Seven days.
That was all.
Seven days before, the Black Iron Army marched north with fifty thousand elite soldiers and an imperial decree politely explaining why my death was now government policy.
Honestly—
very rude.
I stood on the highest tower of the Northern Border Outpost, looking south.
Snow-covered roads stretched into the distance like veins leading straight to war.
Below me, the entire territory was moving.
Blacksmiths worked day and night.
Farmers stored grain underground.
Villagers reinforced the walls.
Soldiers trained until their hands bled.
Even the children had stopped asking if war was coming.
Now they only asked when.
That answer was simple.
Soon.
Behind me, footsteps approached.
Feng Yuehuang.
Of course.
She stood beside me without speaking, crimson hair moving gently in the cold wind.
For a while—
We just watched the north breathe.
Then she asked quietly,
"Are you afraid?"
Direct.
Very her.
I smiled faintly.
"Yes."
She turned slightly.
I continued.
"Only idiots feel nothing before war."
I looked at the villages below.
"If I lose, I die."
Then toward the walls.
"If I fail, they die."
Silence.
Cold.
Honest.
I exhaled slowly.
"In my old life, I ran companies."
I laughed once.
"Now I somehow run ghost armies and emotionally unstable cultivators."
That finally made her lips curve.
Good.
Small victories mattered.
She looked ahead.
"You changed quickly."
I nodded.
"I had to."
This world didn't reward hesitation.
It buried it.
She studied me for several seconds.
Then said softly,
"That is why they follow you."
Not because of power.
Not because of destiny.
Because I stayed.
Interesting.
Dangerously meaningful.
Before I could say something stupid and romantic, Hu Mei's voice ruined the moment.
"Master!"
She climbed onto the tower like a fox-shaped disaster.
"The villagers are betting on whether you survive."
I blinked.
"They're what?"
She smiled brightly.
"I put money on you."
I sighed.
"That is somehow supportive and insulting."
She nodded proudly.
"I believe in profitable loyalty."
Fair.
Very fair.
By noon, the war council gathered.
Command hall.
Maps.
Tea nobody trusted.
Tradition.
Lord Xue.
Old Master Zhao.
Yue Lian.
Bai Wuchen.
Chen Yao.
Even the Seventh Princess remained, which meant either trust or excellent entertainment value.
Possibly both.
I stood before the strategy map.
The Black Iron Army's route was marked in red.
Three mountain roads.
One main southern pass.
Two hidden supply lines.
A standard imperial campaign.
Predictable.
Which made it easier to ruin.
I pointed at the pass.
"General Xu will lead the main force here."
Bai Wuchen nodded.
"He is disciplined. He will not rush."
Good.
I liked enemies with standards.
They made betrayal more satisfying.
I pointed toward the side routes.
"Yue Lian, take the Phoenix Guards and strike their supply waggons."
She nodded instantly.
"No survivors?"
I smiled.
"Only enough survivors to spread fear."
Professional.
Very professional.
I turned to Lin Xue.
"The northern ice roads."
She understood immediately.
"I'll freeze them shut."
Perfect.
Slow armies starved beautifully.
Mo Jianli leaned against the wall.
"And me?"
I looked at him.
"You are the emergency problem."
He grinned.
"My favourite job."
Ye Shura smirked.
"Same."
Honestly, my team had too much fun with violence.
I was proud.
Then Old Master Zhao cleared his throat.
"The first battle matters."
Everyone looked toward him.
He was right.
Very right.
He continued,
"If we win the opening clash, neutral nobles begin choosing sides."
He tapped the table.
"If we lose, they call us dead men walking."
Politics.
Always annoying.
Always correct.
Chen Yao finally spoke.
"Then do not defend."
Silence.
She stepped closer to the map.
"Attack first."
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Even Feng Yuehuang looked at her.
Chen Yao pointed toward the southern pass.
"The Black Iron Army expects a siege."
Her eyes lifted to mine.
"So give them a funeral instead."
Ah.
I liked her.
Dangerous woman.
I smiled slowly.
"Yes."
Everyone in the room understood.
This would not be defence.
It would be a statement.
The first battle would not be about survival.
It would be about fear.
I placed my hand on the map.
"We strike first."
Bai Wuchen's ghost flames burnt brighter.
Lord Xue smiled faintly.
Old Master Zhao nodded once.
Decision made.
Good.
Very good.
As the meeting ended, Chen Yao remained behind.
Of course she did.
Princesses loved private conversations.
Dangerous habit.
She stood by the window, watching snow fall over the courtyard.
Without turning, she asked,
"If you win…"
I leaned against the table.
"Yes?"
Her voice was calm.
"…what then?"
Good question.
Most people thought too much about winning and too little about what came after.
I answered honestly.
"I take the capital."
She turned.
No surprise.
Only quiet acceptance.
"And after that?"
I smiled faintly.
"I fix everything that should have never been broken."
The throne.
The north.
The empire.
Maybe my love life, if heaven showed mercy.
She studied me for a long moment.
Then nodded.
"Good."
As she walked past me, she paused.
One sentence.
Quiet.
Sharp.
"Do not die before I decide whether I like you."
Then she left.
I stood there for several seconds.
Honestly—
My enemies were simpler.
By nightfall, the entire Northern Border knew.
War was coming.
But fear no longer ruled the outpost.
Preparation did.
Resolve did.
Hope did.
And as I stood beneath the crimson banner looking at the dark southern horizon, I felt something strange.
Not fear.
Not excitement.
Certainty.
The empire believed it was sending an army to crush an exiled prince.
They were wrong.
They were marching into a story.
And in stories like this—
The man they threw away always came back stronger.
Much stronger.
Seven days.
Let them come.
I would be waiting.