The air was thick with the scent of blood and smoke. The ground beneath Mei Lin's boots was uneven, soaked with the remnants of the fierce battle that had unfolded throughout the day. Her muscles burned from exertion, but her determination was unwavering. She and Li Sheng moved through the battlefield with one singular focus—finding General Wei.
"I can feel it," Mei Lin murmured, her voice steady despite the fatigue weighing on her. "He's close."
Li Sheng's expression was grim, his sword held firmly in hand. "Keep your wits about you. The general is not someone we can take lightly."
The two of them pushed through the chaotic remnants of the fight, cutting down any remaining soldiers who tried to impede their path. The soldiers of the Northern Army were scattered now, their ranks thinning as the villagers' resilience began to show. Mei Lin could feel the shift in the battle, the momentum changing in their favor, but the fight was far from over.
Finally, they reached the edge of the village where the general had positioned himself, overseeing the remnants of his forces. His dark figure stood tall, his back to them as he gazed out at the village, as though contemplating the ruin he had wrought.
"General Wei," Mei Lin called, her voice cutting through the air like a blade. "Your reign ends today."
The general turned slowly, his cold eyes locking onto Mei Lin with an unsettling calmness. He stood there, unmoving, as though he were waiting for something—perhaps even for her.
"You've come," General Wei said softly, his lips curling into a mocking smile. "I've heard much about you, Mei Lin. The healer who gave up her power. How quaint."
Mei Lin narrowed her eyes, her grip tightening around the hilt of her sword. "You came to take me back. But you've forgotten one thing. I'm not the same woman you knew. And I'm not going anywhere."
General Wei's smile faltered for the briefest of moments, but it was enough to show that he wasn't as certain of his victory as he had been earlier. "It doesn't matter. You're a tool. A weapon. And you will do as I command. Your people will fall, just as they always do. I'll have what I came for."
Li Sheng stepped forward, his expression unwavering. "Not today. You've underestimated Mei Lin, General. And you've underestimated us."
Before the general could respond, Li Sheng lunged, his blade flashing through the air toward General Wei. The general's eyes gleamed with anticipation as he raised his own sword, their blades meeting in a powerful clash. Sparks flew from the collision, and the sound of steel against steel echoed through the battlefield.
Mei Lin stood still for a moment, her heart pounding in her chest. This was it—the moment they had been preparing for. She could feel her power surging inside her, though it was different from before. It was quieter now, more controlled. The loss of the amulet had forced her to find a new source of strength—one that didn't rely on a physical object but rather her own will.