86 第17章 恢复女儿身（2）

第17章 恢复女儿身（2）

Behind her, Xianniang stepped onto the cracking lava, her own steps so light that they left no impression on the thin layer of ash that covered the ground. Blood dripped from the wound Mulan had inf licted, dotting the black with red. 
Mulan reached her sword. With a triumphant cry, her f ingers closed around the handle and she got to her feet. Turning, she saw the witch watching her. “I am Hua Jun. Soldier in the Emperor’s Imp —” 
Xianniang had heard enough. “I warned you, Hua Jun,” Xianniang sneered. “You will die pretending to be something you’re not.” In a f lash of silver, Xianniang threw another dagger. It f lew through the air, striking Mulan square in the chest. 
Mulan was lifted off her feet and sent f lying backward. As she came down hard, the layer of crust beneath her broke open. Mulan fell through the hole—and into the lake below. 
Mulan’s chest burned as she sank deeper and deeper beneath the lake’s surface. Her hand, still clutching her father’s sword, was frozen and she felt powerless. All she could do was sink, weighted down by the armor she wore. 
She saw a f lash of color, and then something dove into the water above her. At f irst, Mulan feared it was the witch, coming to f inish her off. But as she watched, the shadowy shape took form, revealing itself as the Phoenix. Reaching her, the bird turned and, wrapping its long tail feathers around her wrist, pulled her upward. 
A moment later, Mulan burst through the surface, opening her mouth and sucking in air. She lay on the hard ground beside the lake for a long moment, her eyes closed as her heartbeat slowed. She opened her eyes. 
Instantly, she wished she hadn’t. 
There, protruding from her chest, was the witch’s dagger. 
It stuck straight out, the tip of the blade disappearing into Mulan’s armor. But as she stared down, expecting any moment for blood to pour from the wound, Mulan’s eyes narrowed. Lifting her shaking hands, she pulled out the dagger. Ripping back her armor, Mulan saw, to her relief, it had embedded not in her skin, but in the leather binding she had wrapped around her chest. 
In a whoosh, Mulan’s breath rushed out of her and she shouted a cry of gratitude. To think, the thing that she had used to lie, the thing that could have been her downfall, had just saved her life. 
Slowly, she got to her feet. Turning around, she saw the Phoenix sitting a few steps away. The bird’s feathers were wet and she looked tired, but happy. Meeting her gaze, Mulan gave the Phoenix a grateful nod. The bird nodded. I’ve got your back, always, she seemed to say. And for the f irst time, Mulan realized how much she had needed the Phoenix, now and throughout the long journey. 
Lifting her sword from the ground, she read the inscription, her eyes lingering on one word. “True ...” she said aloud. True. Yes. It was the virtue she had struggled so much with, and yet the one she longed to embrace. And now she needed to be true to herself. She wasn’t going to listen to the witch’s words or let doubt creep in. She needed to follow her heart.