TGWM Ch. 1

Chapter 1: Lin Aoxue

In early winter, the wind at the border carried a deep chill. Light snowflakes drifted from the sky as the border guards stood tall against the icy wind, their expressions solemn. Their frost-reddened eyes gazed out over the vast land and the gray-blue heavens.

Gripping their bloodstained blades and spears, they upheld the backbone of the nation, defending the land beneath their feet and the countless citizens of Beichen behind them.

Compared to the solemn silence atop the city walls, the massive training ground below was filled with the sounds of battle cries.

New recruits were engaging in one-on-one sparring matches. Those who displayed exceptional martial prowess had a chance to be promoted directly to squad leader. As a result, the atmosphere was electric—skilled newcomers gave it their all, hoping to catch the general’s eye.

The northern border had just endured an autumn campaign, successfully repelling an invasion from the barbarians beyond the pass. The soldiers had suffered heavy losses, and now, with the first snowfall signaling the imminent closure of the borders, they could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

General Beichen Long intended to use the harsh winter to allow the army to recover, so he ordered a recruitment drive. In just ten days, thousands of able-bodied men had rushed from nearby cities, eager to join the ranks. Even the lowest-ranking soldier in the northern army received a monthly stipend sufficient to support an entire family. If they fell in battle, General Beichen Long would ensure their loved ones were taken care of. For those lucky enough to survive and accumulate merit over the years, there was even a chance to earn an official rank—securing prosperity for future generations.

Everyone in Beichen knew that although conditions in the northern military were harsh, for those with ambition, those seeking glory, or simply those with strength but no other means of livelihood, it was an ideal place to be. Thus, every recruitment drive drew a flood of eager men. To prevent enemy spies from infiltrating, the military had strict screening measures in place. Newcomers had to first register their names at the command office, where their backgrounds were thoroughly vetted. Only then could they proceed to the training grounds.

The training ground was bustling with noise and activity. Another challenger had just been kicked off the stage. Standing atop the arena was a brawny man, clad only in a short-sleeved tunic despite the winter cold. He exuded an unrestrained, arrogant energy. He had already defeated nine opponents in a row.

“Who else dares to fight?!”

Wiping the sweat from his face, his eyes gleamed with confidence. If no one challenged him before sunset, the squad leader position would be his.

The recruits below exchanged uneasy glances, none willing to step forward.

Just then, a clear voice rang out from the crowd, “I will!” 

The voice was crisp and sharp, drawing the attention of many.

A lean figure in a coarse, short robe leaped onto the stage. Compared to the towering and muscular opponent, this person could only be described as small and thin. Even standing straight, they barely reached the challenger’s shoulder.

But it wasn’t just their seemingly frail appearance that drew attention—it was the rough, crude mask covering the right side of their face, adding an air of mystery.

Yet the brawny man did not underestimate his challenger. Laughing heartily, he clasped his fists together and offered a respectful martial salute.

“I am Shang Wu. Please, go ahead!”

The exposed half of the newcomer’s face seemed to carry a faint smile as they returned Shang Wu’s martial salute.

“Lin Aoxue. Please.”

The moment the words fell, a sharp glint flashed in Shang Wu’s eyes. He stepped forward swiftly and struck the first blow, his fist aiming straight for Lin Aoxue’s face.

As soon as Shang Wu moved, Lin Aoxue reacted. She slid back smoothly, her figure light and agile. His punch brushed past her lapel but failed to land. 

Undeterred by the missed strike, Shang Wu immediately followed up with another attack. Lin Aoxue, using her agility, continuously evaded his powerful assaults, occasionally countering with a strike of her own. Blow after blow, the two exchanged over a hundred moves.

Shang Wu suddenly reached out with his left hand to grab Lin Aoxue’s arm. She took another step back, nearly reaching the edge of the platform. One more step, and she would fall off, losing the match.

Sensing an opportunity, Shang Wu shifted from grabbing to pushing, sending a forceful palm strike toward Lin Aoxue’s shoulder.

Lin Aoxue’s expression turned serious. She crouched low to evade the strike, then shot out both hands, grabbing Shang Wu’s arm.

The spectators below barely had time to register her movements before their positions reversed in an instant.

Shang Wu’s eyes widened in shock. The seemingly frail figure before him had suddenly exploded with incredible strength. Lin Aoxue’s fists struck his chest, and with a muffled thud, his towering figure was sent flying off the stage.

The crowd gasped in disbelief. Someone stepped forward to catch Shang Wu, but the force of the impact sent him stumbling several steps back.

Lin Aoxue cupped her fists once more, her expression composed and cold. “Thank you for going easy on me.”

Shang Wu, still in a daze from the defeat, struggled to process what had happened. He had been confident that he could withstand Lin Aoxue’s attacks without losing, yet the force behind those two punches had been beyond his expectations. In an instant, his defenses had been shattered, and he had been sent flying.

And yet, Lin Aoxue had controlled her strength with precision. Though the impact had been overwhelming, she had not actually harmed him. It was clear she had been holding back throughout their fight.

This realization stirred a sense of admiration in Shang Wu. Pushing aside the hands supporting him, he stood up, returned Lin Aoxue’s salute, and laughed. “Your martial skill is exceptional. I concede wholeheartedly!”

The gathered recruits erupted into murmurs of astonishment. Throughout the fight, Lin Aoxue had relied on agility, dodging more than attacking, making her victory seem hard-won. Many had expected Shang Wu to be humiliated by the loss, yet he accepted defeat with remarkable composure.

Lin Aoxue narrowed her eyes slightly. The cold severity on her half-masked face softened just a fraction, curving into the faintest of smiles.

“I merely took advantage of an opening.”

After Shang Wu stepped down, more recruits began eagerly challenging Lin Aoxue.

Earlier, when Shang Wu had been on the platform, his imposing presence had discouraged them from stepping forward. But Lin Aoxue was different. To them, this masked newcomer didn’t seem particularly strong.

And since Lin Aoxue herself had admitted to taking advantage of openings, many assumed her victory had been a fluke. Hoping to test her true strength—or perhaps seize an easy win—several recruits stepped up to challenge her.

Lin Aoxue accepted every opponent without hesitation. Each fight, she controlled her strikes with precision, appearing to rely on clever maneuvers rather than brute force. Yet, no one could drive her off the platform.

By the time the sun dipped below the horizon, two full hours had passed.

The recruits finally came to a sobering realization—Lin Aoxue was far more formidable than Shang Wu. From her first battle against him to now, over twenty challengers had taken the stage. Yet, few had even managed to graze the hem of her robes.

From the moment Lin Aoxue defeated Shang Wu, Field Marshal Yang Jin had been observing the recruits’ sparring from a distance for two full hours. With each match, the smile on his face deepened.

“Someone, bring me Lin Aoxue’s record.”

As soon as he spoke, an attendant immediately stepped forward and presented a prepared dossier with both hands. Yang Jin took it, opened it, and began reading, “Hmm… Lin Aoxue, a native of Queyang, from Linping Village. A farmer’s son. Years ago, his parents were killed when barbarian raiders plundered the border. His right cheek was disfigured by fire. He traveled to the capital in search of relatives but found none, ending up as a beggar on the streets. There, he encountered Master Hongming, who was preaching in the capital. The master claimed they were fated to meet and took him to Yuanming Temple to practice monastic life while keeping his hair. Due to unresolved family feuds and lingering hatred, he eventually left the temple and journeyed to the Northern Frontier Army camp, seeking to kill enemies at the border and fulfill his long-cherished wish.”

Everything recorded in the dossier had been thoroughly verified before being documented. Yang Jin read through Lin Aoxue’s history several times before nodding in satisfaction. He then handed the record back to the official beside him.

“This Lin Aoxue is promising. And that Shang Wu from earlier as well. Promote both of them to squad leaders and assign them to the infantry camp.”

The order was swiftly carried out. Lin Aoxue’s promotion as the arena champion was expected, but Shang Wu receiving the same recognition surprised many.

However, given that Shang Wu had consecutively defeated nine opponents and was second only to Lin Aoxue, the decision was reasonable.

Having fought each other, Lin Aoxue and Shang Wu developed a mutual respect. Now assigned to the same unit, Shang Wu sought Lin Aoxue out after the selection trials. Grinning, he threw an arm around Lin Aoxue’s shoulder as they headed toward the supply station to collect their uniforms—only for Lin Aoxue to smack his arm away.

The slap left Shang Wu momentarily stunned. He blinked in confusion before chuckling. “Come on, we’re all men here, no need to be so uptight!”

Lin Aoxue’s expression remained cold. With half of her face obscured by a mask, her demeanor looked particularly unapproachable. Shang Wu awkwardly scratched his head, about to say more, when Lin Aoxue turned and strode ahead, saying, “Before coming here, I practiced in a temple, interacting only with worshippers. I’m not used to physical contact.”

Realization dawned on Shang Wu, and he quickly caught up, wisely keeping his hands to himself.

***

The next day, at the morning assembly, over five thousand new recruits gathered in the training field. As squad leaders, Lin Aoxue and Shang Wu were each assigned five subordinates, while the remaining recruits were placed under veteran squad leaders for joint training.

During a training break, Lin Aoxue was correcting her squad’s movements when a sudden commotion broke out behind her. She ignored it at first, continuing her instructions.

The noise grew louder, approaching fast. Eventually, it stopped directly behind her. A rough, raspy voice dragged out a deliberate, mocking tone, “Who here is Lin Aoxue?!”

Lin Aoxue had no choice but to turn around. She saw a tall, burly man with thick eyebrows and deep-set eyes. A long scar stretched from the corner of his eye down his cheek, making him look particularly fierce. His posture radiated arrogance and roguishness. Behind him stood several other recruits, their shifty expressions revealing bad intentions.

“That would be me.” Lin Aoxue frowned, her face as cold and unreadable as ever.

The man scrutinized Lin Aoxue for a long moment before suddenly letting out a derisive laugh. Crossing his arms over his chest, he looked down at Lin Aoxue with an unmistakable air of provocation. “You’re Lin Aoxue? A scrawny thing like you became the arena champion?”