Soldier's Championship

Before Xuan Yueji could enlist, he had to wait for Chen Shi's words. Since he wanted to join the military with special privileges, then he had to be patient and try to calm down his fierceness. In the end, he had to stay in his room for three days straight before getting the message that it was fine for him to leave.

At the time when he was leaving, Xuan Yueji had internally scolded Chen Shi. He was wondering why the man was taking so long to get him enlisted when he had so much power. Of course, he had no idea that Chen Shi had a hard time trying to explain why he needed to join every single battle and switch battalions almost everyday which was why it took time.

Just before leaving though, Chen Shi had called Xuan Yueji into his room. He wanted to give Xuan Yueji something that would be helpful after arriving at the base. Not only that, he had a few things to tell him since Xuan Yueji wanted "special privileges."

Handing a jade token to Xuan Yueji, Chen Shi said, "Use this whenever you need help. Though you are a soldier, you are also someone under my name. They will give you special treatment should you need it."

"Wow… You're quite a great man to be able to get a few soldiers working for you," Xuan Yueji appreciated while looking in detail at the green token.

"The general owes me a few favors in court, so he wouldn't mind letting me borrow a few of his men," Chen Shi told him.

"Hm… I see. How many?" Xuan Yueji asked.

"There's no set limit. It depends all on the situation," Chen Shi answered.

"Ah, I see. A great answer. If the situation requires too many men, he won't help and if it requires a small amount, maybe he will spare a few for me," Xuan Yueji said. "However, I probably won't need this."

"Keep it. You never know if there are times where you want a messenger," Chen Shi responded when hearing Xuan Yueji's last comment.

"I know. Is there anything else?" Xuan Yueji asked after agreeing.

"I've asked the general to do what I've asked. Another thing, you're getting the special privileges that you wanted," Chen Shi told Xuan Yueji upon his question.

"Mask and armor? Including weapons?" Xuan Yueji stated with an inquiry.

"Everything that you wanted and listed to me. I've made that sure that he agreed. All you need to pay attention to is your attitude and behavior. Although, it's fine to be arrogant at times, calm yourself. Those people out there are soldiers. Not your common men that like to gossip and find time to wet themselves," Chen Shi warned.

"I get it," Xuan Yueji replied. "Well, then, I'm leaving now."

Saying that, he planned to leave, but then he remembered something.

"Oh, right," Xuan Yueji said. "Just before I leave… Here. Take this."

Handing a paper with calligraphy on it, he told Chen Shi, "Burn this paper if you need me. Take it as me repaying a favor."

"This…" staring at the paper, Chen Shi asked, "This is normal paper?"

"Don't look at the fact that it is normal paper. It is enchanted. I had a friend do it for me. If there is ever a time that you need me at your place immediately, burn this paper. I will be there in less than a second," Xuan Yueji told him.

"Less than a second… How can that be?" Chen quietly muttered while looking at the paper in his hand.

"Alright, I'm leaving now. Take care of my grandmother. Also, don't let anybody know about me being here," Xuan Yueji said. "Pretend as though I never came here. If anybody asks about me after I leave to join the military, just tell them that I once helped you and you are repaying a favor. You don't actually know me and have no idea about any personal information about me."

"That… Will that be fine? I mean… I was the one that filled out the forms," Chen Shi asked.

"What did you put on them?" Xuan Yueji asked.

"Uh… Just your name, your age, and I filled in some family background," Chen Shi answered.

"What did you put on the family background?" Xuan Yueji continued.

"You're an orphan without parents. You used to live in the wild," Chen Shi answered.

"That's it?" Xuan Yueji frowned while asking.

"Well, I didn't know what you wanted me to put, so that was all I could put," Chen Shi guiltily said.

"If you're going to create a story, you should create one with more details. That makes it easier for me to act," Xuan Yueji commented. "Well, that it matters. The less, the easier."

"Well, that's being helpful then, right?" Chen Shi said with inquiry.

Nodding, Xuan Yueji then said, "Alright, I'm really leaving now. Take care of yourself as well. Don't go dying on me whilst in the capital while I'm out killing people."

Agreeing to what Xuan Yueji said, Chen Shi waved goodbye. Carrying a few sentimental emotions, Chen Shi sat at his desk. With a deep sigh, he stared off at the direction that Xuan Yueji left and quietly recited, "The solitary goose does not drink nor peck, it flies around, calling for its flock."

(A/N: I found this poem online. I think that this is befitting at this moment because Chen Shi is reciting what he thinks Xuan Yueji is like at the moment. Xuan Yueji doesn't stay at one spot for long, but he is always alone. "Calling for its flock" is a great way to say that Xuan Yueji is trying to find a way to fit in somewhere.)

In the capital garrison barracks, all the soldiers stood in organized lines as they looked up the stage with appreciation to whoever was standing in the middle. At this moment, a competition was ongoing between men and no matter their rank was, they would have to fight in the middle. Though harsh due to the fact that they could not reject once they were asked to compete, it was exciting nonetheless to see the competitiveness that was happening in someone while they were feeling helpless at the same time.

On the same day, Xuan Yueji entered the barracks with his long straight black hair, black eyes peering out through the silver mask, and wearing black silk clothing with black and silver embroidery. The moment that he came through the gates, he attracted everyone's attention despite them being so focused on the stage. Why was that?

The aura that Xuan Yueji emitted did not come superficially, but was embedded in him. His aura was something bossy, fierce, and obnoxious, but it did not mean that there were no signs of generosity and kindness. Not only that, his clothes were too fabulous and grand compared to the clothes that the soldiers were wearing, making them think that he was a wealthy and powerful young master from the capital coming to ask for the general.

It was exactly how one soldier though, so he bravely went up to Xuan Yueji and asked, "Young Master, are you here to look for General Zheng?"

Staring at the young man, Xuan Yueji answered, "Yes. Where can I find him?"

Pointing to a specific building, the soldier said, "The general is there. Oh right, please knock first when you enter. The general doesn't like it when people disturb him while he is discussing with the lieutenants and commanders."

Nodding in understandment, Xuan Yueji left for the building. When he entered, all the soldiers still continued to stare his way and looked with even more persistence when they saw that he had not knocked at all but only showed a token. After that, the man had not entered for a long time, but yet he had already come out with the general in tow.

Immediately after, they say the general going up the stage with the man and announcing, "This man here, he will be a new recruit, however he is different from you guys. Don't bully him and don't mess with him. Even I have no power to go against him. At this moment, whoever is on the stage wants to fight with him, but for now, he will be fighting with the top fighter. This is to merely prove that he is strong. Also, this competition was made to promote someone to garrison commander, so if he wins he is no longer a small recruit, but your commander. Understand?"

Bowing, all the soldiers shouted together, "Understood, general!"

General Zheng then left back to the tent without looking back. This left the soldiers baffled as they thought that since the general already left the tent, he would stay to watch their fight. They did not think that he only came out to announce Xuan Yueji's position in the military.

Saying, Xuan Yueji was in the same ranking as them, but could not be treated like one. At the same time, knowing that they would reject the special treatment, so telling them to fight him. The general was too powerful, knowing how to solve a problem this quickly.

However, not caring at all about the current thoughts of the soldiers, Xuan Yueji calmly asked, "Who is the current person on the stage? As the general said, I will fight that person to prove myself in case of rejection."

It was truly weird. There was no recorded experience like this in the military. Never, had they seen a man so honest that it kept them speechless.

Though, they still knew to keep the competition going, so the current soldier on the stage stated, "I am the current person standing on the stage."

Not giving a deep bow, but to merely show his respect, Xuan Yueji said, "Come at me then."

However, the soldier continued to stare at Xuan Yueji with confusion clear in his eyes.

"Why are you not fighting?" Xuan Yueji asked while looking at the soldier.

"You… why do you not have a weapon?" the soldier asked while holding his long lance.

Giving a chuckle, Xuan Yueji answered, "This is not the battlefield. Why would I need to bring out my weapon? Besides, only if you wish to die, would I bring out my sword. Are you asking me that you want to die at this young age?"

Hearing his response, the soldier asked, "Then, how will you fight?"

"With my fist, of course. Is there a law that states fists can not be a weapon?" Xuan Yueji asked rhetorically.