Chapter 225 - Chapter 225: 225. Firefly

Chapter 225: 225. Firefly

Translator: 549690339

Su Liang hadn’t expected that Gu Ling had actually enlisted as a new soldier in the City Guard Army yesterday, and now he was under her command.

Considering Gu Ling’s consistent high desire to try things he had never done before, Su Liang figured that he was looking to experience a different life with a different identity.

Lin Bojun was beside her, so Su Liang couldn’t show any special regard for Gu Ling to avoid arousing suspicion.

Looking at the hundreds of new soldiers in front of her, either excited, nervous or curious, only a few were calm, and most of those were physically strong.

But Su Liang knew that Gu Ling was truly calm, treating it as if he were just playing around.

Without saying much, Su Liang wanted to see the physical fitness of these new soldiers first, so she led the team to follow Lin Bojun to a designated training area on the drill ground.

“You can use any other place that no one is currently training at,” Lin Bojun instructed.

At this moment, a junior officer, leading an elite squad of City Guards, had just finished training and passed by not far away. They all stopped to look, having heard that they would compete against Su Liang’s new soldiers in a month. They all felt assured of victory.

“General Lin, please feel free to go about your business,” Su Liang said.

Lin Bojun glanced at the soldiers watching nearby and left without saying anything. He was not worried at all about Su Liang or the soldiers under her leadership. For her, nothing was impossible.

The sky was clear and blue.

More and more curious veterans gathered, making many new soldiers feel even more uneasy. Some were so nervous that they couldn’t stand still, their faces flushed. Being stared at was like an excruciating torture for many, not painful, but utterly uncomfortable.

Ignoring the people around, Su Liang began to warm up the new soldiers and commanded them to imitate her movements.

Soon, a stifled laugh came from not far away, followed by laughter from many other veterans.

Since the warm-up movements were small and of low intensity, to those who didn’t understand, it looked like playing around.

Su Liang did not care about the opinions of others. However, some of the more thin-skinned new soldiers were affected by the gazes and laughter around them, failing to perform the warm-up movements properly.

Su Liang didn’t reprimand anyone. After completing the warm-up, she explained, “Most of you just enlisted, and regardless of your previous status, you did not have any high-intensity training in your daily lives. If you start training too hard from the beginning, you will risk injury. Therefore, it is essential to perform a proper warm-up and activate your body joints before each training session.”

The laughter around them grew smaller, gradually stopping altogether.

“Now, run around the drill grounds and stop when you can’t run anymore, then come and report to me.” Just as Su Liang finished speaking, someone squeezed past the crowd and ran over, “General Su! Count me in!”

Compared to the strong and tall soldiers, the newcomer appeared more like a delicate young man.

This was Gao Jiabao, who participated in the Military Exam with Su Liang back then. He had become the second-place scholar but had suffered severe injuries. He had worked in a civil position in the Ministry of War and was just transferred to the Forbidden Army camp a few days ago. Although his rank was one level below Su Liang, he was not an ordinary soldier.

Su Liang hadn’t expected to see Gao Jiabao here again, but this was not the time for small talk.

Gao Jiabao took the initiative to explain, “I’ve only been here a few days as well, and I’m a new soldier too. I haven’t participated in any training yet. It’s perfect timing with General Su’s arrival, so please take me in as a soldier under your command!”

Su Liang asked, “Is this something I can decide?” Gao Jiabao nodded, “I’ve asked General Lin, and he agreed.”

“Alright.” Su Liang nodded, “I won’t be polite.”

Gao Jiabao smiled and bowed, “Please, General Su, do not treat me as anything special, just like any other soldier.”

Su Liane acknowledged. and let the new soldiers line uD and zet readv to run.

Although Gu Ling’s disguised appearance was also outstanding, he was not particularly noticeable because all the new soldiers wore the same uniform, and he was quiet.

Su Liang thought that the feeling of Gu Ling standing out in the crowd was just her own perception since he was the only person she knew and was extremely familiar with. No matter when, her first glance would always fall on Gu Ling as a subconscious reaction.

Seeing that Gao Jiabao did not go over, Su Liang frowned and heard him say, “I didn’t participate in the warm-up just now, so I have to trouble General Su to teach me again.”

Su Liang nodded, ordered the others to start running, and taught Gao Jiabao individually.

Joining the army had always been Gao Jiabao’s dream, but after entering the military camp for a few days, despite his decent martial arts skills, his delicate appearance and seemingly frail body still made many soldiers openly and secretly mock him, just like his experiences since childhood.

When he learned that Su Liang was coming, Gao Jiabao was determined to follow her, not only because he admired her strength, but also because dealing with Su Liang made him feel respected, without any discrimination or hypocrisy.

After seriously warming up, Gao Jiabao joined the ranks of the new recruits running.

Su Liang went to check on the new recruits and soon saw Gu Ling. Knowing him for almost a year, Su Liang seldom saw the calm and composed Gu Ling running, but today, she could only say that the Great God was indeed the Great God, who always treated the tasks he needed to do with utmost seriousness and focus, despite the burden of being an idol.

Gu Ling didn’t run at the front, nor did he fall behind. His speed was uniform, his breath steady, and his footsteps firm.

In contrast, the last to join, Gao Jiabao, treated this like a contest, becoming a little anxious, constantly trying to surpass those in front of him.

After two laps like this, those new recruits who had been competing at the beginning, including Gao Jiabao, had all slowed down.

Gu Ling, however, still maintained a steady pace, his expression unchanged.

The drill ground was quite large, and by the third lap, some people couldn’t keep up.

Su Liang received the list of new recruits that Lin Bojun had sent, with the basic information of each newcomer such as name, age, birthplace, whether they knew martial arts, and what weapons they were good at, briefly recorded.

Flipping to the last page, the last line, although the handwriting was unfamiliar, the name was recognizable to Su Liang. Han Su, inverted, is Su Han. Su is a homophone of Su, and Han is close to Liang.

However, conscription did not accept people with unknown backgrounds. Han Su wrote down a place of origin that Su Liang had never heard of, but it must certainly exist.

“General…” The first person came up, clutching his chest, his face flushed and panting heavily.

After asking his name, Su Liang wrote a serial number on the roster and let him rest.

One after another, those who could not run came up to register, and then they could end this half-day training.

Gao Jiabao couldn’t run anymore either, but he continued to force himself because he didn’t want to be embarrassed and ridiculed.

Su Liang didn’t bother him.

When there were six people left, Gu Ling stopped in front of Su Liang and did not continue to run.

“What’s your name?” Su Liang looked at the thin sweat on Gu Ling’s forehead, thinking that he looked more down-to-earth now than before.

Gu Ling’s thin lips opened slightly, “Han Su.”

“You seem to still have some enerzv. Whv not continue?” Su Lianz asked.

“May I ask General, is there any reward for getting first place?” Gu Ling asked.

Su Liang shook her head, “No.”

“I can’t run anymore. I’m thirsty.” Gu Ling finished speaking and walked towards the resting and drinking new recruits under the trees not far away.

Su Liang watched his retreating figure, thinking that he must be doing so to maintain a low profile, not because he was really thirsty or tired.

If a new recruit stands out too much on the first day of training, he will surely attract attention.

When there were only four people left, Gao Jiabao dragged his shaky legs to Su Liang, his normally pale face now red, and said with some shame, “I can’t do it anymore.”

Su Liang added Gao Jiabao’s name to the roster and wrote a number, “This is training, not competition. You are too anxious. You don’t need to care about others’ opinions so much. When someone looks down on you, the best counterattack is not your process of doing things, but the result. Because those who belittle you, no matter what you do, will always find something to ridicule.

Only a definite result can slap them in the face.”

Gao Jiabao was stunned, and after a moment, sighed, “My grandfather always said you were insightful and asked me to learn from you.”

Su Liang smiled, “Your strength is not a problem, but you need to face and accept that you’re different from others. No two people are exactly the same. You’re good looking and beating those who mock you does not require you to be like them, tall and strong.”

“Do you think I’m good looking?” Gao Jiabao asked Su Liang seriously.

Su Liang nodded, “Yes. But don’t misunderstand. I’m just giving you advice as a friend.”

Gao Jiabao nodded, “I understand, I won’t misunderstand, I just want to thank you.”

Another person came over, and Gao Jiabao went to rest under a nearby tree.

Someone yielded their position, and Gao Jiabao stood leaning against the tree, inexplicably asking a new recruit that he didn’t know, “What do you think of my appearance?”

The new recruit turned his head, and Gao Jiabao was stunned, “No need to answer, your appearance is much better than mine. What’s your name?” The new recruit calmly replied, “My surname is Han, my name is Su.”

“How did you think of joining the army?” Gao Jiabao couldn’t help but ask since he didn’t see any uncomfortable reaction from Gu Ling. Such beautiful men were rare in the camp.

Gu Ling closed his eyes, “It was my father’s dying wish.”

“I see.” Gao Jiabao understood.

After training, Su Liang gathered the new recruits, pointed out their problems, and how to improve.

“Today’s training was just a warm-up, I’ll develop a detailed training plan as soon as possible.” Su Liang dismissed them after she finished speaking.

Gao Jiabao stayed until the end and went with Su Liang to find Lin Bojun.

“Have you noticed, General Su, that there is a handsome man in our new recruit camp?” Gao Jiabao asked.

Su Liang nodded as usual, “Yes, I saw him, the one whose last name is Han.”

“He said he joined the army to fulfill his father’s dying wish.” Gao Jiabao casually shared the information he had learned.

Su Liang: …I don’t buy it.

Lin Bojun had gone out with a team of soldiers on an errand, so Su Liang returned to her residence in the Forbidden Army camp, an independent small courtyard not far from the new recruit camp, with an ancient cypress tree in the courtyard.

The conditions were ordinary, but Su Liang didn’t mind. She was planning to fetch water when she saw two new recruits bringing water. One of them was her acquaintance.

The other was a quick-witted young man, “My name is Qiu Ming! General Lin asked us to choose two diligent people to serve General Su by drawing lots. Everyone competed to come, and in the end, Brother Han and I had good luck and got the spots!”

Su Liang thought, this kid is lucky, but Mr. Gu must have done something tricks to get the spot.

Then, Su Liang simply arranged for the cleaning. The diligent Qiu Ming went to sweep the floor, Gu Ling held a wooden basin and a rag, and they both went into the room together.

“Your face is too eye-catching,” Su Liang said softly.

Gu Ling shook his head slightly, “Actually, it’s your face.”

Su Liang: …Indeed, Gu Ling’s current disguise was modeled on her appearance in the previous world, a customized version of her nonexistent real brother’s appearance in the previous world…

“Can you get used to living with so many people?” Su Liang asked.

Gu Ling nodded, “It’s nothing.”

Su Liang gave a thumbs-up.

“You think Gao Jiabao is very good-looking?” Gu Ling asked.

Su Liang was stunned for a moment, “You can read lips?”

She had said it, but Gu Ling’s position at that time made it impossible for him to hear.

Gu Ling shook his head, “I can’t, but I could tell some of it.”

“He is good-looking, but he is always bullied and somewhat self-conscious. I was just comforting him,” Su Liang explained.

“Be careful not to attract unwanted attention,” Gu Ling said.

Su Liang snorted, ‘Why do you care?”

Gu Ling paused while wiping the table and looked at Su Liang, “You said it yourself.”

Su Liang rubbed her forehead, “Yes, yes, I did say that after you recover your identity, I will use you as a cover to avoid arranged marriages. Gao Jiabao has no such intention, neither do I, so you don’t have to worry. Wearing that face, do you really think of yourself as my real brother?”

Gu Ling frowned slightly, “When you see me, do you think I look like your real brother?”

Su Liang shook her head, “No, I don’t have a real brother, it’s like looking at myself. ”

Qiu Ming asked from outside if the ancient cypress tree’s branches and leaves needed to be trimmed.

“No need,” Su Liang went out, “I’ll clean up the rest. You guys go back.”

As Gu Ling and Su Liang brushed past each other, he whispered, “I’ll come to listen to the story tonight.”

When Su Liang stayed in Xuanbei City, she lived in the General Mansion. This was her first time living in the camp, and it felt very special.

As the only female, she was also the most unique existence in the eyes of others in the army.

Dinner was brought by Gu Ling because he was the chosen attendant of Su Liang.

“After I finish eating, you can take the dishes back,” Su Liang said.

Gu Ling waited outside the door. Su Liang ate inside and asked, “It’s not convenient for you to come over at night, right? Would you like me to tell you a story now?”

“Alright,” Gu Ling nodded slightly.

It was late summer and early autumn, and the night breeze was cool.

The lantern under the eaves illuminated half of Gu Ling’s elegant and dust-free face, while Su Liang’s soft voice from inside the room told the story, and green fireflies rose in the corners of the courtyard, peaceful and tranquil.

After finishing two stories, Su Liang had also finished her meal. She tidied up the dishes and handed them to Gu Ling, “Can you get used to the canteen food?”

Gu Ling took out a cloth bag from his bosom and opened it. There were still two pieces of peach slices he had brought from home. He took half and gave the other half to Su Liang.

“It’s delicious,” Su Liang felt like she was sneaking a snack.

Gu Ling left with the food tray and Su Liang went back to her room without closing the door.

As soon as she sat down, Gu Ling reappeared at the door, “General Su, it seems like I left my jade pendant here.”

Su Liang raised her eyebrows, “Oh? Then come in and look for it?”

Gu Ling entered, and blew out the lamp in Su Liang’s room.

Su Liang frowned, ‘What are you doing? People might suspect that we have an inappropriate relationship.”

The next moment, Gu Ling’s clasped hands slowly opened, and the green fireflies fluttered in front of Su Liang, the laughter in her eyes rippling….