The group eventually found a small clearing beside a stream. Saanvi happily declared it "perfect picnic vibes," while Devran muttered about bugs and betrayal.
Tianlan dropped onto a rock with a dramatic groan. "Alright. We've been traveling together for ten whole minutes. I demand answers. Someone please explain exactly how Devran nearly set a tea house on fire and why Saanvi needed rescuing from a food vendor."
Devran grunted. "I refuse to be part of this slander campaign."
"Oh no, no," Tianlan smirked. "This is a historical inquiry. For justice."
Saanvi sighed but looked amused. "Fine. But let's start with Devran's incident."
"Why me first?" Devran crossed his arms.
"Because yours is funnier," Tianlan said.
Saanvi began sweetly, "It all started at the Moonlight Festival—"
"Which was already suspicious," Devran interjected. "Too many lanterns. Too much cheer."
Saanvi ignored him. "He saw a street vendor selling these gorgeous golden rice cakes—"
"Gorgeous and overpriced!" Devran snapped. "Twenty silver for one! It was highway robbery disguised as dessert!"
"And instead of walking away like a normal person," Tianlan said, leaning forward eagerly, "he decides to…?"
Devran muttered, "Negotiate."
"You flipped the guy's table, Devran," Saanvi said.
"It was a passionate counter-offer!"
"There was fire involved."
"I was making a statement!"
"You lit the edge of his awning on fire—with a torch you stole from another stall!"
Wei Zhan, lounging nearby, whistled. "And here I thought court banquets were dramatic."
Tianlan gasped. "Wait, wait, and then you ran, didn't you?"
Saanvi nodded. "Straight into the fortune-teller's tent. Knocked it over. Got tangled in the prayer flags."
"I was evading arrest," Devran said indignantly. "And those flags were a trap."
"By the time he made it to us," Saanvi added with a grin, "he had singed sleeves, a dumpling skewer stuck in his hair, and a scroll stuck to his boot that said 'Beware of Idiots.'"
"It was cursed, probably."
Tianlan was howling with laughter, wiping tears from his eyes. "And you say I'm the dramatic one!"
"Can we move on?" Devran grumbled. "Let's talk about the real scandal. Saanvi's dumpling disaster."
"Oh, please," Saanvi said, trying not to smile. "It wasn't that bad."
Tianlan raised an eyebrow. "Did or did not a man try to whack you with a broomstick over unpaid food?"
Saanvi puffed her cheeks. "He overreacted! I was just… sampling!"
"You ate four dumplings," Devran deadpanned.
"They were small!"
"And then told the vendor you'd 'come back with exact change'—then vanished into the crowd."
"I was exploring!"
"She was escaping," said a voice from behind them.
All heads turned to Xie Lian, who was calmly sharpening his sword.
"Oh!" Saanvi grinned sheepishly. "Right, Xie Lian! You saved me!"
Tianlan looked between them. "Now this I want details on. Don't skimp."
Xie Lian shrugged. "The vendor was yelling. She was hiding behind a mask stall. I stepped in."
"He picked her up bridal-style and jumped onto a roof," Devran added with a glare.
Wei Zhan raised a brow. "Smooth."
"It was efficient," Xie Lian said.
Saanvi giggled. "I was very grateful!"
Tianlan turned to her slowly. "Grateful… or smitten?"
"Tianlan!"
"I'm just saying, if a handsome stranger carried me across a rooftop, I'd at least consider a thank-you dinner."
"It wasn't like that!"
"You told him your favorite flower and your tragic backstory within two minutes."
"It was relevant to the conversation!"
"I'm just surprised you didn't propose marriage on the spot."
Devran snorted. "Please, she probably would've if I hadn't shown up with a guard chasing me and a cabbage cart I didn't remember stealing."
"You stole a cart?!" Wei Zhan laughed.
"I was using it for transportation! My legs were tired."
Tianlan leaned back, arms behind his head. "Wow. So in summary: Devran commits mild arson, Saanvi commits dumpling theft, and Xie Lian becomes Prince of Rooftop Rescues. Did I miss anything?"
"Yes," Saanvi said. "You weren't there, so no one ruined the festival with loud sarcasm. It was peaceful."
"Oh, trust me," Tianlan grinned. "If I had been there, I would've narrated the chaos with a lute."
Vihaan, still lurking in the shadows, finally emerged and clapped slowly. "Bravo. I haven't even joined the party properly and I already love this traveling circus."
Saanvi looked around at the group and beamed. "So… we are a group now?"
Tianlan sighed. "We were doomed from the moment he said 'Prince Wei Zhan.'"
"Jealousy," Wei Zhan said again, smug as ever.
"Shut up, Royal Crumpet."
Vihaan finally stepped out from behind the tree, arms crossed, expression amused.
"Well, well. This is better than the street theatre in the Night Market," he said with a grin. "You've got scandal, swordplay, flaming rice cakes, and dumpling heists. Honestly, I'm impressed."
Devran groaned. "How long have you been there?"
"Long enough to hear about your epic duel with a food stall," Vihaan replied.
Tianlan grinned. "Oh, you missed the best part—he tried to pay for the rice cake with a button."
"It was an ornamental clasp from a sacred robe," Devran snapped. "Very valuable."
Vihaan raised an eyebrow. "And I'm sure the merchant wept with gratitude as his tent burned down."
Saanvi stifled a laugh. "You should've seen his face. He looked like a wet cat who just lost his incense stand."
Vihaan moved closer, casually picking a leaf from Saanvi's hair. "And you, dumpling thief. So delicate and graceful one moment, and then poof—criminal mastermind."
"I didn't steal them!" she said, pouting. "I was just… aggressively sampling."
"Sure. And I'm just casually observing with a dagger hidden in my sleeve."
Xie Lian glanced at Vihaan, calm but alert. "You're well-informed."
Vihaan gave a mock bow. "It's a talent. I pick up stories, rumors… dangerous quests. Like a moth to chaos."
Wei Zhan smirked. "And what do you do with those stories?"
"Depends," Vihaan said lightly. "Sometimes I sell them. Sometimes I stir them. Occasionally, I save someone. Usually by accident."
Tianlan leaned toward him, suspicious. "Are you saying you were at the festival too?"
Vihaan winked. "Maybe. Maybe I saw a certain sword-wielding prince leap dramatically onto a dumpling stall to rescue a girl, and thought, This is why I don't attend parties sober."
Xie Lian's eye twitched slightly. "It was efficient."
Vihaan smirked. "No complaints. It was very romantic. Ten out of ten heroism. Slightly clumsy landing."
"I stuck the landing," Xie Lian muttered.
"Mmhm," Vihaan said, flopping down on a boulder like a cat. "And Devran rolled into a basket of peaches. That was my favorite part."
"I WAS EVADING DEATH!"
"You were evading an old man with a broom," Vihaan corrected.
Wei Zhan laughed. "Honestly, I vote we let him stay. His commentary is gold."
Tianlan grumbled, "Ugh, why do all the sarcastic ones keep multiplying around me?"
Vihaan pointed a finger dramatically. "Because your face is too fun to tease."
Saanvi giggled. "I like him. He adds spice."
Vihaan gave her a mock salute. "High praise from the Divine Dumpling Bandit."
Devran looked around at the group, visibly done. "Great. We've gone from a noble quest to a traveling comedy troupe."
Vihaan leaned back and smiled lazily. "Better than a silent death march through haunted woods, don't you think?"
Tianlan nodded. "Yeah… until we're all eaten by spirit wolves because someone forgot to keep watch while delivering monologues."
"Relax," Vihaan said. "I already scared off the wolves."
Everyone blinked.
"You what?" Devran asked.
Vihaan shrugged. "I may or may not have flashed a cursed talisman. They scattered."
Saanvi blinked. "Wait, you have cursed talismans?"
"Of course," Vihaan replied. "I collect them. Like lucky coins. But darker."
Tianlan stared. "Why are you like this?"
"Because someone has to be," Vihaan said cheerfully. "Now, who's making tea? I promise not to set it on fire."
Devran groaned. "I hate everyone here."
Wei Zhan patted him on the back. "Aw. You'll get used to us."
Vihaan smiled slyly. "Or you'll snap and start throwing rice cakes again. Either way… entertainment."
---