's heart hammered as he searched Lianyi's face. "Can't you see? This is a trap."

Before Lianyi could respond, Wen spoke up, his voice smooth and cold. "My thoughts exactly," he said, eyeing Chenwei with a faint, unreadable smile. "But tell me, Junior Brother Li… how did you know that? And how did you find us out here? Are you, perhaps… involved in this?"

Chenwei felt a surge of anger at the insinuation, his muscles coiling. Wen's gaze felt like a blade pressed to his throat, half amusement, half challenge. "Involved? No," he snapped, trying to sound calm, though his pulse raced with frustration. "I… I overheard something. About a… forbidden artifact. And I know where you're headed."

To Chenwei's surprise, Wen muttered under his breath, just loud enough for him to hear, "So it worked, after all."

Lianyi turned sharply to Wen, a mix of irritation and confusion on his face. "Yuhan, what exactly did you do?" he demanded, half-exasperated, half-relieved.

Wen gave a casual shrug. "I may have left a few… misleading clues. If someone were to follow them, they'd get entirely the wrong idea." His gaze flicked to Chenwei, an assessing look. "Though I didn't expect it to work so quickly."

The veiled woman stepped forward, her voice taut with urgency. "Young Master," she said softly but firmly, directing her words to Lianyi. "Every moment we waste here puts her in greater danger."

She didn't say who she was, but the implication was clear. Chenwei's hand tightened on his sword, his eyes narrowing as he studied the woman. Something about her felt… off. She held herself with the posture of a servant, but there was a tension in her stance, a readiness that felt far more like a trained fighter than a simple handmaiden.

Wen turned his gaze back to Chenwei. "So," he said slowly, almost thoughtfully, "how shall we proceed? We could waste even more time fighting, though I suspect that would only delay us further. Especially if we're trying not to harm each other."

The veiled woman interjected, her tone insistent. "There's no time for this," she urged, directing her words toward Lianyi once again. "If he insists on obstructing us, Young Master, we must… deal with him. Quickly."

Wen looked at her, his gaze calculating. "And how, exactly, do you suggest we do that without causing an even greater delay?" His tone was coldly pragmatic. "He'll fight us, and I don't think either of you wants to risk harming him… especially if we're trying to do this quietly."

The veiled woman's voice softened, a note of urgency woven through it. "Young Master, you know what's at stake," she murmured, her words careful, vague. "This mission is delicate. Any hesitation could… jeopardize everything."

Lianyi glanced between her and Wen, then turned to Chenwei, his expression conflicted. He took a steadying breath, his eyes searching Chenwei's face. "Chenwei," he said, his tone almost pleading, "just go back. This has nothing to do with you."

Chenwei met Lianyi's gaze, and for a brief moment, he almost faltered. But then he saw the worry in Lianyi's eyes, the faint tension in his stance. "You can't send me back," he said firmly. "Not when I know what you're walking into. This is a trap, Lianyi. You're being led to your death, and Wen—" His words faltered as he swallowed his suspicions, knowing that Lianyi would never believe him. "I was only trying to protect you, Fourth Young Master."

Lianyi sighed, frustration evident in his eyes. He exchanged a look with Wen, then turned back to Chenwei. "There's no time for this. We'll take him with us," he decided, though his tone was tinged with resignation.

The veiled woman shifted, alarm flashing in her eyes. "But… Young Master, he will learn things he shouldn't—"

Wen interrupted, his voice smooth. "He's here now, whether we like it or not. Sending him back would only draw more attention. And besides…" He gave Chenwei a look that was almost… amused. "I'm sure Junior Brother Li can keep a secret for me, can't you?"

Chenwei's stomach twisted at the suggestion, every instinct telling him Wen was trying to charm him, to manipulate him. But he forced himself to give a stiff nod, trying to mimic a look of grudging acceptance. "…Yes. For you," he muttered, his voice thick with sarcasm.

Wen's faint smile didn't reach his eyes. "Good."

Lianyi seemed to relax slightly, relieved to have a solution, though he sensed the tension in the air. He cleared his throat, turning to Chenwei with a more formal expression. "Very well. Since you're with us now, I suppose there's no harm in explaining. This is…" He gestured to the veiled woman, who inclined her head with a respectful bow. "This is my fiancée's handmaiden. She came to me for help."

Chenwei's brows drew together, suspicion deepening. "Her handmaiden?"

Lianyi nodded, his tone earnest. "My fiancée was… taken, kidnapped by a rogue cultivator. Possibly a bandit," he explained, his voice filled with barely contained urgency. "We're going to rescue her, but we have to keep it quiet. Even if we succeed, if word got out… people would assume the worst. Her reputation would be ruined." His voice softened, and for a brief moment, the stern mask slipped. "I… I cannot let that happen."

Chenwei's mind raced, his disbelief barely hidden. A rescue mission? This felt too convenient, too… ordinary. His eyes flicked between Wen and the veiled woman, his suspicion hardening. Wen must have arranged this. He must have hired the bandits, just to set this in motion.

Wen caught Chenwei's glance, his expression unreadable. "Well, Junior Brother Li," he said smoothly, "it seems you'll be joining us, after all. I'm sure your sword will be… invaluable."

Chenwei forced himself to nod, keeping his voice as steady as possible. "Of course," he said, his fingers flexing unconsciously on his sword hilt. "For Lianyi's sake."

Wen's smile turned faintly mocking, as though he could see right through Chenwei's facade. "Naturally."

The veiled woman, still tense, shot a wary glance at Chenwei but said nothing further. Lianyi, oblivious to the layers of suspicion between them, simply nodded, his focus entirely on the path ahead.

"Then let's go," he said, his voice filled with quiet determination. "We can't waste another moment."

Chenwei fell into step behind them, his heart pounding with a mix of dread and defiance. Every step felt like another link in a chain tightening around his chest, but he forced himself onward, determined to see this through.

He would expose Wen, he told himself. Whatever twisted game was being played here, he would find the truth.

And this time, he wouldn't fail.