The night was thick with tension as Su Jin's forces prepared to embark on their perilous mission to strike at the heart of the Crimson Hand. Her elite strike force, carefully chosen for their loyalty and skill, readied themselves for the dangerous journey. But even as they prepared for battle, another force was growing—one that Su Jin had not anticipated. Deep within the kingdom, the seeds of vengeance were beginning to sprout, and they would soon threaten to consume everything she had fought to protect.
In the southern provinces, far from the capital's tumult, a small but growing faction of dissenters was gathering in secret. These individuals were survivors of battles Su Jin had won, people who had lost everything to the war—their homes, families, and livelihoods. Among them was a former nobleman named Cao Ying, whose lands had been ravaged in one of the kingdom's earlier conflicts with the Crimson Hand. While Su Jin had led her kingdom to victory, the cost had been high for Cao Ying, and he held her personally responsible for the destruction of his estate.
Cao Ying's heart burned with resentment, a slow, simmering rage that had been fanned by the ongoing chaos of the war. At first, his discontent had been quiet, a private anger he nurtured in silence. But as the war dragged on and more people suffered, he found others who shared his hatred for the crown. They blamed Su Jin not only for their personal losses but for the very war itself. They believed that if she had made different choices, if she had sought peace instead of battle, their suffering could have been avoided.
In the dim light of a hidden cavern, Cao Ying gathered with his followers. The group had grown larger in recent weeks, bolstered by rumors of discontent and whispers of Su Jin's perceived failures. There were former soldiers, disgruntled farmers, and disillusioned nobles in their ranks. Together, they formed a new alliance—one with a single purpose: vengeance.
"We have been left to die," Cao Ying began, his voice low but filled with intensity. "The queen has led us into a war we never asked for, a war that has cost us everything. And now, she prepares to launch another foolhardy strike against an enemy that grows stronger every day."
His words hung in the air, and the assembled group murmured in agreement.
"We cannot allow her to continue this path," Cao Ying continued, his eyes blazing with conviction. "For too long, we have been silent, waiting for a miracle that will never come. The queen will not save us—she only brings more death. The time has come for us to take matters into our own hands."
A former soldier, a man who had once served in Su Jin's army, stepped forward. His face was scarred, both physically and emotionally, from years of battle. "What do you propose, Cao Ying? How can we, a scattered few, stand against her forces?"
Cao Ying's lips curled into a cold smile. "We don't need to defeat her army. We need to strike at her heart. The queen has enemies everywhere, both inside and outside the kingdom. If we play our cards right, we can turn those forces against her. We will sow chaos from within and let her enemies do the rest."
The group fell silent, absorbing his plan. It was a dangerous idea, but one that resonated with their growing thirst for vengeance. They did not need a full-scale rebellion—just enough disruption to bring the kingdom to its knees.
Meanwhile, back in the capital, Su Jin was unaware of the storm brewing in the south. Her focus was entirely on the mission ahead. The elite strike team had been assembled, and final preparations were being made. Su Jin knew that the success of this mission depended on precision, speed, and secrecy. The longer the war dragged on, the more vulnerable her kingdom became, not just to external enemies, but to the internal fractures that were beginning to show.
Gu Tingfeng stood beside her as they reviewed the latest intelligence reports. "The Crimson Hand's forces remain concentrated around their stronghold," he said, pointing to a map spread across the table. "We believe the Blood Sovereign will be there. But our informants say there has been unrest among the ranks."
Su Jin nodded. "That unrest is our opportunity. If we can exploit it, we can weaken their morale even further."
But even as she spoke, a gnawing doubt crept into her mind. She had received reports of growing dissatisfaction within her own kingdom, but she had pushed them aside, believing they were minor grievances that could be addressed after the war. Now, as she prepared to leave for the front, she wondered if she had underestimated the danger lurking closer to home.
"What troubles you, Your Highness?" Gu Tingfeng asked, sensing her unease.
Su Jin hesitated for a moment, then spoke. "The war has been long, and people are suffering. I fear that even if we win this battle, the kingdom may be more divided than ever. There are whispers of discontent—some of my vassals are beginning to lose faith."
Gu Tingfeng was silent for a moment, then nodded gravely. "The people's patience is wearing thin. But you have always been their beacon of hope. If we win this, their faith will return."
"I hope you're right," Su Jin said quietly.
Far to the south, in the darkness of the hidden cavern, Cao Ying's plans were already in motion. His network of spies and informants was spreading rumors of Su Jin's failures, stirring unrest among the populace. At the same time, he reached out to some of the more disillusioned vassals, offering them a way out of the war—a chance to take down the queen and seize power for themselves.
The seeds of vengeance had been planted. And as Cao Ying and his followers grew bolder, the kingdom began to fracture from within. Su Jin, focused on the looming confrontation with the Blood Sovereign, had no idea that a new threat was rising—one that could destroy her kingdom even if she defeated her enemies on the battlefield.