Chapter 3

Faced with Li Ting's commands, Jin An merely looked at him coldly, not responding to his words, nor making any movement

It is good to understand

Li Ting scrutinized him for a moment, then followed his gaze forward. He saw that it was in the direction of Li Shuang's tent. Li Ting's eyes immediately shifted, and he said, "I grew up with my sister, so I know all about her matters."

Jin'an agreed

Do you understand now

He was still thinking about being able to spar with Jin An again, so he stepped forward as if to launch a surprise attack on him. However, this time he was seriously injured, yet he could not help but admit defeat in his heart

Li Ting is quite understanding: "I have held my sister back, causing her to deal with such trivial matters in the military camp."

Li Ting glanced disdainfully, after all, it was a childish disposition, and said casually that he wouldn't go, then happily skipped out.

Li Shuang here was not at all polite and struck him ten times on the palm, then asked: "Do you know why I hit you?"

Li Shuang's expression instantly turned as cold as ice upon hearing this: "Where are the bandits now?"

Immediately summoned Luoteng over: "Has the army of the Xirong moved?"

Li Ting was taken aback: "Why?"

Li Shuang quickly made a decision: "Thirty miles north of the city is not far from here; you may send thirty men, led by a sergeant, to go there."

Return to don armor, assemble one thousand troops, and after half a stick of incense, follow me out of the camp towards thirty miles north of Lucheng

If you teach me martial arts, there may be times when I will talk to you about my sister, such as what she likes to eat, what her preferences are, and so on

Just this alone is enough to make him feel satisfied

Jin An finally fixed a sidelong glance at Li Ting

Qin Lan received the order to leave, but Li Ting shouted, "I want to go too! I have been here for over ten days, and now that I am about to return, I haven't been anywhere or done anything. Sister, please let me accompany you to guard the grain, so I can broaden my horizons."

"You little rascal, do you have eyes on the back of your head?" Li Ting rubbed his chest and gasped for a while, trying to sit up, but found that the pain in his chest made it difficult to rise. "Come help me up."

The old master at home has hired the best martial arts teacher from the Great Jin Dynasty for Li Ting. He was halfway through his studies in the capital when he unexpectedly came to this northern border to learn from a mere child. If the martial arts teacher at home were to find out, he would surely be so embarrassed that he would crash his head against the walls of their general's residence.

What does the term 'general' mean

Thus, Jin'an endured another ten

Qin Lan was taken aback: "General ... ... "

Li Tingchong blinked twice, and the corners of his mouth curved beautifully

Li Shuang looked northwest, her eyes gleaming like blades: "I will personally go and bring the person back"

Little Soldier Danzi rarely sees Li Shuang, and at this moment, he is already frightened to the point of turning pale, yet he still forces himself to say: "Because... because I led the exclusion of the new recruit, and even splashed water on his bed. General, I was wrong..."

Looking at the three somewhat grown boys standing in front of her, Li Shuang rubbed her forehead, and without saying a word, first had Li Ting extend his hand, and then struck his palm ten times: "Do you know why I hit you?"

Qin Lan's expression was also grave, as he gently urged his horse to the side of Li Shuang: "General, since the bandits have the stone stronghold, it is likely unwise to launch a direct assault. While provisions can still be replenished, we cannot afford any mishaps with the young master"

Li Shuang took a slight deep breath

As evening approached, the team sent to guard the supplies had not yet returned. Li Shuang glanced at the sky and, driven by a soldier's instinct, she subconsciously sensed that something was amiss. Just as she was feeling anxious, a soldier from the watchtower suddenly reported that thick smoke was rising from a village thirty miles north of Deer City.

Finally, he gritted his teeth, patted his own backside, and got up. He did not leave, but lingered for a long time, looking at Jin An, and then somewhat shyly asked: "You are quite impressive, who is your master? Could you let him teach me as well?"

Li Shuang did not expect that just as she was preparing to set out, one of the thirty soldiers sent to guard the supplies came stumbling back, kneeling before her horse, and with a muffled voice said: "General, the Western Rong horse bandits have captured the young master and are demanding the exchange of 5,000 stones of rice!"

Beside them, Li Ting could no longer bear it and quickly said: "Jin An, you have conflicts with your senior and do not know how to resolve them. Your attitude is arrogant, and you have secretly skipped training to teach me things, which is somewhat inappropriate, somewhat inappropriate." Li Ting stopped Li Shuang, saying, "Sister, he knows he is wrong."

Jin'an began training alongside the other youths in the military camp. Compared to the adult soldiers, their tasks were much lighter, consisting mainly of simple physical training each day, followed by assisting the soldiers with various chores.

This is indeed a trivial matter; had it not been for Li Ting, any other captain could have dealt with the three of them. Yet, it just so happens that it was Li Ting who committed this act. Aside from Li Shuang, who would dare to punish the son of the Grand Marshal Sima Dayuan of the world

Li Shuang pondered for a moment, thinking that the place was nearby, and it would only take a day for a round trip, so she did not linger any longer with Li Ting: "Alright, I will follow the army, but must not wander off, and will listen to the sergeant's commands"

Li Ting has always been restless. Yesterday, after hearing Li Shuang discussing a meeting with the general, he felt extremely bored and today he is unwilling to go no matter what. He avoided the servants' company and wandered aimlessly in the military camp with his hands behind his back. Just as he walked to a corner of the camp, he saw other soldiers running, while only Jin An was sitting in the corner, staring blankly into the distance.

Li Ting could not have anticipated that just as he had provided Jin An with a way out, Jin An would stab him in the back: "I have no conflict with them. It is they who do not like me. It has nothing to do with me."

She waved her hand and said, "Alright, alright, everyone get out now."

Li Shuang nodded: "That's good to know"

... ...

a bunch of bothersome things

I do not know

Jin An turned around and saw a somewhat familiar face

"Good job." Li Ting happily pulled Jin An, "Let's go, little master." He pulled with urgency, firmly believing that Jin An would follow him, but to his surprise, it felt as if he were pulling on a piece of iron, as Jin An stood motionless, causing him to stumble backward.

Select ten individuals who have practiced internal martial arts to accompany me tonight

This young man could not stand Jin An's aloof and cold demeanor, which is why he splashed water on Jin An's bed. However, unexpectedly, Jin An said nothing about it; instead, it was Li Ting who witnessed the act and accused him of bullying his little master, giving him a severe beating. Now, his face is still bruised.

He answered so calmly that Li Shuang was taken aback for a moment before saying: "If you don't know, just extend your hand again."

Jin An finished the training arranged by Wu Chang early and then sat aside, staring blankly in the direction of Li Shuang's tent. In his mind, he was absentmindedly thinking that he had something to do today—he needed to steal a piece of clothing for his adult self that would appear in the evening

Jin An remained calm and said, "I have completed all the training, and I did not escape. There is nothing wrong with teaching you things. I do not see any fault in this." Jin An looked up at Li Shuang, his gaze clear and tranquil; he was not provoking her, but merely stating the facts. "However, if hitting my palm makes you happy, you may continue to do so," he said to Li Shuang. "As long as it makes you happy."

He is deliberately stalling, for this way, Li Shuang's gaze can linger on him for a while.

Therefore, previously Li Ting was considerate enough to keep it a secret from everyone. The reason why Li Shuang became aware of this matter now is that Li Ting stood up for Jin An and beat up the soldiers from the same camp as Jin An.

Not only did Li Ting not know how to respond, but even Li Shuang was at a loss for words. She rubbed her forehead, thinking to herself that today's children are truly becoming more and more difficult to manage

Li Ting coughed twice after being stabbed

At the right moment, Qin Lan suddenly lifted the curtain and entered, seeing three young men. He merely cast a faint glance and said: "General, a small village thirty miles north of Lucheng has requested food supplies due to the recent heavy snowfall. The city guard asked me to borrow troops to escort the supplies."

Li Ting dawdled over to Jin An's side and sat down with him: "Well... how about you just teach me?"

Li Shuang is the daughter adopted by General Li Wei, while Li Ting is the general's late-born son, who has been cherished and greatly hoped for since childhood. If anything were to happen to Li Ting while he is with her, Li Shuang would truly be unable to explain it to the old man

The bandits went another fifty to sixty miles north to a stone fortress, where they took the young master...

At the very moment of boredom, a sudden breath approached from behind. Jin An's gaze sharpened, and just as the hand of the person behind him reached out, it was already extending towards him, intending to wrap their arm around his neck from behind. Jin An bent his elbow and struck backward, hitting the chest of the assailant squarely. A cry of pain, "Aah!" was heard as the person behind him fell heavily to the ground.

Li Ting's outstretched hand remained awkwardly suspended in the air for quite some time

Jin'an shook his head: "I do not know"

It was already ten days later when Li Shuang learned that Li Ting was practicing martial arts with Sui Jin'an. Li Shuang was utterly at a loss whether to laugh or cry

I don't know " Jin An coldly spat out three words, then continued to sit down and stared blankly at Li Shuang's tent

Jin'an ignored him

I will stay in the barracks. " Jin An looked at Li Shuang, " I don't want to go anywhere.

I will not go

After Jin An had walked for a while, Li Shuang touched her chin and muttered to herself in confusion: "Could it be that I resemble this child's mother... or father?"

Then Li Shuang had the little soldier Danzi extend his hand, and similarly struck him ten times on the palm: "Do you know why I am hitting you?"

Jin'an shook his head. He could detect the hint of dismissal in Li Shuang's tone. Although he was somewhat reluctant, he had no choice but to step outside. He lingered at the door, gazing at Li Shuang for a long time before reluctantly lowering the curtain.

Li Shuang immediately sensed that something was amiss

"No movement." Luo Tengdao said, "However, recently our scouts have discovered that another group of bandits is stirring at the western border."

Li Shuang maintained a composed demeanor, pausing for a moment before saying, "This year the weather is cold, and the shortage of grain is only beginning to show. If mere bandits can threaten our noble sons of the Great Jin to demand grain and fodder, this winter will likely be extremely difficult. Li Ting must not make any mistakes, and our court's five thousand stones of grain must not be given away so easily."

That is no one else but Li Ting

Jin An remained standing without moving, and Li Shuang looked at him for a while: "Is there anything else?"

Li Shuang walked up to Jin An again, holding a rattan stick, and asked him to extend his hand. Jin An looked at her for a while, and only when Li Shuang raised her eyebrows did he obediently extend his hand.

Jin An's gaze suddenly shifted