The only thing worth celebrating was probably the many rewards Jiang Yueli’s father received.
Since Jiang Shi’an was already a third-rank Zhenyuan General, it wasn’t easy for his official rank to be promoted further. However, the emperor granted Jiang Yueli the title of Linghui County Lady, a rank second only to a princess. It came not only with a stipend but also with fief land. In addition, the emperor bestowed many valuable rewards upon Jiang Shi’an.
After the kidnapping incident, Jiang Yueli began training tirelessly day and night.
At first, Shen Nanzhi thought she was merely playing around. But later Jiang Shi’an sensed something was off. After observing for a while, he realized his daughter actually had talent for martial arts.
Jiang Shi’an was not a stubborn or conservative man. Although he knew martial training was hard, seeing that his daughter liked it, he simply indulged her.
Later, he even hired a martial arts master to personally teach her.
One year… two years… three years…
Jiang Yueli persisted for five full years.
Even Jiang Yuebo was forced by their father to train together with her. However, he didn’t have Jiang Yueli’s talent. Although he had started learning only a year later than her, he was never able to defeat her.
Of course, it wasn’t that Jiang Yuebo was weak.
It was simply that Jiang Yueli was too strong.
After all, she had lived two lifetimes. Her martial arts combined with the deadly techniques she had mastered in her previous life.
Naturally, someone without real combat experience like Jiang Yuebo couldn’t compare.
Zhenyuan General’s Residence
Winter had faded, and warm spring had arrived.
By March, the entire courtyard was filled with vibrant reds and lush greens, a beautiful sight to behold.
In a bamboo grove, a young girl dressed in tight training clothes danced with a sword in her hand.
Her movements were light and graceful, yet the sword carried a faint killing intent.
In just five years, her martial arts had already reached a respectable level.
Unfortunately, she had never had the chance to test them in real combat.
That brat Jiang Yuebo couldn’t even withstand three moves from her. She couldn’t fight to her heart’s content.
After being beaten too many times, the boy now avoided her whenever he saw her and refused to spar.
If only Father were here.
He was so skilled—he would surely be able to spar with her.
Unfortunately, her poor father had been sent to guard the frontier again a year ago.
On the Canglong Continent, four powerful nations stood in balance.
They were Nanyao, Beichen, Xilan, and Dongchu.
Besides them, there were many smaller kingdoms and tribes. Although they couldn’t threaten the four major powers, they often invaded for land and food, causing constant conflicts along the borders.
And since the four great nations themselves occasionally clashed—each harboring ambitions of annexing the others—peace was impossible.
Fortunately, Jiang Shi’an was a brave and brilliant general, skilled in both combat and military strategy.
Over the years, he had rarely suffered defeat.
Sometimes Jiang Yueli wondered how wonderful it would be if she could follow her father to the battlefield.
It wasn’t because she wanted to serve the country.
After all, she wasn’t some virtuous saint.
She simply wanted to stay by her father’s side and protect him.
Because at home, there was someone who had been waiting for him with unwavering devotion.
Unfortunately, throughout the Canglong Continent, there had never been a precedent for women going to war.
So Jiang Yueli’s thoughts remained nothing more than a fantasy.
“Ali, look who’s here!”
Jiang Yueli sheathed her sword and looked toward the people approaching her.
Jiang Yuebo jogged forward.
His face still looked very similar to Jiang Yueli’s, yet somehow different.
They shared the same features, but Jiang Yueli—despite her young age—already possessed the makings of breathtaking beauty.
Jiang Yuebo, however, lacked something.
It wasn’t that he wasn’t handsome. Rather, he lacked that distinctive aura.
Especially when standing beside Fu Qingchen, the difference became even more obvious.
For some reason, Jiang Yuebo had become very close friends with Fu Qingchen over the years, so the latter often visited their residence.
Along with them was Jiang Yuebo’s friend, Gu Huaichao, the heir of Prince Jing’an.
Jiang Yueli wasn’t very familiar with Gu Huaichao, but she was quite close with his younger sister, Princess Xiangling.
They studied at the same academy, and at every palace banquet Xiangling liked to follow Jiang Yueli around.
She always said she wished she could learn martial arts too, but her mother forbade it, insisting that girls shouldn’t wield weapons.
So every time she saw Jiang Yueli, she looked at her with envy.
Lost in thought, Jiang Yueli raised her eyes and saw Fu Qingchen walking toward her.
Compared to five years ago, he had grown even more handsome and refined.
His aloof, almost otherworldly temperament made him look like the perfect male protagonist.
At only twelve years old, he was already this good-looking.
When he grew up, wouldn’t he drive all the noble ladies of the capital crazy?
“Brother Qingchen, what brings you here?”
The way Jiang Yueli called out “Brother Qingchen” was extremely lethal.
Every time Fu Qingchen heard it, he couldn’t help curling his lips into a smile.
Meanwhile, Jiang Yuebo’s face darkened.
“Ali, I am your brother!”
When she called him, her voice was nowhere near as sweet.
Jiang Yueli raised the sword in her hand and lifted an eyebrow.
“Brother, want to exchange a few moves?”
Jiang Yuebo immediately surrendered.
He waved his hands frantically.
“You should go find your Brother Qingchen. I can’t keep up with you.”
Gu Huaichao burst into laughter.
“Yuebo, don’t tell me you still can’t beat Sister Ali?”
Facing his friend’s teasing, Jiang Yuebo retorted,
“If you’re so capable, you go!”
Gu Huaichao immediately stopped laughing.
He coughed twice and waved his hand.
“With my mediocre skills, how would I dare embarrass myself in front of Ali?”
Fu Qingchen smiled slightly and said,
“Ali’s skills are probably beyond most people already. If you truly want to spar, why not let Wei Yan exchange a few moves with you?”
Fu Qingchen himself wasn’t skilled in martial arts. His fighting ability was only slightly better than an average person.
So Jiang Yueli naturally didn’t expect him to fight.
But Wei Yan was Fu Qingchen’s personal shadow guard.
After the kidnapping incident years ago, Prime Minister Fu had assigned him to protect his son.
Since Fu Qingchen wasn’t good at martial arts, someone had to guard him.
Jiang Yueli’s eyes lit up.
“Really?”
“Of course.”
Fu Qingchen clapped his hands.
In an instant, Wei Yan appeared before them like a ghost—coming and going without a trace.
Jiang Yueli nodded at him.
They had met before, and Wei Yan already knew she wasn’t an ordinary child.
After respectfully greeting her, he became serious.
Jiang Yueli’s swordsmanship was already extremely refined.
But in Wei Yan’s eyes, it was somewhat flashy.
As a shadow guard, the techniques he practiced were all meant for killing.
They were somewhat similar to the deadly techniques Jiang Yueli had learned in her previous life.
After more than a dozen exchanges, when Jiang Yueli still couldn’t gain the upper hand, she finally became serious.
Her style suddenly changed.
From dazzling sword movements to deadly, precise attacks.
Caught off guard, Wei Yan was forced to retreat defensively.
However, he still held back since she was young.
After the match ended, Jiang Yueli felt completely satisfied.
Meanwhile, Wei Yan’s impression of her changed yet again.
This girl was extraordinary.
At such a young age, possessing martial skills like this—she was truly a genius.
Especially those killing moves.
Every strike was lethal.
If she were given a few more years, he might not even be her opponent.
Or perhaps it wouldn’t even take that long.
She was simply too talented.
“Linghui County Lady, your skills are impressive.”
Wei Yan clasped his fists in respect, acknowledging her ability.
Jiang Yueli naturally knew he had been holding back.
With her current strength, how could she possibly defeat him?
“If you hadn’t gone easy on me, I probably wouldn’t even last ten moves against you.”