Spring had come, yet the old trees had not withered; the cold wind howled across the wild plains.
Inside Jiujiang Military Camp, Du Yehu had removed his helmet and sat silently before the desk. Compared to before, his powerful frame seemed to have lost a little of its fierce edge.
Yang Yin, who had partnered with him for many years, stood before him.
Still fully armored, Yang Yin's gaze was dark and his face stern. "General, are you leaving?"
Du Yehu had once been a reckless, headstrong man. After serving for several years as Zhuang Kingdom's Grand General, he had gained a measure of steadiness.
But that steadiness felt unfamiliar to Yang Yin.
He was used to charging behind Du Yehu, used to covering the gaps for him, used to that superior whose temper blazed like fire and whose treatment of others was just as scorching—a tiger general who went straight ahead and never around.
Yet now, he could restrain himself like this, let go of military power, cast aside brothers, even turn ideals into a joke.
Du Yehu loosely clenched his right hand and rubbed his brow. "It's time to go."
One hand on his saber, Yang Yin leaned forward. For the first time in his life, he showed Du Yehu such an attitude, snarling, "You're abandoning all these brothers to go defect to Qi State and join Shan Junwei?!"
Shan Junwei had once been a general of Mo State. After defecting to Zhuang Kingdom, he had been arranged by Zhuang Gaoxian to replace Du Yehu and take over his military authority.
When Yang Yin had led men up to Xin'an, he had intended to draw his blade and dispose of the bastard first. But when he entered the tent with blade in hand, he learned that the man