By the training grounds of the Liangzhou Guard, Zheng Xuan stood with two recruits. When Xiao Jue approached, Shen Han quickly stepped forward and said, “Commander.”

“I heard the person was found?” Shen Han asked.

“Liang Ping is watching over them.”

Shen Han relaxed slightly. With He Yan under suspicion, if she suddenly disappeared, it might have been deliberate. It was always safer to keep suspicious individuals under close watch.

Now that she was found, there was another matter to consider.

“According to Zheng Xuan, He Yan crossed the mountain alone. According to Shen Hong, He Yan crossed to save Zheng Xuan. Commander, what do you think…” Shen Han asked.

Xiao Jue: “Zheng Xuan is lying.”

Shen Han was stunned.

“There were hoofprints on the mountain path, and I found traces where the wolf cub was killed in a fall,” Xiao Jue said. “He Yan was indeed saving someone.”

Shen Han’s expression darkened. “In that case, Zheng Xuan and the others are truly dishonorable.” Such recruits, no matter how excellent, who knows if they might turn coats once on the battlefield? Soldiers could die by enemy blades, but not by the hidden arrows of their comrades.

“However,” Shen Han thought of something else, “if He Yan’s words are true, could this clear her of suspicion?” If He Yan was someone who would risk her life for fellow soldiers, perhaps they should reconsider their view of her.

“No.” The cold voice answering him was Xiao Jue’s. “In the mountain pit, he killed a wolf bare-handed. This person cannot be underestimated,” he raised his eyebrows, “They likely harbor secrets.”

Shen Han dared not say more. Though the Liangzhou Guard was thousands of miles from Shuojing, the current situation was complex, and no one dared to be careless.

Shen Han looked toward Zheng Xuan and the others. They sat far away, frequently glancing over with uneasy expressions. Though Zheng Xuan tried hard to maintain composure, he didn’t know his lie had already been exposed.

“How does the Commander plan to handle these people?” Shen Han inquired.

“Deserting ranks, disrupting order, wagging tongues, causing trouble,” Xiao Jue’s expression remained unchanged, his voice calm, “The crime of slandering the army – execution.”

Shen Han’s heart trembled, and he bowed: “Yes!”

…

When He Yan woke the next day, the sun was already high, and there was no one in the room. She sat up, staring blankly at the sunlight streaming through the window.

Someone pushed open the door. He Yan looked up to see it was yesterday’s beautiful physician, Shen Muxue. He Yan asked curiously, “Miss Shen?”

“Here’s today’s medicine. Take it first,” Shen Muxue placed the medicine bowl on the small table in He Yan’s room. “Yesterday the Commander already gave you medicine for external wounds, change it every three hours.”

He Yan picked up the medicine bowl and drank it all at once, casually asking, “Miss Shen, where is everyone else? Why didn’t they call for me?”

“I told Instructor Liang that your body still needs rest, so it’s not convenient to practice at the training grounds today,” Shen Muxue answered.

He Yan responded with a sound of acknowledgment and looked at Shen Muxue again. This young lady was only sixteen or seventeen, with skin like condensed cream, extremely beautiful, and most importantly, she had a naturally peaceful and graceful demeanor that made people feel very comfortable. Probably feeling uncomfortable under He Yan’s gaze, Shen Muxue slightly furrowed her brows: “Is something wrong, young man?”

“Nothing,” He Yan said, “I just feel like Miss Shen looks familiar as if I’ve seen you somewhere before.”

Shen Muxue was stunned for a moment, then shook her head and smiled, “I’ve never met you before, you must be mistaken.”

“Alright.” He Yan scratched her head. Seeing He Yan had finished the medicine, Shen Muxue took the bowl and left the room.

Suddenly it became quiet, and He Yan didn’t know what to do. Fortunately, this daze didn’t last long before someone knocked on the door again.

“Who is it?” He Yan asked.

A cautious voice responded, “It’s me.”

He Yan was startled as a head peeked through the door – it was Shen Hong.

He must have run from somewhere, his face extremely pale, lips turning purplish-blue, no longer as lively as when they first met. He limped in, somewhat afraid to look at He Yan’s face, and when he reached He Yan’s bedside, he stammered, “I’m sorry.”

He Yan had already learned the whole story from Hong Shan, so she said, “It’s fine, didn’t you tell them the truth?”

“But I… I almost…” Shen Hong was full of guilt.

He Yan could understand. Someone like Shen Hong, who had never experienced much, was timid, and would naturally panic when threatened by Zheng Xuan. She said, “I’m fine now, aren’t I?”

Shen Hong nodded silently.

“You were walking strangely when you came in,” He Yan asked, “What happened?”

“I… I violated military orders and was punished with forty military strokes,” Shen Hong said, “From now on, I’ll be a cook, unable to go to the frontlines.”

He Yan was silent. Forty military strokes – no wonder Shen Hong looked so terrible. It was good he hadn’t died.

“What about the others?”

“Zheng Xuan and the other two… were executed… in front of all the recruits…” Shen Hong said, his face pale.

He Yan wasn’t surprised. When she was Flying Phoenix General, she had heard of General Feng Yun’s notorious reputation for extremely strict military discipline. Once, a high official’s son joined the Southern Army just for fame but was executed by Xiao Jue’s order for violating military discipline. At that time, the official was furious and complained to the Emperor, but nothing came of it.

Others might say Xiao Jue was cruel, but without this, he wouldn’t have been able to control the Southern Army, let alone reach today’s position.

“Being a cook isn’t bad,” He Yan patted his shoulder, “You have a gentle and kind nature, you wouldn’t dare kill people on the frontline.”

Shen Hong forced a smile and took out a handful of something from his pocket, putting it in He Yan’s hand. He Yan looked down to see it was a bunch of pine nuts.

“You’re a good person,” Shen Hong stammered, “I was too cowardly before, I’m sorry, almost cost you your life. These pine nuts are for you… eat them slowly.”

He stood up and limped toward the door. Just as he went out, Hong Shan and the others came in, running into him. Shen Hong’s face reddened, and he left even more hurriedly. After he left, Hong Shan asked, “What did that kid come for?”

“Probably to apologize,” Little Wheat said, “Hey, Brother He, where did you get those pine nuts?”

He Yan put the pine nuts on the table, “Help yourself if you want some. Why are you all back so early?”

“The Head Instructor had an announcement today,” Stone spoke up, “We don’t need to do weighted runs for the next few days.”

“What announcement?” He Yan was curious.

“We’ve been at Liangzhou Guard for an entire summer,” Hong Shan grabbed a few pine nuts and started shelling them while speaking, “The Head Instructor said they’re going to select talented recruits for the vanguard camp.”

He Yan raised an eyebrow. According to the timeline, it was indeed about time for this.

“Said in about ten days, we’ll go up the mountain to compete for something, compete for first place?”

“Compete for flags,” Stone finished his sentence.

“Oh right, right, compete for flags. Whoever gets the most is first, and might be selected for the vanguard camp,” Hong Shan said, chewing on pine nuts.

“Brother He definitely won’t have a problem,” Little Wheat rested his chin on his hand, “Brother He is so capable, he’ll definitely get in.”

He Yan smiled and shook her head. Just the vanguard camp wouldn’t be a problem, but to enter Xiao Jue’s Nine Banner Camp would require more effort.

This was truly setting up an arena – may the best win.