Li Mei clapped her hands happily.
"Marvelous! Now you're ready for Phase Two!"
Han Yu's smile faltered.
"Phase Two?"
Li Mei pulled out a massive syringe filled with a suspiciously glowing purple liquid from behind her back.
"Of course! You didn't think we were done, did you?" she said sweetly.
Han Yu took a single step back.
"Stay. Away. From me."
Li Mei giggled mischievously and started advancing.
Han Yu turned and bolted out the door, broom in hand, running for dear life.
Behind him, Li Mei's laughter echoed through the servant quarters, loud and cheerful and absolutely terrifying.
The Twin Leaf Peak Sect would never know what hit it.
Han Yu ran without looking back, weaving through alleys, leaping over low fences, and narrowly dodging confused senior servants who shouted after him.
He didn't stop until he reached the outer gardens, where the bamboo groves grew thick and the mist rolled lazily across the ground.
Only then did he dare glance back.
No sign of Li Mei.
