The plaza was deadly quiet.

No one had expected that He Yan would challenge He Rufei rather than Xiao Jue to a sword duel.

Lin Shuanghe murmured, “Has little sister He gone mad?”

Yan He also frowned and asked Xiao Jue, “What’s wrong with her? Why go to He Rufei instead of finding you?”

Xiao Jue remained silent, his expression calm, as if he had anticipated this scene before him.

He Rufei looked at the woman before him. The female official wore a bright smile, her tone carrying such self-assurance. Though she appeared both frail and small, she somehow possessed the confidence to challenge him. Had she truly convinced herself she was “He Yan”?

A cold smile flickered across his heart. The woman before him bore no resemblance to the former He Yan. He had heard that Marquis Wu’an He Yan was bright and spirited, completely different from his quiet and reserved cousin. If one were to impersonate someone, shouldn’t they at least first investigate the person’s character? Such a flawed imitation was so poorly done that anyone could see through it at a glance.

“You wish to duel with me?” He Rufei spoke slowly.

“People say Flying Swan General’s sword is so fast it can cut through the wind,” He Yan smiled. “But I’ve never seen it. Now that I have the chance – with General Xiao, there will be plenty of opportunities to duel in the future, but Flying Swan General’s sword isn’t something one can see every day.”

“Young Master He,” she gave a light laugh, “would you be willing to duel with me?”

He Rufei curved his lips upward. “Of course, however… swords show no mercy. If you lose…” He glanced in Xiao Jue’s direction, “Will General Xiao hold it against me?”

His words were filled with naked provocation.

People had always said that Flying Swan General and General Feng Yun were natural archenemies, forever at odds. But rumors were rumors – no one had ever actually seen them truly cross swords. However, looking at today’s situation, perhaps the rumors weren’t just rumors after all. Even a fool could see the undercurrents flowing between them.

Among the military officials, the young man wearing a dark blue floral official robe merely smiled faintly at these words and said, “I won’t. However, a duel should have stakes.”

“Stakes?” He Rufei asked: “How about…”

“Common stakes wouldn’t be worthy of General He’s sword,” Xiao Jue interrupted before He Rufei could finish. “Since this is a sword duel, let’s use swords as stakes.”

“If you win, I’ll give you this Yin Qiu sword. If you lose,” he fixed He Rufei with a meaningful look, “the owner of Qing Lang will become the Marquis of Wu’an.”

As soon as these words were spoken, the plaza erupted into commotion.

“Really? I can’t believe General Xiao is betting so much this time!”

“Those are Qing Lang and Yin Qiu – to put them up for a woman seems too frivolous!”

“I think General Xiao’s Yin Qiu sword is done for. No wonder they say heroes can’t resist beautiful women… Looking at General Xiao’s behavior, could he have some misunderstanding about his fiancée?”

“But that’s Flying Swan General – how could he lose to a woman!”

Emperor Wen Xuan frowned. The antagonism between He Rufei and Xiao Jue was clear to him. But these two had maintained their distance and lived in peace for so many years – when did their relationship become so strained? Discord among military officials was never good news for a dynasty.

He Rufei looked at Xiao Jue: “General Xiao, are you sure you want to use your sword as stakes?”

“Not ‘my’ sword,” Xiao Jue replied meaningfully, “but also ‘your sword.'”

He Rufei responded with a noncommittal smile. He had heard of He Yan’s reputation on the battlefield, but many factors determined victory in war. Perhaps He Yan had some clever tricks, but in a one-on-one, face-to-face sword duel, he was confident that He Yan was no match for him.

There could only be one “He Yan” in the world, and that He Yan was already dead.

“Since General Xiao is so generous, I’ll respectfully accept,” he said. “Please.”

“Wait,” said Xiao Jue.

“What is it?” He Rufei turned to look at him. “Could it be General Xiao has regrets? It’s not too late to change your mind now.”

Xiao Jue twisted his lips in mockery: “General He’s weapon is a rare treasure in the world – it wouldn’t be fair to the opponent.” With a wave of his hand, he sent Yin Qiu flying toward He Yan, who caught it steadily. “Use my Yin Qiu to duel with you.”

He Rufei frowned, while He Yan smiled slightly: “Thank you, General.”

She turned and walked toward the space, saying, “Please, Young Master He.”

He Rufei paused for a moment before following her.

The officials in the plaza and the royal family members on the Tianxing Platform now all watched the two figures in the space intently. This was far more thrilling than the earlier wrestling match between the two strong men from Wutuo. Ma Ningbu was also staring at the woman in the red official robe. He truly hadn’t expected He Yan to refuse to compete with their Wutuo people, and even less expected He Yan to choose He Rufei.

It seemed the friction between the Great Wei’s two military commanders was deeper than they had imagined.

Guang Ji quietly asked his Fourth Brother Guang Shuo beside him, “Fourth Brother, isn’t this somewhat wrong? How can General He bully a woman?”

Even in young Guang Ji’s mind, though He Yan as Xiao Jue’s fiancée wasn’t as perfect as Shen Muxue would have been, the rules and principles he had learned from childhood taught him that men should not bully women and the weak.

Guang Shuo shook his head: “Let’s watch and see.”

He also couldn’t understand – if He Yan was simply ignorant of her limitations and thus chose He Rufei, then why didn’t Xiao Jue stop her? Not only did he not intervene, but he even suggested using swords as stakes, making the situation even more puzzling.

Yan He whispered, “Xiao Huaiqin, have you gone mad? How could He Yan possibly defeat He Rufei? Although He Rufei won’t take her life… but to lose face in front of so many people – how could your woman be content with that? She’s just entered official service, and if she’s defeated by He Rufei’s sword here, she’ll surely become the subject of mockery and gossip afterward.”

“She will win,” said Xiao Jue.

“What nonsense are you talking about,” Yan He’s eyes widened as he stared at him like he was looking at a fool. “I didn’t believe others when they said you were blinded by love, but it turns out you’re just an ordinary man after all. Even if He Rufei isn’t at his best, he still has years more sword practice and battlefield experience than your woman. If you don’t care about your woman, at least care about your sword! I’m not trying to help you – I just don’t want to see both legendary swords fall into He Rufei’s hands. It would kill me with anger!”

“Oh,” Xiao Jue’s voice still carried a hint of indifference, “then you can rest assured you won’t die of anger yet.”

“I!” Yan He was furious, “I’m done talking to you!”

In the plaza, He Rufei slowly drew Qing Lang from his waist.

Qing Lang gleamed with a verdant light, and as soon as it left its scabbard, one could feel its sharp sword energy. He Yan’s gaze froze for a moment – that was her sword.

The Qing Lang sword that had accompanied her through many years, watching her grow from a naive recruit into an invincible warrior. In her most difficult times, she had sat by the ice-covered river holding this sword, pondering her future path. After many years apart, the sword was finally drawn again, but it was in He Rufei’s hands.

“Young Master He has a fine sword,” she said, “What a pity.”

He Rufei asked: “What’s a pity?”

He Yan merely smiled without answering and suddenly drew Yin Qiu from her waist: “En garde!”

The two figures instantly became entangled.

Qing Lang was verdant, and Yin Qiu was crystalline. As the long swords crossed, one green and one white, they resembled an autumn morning in a mountain valley, filled with a desolate chill, with mountains faintly visible and autumn colors on every tree. The sword’s energy swept up the sand from the ground, scattering it in all directions. Though it was a sword duel, their movements were as enchanting as a dance.

Flying Swan General’s swordplay was naturally excellent – both fast and precise, with an unstoppable momentum. What was surprising was that the woman wielding the Yin Qiu sword, when fighting against Flying Swan General’s blade, showed no sign of disadvantage.

How was this possible?

She was just a woman, and though she had been on the battlefield, she was only sixteen or seventeen now – how could she be a match for a veteran general? Could it be that Flying Swan General was holding back?

A flash of surprise crossed He Rufei’s mind.

Before the duel, He Rufei thought he had already highly estimated He Yan’s swordsmanship, but now it seemed he had still underestimated her.

This woman’s swordplay was masterful as if she had grown up practicing the sword since childhood. Her blade was extremely steady and cunning, easily avoiding each of his attacks. Her attacks were equally powerful, like a sudden storm, matching him evenly. Sometimes, due to her light feminine frame, she even appeared faster.

Lin Shuanghe watched in amazement, muttering to himself: “My sister He… is she really this formidable?”

Although he knew He Yan was extraordinary, he had never personally witnessed any of her death matches, only heard about them. In his view, while He Yan might be skilled in military strategy, a woman’s physical abilities could never compare to a man’s, especially against someone like He Rufei.

He Rufei might have been weak during his early days studying at Xian Chang Academy, but later he became a military talent equal to Xiao Jue in Great Wei. His heart, which had been in his throat earlier, now settled down, only to be replaced by deeper confusion. If He Yan was this powerful, didn’t that mean she was at least on par with He Rufei?

Had Xiao Jue known this all along, which was why he confidently offered his Yin Qiu sword as stakes for this duel?

Where the sword tips reached, there was one more person, overlooked by the crowd – Xu Zhiheng, hidden among the civil officials.

Ever since seeing He Yan at the victory banquet that day, Xu Zhiheng had felt uneasy. Fortunately, he didn’t encounter He Yan again afterward. Today, from the moment Ma Ningbu mentioned He Yan, Xu Zhiheng had a sense of foreboding.

This foreboding reached its peak when He Yan proposed to duel with He Rufei.

If it weren’t for everyone standing properly in their places with the Emperor watching from the Tianxing Platform, Xu Zhiheng might have already fled in panic. The sword-wielding woman’s smiling face overlapped for a moment with a certain woman from his memories.

Watching He Yan entangled in combat with He Rufei, hearing the gasps and exclamations from those around him, Xu Zhiheng felt his entire body turn cold.

She had returned… it couldn’t be anyone else, only she – He Yan had returned.

He Yan parried He Rufei’s sword tip with her blade, lightly leaped, and spun to land behind He Rufei.

The Yin Qiu sword understood her heart well – though it was Xiao Jue’s sword, she wielded it expertly. Her gaze fixed on He Rufei, her expression growing cold.

He Rufei was imitating her sword moves.

Perhaps because He Rufei feared his impersonation of the “Flying Swan General” would be exposed, even after removing his mask and without going to the battlefield, he deliberately imitated He Yan’s sword techniques. He had mastered about eighty percent of them – anyone who wasn’t extremely close to He Yan or hadn’t frequently seen her use her sword probably wouldn’t be able to tell the difference.

However… he was missing twenty percent, and those two parts happened to be He Yan’s most crucial elements – ten percent came from Xiao Jue’s guidance in his youth, and ten percent from Master Liu Buwang’s teachings. To be fair, He Rufei’s swordplay was not bad, but someone who had never been to the battlefield, never lingered between life and death, would always hold back their sword energy.

He Yan smiled slightly and thrust her sword at He Rufei. He Rufei was startled and raised his sword to block. When the swords clashed, the swords didn’t move, but the person did.

He stepped back twice.

Low gasps of surprise immediately arose from the crowd.

While the civil officials couldn’t quite understand what they were seeing, the military officials saw clearly. Someone said, “Is Flying Swan General at a disadvantage?”

“He must be showing mercy, letting the Marquis of Wu’an win.”

He Yan’s smile carried a frost-like chill: “Young Master He has a fine sword, but unfortunately, you don’t know how to use it properly.”

“Arrogant!” He Rufei spoke darkly, spinning around to charge at her.

He Yan smiled, leaning backward as Qing Lang swept over her head, cutting a strand of her hair. Her laughing voice rang throughout the Tianxing Platform.

“General He, have you been away from the battlefield so long that your swordplay has become this dull?” She crooked her finger in an utterly arrogant gesture. “Can you even still lift the sword in your hand?”

He Rufei’s expression had become extremely unpleasant.

The Emperor’s expression was also displeased. He Rufei’s performance was tarnishing Great Wei’s reputation, and this woman was also being inconsiderate – even if her skills were good, she shouldn’t be so aggressive. Moreover, it was just a temporary advantage; how dare she speak such boastful words?

Yan He watched with folded arms, frowning: “This He Rufei’s swordplay doesn’t seem that impressive now. But their sword techniques look somewhat similar,” he had a sudden thought and looked at Xiao Jue, “Did you also teach He Yan swordsmanship?”

“You’re really like those street martial arts masters,” Yan He said with great disdain, “accepting anyone as a student. Do you even remember you’re Xiao Huaiqin?”

“You’re too noisy,” Xiao Jue spoke with displeasure.

“Huh,” Yan He saw right through him, “Why are you pretending to be so calm here? Aren’t you dying of anxiety inside? Don’t you wish you could go up there and help He Yan fight? But don’t worry, I don’t think He Rufei will necessarily win. Your woman is right – he might have gotten soft from being away from the battlefield too long. What a disgrace to Xian Chang Academy!”

The sword duel between He Yan and He Rufei had already exceeded everyone’s expectations.

They had originally thought this duel would end quickly because, setting aside gender, one was a rookie soldier while the other was an accomplished general. It seemed He Yan would inevitably lose. If she won, it would only be because He Rufei deliberately let her.

If He Yan won quickly, it would show that the Flying Swan General was being considerate of a woman, unwilling to embarrass her, and preserving the Marquis of Wu’an’s dignity. But He Yan had fought with He Rufei for so long.

Fighting for so long without determining a winner meant Flying Swan General couldn’t be deliberately showing mercy.

And judging by the military officials’ reactions, He Rufei… hadn’t even gained the upper hand.

Was it because Xiao Huaiqin’s fiancée was truly that formidable? Even He Rufei couldn’t defeat her? Or had Flying Swan General’s skills truly deteriorated over these years?

Among all the people present, besides Xu Zhiheng and He Rufei, Xu Jingfu’s expression was the most troubled.

Today’s events truly exceeded Xu Jingfu’s expectations.

Those Wutuo people were very cunning and had extensive private dealings with Crown Prince Guang Yan. Guang Yan was shortsighted, narrow-minded, and acted without thinking things through. Apart from his ruthlessness, he had none of the qualities needed in an heir apparent. Just because he suspected the Wutuo people might have ulterior motives, Guang Yan had developed a rift with him. If he hadn’t invested so much effort in Guang Yan over the years, with success almost within reach, he would have considered switching allegiances.

Guang Yan had reservations about him, and the Wutuo people had been privately very dissatisfied with him since the Battle of Jiyang. But so what? In the Great Wei court, he held overwhelming power. Even if the Wutuo people wanted to plot something, they couldn’t cause any waves.

Today, Ma Ningbu’s proposal to compete with He Yan had surprised Xu Jingfu, and the final duel between He Yan and He Rufei made him sense something was amiss.

He Yan, the daughter of a city gate captain, must be acting under Xiao Jue’s instructions. Xiao Jue’s proposal to use swords as stakes had ill intentions. Having been Xiao Jue’s opponent for so many years, watching him grow from a youth barely supporting his family’s honor to the current Right Army Commander who commanded widespread respect, Xu Jingfu sometimes understood Xiao Jue better than himself. He and He Yan had set a trap for He Rufei, and He Rufei had foolishly walked right into it.

Or perhaps He Rufei had seen through it but was too proud, not believing he could lose to a woman.

Everyone else was watching He Yan and He Rufei duel, amazed that their sword skills were evenly matched, but was that important?

Could it be that Xiao Jue arranged all this just to let his woman thoroughly humiliate He Rufei in front of all the officials?

Xu Jingfu didn’t think so. There had been no previous grudge between He Rufei and Xiao Jue – it was only later when He Rufei joined his side and, to show sincerity in their cooperation, even sent his trusted subordinate to Liangzhou City to attempt to assassinate Xiao Jue, trying to gain merit with him, though it ultimately failed.

But Xu Jingfu saw He Rufei’s sincerity. He had the support of civil officials but needed a military commander’s backing. He Rufei appeared at just the right time. Although Xu Jingfu had initially not understood why He Rufei would choose him when he could have remained neutral, he later realized that the official court was what changed people most – even a brave and battle-hardened general would willingly offer up his precious sword when faced with greater benefits and higher positions.

He Rufei… He Rufei… The unease rising in Xu Jingfu’s heart was like thick ink, instantly enveloping him completely. He looked at He Rufei, who was locked in combat with the woman, and his heart sank.

If something went wrong with He Rufei… would it implicate him?

After all, since the time of Yuan Baozhen in Liangzhou City, he and He Rufei had become very close.

The sword tip carried killing intent as it stabbed from behind, but the intended target seemed to have eyes in the back of their head, lightly stepping aside to let the sword tip strike empty air.

“Young Master his swordplay looks somewhat familiar,” He Yan smiled. “But you only have the form, not the spirit. How to use this sword,” her lips curved upward, containing subtle killing intent, “shall I teach you?”

She suddenly spun around and thrust forward.

With a “bang,” the sword tip pierced He Rufei’s chest but only entered slightly before stopping.

“Young Master He wears armor even to Tianxing Platform?” He Yan spoke with surprise, “How afraid of death must you be to do this? Do you have so many enemies that you fear someone might come seeking revenge?”

He Rufei coldly smiled: “You talk too much!”

“It’s your swordplay that’s too weak.”

When it came to provocation, He Rufei was no match for He Yan. Back in Liangzhou Guard, He Yan could provoke every recruit into grinding their teeth at her with just a few words, let alone now.

He Rufei also felt the strain in his heart.

This woman’s swordplay was truly too good. There wasn’t a single flaw – he couldn’t find any openings. On the contrary, she could always spot his mistakes, seeing through him at a glance. Several times, He Yan could have quickly ended this duel, but she didn’t. Instead, she would sometimes cut off one of his buttons, sometimes slice through a sleeve of his clothes, unhurried and calm, like a cat playing with a mouse, letting everyone see him being inferior to a woman.

Inferior to a woman!

He was the real He Rufei, the true eldest young master of the He family, yet he had to live following He Yan’s life path. He lived as if he were He Yan’s substitute, and in the end, was still told he wasn’t as good as He Yan.

Don’t think he couldn’t hear the discussions and pointing behind his back, saying the current General He wasn’t as good as the former Flying Swan General. Why?

Why did he have to be compared like this, living in someone else’s shadow, inferior to a woman? Ridiculous – that woman was already dead, how could a dead person compare with him? The one who survives to the end is the winner.

He held his sword, thrusting at He Yan from behind at a tricky angle. This was Flying Swan General’s most formidable sword move, which he had practiced for a long time… It was said that no one could avoid Flying Swan General’s final sword strike.

As the sword tip was about to pierce the woman’s back, everyone’s hearts were in their throats.

The next moment, Yin Qiu accurately parried his sword. The woman in red didn’t turn around but thrust her sword back with her other hand. The blade was sharp; He Rufei was startled and tried to dodge, but the woman wasn’t trying to stab him. She flipped over behind him and kicked hard at the back of his knee. Caught off guard, He Rufei’s knees buckled, and he fell to his knees.

A cold blade immediately pressed against his neck.

The woman in red looked down at him with a smile, silently moving her lips. At this distance, others couldn’t hear, but He Rufei could see clearly.

“Elder Brother,” she said, “using my sword – are you worthy?”

He Rufei: I am not worthy.