Chapter 8: The Hidden Danger
1702 Words
Shen Lie returned to his room that night, but sleep was far from his mind'
Lan Yuze remained standing beside his door for a while after Shen Lie had left.
He kept thinking about the words Shen Lie had said.
"Tomorrow, don't disappear. I still have something to say to you."
Yuze wondered what Shen Lie wanted to tell him.
Was it about the competition?
Was it about the wound?
Or was there something else?
He finally returned to his bed and closed his eyes.
But sleep wouldn't come.
Across the palace, Shen Lie was having the same problem.
He lay on his bed, trying to sleep.
Every time he closed his eyes, Lan Yuze appeared in his thoughts.
His quiet expression.
His gentle voice.
The way he had carefully treated Shen Lie's wound.
Shen Lie opened his eyes again and sighed.
"What is happening to me?"
He turned toward the window.
The palace was silent.
Eventually, he closed his eyes again.
But his thoughts refused to become quiet.
---
Meanwhile, in another part of the palace, several princes were gathered together.
Their expressions were filled with anger.
Lan Yuze had defeated them in archery.
Then he had defeated them in the intelligence competition.
And even in swordsmanship, where they had been certain he would fail, he had somehow won.
One prince clenched his fist.
"He has humiliated us enough."
Another nodded.
"He cannot be allowed to return home."
A third prince looked around before speaking.
"Then what do you suggest?"
The first prince lowered his voice.
"Tomorrow, we will take him into the forest."
"How?"
"We'll make it look like an ordinary horseback-riding trip."
Another prince hesitated.
"And if someone asks?"
"No one will suspect us. We'll separate him from the others."
The princes exchanged glances.
Then one of them smiled coldly.
"Fine. Tomorrow."
---
Morning arrived.
The palace became busy again.
The princes prepared their horses for a trip into the nearby forest.
The Crown Prince had allowed them to spend the morning riding outside the palace grounds.
Lan Yuze arrived with his brother.
Lan Yichen immediately checked his horse.
Yuze quietly stood beside his own.
One of the princes approached him.
"Lan Yuze."
Yuze looked up.
"Yes?"
"You've won every competition so far."
Yuze politely replied,
"I was fortunate."
The prince laughed.
"Then perhaps your luck will continue today."
Yuze didn't understand.
The prince pointed toward the horses.
"How good are you at riding?"
Yuze answered honestly.
"I'm not as skilled at riding as my brother."
Lan Yichen looked over.
"Yuze isn't very experienced. We don't need to make this a competition."
The prince smiled.
"Don't worry. He's not a child."
He turned toward Yuze.
"And if you need help, we'll look after you like an older brother."
Lan Yichen hesitated.
Something about the prince's smile made him uncomfortable.
Still, he couldn't openly accuse him of anything.
"I'll ride with him," Yichen said.
The princes exchanged quick looks.
They hadn't expected that.
One of them immediately smiled.
"Of course. You're like an older brother to all of us."
Another pointed toward the forest.
"Let's go."
---
The group rode toward the forest.
Four princes kept watching Lan Yuze.
Their plan was simple.
They wanted to separate him from Lan Yichen.
One prince deliberately rode ahead with Yichen.
Another followed.
"Brother Lan, come this way. There's a beautiful view ahead."
Yichen looked back at Yuze.
Yuze was still behind with the other riders.
"I'll stay with my brother."
The prince laughed.
"Don't worry. He's with the others."
Before Yichen could answer, another rider called his name.
"Brother Lan!"
Yichen eventually rode ahead.
He didn't realize how far away he was getting from Yuze.
Behind him, the other princes slowed down.
Yuze noticed.
He looked around.
"Where is my brother?"
"He's ahead."
Yuze frowned.
"I should go to him."
One prince smiled.
"There's no need. We'll catch up soon."
Yuze wasn't convinced.
He turned his horse around.
At that moment, an arrow suddenly flew past his horse.
The horse became frightened.
Yuze lost his balance.
He fell heavily to the ground.
"Yuze!"
His horse ran away.
Yuze tried to stand.
Pain spread through his body.
His clothes were covered with dust.
He looked around in confusion.
"What happened?"
The princes dismounted.
One of them walked toward him.
Yuze stared at him.
"Did you shoot that arrow?"
The prince smiled.
"Perhaps."
Yuze's expression changed.
"You did this deliberately."
The prince grabbed his arm.
"Now you understand."
Yuze pulled his arm away.
"Why?"
The prince's face hardened.
"You have embarrassed us again and again."
Yuze looked at them.
"I never wanted to embarrass anyone."
"Yet you did."
Another prince stepped forward.
"You were supposed to be an easy opponent."
"You were supposed to lose."
Yuze's voice remained calm.
"I won because I competed fairly."
That answer made the prince angry.
He pushed Yuze.
Yuze stumbled backward.
"Do you still think you're better than us?"
Yuze looked at them.
"No."
He paused.
"I simply don't think you're better than me."
The prince's face darkened.
He struck Yuze.
Yuze fell again.
The others surrounded him.
Yuze tried to defend himself, but there were too many of them.
His strength was not enough.
Eventually, the princes stopped.
One of them looked down at him.
"Take him farther into the forest."
Another said,
"And make sure no one finds him."
They began leaving.
Yuze struggled to sit up.
"Where are you going?"
The prince turned around.
"You'll find out."
Yuze suddenly understood that they weren't planning to leave him alone.
He tried to stand.
One prince remained behind.
He approached Yuze with an angry expression.
"You caused all of this."
Yuze stepped backward.
"Stay away from me."
The prince continued toward him.
Yuze tried to move away, but his injured leg made it difficult.
The prince grabbed at him.
Yuze struggled and pushed him away.
"Don't touch me!"
The prince became angrier.
"You think you can order me around?"
Yuze tried to escape.
The prince attempted to restrain him again.
Yuze fought to get free, frightened and exhausted.
Then—
A cold voice came from behind them.
"Let him go."
The prince froze.
Yuze looked up.
Shen Lie stood a short distance away.
His black clothes moved slightly in the wind.
His expression was terrifyingly calm.
The prince released Yuze immediately.
"Prince Shen..."
Shen Lie's eyes were cold.
"I said let him go."
The prince stepped backward.
"You misunderstand—"
"I don't."
Shen Lie walked forward.
"Leave."
The prince tried to speak.
But Shen Lie's gaze stopped him.
"Now."
The prince turned and ran.
Shen Lie didn't follow him.
He immediately went to Yuze.
Yuze was sitting on the ground, breathing unevenly.
His white clothes were covered with dirt, and there were several visible marks from the earlier struggle.
Shen Lie's expression changed when he saw him.
His anger became even deeper.
He removed his outer coat and gently placed it around Yuze's shoulders.
"Are you hurt badly?"
Yuze looked at him.
For a moment, he couldn't speak.
Then his eyes filled with tears.
Shen Lie crouched beside him.
"Yuze."
Yuze finally whispered,
"They..."
His voice trembled.
Shen Lie didn't ask him to explain immediately.
"You're safe now."
Yuze looked at him.
The fear he had been holding inside finally broke.
Tears rolled down his face.
Shen Lie carefully helped him stand.
"Can you walk?"
Yuze tried.
His leg hurt.
He stumbled.
Shen Lie immediately supported him.
"Don't force yourself."
Yuze lowered his eyes.
"I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"You came because of me."
Shen Lie's expression softened.
"I came because I wanted to find you."
Yuze looked at him.
"How did you know I was here?"
Shen Lie looked toward the forest path.
"I saw them leaving with you."
Yuze was confused.
"When?"
"Earlier."
Shen Lie's voice became colder.
"I knew they were angry after the competitions. I suspected they might try something."
Yuze looked down.
"I should have been more careful."
Shen Lie shook his head.
"No."
He looked directly at him.
"They are responsible for what they did."
Yuze remained quiet.
Shen Lie carefully lifted him.
Yuze was surprised.
"Shen Lie..."
"You can't walk properly."
"I can walk."
"You're injured."
Shen Lie carried him toward a small hidden shelter deeper in the forest.
Yuze became nervous.
"Where are we going?"
"My place."
"Your place?"
"I sometimes come here when I want to be alone."
They reached a small wooden shelter surrounded by trees.
It was quiet and hidden.
Shen Lie carefully placed Yuze down.
"Sit here."
Yuze obeyed.
Shen Lie brought water and began cleaning the dirt from Yuze's hands and face.
Yuze flinched slightly.
"Does it hurt?"
"A little."
Shen Lie became gentler.
He looked at Yuze's face.
"You're still trying to act brave."
Yuze gave a faint smile.
"I don't want everyone to worry."
Shen Lie paused.
"Your brother will worry regardless."
At the mention of Yichen, Yuze's expression changed.
"My brother..."
He suddenly became anxious.
"He'll be looking for me."
Shen Lie nodded.
"Your brother is strong. He can take care of himself."
"But what if those princes..."
"They won't touch him."
Yuze looked at Shen Lie.
"How do you know?"
"Because I'll make sure they don't."
There was such certainty in Shen Lie's voice that Yuze finally relaxed.
After a moment, Yuze quietly asked,
"Why are you always helping me?"
Shen Lie looked at him.
He had no simple answer.
Because he couldn't stand seeing Yuze frightened.
Because he kept searching for him.
Because every time Yuze was in danger, something inside him became impossible to control.
Finally, Shen Lie said,
"Because I don't like seeing you hurt."
Yuze lowered his gaze.
The words stayed between them.
Outside, the wind moved through the trees.
Inside the small shelter, everything became quiet.
Shen Lie looked at Yuze's tired face.
"Rest for a while."
Yuze nodded.
"But my brother..."
"I'll take you back when you're strong enough."
Yuze slowly closed his eyes.
For the first time since the attack, he felt safe.
Shen Lie remained beside him, watching over him.
His expression was calm.
But inside, one thought kept repeating:
Whoever had frightened Lan Yuze today had made a very serious mistake.
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD