Standing around the sand map, Fan Wanming looked at Feng Xiyan and reported, "Great General, the war prisoners of the Jin Army have already been settled in the special camp. As for the Ji Army prisoners, they have returned to the labor camp."
Feng Xiyan raised his brows slightly when he heard that and asked, "They refused to join us?"
Fan Wanming shook his head and explained, "They inquired about Ji Hui’s condition, but our soldiers gave them no answers. Receiving nothing, they chose to return to the labor camp."
Hearing this, Feng Xiyan slowly tapped the table with his slender index finger. After a moment of thought, he muttered, "It seems winning the Ji Army’s loyalty will not be easy."
At that, Xue Ruhong spoke up. "Great General, since Ji Hui has already agreed to cooperate with us, why not seize this chance to begin the next stage of the plan?"
Seeing Feng Xiyan deep in thought, he pressed on. "The initial plan was a great success. If we act now, and with the rumors we have spread plus Ji Hui’s aid, taking Xiquan City should be no problem."
When he said that, the other generals nodded in agreement.
"Great General," Ding Zhenshun added calmly, "this subordinate also agrees with General Xue. Now is indeed the perfect time to take Xiquan City."
Feng Xiyan thought for a long time before saying, "All right. Since all of you agree with General Xue’s suggestion, we will begin the plan to take over Xiquan City in two days."
Turning to Zhan Qi, Feng Xiyan instructed, "General Zhan, we will bring five thousand soldiers with us this time. You will be responsible for making the arrangements. Please coordinate with General Tan regarding the weapons and equipment."
Zhan Qi clasped his fists and responded, "This subordinate accepts the order."
Feng Xiyan then turned to look at Tan Pengtai and said, "General Tan, you will be responsible for preparing the rations and horse feed enough for one month."
Tan Pengtai clasped his fists and said, "This subordinate accepts the order."
Afterward, Feng Xiyan turned to the remaining generals and said, "While this general is away at Xiquan City, General Fan will be responsible for the security of Xiqiang City."
"General Xue will oversee administrative work, supplies, and continue with the recruitment of soldiers and workers. General Ding will take charge of the reconstruction of Xiqiang City and the city wall."
Xue Ruhong, Fan Wanming, and Ding Zhenshun clasped their fists in unison and responded, "This subordinate accepts the order."
After dividing the tasks, Feng Xiyan said, "This general will depart with only General Zhan this time. The safety of Xiqiang City will be left to the four of you."
Seeing that there was little time to prepare, Feng Xiyan added, "You all may leave now."
"Yes, Great General."
After the generals left to complete their tasks, Feng Xiyan took a bath and changed his clothes. When he was done, he boarded a horse carriage and returned to the Great General’s mansion.
Worried about Bai Hanyun, Feng Xiyan urged the coachman, "Drive faster."
"Yes, Great General." The coachman nodded and flicked his whip.
Sitting inside the carriage, Feng Xiyan looked at the red mark on his left wrist. Moments later, the corner of his lips curved slightly upward.
Gently touching the red mark, he whispered, "I wonder what Fairy Bai thinks of this mark."
The moment his words fell, an elegant, soft voice, carrying a faint echo like ripples across still water, resonated within his mind.
[You harbor a deep affection for her.]
When he heard that, Feng Xiyan’s eyes instantly turned cold. He lifted the window’s curtain and scanned the surroundings with sharp vigilance.
Before he could find the source of the voice, the voice came again. Calm, lilting, yet mixed with a hint of ancient weight.
[Do not be alarmed, Master. It is me.]
Feng Xiyan froze when he heard the word Master. Lowering the curtain slowly, he looked at his left wrist.
As expected, the red mark glowed faintly with a soft, golden light and beat slowly as if it were alive. The source of this content ɪs 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭•𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦•𝘯𝘦𝘵
Feng Xiyan sat in silence, processing this absurd revelation, before asking in a low voice, "Yin Mirror?"
A moment later, the voice replied, [I’m here, Master.]
Just as Feng Xiyan was about to open his mouth to question the Yin Mirror further, the Yin Mirror added with a teasing lilt under her voice.
[Master, your thoughts may reach me directly. Otherwise, when other people see you speaking into the air, they might think you have lost your mind.]
Feng Xiyan’s lips twitched at her words. He stared at the red mark and silently complained, ’This Yin Mirror’s personality is just like Gui Ying’s. Both are quite annoying.’
The instant he thought this, the voice rang out with playful indignation, like chimes in the wind.
[Master, please do not tarnish my name behind my back. Also, I am that brat’s ancestor. If anything, he is the one who follows my personality. Not the other way around.]
Feng Xiyan was speechless when he heard the Yin Mirror’s complaints.
"..." Is that the issue here?
Choosing to ignore her retort, Feng Xiyan asked the question that most intrigued him, "You can talk?"
After binding with the Yin Mirror, he had been able to sense its emotions.
Sensing the Yin Mirror was rolling her eyes at him, Feng Xiyan suppressed the urge to roll his eyes at it.
A few seconds later, the Yin Mirror replied, [Of course.]
"Then why can’t the Yang Mirror talk like you?" Feng Xiyan asked again.
The Yin Mirror sighed sadly and explained, [That’s because my husband spent tens of thousands of years in another world without replenishing his spiritual energy. By the time I met him, he was very weak and at the end of his life.]
[If not for his Master touching me, I would not have been able to find him. To channel some of my spiritual energy into him, I had no choice but to bind with you and forcefully bind my husband to that young lady.]