The moment Feng Jiu’er and Xiao Yingtao’s words fell silent, the valley grew quiet except for the sound of trickling water.

No one was willing to accept having their fate arranged so neatly for them!

But the truth was, if the enemy had been even a little more ruthless and used a lethal poison instead, they wouldn’t even have had the chance to hear these words.

Who told them to be so careless, not even realizing when they’d been poisoned?

“You… know me?” After a moment of silence, the Second Company Commander suddenly asked in a low voice.

“Not exactly acquainted, but I have heard that the Second Company Commander once clashed with Feng Rui over the treatment of prisoners of war, and took fifty strikes of the rod for it,” Feng Jiu’er replied.

“No way.” Yue Qinchun’s voice came as she slowly descended, landing on Feng Jiu’er’s other side.

“This one looked the most vicious of them all — I thought he was Feng Rui’s lackey, just as cold-blooded as Feng Rui himself!”

The Second Company Commander looked rough and hot-tempered, but what Feng Jiu’er said wasn’t wrong either — he truly did have a kind heart.

The cruel one was the First Company Commander, and the First Company Commander hadn’t had the chance to end up in this place.

Just as with the Fifth Company Commander — if he weren’t a good man, Feng Jiu’er wouldn’t have lured his Fifth Company in here.

Feng Jiu’er didn’t consider herself a saint capable of changing people’s hearts.

She had simply picked, among the bad, those who weren’t quite so bad, and brought them into the valley.

“I won’t allow you to speak of General Feng Rui that way!” the Second Company Commander blurted out haltingly.

“Is your general a good man?” Xiao Yingtao challenged loudly. “How does he treat the common people — as a First Company Commander, don’t you know that clearly enough?”

“That’s right!” Yue Qinchun added indignantly. “As people yourselves, having learned so much skill — is it just to use it to oppress the common people?”

“Let me tell you — if it weren’t for the fact that you’re all people of the Feng Clan, you’d already be dead from the poison by now.”

“On the battlefield, there is no father and son. If Jiu’er weren’t a daughter of the Feng Clan, would she go to such lengths for your sake? Don’t you forget how your side treated our people before!”

“Jiu’er, let’s go. The brothers outside are still in dire straits — we really don’t need to waste any more words on them!”

Feng Jiu’er swept a glance over the valley below and slowly closed her eyes.

Just as she was about to turn away, the Fifth Company Commander stepped forward. “May I ask what chance the Commandery Princess is speaking of?”

“Old Five.” The Second Company Commander frowned and shot the Fifth Company Commander a glare.

“Even if we die, we cannot become disloyal, unrighteous men.”

“It wouldn’t matter if we died — but there are still twenty thousand brothers here, and on Feng Clan land, their families number in the tens of thousands.” The Fifth Company Commander shook his head slowly.

The soldiers said nothing. In this moment, perhaps they were more willing to listen to the words of their own commanders.

It wasn’t that they feared death — they simply didn’t wish to die for nothing.

“Submit to Prince Ye, and join us in standing against Feng Qiongcang!” Feng Jiu’er’s voice rang out, firm and resolute.

“Of course, before that, you’ll have to remain under the control of the medicine until I can fully trust you.”

“You’re nothing but blindly loyal!” Xiao Yingtao sneered. “That Feng Qiongcang killed his own father to seize the throne is an undeniable fact.”

“You still have time to wake up to this now — otherwise, once you’re dead, you’ll have no face to meet your ancestors!”

“You have two hours. Give me your answer then!” Feng Jiu’er flicked her sleeve, turned, and leapt away, vanishing from everyone’s sight.

The dozens following her also vanished without a trace in an instant.

The valley fell silent once more.

Trickling water, wisps of white mist, mingled with the fragrance of spring flowers and birdsong.

The scenery was enchanting, but the soldiers’ hearts remained unsettled.