Chapter 64 : A Year of Silence
The training ground remained silent long after General Hecta’s words fell.
The war… is over.
For a moment, no one spoke, and thousands of soldiers looked at one another in disbelief.
“Over?”
“What do you mean over?”
“Did we win?”
Finally murmurs began to spread.
General Hecta raised her hand, the murmurs quieted immediately.
“The Kingdom of Noir and the Kingdom of Shin have agreed to a temporary truce.”
Her voice carried across the entire field.
“One year.”
“For one year, the war will stop.”
Some soldiers exhaled heavily.
"Over, over it's finally over" Others laughed in relief, while most simply stood in stunned silence.
“When the year ends, the war will resume.” Hecta announced.
And the soldiers who laughed went silent.
Her gaze swept across the gathered army.
“Until then, you are free to return to your homes.”
“For those serving under private banners, your commanders will decide your next orders.”
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The soldiers slowly began dispersing, meanwhile Chen Yu did not, instead, he stepped forward.
His eyes were still red, but his face looked calm, he walked towards Hecta.
"Isn't that Chen Yu? What's he doing?"
People who noticed his presence, held their steps, and immediately looked over.
The two guards of Hecta came forward and stood in front of Chen Yu.
Chen Yu did not look at them but at the Geber Hecta behind them. He fell to the knees, " Commander Chen Yu of Han Defu unit requests an audience with the General."
The guards stiffened, but Hecta raised a hand, signaling them to allow him through.
The guard moved away, Hecta arrived in front of Chen Yu.
“General.”
Hecta looked down at him.
“Yes? What do you want?”
Chen Yu's hands trembled slightly but he forced the words out.
“I request training.”
Hecta’s brow lifted slightly.
“Training?”
“Yes.”
Chen Yu’s voice was steady now.
“For myself.”
“And for the soldiers under my command.”
For a moment Hecta said nothing.
Then she shook her head.
“No.”
Chen Yu lowered his head slightly.
“Why?”
Hecta’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“If you want to train, train yourself.”
“My time is not spent teaching inexperienced soldiers.”
Chen Yu clenched his hands.
Then he asked quietly,
“General… what could have saved more soldiers during the battles?”
Hecta did not answer immediately.
Her gaze drifted across the training field towards the soldiers who all looked at her.
Finally she spoke.
“Reaction speed.”
Chen Yu looked up.
“On the battlefield, hesitation kills.”
“If your soldiers move a moment faster, fewer of them die.”
Chen Yu bowed his head again.
“Then allow someone to train us. I will bring results." Chen Yu stood firm.
Hecta studied him for several seconds.
Then she turned slightly.
“Leo.”
A tall cultivator standing nearby stepped forward.
His armor bore the insignia of small leaf indicating subordinate commander.
“Yes, General.”
Hecta gestured toward Chen Yu, “You will train this unit.”
Leo glanced briefly at Chen Yu, “As you command.”
Chen Yu looked up quickly.
“Thank you, General.”
Yan, who was far from the events, quietly studied Leo’s aura.
The man carried the calm pressure of a seasoned battlefield cultivator.
Hecta waved her hand dismissively.
“Training will begin once the army returns to Golden Eagle City.”
“Until then, rest.”
Chen Yu bowed deeply.
“Yes, General.”
Then Chen Yu returned to the unit, he ignored all the gazes, and took a small piece of bread from his pocket and bit into it.
He looked forward to the future.