The military camp was located in the western suburbs of Xindu City.
Shen Ying and the Child Emperor rode on horseback, spotting the uniform tents and training grounds from afar. It was completely different from the military camps they had seen in the capital.
Guards stopped them outside the camp gates.
Shen Ying reined in her horse and called out, “Excuse me, I am the younger sister of your General Shen. I have business with him.”
“This is a military stronghold; unauthorized personnel are not permitted inside.” The young guard stood as still as a statue, his cold gaze sweeping over Shen Ying and the Child Emperor behind her. “Please return, you two.”
“I really am your general's biological sister!” Shen Ying raised her voice. “Just go inside and pass the message.”
The guard remained unmoved. “Military orders are absolute. Without a token, no one is permitted to enter the camp.”
Shen Ying was left speechless, both angry and annoyed.
The Child Emperor, following behind her, advised, “Sister, why don't we head back first?”
“Head back? No way!”
Shen Ying turned her head and glared at the Child Emperor.
Just as she was about to try and coax the guard further, a sudden flurry of urgent hoofbeats echoed behind them.
“What are you doing here?”
Hearing a female voice behind her, Shen Ying instinctively spun around. Her face immediately lit up with joy. “General Feng, it's me! We've met before. I'm Shen Ying. My brothers are Shen Jue and Shen Yu. I came to find them!”
She had admired her eldest brother, Shen Jue, who had slain countless enemies on the battlefield, since she was a child. Seeing the female general Feng Chunya, who was equally famous in the north, how could she not be excited?
Women in the Great Yong Dynasty were not allowed in military camps. She had always thought of herself as an oddity for enjoying weapons and martial arts. It wasn't until she arrived in Xindu City that she realized women could not only enter the military, but also fight on the front lines and become great generals through military merit!
Seeing Shen Ying staring at Feng Chunya with stars in her eyes, the Child Emperor could hardly believe his own.
Was this really the Third Miss Shen he knew? Hadn't she always held her nose in the air, looking down on everyone? Why was she acting so eager and attentive toward this plain-looking General Feng?
She probably wasn't even this enthusiastic toward her own brother, General Shen.
He muttered inwardly.
Feng Chunya looked at the young girl. “I remember you. Do you have some urgent business with General Shen and the others?”
Blushing, Shen Ying said, “There is an urgent matter, but talking to you is the same, General Feng.”
“What is it?” Feng Chunya scratched her head. Out of consideration for Shen Yu and Shen Jue, she was inclined to look after Shen Ying. “Tell me. If it's something I can help with, I definitely will.”
Shen Ying hesitated for a moment before looking up. Staring at Feng Chunya with burning eyes, she said loudly, “I want to go south with you all! Don't look at how thin I am, I'm very good at fighting!”
Without hesitation, Feng Chunya shook her head at her.
“Sister Shen Ying, I'm afraid that won't do.”
Hearing this, Shen Ying grew anxious. “Why not? Is it because I was punished by the Divine Lady before?”
Her eyes grew slightly red with grievance.
“It's not because of that,” Feng Chunya explained. “It's because we are only mobilizing ten thousand people for this southern expedition. The spots are completely locked in now. Every single slot is accounted for.”
“If you want to go, you have to beat one of those ten thousand people to the ground and take their place.”
As she spoke, she looked at the young girl, who didn't even reach her chin, and said with certainty, “You can't beat them.”
Shen Ying stiffened her neck. “Don't look down on me! I've practiced martial arts with my father and brothers since I was three. While I might not be a top-tier expert, I'm not so weak that I can't even beat an ordinary soldier!”
As she spoke, her brow was filled with pride.
Feng Chunya glanced at her and refrained from dampening her spirits further. Somewhat helplessly, she said, “Alright, follow me.”
This time, the guard did not stop Shen Ying and the Child Emperor. He withdrew his iron spear and slowly opened the camp gates.
Shen Ying grabbed the Child Emperor's sleeve and strode into the military camp, following closely behind Feng Chunya.
The moment they stood inside the camp, both of them froze in unison.
This military camp was not chaotic like the ones in the capital, nor were there any lazy soldiers lounging around.
The camp paths were wide and straight. Every ten paces stood a bright red banner, snapping sharply in the wind.
Wooden racks were set up along the roadside, holding long spears arranged neatly by length. The spearheads pointed in the same direction, gleaming with a cold light, looking even more orderly than the brush holders in the palace's Imperial Study.
Shen Ying's gaze landed on the row of spears on the wooden rack, her admiration completely impossible to hide.
She reached out, wanting to touch them, but pulled her hand back. “These spears look even better than my father's treasured spear. Aren't you afraid someone will steal them, leaving such divine weapons right by the roadside?”
Feng Chunya said simply, “The military discipline is strict, so no one would dare to steal. Besides, everyone doesn't really like using these kinds of spears anymore. Stealing them home would just take up space.”
Shen Ying and the Child Emperor exchanged a glance, and both saw shock in the other's eyes.
They didn't know if it was just their imagination, but from Feng Chunya's tone, they got the bizarre impression that these priceless, divine weapons were treated as little more than scrap metal in Xindu City.
Feng Chunya led them to the training grounds. “These are the people going south with the Divine Lady this time.”
Shen Ying and the Child Emperor looked in the direction Feng Chunya pointed. A perfectly orderly phalanx came into view, leaving them completely dumbfounded.
Dozens of soldiers wearing short tunics were lined up on both sides, practicing their punches in the open field under the blazing sun.
At a glance, it looked no different from ordinary fist techniques, but upon closer inspection, Shen Ying's pupils suddenly contracted.
As a tall, thin soldier in the front row threw a punch, a visible shockwave of air actually rippled out from his fist.
With a dull thud, a straw target planted three zhang away shook violently, a deep fist imprint clearly sunken into its bullseye.
The Child Emperor swallowed hard.
“What... what kind of martial arts is this?”
His voice cracked.
Feng Chunya did not hide it. “The Divine Lady once passed down the Body Tempering Technique. Now, everyone in the north practices it. Even children just a few years old can produce fist winds if they have a knack for martial arts.”
Shen Ying: “...”
Though she didn't like studying, she wasn't a fool. After witnessing the power of that punch, she knew she was no match. Naturally, she wouldn't go out of her way to humiliate herself and become a laughingstock.
“General Feng, can I learn this Body Tempering Technique?” A hint of longing slipped into her voice.
“Of course you can.”
Hearing this, Shen Ying was incredibly excited. She was just about to say something more when she was interrupted by a voice.
“General Feng, the three-day limit is up. We should head to the city gate together to await the Divine Lady.”
Shen Jue rode over on his horse.
Noticing Shen Ying and the Child Emperor next to Feng Chunya, his brow furrowed. “Why are you two here?”
Shen Ying smiled somewhat awkwardly. “Eldest Brother, I heard you are following the Divine Lady south, so I came to send you off.”
With the southern expedition imminent, Shen Jue had no time to worry about Shen Ying. After a brief discussion with Feng Chunya, he led the ten thousand elite troops in a grand procession to the city gate, quietly awaiting the arrival of the Divine Lady.
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