Legend of the Female General

Chapter 215: General He

It snowed all night, and by the next morning, a layer of silver frost had accumulated in the courtyard.

Qingmei rose early to cook porridge, but before starting, she made sure to check whether He Yan was in her room. Seeing He Yan getting dressed, she asked in surprise, “Why are you up so early, miss? It’s cold—why not sleep a little longer?”

“It’s fine,” He Yan stretched lazily. “I’m used to it.”

At Liangzhou Guard, she had to rise early every day, and now that she was back in Shuojing, breaking the habit wasn’t easy. While Qingmei cooked the porridge, He Yan picked up the broom in the corner of the courtyard to sweep the snow.

“Miss, put that down! How can you do such work? Let me handle it,” Qingmei said anxiously.

He Yan smiled. “You’re busy with the porridge—how can one person do two things at once? It’s fine. It’s just sweeping snow. I’ve done much harder work at the guard station. Don’t worry about it.”

Qingmei insisted, “No, miss. Take the hand warmer and sit inside. I’ll take care of this.”

“Really, it’s fine.”

Chi Wu, crouching in the corner of the wall, felt increasingly uncomfortable. Although he was here under orders to protect He Yan, the He family was truly poor, with only Qingmei as a servant. Now, with the young lady and her maid arguing over who should sweep the snow, it was difficult for him, a grown man, to pretend not to notice.

After a moment’s hesitation, Chi Wu stood up and said, “I’ll do it.”

Before He Yan could respond, Qingmei beamed, shoving the broom into Chi Wu’s hands. “Thank you so much, Guard Chi Wu!”

Chi Wu: “…” He suspected this little maid had been waiting for him all along.

He Yan felt a bit embarrassed. After all, Chi Wu was a talented member of the Nine Banners Battalion, and following Xiao Jue, he likely had never done menial tasks like sweeping. Using a sword-wielding guard as a servant seemed almost like the He family was taking advantage of him. He Yan said, “Forget it, I’ll do it.”

“It’s fine,” Qingmei said cheerfully. “Guard Chi Wu is very kind and strong. You’re not well, miss—just rest.”

Chi Wu thought to himself that this little maid probably hadn’t seen their young lady lifting hundred-pound boulders alone at Liangzhou Guard.

Still, with two women present, sweeping the snow was his job. Chi Wu picked up the broom and began sweeping around the courtyard. Qingmei, keeping an eye on the porridge in the kitchen, directed him, “Guard Chi Wu, don’t just sweep the middle—get the corners too. What if the young master comes home at night and slips because he can’t see? There’s still snow missed on the left…”

He Yan moved a stool to sit by the door, watching with amusement as the tall guard was bossed around by a little maid.

Once Chi Wu finished sweeping and Qingmei finished cooking the porridge, the three of them sat down to eat together. He Sui and He Yun Sheng had left early, and Qingmei had prepared pancakes for them the night before to take along. After the meal, He Yan sat in her room, lost in thought.

She wanted to go to the Xu family to find Fuwang again, but when she opened the drawer, there wasn’t a single banknote left inside. Her heart sank with regret. If only she had borrowed that stack of banknotes from Xiao Jue’s drawer when she was at the Xiao residence. Now, in her current position, it felt awkward to ask for a loan. Maybe… she could go find Lin Shuanghe?While she was still frowning over the silver situation, a gray-feathered pigeon flew into the storage room where Chi Wu lived, landing on a roof beam and staring at him with its beady black eyes. Chi Wu extended his hand, and the pigeon flew onto his palm. Tied to its leg was a slender copper tube. Chi Wu untied the tube and pulled out a small slip of paper from inside.

After reading the note, a flicker of confusion crossed his eyes, but he quickly composed himself. He released the pigeon and walked to He Yan’s door, knocking.

He Yan opened the door and, seeing it was Chi Wu, asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Young Master’s Drink Autumn Sword—its scabbard cracked during the battle with the Wutuo People in Jiyang,” Chi Wu explained. “The Drink Autumn Sword was forged by Master Lu Daichuan, and it is currently in his hands for repairs.”

He Yan nodded, not understanding what this had to do with her.

“Today is the day to retrieve the sword, but the Young Master has left the city. I also have to leave the city and cannot go to pick it up. Master Lu has a rule: if you miss the appointed time, you must wait another hundred days for him to emerge from seclusion. And besides the sword’s owner, only their closest relative or partner can retrieve it.”

“Huh?” He Yan was speechless. “That’s far too strict.”

But skilled craftsmen in this world often had their own quirks. Since Lu Daichuan was capable of forging a treasure like the Drink Autumn Sword, it wasn’t hard to understand his eccentricities.

“Miss He,” Chi Wu looked at her, “you are now the Governor’s fiancée. If you go to retrieve the sword, Master Lu will agree. So, could you do the Young Master a favor and retrieve the sword from Master Lu?”

He Yan replied, “It’s not a difficult task, but how can I prove that I’m the Governor’s… ahem, fiancée?”

“Don’t you have the Young Master’s serpent-patterned Black Jade?” Chi Wu answered. “That will suffice.”

He Yan untied the Black Jade from her waist. “Can this prove your Young Master’s identity?”

Chi Wu: “Exactly.”

“Then, could I use this to borrow silver from a bank?”

Chi Wu: “…If Miss He is short on silver, you can tell me. The Young Master won’t stand by and do nothing.”

He Yan laughed it off. “I was just joking.” But inwardly, she realized that this Black Jade seemed to be universally recognized. Exchanging it for some silver shouldn’t be a problem.

She said straightforwardly, “Alright, it’s no big deal. Just give me Master Lu’s address, and I’ll go later.”

“Master Lu lives in the mountains north of the city. The journey is quite far,” Chi Wu said. “I will prepare a carriage and guards for Miss He to ensure your safety on the road.”

He Yan: “Forget it. Those guards of yours can’t even beat me. If there’s any real danger, who knows who’ll end up saving whom? Just give me the address. It’s broad daylight, nothing will happen. Besides, since the incident with the assassins, the city guard has doubled. It’ll be fine.”

Her stubbornness wore Chi Wu down, and in the end, he had no choice but to relent.Chi Wu seemed to have urgent matters to attend to. After writing down Lu Daichuan's address for He Yan, he hurriedly left the estate. He Yan first comforted Qingmei before leading Xiangxiang out the door. Although Lu Daichuan's residence was far, it wasn't difficult to find. By winter, the snow on Dingbei Mountain was much heavier than in the city, blanketing everything in silver-white. If they had taken a carriage through the mountains, it would likely have taken a full day and night. He Yan was glad she hadn't listened to Chi Wu's suggestion to take a carriage and had chosen to ride instead—at least she could reach Master Lu before sunset.

This Lu Daichuan was quite a character. He Yan had initially assumed that since he lived in the mountains, he must be an ethereal, otherworldly sage. Who would have thought he had built a palace-like mansion in the mountains, extravagantly ornate. As soon as He Yan entered, two giant tigers came charging toward her, growling lowly.

Xiangxiang was startled and nearly threw He Yan off. He Yan tightened the reins, calming the horse before dismounting to take a closer look. She realized the two magnificent tigers were actually made of wood, their eyes crafted from black gemstones that gleamed with a greenish light in the shadows. At first glance, they looked indistinguishable from real tigers.

He Yan was astonished. This was likely Lu Daichuan's handiwork—truly a master craftsman, capable of carving the moon and tailoring clouds.

The gate was not closed, merely left ajar. The two giant tigers continued to growl at He Yan but made no further moves. After a moment's thought, He Yan pushed the door open and stepped inside. Once inside, she felt as though she had entered a miniature version of Great Wei.

In the northern-style mansion, a small canal reminiscent of the Jiangnan water towns had been dug, with tiny boats that could only seat one person moored along it. The boats were draped with gauze curtains, and enchanting music drifted from within. Upon closer inspection, there was no one in the boats—only a wooden box.

The flowers and plants on the walls were fake, yet crafted so vividly that even in winter, they exuded a sense of bustling prosperity. Colorful stones were scattered on the ground, likely not gemstones but shimmering with a delicate, captivating light. He Yan felt as though she had stepped into a legendary dragon palace or a celestial realm, marveling at the craftsmanship of this person. No wonder he had been able to forge a sword like Drink Autumn.

Just as she reached the main hall, the door swung open with a "whoosh." He Yan stepped inside and saw a man in white robes sitting in the spacious hall. He was carving a bamboo dragonfly, seemingly in the final stages. He Yan watched as he flicked the dragonfly's tail, and it began to buzz and fly on its own.

She couldn't help but gasp in amazement. The man turned around, allowing He Yan to see his face clearly.

In truth, the man's attire was indeed ethereal and otherworldly. His white robes, made from some unknown fabric, were exceptionally light and flowing. Judging by his attire alone, he resembled a recluse from a bygone era. However, his appearance was a stark contrast. The man was remarkably plump—not to exaggerate, he looked like a round ball. When he smiled at her, he resembled a Maitreya Buddha, with none of the air of a "lofty scholar."

This was somewhat unexpected for He Yan. She had imagined meeting a cold, arrogant, eccentric old man with a white beard, not such an amiable, plump individual. Moreover, he appeared quite young, likely in his twenties. A young, plump man.

"A guest has arrived," the man said with a smile."Are you Master Lu?" He Yan took the jade pendant from her waist and showed it to him. "I'm here to retrieve the sword for Commander Xiao."

"Oh," Lu Daichuan stared at He Yan's jade pendant, momentarily stunned. "Why is Xiao Huaijin's sword with you? Are you Xiao Jue's fiancée?"

Caught off guard by the question, He Yan didn't know how to respond at first. After a moment, she nodded. "That's right."

"So you're Huaijin's fiancée." Lu Daichuan nodded, then looked He Yan over again. "Not bad, not bad."

He Yan felt inexplicably uneasy. After a moment's thought, she asked, "Master Lu seems to be on good terms with Commander Xiao?" This man appeared amiable and approachable, nothing like the aloof figure Chi Wu had described.

"Not particularly good, but not bad either." Lu Daichuan shook his head with a smile and clapped his hands. With a creak, He Yan followed the sound and noticed a small wooden figure standing in the hall—about a foot tall, crafted in the likeness of a beautiful woman. It clattered away into the inner room, its purpose unclear.

"This... did Master Lu make all of these?"

"Just some puppets," Lu Daichuan chuckled. "There are no living people in my villa, only puppets. They help me with daily tasks."

It sounded somewhat eerie, but strangely, He Yan didn't feel afraid. She said, "Then why not hire some craftsmen to help? Or simply move down the mountain."

"That won't do," Lu Daichuan replied. "I've lived on this mountain for over thirty years. Life down there isn't for me."

He Yan asked, "May I ask how old you are, Master?"

The man looked to be in his twenties—how could he have lived on the mountain for over thirty years?

"Guess?"

He Yan couldn't guess, so she simply said, "From what I see, Master looks no older than twenty."

Her words seemed to please Lu Daichuan. He laughed heartily, clutching his stomach. "You child, your words are as sweet as honey. No wonder Xiao Huaijin likes you. Truly delightful."

He Yan: "..."

She was just thinking how this master swordsmith seemed so unconventional when the wooden figure that had gone inside earlier clattered back out, carrying a long box in its hands, which it placed before He Yan.

He Yan opened the box and saw a long sword lying inside. Its blade was as pure as frost and snow—it was Drink Autumn.

"It's already repaired?" He Yan exclaimed in surprise. The scabbard showed no signs of having been cracked.

"It's just a sword. It didn't take long." Lu Daichuan looked at He Yan with a warm smile. "Since you're Xiao Huaijin's fiancée, for his sake, I can craft a weapon or treasure just for you. What would you like?"

He Yan joked, "Could Master craft a sword like Drink Autumn for me?"

Lu Daichuan looked at her and smiled. "No."

"Why not?" He Yan asked with a laugh. "Does Master think I'm unworthy of your sword?"

"You already have a sword. You don't need another."

He Yan's smile froze instantly as she stared at Lu Daichuan.

How did this man know she had a sword?

"Master, I don't have a sword," He Yan said. "I don't even have a decent weapon.""There will be," Lu Daichuan shook his head, the smile in his eyes seeming to see through everything about her. "Your sword will return to your side once more."

He Yan stared at Lu Daichuan, trying to detect any flaw in his expression. Unfortunately, apart from his consistently gentle and amiable smile, nothing else could be discerned.

He Yan stood up, holding the box containing Drink Autumn. "Master, it’s getting late. I came today only to retrieve the sword. Now that I have it, I should return." She bowed to Lu Daichuan. "Thank you, Master."

"No need for formalities," Lu Daichuan also rose to his feet. Standing up was quite a struggle for him, largely due to his portly figure—a ball trying to steady itself always requires some effort. He clasped his hands together, seeing He Yan to the door, flanked by two magnificent tigers and the wooden figurine, like an eccentric king hidden deep in the mountains. "Go on."

He Yan mounted her horse and rode away, though her retreating figure seemed almost like a hasty escape.

As the sound of hoofbeats gradually faded, Lu Daichuan clicked his tongue and looked down at the wooden figurine that only reached his calf. "Feicui, do you think I frightened the young lady?"

The wooden figurine clung to his leg, silent and motionless.

"Never mind," Lu Daichuan shook his head again and turned to walk back, muttering to himself as he went. "Huai Jin, oh Huai Jin, this is all your master can do for you now."

...

Night fell quickly in the mountains.

When He Yan arrived, the sun had not yet set. She hadn’t stayed long at Master Lu’s "retreat," but by the time she left, the sky had turned completely dark.

Fortunately, the moonlight tonight was bright, illuminating the snow-covered mountains and fields, making it even brighter than usual. She had a good memory for directions and rode Xiangxiang down the mountain, but her mind kept replaying the conversation she had just had with Master Lu.

How did Master Lu know she already possessed a fine sword? Did he already know something, or was he truly an otherworldly sage who could see through her soul-transmigration at a glance?

But she was alone now and knew nothing about Lu Daichuan. It would be best to wait until she descended the mountain and met Xiao Jue, asking him about Lu Daichuan’s true identity before making any plans.

He Yan sighed softly to herself. The troubles of her previous identity as the "Miss He" who disguised herself as a man to join the Liangzhou Guard had only just been resolved, and now another had arisen. It seemed as though life was an endless cycle of solving one problem after another.

Her gaze fell on the wooden box in front of her. At least she had finally retrieved the Drink Autumn Sword. She wondered where He Rufei had hidden her Qinglang. Given He Rufei’s cautious nature, he would never reveal Qinglang unless absolutely necessary. If her Qinglang were still with her, she would polish it every day.

The horse galloped through the mountains, the biting cold wind stinging her face. She exhaled, her breath instantly turning into a white mist in the night—the mountains were bitterly cold.

Suddenly, something flew toward her from behind. Startled, her horse reared up abruptly. He Yan tugged on the reins, and in the next moment, someone flew toward her from behind, the gleaming tip of a sword aimed directly at her back.

An assassin!

He Yan dodged to the side, dismounting and landing on the ground. Before she could clearly see who it was, the assailant lunged at her again, sword pointed straight at her heart. Without a word, they were intent on taking He Yan’s life.In this desolate wilderness, not a soul was in sight. Even if she shouted, it would be impossible to summon the city guards. Unarmed and in a difficult situation, she had no choice but to strike open the wooden box she had been clutching under her arm. With a thud, the box shattered, and the Drink Autumn Sword fell into He Yan's hands.

Though she had seen and touched it in both her past and present lives, this was the first time she had wielded Drink Autumn. As soon as it was in her grasp, she felt its icy chill, as sharp and cold as its master.

Sorry, Xiao Jue, she thought silently, borrowing your sword for now.

He Yan swiftly drew Drink Autumn and glared at the figure before her, demanding, "Who are you?"

Under the moonlight, she could see that the person was entirely shrouded in a black cloak, with a wide-brimmed hat covering most of their face, revealing only a hint of a chin that appeared as translucent as jade in the night. Before she could get a better look, the figure lunged forward, sword aimed straight at her neck.

Without a word, they attacked? He Yan was startled, but the murderous intent closing in on her made one thing clear—this person wanted her dead.

It seemed they were here solely to take her life. He Yan frowned. Could this be another assassin sent by He Rufei? But last time, there had been a group of them. Why was there only one this time?

However, she soon understood why only one person had come. Compared to the previous assassins, this one was far more skilled. Even He Yan, as she exchanged blows with them, couldn't help but feel astonished. Their swordsmanship was exquisite, seemingly calm as water yet brimming with deadly intent, matching her own skill.

She wondered, who could this person be? Even in Shuojing, individuals of such caliber were rare. Did He Rufei now have such formidable people under his command?

There was no time to ponder further. The clashing of swords rang out sharply. He Yan dodged the tip of the opponent's blade, driving her elbow toward their abdomen. But the attacker seemed to anticipate her move, sidestepping and appearing behind her instead, thrusting their sword forward. Unable to evade in time, He Yan could only counter with a backhanded strike. The two blades collided with a clang, forcing both of them to step back.

He Yan paused, an inexplicable sense of familiarity washing over her. She couldn't pinpoint where it came from, but before she could think it through, the attacker lunged again.

Their movements were incredibly swift, leaving no gap or pause between each exchange. The sword strikes came like a torrential storm, relentless and precise. Drink Autumn in He Yan's hand was agile and sharp, already feeling natural in her grip. As a result, the flaws and habits associated with the "Flying Goose General" were no longer fully concealed.

Snowflakes danced in the wind, and in the night, the bamboo grove seemed to whisper with the breeze, gently masking the killing intent.

He Yan lightly tapped her toes, and Drink Autumn seemed to resonate with her spirit. Finally spotting a flaw in her opponent's swordplay, she moved without hesitation, darting forward like lightning to strike.

At the same time, the attacker thrust their sword toward He Yan.

The two blades met in mid-air with a crisp clang. In the moment they passed each other, a sharp snap echoed as a cold gleam split in two—the black-clad figure's longsword was severed by Drink Autumn. He Yan spun around, thrusting toward the opponent's back before they could turn.

The tip of her sword was just a hair's breadth away from piercing their heart.Yet it stopped just at that minuscule fraction of an inch.

The surroundings were eerily quiet, with only the soft sound of falling snow and the distant cry of wild cranes from the valley. He Yan stared at the figure’s back, sensing something, her hand trembling slightly as it gripped the sword hilt.

The figure remained motionless. Slowly, her voice hoarse, she asked, “Who are you?”

In that instant, the moon broke through the dark clouds, illuminating the mountains like piled jade and the ravines like spread silver. The figure slowly turned around, removed the wide-brimmed hat, and revealed a familiar face.

“Xiao Jue…” He Yan murmured.

The black cloak fluttered slightly in the snowy night, carried by the wind. The young man’s features were as exquisitely handsome as jade carvings, his dark eyes like autumn waters holding an inexplicable emotion. His gaze fixed on her, as if spanning from the past to the present, and perhaps even into the future.

“Your swordsmanship has improved quite a bit.”

He curled his lips slightly. “Long time no see, General He.”

End of Volume Five

The final volume is here!

(End of Chapter)