Three days later.
Northern Frontier Army Central Army, en route west.
The army had already passed Falling Geese Slope and was less than two days from Chiyan Valley.
Thirty Thousand Cavalry advanced slowly along the official road, while scouts from Vanguard Camp spread out like a spiderweb, covering dozens of miles in every direction.
The Central Army Tent was pitched beneath a low hill sheltered from the wind, its interior blazing with light.
Xiao Jin sat behind the desk, a map of the Western Wastes spread before him. Cinnabar marked the location of Chiyan Valley and the surrounding passes.
A scout knelt on one knee inside the tent, reporting the latest military intelligence.
"General, Wei Ping of Bitao Sect has sent an urgent report."
"Their hidden agent at a contact point in southern Cloud Province has sent back word."
"Three days ago, Daoist Fencang and Tingyu Tower Master Su Qinghan met at Broken Cloud Ridge on the southern foothills of the Cangwu Mountains."
"Someone from Kaoshan Sect was there as well."
"The three sides talked through the night, then went their separate ways at dawn the next day."
Xiao Jin lightly tapped the edge of the map with one finger and raised a brow. "They formed an alliance?"
"According to the hidden agent's report, the three sides have reached an accord to resist our army together."
"The exact terms are unknown, but apparently Daoist Fencang and Su Qinghan have both acknowledged an Alliance Master, with the Three Sects' troops and supplies placed under unified command."
The corner of Xiao Jin's mouth twitched slightly.
The smile was faint, yet it carried a chill that sank into one's bones.
He raised a hand, dismissing the scout, then turned toward the several Deputy Generals standing inside the tent.
"You all heard that?"
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