Jian Yu lay on the cold stone floor, his chest heaving as his mind raced. His body was battered from the relentless beatings, bruises mottling his skin like patches of dark clouds on a stormy sky. The air was thick with the stench of sweat, blood, and despair.
As he struggled to regain his bearings, his thoughts swirled like a torrent. How did everything go so wrong?
He had believed in the Embers. He had trusted them more than the Fireflies, convinced that they were smarter, more pragmatic. They weren't bound by lofty ideals—they were survivors, people who knew what it meant to fight in a world that cared nothing for virtue or heroism. They were supposed to be better. He had admired their calculated cruelty, their cold determination.
But now, as he lay trapped and alone, the brutal truth seeped into his bones. He had been naïve.
The Fireflies had been driven by a noble cause, yes, but they had been flawed, perhaps too idealistic for their own good. They had believed that love and unity could change the world. But the Embers? The Embers had been smarter, yes, but that had only made them more dangerous. They didn't care about the people. They cared about the end game.
Jian Yu had been a fool to think that they had any more honor than the Lords. At least the Lords made no pretense of righteousness. The Embers, with their false promises of revolution, had used him. And now, they were gone, leaving him to rot in this godforsaken place.
They told me to be strong, to fight for something bigger. But now I realize—this world doesn't care. It doesn't care about my strength. It doesn't care about Mei Lin. It doesn't care about any of us. His fists clenched as anger bubbled up from deep within.
Jian Yu had thought the Embers could lead him to victory, thought they had the answers. But he had been too naive to understand that the truth wasn't in their hearts—it was in their eyes, cold and calculating, like wolves preying on sheep. They hadn't cared about Mei Lin, about him, or about anyone. They had only cared about what would serve their own interests.
He had been used, and now he was paying the price for his trust.
But Jian Yu wasn't done yet. He wouldn't let this be the end.
His mind raced as the sound of footsteps echoed down the hall, dragging him back to the present. They were coming for him again. He had been left to rot in a damp, dark cell, but now, the door opened once more.
This time, it was Gao Lin who entered, his face as cold as ever, his expression unreadable. The chains that held Jian Yu were rattled as Gao Lin yanked him to his feet, ignoring his groans of pain.
"We've got a job for you," Gao Lin's voice was harsh, devoid of any emotion.
Jian Yu's head snapped up. "I'm not your pawn anymore. Do what you want, but I'm not helping you," he spat, glaring at Gao Lin with fury burning in his chest.
Gao Lin didn't flinch. "You don't have a choice, boy." He turned away, beckoning Jian Yu to follow him.
---
Outside, the world was cloaked in darkness. The air was sharp, the scent of wet earth heavy in the night. They were outside the compound now, moving through narrow alleyways and across abandoned streets. Jian Yu struggled to keep up, his body aching with every step.
The moon was hidden behind a thick blanket of clouds, casting everything in an eerie, unnatural blackness. For a moment, Jian Yu allowed himself to think. His mind raced with thoughts of escape, but the cold reality settled in quickly. He had no weapons, no plan, and no allies. The Embers were long gone, abandoning him just like everyone else had.
They finally stopped at a clearing, where several shadowy figures waited, their silhouettes outlined by the faint glow of a distant fire. As Jian Yu was shoved forward, his heart sank.
This was the moment.
Gao Lin stepped forward, addressing the figures gathered around. "The boy here is still alive. We need him for the next phase of our operation."
Jian Yu stood motionless, his anger bubbling to the surface. "What next? Another test? Or are you just here to drag me into your schemes again?"
A man stepped forward from the shadows, his face hidden by the hood of his cloak. "You'll do as you're told, Jian Yu. Whether you like it or not. You were a tool for the Fireflies. Now you're a tool for the Lords."
Gao Lin smirked. "We don't need your idealism. We need results. Now shut up and follow orders."
Jian Yu's anger ignited, the sting of betrayal too much to ignore. They still think I'm nothing more than a tool. But this time, Jian Yu had no intention of complying. He wasn't going to be used any longer.
With a sudden, explosive motion, Jian Yu wrenched himself free from Gao Lin's grasp, knocking the man back with a forceful strike. His body ached with pain, but the adrenaline surged through him like fire. He wasn't going to go down without a fight.
Chaos erupted around him. The figures of the Lords' men lunged at him, weapons drawn, but Jian Yu moved faster. His every movement was sharp, desperate. He wasn't fighting for a cause anymore—he was fighting for survival. His body, though exhausted, moved on instinct. His hands were quicker than his thoughts, the fight blurring into a blur of steel and blood.
He could hear the yells of his attackers, the sound of blades cutting through the air, but none of it mattered. All he could think about was escape. Mei Lin. The hope that he could make it out of this hellhole alive.
But there were too many of them.
Gao Lin had recovered and lunged forward, his blade aimed directly at Jian Yu's chest. Jian Yu barely managed to dodge, but the tip of the blade grazed his arm. He hissed in pain but didn't stop. He spun around, grabbing a discarded weapon from the ground—an old, rusted dagger—but it was enough.
The fight dragged on, Jian Yu's breath ragged as he blocked and countered with everything he had left in him. But his strength was waning. He couldn't keep this up forever.
And then, in the middle of the chaos, a familiar voice rang out, sharp and commanding.
"Stop!"
It was Li Wei, the leader of the Lords.
Jian Yu froze, his heart sinking into his stomach.
"You've had your fun, boy," Li Wei said, his voice calm and cold. "But now, you'll learn your place."
With a single motion, the Lords' men overpowered him, quickly binding him again, the harsh reality of his failure sinking in
---