Li Sheng's grip tightened on Mei Lin as she staggered against him, her side bleeding from the deep cut. Her breathing was shallow, each inhale a reminder of the pain radiating through her body. Her vision swam, and the sounds of the battle around her grew distant, as though she were hearing it through water.
"No..." Mei Lin gasped, trying to steady herself. "I can still fight. We have to—"
"Not like this," Li Sheng interrupted, his voice filled with determination. "You're hurt. Let me take you to safety first."
Mei Lin's eyes flitted over the battlefield, the chaos unfolding before her. The villagers were fighting valiantly, but it was clear that the tide was turning in favor of the Northern Army. The numbers were overwhelming, and though Mei Lin had trained and fought alongside the villagers, this was beyond what any of them had prepared for. They needed her, but she needed to survive to help them.
Before she could protest, Li Sheng lifted her in his arms, ignoring her protests as he carried her toward the safety of the nearby woods. Her vision flickered, and she felt a wave of dizziness wash over her. She clenched her teeth, unwilling to show any sign of weakness.
"Don't... leave them," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Li Sheng, his face set in a hard expression, didn't look back. "I'm not leaving anyone, Mei Lin. But you need to rest, or you won't be able to fight when the time comes."
As they reached the woods, Li Sheng set Mei Lin down against the trunk of a sturdy tree. The moment she was on the ground, she winced, feeling the wound in her side burn with every movement. Her hand pressed to the gash, trying to stem the blood that continued to seep through her fingers. She could feel the warmth of her own blood staining her clothes, but more than that, she felt the frustration clawing at her chest.
"I need to help them," Mei Lin whispered, looking at him pleadingly.
Li Sheng's expression softened, but his voice was firm. "And you will. But only after you're healed enough to fight. You've fought enough for today."
Mei Lin closed her eyes, trying to steady her breath. The pain was unbearable, but her heart ached even more for the villagers and Li Sheng. She had always been the one to heal, the one who was relied upon to fix things, and now, she felt helpless.
Li Sheng knelt beside her, his hands gentle as he began to rip the sleeve of his tunic, using it to bind her wound. "I won't let you lose yourself again, Mei Lin," he murmured. "I'll stay here with you, and when you're ready, we'll fight back together."
Mei Lin glanced at him, her eyes filled with gratitude, but also with the resolve to end this. "I'll be ready soon."