Legend of the Female General

Chapter 59: Duel of Blades

On this day, He Yan once again stole the spotlight.

On her way back, she spotted Wang Ba hiding in the crowd. He must have come to watch her spear duel with Jiang Jiao and tried to slip away unnoticed, but He Yan caught sight of him from afar and cheerfully called out, "Brother Wang!"

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Wang Ba's face darkened. Reluctantly, he muttered a barely audible "Boss" before turning on his heel and striding off as if fleeing from pursuers.

"Brother He, you're really something," Xiao Mai said admiringly.

"You'll have to get used to this kind of thing happening more often," He Yan replied, standing on tiptoe to ruffle Xiao Mai's hair. Hong Shan burst out laughing at the sight. "Calling yourself a boss? You should focus on growing taller first."

He Yan shrugged. Man proposes, but Heaven disposes—height wasn't something she could force.

Perhaps because she was in high spirits, that night, after finishing her usual secret training session, she even had a rare dream.

In the dream, she stood atop the high platform of the Martial Arts Field, surrounded by people calling her "Boss." Cheng Li Su ran up to her, grinning. "Brother He, you've been accepted into the Nine Banners Battalion!"

"Really?" She was overjoyed, but then a voice cut in. "He Rufei?"

She turned to see Xiao Jue, his cold gaze fixed on her, his tone laced with mockery. "Are you He Yan, or He Rufei?"

He Rufei—the name jolted her awake. She sat up abruptly, her forehead drenched in sweat.

Outside, dawn had broken. Hong Shan was pushing open the window and, noticing her wiping her brow, remarked casually, "It's been unbearably hot these days. Probably going to rain soon—a few downpours, and the weather will cool off. Damn it, I don’t want to spend another summer in Liang Province’s barracks. I’ve already sweated off a layer of skin."

He Yan forced a smile, though her mind was still unsettled. Xiao Mai, noticing her expression, asked curiously, "Brother He, you don’t look well. Did the heat get to you? Want some herbal tea?"

"No need, it’s just the heat," He Yan replied, slipping on her shoes. "A good run to sweat it out will do the trick."

After the morning’s weighted run, they returned to the Martial Arts Field for training—today’s focus was blade techniques. Midway through, a group of men approached and stopped in front of He Yan.

She lowered her blade.

"Do you stand by what you said yesterday?" the leader asked gravely.

He was a towering, muscular man with a shaved head, thick eyebrows, and a panther-like neck. A string of Buddhist beads hung around his neck, each bead the size of a fingertip, gleaming darkly. His hands gripped a golden-backed broadsword. He looked to be well past forty, perhaps even fifty, yet his bearing was taut and vigorous, like a coiled bear.

"My name is Huang Xiong," the bald giant rumbled. "I challenge you to a duel of blades."

The recruits eavesdropping nearby immediately buzzed with excitement.

"Ah, someone’s stepped up! And so soon! I knew it—out of tens of thousands of men in Liang Province’s barracks, there’s bound to be someone who can teach this kid a lesson!"

"Exactly! Crush his arrogance! Avenge our dry rations!"

"I don’t think He Yan’s going to come out on top this time. Look at Huang Xiong’s blade—it’s no ordinary weapon! He must’ve been a wandering warrior before this."He Yan also noticed the blade in Huang Xiong’s hand—its body was crimson, the spine thick, the edge sharp, and the tip slightly curved yet flat. Such a blade was extremely heavy; ordinary people would find it strenuous to wield. Yet for a formidable man like Huang Xiong, it was a perfect match, radiating sheer might.

“You have a fine blade,” He Yan praised.

Huang Xiong’s gaze softened slightly at her words. “It’s been my old friend for thirty years,” he said.

He Yan was inwardly astonished and couldn’t help but think of her own Qinglang Sword. Now that she was a recruit again and had left in haste, she hadn’t brought her weapon to Liang Province like Huang Xiong had. Without a familiar weapon, she felt quite unaccustomed.

At this moment, she truly envied Huang Xiong.

Seeing He Yan remain silent, Huang Xiong frowned. “Yesterday, didn’t you say you’d accept all challengers? Are you backing out now?”

He Yan was momentarily taken aback, then laughed. “Not at all. I keep my word. Let’s begin now.”

Under the crowd’s gaze, she calmly stepped onto the high platform of the Martial Arts Field.

Below, Liang Ping watched He Yan’s movements with a numb expression.

Du Mao leaned against a tree, gloating. “This He Yan under your command really knows how to stir up trouble.”

Liang Ping wished he could slap Du Mao twice. If it weren’t for Du Mao’s meddling yesterday—suggesting Jiang Jiao compete against He Yan—He Yan would never have gone to the platform, nor would she have made such a reckless declaration about setting up a challenge. None of today’s events would have happened.

Now, even Chief Instructor Shen had tacitly allowed it. Liang Ping couldn’t intervene. All he could do was silently pray that He Yan would have luck on her side today and emerge unscathed.

Cheng Li Su lounged in Xiao Jue’s room, idly scribbling nonsense on a small desk. His uncle was reviewing documents sent from the capital—who knew what they were—and hadn’t stopped all morning.

Cheng Li Su was bored out of his mind. He considered whether he should head to the Martial Arts Field to find some entertainment. Just then, someone knocked on the door. Xiao Jue said, “Enter.”

It was Shen Han.

Shen Han approached Xiao Jue and murmured a few words to him. Cheng Li Su inched his chair closer, straining his ears, and caught a few phrases.

“He Yan… Huang Xiong… blade match… Martial Arts Field.”

For the first time, Cheng Li Su’s usually sluggish mind displayed a spark of brilliance. He quickly pieced together what was happening: someone was challenging He Yan to a blade match, and it was happening right now at the Martial Arts Field. His excitement surged. As expected of his sworn brother—yesterday he made a bold declaration, and today someone came to challenge him! He couldn’t wait to watch.

Cheng Li Su quietly set down his brush and paper. Taking advantage of Xiao Jue’s turned back, he exchanged a glance with Shen Han and tiptoed toward the door, hoping to slip out unnoticed.

Just as he reached the doorway, Xiao Jue’s cool voice rang out. “Cheng Li Su.”

Cheng Li Su: “…”

His face fell. How strange—his uncle didn’t have extra eyes, yet he always seemed to catch him in the act no matter what he did.

Deciding honesty was the best policy, Cheng Li Su scurried over to Xiao Jue and said sheepishly, “Uncle, I just want to take a quick look. My sworn brother is fighting someone with blades—how can I not go? A man must uphold loyalty! I’ll come right back to practice calligraphy afterward, I promise!”

Xiao Jue lifted his gaze to meet his. “Did I say you couldn’t go?”"Ah?" Cheng Lisu immediately beamed with joy. "You're letting me go? Why didn't you say so earlier! Then I'm off!" He turned to run when Xiao Jue called, "Wait."

Cheng Lisu looked at him suspiciously.

The latter stood up and walked out with Shen Han. "I'm coming too."

Cheng Lisu was dumbfounded.

"Isn't your elder brother joining the Nine Banners Battalion?" The young man's lips curved slightly. "I'd like to see how he plans to enter the Nine Banners Battalion."

(End of Chapter)