Staring at Ji Hui, Feng Xiyan calmly said, "General Ji, in your current situation, do you think this general will fear your empty threats?"
Knowing that he had nothing now, Ji Hui fell silent.
Seeing this, Feng Xiyan stood up and said, "General Ji, this general heard that two of your concubine’s born daughters were sent to become nuns by your wife. Do you know why?"
Glancing at him, Ji Hui said, "If you have something to say, just say it."
Feng Xiyan smiled at his words. A second later, he continued, "General Ji, the reason your daughters were sent away is because of the Wen Clan’s second young master."
When Ji Hui heard this, his eyes flickered with disbelief. "No way. You are lying."
Feng Xiyan shook his head. "We all know the Wen Clan’s second young master’s reputation. It would be completely normal for him to do something to your daughters and force you to work for him."
"However, this general admires your wife very much. Sending your daughters to the temple instead of tying your Ji family and Wen family together is the best decision."
Waving the imperial decree, Feng Xiyan added, "Isn’t this fake imperial decree the perfect example of you being used as a spearhead?"
After listening to Feng Xiyan’s words, Ji Hui fell into deep thought.
Seeing that he had realized Wen Yirui’s plan, Feng Xiyan stood up and said, "General Ji, this general will give you some time to think about this. Whether you can save your family or not depends on your decision today."
Leaving those words behind, Feng Xiyan left the interrogation room.
As they left the underground prison, Feng Xiyan said, "General Fan, keep an eye on Ji Hui. Don’t let anything happen to him."
Clasping his fists, Fan Wanming responded, "Yes, Great General."
Meanwhile, word spread through Xiqiang City and the surrounding region that the Feng Army had begun recruiting laborers to expand the city and conscripting men into its ranks.
Those with strength and skill hurried to register for the soldier’s test, while others with experience in construction chose to join the building crews.
Inside a military tent, Madam Ha sat in a corner, looking at her son.
"A Tuo," she asked softly, "are you truly determined to join the Feng Army?"
Ha Tuo nodded firmly. "Mother, my only talent is archery. Rather than wasting it on meaningless work, I want to fight for our future. Please... allow me to go."
Looking at her son’s determination, Madam Ha let out a long sigh before reluctantly agreeing. "Very well. But you must be careful. If you can’t join the Feng Army, we will find another way to survive. Don’t do anything reckless, do you understand?"
"Yes, Mother," Ha Tuo replied with resolve. "I will remember your words."
With her reluctant blessing, Ha Tuo left the tent to join the crowd at the registration desk.
While the refugees scrambled to register their names for work, Gui Ying appeared on the rooftop of Fairy Bai’s temple.
From above, he gazed down at the sea of devotees kneeling in prayer, their voices earnest and their reverence sincere.
Then his eyes caught sight of faint golden light rising from their bodies, drifting skyward like wisps of smoke. At this sight, his eyes flickered in surprise.
"This... Is there someone here absorbing merits?"
Recovering from his astonishment, Gui Ying snapped his fingers, and a mirror appeared in his palm.
He then bit the tip of his finger and let a drop of blood fall upon its surface. In an instant, the mirror glowed with radiant golden light.
Gui Ying observed the mirror as the shimmering golden particles in the air began to gather, drawn into the mirror resting in his palm.
When he saw that it could indeed absorb the golden light, Gui Ying’s brows furrowed in thought. ’These merits are reacting to the Gui clan’s blood? Then... who is receiving them? Could that person be a member of my clan?’
At that very moment, the antique mirror inside Bai Hanyun’s bedroom suddenly glowed with a bright golden light.
Startled by the sudden light, Bai Hanyun quickly closed her eyes, covered her face with a pillow, and shouted, "Hey! Why are you glowing again for no reason?!"
The moment the words left her mouth, she felt the familiar suction force come from the direction of the antique mirror.
Knowing what would happen next, Bai Hanyun’s eyes widened as she cursed, "Damn mirror! Where are you trying to send me this time?!"
Clutching the bedsheet in vain resistance, her body was shrouded in golden light, and disappeared from her bedroom.
In the next second, Bai Hanyun’s body plummeted at terrifying speed. Having a bad feeling, she forced her eyes open—and froze at the sight of the ground getting closer at a fast speed.
’Damn it! I’m going to end up as a pancake this time!’ she cursed inwardly.
Taking a sharp breath, Bai Hanyun screamed at the top of her lungs, "Ahhh!"
Below, Gui Ying heard the faint cry. Looking up, his eyes widened as he saw a figure falling at a fast speed from the sky.
A few moments later, Bai Hanyun spotted him. Waving frantically, she shouted, "Brother, help! Catch me! Catch me!"
Amusement flickered in Gui Ying’s eyes when he saw Bai Hanyun waving at him like a struggling ant floating in the water.
Intrigued by this strange woman who had fallen from the sky, Gui Ying decided to save her.
Channeling his internal energy to his feet, he leapt up from the rooftop. Soaring upward, he extended his arms and caught Bai Hanyun with perfect accuracy.
Cradling her in his arms, he flipped midair and landed gracefully back on top of the temple roof.
Meanwhile, Bai Hanyun still had her eyes squeezed shut, clutching tightly at his clothes.
Seeing this, Gui Ying chuckled and said, "Young lady, you can open your eyes now."
At his words, she cautiously peeked through one eye. When Bai Hanyun saw a solid rooftop beneath her, she quickly opened the other.