Sun Tzu said: "The art of war teaches us to rely not on the likelihood of the enemy's not coming, but on our own readiness to receive him; not on the chance of his not attacking, but rather on the fact that we have made our position unassailable..."
Feng Yi smiled faintly and recited what he recalled of Sun Tzu's Art of War, piece by piece. Though his memory was not perfect, it was sufficient.
Sun Tzu's Art of War, comprising thirteen chapters, covers five main categories: strategic planning, operational command, battlefield adaptability, military geography, and specialized tactics. It is a brilliant gem in China's military heritage and an important component of its excellent traditional culture, with profound content, deep thought, and rigorous logic.
Seeing Kokomi's eyes sparkling as she watched him, Feng Yi knew he had impressed her greatly. Kokomi listened intently, picking up a twig to jot down words she didn't fully understand on the ground, planning to ask Feng Yi for clarification later. So engrossed was she that she didn't notice a slight opening in the bath towel around her chest, much to Feng Yi's enjoyment.
"Feng Yi, you mentioned 'Victory may be foreseen, but not created.' I don't quite understand that, could you elaborate?"
After finishing one passage, Feng Yi paused briefly, and Kokomi immediately raised her hand to ask about the parts she didn't grasp. However, Feng Yi hadn't studied these concepts deeply either; he knew *what* they meant, but not *why*.
"Kokomi, this is the profound mystery of the art of war. My interpretations might become a constraint on your thinking, limiting the scope of your contemplation. Therefore, outsiders should not speak too much. Only through self-comprehension can greater breakthroughs be achieved..."
Feng Yi spoke with earnestness and a touch of mischief, which successfully had Kokomi nodding repeatedly. Kokomi felt Feng Yi's words were reasonable; what she understood herself was truly her own. Feng Yi was truly a man of great wisdom, and even a casual remark could inspire her. Kokomi's admiration for Feng Yi grew. Involuntarily, alongside a rising affection, she felt a sense of reverence.
Having come to this realization, Kokomi stopped seeking Feng Yi's direct explanations. Instead, she borrowed paper and a pen from him and meticulously noted down her points of confusion, deciding to seek help from others only if she remained utterly stumped.
Kokomi wasn't sure how long she had been contemplating, only that the clothes she had changed into earlier were now completely dry. Dressed in her silk ribbon attire, Kokomi closed her notebook and asked what time it was outside.
"Look, the weather is fine, the sun is shining brightly!"
Feng Yi waved his hand, summoning a water mirror in mid-air to project the scene outside.
"I remember we left Watatsumi Island around dusk... does that mean it's already the next day?"
Kokomi was startled, never expecting that discussing military strategy with Feng Yi had unknowingly consumed an entire night.
"It seems so."
Feng Yi nodded in realization. The time flow within the Serenitea Pot differed from the outside world, something he hadn't paid much attention to earlier.
"Feng Yi, let's hurry back to Watatsumi Island. The resistance soldiers might have something urgent for me to handle!"
Clutching her notebook, Kokomi felt a sense of urgency. Happy times always passed quickly, but Kokomi hadn't expected them to be this short. Just a chat with Feng Yi, and an entire night had gone by?!
"Don't worry, with Gorou around, there shouldn't be any major issues!"
Feng Yi comforted Kokomi, then brought her out of the Serenitea Pot, and the two hurried towards Watatsumi Island. Arriving at Watatsumi Island after a brisk journey, Kokomi was somewhat breathless.
"Lady Kokomi, Captain Feng Yi, you're finally back! Lord Gorou came by not long ago, and seeing you weren't here, he left in a hurry..."
As soon as she returned to the administrative office, before Kokomi could even sit down, her secretary rushed to report.
"What? Gorou came looking for me just now? Did he say what it was about?"
Kokomi's heart sank. As expected, something had happened. While spending the night with Feng Yi had been pleasant, the ensuing troubles were giving Kokomi a headache.
"Lord Gorou didn't specify the matter, only that someone should inform him when Lady Kokomi returned."
The secretary shook her head.
"Then quickly send someone to inform Gorou. I'll wait here for him!"
Kokomi frowned, a sudden sense of foreboding washing over her.
"Lady Kokomi, please rest assured. The moment I learned of your return to Watatsumi Island, I had already dispatched soldiers to notify Lord Gorou."
The secretary's timely action pleased Kokomi immensely. Kokomi then asked the secretary if anything unusual had happened on Watatsumi Island during her absence. Upon hearing that everything was fine, she waved her hand, signaling the secretary to withdraw.
"Kokomi, don't rush. We'll deal with whatever comes our way, and the cart will find its path when it reaches the mountain. Gorou's visit might not necessarily be bad news!"
Feng Yi saw Kokomi's worried expression as she handled administrative matters and offered her a cup of tea, attempting to comfort her.
"Thank you, Feng Yi. Don't worry, I'm fine!"
Kokomi forced a weak smile at Feng Yi, then resumed her troubled demeanor. Kokomi knew in her heart that when Gorou sought her out, it was usually due to an emergency. For the resistance, which was at a disadvantage in the war, any situation without significant casualties was already the best news. Nevertheless, Feng Yi's concern warmed her heart. After all, before this, no one had ever comforted her. As the spiritual leader of the resistance, she couldn't show a troubled face to her soldiers for fear of dampening their morale. Whatever bad news it was, Kokomi would hide it deep within her heart and endure it silently. She was accustomed to this situation...
About half an hour later, Gorou hurried in from outside the main hall.
"Lady Kokomi! There's an urgent situation at the front lines..."
Gorou's face was also filled with worry. Just as he was about to report, he saw Feng Yi standing nearby and hesitated.
"It's alright. Feng Yi is also a member of the resistance now. I've appointed him as the captain of the Watatsumi Island Special Operations Unit, 'Tiger Shark Squad One.' You don't need to treat him as an outsider."
Kokomi, with her sharp perception, immediately stepped forward to explain Feng Yi's status. She hadn't notified the front-line soldiers of her appointment of Feng Yi as captain, so Gorou's wariness towards him was understandable.
"Mr. Feng Yi has also joined the resistance? That's wonderful!"
Although he had suspected something upon seeing Feng Yi in the hall, Gorou couldn't help but be thrilled when he heard the news directly. Gorou's gaze towards Feng Yi immediately became much more amiable.
"Of course, overthrowing the Vision Hunt Decree requires everyone's cooperation. Speaking of which, Gorou, why did you suddenly seek me out?"
Kokomi was also happy about Feng Yi's inclusion, but there were more important matters at hand.