Legend of the Female General

Chapter 170: Brothers

Having stayed in Liangzhou Guard for so long, avoiding sentries was an effortless task for He Yan. She steered clear of every possible spot where a sentry might spot her. Slipping into the stables outside the Martial Arts Field, the horses stirred slightly but gradually calmed under He Yan’s soothing touch.

The chestnut horse she had eyed earlier was particularly quiet. He Yan stroked its neck and led it out of the stable. As the pair made their way along the outskirts of White Moon Mountain, nearing the Five Deer River, several dark figures suddenly appeared before her. He Yan’s heart sank, thinking to herself that this was bad—she must have been discovered.

With a clear conscience, she could have concocted countless excuses to talk her way out of this, such as being unable to sleep and coming out to train at night. But the crucial point was that her plan to leave would have to be abandoned. Worse still, it might raise suspicion, making it difficult for her to slip out so easily in the future.

However, the figures opposite her remained motionless and didn’t call out to stop her, as if waiting for her reaction. He Yan was puzzled. After a moment, a hushed voice drifted over: “Why isn’t he moving? Could he be scared stiff? I told you not to pretend to be ghosts—it’s too frightening!”

He Yan: “…”

The voice belonged to Wang Ba.

She took a few steps forward and, under the starlight, clearly recognized Wang Ba and his companions: besides Wang Ba, there were Jiang Jiao, Huang Xiong, Shitou, Hong Shan, and Xiao Mai.

“What are you all doing here?” He Yan couldn’t hide her surprise.

“Ah He, you’re really not being fair,” Hong Shan patted her shoulder. “You plan to go to Rundu alone, and you didn’t even tell us? We’ve been brothers together in Liangzhou Guard for so long. Couldn’t you have asked us to go with you? It’s not like we would have refused.”

“Exactly,” Xiao Mai grumbled. “I really want to go to Rundu to eat grapes too.”

Shitou slapped him on the back of the head, and Xiao Mai immediately fell silent.

“How… how did you know?” He Yan was at a loss for words.

“When you started asking about Rundu, Shitou became suspicious,” Huang Xiong spoke up, looking at He Yan. “You’ve also mentioned before that the Flying Goose General might not support Rundu, though we don’t know what basis you have for saying that. But from the looks of it, you intended to go to Rundu yourself. You’re young, but you’re full of schemes. You never discuss anything with anyone, and you’re bold enough to make decisions on your own. Shitou guessed you were planning to go to Rundu alone and told the rest of us. We all decided to go with you. It’s better to have company on the road.”

“No!” He Yan refused without hesitation. “Rundu is surrounded by the Wutuo People, and the city’s troops are insufficient. It’s too dangerous for you to go.”

“You know it’s dangerous too,” Hong Shan sighed. “Going alone is like throwing your life away. If we all go together, we might have a chance to survive.”

“No,” He Yan found it hard to believe. “You don’t even know what I’m going there for. Why would you follow me?”

“We do know,” Xiao Mai said. “Everyone says you want to save the people of Rundu.”

He Yan: “You believe that?”

“Why wouldn’t we?” Shitou replied. “You’ve already saved many people, from Liangzhou Guard to Jiyang City. Now it’s just adding Rundu to the list. You wouldn’t do something you’re not confident about. Since you’re going to Rundu, you must already have a solution.”He Yan gave a helpless bitter smile. "But right now, I'm not confident."

"Then it's even more reason for us to go together." Huang Xiong fiddled with the Buddhist beads around his neck. "To be honest, in the first half of my life, I spent my time hunting down my enemies. After I finally got my revenge, I felt life had lost all meaning. Joining the army was just because I thought I could still do something. But staying in Liangzhou Guard day after day, I haven't accomplished much. Now that there's a chance to go to a real battlefield, I think... that might be another way of living."

Each of these men was stubborn, but He Yan didn't want them to take risks. The matter of Rundu had nothing to do with anyone else. She said, "Leaving Liangzhou Guard without permission, no matter the reason, is disobeying military orders. Even if we survive in Rundu, we might not survive the consequences."

Jiang Jiao laughed. "Brother He, don't try to fool us. My family runs a martial arts school, and many young masters from official families come to learn martial arts. I know a thing or two about how officialdom works. Aren't you already a Wu Anlang now? Use your seal to order us—we wouldn't dare disobey. Even if we get caught and punished later, it'll be you, the instigator, who gets punished. What does that have to do with us?"

He Yan: "..."

For a moment, she didn't know what expression to use when facing Jiang Jiao.

"So, all worries can be set aside." The usually honest and straightforward Jiang Jiao showed remarkable intelligence in this matter. "We can't stay here too long either. If Brother He keeps delaying here, it'll be dawn soon and none of us will be able to leave."

Wang Ba sneered. "Why waste so much breath talking to him? If he doesn't take us with him, we'll immediately shout and alert all the sentries of Liangzhou Guard. He won't be able to leave! If he can't leave today, we'll come block him every day. If he doesn't take us, no one gets to leave!"

He Yan: "...You're too overbearing."

"How could I be a mountain bandit if I weren't overbearing?" Wang Ba said impatiently. "Hurry up, stop dawdling. Give us a straight answer—are we leaving or not?"

Things had already reached this point. If she didn't take them with her, not just today, but she might never be able to leave in the future. He Yan felt helpless, but within that helplessness, a warm current arose. She knew that Hong Shan and the others following her—their talk about eating grapes and going to the battlefield were just excuses. They simply thought she was going to Rundu alone to die and didn't want to watch her go to danger by herself.

In this world, there were wicked people who schemed with all their might, and there were also good people who asked for nothing in return.

"I'll take you," He Yan squeezed out two words through gritted teeth. "But did you bring your packs?"

"We brought them, we brought them." Xiao Mai showed He Yan the things behind him. "We saved up quite a bit of dry rations, plus some snacks for the road. But Uncle Huang said we don't need to bring too much. If we run out, my brother and I can hunt game and roast it."

Even at a time like this, they're still thinking about food. He Yan was speechless. Jiang Jiao patted the pack on his back. "Don't worry, we brought the grease oil and weapons we'll need. I also brought some money. If necessary, we can buy some when we pass through markets."

"Anyway, you don't need to worry about any of this," Wang Ba snorted. "First, go get each of us a horse. I saw when you were getting your horse earlier—you didn't make a sound. Pick good ones for us too. We don't want to get exhausted from traveling."

He had probably been eyeing the horse behind He Yan for a while. He Yan shook her head and said, "Alright, first come with me to outside the stables and wait for me there."Six horses were led out, each standing obediently before their respective riders.

"We need to bypass the sentry towers and take a route that avoids their patrols and line of sight. Follow me closely, and don’t mount the horses yet. We’ll ride once we’re far enough from the guard post," He Yan whispered, her tone serious.

The others, sensing the gravity of her words, felt a mix of tension and excitement. This was likely their first time doing something like this, and it stirred a forbidden thrill within them.

He Yan was also nervous. If she were alone, she wouldn’t have given it much thought, but with so many people following her, she had to be extra cautious. One misstep, and everyone would suffer.

Fortunately, she was very familiar with this route. Apart from Xiao Mai and Hong Shan, the rest had spent time in the Vanguard Battalion and were well-trained in stealth and surprise attacks. The group safely passed the area visible from the sentry towers and were on the verge of leaving Liangzhou Guard.

Just then, a faint lantern light flickered into view.

The light came from the corner of the outermost woodshed in the guard post, a spot He Yan and the others hadn’t noticed until they reached the turn. At the first glimpse of the light, He Yan’s heart sank, realizing it was probably too late to avoid it. Seeing her suddenly stop, Hong Shan asked from behind, "Brother He, why have you stopped?"

The lantern light emerged from the corner, its faint glow illuminating the eyes of the person holding it. Her dress was snow-white, and her features were delicate and lovely—it was Shen Muxue.

"Physician Shen?" This time, He Yan was genuinely surprised.

She had assumed it might be a sentry stepping out for a break, and if necessary, she’d have to knock them out unnoticed and make a run for it. But she never expected it to be Shen Muxue. Shen Muxue’s quarters weren’t in this area, and with the late hour and everyone asleep, what was she doing here?

Shen Muxue looked at them, her expression slightly surprised but mostly calm. She lowered her voice and asked He Yan, "Are you leaving?"

He Yan remained silent for a moment, then grabbed Shen Muxue’s hand and pushed her into the nearby woodshed. "Let’s talk inside!"

Hong Shan and Wang Ba stayed outside to guard the horses while the others followed He Yan inside. As soon as they entered, they saw He Yan’s eyes turn cold and sharp. She gripped Shen Muxue’s neck and demanded in a frosty tone, "How did you know?"

The others were startled. Xiao Mai quickly stepped forward, trying to pry He Yan’s hand away. "Ah… Brother He, it’s a misunderstanding! It was me… I let it slip!"

He Yan turned her gaze to him.

"When I found out everyone planned to follow you, my brother asked me to get some trauma medicine in case of injuries along the way. We didn’t have much left in our quarters, so I thought Physician Shen was kind-hearted and had plenty of herbs. I went to ask her for some."

But asking for a large amount of trauma medicine out of the blue raised Shen Muxue’s suspicions, even though she usually paid little attention to military affairs. Xiao Mai, being naive, was easily coaxed into revealing the truth. Realizing his mistake, he pleaded with Shen Muxue, "Physician Shen, please don’t tell anyone. I beg you."

Shen Muxue remained silent for a long time. Just as Xiao Mai thought she wouldn’t respond, she finally spoke. "I understand. I won’t tell anyone."Xiao Mai and Shitou grew up in the mountains, their personalities simple and straightforward. Since Shen Muxue said she wouldn't tell anyone, he believed she wouldn't. Seeing the situation was critical now, he tried to persuade He Yan while asking Shen Muxue, "Medical Officer Shen, didn't you say you wouldn't tell anyone?"

He Yan's grip loosened slightly as she stared at Shen Muxue, who coldly returned her gaze, her eyes clear and icy.

"Why didn't you tell anyone?" He Yan asked.

Shen Muxue had appeared here alone, and so far, no one had come to stop them. As Xiao Mai said, Shen Muxue had indeed kept her promise. He Yan hadn't really intended to harm her—just scare the girl a bit. At a time like this, it was better to be cautious about everything.

"Are you going to Rundu?" Shen Muxue asked.

He Yan: "Yes."

"Rundu is still under siege, surrounded by Wutuo People on all sides. You're only taking these few people with you—the odds are against you."

"I must go."

"Does the Commander not know about this?"

He Yan replied, "He doesn't."

"Fine." Shen Muxue looked into her eyes. "Go ahead. I won't stop you."

He Yan frowned slightly.

Shen Muxue had come here specifically to wait for them, yet she wasn't stopping them. It seemed as if she was deliberately confirming something.

"Don't doubt me," Shen Muxue said. "If you're leaving, hurry up. Once it's daylight, you won't be able to go."

She must have her own plans, but He Yan couldn't guess what they were. She only eyed Shen Muxue suspiciously.

Meanwhile, Huang Xiong watched the scene thoughtfully. A handsome, brave young man and a cold, beautiful young woman—finally breaking free from the constraints of their identities as they parted, unable to suppress their emotions. Over the years, he had seen such scenes before.

He Yan released her grip and straightened her clothes. "In that case, I'll trust Medical Officer Shen this once."

Shen Muxue still looked at her coldly. He Yan could sense that she didn't like her—there was even some hostility. But her secrecy had helped them now, which actually surprised He Yan. Shen Muxue admired Xiao Jue, so naturally she would side with him in everything. Yet now, He Yan and the others were leaving without Xiao Jue's knowledge, and Shen Muxue hadn't told him.

No matter how many doubts she had, now wasn't the time to dwell on them. He Yan stood up, making as if to leave. "Farewell."

Shen Muxue lowered her head. The next moment, a figure flashed before her eyes. She felt a sudden numbness, and her entire body became immobile.

Her mouth couldn't move either, so she could only glare angrily at He Yan.

He Yan nodded to her. "My apologies, Medical Officer Shen. I still don't trust you. I've sealed your acupoints. They'll naturally release in three hours. But I imagine it won't take that long before some new recruits gathering firewood find you."

"I'm deeply grateful for today's kindness. If we meet again, I will repay it." He Yan cupped her hands in salute, then turned and walked out. "Let's go."

Xiao Mai glanced at Shen Muxue with distress. He wanted to release her acupoints but didn't dare. He could only apologize, "Sorry, Medical Officer Shen."

"Please be magnanimous and don't hold it against Brother He. We don't know if we'll survive to meet again. Brother He is just desperate to save people." Jiang Jiao helped make amends. "Medical Officer Shen, please don't take offense at us rough folk."The last person left, and the firewood room, aside from the faint lantern light, plunged back into darkness. Shen Muxue leaned against the hay, took a deep breath, and gazed into the distance.

Outside the door, just past the corner, lay the complete exit from the Liangzhou Guard.

However, to be safe, He Yan didn’t dare let them mount their horses immediately. Only after walking a considerable distance did the group prepare to climb onto their steeds.

“Once we leave now, we’re truly gone,” Jiang Jiao looked back toward the direction of the Liangzhou Guard. “Who knows what things will be like when we return.”

Xiao Mai pursed his lips, still preoccupied with Shen Muxue, who was locked in the firewood room and unable to move. “We’re leaving, but Physician Shen is still stuck in the firewood room. Isn’t she a young lady from a wealthy family? She’s probably never suffered like this. Brother He,” he complained, “she’s a woman. You should have been gentler.”

He Yan smiled but said nothing. Huang Xiong, however, glanced at her upon hearing this. “Brother He, when you sealed her acupoints earlier, were you trying to help her?”

“When Physician Shen returns, she’ll inevitably pass by the sentries. If the sentries see her and learn the next day that we’ve left, it might arouse suspicion. By sealing her acupoints, others will assume she was under someone’s control rather than intentionally concealing the truth. That way, she can extricate herself completely, and this matter will have nothing to do with her.”

He Yan stretched lazily. “Brother Huang, there’s no point discussing this now. We need to get going.”

“Right!” Wang Ba mounted his large horse, careful not to speak too loudly, and shouted, “To Rundu, let’s go!”

“Forward.”

Their voices gradually faded, leaving only the distant sound of hoofbeats. Seven people and seven horses vanished into the wilderness under the cover of Liang Province’s night.

…

In summer, the sun rose early, its morning rays less scorching than at noon. Two groups of guards went to the firewood room to gather firewood and deliver it to the kitchen. They had to prepare meals for tens of thousands of people after the morning drills. Several guards opened the door to the firewood room and were about to enter when they suddenly noticed someone sitting against the wall. Startled, they immediately drew their long swords from their waists. “Who’s there?”

The person remained motionless. As their eyes gradually adjusted to the incoming sunlight, the guards finally saw clearly: the woman sitting against the wall was elegant and cold, her gaze tinged with annoyance. It was Shen Muxue.

“Phy… Physician Shen?” The guards were stunned for a moment before hurriedly sheathing their swords and apologizing. “We didn’t see clearly earlier. Why has Physician Shen come to the firewood room? Did you run out of firewood for brewing medicine? You could have just told us—no need to come in person.”

They chattered on for a while, but Shen Muxue remained silent. The guards fell quiet, and one of them mustered the courage to ask, “…Are you angry?”

Still no response.

The guards exchanged glances. One of them said, “I think… Physician Shen might have had her acupoints sealed.”

Although the principle of men and women not touching each other didn’t require such extreme caution, given Shen Muxue’s special status, no one dared to act rashly and unseal her acupoints. Someone suggested, “This is no small matter. We must report it to the Commander!”

Early in the morning, Lin Shuanghe was having his meal. The long, sweltering summers of Liangzhou Guard were unbearable, and he was particularly sensitive to the heat. These past few days, he had little appetite and slept poorly. Just as he was listlessly sipping his porridge, he heard a knock at the door. Opening it, he saw Shen Han.

“Instructor Shen?”

“Young Master Lin,” Shen Han said, “the Commander requests your presence.”Generally speaking, it was always Lin Shuanghe who sought out Xiao Jue, never the other way around. For a moment, Lin Shuanghe grew tense, thinking something might be wrong with Xiao Jue’s health. When he hurried to Xiao Jue’s room, he found Fei Nu there as well, with Shen Muxue seated in a chair. Fei Nu was pouring tea for Shen Muxue.

"Commander, I’m fine. Apart from sealing my acupoints, He Yan didn’t do anything else to me," Shen Muxue said.

Hearing He Yan’s name, Lin Shuanghe’s heart tightened. He walked over to Shen Muxue and asked, "What are you all talking about? Huaijin, why did you call me here?"

Shen Muxue replied, "Commander Xiao thought I might be unwell and asked you to check my pulse, but there’s no need. I am a physician myself and know my condition well. Besides, He Yan didn’t do anything else last night."

Lin Shuanghe grew more confused by the moment. What did she mean by He Yan sealing her acupoints? Even if there was some tension between the two of them over Xiao Jue, He Yan clearly had the upper hand. Why would she need to do anything to Shen Muxue?

"I don’t understand what you’re saying," Lin Shuanghe pressed. "Miss Shen, why did Brother He seal your acupoints?"

Shen Muxue glanced at Xiao Jue, but he remained silent. She had no choice but to answer Lin Shuanghe herself. "Last night, I was preparing medicine and ran out of firewood. I went to the woodshed to fetch more and ran into He Yan and the others... They wanted to leave Liangzhou Guard. I tried to call for help, but He Yan sealed my acupoints. I had no choice but to watch them leave."

"Brother He left Liangzhou Guard?" Lin Shuanghe exclaimed in surprise. "Why would she leave?"

Shen Muxue bit her lip. "From what I overheard, they were heading to Rundu."

Rundu? Lin Shuanghe immediately objected, "Impossible! Everyone knows what’s happening in Rundu right now. If she couldn’t stand the harsh conditions and rigorous training here, she’d go somewhere prosperous. Going to Rundu is practically a death sentence!"

No one in the room responded.

Xiao Jue’s expression was unusually cold. Fei Nu was also inwardly alarmed. When Rundu had been discussed earlier, He Yan had acted strangely, seemingly unconvinced that the Flying Goose General would come to its aid. Although the proposal to send the Southern Garrison Troops to Rundu had been rejected, it now appeared that He Yan had never abandoned the idea.

Even without troops, she was determined to go to Rundu.

Seeing everyone’s silence, Lin Shuanghe realized this was no fabrication. His mind was in turmoil—unable to believe this had happened and unable to fathom why He Yan would make such a decision. After a long pause, he finally asked, "Miss Shen mentioned that Brother He wasn’t alone. Who else went with her?"

Shen Han answered for her. "Jiang Jiao, Wang Ba, Shitou, Hong Shan, Xiao Mai, and Huang Xiong."

Aside from Xiao Mai and Hong Shan, the other four were among the best in the Vanguard Battalion. Shen Han gritted his teeth in frustration—He Yan certainly knew how to pick, taking the finest with her.

Just then, the middle door opened, and Liang Ping entered from the adjacent room. He shook his head at Xiao Jue and said, "Commander, we searched the room. The official robes and seal are missing."

The absence of the robes and seal meant He Yan had left with the intention of using her identity as Wu Anlang. She had planned this meticulously, leaving no room for military discipline to hold her accountable even if she were caught later. Her preparations were thorough indeed."But... but why exactly?" Lin Shuanghe remained perplexed. "To travel thousands of miles just to die?"

But no one here was He Yan, and no one could answer his question.

Someone knocked on the door outside, and Chi Wu entered. Seeing so many people in the room, he paused for a moment before looking at Xiao Jue. Xiao Jue said, "Speak."

"Young Master, a letter has arrived from Luan Ying. The Chu Fourth Young Master who left earlier will pass through Rundu on his way back to Shuojing."

Shen Han and Lin Shuanghe were both startled—what did this mean? Had He Yan gone chasing after Chu Zhao?

The room fell so silent you could hear a pin drop, the air heavy enough to suffocate.

After a long pause, the young man seated in the room tugged at the corner of his mouth, his beautiful eyes darkening with shadow. "Truly impressive."

Shen Han, Lin Shuanghe: A grand CP-breaking scene.

Shen Muxue: The house has collapsed!!!

Chu Zhao: Not taking the blame for this one.

(End of Chapter)