Chapter 81: Shadows of the Past

The victory in the square was a turning point, but Li Wei and Jian know that the road ahead is still fraught with challenges. Though the resistance has fractured, its leaders have not disappeared. The old guard will not give up easily, and if history has taught them anything, it is that those who lose power do not fade quietly. They retreat, they regroup, and they strike when the time is right.

In the days following the confrontation, the city's progress moves faster than before. With more people united in rebuilding, the streets begin to feel alive again. Markets that had once been controlled by a select few now open up to all, trade is regulated more fairly, and families who had been cast aside under the old system find themselves with a voice for the first time. The dream of a new world is no longer just an idea—it is becoming real.

But Jian remains cautious. He senses it before Li Wei does—the unease in the air, the way some people glance over their shoulders as if expecting danger to emerge from the shadows. The way some of the merchants still conduct their business behind closed doors, unwilling to embrace the change. The way certain influential figures have vanished from public sight, no longer trying to fight openly but not surrendering either.

One evening, as Li Wei and Jian sit on the steps of a newly rebuilt hall—a place meant to serve as a gathering space for all citizens—Jian finally voices his concern.

"This isn't over," he says, his voice low, thoughtful.

Li Wei glances at him, frowning. "I know. But the people have chosen. We've taken away their power."

Jian shakes his head. "Not all of it. And power, once lost, is not easily forgotten. The resistance leaders may be gone from sight, but they aren't gone. They're planning something. I can feel it."

Li Wei exhales, rubbing a hand over her forehead. "We've fought so much already. Can't they see that this isn't about taking power from them? That we're trying to make something better for everyone?"

Jian's expression hardens. "To people like them, equality is a threat. They've built their lives on controlling others. And right now, they're watching us. Waiting for the right moment to act."

His words send a chill down Li Wei's spine. She had hoped—perhaps foolishly—that their biggest battles were behind them. But Jian is right. The old world does not die so easily.

That night, as they walk through the quiet streets, Li Wei notices something strange. A flickering lantern in the distance, its light casting long, twisting shadows against the alley walls. She narrows her eyes, something in her instincts warning her to pay attention.

Then she hears it—a hushed voice, barely audible over the breeze. A whisper of something dark.

She exchanges a glance with Jian, and without a word, they move toward the alley, their steps silent. As they round the corner, they see them—three figures cloaked in darkness, deep in conversation. One of them, the same man who had led the resistance against them in the square, speaks in a hushed but urgent tone.

"We wait for the right moment. They've let their guard down, thinking they've won. But we still hold the real power. We control the trade, the supply chains. If we cut them off, if we let the people starve, they will turn on them soon enough."

Li Wei's blood runs cold. This isn't just resistance. This is sabotage.

Jian's hand moves toward his sword, but Li Wei places a hand on his arm, shaking her head. Not yet. They need to hear more.

A second voice speaks up, this one softer but no less venomous. "And if they don't break under hunger?"

The leader smirks. "Then we remind them why they feared us before. A few well-placed accidents, a few disappearances, and they'll beg for the old ways to return."

Rage burns in Li Wei's chest. The people have suffered enough, and now these men would use fear to force them back into submission? She clenches her fists, ready to step forward, but Jian grips her wrist, his expression warning her to wait.

They cannot simply confront them here. Not yet. If they do, they might stop this plan, but the deeper rot will remain. The merchants, the suppliers, those who still hold influence in the city—they need to be cut off at the source, not just scattered like rats.

Li Wei takes a breath, forcing herself to remain calm. She looks at Jian and nods. They have heard enough.

Silently, they retreat into the darkness, slipping away before they are noticed. But as they move through the empty streets, Li Wei's mind races.

The resistance is not just lingering in the shadows. It is waiting to strike.

She looks at Jian, her voice quiet but filled with resolve. "We need to act first."

Jian nods, his gaze cold, calculating. "Yes. And this time, we don't just break them. We take away the very foundation of their power."

Reader Question:

How should Li Wei and Jian respond to the sabotage plan?

a) Gather their allies and expose the conspiracy to the public, turning the people against the resistance leaders.

b) Strike first—seize control of the trade routes and cut off the merchants before they can execute their plan.

c) Use deception—pretend not to know about the plan while secretly setting traps to catch the conspirators in the act.

d) Confront the resistance leaders directly, warning them that any move against the people will be met with immediate action.

What do you think is the best way for Li Wei and Jian to stop the sabotage before it begins?