Chapter 170: The Fall of the General
General Shen kneels in the dust, his once-proud figure now crumpled before Lin Yuer. The battlefield is still, save for the distant sounds of soldiers tending to the wounded. The tension in the air is thick, as all eyes are fixed on the two leaders locked in a moment of quiet confrontation.
Lin Yuer stands tall above him, her blade still pressed lightly against his throat, her eyes hard and calculating. Shen, defeated and humiliated, raises his gaze to meet hers, a flicker of defiance still lingering in his expression.
"You've won," he mutters, the bitterness evident in his voice. "But you've lost something more important than this battle. You've lost the loyalty of your people. No matter how much you fight, you'll never rule with their hearts."
Lin Yuer remains silent, her grip on her sword unwavering. The weight of his words isn't lost on her, but she knows that now is not the time to dwell on his accusations. The empire needs to be secured, and every moment spent on his defeat is a moment stolen from that goal.
"We'll see if you are right, General," she says, her voice calm but resolute. "But I won't allow rebellion to take root in this empire. And I won't let betrayal go unpunished."
With a final glance at Shen, Lin Yuer signals for her soldiers to take him away. He's no longer a general of the empire—he's a prisoner, and his fate will be decided when the time comes.