The soldiers moved with purpose, their armor clinking softly as they fell into formation. The dawn light sharpened their silhouettes, casting long shadows that danced with each step. Lu Sang walked at the forefront, every stride exuding a newfound confidence. His gaze remained fixed on the horizon, where rolling hills stretched out, a reminder of the battles yet to come.

  As they began their march, Cao Suyin moved in stride beside him, her eyes occasionally drifting to his face, as though still gauging the transformation within him. After a long silence, she finally spoke.

  “The path ahead will not be easy,” she said, her tone softer than before. “The Bck Hand isn’t merely an enemy. They’re a force rooted deeply in the Empire, entangled in its politics, its power, its very soul.”

  Lu Sang’s jaw tightened. “That only makes them a greater threat. They believe they own us, that we’re mere pawns in their twisted game. But I’ll make them regret underestimating me.”

  Cao Suyin’s lips curved into a faint smile, though her eyes remained wary. “Confidence is essential. But the Bck Hand’s strength lies in their patience. They don’t confront head-on; they weaken from within, eroding alliances, pnting seeds of doubt and mistrust.”

  Her words struck a nerve, yet Lu Sang kept his expression steady. He knew the Bck Hand’s reach; he’d witnessed it twist and poison minds, turning brother against brother, family against family. But he was determined to carve his own path, unbound by their strings.

  As the army moved onward, they passed through a desote vilge, remnants of destruction evident in charred buildings and broken structures. A somber quiet hung over the ruins, the only sound the hollow echo of footsteps on scorched earth.

  Lu Sang gestured for a halt, his soldiers stopping in practiced silence. He studied the scene before him—a grim reminder of what awaited should they fail. The Empire was at stake, and with each step he took, he was reminded of the price that came with wielding forbidden power.

  An elderly man, bent with age and clutching a simple wooden cane, emerged from a broken hut nearby. His eyes, cloudy yet alert, fell upon Lu Sang and his soldiers. Despite his frailty, he straightened and approached, his gaze piercing.

  “You wear the Empire’s insignia,” the old man said, voice cracked but resolute. “But I wonder if you truly understand the weight it bears.”

  Lu Sang met the man’s gaze, unwavering. “I understand it well enough. We’re here to cleanse the corruption, to restore the Empire’s honor.”

  The man’s eyes narrowed, and he shook his head. “Honor? Corruption? Such words mean little when spoken by those who walk under the shadow of darkness.” His gaze flicked toward Lu Sang’s hand, where a faint trace of the Bck Hand’s mark still lingered, barely visible in the morning light. “Do you think you can wield their power without consequence?”

  A ripple of tension passed through the soldiers, some gncing at each other, unsure. But Lu Sang remained calm, holding the man’s stare.

  “I did what was necessary to protect my people,” he replied, voice steady. “This power may be dark, but it does not control me.”

  The old man’s lips pressed together in a thin line. “I have seen men make such cims before, and I have watched as that same power devoured them from within. Darkness is insidious, General. It takes more than resolve to resist its pull.”

  Cao Suyin stepped forward, pcing a hand on Lu Sang’s arm as if to steady him. “We all know the risks,” she said, her voice edged with steel. “But Lu Sang isn’t like the others. He’s stronger.”

  The old man studied her, then shifted his gaze back to Lu Sang. “Perhaps. But strength alone will not be enough.” With a final, solemn gnce, he turned and disappeared into the remnants of his ruined vilge.

  Lu Sang watched him go, a faint unease settling in his gut. The old man’s words lingered, like an itch he couldn’t quite scratch, a reminder that the Bck Hand’s shadow was never far behind. He gnced at Cao Suyin, her expression a careful mask.

  “Do you believe him?” he asked.

  She hesitated, then shook her head. “I believe in you, Lu Sang. But his warning is worth remembering. Power is a tool—one that can just as easily become a weapon turned inward if we’re not vigint.”

  Lu Sang nodded, taking a steadying breath. “Then we’ll stay vigint. I won’t let the Bck Hand define my path, no matter how deep their roots go.”

  They resumed their march, the sun climbing higher in the sky, casting a golden light over their path. The nd stretched out before them, wild and untamed, full of dangers and uncertainties. But Lu Sang felt the fire in his chest reignite, a fierce determination burning brighter than before.

  Ahead, on the distant horizon, the faint outline of a fortress began to emerge, its walls towering and imposing. The first stronghold of the rebels—a pce the Bck Hand’s influence was sure to linger. But he welcomed the challenge.

  As his army approached, Lu Sang’s voice rang out over his soldiers, filled with unbreakable conviction. “This fortress is but the first of many obstacles, a reminder that our Empire’s enemies do not hide in the shadows alone. Today, we take it back—and with it, a piece of our honor.”

  The soldiers roared in response, their loyalty unwavering, their resolve unshaken. Cao Suyin’s eyes sparkled with a fierce pride as she looked at him, seeing the strength he wielded not just in his newfound power but in the unyielding resolve that had defined him from the beginning.

  And as Lu Sang stood at the head of his army, the Bck Hand’s shadow no longer felt so oppressive. For he knew that, whatever trials y ahead, he would face them head-on, determined to protect his Empire—even if it meant embracing the very darkness he despised.

  As the fortress loomed ever closer, the soldiers’ tension was palpable, rippling through the ranks like a live wire. The sun had crested high overhead, casting a harsh light on the ancient stone walls and worn banners of the rebels that fluttered in defiance. Lu Sang’s grip tightened on the hilt of his sword, his fingers brushing over the intricate grooves as if seeking strength in its cold metal. The power inside him stirred, an ever-present shadow that felt both familiar and foreign.

  Cao Suyin stood by his side, her gaze fixed on the fortress walls. “They’re ready for us,” she murmured, her voice almost lost in the murmur of the soldiers’ breaths and the faint cng of armor. “The rebels have fortified their defenses. This will not be a simple siege.”

  Lu Sang’s eyes narrowed. “Good. Let them try to hold their ground. Today, they face the full might of the Empire.”

  He raised his arm, signaling his captains forward. They gathered, their faces hardened, every man and woman prepared to give their all. Lu Sang met their eyes, steady and resolved.

  “We face rebels who believe they hold the heart of the Empire,” he began, his voice carrying over the gathered troops. “They think their cause is just, that their betrayal is noble. But we know the truth—these walls harbor the seeds of corruption, threatening to spread rot through our homend.”

  The captains nodded, their faces set in grim determination. Lu Sang’s gaze swept over them, lingering on the youngest among them, a man no older than twenty, his expression tense yet fierce. Lu Sang pced a firm hand on his shoulder.

  “Today, we recim what’s ours,” he said, his voice softer yet charged with meaning. “Fight not just for the Empire, but for the future we defend.”

  The young captain nodded, his resolve visibly solidifying. With a final nod, Lu Sang raised his arm once more, signaling the advance.

  They moved forward with disciplined precision, their footsteps echoing like a war drum as they approached the fortress walls. The silence was thick, a stillness settling over the field before the storm of battle. Lu Sang sensed a faint hum within himself, the dark power coursing like a steady heartbeat, feeding his strength.

  As they neared the outer defenses, a volley of arrows rained down from the walls. The soldiers raised their shields, forming a wall of steel that deflected the deadly projectiles. Lu Sang’s eyes never wavered from the fortress, his focus absolute.

  “Breach the gate!” he commanded, his voice ringing out. The siege team moved forward, carrying a massive battering ram toward the reinforced wooden gate. The first strike resounded through the valley, a heavy thud that reverberated through the air. Again and again, they struck, each impact splintering the wood.

  From the walls, rebel soldiers shouted orders, unching stones and fire down upon Lu Sang’s forces. But they held their ground, unwavering, every strike met with the same unyielding force. Cao Suyin fought beside him, her sword fshing as she deflected arrows aimed at her comrades.

  Finally, with a deafening crack, the gate gave way, crashing inward. Lu Sang’s soldiers surged forward, pouring through the broken entrance and into the fortress courtyard. The rebels met them head-on, their faces etched with desperation, driven by fear and resolve. Steel cshed against steel, the sounds of battle filling the air.

  Lu Sang cut his way through the fray, his movements precise and deadly. The power within him surged, fueling his strikes, lending an unnatural strength to every swing of his bde. He felt himself moving faster, his reactions sharper, the dark energy guiding him almost instinctively.

  As he pressed forward, a figure stepped into his path—an older rebel commander, his face scarred and his gaze fierce. He raised his sword in challenge, standing his ground as Lu Sang approached.

  “So, the Empire’s pdog has come to do its bidding,” the commander sneered. “Tell me, General—does your honor feel lighter now that you’ve accepted the Bck Hand’s gift?”

  Lu Sang’s eyes hardened, his grip tightening on his sword. “The Empire’s strength comes from loyalty, from sacrifice. The only ones who have betrayed honor are those who stand behind these walls.”

  The commander ughed bitterly. “Loyalty? You’re blind, General. The Bck Hand is already wrapped around your Empire’s throat, and you’re nothing but a puppet, dancing to their tune.”

  With a fierce cry, he lunged at Lu Sang, his sword swinging with the desperation of a man who had nothing left to lose. Lu Sang met his strike, their bdes cshing with a ringing sound that echoed through the courtyard. The dark power within him fred, lending him speed and strength, but he felt the weight of the commander’s words settle deep.

  The commander pushed back, breathing heavily, but his gaze was unyielding. “One day, General, you’ll see the truth. And when you do, you’ll find yourself just as trapped as the rest of us.”

  Lu Sang’s expression remained cold as he parried the commander’s strikes, each movement deliberate, methodical. With a swift counter, he disarmed the commander, his sword cttering to the ground.

  “The only truth is that the Empire must endure,” Lu Sang replied, his voice low and final. With a single, clean strike, he ended the commander’s resistance, watching as the man crumpled to the ground.

  Around him, his soldiers pushed back the remaining rebels, the courtyard gradually falling silent. Lu Sang surveyed the scene, his gaze lingering on the fallen commander for a moment longer. His words echoed in his mind, stirring something he couldn’t quite shake.

  Cao Suyin approached, her expression somber as she gnced at the fallen rebel. “He was wrong,” she said quietly, as if reading his thoughts. “You’re no puppet, Lu Sang. You fight with purpose, with honor.”

  Lu Sang nodded, though the weight in his chest remained. “Perhaps. But we’re all bound to something, Suyin. The question is whether we choose what binds us or allow others to choose it for us.”

  Her eyes softened, a rare vulnerability in her gaze. “And have you chosen, Lu Sang? Or has the Bck Hand chosen for you?”

  He looked at her, his expression unreadable. “I chose the Empire. I chose my duty. Whatever darkness I wield, it is mine to control, not theirs.”

  Cao Suyin held his gaze, a faint smile curving her lips. “Then hold onto that, Lu Sang. For as long as you can.”

  The fortress was theirs, a hard-won victory that tasted both bitter and sweet. As his soldiers began the work of securing the area, Lu Sang stood at the edge of the courtyard, looking out over the nd beyond. The path ahead was fraught with danger, and the shadow of the Bck Hand remained ever-present, a reminder of the price he had paid for power.

  But he was resolute. He had made his choice, and he would carry it forward, whatever the cost.

  As night fell, cloaking the fortress in darkness