Lian Sheng’s face rested against her sword, its cold touch seeping into her blood through her skin. Her eyes were closed, but her thoughts refused to settle.
No weapons. No supplies. No reinforcements. How were they supposed to survive the winter? How were they supposed to cross the frozen river at its coldest and make it back to their homeland? How many of her brothers-in-arms were still alive? Their soldiers could only flee on foot, while the enemy rode the fine horses her own court had gifted away. Could they possibly escape the encirclement?
The pounding of hooves, drawing closer, traveled through the soil and reached her ears. Her heartbeat grew faster, clearer – like the beating of war drums, each thrum pressing against her eardrums, about to pierce through.
“Run!”
Before the word could leave her throat, Lian Sheng’s eyes snapped open.
What greeted her sight was a clear glass window, the bright sunlight falling upon her hands.
Beneath her was not the muddy ground, nor was her head resting against a cold blade. For a moment, Lian Sheng felt dazed.
A dream.
She had been here for some time now, yet she couldn’t stop reliving her past.
On one side – a battlefield of iron horses and ice-crusted rivers. On the other – a peaceful, stable future society. She did not know how many years she had crossed to arrive here. And this place – too unfamiliar, too alien – she could never truly blend in. She was merely playing a role.
Lian Sheng touched her neck, her gaze drifting absently toward the window. Three rhythmic knocks sounded at the door.
A woman’s voice called out, “Get up already! Do you know what time it is?”
Lian Sheng glanced at the optical computer by her bedside, raised a hand to wipe away her cold sweat, and rubbed her face firmly before throwing off the covers and getting up.
It was the year 335 of the Alliance New Calendar. The live-combat exercises for the United Federation University were about to begin – mandatory for all students every semester.
Including her – the new transfer student to the Command Department, now in her junior year.
Dragging her feet, Lian Sheng made her way down the stairs, exuding an air of profound lethargy.
Too lax… She just couldn’t get used to days like these.
Lian Sheng’s mother, Lin Lie, a sharp-featured woman with long hair, was already sitting at the dining table, one leg crossed. She looked up with a trace of disapproval. “If you don’t like the military academy, then put in another transfer request. The Command Department isn’t a place for you to coast along and waste time.”
Lian Sheng turned her head and glanced at the photo hanging on the wall. In it, two people stood dressed in military uniform, medals pinned to their chests, their expressions radiant and proud. Then she looked at herself – thin and frail, arms completely lacking strength, clearly out of shape.
She couldn’t help but curl her lips slightly. What a disappointment I must be to them.
Lian Sheng sat down at the table, stretched her arms, and answered briefly, “No. The military’s fine.”
Lin Lie shot her a glance but said nothing more.
In an entire day, the two of them exchanged no more than three sentences. This morning’s quota had already been met.
Lin Lie grabbed her jacket from the back of the chair and pulled it on, then picked up the keys off the table. Her voice was flat, devoid of any warmth. “Take your breakfast. I’ll drop you at the camp first, then I have to report back to headquarters.”
Lian Sheng stopped her wandering gaze, grabbed a piece of bread from the table, and followed her mother out the door.
Without a word, she climbed into the aircraft, fastened her seatbelt, and waited for takeoff.
She closed her eyes for a moment to adjust.
If the Great Liang dynasty had access to this kind of technology… no, even just one of these machines, she could have rammed her way straight through an entire city wall.
At that thought, a shadow of darkness passed over Lian Sheng’s eyes.
Having suddenly arrived here, she had no idea what had become of her other self back there.
The scenery outside the window blurred past. Lian Sheng was still trying to calm her mind when the aircraft had already arrived at the destination.
The UFU’s live-combat exercises were not held on campus, but at a mountain forest leased by the school.
According to the information Lian Sheng had looked up, this forest had been preserved as much as possible in its original terrain and appearance. It sounded perfect for Lian Sheng – she was very satisfied.
Lin Lie dropped her off at the camp and left immediately, leaving Lian Sheng alone to handle things on her own.
Lian Sheng didn’t know many people at the school, and they didn’t know her either -after all, she was a new transfer student this year. But her presence was so unusual that wherever she went, several pairs of eyes followed her.
Fortunately, the script used here was very similar to the one from her past. After studying the online character database once, she could recognize ninety percent of them.
Following the signs marked around the camp, she went to the supply point to collect her tent and map, then dragged the heavy load with difficulty to the area designated for her department.
The gear was quite heavy – or perhaps it was more that Lian Sheng was severely out of shape. She dragged it past three gathered campsites without a single person offering to help.
The contingent from the Command Department was staying in an open area by the river.
Lian Sheng put down her things and went to inspect the riverbank. After a quick assessment, she chose a higher, more remote spot to set up camp.
When operating in the field, one should always camp away from water, on high ground, facing the sun. This was ingrained vigilance. Even though no enemy was likely to attack here, if it rained and the river rose in the middle of the night, those camping down below would most likely be flooded.
Once a spot was chosen, moving would be a major hassle – plus there’d be competition. Who knew when the rain might come? She might as well find a safe location from the start.
Now, here was the problem: how was this thing supposed to be used?
Lian Sheng plopped down onto the folded tent and carefully studied the instruction manual in her hand. After a long while, she looked up and let out a deep sigh.
She had arrived late to begin with, then wandered around for a while, dragging her feet. Everyone else had already set up their tents and gathered in small groups to talk. She was the only one still sitting on her unopened gear.
Just as she was about to go ask someone for help, a loud whistle sounded in the distance.
At the signal, everyone rose and headed to the assembly point up ahead. Lian Sheng quickly tossed aside whatever she was holding, shoved her hands in her pockets, and hurried after them.
The assembly area was very open and well-equipped with facilities. It resembled something like a training ground.
Several buildings stood nearby. Based on the map from earlier, they should be the medical office, the mess hall, the power station, and the instructors’ quarters. These buildings were fully equipped to handle all kinds of emergencies.
The crowd stood in neat rows. Lian Sheng slipped into the formation like a fraud joining the ranks.
Up ahead stood a soldier in camouflage uniform, with more than a dozen other squads arranged in similar formations beside him.
“Hello, third-year Command Department students. I am your instructor, my surname is Fu. Starting today, I will be in charge of your fifteen-day live-combat exercise.” Instructor Fu’s words rang out crisp and forceful as he began walking around their formation. He continued, “My words are military orders, and you must obey them absolutely. Since you are Command Department students, you should already know…”
He came to a halt directly in front of Lian Sheng. His words stopped abruptly.
The two of them stood face to face. No further words followed.
Everyone turned to stare at Lian Sheng.
Instructor Fu frowned. “Where is your uniform?”
Lian Sheng answered, “In my bag.” She hadn’t had time to change.
Instructor Fu held back his temper for the moment – after all, they had only just met less than a minute ago. He gave a slight nod of his chin. “Go change.”
Lian Sheng obeyed and ran off.
Her tent wasn’t set up yet, and she couldn’t very well change clothes out in the open wilderness. So she spread the canvas over her head, fumbled in the dark to swap her clothes, then quickly ran back.
By the time she returned, Instructor Fu was already barking, “Did you all hear what I just said?”
The crowd answered loudly, “Yes, sir!”
Lian Sheng ducked her head and scrambled back to her spot.
“Halt!” Instructor Fu roared at her. “I just said – when you return to formation, you report in! What do you think you’re doing?”
Lian Sheng turned her head. “…I wasn’t here just now.”
Instructor Fu was speechless.
Just as he was about to tell her to report in now, Lian Sheng had already stepped forward ahead of him and called out, “Reporting in!”
Instructor Fu said nothing.
The frustration stuck in his chest, deeply unsatisfying.
He gestured for her to return to formation, then turned and ordered, “Everyone! Disperse and sit down!”
The group skillfully dispersed and sat down in a circle, with rows staggered one behind the other.
Lian Sheng sat in the middle row, biting her finger, listening to the person at the front speak.
“It’s time for the annual live-combat exercise again. Since you’re third-year students, I figure I don’t need to say much.” Instructor Fu curled his lips into a smile. “Coming all the way here – if you don’t lose a layer of skin, you’ll have done this mountain a disservice. Am I right?”
The group tensed slightly. Clearly, their memories were not so pleasant.
Instructor Fu swept his gaze across them, finally fixing his eyes on Lian Sheng.
This one really was… too! Damn! Listless! Her face wore a dull, indifferent expression -utterly uninterested, completely lacking any sense of urgency.
So Instructor Fu pointed at Lian Sheng, who was sitting there doing nothing in particular, and said, “Someone like you – tender-skinned and delicate. Even though you’re a girl, don’t think for a second that anyone here is going to go easy on you.”
Lian Sheng, suddenly called out, lowered her hand and raised an eyebrow dismissively. “Oh?”
Instructor Fu looked at her a moment longer, then asked, “Are you really a third-year?”
A student nearby explained, “She just transferred into the Military Academy this semester.”
Instructor Fu nodded with an expression that said, I see. Then he added meaningfully, “Please, do cherish these final moments.”
He had a feeling he wouldn’t last one day before this girl transferred out again. Every year, a few such students appeared – suddenly struck by some inexplicable impulse, only to regret it.
Lian Sheng maintained her blank expression the entire time, offering no response to his words. It was as if she hadn’t taken them to heart at all.
Instructor Fu was momentarily embarrassed, yet his gaze remained fixed on her.
Then Lian Sheng raised a hand and yawned, continuing to stare off into the distance in a daze.
She really hadn’t taken him to heart.
Sensing the instructor’s rising anger, the other students looked away, pretending nothing was wrong.
Instructor Fu’s face reddened slightly. He gritted his teeth.
So soon. Someone has come. To challenge. My authority.
This girl was just wonderful.
He was still explaining the rest of the live-combat exercise arrangements when another instructor walked over with a grin and asked, “What do you think? Want to run a point-grabbing competition with the new recruits?”
Lian Sheng sat with her arms crossed, slouching slightly, quietly observing.
Instructor Fu exchanged a few words with him, then turned back and asked, “So? The first-year freshmen – want to compete or not?”
The group remained silent.
“You can’t escape what’s coming either way. Competing against first-years is still better than competing against fourth-years, right?” Instructor Fu made the decision for them. “We’re going up against the First-Year Infantry Department. The point-grabbing competition starts now!”
The group immediately broke into groans.
Of all people – the Infantry Department!
Lian Sheng had no idea what was going on. She turned to the boy next to her and asked, “What’s a point-grabbing competition?”
The boy took off his cap and ran a hand through his hair, looking equally dejected. He explained briefly in a few words. “One-on-one fights. Win and you gain points. Lose and points get deducted.”
Another person whispered, “Of all people – the Infantry Department. That’s just asking to get killed. I really hope they don’t pick me.”
Lian Sheng’s eyes shifted. She asked again, “Fighting?”
The boy gave her a sidelong glance. “Scared?”
Lian Sheng started bouncing her leg. For the first time, she seemed mildly interested. She chuckled. “Heh. Interesting.”
Individual combat referred to soldiers with exceptional combat capabilities – superior physical fitness, top-tier skills, able to take on ten opponents at once. The Infantry Department was an elite, violence-focused specialization.
True, they were first-years. But the Command Department was, without question, the weakest, most pathetic major in the entire academy.
“Everyone probably doesn’t know each other yet, and it’s necessary to get properly acquainted. The glorious tradition of the live-combat exercise – the point-grabbing competition – this is the best way to make it happen!” Instructor Fu pointed at one person, then shouted, “Starting here, count off by fours!”
Round after round, the group was divided into four batches. Those who had called out the number “3” were kept; everyone else was cleared from the area and stepped back.
Lian Sheng was lucky enough to be selected.
Then the opposing side also nominated a quarter of their members, adding them to this chosen group.
The point-swapping competition followed a one-on-one challenge format. To ensure fairness, participants from both sides would take turns going up to the stage and picking their opponents.
Every single student from the Military Command Department sent out was cannon fodder – essentially point-farming power-ups, and especially precious.
Female students in the Command Department were even more precious. Bright, blinking, high-value targets.
Among all these gleaming point values, someone like Lian Sheng – with no visible muscle tone and a somewhat pallid complexion – shone the brightest of all.
The instructor casually pointed to someone in the middle and asked, “Who’s your first pick?”
That student was from the Combat Department. He raised his hand and pointed in a direction.
Lian Sheng was still adjusting her belt and didn’t hear what the person on stage had said. It wasn’t until someone next to her gave her a shove that she looked up. “What is it?”
The person beside her said, “He’s challenging you!”
Lian Sheng raised an eyebrow. “Challenging me?”
That quickly?
The young man next to her looked at her sympathetically and said, “If you can’t do it, just give up right away. Don’t try to be brave against these maniacs. Anyway, our department always ends up with negative points in the end – no shame in that.”
The young man from the Combat Department, seeing that she hadn’t moved, loosened up his joints a bit, then curled his fingers at her in a beckoning gesture.
Lian Sheng broke into a grin again.
Excellent.
She stood up, and a wave of jeering and hollering erupted from the crowd around her.
Lian Sheng had originally been in the Department of Materials Engineering. At the end of the semester, she suddenly decided to transfer into a combat-focused major, but because her physical fitness was too poor, she was rejected outright and had to settle for the Command Department instead.
That had been the original student’s wish – but it happened to suit Lian Sheng just fine.
However, in other people’s eyes, especially those of her fellow Command Department classmates, her behavior carried a faint hint of insult. As a result, they weren’t particularly friendly toward her.
Instructor Fu clicked his tongue, having already guessed this unfortunate outcome. He prepared himself to call a halt at any moment to keep Lian Sheng from getting hurt.
The opposing instructor called out as well, “Hey! Show a little tenderness! Stop when it’s enough – don’t embarrass our department!”
The crowd clapped, cheered, and burst into loud laughter.
Lian Sheng took off her cap, then her jacket, and walked onto the field light and easy amid the applause.
She stepped into position, stamped her front foot firmly on the ground, and raised her head. Her entire bearing transformed in an instant.
If earlier she had been like wet mud, she was now a tiger lying in wait for its prey. Fierce. Sharp.
Her eyes roved up and down, studying her opponent’s limbs with a probing gaze.
The young man facing her felt a chill crawl up from the soles of his feet – as if something had locked onto him. He shook his head and quickly cast the thought aside.
You’ve got to be kidding? She’s the famously weak transfer student.
Instructor Fu stood slightly to her side and front. Seeing the look in her eyes, he was momentarily stunned. He couldn’t tell which version of her was real – the one from before, or the one now.
Lian Sheng’s posture, her stance – every bit of it was that of a standard soldier bearing.
Unmistakable killing intent.
Yes – that sharp, piercing killing intent, radiating from her entire body.
