Su Ling curled up in the corner of the stronghold within the city.
The world outside the window was shrouded in shadows. Moist stone walls seeped a chill. She stared at the night beyond the glass, unconsciously rubbing the bronze key hidden in her sleeve.
The cold metal surface was etched with ancient runes of the Ansels—the only token that could open the castle’s secret passage.
A red string tied to the other end of the key dug tightly into her palm.
She remembered every day and night she had planned with Sista, Tii, and Phil in that dark room. Parchments covered the table, densely marked with the palace guard deployments and the layout of secret passages.
Now, all she had to do was wait for the signal firework to light up, the sign for the operation to begin. Then the ambushed soldiers would storm the palace and disrupt the ritual.
Su Ling’s mission was to hand the rune key to the Knight Commander, who would assault the central audience hall of the castle, as soon as the signal appeared.
Just as she was anxiously waiting for the signal—
“Fire!”
Suddenly, the night outside the window was tinged with an eerie orange-red glow. A towering blaze rose from the direction of the castle, and the roar of the flames carried into the stronghold on the night wind.
A wave of heat rushed in. Every inch of air seemed distorted and warped by the scorching heat. The wind, thick with the smell of burning, was suffocating.
“What’s happening?”
Su Ling shot up, knocking over her wooden stool with a harsh clatter.
The horrific scene of last year’s Moon Eclipse Rite fire seemed to replay before her eyes.
Twisted bodies in the flames, blackened marks where red-hot iron chains had seared into flesh, and the charred corpses of guards huddled in corners—all flashed through her mind.
Just then, the wooden door was slammed open!
The loud crash made her heart stop. A palace guard stumbled in. The golden lion emblem on his dark armor glowed like a demon in the firelight, and the cold gleam of his longsword was sharp.
Without giving Su Ling a chance to react, he ran his sword through the soldier behind her without hesitation.
“Thud!”
“Traitors! Traitors all deserve to die!”
The sickening sound of the blade sinking into flesh. Warm blood splattered across Su Ling’s cheek.
Su Ling’s legs gave way, and she collapsed to the floor, paralyzed by fear.
Then the guard slowly adjusted his grip on the sword and advanced step by step toward Su Ling.
With each step, the tip of the blade rose an inch. The cold, white gleam reflected off the edge, piercing into her pupils as if to steal her very soul.
“Heh, a bunch of overreaching ants! Do you think you’re worthy of approaching Her Highness the Queen? You should be ashamed of your sins!”
“You’re the criminals plotting against the Queen, aren’t you?”
The guard shouted loudly.
Su Ling’s pupils contracted sharply as her eyes widened in terror.
The fire outside the stronghold, the guard’s sudden attack—everything pointed to a cruel reality: intelligence had been leaked, and even this stronghold had been discovered by the enemy.
A sense of foreboding overwhelmed her like a tidal wave.
The vanguard had probably already moved, but Sista and Duke Lorian’s Knight Order were still in the rear. Once they entered the city, the enemy would surround them from behind.
Her heart plummeted, as if falling into an endless abyss.
The guard raised his sword a little higher. This time, undisguised killing intent filled his eyes.
Su Ling staggered backward, trying to flee. But the cold wall pressed ruthlessly against her back, leaving her nowhere to go.
‘No… no, I can’t just wait to die here!’
Su Ling screamed in her mind.
‘If I die, there will be no one to deliver the intelligence to Sista and the others…’
If that happened, the revolution would fail completely. All their efforts would be wasted.
Su Ling’s breathing grew ragged. Her heart thundered in her ears.
Her back pressed against the icy stone wall, her fingers clenched the bronze key in her sleeve as if it were her only lifeline.
The guard’s sword tip gleamed coldly before her eyes. His expression was blank, as if he already saw her as a corpse.
Su Ling’s mind raced.
She knew she had to find a way to escape, or everything would end.
She quickly scanned the room, searching for anything she could use.
Just then, her peripheral vision caught sight of the oil lamp on the table.
The moment the guard raised his sword again, Su Ling grabbed the lamp and threw it at him with all her might!
The soldier was caught off guard. He dodged, and the sword veered off, only grazing Su Ling’s shoulder and leaving a shallow cut.
But he recovered quickly. After missing with his thrust, he raised his sword again.
Su Ling didn’t give him a chance.
As he was off balance, she lunged forward, dashing past him.
“Hey! Don’t think you can run!”
Su Ling’s heart felt like it would burst out of her chest, but she knew she couldn’t stop.
The firelight shone through the doorway, and waves of heat washed over her. The air was thick with smoke, blurring her vision.
Her breathing grew faster. Her strength was nearly gone.
Just then, she spotted a narrow alley ahead. Without hesitation, she turned into it.
The alley was tight and winding, flanked by tall stone walls. The firelight was blocked out, leaving it pitch dark.
Su Ling’s footsteps echoed in the alley. Her heartbeat boomed in her ears.
Finally, the end of the alley came into view.
A faint ray of light filtered through the smoke, like a glimmer of hope.
She used the last of her strength to rush toward that light.
At last, she burst out of the alley.
The cold wind hit her face, sobering her up a little.
Her vision was still blurry, but she could make out the city gate not far ahead.
If she could just cross the open plaza, she could escape this city devoured by flames and deliver the intelligence to Sista and the Knight Order.
‘Hurry… hurry…’
Su Ling repeated in her mind. Her steps were heavy, but she forced herself to keep running.
However, just as she was about to step into the plaza, a dark figure lunged at her from the side!
“Ah—!”
Taken by surprise, Su Ling was slammed to the ground. Her face hit the cold stone. The sharp pain nearly made her lose consciousness.
“Report: we did not capture Sista.”
A low voice sounded near her ear.
“But it looks like… we caught her personal maid.”
Su Ling’s heart sank.
Her body was pinned down, unable to move. She tried to struggle, but the opponent was too strong. Her resistance was futile.
“Did you think you could get away?”
The voice was dripping with undisguised mockery.
“The Queen knew about your plan all along. Not a single one of you traitors will leave here alive.”
Su Ling gasped for air, her mind racing.
She knew she absolutely could not be caught here. Otherwise, everything would end.
Her fingers groped for the bronze key in her sleeve. The touch of the cold metal seemed to give her a spark of strength.
“Let me go…”
“Let you go?”
The man sneered.
“Do you think I’d give you that chance?”
The moment he spoke, Su Ling raised her hand and stabbed the bronze key hard into his eye!
“Ah—!”
He let out a bloodcurdling scream and finally loosened his grip.
Su Ling flipped over and scrambled to her feet, ready to flee.
But she found herself completely surrounded by a sea of black-armored Ansels soldiers.
And in the center of the crowd—
Moria approached with an elegant, leisurely stride, watching Su Ling, battered and bruised, with a faint, mocking smile.