「On the way to the border pass.」
The desolate cries of vultures echoed across the sky as they circled high in the distance.
Even after riding for a hundred li, Lu Mingyuan still hadn't recovered from the shock, his hand tightly clutching the Sword-shaped Jade Pendant.
Among the troops, veteran soldiers hung their heads, their morale abysmally low. Bored and listless, they muttered strings of curses. "Reinforcing the Northern Pass... I wonder when we'll ever get to go home."
Unable to stand the sight, Marquis Wuan flew into a rage. "Look at you all!" he cursed. "You look as pathetic as men whose wives have been stolen! Show some spirit! Don't let the Crown Prince look down on you!"
However, his words did little to improve the situation.
Lu Mingyuan put away the Jade Pendant and took his position within the Central Army. His gaze swept across the ranks, and he saw that most of the soldiers were in the same sorry state.
