The weight of the White Lotus warrior's words hung in the air like a death sentence.
"The council... they know you've left. They're coming for you."
The crackling fire was the only sound that filled the cave for several long moments, but even its warmth couldn't chase away the sudden chill that crept up Lan Yue's spine. Her heart pounded in her chest as she stared at the man before her, his breath coming in ragged gasps, his face lined with exhaustion.
"How many?" Li Feng asked, his voice hard as he stepped forward, his spear still in hand.
The warrior, barely able to stand, leaned against the cave wall for support. "A dozen... maybe more. They'll be here by morning."
Lan Yue's chest tightened. She had known there would be consequences for defying the council, for abandoning her post without their approval. But the thought of her own people—her own clan—hunting her down was something she hadn't fully allowed herself to process. The White Lotus Clan had always been her family, her duty, her purpose. And now, they were coming for her as if she were a traitor.
"What about the prisoners?" Lan Yue asked, her voice tense. "Are they safe?"
The warrior shook his head, his expression grim. "The healers are doing what they can, but the marks... they're spreading. The Elders don't think they'll survive much longer."
Lan Yue felt a surge of anger rise within her, frustration and helplessness crashing over her in waves. They had left to fight the Shadowborn, to find a way to stop the corruption from spreading, and now her clan was more concerned with punishing her than with facing the real threat.
"We don't have time for this," Li Feng said, his voice sharp as he turned to face Lan Yue. "If the White Lotus warriors catch up to us, we'll be wasting precious time fighting them instead of the Shadowborn."
Lan Yue knew he was right, but the idea of running—of abandoning her people when they were already divided—left a bitter taste in her mouth. She had always been loyal to the White Lotus Clan, but now, her loyalty felt like a chain pulling her in two directions.
"We should go," Li Feng continued, his tone softer now as he placed a hand on her arm. "We have to reach the Shadowborn Citadel before it's too late. You know this is the only way."
Lan Yue closed her eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath as she steadied herself. He was right. The Citadel was their only hope of stopping the corruption. They couldn't waste time fighting their own people.
She opened her eyes, her resolve hardening. "We'll go. But I'm not going to fight them unless we have no choice."
Li Feng nodded, understanding in his gaze. "We'll avoid them if we can."
The White Lotus warrior, who had been watching the exchange in silence, pushed himself away from the wall, his face pale. "I'll try to buy you some time. I'll lead them in another direction."
Lan Yue's heart softened at his words. He was risking everything by helping them—betraying his own orders to protect her and Li Feng. "Thank you," she said softly, her voice filled with gratitude. "Be careful."
The warrior gave her a small nod before turning and heading back into the snowstorm, disappearing into the shadows. The silence that followed was heavy, filled with the weight of what they had just learned.
Lan Yue turned to Li Feng, her mind racing. "We need to move quickly. If they catch up to us, it won't matter if we try to avoid them. We'll be trapped."
Li Feng's expression was grim, but there was a flicker of something else in his eyes—something that reassured her. He was calm, focused, and despite the looming threat of their pursuers, Lan Yue felt a sense of security in his presence.
"Let's go," he said quietly, his voice steady.
Without wasting another moment, they gathered their supplies and left the cave, moving swiftly through the darkness. The snowstorm had grown worse, the wind howling around them as they made their way through the treacherous mountain paths. The storm, while dangerous, would also provide cover. The White Lotus warriors would have a hard time tracking them in such conditions.
The cold air bit at Lan Yue's skin, but she kept her focus on the path ahead, her sword strapped securely at her side. Every step felt more difficult than the last, the snow and ice making the ground beneath their feet treacherous, but they couldn't afford to slow down. The urgency of their mission was more important than ever.
For a long while, the only sounds were the howling wind and the crunch of snow beneath their feet. Lan Yue's mind raced with a thousand thoughts, but she forced herself to stay focused on the present. There would be time to process everything later—if they survived.
As they climbed higher into the mountains, the storm began to ease slightly, the wind dying down just enough for them to hear each other again.
"How far is the Citadel?" Lan Yue asked, her voice barely louder than a whisper.
Li Feng's gaze remained fixed on the horizon. "Two more days, maybe less. If we keep this pace."
Lan Yue nodded, her body aching with exhaustion but her mind unwilling to stop. Two more days. They could make it. They had to.
But even as they pressed forward, Lan Yue couldn't shake the growing sense of unease that gnawed at her insides. The White Lotus warriors were close—too close—and the thought of being forced into a confrontation with her own people filled her with dread. She didn't want to fight them. She didn't want to hurt them.
But if it came to that...
She shook the thought from her mind. There was no point in worrying about what hadn't happened yet. They would deal with it when the time came.
As they continued their journey, the landscape around them began to change. The mountains grew steeper, the snow deeper, and the dark energy of the Shadowborn became more palpable in the air. Lan Yue could feel it—a faint, oppressive presence that made the hair on the back of her neck stand on end. They were getting closer to the Citadel. Closer to the heart of the enemy's power.
"We're not far now," Li Feng said, his voice filled with quiet intensity. "Can you feel it?"
Lan Yue nodded, her senses tingling with the unmistakable presence of dark qi. It was like a living thing, pulsing in the air around them, twisting and warping the landscape. The closer they got to the Citadel, the stronger the energy became.
But before they could take another step, a sound pierced the cold air—a sharp whistle, followed by the unmistakable clatter of boots on snow. Lan Yue's heart leaped into her throat as she turned, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the darkness behind them.
"They've found us," Li Feng muttered, his hand already reaching for his spear.
Lan Yue's pulse quickened as the realization sank in. The White Lotus warriors had caught up to them, and there was no time to run. They were trapped.
"We don't want to fight them," Lan Yue said quickly, her voice filled with urgency. "Remember, we agreed—only if we have no choice."
Li Feng's gaze was hard, but he gave her a curt nod. "I'll follow your lead."
They stood their ground, waiting for the inevitable confrontation. The sounds of the approaching warriors grew louder, their figures finally emerging from the shadows as they approached. A dozen White Lotus warriors, their faces stern and determined, fanned out in a semicircle, blocking their path.
At the center of the group stood Elder Zhou, his expression cold as his gaze fell on Lan Yue and Li Feng.
"Lan Yue," Elder Zhou said, his voice filled with disappointment. "You've gone too far."
Lan Yue's heart pounded in her chest, her mind racing as she tried to find the right words. "I did what I had to, Elder Zhou," she said, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her. "The Shadowborn are growing stronger. If we don't stop them at the Citadel, we'll lose everything."
Elder Zhou's eyes narrowed. "You defied the council's orders. You abandoned your post. This... rebellion will not be tolerated."
Lan Yue's breath hitched. This was worse than she had expected. The council wasn't just angry—they saw her as a traitor. A danger.
"I'm trying to protect our people," Lan Yue said, her voice firm. "You have to see that."
Elder Zhou's expression didn't soften. "You've left us no choice."
Before Lan Yue could react, the warriors moved. Their weapons gleamed in the moonlight, and in an instant, the world erupted into chaos.