The army did not march as one.
They departed in two coordinated columns, but the space between them felt wider than the forest itself. Orders had been issued cleanly, formations prepared with professional precision, yet something fundamental had cracked.
Trust.
Mo Yun rode at the front of the central command group, gaze fixed ahead. He could feel the weight of eyes behind him—not questioning his competence, but his judgment.
To his left, Shen Yue walked in silence, her usual composure tightened into something brittle. To his right, leaders from the other sects whispered among themselves, voices carefully lowered, as if speaking too loudly might make their doubts real.
Li Chen followed near the rear, unremarkable by design.
But he heard everything.
"Stone Spine must take priority," one leader murmured. "If the pass falls, this entire campaign becomes meaningless."
"And what of Yunxi?" another replied sharply. "We preach righteousness, then abandon mortals when it becomes inconvenient?"
A third scoffed quietly. "Ideals don't hold borders."
Li Chen exhaled slowly.
So this is how it begins, he thought. Not with betrayal—but with certainty.
Scouts returned before noon.
Their faces said enough before words were spoken.
"Yunxi outer farms are under attack," the scout reported. "Beasts are advancing in layered formations. They are… patient."
"And Stone Spine?" Mo Yun asked.
"Interference detected," the scout continued. "Not an assault yet, but the formations are being tested from underground."
A sharp intake of breath rippled through the group.
They were being pulled apart.
Shen Yue turned to Mo Yun. "We can still redirect part of the force."
"And weaken both fronts?" Mo Yun replied. "We've already crossed that threshold."
Her jaw tightened. "Then what was the point of marching at all?"
The question hung unanswered.
Tension finally erupted near dusk.
A group of disciples from one sect broke formation, turning toward Yunxi without authorization.
Mo Yun halted immediately. "Return to position."
Their leader hesitated. "We can't. Those are civilians. Children."
"If you move now," Mo Yun said evenly, "Stone Spine will lose coverage. You know this."
The leader's hands shook. "Then let it. I refuse to be part of this."
Silence followed.
Li Chen watched carefully.
This was not rebellion.
This was conscience colliding with command.
Mo Yun's voice lowered. "If you go, you go without support. I won't stop you—but I won't cover you either."
The leader met his gaze.
"I understand."
And with that, they left.
A dozen cultivators vanished into the forest, heading for Yunxi.
No one cheered.
No one cursed.
The remaining disciples simply stood there, feeling something tear that could not be stitched back together.
Shen Yue closed her eyes.
"That was a mistake," she whispered.
Mo Yun said nothing.
Night fell uneasily.
Reports trickled in like drops of poison.
The unauthorized group reached Yunxi's outskirts and engaged the beasts—but the enemy adapted immediately, redirecting pressure toward them.
They fought bravely.
They fought desperately.
They were not enough.
At the same time, Stone Spine trembled.
Subterranean beasts struck formation anchors with unnatural precision. It was not a full assault—just enough to force constant reinforcement.
The message was clear.
Choose.
Li Chen felt his fingers tighten within his sleeves.
They want us to fracture ourselves, he realized. And we're doing it for them.
A scream echoed from the distance.
Not loud enough to identify.
Just loud enough to haunt.
Mo Yun finally turned to Li Chen.
"You've been quiet," he said.
Li Chen raised an eyebrow. "You didn't ask."
Mo Yun studied him for a long moment. "If you were in command… what would you do?"
Every gaze shifted.
This was the moment Li Chen had feared.
He could feel the future branching in front of him.
If he spoke truthfully, people would follow him.
If he spoke carefully, people would survive—but at a cost.
If he stayed silent, the damage would continue unchecked.
Li Chen sighed softly.
"I would choose neither," he said.
Confusion rippled.
"Explain," Mo Yun said.
"The enemy isn't forcing us to choose between Yunxi and Stone Spine," Li Chen continued calmly. "They're forcing us to believe that's the choice."
Shen Yue frowned. "That's not helpful."
Li Chen nodded. "I know."
Then he added, quietly, "But the moment we stop trying to win both, we start losing more than lives. We lose initiative."
Mo Yun's eyes sharpened.
"Say it plainly."
Li Chen met his gaze. "Delay has already cost us blood. Now, whatever we do, it must deny them information. Even if it hurts."
No one liked that answer.
But no one dismissed it either.
Before a decision could be made, a signal flare erupted from the forest—erratic, unstable.
From the unauthorized group.
Then another.
Then silence.
Shen Yue swayed slightly.
Mo Yun closed his eyes.
The choice had been made.
Not by command.
But by consequence.
Far away, hidden eyes observed.
They chose compassion, the unseen voice mused. Predictable.
The forest stirred.
The next phase began.