### ** Chapter 26: The Secrets of Mei Lin **
The night fell over the mountains, bringing with him heavy silence and full of mystery. Liang Feng was sitting on the edge of a rugach near the village, watching the water flowing gently. The battle against the shadow clan had left deep marks, not just in the village, but also in his heart.
Mei Lin was at his side, as always, but something in his expression seemed different. She was quiet than normal, her amber eyes reflecting the moonlight with a strange intensity.
"Liang Feng," she began, her soft voice, but loaded from something he could not decipher. "" There's something I need to tell you. "
Liang Feng looked at her, feeling a cold in the spine. He knew that tone of voice-it was the same as she wore before revealing something important.
"What's it?" He asked, trying to keep the calm.
Mei Lin took a deep breath, as if he was gathering the courage.
"I ... I'm not who you think I'm," she said, avoiding her gaze.
Liang Feng frowned, confused.
"What do you mean with that?"
She looked at her hands, as if she were struggling to find the right words.
"" There are things about me I've never told you. Things I could not tell you. But now ... Now I feel you need to know. "
Liang Feng felt a node if he forming his throat. He did not know what to expect, but I knew this would change everything.
"Mei Lin, you can trust me. Whatever you are, we'll face together."
She looked at him, her eyes shining with a mixture of sadness and determination.
"" I'm not just a common cultivator. My lineage ... She's linked to something much bigger. Something I do not understand completely, but that is starting to reveal it. "
Liang Feng was silent, processing her words. He always knew that Mei Lin was special, but never imagined that there was more behind his story.
"What does it mean?" He asked, finally.
Mei Lin sighed, looking at the starry sky.
"" I'm not sure. But I feel there's a connection between me, the shadow clan and ... you. "
Liang Feng felt a shiver scroll through his spine. He knew that Mei Lin was not overdoing it never spoke without thinking.
"So, what do we do now?"
She looked at him, her serious expression.
"We continue. We fight. And when the right time arrive, I'll tell you everything I know."
Liang Feng waved her head, feeling a new determination to burn inside him. He knew that the way forward would be difficult, but he also knew he was no longer alone.
"" Well, we'll do this together. "
Mei Lin smiled, but this time there was a shadow of sadness in his eyes.
"Thank you, Liang Feng. By trusting me."
She got up, stretching her hand to him.
"" Let's go. "The village needs us."
Liang Feng took his hand, feeling the familiar heat of his skin. He knew there were secrets that Mei Lin was still not ready to reveal, but he also knew that when the right moment he arrived, they would face everything together.