Chapter 161: A Duel of Wills
The streets of the capital are filled with the aftermath of the battle—fallen soldiers, broken weapons, and the remnants of a once-great rebellion. But in the midst of the chaos, a new confrontation is unfolding.
Lin Yuer stands at the center of the city square, her sword drawn, her gaze locked on Zhao, who stands before her, his eyes burning with fury. The last remnants of his forces have been pushed back, and now it is time to settle the matter once and for all.
Zhao sneers, his voice dripping with contempt. "So, this is how it ends, Empress? You've won the battle, but you will lose the war. The people will never follow you. They know the truth. You are nothing but a puppet of the nobles."
Lin Yuer steps forward, her voice calm but filled with authority. "You are wrong, Zhao. The people have seen the truth. They know who you are now, and they will not follow you into the darkness."
Without another word, she strikes.
The duel is swift, but fierce. Zhao is a skilled warrior, and he fights with a desperate ferocity. But Lin Yuer is faster, more precise. Every move she makes is calculated, every strike deliberate. She has learned from years of conflict and struggles, and her resolve is unbreakable.
With a final, decisive blow, Lin Yuer disarms Zhao, sending his sword clattering to the ground. The city square falls silent as she stands victorious over her foe.
Zhao falls to his knees, his defiance replaced by defeat. "You may have won today," he spits, "but the rebellion will rise again. There will always be others who will seek to take your throne."
Lin Yuer gazes down at him, her face a mask of determination. "Then they will fall, just like you. I will not let this empire be torn apart by those who seek to destroy it."
With that, she signals her guards to take Zhao away. The rebellion is over, but the battle for the future of the empire is far from finished.