Chapter 12: A Choice of Fate
Zhang Se stood frozen.
His breath was ragged, his fingers tightening around the hilt of his sword, but his body refused to move.
His eyes—wide, unblinking—were locked onto the limp bodies sprawled across the battlefield.
Bai Ren.
Princess Wei.
They lay motionless, their forms battered and broken, dark stains of blood soaking through their robes. The assassin with the flute approached them slowly, his movements eerily deliberate, his expression hidden behind the darkness of his hood.
Zhang Se's mind went blank.
And then, he saw her.
Not Princess Wei.
Not Bai Ren.
Mei Lian.
His sister.
The image flashed across his vision—her small, fragile form, lifeless on the cold stone floor. Blood pooling beneath her. Her delicate hands curled inward, never to move again. Her eyes, once full of life, now dull and empty.
He had been too weak.
He had watched her die.
And now—
Now it was happening again.
A bitter, hollow laugh escaped his lips. It was laughable, really. He had once thought—dreamed—of reclaiming his strength, of proving himself worthy of the throne. But what a joke that was.
How could he rule a kingdom… when he couldn't even protect the people right in front of him?
What was the point of it all?
His grip on his sword shook.
The assassin's footsteps were slow, measured, almost as if he was savoring the moment before finishing them off.
Zhang Se could do nothing.
Just like back then.
Just like when Mei Lian died.
His chest ached.
His head pounded.
He was weak.
Powerless.
Useless.
Then—
Cough.
A weak, ragged sound.
His head snapped toward Princess Wei.
She moved.
She wasn't dead.
Her body trembled as she let out a faint, painful gasp, her fingers twitching weakly against the dirt.
Zhang Se's world shattered.
I can still save her.
His breath caught.
I still have time.
His pulse roared in his ears.
I must save her.
His feet shifted.
No matter what.
The assassin took another step forward, the flute raised.
Zhang Se's heart pounded.
He couldn't let this happen.
Not again.
Not again.
His teeth clenched so hard his jaw ached. His hands trembled, his entire body screaming in protest. His meridians—blocked, broken, useless.
But—
I must protect her.
Even if it meant—
His eyes burned.
Even if it meant ripping open his meridians.
Even if it meant dying.
His breath turned sharp. His mind turned blank.
Who cared if he died?
With a roar that shook the very air—
Zhang Se lunged forward.
Author's Note
Thank you for reading Shadow of the Fallen Prince! Your support means everything. If you enjoyed the story, please consider leaving a review—it helps a lot and keeps the journey alive. I truly appreciate you!