Good day everyone! We’re moving on to Chapter 2 of the novel. Yay! I really loved reading this chapter. It’s packed with so much action and awesomeness of Gu Yun. I’ve divided it into 5 parts as I found it to be considerably long. In this first part Gu Yun meets second brother Su Ren. Many love the cute, young, fiery Su Yu, but I don’t know I tend to like more the wise and cool as a cuc.u.mber Su Ren! Okay then, enjoy reading!
Chapter 2: The military training ground of the mighty army, Part 1 of 5
After Su Yu left in a huff, Gu Yun put aside the half-finished cuc.u.mber she was holding in her hand, got up and stretched her body. Just now she had to eat hurriedly. She really needed such nourishment as in this era there is no protein powder available yet. In order to provide sufficient calories to accelerate muscle growth, even if causing some trouble she had no other choice, because at all costs she must eat all these high-protein foods. However, looking at her scrawny body, Gu Yun’s mood sank. When can she have her body build be like as before?
The old servant’s head bowed in frustration. Gu Yun happened to see the look of reproach on his eyes. She shrugged and smiled. She didn’t bully the master of the house. It was his fault being too presumptuous. While clearing up the dishes the old servant was shaking his head. Inwardly he sighed. This young girl is very shrewd and cunning. The third general definitely cannot match to her. Even if the great general could not know, he should not have capitulated by allowing her to stay.
The old servant was muttering to himself as he went out of the small courtyard. Gu Yun casually laid down on the meadow. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she deeply thought of something while in pa.s.sing she was pulling chunks of weeds, her hands toying with the cut weeds.
Qing’s whereabouts is unknown. Currently she does not have any clues whatsoever where she might be. She has no other way but to begin to investigate where the two sisters of this body are. General Manor is not a place where she can stay in the long-term. But if she escapes now, she’ll be hunted down, and when that happens she would then be too busy fending for herself. How can she at the same time search for Qing. It’s better for her to temporarily stay in the General Manor, find Qing, plan a good escape route, and leave before it’s too late for her. Gu Yun’s mind was contemplating the next plan, when suddenly came a burst of m.u.f.fled thunder of drums. Gu Yun opened her eyes quickly, inclined her head and listened attentively.
The sound is coming from the mountain! This past half month, sounds of cries came from time to time directly behind the courtyard. They were either sounds of fighting or short drumbeats, but the sound of clear, loud thundering drumbeats like this right now she has not heard yet. Gu Yun being preoccupied during weekdays in strengthening her own physique was too lazy to check on other things. But the sound of rumbling drums today is too loud, full of force and fury, the people who hear it can actually feel their own blood boiling in excitement.
She has always been on the go, her mind’s curiosity ignited, her body has already taken a step forward. Gu Yun stood up agilely, walked towards the direction where the sound of the drums came from.
What greeted her was a high courtyard wall which had a small wooden door with a latch. Gu Yun strode to the door and shoved it open to have a closer look. Suddenly the panorama before her became crystal clear. It left her feeling cold.
As far as her eyes could see, was a large, wide open s.p.a.ce. The scorching sun overhead, this broad expanse was densely packed with about two or three thousand people standing orderly. There were two groups being pitted to fight against each other. Su Yu, the man who came and she met this noon stood on top of a commander’s seat in the side, wearing a silver armor, brandishing a heavy broadsword, proudly standing. His appearance was quite a bit formidable.
When the battle drums stopped, Su Yu’s low growl resounded, “Attack!” The battle immediately started. The two opposing parties fought head-on against each other. Gu Yun lightly leaned against the door and found the battle amusing. Pretty soon she scowled and chuckled low.
“Is it awfully funny?” Behind her a gentle male voice sounded.
Gu Yun was a bit startled. She was too concentrated on watching the battle that she had not noticed someone was approaching! She was feeling inwardly chagrined, but her face did not show a fraction of the change in her mood. She slowly turned around and saw a man standing behind her in black clothes. His appearance was extraordinarily handsome. Just by looking at his facial features, Gu Yun guessed this person in front of her should also be Su Ling’s brother. But compared to Su Ling’s cold and arrogant looks, Su Yu’s overbearing temper, he looked refined, cool and bright. He exuded an impression of a relaxed and pleasant temperament. Although he had a scholarly appearance, with a polite smile on his face, Gu Yun saw when his eyes narrowed slightly and the corners of his mouth raised, his real mood at this time was not as friendly as the expression on his face.
Gu Yun masked the surprise in her eyes and breezily replied: “No. It is not at all funny. I just feel it’s a pity.”
“Why do you feel it’s a pity?” Su Ren not batting an eyelid countered.
Turning around to observe the battle raging on the field, yet not seeing a victor between the two teams, Gu Yun replied dismissively: “The main purpose of this battle should be to test the strength of the Su Yu-led attacking team, right? However, I personally feel that the attacking team is entirely competent, but unfortunately its defensive capability is extremely poor.” During the start of the battle it may not be glaringly obvious, but after a while it can at once be completely exposed.
Su Ren’s eyes glinted, continuing to smile he asked: “What makes you think so?”
Gu Yun turned around her head and faced Su Ren’s calm and searching eyes. He wanted to test her? Gu Yun chuckled. He wanted to test her so that he can improve the formation. Standing side by side with Su Ren, she detailed her a.n.a.lysis softly: “Regardless if it is the attacking or defending side, in unfamiliar situations one cannot know the capability of the opponent. At the beginning, the offensive strength of the two parties is equal. At this time who wins and who loses depends on who finds out first the other’s weaknesses. Who can launch an attack at the same time defend, who can withstand the other’s offensive attack, will be the one to win! If Su Yu’s team encounters ordinary opponents, by just relying on its strong attack force, it can win. But if the opponent is a group of elite soldiers, then relying alone on its offensive capability is clearly not enough.”
Gu Yun slowly raising her hand, pointed to the right of Su Yu, chuckled and firmly said: “its vulnerability is the lack of defense in the right flank.”
As if to confirm her words, as the two armies clashed, Su Yu originally planned the formation to open like the wings of a b.u.t.terfly. But alas, the soldiers moved more to the rear, increasingly getting the two wings into a critical position. Su Yu and his second-in-command already rushed to the forefront, but the whole battle formation lagged at the back, especially on the right side. The formation was obviously chaotic.
Su Ren frowned, his heart cannot help but be jolted. At the start when he saw this girl standing outside the courtyard, wearing a smile on her face, he is also aware that she is a rich family’s pampered young daughter. But she does not know of military battle formations, does not understand what was happening out there, so she was giggling. It now appears that not only she understands, but she’s in fact very knowledgeable!
Quelling the surprise in his heart, Su Ren asked: “In your opinion, how can we win?”
“Strengthen the defense.” As long as they can hold out for half an hour, the attack team should be able to capture the flag of the opponent.
“How do you strengthen it?”
Gu Yun was pensive for a while, she coldly replied: “By increasing the individual’s combat fitness.”
The individual’s combat fitness? Su Ren’s eyes lit up. He and Su Yu were actually aware of the flaws in Su Yu’s battle formation, just that they could not single out the crux. Hearing what she has just said, his mind seemed to have started planning countermeasures at once. Impressed by the woman on his side, Su Ren smiled and asked: “Do you like to watch the battle in short distance?”
Gu Yun readily laughed and said: “Why not.”
Regarding this invitation, Gu Yun admitted to herself that she’s very excited. In this era, all along she felt there isn’t anything familiar and nothing piqued her interest. But here it seems it made her feel familiar, inexplicably she wanted to find out.
They entered the training ground. From this position they can clearly see more of the battle. All this time Su Ren has been covertly watching the girl on his side. Gu Yun suddenly asked softly: “What’s your name?”
Su Ren, briefly startled, replied: “Su Ren.”
Gu Yun nodded and replied: “Qing Mo.”
“Does Miss Qing also likes to study the art of war?” This woman who appeared in the General Manor, Su Ren already guessed her ident.i.ty, but he did not expect the rumors of the Qing family’s ruined beautiful faces to be true. Also he did not think, that she understands military strategies!
Gu Yun calmly shook her head and heartily laughed: “Not really studied, I just have little knowledge of it.” The so-called ancient art of war she has really looked into it before, but she really also did not study it. In her mind are all modern military exercises and combat skills.
Su Ren gently arched his eyebrow, knowing a little? She really is too modest. They chatted for a while. As what they expected of the battle’s outcome, Su Yu’s attack failed. He has even added two hundred soldiers in the right flank, but still he lost in the end! Annoyed he removed his armor. As he looked up and saw Su Ren standing across, Su Yu hastily rushed over.
“Second elder brother.” As this was his second defeat in battle, Su Yu was already in sour mood. So when he saw the pet.i.te woman beside Su Ren, his face darkened. He growled: “What are you doing here?! Who allowed you to get out?!”
Gu Yun coldly eyed him and asked: “Isn’t this place part of the premises of the General Manor?” A confused Su Yu who has lots of fire in his belly but has no place to vent to, continued to holler against Gu Yun: “This ground here, of course, is part of the General Manor.”
Gu Yun nodded slowly, literally snorted: “Well then, you lost a bet to me b.a.s.t.a.r.d. To eat within an hour, you pledged to allow me to move freely inside the General Manor.”