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As the great confrontation approached, tension filled the air. Feng Xiang, after the recent meeting with the family's elders, appeared more anxious and worried than usual. He knew that Ling had gathered significant forces and that the alliances she had built were growing stronger and more influential, which he had never anticipated.
In his private office, he sat examining documents related to her movements, with reports confirming that the family was on the brink of an unprecedented confrontation. He summoned some loyal family members, trying to organize his ranks and prepare plans to protect his authority at all costs.
He spoke to them firmly: "Ling has become a real threat, and we must act quickly. Ensure you monitor all her movements and those of her allies. Anyone suspected must be interrogated immediately."
While Ling continued to plan with her allies, some divisions began to surface among them. Some allies were no longer confident in the steps she was proposing, feeling anxious about the escalation that could bring harsh retaliation from the family. This was the moment Ling realized that loyalty alone was not enough; trust was essential for victory.
During her last meeting with the alliance leaders, Liu Xin, one of her original allies, stood up and said: "Ling, we are under great pressure, and some of us can no longer bear it. We need to find a way to reduce the risks to our families, especially since the family has begun to encircle us more tightly."
Ling looked at him and replied firmly: "I know the road isn't easy, but we started this to achieve justice and to stop the oppression. If we retreat now, we will lose everything. This is our only chance, and we must seize it."
One night, after several days of discussions and critical decisions, Ling was shocked to learn that one of her loyal allies, whom she had always trusted, had betrayed her and communicated with the family to reveal her plans.
The betrayal struck her like lightning; the person she had trusted from the beginning was working to undermine everything she had built. She felt disappointment and bitterness, but her resolve remained unshaken. She began to plan to exploit the traitor to uncover more family secrets, turning his betrayal into a new opportunity.
Ling met again with Qin An to inform him about the betrayal. The meeting between them was filled with tension and anger, and she began to feel that the situation had become more complicated.
Qin An said firmly: "We need to get rid of this traitor immediately before he can harm us further."
But Ling saw the situation differently, replying: "It's true he has betrayed us, but we can exploit him to our advantage. He will still think we are unaware of his betrayal, and I will direct him to act as a double agent for us."
The next day, Ling invited the traitor to a private meeting, pretending to be unaware of his betrayal and expressing her trust in him. She appeared calm and composed, but her mind was racing to devise plans to uncover more family secrets.
She spoke to him about new fake plans to confuse the family, making him believe he was still playing a role in destroying them. She smiled at him kindly, saying: "You are an important part of this alliance, and I cannot continue this path without you."
The man left the meeting believing he had deceived her, unaware that Ling was meticulously planning to monitor every step he took.
As Ling continued to deceive the traitor, she worked on strengthening her defenses and developing her alliances more robustly. She began to train her forces intensively and gathered additional resources to enhance their strength in case of any surprise attack.
During one training session, she addressed her troops: "We have been through a lot and faced betrayal, but we are stronger than ever. Always remember that every step we take is to achieve justice and for freedom."
Everyone felt enthusiastic and loyal, and their morale soared under her strong and inspiring leadership.
Later that week, Ling received information that the traitor had informed Feng Xiang about the locations of their gatherings and upcoming plans. This was the moment she had been waiting for, as she was ready to exploit this information to her advantage.
She devised a meticulous plan to trap Feng Xiang in a deadly ambush, making the traitor report misleading information to the family about the locations of their gatherings and forces. She repositioned her troops to secret locations, setting the trap for any incoming attack.
The family moved based on what they believed to be accurate information, rushing their forces toward the locations they thought Ling and her followers were at. However, they found themselves caught in a well-laid ambush. Chaos erupted within their ranks, and they realized they were surrounded on all sides.
Ling watched the battle from a distance, smiling with satisfaction. She knew this strike would significantly weaken the family and prove to her opponents that she was not an easy prey.
After the battle concluded, the family began to gradually lose control, and internal alliances started to crumble due to the increasing suspicions among its members. Ling had planted seeds of discord in their hearts, and she began to see the results before her eyes.
However, she knew that the real battle was not over yet, and she had to be prepared for any counterattack.
On a quiet night, Ling sat alone, reflecting on everything she had experienced since the beginning of her journey. She wrote in her journal: "We started this journey in search of freedom, and we have endured much pain and betrayal. But we have become stronger, and we will continue to fight until the end."
She felt that she was getting closer to achieving her goal, and that victory was merely a matter of time.
As the night drew to a close, Ling was confident that the fires she had ignited would not be extinguished until she realized her dream of freedom and justice, no matter the cost.