Seeing the change in Feng Xiyan’s expression, Tuluo Cheng added, "Great General, it seems their purpose in coming here... is you."
Rubbing the hilt of his black sword, Feng Xiyan sneered and replied coldly, "They can try—but the result will be the same."
Raising his brows slightly at his words, Tuluo Cheng turned to look at the approaching Jin Empire army and thought, ’Looks like they are doomed to fail.’
An hour later, the Jin Empire’s army stopped ten kilometers away from the northern city wall of Xiqiang City.
Sitting on top of his well-bred prized horse, the second imperial prince of the Jin Empire, Jin Cen, turned to the old imperial teacher and asked, "Imperial Teacher Shi, it seems we are not welcome here."
Shi Yixi calmly looked toward Feng Xiyan and the others. Seeing that the Feng Army’s soldiers merely stood guard on top of the city wall, he pondered for a moment before clasping his hands toward Jin Cen.
"Your Highness, please allow this old minister to speak with Great General Feng."
Jin Cen nodded and replied, "Then this prince will trouble you, Imperial Teacher Shi."
Shi Yixi smiled and said, "Your Highness is too polite. This is this old minister’s duty."
Jin Cen then turned to a young general riding a horse beside him and ordered, "General Zheng, please escort Imperial Teacher Shi."
Zheng Dong clasped his fists and responded, "Yes, Your Highness."
Turning to the soldiers, he ordered, "You guys, come with this general."
The soldiers clasped their fists. "Yes, General Zheng."
With Zheng Dong and fifty soldiers escorting him, Shi Yixi rode toward the city gate.
Watching everything from the city wall, Tuluo Cheng said, "Great General, that old man leading the group is the imperial teacher of the Jin Empire."
Hearing this, Feng Xiyan frowned slightly. After a moment of thought, he said, "This general remembers that the imperial teacher of the Jin Empire should be in his sixties now."
Tuluo Cheng nodded and explained, "This Shi Yixi is a legend in the Jin Empire. At the tender age of fourteen, he became the top scorer in the Jin Empire’s imperial exam and was appointed as the crown prince’s teacher. At that time, the crown prince was already in his thirties."
When Zhan Qi heard this, his eyes widened in surprise, and he asked curiously, "Then... how old is the crown prince now?"
Tuluo Cheng chuckled and said, "General Zhan misunderstands. The first crown prince Shi Yixi taught was the grandfather of the Jin Empire’s current emperor."
"He only sat on the dragon throne for six years before passing away from illness. When the current emperor’s father inherits the throne, he rules for ten years before also dying from illness."
"The current emperor of the Ji Empire is the third emperor taught by Shi Yixi. Counting the years, Shi Yixi has served as an imperial teacher for forty-nine years."
Turning to look at Shi Yixi below, he added, "Shi Yixi is now teaching the fourth generation of the Jin Empire’s imperial descendants, including the heir of the noble families of the Ji Empire."
Listening to Tuluo Cheng’s explanation, Zhan Qi and the other generals couldn’t help but take a closer look at this legendary figure.
Although the Yu Empire is one of the five great empires of the Central Continent, since the fall of the Feng Clan, it has slowly been losing its standing among the others. Meanwhile, the Jin Empire commands the strongest army in the Central Continent and is getting stronger by the day.
For a man to teach four generations of imperial descendants in such a powerful empire, Shi Yixi must possess extraordinary talent and intellect.
Facing such an opponent would not be easy for the Feng Army, even with heavenly weapons and armor bestowed by Heaven.
Looking at Shi Yixi, Xue Ruhong said, "Great General, it’s better not to fight them if we can avoid it."
Nodding in agreement, Feng Xiyan replied, "Let’s wait and see what they want from us before making our next move. For this kind of figure to personally pay us a visit, the Ji Empire must have something very important to discuss with us."
Clasping their fists, the generals answered in unison, "Yes, Great General."
After making their decision, Feng Xiyan and the generals observed the Jin Army, waiting to see what they wanted.
Before long, Shi Yixi, Zheng Dong, and the Jin Empire’s soldiers stopped twenty meters from the city gate.
With Zheng Dong’s help, Shi Yixi nimbly dismounted from his horse.
Stepping forward, he clasped his hands, bowed slightly to Feng Xiyan, and said, "Greetings, Great General Feng. This old minister is the imperial teacher of the Jin Empire, Shi Yixi. Please excuse our rudeness in coming uninvited."
After a short moment of silence, Feng Xiyan calmly replied, "Imperial Teacher Shi is too polite. May this general know why you have brought your troops here?"
Shi Yixi was pleased by Feng Xiyan’s courteous tone and smile. Taking the long wooden box from Zheng Dong, he held it up for Feng Xiyan to see.
"Great General Feng, our visit this time is not hostile. This is our emperor’s imperial letter for you. This old minister hopes Great General Feng will be kind enough to let us in so that this old minister may present it to you in person."
When Tuluo Cheng heard this, his eyes flickered. "Great General, it seems our guess was correct. They are indeed coming for you."
Feng Xiyan’s gaze turned cold when he heard this.
Looking at Shi Yixi, he responded, "Imperial Teacher Shi, you may come in, but you can only bring ten guards."
Knowing the Yu Empire and Jin Empire were hostile toward each other, Shi Yixi understood Feng Xiyan’s caution.
Bowing slightly, he said, "Thank you, Great General Feng, for granting permission."
He then turned to Zheng Dong and said, "General Zheng, please inform the Second Prince and the Seventh Princess. This old minister will wait here."
Zheng Dong nodded, then ordered the soldiers, "You guys stay here and protect Imperial Teacher Shi."