Chapter 27: Chapter 26: The Bloodline's Burden
Mei Lin and Li Wei were shackled within a grim, foreboding chamber deep inside the base of the men in black robes. The room, hidden in the depths of an underground cavern, was a relic of a bygone era, filled with the oppressive energy of ancient rituals and forgotten rites. Rough stone walls were adorned with faded murals of mythical beasts and ancient warriors locked in eternal combat. The floor was uneven, covered with dark roots that crept in from the earth above, entwining like serpents, making the ground uneven and treacherous. Torches along the walls burned with a sickly green flame, casting eerie shadows that danced like ghostly figures.
Zhou Lei, one of Ma Liang's most loyal men, stood guard over them. His tall, lean figure was draped in a long, black robe, and his eyes glinted with malice. His voice was sharp, dripping with a mocking tone as he taunted the siblings. "Quite the shame, isn't it?" he sneered. "Two warriors of your caliber, caught like rats in a trap. I expected more of a fight."
Li Wei, his face bruised and bloodied, lifted his head. Despite the pain, his eyes burned with a righteous fury. "You may have us bound, but do not mistake that for submission. We fight for something greater than ourselves, for a cause that will live beyond our lifetimes. You, Zhou Lei, are just a pawn in a madman's game."
Zhou Lei chuckled, his smile curling into a smirk. "Such grand words for a man in chains. You think your noble ideals mean anything here? My leader, Ma Liang, has probably already killed that arrogant Surya by now. So save your breath and face the truth—no one is coming for you."
Mei Lin, who had remained silent until now, looked up, her expression calm yet resolute. "You know little of Surya," she said softly. "In the short time we've known him, we've seen his strength, his will. He doesn't just take people in without reason. Despite all that he could gain or lose, he chose to trust us, to stand with us. Someone like that doesn't fall easily to the likes of you."
The words cut deeper than intended. Zhou Lei's face twisted in rage, and with a sudden movement, he struck Mei Lin across the face. She staggered, but her gaze remained defiant, unyielding.
Li Wei surged against his restraints, shouting, "Coward! You strike a woman because her words sting you? You're more pathetic than I thought."
Zhou Lei's nostrils flared with anger, but he regained his composure, leaning close to the siblings. "You don't understand what's at stake here," he growled. "The resurrection of the Queen is not just a whim or a dream—it is destiny. She is an ancient Buddha, betrayed and slain by the corrupted saints of her time. And you two, you carry the bloodline of those same saints. How poetic that you should be the ones to serve as her sacrifice."
Mei Lin's eyes widened with realization. "You're going on a whim, clinging to a past that might not even exist," she challenged. "What madness is this? You would throw away your lives and kill countless others for a mere chance at reviving someone long gone?"
Zhou Lei's face twisted with fury. "It is not a whim! It is certainty!" he snapped, his voice rising to a fevered pitch. "And it will work, no matter the cost. You speak of madness, but what do you know of loss? What do you know of the suffering we have endured, waiting for the day when we could restore what was taken from us?"
Li Wei's voice, though weary, was steady. "We know enough of loss to understand that it should not beget more loss. Your desperation blinds you, Zhou Lei. What you seek is not justice, nor balance—only chaos."
The dim chamber was filled with a tense silence, broken only by the ragged breathing of the captives and the flickering of the torches. Zhou Lei, visibly trembling with frustration, turned his back on them, his mind clearly roiling with conflicting thoughts.
"Enough of your prattle," he muttered finally. "You'll see soon enough that it doesn't matter what you believe. The Queen will rise again, and her wrath will cleanse the world of its impurities." He glanced over his shoulder, his eyes dark and unyielding. "And you will be the key to it all."
As Zhou Lei paced away, his words echoing ominously through the chamber, Mei Lin and Li Wei exchanged a glance. Fear and determination intertwined in their eyes, but they knew one thing for certain: they had to survive, not just for themselves, but for whatever lay ahead.
Weekly Power Status
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