The training camp sprawled in a tannin-stained crater at the kingdom's border, nestled beneath the mountain's looming shadow. The clang of weapons rang through the air as bare-chested soldiers whirled spears in sync, sweat glistening under the sun.
Shui Yi clung tightly to Long Fei's arm. He gave her a sideways glance as her eyes darted nervously across the overwhelming number of soldiers, their grunts echoing as they drilled relentlessly. A knot coiled in her chest. Years spent in solitude made the crowd feel even more daunting.
Ling Yue stood behind them and yanked the mermaid's hand off the prince, clicking her tongue. "Keep your hands to yourself."
The mermaid pouted, her nerves betraying her as she struggled to maintain her disguise while her fake mustache and beard itched. She reached to scratch the itch, but her stern companion grabbed her hand and shook her head beneath the mask.
The guardian scanned the soldiers' formations and let out a low whistle. "This is what you want me to work with?" She scratched her neck and pursed her lips.
Long Fei turned his head and lowered his voice into his hand. "Ling Yue, please go easy on them. Remember, they're only human."
Before anyone could comment further, a booming laugh cracked through the air. The army general, a burly man clad in dark, gleaming armor, arrogantly stepped onto the platform. His smirk was laced with disdain as he towered over them, appraising the motley crew.
"Your Highness, this is what we've been waiting for?" he sneered. "A scrawny pretty boy who hides behind you and a short masked figure too scared to show his face?"
Shui Yi flinched at his words, her fingers twitching, but she said nothing. She turned away, quickly fidgeting with her fake facial hair.
Long Fei crossed his arms as he issued a calm challenge. "General Zhao, why don't you test them yourself? If they beat you, you'll step down and serve them."
A murmur of disbelief rippled through the soldiers, but the seasoned veteran stood unfazed, confidence swelling. "Alright, I'll take the pretty boy as my first challenger."
Long Fei grinned as he stepped back, giving Shui Yi room to breathe. He whispered to her, "Trust yourself." Then he gestured for her to step onto the platform. She stumbled onto the platform, her feet shaky beneath her, sniggers rising around them.
General Zhao strode to the weapon racks, selecting a long, polished spear. He spun it effortlessly, the weapon humming in the air as it twirled around him. With the spear resting behind him, his eyes gleamed with challenge. "Pick your weapon."
She bit her fingernails. Her eyes averted his gaze as her feet refused to move.
"Hurry up, pretty boy. I don't have all day," he barked.
Her gaze flicked anxiously to the weapon rack. The memory of Long Yan's severed head flashed in her mind, twisting her stomach. She clenched her fists and croaked, "No weapon."
The old soldier laughed cruelly. "Coward. This is going to be easier than I thought."
The duel began. He circled her as she feebly stood, hands clenched by her side and head cast down. He quickly lunged, his spear cutting the air. She barely dodged, her movements hesitant and defensive. Laughter rippled through the spectators, and the general's grin widened at her fumbling at every dodge. "Is this all you've got?" he taunted, his strikes growing bolder, more aggressive.
Shui Yi glanced over to her companions. Long Fei gave her an encouraging nod, while Ling Yue narrowed her eyes and punched her fist, urging her to pummel him. With her companions' faith in her, she steeled herself and searched for an opening. Compared to sparring with the guardian, this soldier was a turtle. In a heartbeat, she sidestepped, twirled around his spear, using his momentum against him. She delivered a swift kick to his knee and chopped his neck with her hand, sweeping him to the floor.
He crashed to the ground with a thunderous thud. Her knee was already pressed into his chest, her hand gripping his collar as she breathed down on him.
A stunned silence followed. Her breath came in ragged gasps.
Then the soldiers erupted into raucous applause. The once-arrogant general lay pinned beneath the unassuming warrior.
Long Fei's jaw tightened, nostrils flaring as he clenched his fists. He hopped onto the platform, put himself between them, and pried her off the fallen veteran. To the others, it seemed like he was merely stopping the fight, but Shui Yi noticed the brief annoyance in his eyes—a look she hasn't seen before. Did she go too far? Was he disappointed in her?
Before she could process it, a soldier's voice rang out, "Is he our new general?!"
"No." Long Fei raised his hand, pointing at the masked figure. "He is."
Ling Yue hopped onto the platform, bowing with a flourish.
"The masked figure? The one who hadn't even fought?" A wave of disbelief ran through the soldiers. Doubt clouded their expressions.
A gust of wind, an azure blur dashed forward — thumps rang out across the training field as soldiers fell one by one, groaning in pain and clutching their stomachs.
Ling Yue stood exactly where she'd started, wiping her nose with a self-satisfied smirk. In her hand, she held out a bunch of belts she'd snatched mid-sprint.
"This is your first warning. The next time, I won't go so easy on you."
The soldiers clutched their pants, heads bowed in shame. A heavy silence descended upon the army. She snapped her head toward the fallen general, pointed to him, and then gestured for him to spar with her. Still sprawled in humiliation on the platform, he shook his head, his eyes wide.
"Pfft. You're no fun," she grunted. She planted her foot on the spear's edge, flipped it into her hand, then slammed it down with a resounding crack. She faced the army and stared the soldiers down. "Any objections?"