He stood up and walked out of the tent, the night wind stirring his already graying hair.
"I understand everything you've said." He gazed into the deep night, his voice carrying an almost weighty calmness, "But I... have no time left."
The generals fell silent, all bowing their heads.
"Youyun remains unrestored, Yan Yun remains unrecovered... The division of the land pains me deeply." He turned abruptly, as if flames burned in his eyes, his voice suddenly rising, "I dare not seek to unify the world in this lifetime!"
"But in this lifetime, at least I must unite the lands of the Central Plains into one great expanse!"
He stepped forward, pressing his sword, standing tall and upright in the lamplight like a pine.
