Chapter 88

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Protagonist:

Xuan Ge

Inside the training ground of the General's Mansion, gusts of wind swirled; a figure in white-blue was training with all her might in the center of the field.

Fei Xiao wore a set of light, silver training armor that clung to her frame, outlining the girl's slender yet upright lines.

She held a lightweight training longsword, practicing basic sword forms over and over, focused and determined.

The rule Xuan Ge set for her was a progressively increasing number of sword swings, from one thousand to five thousand, then to ten thousand.

Ultimately she must stack the force of each swing, sending out sharp gale winds, laying the foundation for learning more exquisite spear and sword arts later.

By now Fei Xiao was already drenched in fragrant sweat; the hair at her forehead was soaked through, sticking tightly to her smooth brow.

Her training clothes were also half-soaked with sweat, faintly revealing the skin and soft curves beneath.

Even though the Shen Wu Xian Zhou had a pleasant climate, temperate all four seasons, every breath Fei Xiao took exhaled a faint heat.

Her chest heaved violently, her arms ached faintly from the long period of swinging, yet she never stopped moving, her eyes full of stubbornness.

In the training ground's rest area, Qi Ningli was sitting by a stone table, holding the documentary classics Bai Qi had taught her, reading very seriously.

Per Bai Qi's arrangement, she first had to systematically learn the etiquette and culture of the Shen Wu Xian Zhou, build a solid foundation, then choose advanced study or delve into military strategy according to her own interests and talents.

She would occasionally raise her head and look toward Fei Xiao training in the field.

There was no envy in her eyes, only a single-minded resolve to study well under Marshal Bai, so that in the future she could stand shoulder to shoulder with Fei Xiao and not hold her back.

Xuan Ge, meanwhile, held a thin wooden staff, sitting with one leg crossed on a stone bench beside Fei Xiao, his expression lazy yet focused.

His gaze fixed tightly on Fei Xiao's every movement; from time to time he lightly tapped her shoulder or wrist with the wooden staff, correcting her posture.

Around the training ground stood a full circle of Shen Wu Xian Zhou Colonels and higher-ranking officers.

They stood silently to the side, their gazes uniformly locked on Fei Xiao, eyes full of curiosity.

Everyone knew the Shen Wei General had not taken a disciple in hundreds of years, yet now he made an exception to accept this fox-person disciple Fei Xiao; there was surely an unusual deep meaning behind it.

Xuan Ge watched Fei Xiao's movements; though overall standard and proper, in the gaps between swings there were minute fluctuations in motion, and her power lacked steadiness.

He inadvertently glanced at the surrounding observing officers, his tone flat yet carrying undeniable authority, and said softly:

"All of you scram, or you're banned from the Frontline for a month."

The words barely fell when the Shen Wu Army officers surrounding them immediately cupped fists in salute, replying in unison: "Yes, General!"

Tone respectful, not daring the slightest negligence, they turned orderly and strode out of the training ground, terrified of truly losing Frontline qualifications.

The training ground instantly fell quiet, leaving only the sound of Fei Xiao's sword cleaving the air and the soft rustle of Qi Ningli turning pages.

Xuan Ge waved a hand; faint blue energy condensed around him, forming a comfortable jade-colored recliner. He gestured for Fei Xiao to stop, tone gentle:

"Rest a bit, sit."

"Hah~ hah~~ Yes... Master."

Fei Xiao halted, planting the longsword on the ground to support her exhausted body, panting heavily.

Hearing Xuan Ge's words, she slowly walked to the recliner and sat down, as if all strength had been drained from her body.

Xuan Ge picked up a clean towel from the side, stood, walked to Fei Xiao, and naturally reached out to wipe her sweat.

The towel lightly brushed over Fei Xiao's fox ears, carrying a faint warmth.

Then from forehead to hair tips, incidentally wiping her slightly reddened neck; movements gentle, carrying a few parts of unnoticeable pampering.

Fei Xiao sat obediently, not moving a muscle.

From the moment Xuan Ge's hand touched her fox ears, her body had stayed tense, ear tips instantly flushing red, even her breathing becoming careful.

"Why so tense? Relax."

While wiping sweat from Fei Xiao's arms, Xuan Ge looked up, raised a brow at Fei Xiao's increasingly flushed face, tone carrying a touch of teasing.

"Training ground temperature uncomfortable? Or just tired?"

"N... no~ Master..."

Fei Xiao's voice was soft, tinged with shyness, answering in a low voice, eyes dodging, not daring to meet Xuan Ge's gaze, cheeks red enough to drip blood.

Xuan Ge looked at her obedient appearance, a flash of laughter crossing his eyes.

No longer teasing her, he instead pulled a jade talisman from his waist, fingertip lightly tapping; a message from Wei Qing surfaced on the talisman.

After quickly reading the message, Xuan Ge put away the talisman and instructed Fei Xiao in detail:

"Rest well, go bathe, change into clean clothes. This afternoon's training doesn't need increasing counts; just meet the basic target, don't wear yourself out."

He paused, then continued: "After a month, once your foundation is solid, you may choose any weapon — sword or spear — and I will teach you each one."

Xuan Ge reached out, lightly rubbed Fei Xiao's head, tone gentle beyond words:

"I have some matters to handle; while I'm gone, if anything comes up go find Ling Sha;

if she's not there either, go find the Shen Wu Army Imperial Guards, they'll help you solve it."

Fei Xiao lifted her head, looking at Xuan Ge's gentle eyes, obediently nodded; the fox ears atop her head swayed lightly with the motion, looking very cute.

Provoking Xuan Ge into reaching out again, unable to resist, lightly rubbing her fox ears.

"Eat your meal properly, I already had the kitchen add extra meat, eat more."

After the final instructions, Xuan Ge stood up, turned and walked out of the training ground, the aura around him gradually returning to the majesty of a General.

Seeing this, Qi Ningli immediately stood, cupping fists respectfully toward Xuan Ge in salute.

After Xuan Ge's figure completely disappeared at the training ground entrance, she then smiled and walked quickly to Fei Xiao's side, mimicking her tone from just now, deliberately dragging out the sound to tease:

"N... no~ Master~~~"

"Voice so soft, is this the Salan I know... ah no, is this the Fei Xiao I know~?"

Qi Ningli spoke as she reached out, lightly poking Fei Xiao's flushed cheek, her eyes full of laughter.

Fei Xiao puffed up her little face, deliberately turning her head away in feigned anger.

She clutched tightly in her arms the towel Xuan Ge had used to wipe her sweat, yet the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curve upward slightly, laughter gradually spreading.

The shyness in Fei Xiao's eyes faded a few degrees, replaced by a few degrees more of a young girl's coquettish charm.

"Stop teasing me!"

Fei Xiao retorted softly, but she wasn't truly angry; instead she lightly tugged at Qi Ningli's sleeve.

"How was your reading just now? Was the content General Bai taught difficult?"

The two sat by the stone table, exchanging words back and forth, the training ground's atmosphere growing increasingly relaxed and pleasant.

Simultaneously, inside the Zheng Dian of the Shen Wei Jiang Jun Fu.

Wei Qing was frowning, looking at his nephew beside him — He Qu Bing — with a headache.

The latter kept his head lowered, yet still couldn't hide the unruliness and unwillingness in his eyes.

The frontline war was in full swing; He Qu Bing proactively requested to go on campaign. Wei Qing had instructed him repeatedly, over and over admonishing him to act with utmost caution and not go too far...

But this kid, his temperament was too brave and impulsive; he simply didn't take his admonitions to heart.

He actually led a Jing Ying squad, pursuing the Abundance Corruption Corps all the way, and ran straight to the Tai Yuan Na Si Xing Xi.

Although he was indeed brave, striking deep into enemy territory, successfully severing the leader of an Abundance Corruption Corps Division and achieving no small merit, he also stirred up disaster.

While pursuing the enemy forces, he mistook the Hei Ta's Hang Jian of the Genius Society for an Abundance spawn, nearly ordering fire to "designate" and destroy it.