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Mulanstareddownatthewomaninfrontofher.Indeath,thewitch’sfacelookedpeaceful.ThethoughtbroughtsomespforttoMulan.Xiannianghadbeenmanythings,butshehad,atherheart,beenastrongwarrior.Sheshouldn’thavehadtodie.Sheshouldn’thavehadtosufferatthehandsofB??riKhanforsolong,justsoshecouldfeelepted.Butnow,atleast,shewasfree.

Gettingtoherfeet,Mulanpushedawaythesurprisinggriefshefe.ThebestthingshecoulddoforXianniang’smemorynowwasdefeatB??riKhanandsavetheEmperor.Grabbinghersword,sheracedthroughthemazeofconstruction.Shaftsoflightpiercedtheshadowsandthewindblewthroughthebeamsandrubble,makingalowhissingsound.

MulanspottedB??riKhan.Thewarrior’sbackwastoher.Hestoodinfrontofalargeopenfurnace.Inside,moenmetalflowedintoahugetub,fillingitwithred-hotliquid.Focusedonthefurnace,hedidn’thearMulanassheapproached.Takingadvantageofhisdistraction,Mulanscannedthearea,lookingforanysignoftheEmperor.Hereyestraveledupwardandstoppedasshespottedhim.Hewastiedtoapoleandbleedingfromseveralwounds,buthewasalive.

Takingadeepbreath,Mulantiptoedovertoalowbeamandhoppedon.Thensheclimbed,usingthecrossbarsthatzigzaggedovertheroomtogetcloserandclosertotheEmperor.Shewasalmosttohimwhenalargeshadowloomedoverher.

B??riKhanwasinfrontofher,blockingherwaytotheEmperor.Intheshadowylight,helookedlargerthanlife,likesomethingoutofanightmare.Hisgazetrailedoverherbodyandshesawhimsneer.“Thegirlwhohasspetosavethedynasty,”hesaid,hisvoicedrippingwithdisdain.

MulanknewthattoB??riKhansheappearednothingmorethanayoungwoman.Buthewaswrong.Shewasmuchmore.Droppingintothewarrior’spose,sheliftedhersword.“Ifyousurrender,”shebegan,“Iwillassureyouthatyourdeathisswiftandpainless.”

Inresponse,B??riKhanlaughed.Andthen—heattacked.Inasmooth,powerfulstroke,heswunghissworddownatMulan.ThemovewassoquickMulanbarelyhadtimetoliftherownswordtoblockit.Butthemovementknockedheroff-balance,andshefell.Withathud,sheslammedintoabeambelowher,theimpactknockingthewindfromherlungs.

Asshestruggledtoherfeet,B??riKhancameafterher.Shescrambledbackward,jumpingoutofthewayjustintimetoavoidhisswingingsword.Creepingalongthebeam,sheswitchedhergazebackandforthbetweenB??riKhanandtheEmperor.

B??riKhankeptsping,hiscruellaughterbouncingoffthebeams.Hisswordwhippedthroughtheair,andMulansomersauedtoanotherbeamtostayoutoftheway.Themetalclangedashisswordstruckthebeamwhereshehadbeenjustmomentsbefore.Takingadvantageofthemiss,Mulanracedupward,makingherwaytotheEmperor.SheheardB??riKhanroarwithrageashegavechasebehindher.