The capital was a war zone, its streets smoldering as fires tore through the city. The once-glorious palace loomed ahead, still standing like a monument to Li Wei's lost past. His heart ached with every step, but the fire of revenge pushed him forward. No matter the cost, no matter the losses, he would reclaim what was his.
Hua Ling walked beside him, her sword still gleaming with the blood of their enemies. Her presence was a constant reminder of the loyalty that Li Wei had left. Yet, there was something unsettling in the air tonight. The winds seemed to whisper of doom, of things yet to come that even his revenge could not quell.
"We're almost there," Hua Ling said, her voice steady, but there was a hint of uncertainty beneath the surface. "The palace gates are ahead. We need to move quickly before reinforcements arrive."
Li Wei's eyes narrowed. His mind was focused entirely on the throne, the symbol of everything that had been taken from him. He could hear the distant clatter of metal on stone, the sounds of their army pushing through the remaining pockets of resistance. The momentum was on their side.
Yet, as they approached the gates, a sudden, icy chill ran down Li Wei's spine. His instincts screamed that something was wrong. He stopped, motioning for Hua Ling to do the same. She halted at once, her hand instinctively going to the hilt of her blade.
"Do you feel that?" he asked, his voice low.
Hua Ling paused, listening carefully. "Something's off. The air... it feels heavy, like we're walking into a trap."
Li Wei's gaze swept across the palace grounds. The once-grandiose courtyard was now a battlefield, littered with the remains of fallen soldiers. The golden pillars of the palace seemed to glimmer in the dying light of the flames, their beauty now a stark contrast to the bloodshed that had taken place beneath them.
Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows, stepping forward into the flickering glow of the torches. Li Wei's heart skipped a beat as the man revealed himself.
Xian Yue.
Li Wei's blood boiled at the sight of his uncle, standing with a calm, self-assured expression. He was unarmed, but his presence was enough to send a wave of fury crashing through Li Wei's veins. The man who had betrayed his own blood, the one who had stolen everything from him, was now waiting for him like a predator ready to pounce.
"You came," Xian Yue said, his voice carrying an edge of mockery. "I must admit, I did not expect you to make it this far."
Li Wei's grip tightened around his sword. "You won't get away with this, uncle."
Xian Yue smiled, his cold eyes gleaming with amusement. "Get away with what, my dear nephew? The throne is mine, and it always has been. You were simply a means to an end. You were never meant to rule."
"You... you killed my father," Li Wei spat, his voice thick with emotion. "You poisoned my family. You betrayed everything we stood for."
Xian Yue's smile widened. "Ah, the naive boy finally understands. Yes, I killed your father. Yes, I killed your mother. It was necessary for the greater good. They were weak, Li Wei. Your father was a fool to believe in honor and loyalty. But I—" He paused, as if savoring the moment, "—I am not like him. I do what must be done."
Li Wei's chest tightened, his breath shallow. Anger surged within him like a wave ready to crash. His father's murder, the betrayal that had destroyed his family—it all made sense now. Xian Yue had orchestrated it all, and Li Wei had been nothing more than a pawn in his uncle's game.
"You don't get to walk away from this," Li Wei growled, stepping forward, his sword gleaming in the firelight. "I will make you pay for everything."
Xian Yue's eyes darkened, and he raised his hand, a signal to the soldiers hidden in the shadows. But it was too late. The trap had already been sprung.
Out of the darkness, an army emerged—hundreds of soldiers pouring from every direction, surrounding Li Wei and Hua Ling. They were cut off, surrounded by Xian Yue's loyalists, the very men who had helped him seize the throne.
Li Wei's heart pounded in his chest as he realized the gravity of the situation. His forces had been spread thin, and now, they were facing an army that outnumbered them ten to one.
"This is your end, nephew," Xian Yue said coldly, his voice devoid of emotion. "You should have stayed away. You never stood a chance."
Li Wei's gaze was steely, his resolve unbroken. He wouldn't die here. Not like this. Not without taking everything from Xian Yue.
With a furious yell, he charged forward, cutting through the first wave of soldiers with brutal efficiency. His blade sang through the air, slicing through armor and flesh as he fought his way toward his uncle.
Hua Ling fought beside him, her movements a blur as she took down enemy after enemy. But the odds were against them. Li Wei could see the fear in her eyes as the soldiers closed in from all sides. She was holding her own, but they couldn't keep this up for long.
"Li Wei!" Hua Ling shouted, her voice laced with desperation. "We need to fall back! There's no way we can win this fight!"
But Li Wei was beyond reasoning. His mind was consumed with one goal: vengeance. His father's death, his family's fall from grace—it all led to this moment. He would kill Xian Yue. He would take back the throne, no matter the cost.
He fought with everything he had, pushing forward with relentless fury, but the enemies kept coming. His vision blurred with blood and sweat, his movements becoming more frantic as he hacked through the soldiers around him.
And then, in the midst of the chaos, he saw it. Xian Yue was backing away, slipping into the shadows of the palace.
Li Wei's heart pounded in his chest. He couldn't let him escape again.
With a final burst of strength, he fought his way through the ranks, desperate to reach his uncle. But as he neared the entrance to the palace, something struck him—something sharp, like a thousand needles piercing his flesh.
Pain. Agony. Betrayal.
He collapsed to his knees, blood pouring from his side as a cold, unfamiliar voice whispered in his ear.
"Did you really think it would be that easy, Li Wei?"
Li Wei's vision blurred, and he could barely lift his head to see the face of the one who had betrayed him now.
It wasn't Xian Yue.
It was Hua Ling.