While Gui Ying went off to do something "interesting," the soldier, Tuluo Cheng, and the Ji family’s shadow guard leader arrived in front of the commander’s tent.
Clasping his fists, the soldier said, "Great General, Tuluo Cheng has arrived."
A few seconds later, Feng Xiyan’s calm voice came from within the tent. "Invite him in."
Receiving the order, the soldier turned to Tuluo Cheng and the leader and said, "Please go inside."
Having completed his task, the soldier returned to his post.
As the two guarding soldiers lifted the flap of the tent, Tuluo Cheng and the leader exchanged looks, then stepped inside.
Standing by the sand table, Feng Xiyan heard their footsteps.
Without looking away from the sand map, he said, "Coming so late at night... Military Advisor Tuluo, you must have something important to say to this general."
Hearing this, Tuluo Cheng turned toward the source of the voice and saw Feng Xiyan standing by the sand table.
He looked at Feng Xiyan for a few seconds before walking up to him and clasping his hands. "This humble one greets Great General Feng."
Smiling slightly, he added, "Please forgive my rudeness for visiting so late at night, but I had no other choice with how dutiful the elite soldiers of the Feng Army are."
Hearing this, Feng Xiyan turned around to face Tuluo Cheng.
After thoughtfully staring at him for a few seconds, Feng Xiyan slowly asked, "Does Military Advisor Tuluo think that this general is imprisoning you in the inn?"
When Tuluo Cheng heard this, he chuckled and replied, "Great General Feng is too harsh. This humble one simply admires the Feng Army’s elite soldiers and their skills."
After he said that, both Feng Xiyan and Tuluo Cheng observed each other in silence.
Standing a few steps behind Tuluo Cheng, the leader of the Ji family’s shadow guards was speechless.
"...." No, Military Advisor Tuluo... Didn’t we agree to surrender to Feng Xiyan? Why are you provoking him now? Are you asking for a beating?
Seeing that Feng Xiyan and Tuluo Cheng were locked in a silent standoff, the leader looked around the tent.
When he saw the bronze mirror placed on top of the altar, his brows raised slightly in interest.
’This Feng Xiyan is so weird. Why did he place a bronze mirror on the altar?’
Seeing the remains of incense in the incense burner, the leader clicked his tongue. ’Tsk, tsk, tsk. He even prayed to it.’
After making a silent comment about Feng Xiyan’s odd hobby, the leader’s attention shifted to the black and gold armor placed near the altar.
As soon as his eyes fell on the armor, they lit up.
The leader then thought with a hint of envy, ’Oh my. Look at the shine of that armor. This is the first time I have seen something so beautiful and majestic. I wonder what kind of metal it’s made from. How did they manage to make it black?’
Growing more curious, his eyes then landed on the ten swords placed on a nearby weapon rack.
As a shadow guard, the leader loved swords like a man loves his wife. Once he saw them, he couldn’t look away.
But before he could take a closer look, he suddenly felt something cold press against his neck.
Snapping back to his senses, the leader blinked and realized the black sword from the rack was missing. Glancing down, he saw the shiny black blade against his neck.
Swallowing hard, he slowly raised his eyes. The moment his gaze met Feng Xiyan’s cold, piercing eyes, a chill ran down his spine.
After a short moment of silence, Feng Xiyan coldly said, "Keep looking, and this general will personally dig out your eyes."
Hearing that, the leader swallowed again before slowly nodding, doing his best not to accidentally cut his own neck on the black sword.
After delivering the warning, Feng Xiyan withdrew his sword and calmly sheathed it.
Only then did Tuluo Cheng register what had just happened, and his heart sank.
Clenching his hands, he thought in horror, ’When did he draw the sword and move over there?’
In the past, Tuluo Cheng had believed that Feng Xiyan only held his position as the Feng Army’s supreme commander because he was the last descendant of the Feng Clan.
But after witnessing what had just happened, he realized how absurd that idea had been.
With how powerful the Feng Army was, they would never submit to a useless leader, not even if he was the last member of the Feng Clan.
For Feng Xiyan to have taken control of the Feng Army so smoothly at the age of sixteen, it was clear that he possessed the strength and skill to command their loyalty.
Ashamed by how ignorant he had been, Tuluo Cheng clenched his fists until his fingers turned white.
Lowering his head, he thought, ’If I had known Feng Xiyan was this strong, I would have sought him out instead of Ji Hui. Fortunately, everything is still not too late.’
As he was thinking, Feng Xiyan turned to him and said, "Military Advisor Tuluo, it’s already late. If you have something to say to this general, speak now. If you are only here for pleasantries, this general will have someone escort you back to Xiqiang Inn."
Knowing that Feng Xiyan was about to send them away, Tuluo Cheng finally gave up probing.
Without hesitation, he knelt before Feng Xiyan, lowered his head until it touched the ground, and said, "Great General Feng, this humble one wishes to serve under you."
When the leader saw this, he quickly followed suit and knelt before Feng Xiyan as well.
Raising his sword with both hands, he bowed his head and solemnly said, "Great General Feng, please allow this subordinate to serve you."
Standing before them, Feng Xiyan calmly said, "This general does not accept those who have betrayed their masters."
Hearing this, Tuluo Cheng’s heart sank. Gritting his teeth, he quickly said, "Great General, this humble one is not Ji Hui’s subordinate."