Defending Xiqi's Borders

"General, the rebels have already reached the city walls. Let's go out there and fight those bastards!"

A middle-aged man in battered armor, his face smeared with blood, wore an anxious expression.

"Immortal Luo Xuan, what do you think we should do?"

The composed middle-aged man seated in the general's chair looked toward the young man beside him, who wore a Daoist robe, had flame-red hair, and remained calm. He asked for his opinion.

"Respond to all changes by remaining unchanged. The rebels may have great numbers, but the city walls are protected by formations that reinforce their strength and defenses. Holding the city will not be a problem."

Luo Xuan spoke indifferently.

"General! It was precisely because we kept defending without attacking that we gave those rebels an opportunity. If we charge out and fight them now, we may still have a sliver of hope. If we remain in the city any longer...

It will be like boiling a frog in warm water—we'll be courting our own destruction!"

"General!"

The bloodstained middle-aged man spoke with heartfelt urgency. Luo Xuan shook his head and waved a hand.

"Take him away. Let him calm down!"

Two guards entered, seized the bloodstained man by the shoulders, and dragged him away as though he were a corpse.

Seeing this, the bloodstained middle-aged man grew anxious. He had come to request battle, but when he tried to speak, he opened his mouth only to find that he could not utter a single word.

His eyes widened as he watched Luo Xuan grow farther and farther away...

"It was him... It should have been him, right..."

"Immortal Master, this man... has followed me for a long time. He shouldn't be, should he?"

The steady general looked at Luo Xuan, thought for a moment, and clasped