Vol Chapter 4 (1/2)

Chapter 4: Surrender of the army, Part 1 of 7

The midsummer afternoon sunlight is scorching hot, below the cliff is an open area, there is no shade of a tree to take shelter from, the blazing sun impaled people’s eyes making them feel dizzy, the skin stung under the burning sun. Before her eyes each and every one’s st.u.r.dy figure, kneeling on one knee on the ground, backs ramrod straight, motionless, showing their persistence and determination. Sweat and dust on their faces left embarra.s.sing traces of water on their swarthy skin, their young faces displaying before both utter indifference and disdain, so much that even their eyes were taunting, at this moment full of admiration and sincerity were staring straight at her.

But that cry “Boss”, touched Gu Yun unexpectedly and filled her heart with delight. This meant they have finally officially accepted her!

Although Gu Yun’s face was deadpan, yet her heart could not help but be startled, this young pack of lads acting shaken and nearly shamed, compared to being plain ignorant incompetents, moreover arrogant cowards, this kind of brave soldiers she would take pleasure in training!

Gu Yun looked grim, the young men remained silent for a while, afterwards all the soldiers again yelled in chorus: “We beg Boss to teach us the skill to scale a mountain!” So extreme! Calling out so loud! Naturally beneath the valley’s cliff wall, their deafening roar vibrated and echoed moving a person’s heart!

They were getting ready to yell for the third time, Gu Yun frowned, stepped forward, her voice and temper cold she said: “Enough! Get up, the knee of a person is for moving about, it’s not meant for kneeling. In the future whoever kneels down casually will be penalized with one thousand leapfrogs!”

All the soldiers glanced at one another, does this mean that the Boss is willing to continue to train them? Watching them still kneeling on the ground with their hesitant faces “A pile of blockheads!”, Gu Yun suddenly felt ridiculous, feigning anger, her face black, she scolded them saying: “Now do you wish to be punished, yes or no?! Get up! It’s a command!”

“Yes!” She finally began to rant again, the soldiers’ minds were suffused with joy, together they all quickly stood up from the ground, because n.o.body really wanted to do a thousand leapfrogs. Of course, they did not know yet, because of their extremely poor leg strength, Gu Yun has already decided to make “thousand leapfrogs” as an essential daily routine in their training.

Gu Yun went over to Ge Jing Yun, held out her hand and said: “Give me the rope, you help me hold the other end.”

“Yes.”

Knowing that she will be demonstrating to them how, everyone waited in antic.i.p.ation.

While Gu Yun was tying the end of the rope to her body, she was also explaining: “Today’s third training is teaching you how to use simple tools and your own strength. In climbing majority of the people cannot go up perilous peaks, in the whole land, there’s no mountain peak exactly the same with another one. In rock climbing using your bare hands you must have physical stamina, excellent body coordination and flexibility are utmost requirements. It will put to the test your sense of judgment, your adaptability, but rest a.s.sured, I’ll have the appropriate training program to help you improve in all these aspects. Nevertheless, there’s one thing you have to overcome on your own – and that is, your fear. Here in front of you is a cliff only about a hundred feet high, as well as ropes to protect you. However, in the future in a real combat situation perhaps you’ll be confronted with a thousand feet high mountain summit, and there wouldn’t be anyone supporting you with ropes. At that time, that will be the real test to your ability!”

She was right, exactly it was their fear, the soldiers realized now clearly in their minds, because they believed they couldn’t do it, the root cause was mainly fear. Looking up to the cliff once more, many soldiers clenched both their fists, secretly swore to themselves, they’ll surely climb up this perilous mountain peak!

Arriving at the foot of the cliff wall, Gu Yun darted a quick glance to Ge Jing Yun, he looped the rope on his arm tightly around three times, and nodded towards her.

“Now I’ll demonstrate it once to you, observe closely the path I’d take and compare how different it is with yours, watch my technique and the way I move.” Then, Gu Yun turned backwards, her sharp eyes glanced over again thoroughly the wall and quickly noted its structure and the features of the rock, quickly choosing the best path she began to climb. Her speed was awfully fast, every movement was so smooth, each climbing point she took was very precise, her lithe body, the formidable strength of her arm, enabling her to maneuver effortlessly, jumping with ease, watching her from afar, her black-clad body’s vigorous ability to be steady on the wall like a gecko and be brave like a goshawk.

In only but a moment, she has easily climbed the peak of the rock, afterwards the people beneath after a spell of blank daze, finally broke out in cries of wonder.

“Wow! Boss’ speed was awfully fast!”

“She was extremely powerful!”

“Boss completely without qing gong, really climbed all the way up!”

“How did she do it?”

Han Shu from the start remained standing behind the troops, his pair of fierce eyes also tensely followed Gu Yun’s progress upwards, his eyes blazing and in his heart emotions were stirred up, only he alone understood.

In a military war campaign this rock wall is visible at any time, most of the time the military would choose to circle around, only as a last resort will they climb over to force entry, naturally the vanguard [second-in-command] advances first. Unconsciously, Han Shu’s hand gently stroked his old wound on his shoulder, the injury no longer caused him pain, but his heart invariably suffered sharp pangs of pain whenever he recalled that battle.

At that time they had to climb a cliff wall many times higher than this rock, halfway to it they were discovered by the enemies, just as she said, the enemy troops threw boulders down, during this one time they suffered heavy casualties, he also for this reason lost his most competent lieutenant! In those days if they could climb at this speed, perhaps they have long reached the top, the casualties back then wouldn’t have been so high!

Profound, heated eyes were firmly fixed to the woman easily descending to the bottom of the cliff, the contours of her confident face under the scorching sun was unexpectedly so dazzling, in the eyes of the soldiers were open and undisguised awe and admiration. Watching this enthusiastic group, suddenly the young soldiers were full of confidence, Han Shu also suddenly recalled in his mind the elite forces she mentioned at noon, perhaps the Su family army really needs such a team!

Chapter 4: Surrender of the army, Part 2 of 7

Gu Yun untied the rope around her waist. She headed towards the crowd of young soldiers who appeared to be somewhat too enlivened. What’s with this group of excited young men? They did not know why she was able to easily accomplish this task. It’s because starting from when she was fourteen years old she liked rock climbing as sports. Later she joined the SWAT team in the police force. To have gone through such process of intensive training as a result she had this ability today. They, however, must practice this exercise many times over.

Gu Yun’s lips formed a grim smile. A little later you’d wish you’d rather die! Looking towards the unfl.u.s.tered Ge Jing Yun, she said: “You’re now divided into two teams. Ge Jing Yun, lead your team to do climbing exercises. Everyone must try once to experience the feeling. You climb in groups of five. Pay attention to safety.”

“Yes.” Ge Jing Yun departed with his team.

Gu Yun continued, saying: “Leng Xiao, do chin-ups and ligaments exercises with your team.”

Chin-ups, huh? Ligaments exercises, huh? The minds of everyone were full of questions. But this time, no one has raised a question.

Gu Yun knew of course that they did not understand. She had to make them understand what she meant by her cryptic words. Taking them to the side of the mountain where vines grew and spread in abundance, Gu Yun, pointing to a young lad nearest to her, said: “You, out of the line.”

“Yes.” Without hesitation the teenager stepped forward.

Looking for a st.u.r.dy vine, Gu Yun said: “Grab the vine above.”

“Yes.”

Exerting some effort to leap, the young soldier tightly clung on to the vine, hanging motionless.

Gu Yun stood beside him. Instructing him step by step: “Now slowly bend your elbows. Pull your body up until your chin is over the height of the branch. Then straightening your arms, lower your body to return to your initial position. Done this way you have just completed one chin-up.” The young lad easily completed one. Everyone covertly rejoiced. Fortunately, it wasn’t quite difficult. However, Gu Yun’s subsequent words hurled them down deep into the abyss, “sixty chin-ups in a set. I require everyone to do five sets.”

Anguished wailing of the hearts sprung up everywhere, but no one dared to talk back.

Looking at their appearance of being close to weeping, Gu Yun snickered in her heart. The corners of her mouth formed a sly smile: “As for ligament stretching exercises, well…”

Gu Yun’s gaze focused on the crowd scouring it thoroughly. Raising her hand, she pointed to the boy who questioned her about roudao earlier in the forest. In an unusually soft, gentle voice she called out: “You, come over.”

“Yes.” The boy’s back broke out in cold sweat. His mind faint with fear, but he dared not show a hint of hesitation in his steps. He trotted forward towards Gu Yun.

“Next is the ligament training. The first task is doing the split!” Gu Yun, pointing to his legs, said: “Legs apart extending in opposite direction, get down until reaching the middle.”

The boy froze for a moment, then quickly he parted his legs. This is the so-called split? Gu Yun swatted his hand saying: “Get down! Brace the hands on the ground. Don’t bend the upper body. Straighten up your lower back!”

Hands bracing on the ground? The boy struggled to splay out his legs. He dared not bend his lower back. With difficulty his fingertips finally touched ground. His legs cramped in pain.

“Continue to go down.” Gu Yun was getting impatient. What kind of ability is this, ah?! The distance to the ground is yet too far! She deliberately chose this boy on the premise that as he looked to be the youngest, the flexibility of his ligaments should be optimal. By making him do the demonstration was letting the other soldiers better understand her command. Who knew that he was going to be this useless!

Farther down? The boy’s legs gave way. He really was having cramps! Gu Yun’s fierce eyes zoomed in on him. The boy with a lot of effort tried once more. His palms fully propping himself up on the ground, his pain so sharp he wept, crying out loud: “Really I can’t anymore! I can’t go down farther!”

Gu Yun approached him, holding on to his shoulders to keep his body erect, she pressed him down with both of her hands …

“Ahhh…” His yell sounded so tragic. His incomparable mournful and shrill cry cannot help but scare the soldiers who were still rock climbing. Gu Yun also jumped scared. She only slightly pushed him with a little force, but he’s crying out more miserably than a pig being butchered!

The boy curled his legs on the ground crying out aloud wah… wah… The other soldiers watching this scene involuntarily clamped their legs. This, this is too horrible!

“Shut up!” Gu Yun was looking daggers at the boy but he kept on rubbing his thighs. He quickly silenced himself. Noting his pale face she knew he also really tried his best.

“From front to rear separate the legs into a straight line until sitting on the ground, only then is this considered complete.” To make them understand the basics of the exercise, Gu Yun parted her legs afterwards. Sliding slowly, she completed a perfect split with ease.

d.a.m.n it, staring at Gu Yun’s legs forming a straight line, every soldier became white in the face. Even the fearless who reckoned they were not afraid of death, broke out in cold sweat.

This this this – this is impossible!

Chapter 4: Surrender of the army, Part 3 of 7

Gu Yun slowly got up, her gaze swept towards the cliff, perhaps gloating over their misery or secretly rejoicing, her tone cheerful she laughingly said: “you need not just watch. You must also do it. After two hours, the two teams will swap with the training exercises. Everyone must accomplish my commands. I’ll give you five days’ time. Whoever cannot do it, I’d personally help him!”

Personally?! Gu Yun uttering this word with abnormal sweetness sent s.h.i.+vers down everyone’s spine simultaneously. Pleased to watch their deeply grieving faces as if they were wis.h.i.+ng for death, Gu Yun in good mood laughed, saying: “Alright, start practicing!”

As expected, within the mountain valley unceasing hollering and anguished wailing could be heard from every direction. Managing with great difficulty to hang on until sunset, everyone had sore and limp arms, their legs suffering from cramps. However even though they were like this, when Gu Yun yelled “Line up” everybody automatically moved at maximum speed to complete the formation. [Her threat of 100-tree-trunk-kicks penalty if getting in line exceeds 10 seconds works wonders! :-) ]

“Today I am dissatisfied with your performance. Tomorrow I do not want to see the same situation happening again. Tomorrow a.s.semble in the forest at mao s.h.i.+. Do you understand?” Her hands behind her back, Gu Yun coldly stared at their exhausted faces. Her heart also felt sorry for them, but the training had only just begun. They were still too far from her expectations. She must harden her heart.

Standing straight and grinding their teeth, the soldiers all replied: “Yes!”

Waving her hand, Gu Yun ordered: “Head back to the camp.”

Under Ge Jing Yun and Leng Xiao’s leading, the soldiers unexpectedly went back to the camp by trotting forward. Gu Yun, delighted, smiled faintly. Very well, she likes this kind of toughness and obstinate refusal to concede. Training them for the whole day, giving them demonstrations countless times, Gu Yun was also a little bit tired. Turning around, she saw Han Shu who was surprisingly standing behind her. His eyes were staring at her uncannily.

He actually observed for the entire day! Gu Yun snickered mockingly: “Vanguard [or second-in-command] Han had lots of free time today, eh?” Does he not disdain a woman training an army?

For the first time, Han Shu did not spout his usual sarcastic retort. Unfl.u.s.tered, he asked: “The daggers you need — how long should they be?”

Briefly startled, Gu Yun hesitated for a moment before replying back: “blade around five cuns[1], hilt about two cuns.” Recalling the short swords she saw this morning, Gu Yun laughed in spite of herself. What she wants is something that is convenient to carry — a compact and practical small knife.

“Alright, I’ll prepare them.” Leaving such a cold, laconic reply, Han Shu turned around and left.

Watching his departing strong and muscular figure, hurriedly leaving, he frantically left as if his a.s.s was on fire, the corner of Gu Yun’s lips once again curved — the men in the camp, they’re quite cute.

General Manor study.

Placed on top of a small, exquisite yellow rosewood table was a tiny cup of warm tea. The air was filled with the faint fragrance of tea and wood. Slender fingers lightly pinched a piece, slowly it was put aside. The white Go chess pieces seemed to have the upper hand. Long fingers again pinched a black piece, but it was not put down for a long time. On the chessboard, black and white pieces were grappling with all might in a fight. While on the low, small table there were two sides, yet for both there was only one white-clad figure playing.

This scene which ought to be elegant and quiet was broken by a low angry snarl, “The Ministry of Justice lost this kind of thing, to give us an explanation it changed secretly the army provisions case la? This is clearly looking for a scapegoat!”

Su Yu put down the furled scroll he was holding in his hands heavily on the low, small table. Unable to bear the strong impact the porcelain teacup rocked. Tea spilled on the table. Su Ren put down the board game piece. Shaking his head in frustration, when would Yu learn to be calm?

Picking up the scroll to read it once through, Su Ren’s thin lips lifted high, clearly understanding he chuckled saying: “You just calm down, don’t get excited, regarding this matter Shan Yu Lan has already intervened, he will not let it go like this.”

In a military war campaign, the army provisions are transported in advance. Come to think of it, that is to show evidently how important provisions are to the army. Such matter of secretly switching army provisions, the Ministry of Justice naturally has to give them an explanation. Since this matter arose up until now, already a month has gone by. The Ministry of Justice should come up with something to account for it.

Compared to that pack in the Ministry of Justice indeed Shan Yu Lan is a reliable court official. But still Su Yu’s heart felt uneasy, coldly he snorted, “Who knows! He’s already a man of the Ministry of Justice. It’s hard to guarantee he will not and give vent his anger to those official noses!”

Knowing perfectly well that he said these words in a fit of anger, Su Ren didn’t feel like reasoning with him again. Grasping a black piece, his attention once again returned to the unresolved chess game.

Su Ren stared concentrated at the chessboard. He appeared to be so engrossed in it. It’s really beyond Su Yu to understand, how much fun is there in playing chess by oneself?

[1] Cun – a traditional Chinese unit of length equivalent to the width of a person’s thumb at the knuckle; about an inch. (Source: Wikipedia)

Chapter 4: Surrender of the army, Part 4 of 7

Su Yu turned around preparing to leave the room, while doing so he directly b.u.mped into Gu Yun who had just entered. Looking at the full moon suspended high in the horizon outside, he ill-humoredly commented: “It’s very late in the evening. What are you doing here?”

Gu Yun did not even spare him a glance. She headed straight towards Su Ren.

Su Ren looked up and saw Gu Yun. Incredibly he put down the chess piece in his hand and got up to greet her. Su Yu gawked, immediately afterwards his face blackened. How come meeting him second brother did not attach so much importance, yet welcoming her with such a smiling face!

“Sister-in-law, today you have time to come over?”

“Sister-in-law?” His mood already upset, upon hearing Su Ren’s words, Su Yu promptly exploded, “Second brother, have you gone crazy?! When did this woman become our sister-in-law? I do not approve!”

Su Ren smiled, solemnly he replied: “She is big brother’s woman, of course, she’s our sister-in-law.” The main thing is, Bing Lian has chosen her, reckoning that even if big brother himself will not approve that would be futile as well, let alone he?

“No way!” Su Yu naturally is not aware of the reason, with disdain he scoffed, “at best she can only be considered a concubine, nothing more!”

“If you two want to discuss such a boring topic, I have no interest in listening. I only came to request two different things. Thirty wooden stakes, fifteen, at least thirty feet long, th.o.r.n.y vines.” After blurting out the two sentences to them, Gu Yun just stood there coolly. She did not lose her temper at all. Her face completely deadpan. To deal with a person like Su Ren, ignoring him is the best way, because he will not on your account become angry, or even a few provoking words would not stimulate any tad reaction from him.

Su Ren nodded and smiled: “No problem, tomorrow at 5 o’clock in the morning, certainly they’ll be delivered.”

Su Ren did not talk further, but Su Yu unable to curb his curiosity asked: “What will you do with these things?” He could still understand the wooden stakes, but what are the th.o.r.n.y vines for?

Gu Yun slowly turned around her body, suddenly she raised her face, plastered on it was a brilliant smile, a pity that the words spat out of her mouth were ice-cold and heartless, “This has nothing to do with you!”

Her water-chestnut lips slightly curved, two tiny dimples suspended on the sides of her mouth, her round eyes bent like the crescent moon, her smile – truly lovely. This sudden awesome smile put Su Yu into a light trance, but Gu Yun’s cold words and sarcastic comments like cold water poured on him immediately sobered him up.

d.a.m.n it, that he actually thought she’s lovely, he should have known in his bones this woman is a nasty shrew!

“Qing Mo, don’t you get too complacent!” Perhaps loathing himself for putting down his guard a moment ago, to put up his defenses once more, Su Yu’s retort was increasingly getting virulent, “Ten days more. At the appointed time, I’ll make you suffer a crus.h.i.+ng defeat. I’m telling you, the battlefield is always just a man’s world! A woman ought to obediently stay at home. Do laundry, cooking, milk a baby.”

The tip of Gu Yun’s brow lightly fluttered. Sneering in her mind, he thought such a verbal blow could humiliate her? She is very curious. Su Ling is unfeeling and calm, restrained Su Ren is crafty inside, why is rude and impetuous Su Yu this simple?! But having said that, among these three brothers, Su Yu is in comparison the charming one.

She initially thought he’d leave seeing him so vexed. Gu Yun unable to bear her ire, slumped on a wooden chair beside the low, small table, gently shaking her head, giving him a pitying look, she sighed: “Self-confidence is a good thing, but blind confidence is very lamentable. I feel sorry for your ignorance.”

“You! You b.i.t.c.h!” Su Ren nearly laughed out loud. Su Yu was fuming mad, steam was coming out of his ears!

Gu Yun had wanted at first to rebut his words, but the corner of her eyes unexpectedly swept into a dossier on the table, inadvertently reading a few lines. Gu Yun’s heart started racing. This autopsy report’s usage of terminologies and its style of exposition, are a carbon copy of Qing’s!

Chapter 4: Surrender of the army, Part 5 of 7

Gu Yun quickly picked up the dossier on the table and began to read it attentively. Su Yu, already in a fit of anger, saw how Gu Yun was ignoring him now. Finally he could not hold back his fury anymore. Grabbing back the dossier, Su Yu angrily said: “Is there any good in reading it?! This is a matter you should not meddle in!”

They have collaborated together on so many cases in the past, Qing’s autopsy methods and procedures she knew them inside out. Absolutely it was of Qing!

Suppressing the excitement in her heart, Gu Yun feigning as if nothing was amiss, casually asked: “Who wrote this autopsy report?”

Autopsy report? Su Yu glanced down at the dossier which Gu Yun read just a moment ago, originally it’s a coroner’s doc.u.ment ah! The dossier was again dropped on the low, small table, Su Yu snappily replied: “Are not those, people of the Ministry of Justice.” He only read the sentence pa.s.sed by the Ministry of Justice, the outcome was he already right away got angry half to death. He did not have the mood at all to continue reading it.

A person of the Ministry of Justice? This – this cannot be true! Gu Yun continued to ask: “Are they usually written like this?”

Su Yu hesitated for a moment, how would he know how the Ministry of Justice usually writes?

Su Ren seemed to look at Gu Yun peculiarly, replied: “Today’s coroner’s report is definitely not quite the same, the use of words in the sentences is particularly …” Pausing for a moment, he did not continue. Gu Yun finished it for him, saying: “precise and incisive.”

“Right.” That’s it exactly. Precise and incisive. Initially he noticed the difference, but somehow he could not come up with the right words to describe it. She unexpectedly nailed it spot on.

Could it be that in the end Qing in this different era landed herself later in the Ministry of Justice? It is not impossible at all, Gu Yun continued to ask: “Who is in charge of this case?”

“Why are you asking?” Su Yu was getting impatient, how come today she is so bothersome?!

Gu Yun shrugged her shoulders, masking her eagerness, she curiously asked: “Don’t you think that this case is dubious in numerous points?”

A hint of surprise flashed in Su Ren’s eyes, laughing, he inquired: “What made you think so?”

Unfolding the dossier, inside there were three parts of the small scroll, Gu Yun delivered her a.n.a.lysis: “The deceased was murdered inside the prison cell, and this was after he was meted out the death penalty sentence, isn’t this suspicious? The murderer is the current housekeeper of the family of the deceased. The motive of the crime is surprisingly because the master did not treat him well. The person is anyway soon to die. How deep runs the enmity, how great is the hatred to insist on and take risks personally killing someone? Moreover, the issue of theft and switching of military provisions extremely lacks basis, this kind of autopsy report, the case a.s.sertions and presentation of its conclusions—their words are inconsistent with one another, the chain of evidence clearly did not establish the case to be tenable, even if the case is closed?”

Gu Yun really wondered, the case riddled with so many loopholes why did they not even think it odd, even if boorish and sloppy Su Yu didn’t find anything, but also Su Ren turning a blind eye?

Su Ren slightly lowered his head down. His face was filled with astonishment and contemplation. She merely had a cursory glance over the dossier, yet she was able to quickly identify the problems, recited her a.n.a.lysis concisely, recounting the key points clearly, as if this kind of stuff she had already dealt with countless times. What kind of a woman is she after all? Rumor has it that the Qing sisters are well endowed with beauty and talent. He was initially under the impression that the so-called “talent” is no more than excelling in poetry and music, in playing the guqin, chess, calligraphy and painting. But, she is unexpectedly skilled in military training, is she likewise good in cracking cases? This talent is really something extraordinary!

Su Ren smiled on the sly, Bing Lian’s picked mistress is someone quite unique!

Sensing Gu Yun’s sharp eyes watching him intensely, Su Ren wore a smile on his face and replied: “This case was originally closed, discovering it later to be dubious, it has been sent back to the Ministry of Justice for re-investigation. Currently the court’s chief investigative official specifically supervising prison penalties is Shan Yu Lan of the Department of Enforcement of Penalties.

Department of Enforcement of Penalties? To hold this position she reckoned his ability to solve cases and forensic skills are not inferior, muttering to herself hesitatingly for a while, Gu Yun continued and doggedly asked: “This forensic report was written by him?”

“I don’t know, perhaps.” Su Ren eventually noticed that she had been continuously questioning about the so-called post-mortem examination report, could there be something fishy in it? Su Ren, not batting an eyelid, asked: “You are quite interested in the autopsy?”

Her interest on the autopsy is on account of Qing! Gu Yun calmly smiled, shaking her head, she replied: “No. I simply think this person is awesome, can you help me check out who wrote it?” If consequently Qing can be located, that would be wonderful!

“Okay.” Su Ren readily nodded his head, he is now also interested in this coroner.

At last getting some news about Qing, Gu Yun’s mood cheered, thinking of this body and her two elder sisters, if Qing came along into this different era, she has also very likely entered the body of one of the sisters, seizing the opportunity Gu Yun conveniently said: “I’ve been in Qiong Yue for quite some time, I wonder how my other two sisters are getting by?”