201 More To Come (1/2)

The military quarters of Jinping province were hazy with smoke and heavy with the smell of roasted meat and wine. Its gray stone walls were draped with banners of the army's legendary silver wolf. Music played in the background – a flute.

It was hard to hear above the clangor of plates and cups, and the low mutter of a hundred drunken conversations and laughs among soldiers.

In the far corner of the room, sitting at a table was the lone figure of a young man. His broad shoulders hunched as he twirled the cup of wine in front of him. Dark gray eyes stared at the red beverage with mystery.

It had been three months since he experienced training under the Jinping army. As of now, he had made it through three courses and was now amongst many of the men who persevered. The rest had long died or dropped out from unmerciful training.

A few soldiers while drinking passed along a smoking pipe and let out a few puffs of smoke – some choked in the process.

His eyes stung. An Sun rubbed at them, cursing the smoke. He swallowed another gulp of wine and stood up from the table.

”Hey, where are you going?”

”Maybe he had too much to drink and doesn't want to look like a fool.”

Behind him, An Sun heard snickers, but he continued to walk out the door. The yard was quiet and empty. His lone figure stood in the dark, his robe tight around him against the cool, summer night. An Sun heard the sounds of music and men's laughter spill through the open windows behind him.

From his pocket, he pulled out a small gourd and took a sip.

Drinking alone was much better.

The moonlight shone on his body like a layer of frost. A pure and clean aura slowly spread throughout his exquisite and handsome face.

”What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be out celebrating with the rest of the men?” A voice behind him said.

An Sun swallowed the wine in his mouth and turned. Perceiving the figure before, he lowered his head.

”There's nothing in particular to celebrate at the moment.” An Sun responded in a flat tone.

A blunt, broad-shouldered man stood before the yard entrance. His chin was shaved but thick, black side-whiskers framed his strong face. The man's name was Bo Guozhi, commander of the Northern Province Jinping.

When he heard An Sun's words, he cocked his head to one side and looked the young man over with his keen eyes.

”Oh? Did you not succeed well in the hunts today? I would say that's a victory.”

Currently, the troops were partaking in three hunts. They were on the first hunt, and it had been a success – the reason for the celebration. However, An Sun knew it would only get harder from here.

The purpose of hunting was to train men to cooperate under tense conditions. This was to ensure they would support one another smoothly during battles.