The dungeon was eerily silent when the door creaked open. Luo Xian stirred, his sharp senses pricking at the presence of another. A figure entered the room, their footsteps light yet deliberate. It wasn't the servant from before, nor was it Zi Han. This figure was tall and lean, dressed in robes of deep green and gold, their features elegant and sharp.
"You're awake," the man said, his voice smooth as silk.
Luo Xian squinted, his vision still adjusting to the dim light. "And you are?" he rasped, his throat dry.
The man stepped closer, kneeling beside him. His piercing amber eyes glimmered with a mixture of curiosity and concern. "Yue Ling," he introduced himself, offering a flask of water. "The court physician. Zi Han sent me to ensure you recover... thoroughly."
Luo Xian hesitated before taking the flask, his lips curling into a faint smirk. "The general grows soft, sending a healer to tend to his prisoner."
Yue Ling chuckled, the sound light but carrying an edge. "Soft? Hardly. He needs you alive for reasons I'm not privy to. But I'm not here to question orders."
As Luo Xian drank, Yue Ling examined his wounds with skilled hands. His touch was gentle, yet his movements were precise and efficient.
"You're a sorcerer," Yue Ling remarked, his tone conversational. "And yet, you allowed yourself to be captured. Fascinating."
Luo Xian's eyes narrowed. "You assume much, physician. Perhaps I allowed myself to be captured for reasons beyond your understanding."
Yue Ling's lips quirked into a sly smile. "Perhaps. Or perhaps you underestimated your opponent."
The sorcerer bristled, but before he could retort, the door to the dungeon swung open again. Zi Han entered, his presence commanding as always. His dark eyes swept over the scene, lingering on Yue Ling before settling on Luo Xian.
"Leave us," Zi Han ordered, his voice firm.
Yue Ling rose gracefully, giving Luo Xian a meaningful glance before exiting the cell. The door closed behind him with a heavy thud, leaving the two men alone.
Zi Han approached, his expression unreadable. "You're looking better," he said, his tone devoid of warmth.
"And you're as charming as ever," Luo Xian shot back, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Zi Han's jaw tightened, but he didn't rise to the bait. Instead, he crouched down to meet Luo Xian's gaze. "You're going to help me," he said simply.
Luo Xian let out a bitter laugh. "Help you? After everything you've done? You must be delusional."
The general's expression darkened, but there was something else in his eyes—something that gave Luo Xian pause. Was it... desperation?
"My country is on the brink of collapse," Zi Han admitted, his voice low. "The emperor is weak, the court is divided, and our enemies grow stronger by the day. I need your power, Luo Xian. You're the only one who can turn the tide."
Luo Xian stared at him, stunned by the raw honesty in his words. For a moment, the fierce general seemed almost human.
"And what's in it for me?" Luo Xian asked, his voice softer now.
Zi Han hesitated, his gaze dropping to the floor. When he looked up again, his eyes were filled with an intensity that made Luo Xian's breath catch.
"Freedom," Zi Han said. "And... my protection."
Luo Xian's heart skipped a beat. He didn't know whether to laugh or scream. "Your protection? From what? From you?"
Zi Han didn't respond immediately. Instead, he reached out, his hand brushing against Luo Xian's cheek. The touch was brief, but it sent a jolt through the sorcerer's body.
"From the world," Zi Han said quietly. "From those who would use you and discard you. I'm offering you a chance to fight for something greater than yourself."
Luo Xian was speechless. The man who had beaten him, humiliated him, was now looking at him with something akin to... tenderness?
"I'll think about it," Luo Xian said finally, his voice barely above a whisper.
Zi Han nodded, rising to his feet. "Take your time. But don't take too long. The world won't wait."
As the general turned to leave, Luo Xian called out, "Zi Han."
The man paused, glancing over his shoulder.
"Why do you care so much?" Luo Xian asked, his voice trembling.
Zi Han's expression softened, and for the first time, Luo Xian saw a flicker of vulnerability in his eyes.
"Because I see something in you," Zi Han said. "Something worth saving."
With that, he left, the door closing behind him with a resounding echo.
Luo Xian sat in silence, his mind racing. He hated Zi Han, despised him for everything he had done. But beneath the anger, there was something else—something he couldn't quite name.
As he sat there, lost in thought, the door opened again. Yue Ling stepped inside, his expression unreadable.
"Well?" Yue Ling asked, his voice soft. "What did he say?"
Luo Xian looked up at him, his eyes filled with a mixture of confusion and determination.
"He said he sees something in me," Luo Xian murmured.
Yue Ling tilted his head, his amber eyes glinting with intrigue. "And do you believe him?"
Luo Xian didn't answer. Instead, he leaned back against the wall, his thoughts a whirlwind of emotions.
For the first time in years, the sorcerer found himself at a crossroads. And for the first time, he wasn't sure which path to take.