Chapter 106: The General.
Gwalior's sword, surrounded by flames, came straight at Chen Yu.
Chen Yu moved aside and dodged. The sword moved over his right shoulder as Gwalior took a step forward.
Then Gwalior slashed it toward Chen Yu's right neck.
Chen Yu bent backwards while keeping his foot firm. He tried to balance his body, but eventually fell.
"Seems like I lost," Chen Yu said, looking at Gwalior.
The other people in the unit watched the exchange. Some murmured, some just watched in boredom.
Then Chen Yu got up, looked at everyone, and said, "It's time to resume the march."
The column resumed the march. After five more hours, they again took a rest.
Chen Yu approached Gwalior again and asked, "Let's spar."
Just like that, they sparred again. Gwalior used his fire qi again. This time, Chen Yu dodged four moves before admitting loss.
Hadn't the commander already lost? Why was he sparring again?
The skinny guy thought but still continued to watch, as he had nothing better to do anyway.
Some noticed, some ignored.
The march resumed.
When they stopped again after two hours, night had already descended.
Chen Yu sparred with Gwalior again.
Other people of the unit were genuinely confused by the behavior of their commander, but more people noticed.
Some even burnt the rabbit in the campfire to a black crisp as they watched the spar.
This time, Chen Yu dodged ten times before giving up.
The cycle of sparring, and more people beginning to care, continued until the evening of the third day when they finally saw a giant wall.
On top of the wall, eagles made of stone lined up, and each eagle had fire lit in its eyes.
"We are finally here." Chen Yu looked at the familiar eagles.
The unit walked behind his horse. He was at the very front, Gwalior was behind, Yan and others walking behind.
Something about the unit had changed.
They looked at their commander with different eyes.
After crossing the city gates, they were greeted with the familiar sound of horses moving everywhere, soldiers at every street.
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The sound of hammers hitting metal, the smell of freshly cooked rice, the chatter of war preparations.
"Have you heard? This time, General Hecta is not coming."
"Why not? You're joking."
"Wish I were. She's been assigned to oversee the Anti Green Foundation."
"Then who's leading us?"
"Some newly promoted general."
"A newly promoted general? During a war?"
"We will know soon. He will be arriving soon."
The column continued till the military building.
Outside the building, a familiar face was already waiting for them.
When Chen Yu and Yan looked over there, he smiled.
"Chen Yu, welcome back." Commander Leo arrived and hugged him, and then he looked at Yan.
"You as well." He hugged Yan.
Yan took a deep breath after Leo released the hug.
Then Leo looked at the others. "You guys must be the new people of Han Defu. Come on in. I will lead you to the barracks."
"Yes, Commander Leo," Chen Yu said.
Chen Yu walked first. Others followed behind, including Yan.
After showing them to the barracks, "Chen Yu and Yan, come with me. Let's see your growth," Leo said.
Yan and Chen Yu followed behind Leo. The night was already approaching, but they stood at the training ground.
Leo pulled his sword out and pointed it at them.
"You both, unsheathe your swords."
Before they could unsheathe their swords, Leo moved first. His sword arrived next to Yan. Yan tilted his head to the left and avoided it.
Then Leo's sword moved left. Yan ducked. The sword didn't stop. It moved downward, forcing Yan to jump away to his left.
At the same time, Leo's punch arrived at Yan's face. Yan bent backwards. Leo's hand curved as his elbow moved down onto Yan's stomach.
Yan planted both hands on the ground and swung his legs upward, moving his body out of the elbow's path.
The elbow missed its target. Right then, Yan's sword was already there, halted in front of the eyes of Leo as Yan stood holding it.
"You won," Leo said as he stood up.
Clap! Clap! Clap! The onlookers who gathered around clapped.
Leo did not look at them but at Chen Yu.
Chen Yu still had not unsheathed his sword.
Chen Yu's legs trembled once, but Leo was already in front of him with his sword.
Chen Yu turned to the side, avoiding the sword a few inches away from him.
But the sword did not stop. It moved toward his chest. Chen Yu bent backwards and avoided it.
The sword immediately came down at him. Chen Yu lifted his legs. He fell down, but right after he fell, he rolled to the side. The sword hit the ground.
Then Chen Yu's sword moved at Leo.
Tung.
Chen Yu's sword flew away as Leo pointed his sword at Chen Yu.
"Good. You have improved a lot," Leo commented.
"Thank you, Commander Leo." Chen Yu knelt on his knees as he looked at the man who trained them for months without asking for any favor or anything in return.
"Don't be so emotional. Get up." Leo kept his hands on Chen Yu's shoulder and made him stand up.
After Chen Yu stood up, Leo said, "You guys go and rest. Let's meet for dinner."
Yan and Chen Yu then left for the barracks.
At night, after having dinner.
Leo called them to stroll through the ground.
The moonlight shined on the soil as Leo, Yan, and Chen Yu walked together.
"You must have already heard a new General has been appointed to lead this war."
"Yes," Chen Yu nodded.
"Well, I saw you during the traitor's execution but could not meet you guys. You know, a soldier's duty."
"By the way, Chen Yu, do you know what a General represents?" Leo looked at Chen Yu.
"Power. Hierarchy," Chen Yu replied.
"No, Chen Yu." Leo replied, "It's much more than that."
"Do you know that you're not the only one afraid of battle and death?"
"Everyone is."
"But they get the courage, the courage to pierce through the enemy."
"Do you know what the source of their courage is?"
"No," Chen Yu replied.
"It's the leader."
"The General."
Right at that moment, the sound of approaching hooves echoed through the night.
Several horses were making their way toward the gates of Golden Eagle City.
Among them rode a man who casually spoke with the soldiers beside him.
The man looked toward the eagles on the giant walls, and murmured, "I am back."