With a bundle of pine cones tied to her waist, Mei Lin quickly slid down from the tree after ensuring no one else was nearby. However, as soon as her feet touched the ground, a light laugh sounded from behind her. She froze and slowly turned around.
Luo Mei was standing on a rock not far away, her hand holding a crossbow aimed directly at Mei Lin.
"Impressive, you managed to avoid my soldiers," Luo Mei said with a tone of mockery, laced with undeniable killing intent.
Mei Lin forced a bitter smile, knowing that in her current state, resisting this woman was impossible. Resigned, she leaned back against the tree and sat on the ground, once again lamenting her lost martial skills.
"If you want to kill me, just do it, General Luo. I don't want to run anymore," she said with a sarcastic laugh. "You're such a great general, a hero, lowering yourself to toy with powerless, insignificant people like us. Truly impressive."
Her words caused Luo Mei's face to flush with alternating shades of red and white, her eyes flashing with murderous intent. However, the crossbow in her hand slowly lowered. She sneered, "Why should a general like me show any mercy or courtesy to a spy... Hmph, if it weren't for women like you, Jing He wouldn't be in this state."
That last sentence, spoken through gritted teeth, revealed the true reason Luo Mei wanted to kill Mei Lin.
Mei Lin smiled wryly, feeling unfairly blamed, and helplessly spread her hands. "When someone wants to accuse, they don't lack reasons. But the person most favored in the King of Jing's household is certainly not me. If you truly care about him, why not marry him yourself? That way, you could control him directly. Besides, with the prince's feelings for you, he wouldn't have eyes for anyone else."
She subtly shifted the focus away from the accusation of being a spy, knowing that whether or not Luo Mei had evidence, it was dangerous territory for her.
Luo Mei's expression softened, perhaps because Mei Lin's words struck a chord with her. The sharp gaze that had made Mei Lin feel as if she were sitting on pins and needles became somewhat gentler. However, when Luo Mei noticed Mei Lin's eyes darting behind her, she raised the crossbow again with a frown. "Don't bother hoping—Jing He isn't here. Even if he were, he couldn't stop me from killing you."
Once again, Mei Lin felt the suffocating pressure of Luo Mei's murderous intent, making her back stiffen involuntarily. However, she maintained a facade of resignation, raising a hand to cover her eyes. Images of men pleading with her for mercy flashed before her, causing a faint pang in her heart. With a self-deprecating smile, she said, "I wouldn't dare hope for that. The prince is intent on pleasing you—why would he stop you?" The thought of how easily Jing He could switch from tender affection to cold indifference had left a lasting impression on her. Compared to him, the instructors at the Dark Factory were nothing.
Luo Mei, clearly reminded of the morning's events by Mei Lin's words, suddenly seemed in better spirits. With a flick of her wrist, she lowered the crossbow and said with a playful smile, "If you beg for mercy on your knees, perhaps I'll consider sparing you."
It was a blatant insult, but Mei Lin didn't take offense. She laughed silently, lowering the hand covering her eyes. "General Luo, you are a heroine among women, a true warrior. Surely, you wouldn't go back on your word." Without giving Luo Mei a chance to retract her offer, Mei Lin stood up, then solemnly knelt down with a loud thud, even knocking her head against the ground several times.
"General Luo, you are a great hero. Please spare the life of this lowly servant."
Luo Mei had seen many cowardly people in her time, but never anyone as shameless as Mei Lin, who didn't even bother to maintain a facade of dignity. However, having made her offer, she couldn't take it back. As she stood there, dumbfounded, a strange frustration welled up inside her. Instead of feeling the satisfaction of humiliating someone, she felt an urge to vent her anger.
Her reaction was swift. With a flick of her wrist, two arrows shot out from the crossbow, piercing Mei Lin's left shoulder and right leg, causing her to collapse to the ground once more.
"I said I'd spare you, but I never promised you'd walk away unscathed," Luo Mei said coldly, though her expression revealed a hint of satisfaction at regaining the upper hand.
Mei Lin remained kneeling, head bowed as she waited for the sharp pain in her shoulder and leg to subside. It was unclear if she even heard what Luo Mei had said. Only after the dizziness from the pain and exhaustion began to fade did she slowly pull herself up using the nearby pine tree for support.
"Thank you, General Luo, for sparing my life," she said calmly, meeting Luo Mei's gaze briefly before limping deeper into the forest.
Luo Mei stood frozen, watching Mei Lin's retreating figure. The image of those dark, lifeless eyes kept replaying in her mind, making her suddenly question why she had been so intent on targeting a woman without any martial skills.
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