So that's his spear intent… I doubt that was even its full force. What a shame. Xue Yanluo walked over to the gash General Huo had left and looked down into it. Quite deep—and this is the fifth realm with a limiter on him… How long will it take me to get there…?
The meeting was impossible to continue, and people began drifting away, some stealing glances at the division general on the ground as they left.
Xue Yanluo returned to his group, and they set up a small space to rest—the message would take nearly five hours to make the round trip, so they might as well wait in comfort. Hua Zhenfeng disagreed and preferred to stay on guard nearby, carrying out his duty as a personal guard.
The sky in this place was a broken clock. Only once did it gather enough strength to turn the light green—one last effort of the clock trying to move forward.
The hands were what the human body needed, noticing their absence without effort, time feeling slippery as it passed. How long had it been? Not a single voice dared break the silence.
At least they had the resilience of cultivators; at the second realm, time wore on them less, and they could hold out against its erosion for days without rest.
Armor clattered, and voices spread without restraint. Xue Yanluo set down the book he was reading and sent Bao Qingcao to find out the cause. When she returned, she reported that the alliance had been sealed in writing and both sides were to join forces for the difficult stretch ahead to the three pillars.
The army marched in silence to the agreed meeting point. Tents appeared like mushrooms through the mist, and the smell of leather and damp metal filled the air as everyone waited on General Huo's word. Some time later the Five Eternal Seals Sect arrived, and all the important leaders from both groups had to attend an opening meeting.
Xue Yanluo sat with his arms crossed, staring at the table between the two groups, his mind wandering. Another meeting—when will they let me rest? Why do they love meetings so much when almost no one opens their mouth anyway? He crossed his arms tighter.
They had pulled him away from his rest while he was reading the story of a commoner who managed to marry a duke's daughter—a book that had become relatively famous, especially after it came out that the story was real.
General Huo and the sect leader went back and forth over countless terms of their alliance—surveillance, protection, resources, and more—as though they were intent on using up every word available to the meeting.
Several minutes later the meeting ended, with General Huo and the sect leader the only ones who had spoken throughout. Xue Yanluo returned to his tent determined to work off every bit of frustration the meeting had built up in him—his eyes drifted across the space, and he kicked a chair, ending its life along with one of its legs.
Once he'd settled down, he looked at the broken chair and put it away inside his spatial emblem, promising himself he would fix it. He picked up the book again and ran his fingers through the pages, flipping to the last one to see how much was left.
Xue Yanluo had to shift positions every so often to keep his body from stiffening up and aching when he tried to move. He reached the last word and looked up for the first time since he had started, stood, and stepped outside the tent. The soldiers were still resting, and he asked Hua Zhenfeng, "Has General Huo said anything?"
"No — no soldier or junior general has come to report."
Xue Yanluo took one last look at the soldiers outside and went back in. Since it seemed things were going to drag on, he might as well cultivate a little. He took out a vial cold to the touch and popped the stopper off with his thumb, a few small drops spraying out as though trying to escape their fate.
He poured the contents into his mouth and frowned after swallowing. Then, he shook the vial to hear if any blood was left inside—nothing. Has it lost its effect? He raised the vial above his head and read the characters on the base. Four days ago… Does it lose this much potency when it isn't fresh? It's not even half as effective… Xue Yanluo thought of the ten-odd vials he had stored away and shook his head.
After losing himself in cultivation, he opened his eyes again when the tent flap moved more than usual, announcing someone's arrival—Hua Zhenfeng.
"My lord, General Huo has ordered the army to strike camp and everyone to prepare to march."
Xue Yanluo stood and stretched his limbs, which protested after so long without movement. "Finally," he murmured. "Where's Qingcao?"
"Already ready and waiting outside."
Xue Yanluo nodded, satisfied. "You can go."
Hua Zhenfeng took his leave and stepped out. Xue Yanluo gathered a few things and left Hua Zhenfeng to finish taking the tent down outside.
Both sides were already more or less formed up, and Xue Yanluo walked between them toward the front, where the leaders of both groups had gathered.
At the center, General Huo and the white-haired woman with two braids were going over a few last things before setting out. She had changed her clothes and now wore a dark blue robe with a belt at the waist, holding everything neatly in place.
His gaze on her must have been felt, because the woman turned her head and met his eyes. They looked at each other for a moment before she turned her attention back to General Huo. I didn't expect her to look back so suddenly. Xue Yanluo reproached himself inwardly and moved his eyes away from her.
The moment ended when both leaders left and went to their respective groups to give the order.
They were to march straight ahead now, taking the shortest route to the distant pillars—a straight line.
Hua Zhenfeng was walking slightly behind Xue Yanluo when he moved closer and asked, "Aren't the pillars darker than before?"
Xue Yanluo narrowed his eyes and focused on the distance. "They are… Go and tell General Huo quickly—tell him we'd better pick up the pace. We don't know what their darkening means, but given everything that's happened so far, it won't be good."