The silence in the room felt suffocating.
Li Xian stood frozen.
His breathing uneven.
His mind struggling to catch up—
"No… that's not…" he whispered.
But his brother-in-law didn't stop.
"…This marriage between your sister and me…"
His voice was low.
Heavy.
"…was never just about love."
Li Xian's gaze snapped up.
"…It was political."
A pause.
"…Your father gave me an agreement."
The room grew colder.
An agreement.
"…If he wished," his brother-in-law continued,
"…he could use my army."
Li Xian's eyes narrowed slightly.
"And in return…"
"…my army and his…"
"…would act as one."
Silence.
The weight of those words—
Wasn't small.
It was power.
"…I agreed," he said quietly.
"…because I love your sister."
Li Xian didn't respond.
Didn't move.
"…But…" his brother-in-law's voice lowered even further.
"…there is no chance for the western side to win this war."
A sharp pause.
"…Even now."
Li Xian's fingers trembled slightly.
"…What are you saying…?" he whispered.
His voice wasn't angry anymore.
It was breaking.
"…They've been preparing."
"…For 25 years."
The world seemed to stop.
25 years.
"…They were ready…" his brother-in-law continued,
"…but your father's secret agent…"
"…informed him."
A breath.
"…That's when everything changed."
Li Xian's eyes widened.
"…So he—"
"…Chose to strike first."
The sentence landed like a blade.
"…Before they could even react."
Silence.
Everything fell apart.
Because now—
Li Xian understood.
Not just the actions.
But the reason.
And then—
"…The word."
His voice dropped to a whisper.
"…'When…'"
His breathing stopped.
"…The real problem is when…"
The exact words.
From that morning.
His eyes widened slowly.
"…He meant the timing."
Everything clicked.
His father hadn't just been talking.
He had been confirming something.
A decision.
A move already made.
"…Today…" Li Xian whispered.
His chest tightened violently.
"…This is already in motion."
And suddenly—
The truth wasn't distant anymore.
It was happening.
Right now.
"…No…" he whispered.
"…No, no, no—"
His head shook.
Panic rising.
"…He's already there…"
His voice broke completely.
"…And I—"
His breath hitched.
"…I'm too late."
For the first time—
Li Xian felt it.
Real fear.
Not of power.
But of time.