"My role is simply to hold the Western Gate until the time comes."
"Once the situation shifts, I'll decide whether to stay or leave."
Wei Tu pondered silently.
If Qingfeng Prefecture fell, it wouldn't just be a single city lost—it would mean the entire Southern Mountain Dao had collapsed.
And when that happened—
The remaining counties and towns wouldn't even consider resisting anymore.
With one single decree, the rebel warlords would claim the entire region without a fight.
And to the imperial court—
This was unacceptable.
A warlord occupying a single province was just a bandit king.
But a warlord controlling an entire Dao had the right to claim a new dynasty.
Even if the imperial court eventually retaliated, relying on its supernatural forces to crush the rebellion—
It wouldn't matter.
Because by then—
The people's faith in the dynasty would have already crumbled.
After all—
The common people did not know that the court had Xiantian martial masters.
They had never even heard of immortals.
—
Dusk.
Wei Tu was in his tent when Deng Zhijun arrived, his face shadowed with complex emotions.
After exchanging a few hushed words, Deng Zhijun led Wei Tu toward the Provincial Governor's Mansion in the heart of the city.
Upon entering—
Wei Tu immediately noticed something unusual.
There were many other military officers gathered.
And most of them—
Were around his age.
Wei Tu's brow furrowed slightly.
This scene…
It felt eerily familiar.
Suppressing his thoughts, he followed Deng Zhijun into the main hall.
—
Inside the guest chamber—
The one seated at the head of the room was not Governor Liu, the man officially in charge of Southern Mountain Dao.
Instead, it was—
A lean, elderly man in a blue robe, his eyes sharp and filled with vitality.
What was even more surprising—
Governor Liu was personally serving this man tea, speaking with a tone of deference, almost flattering.
This alone—
Confirmed everything Wei Tu needed to know.
"This must be the imperial court's response to the crisis—"
"A Xiantian martial master."
—
"Please, take a seat, Captain Wei."
Deng Zhijun gestured to a chair, placing Wei Tu at the lower ranks of the assembly.
Over the next quarter-hour—
More and more officers arrived.
Among them—
Fu Zhizhou and Kou Liang.
As their gazes met, they exchanged a silent understanding, then took separate seats, pretending not to know each other well.
Their alliance—
Had never been publicly acknowledged.
Aside from their families and closest confidants, few knew just how deep their bond ran.
—
Once everyone was present—
Governor Liu finally stood, clearing his throat.
"Gentlemen," he began, sweeping his gaze across the room, his voice measured and formal.
"I have called you all here for one reason."
A murmur rippled through the crowd.
An officer in the front row stepped forward.
"Governor, please instruct us."
Governor Liu nodded in satisfaction.
But then—
He smiled.
"It is not I who will be giving orders today."
"Rather, it is Master Wu, our esteemed envoy."
As he spoke—
Governor Liu turned toward the elderly man in blue robes.
The entire room fell into silence.
—
"Master Wu?"
"An envoy?"
Hearing this—
Many officers visibly stiffened.
Even those who had already suspected this old man was important had not expected this—
An immortal sect envoy.
Even Wei Tu's calm exterior cracked slightly.
He had thought—
This man was simply a Xiantian martial master.
But in reality—
He was something far more.
He was one of the cultivators they had spent thirty years trying to find.
—
"It makes sense."
"When the court dealt with the Martial Luck Pavilion, they dispatched three Xiantian masters."
"But now, with Qingfeng Prefecture under siege—"
"It's not just an ordinary crisis anymore."
The dynasty could not allow an entire Dao to fall.
For this—
They had sent someone far above the level of a Xiantian warrior.
Realizing this—
Wei Tu let go of his doubts.
Under the intense gaze of everyone in the hall—
The elderly man in blue robes, the so-called "Immortal Master Wu", finally put down his teacup. His lips curled into a faint smile as he spoke.
"With me here, the siege of Qingfeng Prefecture will be lifted within three days."
However—
He paused, his fingers tapping lightly on the table.
"However, the rebel forces of Guangyuan Prefecture are not without their own support from the immortal sects."
"With just myself, along with the two Xiantian martial masters the court has dispatched, handling their cultivators will be simple."
"But…"
"If the rebels attack in full force alongside their immortal allies, things become less certain."
His gaze swept across the assembled officers.
"That is why I require you all to accompany me outside the city—"
"To serve as my protectors."
"Mortal soldiers may not pose a threat to immortals like us, but their interference is… troublesome."
The hall fell into silence.
To the others, this seemed like a simple enough explanation—
But Wei Tu wasn't convinced.
If this Immortal Master Wu was truly beyond the reach of mortals, why would he bother asking military officers to protect him?
Clearly—
His position within the immortal sects wasn't all that high.
"If he were truly powerful, the imperial court wouldn't be able to summon him so easily."
"A mere errand-runner for the dynasty."
A bold, dangerous thought suddenly formed in Wei Tu's mind—
What if—
He and Fu Zhizhou took advantage of the battle?
What if—
They captured an injured cultivator and forced him to reveal the secrets of the immortal sects?
The moment this thought surfaced, Wei Tu snapped back to reality.
He immediately crushed the idea, burying it deep within his heart.
This was not the time for reckless ambition.
The methods of the immortals were unpredictable.
Even if they were injured, they might still possess the ability to kill a Xiantian martial master in a single strike.
—
After Immortal Master Wu finished speaking—
Governor Liu straightened his expression and spoke in a solemn tone.
"Master Wu's orders are military commands!"
"All of you receive salaries from the imperial court. It is your duty to serve the dynasty."
"If anyone dares retreat or abandon their post—"
"The punishment is extermination of three generations!"
A wave of unease spread through the hall.
The room grew suffocatingly tense.
—
"So we have no choice but to comply."
Wei Tu sighed inwardly.
This was different from the mission at Martial Luck Pavilion years ago.
Back then, they were mere Martial Scholars—not official officers.
They could refuse orders without consequences.
But now—
They were military officers of the imperial court.
They had ranks, salaries, and official positions.
They could not refuse a direct order, no matter how suicidal it seemed.
Even if this mission led straight to death.
—
"At least my family has already been sent away."
"Even if things go terribly wrong, I might still have a chance to escape amidst the chaos."
"This mission is both dangerous… and an opportunity."
—
Wei Tu lowered his head slightly, deliberately hiding his expression.
Xiantian martial masters had extraordinary perception.
They could read the subtlest of facial expressions to detect fear, hesitation, or deception.
And as for an immortal cultivator?
Wei Tu had no idea if they had even more terrifying abilities.
It was best not to take any risks.
—
"To avoid delays, we will move out tonight."
Master Wu stood up and patted the small white cloth pouch at his waist.
A green lotus leaf the size of his palm suddenly appeared in his hand.
As he muttered an incomprehensible incantation, the small leaf began to glow with a radiant, multicolored light—
And expanded rapidly.
Within just a few seconds—
The tiny leaf had grown into a massive platform several meters wide.
—
"Step aboard."
Master Wu held a pale green jade stone in his palm, his smile calm and composed.
Seeing this bizarre display, the officers who had been hesitant suddenly gained confidence.
One by one—
They leaped onto the floating lotus leaf.
—
Wei Tu followed suit.
The moment his feet landed on the massive leaf, he crouched down and ran his fingers along its surface.
It felt soft yet firm, as if it were truly a natural leaf—
And not some kind of metal or crafted artifact.