Smoke curled above the fortified pass, spilling down like flowing water.
Light and ethereal, the billowing smoke poured downward. Within moments, it spread across the open ground below, forming a fragrant haze that looked at first glance like thin mountain mist.
Some men balked. They did not know what it was and dared not plunge recklessly into it.
But comrades ahead of them had already been enveloped, and the officers were unwilling to let the assault stall. They immediately barked, "Keep advancing! Do not stop!"
Military orders stood immovable as mountains. Never mind an unknown mist-even if mountains of blades and seas of fire lay ahead, they still had to charge.
At those words, everyone pressed forward, charging into it without fear of death.
Soon, the mist drifted toward them of its own accord, as though alive. In the blink of an eye, more and more men were enveloped.
Zhao Yi and the others naturally saw this too. Their gazes flickered. "What is that?"
"No idea, but whatever it is, just let the soldiers test it."
"Judging by how Li Ling acted yesterday, he doesn't seem to enjoy slaughter. Surely he won't poison them to death."
They still had the leisure to speculate, but an utterly unexpected turn of events soon unfolded.
The soldiers caught in the smoke quickly stopped.
Each felt as though he had entered a mist-shrouded immortal paradise, where an indescribably strange fragrance wafted through the air.
"What's that smell?"
"Smells kind of nice..."
This fragrance was elusive as a secluded orchid, pale as an ink wash. Its character was entirely unlike those rich, heady scents, nor did it have the invigorating effect of mint. Yet somehow, it brought peace to the heart, quiet and natural.
Within this fragrant haze, all the world's worries and sorrows seemed