Shen Ce clearly did not entirely agree with Xiong Jian'an's explanation.
He merely stood at the edge of the gate tower, watching his comrades file through the gate in orderly ranks and the dark mist rising in the distance, his fists clenched.
Xiong Jian'an also noticed Shen Ce's displeasure.
"You've never been to the front lines."
Xiong Jian'an spoke again.
But Shen Ce seemed to interpret Xiong Jian'an's words as mockery.
"I submitted seven petitions to the Governor, requesting a transfer to Shikui Pass, but I never received a reply from him."
With those words, he meant to express his courage and ambition.
But Xiong Jian'an did not care in the slightest.
"Come with me."
That was all Xiong Jian'an said before turning and heading down from the gate tower.
His armor rubbed together, the colliding metal giving off crisp clinks.
"I'll show you what the front lines are really like."
Xiong Jian'an continued.
Shen Ce did not hesitate, simply following behind him.
The two passed through the gate tower together and walked down the steps along the wall, while the vast army withdrawing from its positions streamed below.
Then Xiong Jian'an led Shen Ce to an open space inside the pass.
Three thousand defenders who had withdrawn from the border passes stood there.
They had all removed their armor, folded it neatly, and set it on the ground in front of them.
Their weapons lay beside their feet as well.
These defenders wore only thin clothing.
Shen Ce was somewhat startled.
He had no idea what these defenders were doing.
Nor did he understand why the expressions on their faces were all so strange.
Some looked relieved, some numb, and others were terribly tense, as though they might collapse at any moment...
More than twenty armored soldiers, each