Chapter 22

"What are you doing here?" Winwin exclaimed as he saw the two commanders and general on their horses, approaching them. They immediately got off, engulfing Winwin into a cozy group hug.


"You're forgetting that this is our home too." Lucas reminded him. "Our families lived here as well."


"We couldn't let you fight this battle on your own." Ten added. "It's only fair that we joined you."


"But what about the Amber Kingdom?" Winwin asked, eyeing Kun. "Don't they need you?"


"Your father stepped in." Kun said, eyeing the girl standing by Xiaojun, Hendery, and Winwin. "He wanted to come but I insisted on taking his place."


"Thank you." Lihua said, giving Kun a small bow out of respect. "I appreciate it."


"Why are you bowing?" Kun said, narrowing his eyes. Winwin looked at him with the same amount of confusion Lihua was giving him.


"What do you mean?" Lihua asked, adjusting her belt that was holding her sword.


Kun motioned to the villagers behind her.


"You're a Commander now."


...


Winwin's eyes narrowed as he caught sight of the palace from his spot on the mountain. Sure enough, it was surrounded by guards like he had expected.


"We can take them." Kun said from beside him. "You and Lihua try your best to get inside."


Winwin nodded his head. "If you say so."


Winwin got off his horse, adjusting the golden sword on his belt as he took a deep breath. He tapped the girl standing there, staring at the palace in awe.


"Yes?" Lihua said, turning to glance at him.


"You ready?" Winwin asked her.


"Honestly, no." Lihua answered. "But I don't think I ever will be."


...


Lihua slipped in through the walls surrounding the palace through an abandoned gate. It was clear that Kun and his warriors were doing a great job at distracting the invaders and their troops, as it seems as though many of them had left their posts.


Lihua followed Winwin as they made their way inside.


They twisted and turned inside the palace halls, hiding when they heard the footsteps of the invaders coming towards them.


"Where did they come from?" Lihua heard an invader ask.


"I'm not sure, but Shunyuan seems pretty calm, so they're probably not to big of a threat." Another replied as they ran by.


That means that he's in here somewhere. Good.


Winwin seemed to be in a trance as he led her through, as if he recognized these halls before.


I mean, wasn't he born here? He is the prince after all.


Suddenly, Winwin stopped, making Lihua almost run into him if he didn't turn to hold onto her. He put a finger to his lips and Lihua nodded her head, making sure to stay silent.


"There's more than you thought there were." It was a female voice. The witch.


"Don't underestimate me." The low voice of a male boomed. "I'm stronger than you. I am your ruler and you will bow down to me when I capture the Amber Kingdom as well."


Lihua follwed Winwin as they peeked out. Down below them was a large man with dark eyes and long hair. Shunyuan.


Beside him was a lady, wearing a long dress and a mask that covered her face with jet black hair. She seemed like a crossbreed of between a human and a bird, enough for Lihua to recognize her as the witch Hendery had described to them.


"But I am more powerful than you." Lihua heard the witch mutter. "You would be nothing without me."


"What did you say?" Shunyuan boomed, clearly not satisfied with the witch's words. The witch snapped her head towards him before bowing every so slightly.


"I will go help them out. It seems like they need it." The witch said before turning into a crow and flying away.


Once the witch was out of sight, Winwin turned towards her. "Stay here."


"Where are you going?" Lihua hissed, grabbing onto his sleeve.


"I'll take Shunyuan first while she's gone. I need you to watch my back though." Winwin told her.


Lihua bit her lip, not wanting to let Winwin battle the man alone but she knew this would probably be the best plan to use.


"Be careful." Lihua told him.


Winwin nodded, giving her a quick kiss before separating himself. Lihua watched as Winwin jumped over the barrier, landing down below.


Lihua crawled to the edge, watching the fight between Winwin and Shunyuan. Shunyuan seemed surprised by Winwin's sudden presence but didn't seem too worried.


"Oh, look. A lost warrior." Shunyuan snickered.


"I'm not a warrior." Winwin said, narrowing his eyes. "I am Dong Sicheng, the Prince of the Jade Kingdom."


Lihua watched as fear crept into the eyes of Shunyuan as he caught sight of Winwin's golden sword. He gritted his teeth as the two began to fight.


Although Shunyuan was much stronger, it was cleared that Winwin was more skilled. It was hard to Lihua to tell who would be the winner of the match, as they were both on the same level, with different strengths and weaknesses.


Sensing that there was not going to be an outcome anytime soon, Lihua was shocked when Shunyuan opened his mouth to call for help.


"Witch, I need your help!"


Seconds later, the crow returned and Lihua knew that there was no way Winwin could defeat both of them so she let herself come out of hiding.


"No." Lihua said firmly, making the two men look up at her.


The crow turned her head towards her too, making a beeline towards her.


"Lihua!" Lihua heard Winwin called and widened her eyes as Shunyuan took that as a chance to pounce on Winwin.


Luckily, Winwin saw it coming and dodged in the last second but Lihua couldn't see anymore as she was thrown back.


Lihua's eyes widened as the crow transformed into the witch, her slender fingers around her neck, pinning Lihua down.


"What's this? A female warrior." The witch asked, tilting her head.


Lihua bit her lip before summoning her chi, throwing the witch off her. The witch seemed stunned by her act and Lihua got up on her feet while the witch was still taking in what had just happened.


"Who are you?" The witch breathed out as Lihua drew her sword.


"I am Zhang Lihua, warrior under the Palace Guards of the Amber Kingdom." Lihua annouced before realizing that her title has changed. "No wait, not warrior. Commander. Commander of the Jade Kingdom Army."


"But." The witch said, dodging Lihua's attack with ease. "You're a girl."


"So what if I am?" Lihua asked back, continuing to charge towards the witch. "I can still fight as well as a man."


"Aren't you a dishonour to the family?" The witch asked her. "Wouldn't it be better if you studied the medical arts?"


"Maybe in the past." Lihua said as she dodged the witch's knife-like fingers. "But not anymore."


Lihua saw an opening in the witch's form and took the time to throw her down, pinning the witch under her as she held her knife to her throat.


But as Lihua looked into the witch's eyes, she saw the look that reminded her of herself when people told her she could never be a warrior.


"I'm jealous of you."


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THE SUSPENSE :)


Also im so sorry if you haven't watched the live action mulan

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