Legend of the Female General – CH 085

Chapter 85. The Misery Contest.

Wild geese slanted across the autumn sky as the fragrance of osmanthus filled the air. The summer heat had finally faded, leaving behind the crisp chill of late autumn’s frost and dew.

Early in the morning, as He Yan rose, Xiao Mai handed her a pear. “I picked it from the woods near the martial arts field. It is already washed—try it.”

Fresh from washing up, He Yan took a bite and nearly winced at the sourness. Seeing her squint from the tartness, Xiao Mai scratched his head sheepishly. “The ones from the wild grove are not fully ripe yet. They will be sweeter in a while. But now that it is autumn, the mountains are full of wild fruits. We can sneak a few after training each day. These sour pears taste great when candied—like honeyed snow pears!”

This kid was always thinking about food. He Yan remarked, “But there’s no sugar here.”

Xiao Mai paused, as if just realizing this, and sighed in disappointment. “Right.”

“Not necessarily,” Hong Shan cut in, eyeing them. “Is today not the reward ceremony? He Yan and Shitou won first place in the last flag competition. Maybe your reward will include sugar. Who knows, there might even be other treats—better than candied pears!”

At this, Xiao Mai suddenly perked up. “That’s true! Brother He, the reward ceremony is tonight. Have you thought about what you want?”

“It’s not like I can ask for anything I want,” He Yan chuckled. “This is not the capital—supplies are scarce.”

“Bah, he just wants to join the vanguard,” Hong Shan mumbled through a mouthful of pear. “That’s an easy request to fulfill.”

He Yan smiled. Though she had remained composed these past few days, she could not deny her excitement. Joining the Jiuqi Battalion would bring her one step closer to Xiao Jue—and closer to openly addressing the matter of the He family. Tonight, she would likely achieve her goal. So far, her military journey had been smooth.

After all, General Feihong should be sought after wherever she went. A hint of pride flickered in He Yan’s heart.

The day passed as usual, with training at the martial arts field. But by evening, the recruits gathered in the open space near the foot of the mountain to admire the moon. Liangzhou was nothing like the capital—there were no grand feasts in private courtyards or lavish banquets on painted boats, where wealthy families entertained friends and colleagues with delicacies. Here, moon-viewing meant lighting a bonfire, sitting in a circle with fellow recruits, and enjoying rare treats—perhaps some rice wine. They boasted, shared stories, drank, ate, and gazed at the moon before calling it a night.

After leaving the martial arts field in the afternoon, He Yan returned to her quarters and discreetly changed into fresh clothes. The recruits in Liangzhou had sturdy uniforms for all seasons, with two sets for spring and autumn—one red, one black—simple and durable. She chose the red one and went to find Cheng Lisu.

Cheng Lisu had already visited the martial arts field in the morning, asking He Yan to meet him at his quarters in the evening. She suspected he meant to give her food, and sure enough, when she arrived, the young man handed her an exquisitely carved redwood basket.

The basket was adorned with an engraving of Chang’e flying to the moon. Inside lay neatly arranged mooncakes, fragrant and beautifully crafted—they looked as delicious as they smelled.

“The mooncakes issued by Liangzhou Garrison are too coarse, so I am giving you the ones others gave me.”

He Yan replied, “Thank you.” Truthfully, she was not particularly interested in pastries, but if she gave this basket of mooncakes to Xiao Mai, the boy would probably jump for joy.

“Have you never eaten these before?” Cheng Lisu’s eyes flashed with sympathy and a hint of pride. “These are not even the best. The pastries from Ziuyu Tower in Shoujing are truly unparalleled. When we return to the capital together someday, I will treat you to a meal there. Let me tell you a secret,” he added conspiratorially, “my uncle also loves Ziuyu Tower’s dishes.”

He Yan thought Cheng Lisu was like He Yunsheng—blindly and unconditionally admiring Xiao Jue, as if anything Xiao Jue approved of could not possibly be bad.

But, to be fair, Xiao Jue was indeed impressive.

After thanking Cheng Lisu for the autumn gift, the sky gradually darkened. He Yan carried the basket of pastries outside. At the foot of the mountain, bonfires had already been lit, their bright flames illuminating the area. Many recruits had already gathered, sitting around the fires. It was said each recruit would receive meat pies and oranges. Skewers of rabbits and fish—clearly hunted from Baiyue Mountain—were roasting over the fires.

It seemed there would be meat tonight.

He Yan was in high spirits, swinging the basket back and forth as she walked. The aroma of roasted game filled the air, making her stomach growl with hunger. She also noticed large wine jars near each bonfire. The wine probably was not the best—its pungent smell was sharp—but on occasions like this, only strong liquor could truly satisfy.

She arrived a bit late and went to look for Xiao Mai and the others. As she passed other recruits, they all turned to stare at her with strange expressions.

Perhaps they were wondering what treasures she’d received today.

Cheerfully, He Yan walked on until she spotted Xiao Mai and the others near the base of the mountain. They were gathered around a bonfire. From a distance, she waved and called out, “Xiao Mai!”

The boy turned at the sound of her voice but did not respond with his usual enthusiasm, hesitating instead. As He Yan approached, she saw that besides Hong Shan and Shitou, Jiang Jiao, Wang Ba, and Huang Xiong were also there. The three of them were huddled together. He Yan set down the basket of pastries and sat cross-legged beside them, lifting the lid with a smile. “Look what I brought you! No need to thank me too much.”

She picked up an exquisitely made mooncake and handed it to Xiao Mai, knowing the boy had a sweet tooth. “Here you go!”

Xiao Mai froze for a moment before slowly reaching out to take it. His lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but no words came out. He Yan turned to the others. “Help yourselves if you want some.”

No one responded.

She looked up to find them all staring at her with odd expressions. Even the usually boisterous Hong Shan was uncharacteristically silent. Puzzled, He Yan asked, “What’s wrong? Why are you all looking at me like you’ve seen a ghost? Did something happen?”

Hong Shan turned away, while Jiang Jiao’s eyes flickered with sympathy. “He Yan,” he said, “do not be upset.”

“Why would I be upset?” He Yan was completely baffled.

The atmosphere was once again suffocatingly silent. He Yan looked at Huang Xiong, who averted his gaze, rubbing the prayer beads around his neck with an air of detachment. It was Wang Ba who could not hold back any longer and spoke up, “…Hey, even if you did not make it into the Vanguard Battalion, do not be too upset; where there’s a will, there’s a way.”

He Yan let out a sigh of relief. “I thought it was something serious. How could I not have made it into the Vanguard Battalion? I—” Her words suddenly stopped as she looked around at the others, their faces filled with pity. Her lips moved slightly as she heard her own voice, sounding as if it were floating in the air, “…Really did not make it?”

“While you were away, Instructor Shen went over there. Lei Hou got into the Vanguard Battalion, but… there was no mention of you,” Xiao Mai said cautiously, carefully choosing his words.

“Maybe it was an oversight?” He Yan clung to a sliver of hope. “Perhaps it is because I was not there just now.”

“I asked the Chief Instructor for you,” Shitou said softly. “None of us made it into the Vanguard Battalion this time during the Flag Competition. Among the others, aside from the rest, that Lei Hou somehow managed to get in.”

He Yan fell silent.

Everyone watched her nervously. How much He Yan had wanted to join the Vanguard Battalion was something they had all witnessed. Back when she had first arrived in Liangzhou, barely able to handle the weighted runs, this young man had stubbornly endured it all for the sake of joining the Vanguard Battalion. Her skills were outstanding, and she had even taken first place in the Flag Competition. Not only did she find it hard to understand, but even those around her felt it was inexplicable.

“It’s alright; do not be upset,” Hong Shan comforted her. “It’s just the Vanguard Battalion, right? Who cares? We will go to another camp—Infantry Camp, Cavalry Camp? With your skills, why worry about not being recognized? A talent like you, Brother He, deserves a true connoisseur to appreciate you. If they do not want you, it is their loss!”

“Exactly.” Jiang Jiao also felt regret for her. Someone like He Yan as an opponent was far more convincing than Lei Hou. “With your abilities, true gold fears no fire. Sooner or later, everyone will see your worth.”

Amidst the chorus of comforting words, the usually cheerful young man remained silent, head bowed for the first time, his entire demeanor radiating dejection and frustration. Gradually, the others quieted down.

Hong Shan nudged Xiao Mai’s arm, signaling him to say something. Xiao Mai racked his brains, trying to think of what to say, when suddenly He Yan stood up without a word and started to leave.

“Hey, hey—where are you going?” Huang Xiong grabbed her arm.

The young man said bitterly, “I am going to ask Xiao Jue directly—why did he choose Lei Hou over me? What exactly does Lei Hou have that I don’t? How could the Vanguard Battalion not have my name?”

Hong Shan was startled. He had not expected He Yan to be so angry as to call the Commander by his full name. He quickly stopped her. “You cannot act on impulse like this! Going to General Xiao now will only make him dislike you, and you will have even less chance of joining the Vanguard Battalion in the future.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Xiao Mai chimed in clumsily. “Brother He, maybe General Xiao is deliberately holding you back for something else, like sending you to another camp. With your skills, there’s no way he would not choose you!”

“Of course I am skilled,” He Yan snapped, her face turning livid. “Let Xiao Jue stand in front of me, and we will fight. I bet even he might not be able to beat me!”

Jiang Jiao hurriedly covered He Yan’s mouth. For her to say such things, it was clear she was truly furious.

The others, fearing she might storm off to confront Xiao Jue in anger, quickly pulled her back to her seat. Huang Xiong said, “Young one, do not be so impatient. As long as the green hills remain, there will never be a shortage of firewood. Right now, he’s the commander, and you are just a new recruit. How can you speak as equals? Wait until you earn your rank and become a general—then you can face him properly!”

“That could take eight or ten years,” Wang Ba muttered. “If we even make it by then.”

Jiang Jiao added, “General Xiao is really something. Clearly, we were the best, and Lei Hou was even defeated by He Yan. How could he choose Lei Hou over her?”

“I heard,” Wang Ba mused, “that Lei Hou might be related to one of the instructors here—maybe even family. Probably pulled some strings. These highborn types with power and influence never care about us common folk.”

Xiao Mai could not help but speak up, “General Xiao is not like that! There must be some misunderstanding!”

Wang Ba shot him a glare. “Whose side are you on, anyway?”

Xiao Mai shrank back and fell silent.

“Everyone,” He Yan said through gritted teeth, “I have a terrible headache. Could you let me have some quiet?”

The group immediately hushed.

The bonfire crackled before them, its flames dyeing the night red. No matter how hard she tried, He Yan could not understand why Xiao Jue had chosen Lei Hou for the Vanguard Battalion.

She had thought herself blind for a time, but compared to Xiao Jue’s blindness, hers paled in comparison. Had she not performed exceptionally well throughout their time in Liangzhou? Better than anyone could ask for. Had she not seized more flags than anyone else? So many that none were left for others. She had even cracked a formation that ordinary recruits could not solve. With talent like hers, how could Xiao Jue remain unmoved?

She was taking back every good thing she’d ever said about him!

He Yan felt so furious it made her liver ache—and yet, this was not even the last straw. Moments later, Instructor Shen approached.

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, he had someone bring over a small chest and announced, “Since you are all here, this is perfect. You won first place in the flag competition, and tonight is the Mid-Autumn Festival. Here’s your prize.”

Xiao Mai stepped forward to open the chest, revealing a small jar of liquor and several silver ingots.

“This is ‘Eighteen Immortals’—just this tiny jar is worth a hundred taels,” Instructor Shen said proudly. “You may drink it tonight, but do not overindulge.”

“Eighteen Immortals!” Wang Ba smacked his lips. “Never thought I’d get to taste this here. This life’s been worth it!”

In an instant, he forgot all about cursing “highborn types with power and influence.”

Even Huang Xiong swallowed hard. As men of valor, they naturally loved fine liquor—especially something this rare. Even Xiao Mai, too young to appreciate alcohol, grabbed a silver ingot and bit into it.

The prize was not extravagant, but it was certainly generous. Amid the general delight, He Yan stood out like a sore thumb.

She merely glanced at the chest before letting out a derisive snort. “Seems our commander is not doing so well himself.”

Shen Han froze.

“Pathetic,” the young recruit muttered without even looking at him, poking at the fire with a stick. Her sarcasm was unmistakable.

Hong Shan clapped a hand over her mouth and hastily apologized to Shen Han, “This brother’s drunk, drunk… talking nonsense. Chief Instructor, please do not take it to heart.”

Baffled, Shen Han walked away.

After Shen Han left, He Yan looked at the box on the ground and could not help but sneer, “This little bit? Might as well give it to beggars.”

“Brother, this is not bad at all,” Huang Xiong said patiently. “You are just venting your anger.”

He Yan was seething and did not want to talk.

Huang Xiong sat down beside her, slung an arm over her shoulder, and stared at the flickering flames before them. In a deep voice, he said, “Young one, do not lose heart. It is just a hurdle. Look at me.” He pointed at himself. “Right now, you’ve only lost a chance to join the Vanguard Battalion. Back then, I lost everything.”

He could not bring himself to touch the jar of Eighteen Immortals wine, so he poured two large bowls from the nearby jar of yellow wine instead—one for He Yan and one for himself. After taking a sip, he remarked, “Damn strong stuff!”

Seeing He Yan remain silent, he pointed at the prayer beads around his neck. “These belonged to my mother.”

The beads were pitch black, gleaming with a gentle luster, starkly mismatched with his burly physique. Yet Huang Xiong had never taken them off. He then pointed to the blade beside him. “This sword has killed nineteen men.”

The statement was chilling. For a moment, even Wang Ba and the others turned to look at him. He Yan’s eyes flickered as she glanced at him.

Finally getting a reaction from her, Huang Xiong spoke gruffly, “Back then, I was about your age. Our family had a manual of sword techniques, passed down through generations. Someone found out and came to buy it, but my father refused to sell.”

“I was out with friends, escaping the summer heat. When I returned, my entire family had been slaughtered. All the valuables in the house were untouched—only the manual was missing.”

Xiao Mai gasped. “That’s…”

“Someone wiped out my Huang family for that manual.” Huang Xiong’s expression was eerily calm as he spoke, whether from the passage of time or something else. “I reported it to the authorities, but the local officials could not do anything. So I investigated myself, spent all my family’s wealth, and traveled thousands of li alone with this sword, tracking the thieves. It took me three full years to find where they were.”

“I was afraid I’d fail in my revenge and just throw my life away. I was not afraid to die—I just did not want to die for nothing. I was the last of the Huang family. If I died, no one would avenge them.”

“So I disguised myself as a laborer and entered their household. During the day, I observed the layout and their routines. At night, I practiced sword techniques relentlessly. After a year and a half, I found my chance. One night, I avenged my family.”

The story was harrowing, yet he told it with unsettling detachment. The dangers he must have faced were unimaginable, but the bald giant’s eyes showed only serenity. He looked at He Yan and said, “A gentleman’s revenge is ten years not too late. If I’d rushed in recklessly back then, it would’ve just been mutual destruction. But look at me now—the enemies are dead, and I am still alive, drinking and eating with you here. Tell me, who won?”

He was using his own story to advise He Yan not to act on impulse.

He Yan smiled and was about to reply when Jiang Jiao reached out, poured himself a bowl of yellow wine, and downed a large gulp. Unlike Huang Xiong, he was not much of a drinker. His face turned red from the burn, and he wiped the wine from his lips before blurting out, “Exactly! Everyone goes through hard times. What’s yours compared to mine? Look at me—young master of a martial arts school, sounds great, right? I even had a fiancée. We were supposed to marry this year, but she died.”

Xiao Mai widened his eyes, about to ask a question, but Shitou nudged him, and he quieted down.

“Do you know how she died?” Jiang Jiao’s eyes were slightly red as he muttered, “She died for love. She liked someone else, refused to marry me, and chose to die with that scholar! Tell me, compared to me, is my fate not worse?”

No wonder Jiang Jiao, with his looks and skills, had joined the army. After such an incident, he must have been disheartened and simply left his hometown to avoid the painful memories.

Everyone turned to look at Wang Ba, who was baffled at first, then flushed with anger. “Why are you all staring at me? I do not have any story! Are you all crazy? What’s the point of talking about this nonsense? Are you here to compete over who’s more miserable?”