Xue Yi, the current National Master of Great Yan, knelt on the steps at the entrance to Tianhu Mountain. He felt no humiliation; in some respects, he had long ago achieved the transcendence of a true person of the faith.
He felt he had lived a full life, which made it easier for him to face everything with equanimity.
Rows of soldiers pointed their weapons at him. Xue Yi remained indifferent, even gazing with mild interest at the flammable oils being transported and stacked up behind them.
Xue Yi wanted to tell these Jingnan Army soldiers that there was no need for such effort. The Daoist temple on the mountain had already prepared these supplies; hauling more oil up the mountain was merely a troublesome task.
However, such a reminder, though perhaps well-intentioned, would make him seem too much like the "master" of this place.
