Inside his dimly lit mansion, General Zhang sat alone, his rough fingers pressing against his temples as he read through the reports. The candle beside him flickered, casting long shadows over his worn face.


    “Ten more dead today,” he muttered, setting the casualty report aside. “The injured… most won’t last much longer.”


    He picked up another parchment—supplies inventory. His jaw clenched.


    "Four days. Only four days’ worth of food left."


    Ever since the barbarian attack, the fortress had been crumbling. Though the enemy had stopped their full-scale assault, they still loomed beyond the walls, watching, waiting. The soldiers within were tired, starving, and morale was slipping.


    Reinforcements were still at least a week—perhaps two—away. They would not last that long.


    He had to act.


    Zhang tapped his fingers against the table, his mind racing through the possibilities.


    "Sending men out for supplies… That might buy us time. But if the barbarians spot them, they’ll know how desperate we are. And if my men are caught, they’ll never make it back."


    "Rationing what little we have… If I stop feeding the wounded, we can make the food last longer for the healthy. But what message would that send? That I abandon my own men when they can no longer fight?" He exhaled sharply. "Morale would crumble."


    His gaze drifted toward the fortress walls. Beyond them, the enemy lurked.


    "An ambush… A direct strike at their camps could turn the tide. If we hit their food stores, we could steal enough to hold out until reinforcements arrive. But if we fail—if we lose too many men—we won’t even have enough to defend this fortress."


    Zhang closed his eyes, inhaling deeply. Each option carried risk. Each one could mean salvation or destruction.


    But he had no time to hesitate.


    Li Residence


    Inside the shared room, Li Xun sat cross-legged on the wooden floor, his eyes closed, breathing steady. The room was simple, with minimal furnishings, reflecting their modest lifestyle.


    After a few moments, he exhaled slowly, opening his eyes. His expression remained calm as he adjusted his robes and tidied up the space.


    As he stepped outside, the soft glow of dawn cast a faint light over him. His thoughts lingered on his progress.


    "At this rate, it will take more than five years just to reach the second layer..."


    Li Xun sighed, his thoughts heavy. "At this rate, wouldn''t it be better to find another path? If only we could locate a spiritual vein or obtain heavenly treasures to aid our cultivation..."


    Shaking his head, he stepped into the courtyard, where the early morning air carried the faint scent of damp earth. His younger sister, Yue, was already busy with housework, her small hands sweeping the ground with focused determination.


    Hearing the sound of footsteps, she turned around, her eyes bright as she recognized him. "Big Brother Xun!"


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    Li Xun smiled. "Good morning, Little Yue."


    She immediately puffed up her cheeks. "Hmph! I''m not little anymore!" she huffed, stomping her foot in protest.


    Li Xun chuckled, ruffling her hair. "Oh? But you’re still shorter than me, so that makes you little."


    Yue pouted, swatting his hand away. "Then when I grow taller than you, I’ll call you Little Xun!"


    He laughed, shaking his head. "Alright, alright, I’ll be waiting for that day."


    Yue, still pretending to be mad, crossed her arms but couldn''t hide the smile tugging at her lips.


    As Li Xun and Yue were chatting, a firm knock echoed from the front gate. They both turned their heads toward the wooden entrance.


    Who could it be this early in the morning? Li Xun wondered as he walked over. He unlatched the gate and pushed it open slightly, peering outside. Standing there was Zhou Qi, his father’s longtime friend and fellow guard, dressed in his uniform.


    Li Xun immediately opened the gate wider and cupped his hands in greeting. "Uncle Zhou, good morning. Please, come inside."


    Zhou Qi gave a nod and stepped in, his sturdy frame moving with the discipline of a seasoned guard. "Good morning, Xun. Is your father around?"


    "Yes, he’ll be out soon. Please have a seat," Li Xun said, guiding him toward the courtyard’s wooden chairs. Turning to Yue, he added, "Little Yue, bring tea and some refreshments for Uncle Zhou."


    Yue, still holding onto her earlier sulkiness, gave him a small glare but nodded before hurrying inside.


    Zhou Qi chuckled, watching her leave. "She’s grown quite a bit. Seems like just yesterday she was barely able to walk."


    Li Xun smiled. "She still acts like a child sometimes."


    Zhou Qi leaned back slightly. "That’s how younger siblings are. You should treasure it while it lasts. Soon, she’ll be scolding you instead."Li Xun chuckled, just as Yue returned, carrying a small tray with tea and some dried fruit. She carefully placed it on the table before bowing slightly. "Uncle Zhou, please enjoy."


    "Good girl," Zhou Qi said with a smile, taking the cup. Yue, having finished her task, excused herself and disappeared toward another part of the house.


    Taking a sip of the tea, Zhou Qi looked back at Li Xun. "And how about Yuntai? Still away with the army?"


    Li Xun’s expression became more serious. "Yes. He left with the recruits not long ago. We haven’t received any news yet."


    Zhou Qi nodded. "The army is no easy path. But with his temperament, I believe he’ll endure it well."


    Before Li Xun could respond, the sound of a door opening caught their attention. Li Heng stepped into the courtyard, dressed in his own guard uniform, fastening the last piece of his belt.


    Zhou Qi stood up and smiled. "Brother Li, you look the same as ever."


    Li Heng smirked. "And you still find time to visit early in the morning. What brings you here?"


    The two men clasped arms firmly in greeting, their bond as old comrades clear. Though they served in different districts, their friendship remained strong through shared duties and and occasional meetings like this.


    Zhou Qi took another sip of tea and sighed. "Official matters, of course. But let’s talk properly inside."


    Li Heng nodded. "Then let’s not waste time. Come in."....


    Li Heng took a seat beside Zhou Qi as Li Xun respectfully poured him a cup of tea before stepping away, leaving the two seasoned guards to their conversation.


    Zhou Qi wasted no time. He set his cup down and spoke in a low, serious tone. "As you know, our numbers are short since many of our men were recruited into the army. Because of that, the magistrate has assigned us to investigate a missing cargo shipment meant for him."


    Li Heng’s brow furrowed slightly. "Missing? What happened?"


    Zhou Qi sighed. "The cargo was supposed to arrive two days ago, delivering an important item to the magistrate. But it never reached its destination. The guards escorting it, along with the person in charge of the delivery, vanished without a trace. The magistrate has already sent men to search along the route, but they found nothing."


    Li Heng took a slow sip of tea, his expression darkening. "That does seem strange. Are they certain the cargo even departed?"


    Zhou Qi nodded. "A message was sent confirming its departure before they left. There’s no doubt it was on its way."


    Li Heng remained silent for a moment, his fingers tapping lightly on the wooden table. "An entire cargo, its guards, and the courier disappearing without a sign… It doesn''t sit right."


    Zhou Qi’s face was equally grim. "Exactly. That’s why the magistrate wants us—along with a few other experienced men—to investigate. Since the mission may take time, we leave tomorrow at dawn. We don''t know how long we’ll be gone, but the magistrate has promised a hefty reward if we succeed—especially if we recover the missing cargo. Even if we fail, he’ll still reward us, but far less."


    Li Heng frowned. "A missing shipment is one thing, but an entire escort going silent? It’s suspicious. We’re dealing with something more than simple bandits."


    Zhou Qi nodded, but there was little more they could say without more information. After a brief silence, Li Heng exhaled. "Since this is a task we can''t refuse, I’ll be ready by tomorrow."


    Zhou Qi stood up and adjusted his uniform. "Good. Make sure to prepare well. We move at dawn."


    With that, the two men exchanged a firm nod, understanding the weight of the task ahead.


    The two men chatted for a while before Zhou Qi finally rose to leave. Li Heng walked him to the gate, exchanging a firm nod before watching his friend disappear down the road. He lingered for a moment, exhaling quietly before turning back into the courtyard.


    As he sat down, Li Xun entered. He immediately noticed the somber expression on his father’s face—his usual stern composure tinged with something heavier.


    "Father," Li Xun called, stepping closer. "Did something happen?"


    Li Heng looked at his son for a moment before sighing. "Tomorrow, I will be leaving on a mission. I don’t know how long it will take before I return."


    Li Xun’s brows furrowed. "A mission? Is it dangerous?"


    His father gave a faint smile, though his eyes held no warmth. "Every mission has its risks. But this one… feels different." He paused before speaking again, his voice steady but firm. "No matter what happens, take care of the family while I’m gone. Be cautious, and don’t invite unnecessary trouble."


    Li Xun clenched his fists slightly but nodded. "I understand, Father. I will."


    Li Heng studied his son for a long moment before patting his shoulder. "Good. That’s all I ask."


    Then, standing up, he adjusted his uniform. "I need to head to my guard duty now." Without another word, he walked toward the wooden gate, disappearing into the streets beyond.


    Left alone, Li Xun let out a quiet sigh, a trace of sadness flickering in his eyes.