Chapter 716: Personality Change
Xue Ruhong and the other generals had already learned about the events in the Jin Empire from Feng Yi, so they understood which battle he was referring to.
Noticing Feng Xiyan’s pale lips, Xue Ruhong stood and said, "Great General, you must be exhausted after your journey. Please, come inside."
Feng Xiyan glanced at the generals and the soldiers still kneeling on the ground and emotionlessly said, "Rise."
After everyone stood, he walked toward the city gate.
Watching his straight back, Fan Wanming frowned, worry flickering in his eyes.
Standing beside him, Ding Zhenshun said quietly, "Do you all sense it?"
Xue Ruhong nodded. "Mhm. The Great General’s aura feels very different from before. I wonder what happened in the Jin Empire."
As Xue Ruhong fell into thought, Fan Wanming suddenly said, "Fairy Bai didn’t return with the Great General."
The moment his words fell, realization flashed across the other generals’ eyes.
Tan Pengtai looked at Feng Xiyan, whose entire being was shrouded in a heavy gloom, and said, "Until we know the reason, it’s best not to mention Fairy Bai in front of the Great General."
The other three generals exchanged glances and nodded in agreement.
Seeing that Feng Xiyan had already walked far ahead, they stopped talking and quickly caught up with him.
Walking past the city gate, what welcomed Feng Xiyan was no longer the familiar empty and desolate street, but a bustling, clean, neat, and orderly avenue filled with common people standing along both sides of the road.
Before Feng Xiyan could react to the changes in Xiqiang City, someone suddenly shouted, "Welcome the Great General back home!"
The moment the powerful voice echoed through the surroundings, everyone dropped to their knees, kowtowed deeply, and shouted in unison, "Welcome the Great General back home! Long live the Great General for thousands of years!"
Feng Xiyan stood at the city gate, silently looking at the sea of people kneeling on both sides of the wide street.
At this moment, he felt neither pride, joy, nor warmth. All he felt was emptiness and a suffocating sense of loss. Clenching his fists, he closed his eyes to stop the tears from falling.
’Yun’er, do you see this? This is the result of your hard work. Can’t you come back now? I don’t need anything... I only want you.’
Standing neatly behind him, Xue Ruhong and the others exchanged worried glances.
After a long moment of silence, Feng Xiyan finally opened his eyes and said, "Please rise."
Hearing this, the common people, soldiers, and travelers responded in unison, "Thank you, Great General."
The crowd stood up and began cheering enthusiastically, welcoming Feng Xiyan with great excitement. However, there wasn’t even the slightest ripple of emotion in his eyes.
Noticing this, Fan Wanming said in a low voice, "The Great General’s condition is worse than we thought."
Xue Ruhong nodded and added, "This general believes the issue lies with Fairy Bai."
While they quietly discussed how to deal with Feng Xiyan’s change in temperament, he continued walking down the street in silence.
Xiqiang City had expanded to ten times its original size, and the barracks were now located in the center of the city.
It took Feng Xiyan more than an hour to travel from the outer ring’s city gate to the barracks. Upon arrival, instead of resting, he headed straight for the commander’s tent.
Stepping into the familiar tent, Feng Xiyan walked toward the sand table and ordered, "Go and summon the others for an emergency meeting."
Hearing this, Tan Pengtai called over a nearby soldier and instructed, "Go inform the generals and vice-generals."
"Yes, General Tan." After receiving the order, the soldier hurried off.
As Feng Xiyan stared at the sand table, he called out, "Feng Yi."
A second later, Feng Yi appeared before him, knelt down, clasped his fists, and responded, "This subordinate is here. Master, what are your instructions?"
Feng Xiyan raised his eyes and ordered, "Send word to General Zhan and General Wu to return to Xiqiang City as soon as possible. Tell them to leave enough troops to guard the Yu Rong Border Pass and maintain control over the Jin Empire."
"Yes, Master."
Feng Yi acknowledged the order and disappeared from the tent.
Feng Xiyan then turned to the generals and said, "Report everything that happened after this general left."
Hearing this, Xue Ruhong stepped forward and clasped his fists. "Reporting to the Great General. During your absence, we received several pieces of news regarding the imperial courts."
Feng Xiyan gestured for him to continue.
Xue Ruhong said, "The first piece of news is the assassination of the Prince Regent, Yu Zhao."
At this, Feng Xiyan frowned slightly but remained silent.
Seeing that he had no reaction, Xue Ruhong continued, "The second piece of news is the Wen Clan’s rebellion, the execution of Yu Fu, and the death of Wen Qiaolun."
"The third piece of news is that Wen Kang has ascended the throne and is now tracking down the loyal ministers and generals. He has also issued kill-on-sight orders."
Just as his words fell, a shadow guard appeared behind Feng Xiyan. Kneeling on the ground, he clasped his fists and presented a letter.
"This subordinate greets Master. Master, this is a secret letter from the Vice-commander."
Feng Xiyan turned, took the letter, and read it. After finishing, he handed it to Xue Ruhong and said, "Yu Zhao is still alive."
After reading the letter, Xue Ruhong and the others were stunned.
"This... The Prince Regent is the Pavilion Master of the Hong Sha Pavilion? If that is true, then he must still be alive," Tan Pengtai said in shock.
Now that Feng Xiyan had learned all the crucial news about the imperial court of the Yu Empire, he walked toward the map hanging on the wall.
Staring at the map of the entire Central Continent, Feng Xiyan flipped his palm, and a writing brush appeared in it.
Without hesitation, he crossed out the name of the Jin Empire and wrote a single word in its place—Feng.