He Yan stared at Yan He in a daze, her mind completely blank. In that instant, she didn’t know how to respond. Only one thought kept surging through her mind repeatedly.

How could it be possible?

How could this be possible?

“That… that can’t be right,” He Yan tried to keep her expression relaxed. “Commander Xiao isn’t the type to be so helpful.”

“I knew you’d react this way,” Yan He said with some impatience. “That’s why I haven’t bothered mentioning this to anyone all these years. Nobody would believe it anyway.”

“However, I swear on my life as Yan He that this is true. Back when we were studying at the academy, that madman Xiao Huaijin wrote notes every day giving He Rufei guidance on swordsmanship.” His eyes still showed disbelief as he recalled the past events. “Every single day. It was terrifying.”

Back then, during his passionate youth, before Xiao Huaijin came down from the mountain, Yan He had dominated the top position at Xian Chang Academy. After Xiao Huaijin entered, he could only settle for second place.

This feeling was extremely frustrating. It would have been better to either never have been first and always second, or to always maintain first place. The worst was to have been first and then become second, never able to surpass again. It damaged one’s confidence and made others think that he, Yan He, simply couldn’t measure up to Xiao Jue.

Being heaven-blessed talents, neither truly submitted to the other. Yan He wished he could spend six hours a day studying desperately and another six hours competing with Xiao Jue. After all, every competition brought new insights – know yourself and your enemy, and you’ll win every battle. Unfortunately, this Second Young Master Xiao wasn’t a patient person. He could even ignore the teachers, so he was even more thorough in ignoring Yan He.

Out of ten times Yan He challenged him, Xiao Jue might respond once if he was in a good mood. While Yan He was arrogant, he still fell short compared to Xiao Jue’s calm and cold indifference.

He nearly drove Yan He was mad.

So for young Yan He, who lived a privileged and smooth life, his only adversity was Xiao Jue, and at that time, he believed his life’s goal was to defeat Xiao Jue.

At Xian Chang Academy, while the competition for first and second place was intense, the positions for last and second to last were equally sought after, for example… by Lin Shuanghe and He Rufei.

Lin Shuanghe was acceptable – as the heir to a family of imperial physicians, he didn’t originally aspire to excellence in martial or literary arts, so it didn’t matter if he failed. However, that He family’s eldest young master was quite strange. He Rufei was exceptionally diligent and serious, willing to try every possibility even if his progress was minimal. Toward such a person, Yan He at most looked down on them, but couldn’t say he disliked them. As a genius like himself looking at ordinary people, there was always a sense of superiority.

However, one thing changed Yan He’s perspective.

He discovered He Rufei practicing swords at night by chance. Rather than saying Yan He was following He Rufei’s footsteps, it would be more accurate to say he was watching Xiao Jue’s every move. One night, Yan He saw Xiao Jue sitting in the back courtyard watching He Rufei practice sword. He thought about it with his clever mind for a long time but couldn’t figure out the reasoning behind it.

What was Xiao Jue doing? Was he unable to sleep and came out to watch a show? Or did he find the clumsy He Rufei amusing? But if that were the case, one or two days would have been enough, yet he came every day. No wonder he was always sleeping during daytime lessons at the academy – he wasn’t sleeping at night at all?

Xiao Jue accompanied He Rufei’s sword practice every night, but he neither said nor did anything, just drank tea. He Rufei had a good temperament too – even being observed like a monkey, he didn’t get angry, just diligently continued what he was doing.

And Yan He, for whatever reason, also came out every day to secretly observe, convinced that Xiao Jue must be plotting something – he couldn’t possibly be doing such a pointless thing. When the later Yan He looked back at his younger self, he found it unbearable to watch. If there had been others watching them in the back courtyard then, they would probably have thought Xian Chang Academy was raising three madmen.

But at that time, Yan He had only one thought: he wanted to see what trick Xiao Jue was up to. And he did discover something.

He Rufei’s swordsmanship improved day by day.

This was rather strange. At the academy, He Rufei’s instructors were excellent, but his progress wasn’t this fast. Yet practicing at night, He Rufei could correct each day’s obvious mistakes, and his swordsmanship had made tremendous strides compared to the beginning.

Yan He didn’t believe He Rufei had such talent. After much contemplation, he finally caught Xiao Jue leaving notes on He Rufei’s desk.

He opened the letter to find detailed writings about the previous night’s sword practice flaws and areas needing improvement. Yan He said sourly, “You’re even more thorough than the academy instructors.”

Xiao Jue gave him a cold look and said flatly, “Following me daily – do you want to be like those girls outside?”

Those girls outside were Xiao Jue’s admirers who would occasionally “pass by” the academy. After all, Xiao Jue had the most beautiful face in Shuo Jing, and his cold, languid manner was truly captivating – many were enchanted by him.

Yan He threw the paper back on the table, looking at him with disgust: “Who’s like those women?”

As Xiao Jue turned to leave, Yan He hurriedly followed. Unable to contain himself, he said: “You accompany him practicing sword every night just to give him pointers?”

“You follow me every night just to watch me give him pointers?” Xiao Jue’s response was neither hot nor cold.

“You’re mad!” Yan He exclaimed incredulously. “You’re wasting your time on someone like that!”

Though he disliked Xiao Jue, he had to admit Xiao Jue was exceptionally gifted. Just as he considered Xiao Jue his rival, in Yan He’s mind, Xiao Jue should also consider him a rival, practicing diligently every day to maintain his first-place position. Yet now it seemed he not only wasn’t diligent but didn’t take him seriously at all, instead running off every day to watch someone ranked last practice sword and give him pointers. Yan He couldn’t understand and felt angry – didn’t this mean that in Xiao Jue’s heart, even He Rufei caught his eye more than himself?

What was this supposed to mean?

“Hey, are you listening to me?” Seeing Xiao Jue ignore him, Yan He grew anxious and moved in front of him. “Why are you wasting time on that useless person?”

“Oh?” Xiao Jue’s beautiful eyes glanced at him as he climbed up a false mountain, found a spot to lie down, and placed his hands behind his head, closing his eyes to feign sleep. “I don’t think so.”

Don’t think what? Don’t think he’s useless?

“You…” Yan He said angrily, “You give him pointers every day, and he’s only improved that little bit. Among so many people at Xian Chang Academy, why did you pick He Rufei? Are you trying to satisfy yourself by teaching someone from last place to first? Well, let me tell you, give up early! With He Rufei’s aptitude, it’s impossible.”

Xiao Jue: “I’m not that bored.”

His indifferent attitude made Yan He even angrier. He turned to leave, “I’m going to tell He Rufei to stop taking up your time. Getting guidance from Xian Chang Academy’s top student and only achieving this level – it’s laughable!”

A lazy voice came from behind: “Competition.”

Yan He stopped: “What?”

“From now on, if you come to challenge me, I’ll accept once every three times,” he didn’t open his eyes, his eyelashes casting shadows that made his skin appear like jade. Leaning against the false mountain pretending to sleep, he looked like a handsome, romantic youth from a painting. “The condition is keeping this secret.”

Yan He stood there, his heart thoroughly conflicted, but finally unable to resist the temptation of Xiao Jue agreeing to compete with him, he gritted his teeth and said: “Every two times.”

“Deal.”

The sunlight in the courtyard was scorching hot. Yan He sighed and said: “So that’s it. In exchange for keeping his secret, I won’t tell He Rufei.”

Even after many years, when Yan He brought this up again, he was still frustrated. If He Rufei had made extraordinary progress from Xiao Jue’s sword instruction, that would have been fine, but his improvement barely qualified him as talented. In Yan He’s view, it was a waste of Xiao Jue’s careful teaching. Yet Xiao Jue showed infinite patience with He Rufei – while he made endless excuses to avoid competing with Yan He, he conscientiously guided He Rufei every day.

Yan He didn’t even know where his sense of unfairness and jealousy came from.

Perhaps he could not accept that someone of mediocre talent received instruction from a master teacher, yet squandered that master’s teachings.

“He later made something of a name for himself,” Yan He snorted, “but in my view if it had been me receiving Xiao Huaijin’s instruction, I would have achieved far more. I thought he had at least not wasted the teaching, but after this battle at Hua Yuan, there’s nothing more to say. He’s still the same as before. I think he should give up the title of General Flying Hong early, to avoid becoming a laughingstock.”

“Kid,” Yan He looked up at the person beside him, “why aren’t you saying anything?”

He Yan started, the sun making her eyes a bit dizzy. Whether shocked by Yan He’s words or something else, she murmured: “I’m just… very surprised.”

“Surprised? When I first found out, I thought Xiao Huaijin had gone mad,” Yan He said sarcastically. “And by rights, since He Rufei owed Xiao Huaijin such a huge favor, I thought they would be close. Unexpectedly, looking at these past few years, they haven’t been particularly close. This time when Run Du was in trouble, with Hua Yuan so close to Run Du, Xiao Huaijin wrote to me instead of seeking out He Rufei. It seems Xiao Huaijin has kept this secret until now – He Rufei still doesn’t know. Though it’s hard to say for sure, after all, that was many years ago. They’re both equally renowned now, so it’s natural if He Rufei has developed a competitive spirit.”

While Yan He was taking every opportunity to thoroughly discredit He Rufei, He Yan now had no mind to quibble with him. Her heart and mind were filled with one thought… her swordsmanship had been secretly guided by Xiao Jue.

She had always thought it was some kind-hearted instructor at Xian Chang Academy who, seeing her poor swordsmanship, secretly taught her. She had always been deeply grateful for this, and if the He family hadn’t faced trouble causing her to leave home and join the army, she would have been able to meet that instructor in person. Not being able to properly thank them had always been He Yan’s regret.

Now, hearing this incredible truth from Yan He’s mouth – it was Xiao Jue?

If it was Xiao Jue, everything made sense. His martial skills weren’t inferior to any instructor at Xian Chang Academy. He Yan hadn’t considered Xiao Jue simply because his personality did not enjoy helping others, let alone someone he wasn’t particularly close to.

So back then when he came to the back courtyard every night to watch her practice sword while drinking tea, it wasn’t for amusement… but to guide her progress.

He Yan took a deep breath. How had she only discovered this now?

“What’s with that expression?” Yan He frowned. “You look rather excited?”

“I…” He Yan coughed lightly and said, “Just think Commander Xiao is truly a good person.”

“What good person? I think he was sick in the head. He excelled at everything in the academy, who knew his judgment could be so poor.” Yan He patted the dust off himself as he stood up, grabbing his Sky Piercing Halberd. “Just talking about He Rufei puts me in a bad mood. Forget it, I’m going to continue practicing with my halberd. What about you?”

With her thoughts in such disarray, He Yan naturally had no interest in watching this person show off his skills, so she said: “In that case, I won’t disturb General Yan. This junior official will return to my quarters first.”

He Yan turned and left.

…

The sky gradually darkened.

As Xiao Jue came out of the main hall, Li Kuang wiped the sweat from his brow.

Because of the Qi Luo incident, he felt ashamed to face He Yan, and meeting her made him feel nervous and apprehensive. He had thought talking with Xiao Jue would be easier, but this Right Army Commander was even more difficult to handle than the young Wu’an Lang.

He carefully inquired about everything that had happened in Run Du these days, including the earlier incident of placing straw men on the city walls and the night raid to burn the enemy’s grain supplies. Li Kuang didn’t take credit, relating all of He Yan’s ideas completely. As for those captured women and Qi Luo, Xiao Jue had already seen them at the time. When Li Kuang recounted this again, the young commander didn’t show the same emotional reaction as He Yan but appeared rather calm – though that calmness made Li Kuang feel even more uneasy.

After thoroughly questioning Run Du’s situation, Li Kuang also learned that their group would be heading back to Shuo Jing in a few days. Li Kuang felt greatly relieved – no matter what, Run Du’s crisis was considered resolved. Yan He would leave some troops here, and those Wu Tuo people probably wouldn’t dare come again.

The city was ultimately defended, yet… also not defended.

Li Kuang understood one thing clearly – he had lost the people’s hearts.

His position as the city’s commander wouldn’t last much longer.

The usually tall and sturdy man sat alone in his room, and after a while, buried his face in his hands, silently shedding hot tears.

This was the punishment he deserved.

…

The nights in Run Du were very cool.

The day’s heat completely dissipated at night, but due to the barrenness caused by the famine in the city, it showed traces of autumn’s desolation.

After placing Yin Qiu on the table, Xiao Jue turned around, having just removed his outer robe when he heard someone knocking at the door, one knock at a time, polite and respectful.

He paused, “Enter.”

The door opened, and He Yan stood in the doorway, looking at him and asking: “Commander, may I come in?”

Back in Liang Zhou Wei, this person never knocked. When looking for someone, to save trouble, they wouldn’t even use the main door. They would just lightly tap on the middle door a few times, not waiting for a response, considering it as having given notice, then skillfully pick the lock and pop their head in from behind the door, wearing a bright smile and calling out clearly: “Commander!”

Now after staying in Run Du for just over a month, they had become so well-behaved and courteous, though within this courtesy was a hint of barely noticeable distance.

Xiao Jue raised his eyebrows slightly, putting away his outer robe, and said coolly: “What is it?”

He didn’t answer her “may I” question, since He Yan would come in anyway. Sure enough, after being well-behaved for just a moment, He Yan naturally walked in and closed the door.

The room looked luxurious, but since Run Du now relied on the grain Yan He brought to survive, there naturally was no tea. Xiao Jue picked up the white jade porcelain pot on the table and poured water into the teacup. He Yan walked over and said: “Let me do it.”

She took the teapot from Xiao Jue’s hands.

Xiao Jue didn’t refuse. As they moved, their fingers accidentally touched, making He Yan’s heart tremble slightly. She looked up at him, but he had lowered his eyes, his expression unreadable. He Yan pretended nothing had happened, walked to the other side of the table, and slowly poured the water.

Physical contact with Xiao Jue had broken precedent countless times before. But previously in Liang Zhou Wei, given the many inconveniences, she had tried her best to ignore it. Now, however, with many things clear in her mind and understanding her feelings for Xiao Jue, the saying “without desire comes strength” rang true – with something to hide, there came much discomfort.

She mentally cursed herself for being muddle-headed and tried to speak calmly, “Commander, Brother Lin said today that in a few days, we’ll all be returning to Shuo Jing together.”

Xiao Jue sat down at the table, “You don’t want to go back?”

“It’s not that.” She had already planned to return to Shuo Jing. “It’s just, why would His Majesty suddenly summon you back to Shuo Jing? And General Yan too? With everyone returning to Shuo Jing, wouldn’t it be very dangerous out here?”

With these Wu Tuo people watching like tigers eyeing their prey, even if the Emperor was worried about Shuo Jing’s safety, there was no need to recall all of Great Wei’s fierce generals. What if the Wu Tuo people came back at this time? Though the possibility was small, they couldn’t guard against it.

“You’ll know when we return,” Xiao Jue didn’t directly answer her question.

That was true – it wasn’t good to speculate before returning. However, she hadn’t come here for this matter. She just wanted to find a reason to start the conversation.

She handed one teacup to Xiao Jue and kept one for herself. Holding the warm tea in her hands, the girl lowered her head, took a sip, and after a while looked up as if making conversation, “Commander, I met General Yan during the day.”

Xiao Jue made a sound of acknowledgment and lowered his head to read. His attitude these past few days had been very strange – it couldn’t be called cold, yet was peaceful enough to be considered gentle. Though gentle, he wouldn’t actively speak with He Yan… of course, he also wouldn’t actively cause trouble for her.

This subtle sense of distance left He Yan unsure of what to make of it.

“General Yan seems to dislike General Flying Hong,” with no one responding, He Yan could only continue stubbornly. “I sat with him for a while and only learned from his words that Commander, General Flying Hong, and General Yan were classmates!”

Her affected tone made Xiao Jue pause for a moment before saying: “Keep your distance from him.”

It was good enough that he spoke at all. He Yan pushed her teacup forward and looked at him, “I asked General Yan why he dislikes Young Master He so much, and he told me…” she deliberately dragged out her words, watching Xiao Jue’s reaction, “because you gave guidance to General Flying Hong on swordsmanship every night, so General Yan became jealous and has disliked him all these years.” He Yan propped her chin on her hand and asked with a puzzled expression: “So Commander, do you actually like General Flying Hong?”

She looked just like a curious subordinate trying to learn about her superior’s story, but her heart was beating rapidly. Although Yan He had said so, He Yan still wanted to verify it herself, unsure if what Yan He said was true, and unclear about Xiao Jue’s reasons for doing so.

Xiao Jue closed his book and looked at her calmly: “I’m not interested in men.”

“I didn’t say you were interested in men,” He Yan said. “I meant, do you admire General Flying Hong? Is that why you helped secretly? Was it you giving guidance on swordsmanship every night?”

Xiao Jue didn’t speak, which given his personality, was as good as confirmation.

He Yan suddenly sat up straight, unable to express what she felt at that moment. After quite a while, she asked: “Why did you guide him?”

Xiao Jue raised his eyes to look at her: “Why are you asking this?”

He Yan lowered her head, hiding the emotions in her eyes, “I just feel it’s such a waste for you. I heard from General Yan that Young Master He wasn’t particularly outstanding in his studies at Xian Chang Academy, being ordinary in both literary and martial arts. I wonder how the Commander chose him, specifically giving him guidance in swordsmanship. And after doing so much, why not tell Young Master He? Does Young Master He still not know that the person who helped him back then was you? Don’t you… don’t you think this is very unprofitable?”

“It was just a casual act, no need to worry about it,” Xiao Jue said coolly. “What difference does it make whether he knows or not?”

He Yan stared at him intently, thinking to herself that it did matter. If she had known it was him earlier… if she had known it was him, perhaps those girlish feelings would have lasted longer, perhaps when Xu Zhiheng appeared, she wouldn’t have fallen so completely for him. She had been lonely for too long – Xiao Jue had appeared first… yet her heart had awakened too late.

Seemingly noticing something unusual in her expression, Xiao Jue’s gaze paused, and he frowned, “You…”

“I feel such a pity for Commander,” He Yan raised a smiling face, “and that Young Master He is something else. Even if you, Commander, wanted to keep your good deed hidden and unknown to others, shouldn’t Young Master He have tried to investigate who his anonymous benefactor was? Just letting it be like that – he should have discovered you earlier. His current reputation, Commander, you contributed to it.”

Seeing her so anxious, Xiao Jue looked at her thoughtfully, suddenly curving his lips: “Actually, he did try to find me.”

He Yan was startled.

In the lamplight, his face was serene and handsome, seeming to recall past scenes, his beautiful black eyes deep and rippling with emotion, almost drowning one in their depths.

Xiao Jue had indeed seen He Rufei’s confused attempts to find someone. Those conversations written on notes each time expressed gratitude to him, reverent and clumsy, and once even attempted to catch him.

But how could he be caught? He sat in the tree, watching He Rufei walk below. Though wearing a mask, he could imagine this person’s dejected appearance, somehow pitiable.

So he finally relented, agreeing to let He Rufei see him. Though the result might not be very happy.

“Once he arranged to meet me at the academy.”

“Then what? Did you meet with her?”

The jade-like elegant man lowered his head and said softly, “I went.”

“But that night, he didn’t come.”

[The youthful Yan He discovers his two classmates’ private tutoring: ???! This seems rather gay!

Commander Xiao: It’s just socialist brotherly love :)]