The cold mountain wind whipped through the narrow stone corridors of the White Lotus Clan's fortress, carrying with it a biting chill that seemed to settle deep in the bones. The sun had barely risen over the horizon, casting a pale light over the fortress walls, but for Lan Yue, the day felt darker than it should have.
She moved through the halls with a quiet purpose, her steps steady but her mind racing. The meeting with the Elders the previous night still weighed heavily on her. They had been cautious, as expected, and while they hadn't outright rejected the idea of working with Li Feng, their wariness was palpable. Trust was not something easily earned, especially from a warrior of the Shadow Wolf Clan.
Lan Yue wasn't naive. She understood the history between their clans—the blood that had been shed, the grudges that had festered for generations. But after everything she had been through with Li Feng, she also understood something the Elders did not: the threat of the Shadowborn was greater than any old hatred, and if they didn't unite, they would all fall.
She reached the small courtyard where she and Li Feng had agreed to meet after the council's decision. The air was still, the snow-covered ground glittering in the early morning light. As she stepped into the open space, she saw Li Feng already waiting, standing by a stone pillar with his back to her, his spear resting against the wall.
His posture was tense, and though his face was calm, Lan Yue could sense the weight of their situation pressing down on him just as heavily as it was on her.
"They're still unsure," Li Feng said, not bothering to turn around as she approached. His voice was quiet but steady, carrying with it the cold, measured tone of someone who had long since learned to mask his emotions. "The Elders, I mean."
Lan Yue stopped a few paces behind him, her breath visible in the cold morning air. "They're cautious," she replied softly. "But they're not fools. They know the Shadowborn are a threat we can't face alone."
Li Feng finally turned to face her, his dark eyes narrowing as they met hers. "Caution won't stop what's coming."
Lan Yue's heart tightened in her chest. He was right, of course. The Elders could deliberate and weigh their options all they wanted, but the threat of the Shadowborn wasn't waiting for them to make up their minds. Every moment they hesitated was a moment the enemy grew stronger.
"We'll convince them," she said, her voice more resolute than she felt. "We'll show them that this alliance is the only way forward."
Li Feng's gaze remained locked on hers for a long moment, his expression unreadable. There was something in his eyes—something that made Lan Yue's breath catch in her throat. She wasn't sure if it was anger, frustration, or something deeper, something more personal.
"You still believe in your clan," Li Feng said quietly, his voice carrying a weight that felt almost accusatory.
Lan Yue frowned, her pulse quickening. "Of course I do. They're my people, my family. I have to believe in them."
Li Feng's expression darkened, his jaw tightening. "I've seen what loyalty to a clan can cost. It blinds you to the truth—to the things you need to do to survive."
Lan Yue's breath hitched at his words, and for a moment, she didn't know how to respond. She had always been loyal to the White Lotus Clan. Her entire life had been devoted to serving her people, to upholding their honor and traditions. But Li Feng's words struck a chord within her, a seed of doubt she hadn't realized had been planted until now.
"You're saying I should abandon them?" she asked, her voice sharper than she had intended.
Li Feng's gaze softened slightly, though his expression remained serious. "No. I'm saying that sometimes, you have to see beyond the walls your clan builds around you. You have to be willing to do what's right, even if it means going against what you've been taught."
Lan Yue felt a wave of frustration wash over her. She understood what he was trying to say, but it wasn't that simple. Her loyalty to her clan wasn't something she could just cast aside. It was a part of who she was, and it was the only thing that had given her purpose for so long.
But she also couldn't ignore the truth of his words. She had seen it firsthand—the blindness of the Elders, their unwillingness to fully trust Li Feng even after everything they had been through together. The walls between their clans were high, built on centuries of mistrust, and she wasn't sure if they could be torn down in time.
"Your people aren't much different," she said, her voice quieter now. "The Shadow Wolf Clan—they hold on to their grudges just as tightly as mine."
Li Feng let out a low, humorless chuckle. "You're not wrong. The elders of my clan would rather fight to the last man than join forces with the White Lotus. But I don't answer to them. Not anymore."
Lan Yue blinked, surprised by the weight of his words. "What do you mean?"
Li Feng looked away, his jaw clenching as if he was debating whether or not to tell her. When he finally spoke, his voice was laced with bitterness. "I left them. The Shadow Wolf Clan—I walked away."
Lan Yue stared at him, her heart pounding in her chest. "You... you left?"
Li Feng nodded, his expression hard. "They saw me as a weapon, nothing more. I was raised to be their tool, their champion in battle. But when I started to question their ways, when I refused to blindly follow their orders... they turned on me."
Lan Yue's mind raced as she tried to process his words. She had known Li Feng was different from the others in his clan, but she hadn't realized how deep the divide went. He had walked away from everything he had known—his family, his people—and yet, here he was, still fighting for something greater than himself.
"I thought I could forge my own path," Li Feng continued, his voice tight with emotion. "But the truth is, I'm not free of them. Not yet."
Lan Yue's heart ached at the pain in his voice, and before she could stop herself, she stepped forward, placing a hand gently on his arm. "You're not alone, Li Feng. We're in this together."
Li Feng's gaze snapped to hers, and for a moment, the tension between them hung in the air like a palpable force. Lan Yue could feel the heat of his body beneath her hand, the steady rhythm of his breath as they stood there, locked in each other's gaze.
But before she could say anything more, a sudden shout broke the silence, echoing through the courtyard.
"Lan Yue!"
She turned quickly, her heart leaping into her throat as she saw Mei Ling, one of the White Lotus Clan's elite warriors, rushing toward them. Her face was pale, her expression frantic.
"There's been an attack," Mei Ling panted, her voice trembling with urgency. "The Shadowborn—they've struck one of our outposts."
Lan Yue's blood ran cold. "What? Where?"
Mei Ling shook her head, still catching her breath. "In the eastern mountains. They overwhelmed the guards. There are... there are casualties."
Li Feng's expression darkened, his posture tensing as he stepped closer. "How many?"
Mei Ling's eyes flickered toward him, a brief moment of hesitation crossing her face before she answered. "Too many."
Lan Yue's heart raced as the weight of the news settled over her like a suffocating blanket. The Shadowborn had struck again, and this time, they had taken lives—innocent lives.
"We need to go," Li Feng said, his voice hard and cold. "Now."
Lan Yue nodded, her mind spinning as she tried to make sense of the situation. The Elders had been reluctant to act, but with this new attack, they would have no choice. The war was escalating, and if they didn't respond quickly, more lives would be lost.
"We'll take a small group," Lan Yue said, her voice steady despite the fear gnawing at her insides. "We can't wait for the council's approval. We need to act now."
Li Feng didn't argue. He simply nodded, his expression grim as they prepared to leave the safety of the fortress once more.
The road ahead was long, and the danger was greater than ever.
But they would face it together.