Chapter 4

The first artifact, the Phoenix Feather, was said to be hidden in the ancient city of Luoyang, once the capital of the Eastern Han Dynasty. Mei Ling and her companions made their way to Luoyang, where they discovered that the Feather was being held in the possession of a powerful warlord, General Li. General Li was a ruthless man, known for his cruelty and ambition. He had heard of the legend of the Jade Phoenix and believed that the Feather would grant him invincibility in battle. Mei Ling knew that they would have to be cunning if they were to retrieve the Feather from his grasp. With the help of Xiao Hong's thieving skills and Liang's martial prowess, Mei Ling devised a plan to infiltrate General Li's heavily guarded fortress. Disguised as a servant, Mei Ling managed to gain access to the inner chambers, where the Feather was kept in a heavily guarded vault. But as she reached for the Feather, she was confronted by General Li himself. A fierce battle ensued, with Liang and Xiao Hong fighting off Li's guards while Mei Ling faced the warlord in a deadly duel. In the end, Mei Ling emerged victorious, but not without cost. Liang was gravely injured, and they were forced to flee the fortress with the Feather in hand.