“This bow – I can’t draw it.”

The surrounding recruits stared at He Yan in shock, while Training Instructor Liang looked up in disbelief, almost thinking he had misheard.

What did she mean by “I can’t draw this bow”? And to say it so matter-of-factly, so naturally? Of all the soldiers he had trained, this was the worst one!

It was infuriating!

“What nonsense are you talking about?” Wang Ba hadn’t expected He Yan to be so honest. He had thought her previous confident attitude meant she had some special skills, but this result was simply unacceptable.

“My current arm strength isn’t enough to draw this bow. Why waste time? Better let brothers who need the practice use it. In a few days, when my strength is sufficient, I’ll be able to draw it.”

“He Yan, the garrison isn’t your playground,” Training Instructor Liang’s face darkened. He had thought this youth was hardworking and determined, bound to succeed, but never expected him to speak of his incompetence so casually.

“I’m not treating it as a playground.” The youth’s gaze was clear as she considered, then made a concession, “How about this – give me one more day, and I’ll be able to draw this bow tomorrow?”

Training Instructor Liang was so angry his nose nearly twisted: “He Yan!”

She was trying to negotiate! Did she think this was a marketplace? While her progress in weighted running had impressed him, archery wasn’t simple – arm strength couldn’t be developed overnight. Where did she get the confidence that she could draw it tomorrow?

Liang Head Instructor now regretted not listening to Du Mao. He shouldn’t have invested so much attention in He Yan, and should have sent her to be a cook early on, saving himself this aggravation. At his age, getting this angry couldn’t be good for his health.

Unable to bear looking at He Yan’s innocent face any longer, Training Instructor Liang waved her away, “Don’t bother drawing. Go run five laps with sandbags instead!”

He Yan slowly replied “Oh” and obediently walked aside, hoisting the sandbag and heading to the track.

While she was obedient, her unperturbed response only frustrated Liang Head Instructor more. He turned away, deciding to ignore the youth who angered him so much.

As He Yan ran slowly, someone appeared beside her – it was Wang Ba.

“Kid, you’re this weak and you dare come to the military camp?” Wang Ba laughed arrogantly, “You can’t even draw a bow, yet you dare speak so boldly?”

“Brother,” He Yan said while running, “you’re always watching me – are you perhaps afraid of me?”

“Afraid of you?” Wang Ba was stunned.

“If you weren’t afraid, you wouldn’t need to follow me constantly, worried I might steal your spotlight.”

“Who’s afraid of you?” Wang Ba wanted to curse. What kind of person was this, impervious to threats and criticism, with their peculiar logic?

“You should know that private fights are forbidden in the military,” He Yan made a “shush” gesture, “Getting caught means punishment by military cane. There are supervisors everywhere in the mountains. Even if you want to cause trouble for me, now isn’t the time.”

This was true.

Wang Ba stared at her, smiling coldly: “If I want to deal with you, why do it in private? You can’t even draw a bow… on the training ground, I can make you kneel and beg for mercy.”

“Oh.” He Yan responded indifferently, “Alright, then we’ll meet at the training ground. Don’t stand me up.” With that, she quickened her pace as if in a hurry, leaving Wang Ba far behind.

Watching her sprightly figure disappear, Wang Ba found it irritating beyond measure. He cursed and walked away.

…

That day’s archery training finally ended at sunset.

The recruits rushed to find food, eager to fill their stomachs. The instructors gathered in one place, eating their separate dinners while discussing the day’s events with their respective teams. If there were promising recruits, they would especially boast about them.

Liang Ping had wanted to praise Wang Ba and Shi Tou, but thinking of He Yan made him dejected. Fearing someone might mention it, he simply ate in silence. But what he feared most happened – Du Mao asked with concern: “Old Liang, how did that He Yan from your team do today?”

Liang Ping was speechless.

An instructor beside him laughed: “That one! Haha, today he gave up before even drawing the bow, saying ‘I can’t draw this bow,'” he imitated He Yan’s calm tone, but with his expression, it seemed mocking, “It made Old Liang so angry his face turned green!”

“Couldn’t even draw the bow?” Du Mao was also surprised, “That’s ridiculous.”

“That kid doesn’t look like someone who can last in the military camp. You don’t know, at the time he even said give him one day, he’d be able to draw it tomorrow. I wonder where Old Liang picked up such a treasure,” the speaking instructor tapped his head, “Something must be wrong up here.”

Just then, someone entered. The instructors turned to see Xiao Jue and Cheng Li Su walking in. Everyone immediately put down their bowls and chopsticks, standing to salute: “Commander, Young Master Cheng.”

“I could hear you all talking merrily from outside. What’s so funny?” Cheng Li Su asked with a grin.

The young man always maintained a cheerful demeanor, spending his days in Liangzhou Garrison eating and drinking, enjoying himself. Though no one knew why a pampered young master from the capital would come to Liangzhou Garrison instead of staying home to enjoy his fortune, since he was brought by Xiao Jue, everyone had to show him some respect.

The same instructor who had been mocking Liang Ping quickly spoke up: “We were discussing today’s recruit training. Old Liang has a recruit who can’t even draw a bow, yet claims he’ll be able to tomorrow. Young Master Cheng, isn’t that amusing?”

“Oh? Can’t even draw a bow? Then isn’t he even worse than me?” Cheng Li Su was shocked. He was already considered the weakest in martial arts among noble families’ sons, but he could at least draw a bow. Finding someone even weaker than himself here suddenly sparked his interest. He turned to Xiao Jue: “Uncle, did you hear that? At least I’m not the worst in Liangzhou Garrison.”

Xiao Jue glanced at him, seemingly unwilling to respond. Cheng Li Su wasn’t bothered by the cold treatment, enthusiastically turning to the instructors instead: “What’s this warrior’s name? Someone so similar to me in ability – I must meet him and become sworn brothers.”

Liang Ping: “…”

“Hey, Old Liang, what was that recruit’s name again?” the speaking instructor tried hard to remember, “He… He something?”

What had he done to deserve this? Now he was being humiliated in front of the Commander. Liang Ping felt like crying, but under everyone’s gaze, he had to answer: “He Yan.”

The previously indifferent young man suddenly looked up at these words.

He Yan?