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>“Ah,” Jing Yuan said, the single syllable filled with a world of meaning. He leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers. “I see. Thank you for trusting me with this truth, Huohuo.”
>He smiled, a warm, paternal smile that seemed to ease the very air in the room. “You know, in all my years of command, I have learned that the most important quality a soldier can possess is not strength or speed, but self-knowledge. To know who you are, what you fight for, and—most crucially—who you are fighting for. You have achieved a clarity that many veterans spend centuries searching for.”
>Jing Yuan gestured vaguely toward the window, encompassing the entire Luofu. “A general must work with the army he is given. Sometimes, the troops are not in the ideal positions. The equipment is not perfect. The terrain is against us. The true test of strategy is not lamenting these facts, but orchestrating a campaign to overcome them.” His gaze returned to her, filled with unwavering certainty. “You are not merely a soldier in this army, Huohuo. You are the general of your own body, and you are conducting a long and careful campaign to align its reality with your truth. There is no more commendable strategy.”
>Tears, hot and silent, began to trace paths down Huohuo’s cheeks. His words weren’t Celestial Jade metaphors. They offered the highest honor she could imagine: the recognition of her struggle as a form of command, of leadership over her own life.
>“The resources of the Xianzhou Alliance are vast,” Jing Yuan continued, his tone becoming practical, yet no less kind. “And they are meant to ensure the well-being of all its people. That includes comprehensive medical care. When you are ready to take the next step in your campaign, you will have my full support. Consider it… logistical reinforcement from the Six Charioteers.”