He Yan was sitting with Shi Tou and Xiao Mai. Hong Shan’s face was so full of worry it seemed about to drip with concern. Looking at He Yan, he said, “A’He, you can’t even draw a bow now. What will you do in the future? Why don’t we talk to Instructor Liang and have you become a cooking soldier instead? Though it doesn’t sound very glorious, at least you’ll stay alive, right Xiao Mai?” He nudged Xiao Mai with his elbow, signaling him to say something.

Xiao Mai stammered in agreement, “That’s right, Brother A’He, even if you become a cooking soldier, we’ll still come to visit you often.”

He Yan just smiled without saying anything.

Hong Shan watched with genuine concern. During their time together, he had grown quite fond of this youth’s temperament. Compared to his own pampered and sometimes headache-inducing younger brother, He Yan was much more sensible. This was exactly the kind of brother he had always imagined having, and without realizing it, he had come to treat He Yan as his own younger brother.

But He Yan couldn’t even draw a bow. Going to the battlefield would be nothing short of suicide. How could he watch his brother walk straight into death’s mouth?

“Brother Shan, don’t worry about me. I’ll be able to draw the bow tomorrow,” she reassured him.

“You think you’re some spirit master who can make things happen just by saying them?” Hong Shan exclaimed in frustration. “Why won’t this child see reason?”

Shi Tou, who had been quiet all along, remained silent for a moment before asking, “Do you have some special technique?”

“No special technique,” He Yan thought for a moment. “I’ve always been someone of poor aptitude. There are many things I can’t do, so I have no choice but to try multiple times. Later I discovered that if I try enough times, I can succeed.” After saying this, He Yan sighed.

People always said General Feng Yun was born a military prodigy, naturally gifted, but how could it be so magical? Being a woman meant her physical strength was naturally weaker than men’s – in other words, poor aptitude. She had spent many years turning He Yan into an invincible general on the battlefield, but after being reborn, she was given such a weak body again.

Could this be what they meant by “Heaven bestows great responsibility upon a person by first testing their sinew and bone, starving their body”? She didn’t expect to be outstanding, but couldn’t she have been reborn as a strong man like Wang Ba?

That would have made everything much easier!

Even after getting into bed that night, He Yan kept thinking about this.

The recruits, exhausted from their day’s training, were sleeping soundly, their snores rising and falling. He Yan estimated the time, and when the night was deep and quiet, she climbed out of bed again.

Xiao Mai rolled over, mumbling something. He Yan waited a moment, and seeing he hadn’t woken up, carefully slipped out the door.

She headed straight for the training ground. The nighttime training ground was empty, and the summer mountain nights brought frequent winds that made the flags flap noisily. Under the moonlight, the forest waves undulated, extending into a moonlit landscape.

The border regions were mostly harsh and cold places, and Liangzhou Garrison was quite good in comparison. She had never seen such scenery when leading troops and guarding posts in the past – those were mostly desolate views. For a moment, her footsteps slowed, as if reluctant to disturb the peaceful night.

Some of the bows and crossbows from daytime had been put away, leaving only one or two of the less movable ones in place. The straw targets were scattered about, not yet straightened up – the recruits would tidy the place after morning runs tomorrow. He Yan walked to the row of straw targets, searching for a while before finding an arrow lying nearby in the darkness. She took the arrow and walked back to the bow.

What others could accomplish easily, she needed much more time to complete. Yet she couldn’t simply not do it – if she didn’t try, her whole life would remain at this level.

She tried drawing the bow – it was heavy, and she could only pull it back a tiny bit. To the eye, it was barely noticeable.

He Yan put down the bow and rubbed her wrist.

After a while, she tried drawing the bow again, achieving the same small movement as before.

She tried five or six times this way, finally showing some improvement. This time she could draw the bow better than before – at least the movement was visible.

He Yan let out a breath of relief.

What she had told Instructor Liang during the day, she hadn’t been very confident about. It was because Young Lady He had never lifted anything heavy in her past fifteen years. When she first arrived at the He family, just splitting one piece of firewood had left her hands blistered. Drawing a bow was truly difficult for Young Lady He. But circumstances had forced her to make that claim. If she couldn’t draw the bow tomorrow, that would be another matter – at worst, she could play tricks on the instructor to get more chances.

In life, those who try always achieve more than those who don’t. She had no natural talent; all she had was persistence. But in this world, some things remain unattainable despite a lifetime of effort – like people’s hearts.

She had sacrificed and devoted herself to the He family, given all her love to Xu Zhiheng, and tried so hard, yet it was all for nothing.

He Yan lowered her eyes, fingers nocking the arrow to shoot. This shot seemed to release all her bitterness, making a whooshing sound in the darkness as it flew toward the shadowy straw target.

The arrow didn’t reach the target, falling powerlessly halfway there. Her strength was still too small – though she could barely draw the bow now and shoot the arrow, that was all she could manage.

Not every instance of pain can find complete release.

He Yan smiled slightly and went to retrieve the arrow. As she reached it, she suddenly sensed something and looked up. About ten paces away stood a pair of brocade boots embroidered with golden patterns that gleamed beautifully in the night.

Someone was here? She had been so focused on practicing that she hadn’t noticed. He Yan straightened up and walked forward a few steps, allowing the person standing in the darkness to come fully into view.

It was Xiao Jue.

The training ground was vast, lit only by moonlight, and he stood behind the straw targets wearing dark clothes, blending into the night. He Yan had mistaken him for one of the targets.

The handsome young man looked at her coolly, showing no intention to explain himself. He Yan felt inexplicably embarrassed. She collected herself, cleared her throat, and decided to take the initiative: “What-what are you doing here?”

“Watching you practice archery.”

Though his tone was cold, He Yan detected a hint of mockery.

“What’s wrong with me practicing? Now that you’ve watched, what do you think?” He Yan asked.

The beautiful young man lowered his gaze, his long eyelashes trembling like butterfly wings in the moonlight. Yet his voice was cold, carrying a note of derision.

“I’m surprised that someone can try so hard yet remain so utterly incompetent.”

He Yan froze.

For a moment, time and space overlapped. The wind sounds faded away, stars filled the night sky, and the young man’s figure before her gradually blurred, transforming into a youth’s silhouette.

Someone’s voice echoed in her ear, carrying that familiar mockery.

“I never expected someone could try so hard yet still be such a weakling.”

Yan Yan: While other children have gone home from school, I’m still here studying.