The wind howled ominously through the trees as Meng Qingshan stood at the front of the demonic sect's army, his face hidden behind the dark mask that had become his signature. His sword, Hei Xin, gleamed under the blood-red moon, a symbol of the carnage that was soon to come. His mind raced with thoughts of Liu, the man who had promised to kill him, and Prince Cheng, whose twisted obsession with him was starting to unravel in dangerous ways.Sua Quan and Jiang Tian flanked him, their expressions set with grim determination. The Wutai Sect was coming. And with them, death."Do you sense it?" Sua asked, her voice barely a whisper.Meng nodded. "They're close."Tian, who usually had a sarcastic remark ready, was uncharacteristically silent. He could feel the tension in the air. They all could. This wasn't just another skirmish. This was war. And everyone knew it."Stick to the plan," Meng ordered, his voice steady despite the storm raging inside him. "We fight in waves, hit them hard and fast. Do not let them regroup.""Understood," Sua said, her eyes meeting Meng's briefly before turning to the distant horizon where the Wutai forces would soon appear.Meng took a deep breath, his thoughts lingering on Liu once again. He knew that the Wutai Sect believed the demonic sect had caused the illness plaguing Prince Feng, but Meng knew better. They were being framed. And Liu, blinded by his need for revenge, didn't see it.What would happen when they finally faced each other on the battlefield? Could Meng really bring himself to kill Liu? His feelings were complicated, entangled with hatred, betrayal, and a strange, lingering affection. It twisted inside him like a knife.But before Meng could dwell on it further, a shout rang out from one of the lookouts. "They're here!"On the other side of the battlefield, Liu marched at the head of the Wutai Sect's army, his expression cold and unyielding. Prince Cheng rode beside him, his face a mask of neutrality. But underneath, Cheng's mind was working, plotting.Liu's thoughts were consumed by Meng. The man who had once been his ally, his friend, was now his enemy. A demon. The blood demon. And Liu would be the one to end him. He had no choice—his sect, his honor, everything he believed in demanded it."We hit them hard," Liu said to Cheng. "No mercy. The demonic sect cannot be allowed to survive."Cheng glanced at Liu, his expression unreadable. "Just be careful," he said in a low voice. "Meng Qingshan is not like the others. He won't fall easily."Liu didn't respond. He had already made up his mind. Meng had to die. But as they approached the battlefield, something strange began to gnaw at the edges of Liu's mind.Meng stood still as the Wutai Sect forces approached, a sea of enemies flooding into the valley below. His heart pounded in his chest, but he forced himself to remain calm. This was it. The fight had begun.With a swift motion, Meng summoned his demon. Zhuan Xinyi appeared in a swirl of red smoke, his black eyes gleaming with malice. He looked around at the approaching enemy forces and grinned."Ready to shed some blood?" Xinyi asked, his voice dripping with dark amusement.Meng didn't answer, his eyes focused on the advancing army. He could feel the weight of every life he would take tonight. And yet, he knew it had to be done.As the battle erupted around him, Meng moved like a shadow through the chaos. His sword cut through soldiers like they were made of paper, each swing precise, each movement deadly. And with every kill, he muttered a quiet apology under his breath. "I'm sorry," he would say, his voice barely audible over the sounds of battle.But despite his skill, despite his power, Meng's mind remained fixated on one thing—Liu. Where was he?Suddenly, in the distance, Meng spotted a familiar figure. It was Liu, leading a group of Wutai soldiers into the fray. Meng's heart twisted painfully in his chest. He hated him. He hated him for everything. And yet, some part of him still couldn't shake the bond they once had.Liu didn't notice Meng at first, too focused on cutting down the demonic sect soldiers in front of him. But then, as if sensing something, Liu looked up. His eyes locked onto Meng's.For a moment, the world seemed to stop. They stood there, staring at each other across the battlefield. Liu's expression was one of pure hatred, while Meng's was hidden behind his mask, his emotions a storm that even he couldn't fully understand.Before either of them could make a move, Meng's demon, Xinyi, appeared beside him. "He's your enemy," Xinyi whispered, his voice taunting. "Kill him."Meng hesitated, his grip tightening on Hei Xin. But before he could decide what to do, the battle surged around them once more, forcing them apart.When the last of the soldiers lay dead at his feet, Meng finally took off his mask, gasping for breath. His face was pale, his amber eyes flickering with a mix of exhaustion and pain. He glanced down at the bodies of the people he had killed, his chest tightening with guilt."I'm sorry," Meng whispered again, but this time, he wasn't sure who he was apologizing to—the people he had killed, or himself.