Wei Rong stood his ground.
"I am not asking you to stop for the entire afternoon. I am asking you to allow the travelers to refill their bottles."
"And I have already told you that there will be no unnecessary stops."
"Water is not unnecessary."
The instructor's expression darkened.
"Do you intend to challenge my authority?"
Wei Rong looked at him steadily.
"If your authority requires exhausted people to continue walking without adequate water, then perhaps you should reconsider how you are exercising it."
Several travelers slowed down.
The instructor's face turned red.
"You insolent—"
"General Wei Rong," the Emperor called from a short distance away.
Wei Rong turned.
The Emperor's expression was calm, but his eyes conveyed a clear warning.
Not yet.
Wei Rong understood.
He took a slow breath and stepped away from the instructor.
But his gaze remained cold.
The instructor watched him retreat with satisfaction.
"Remember your place," he shouted.
