TGWM Ch. 4

Chapter 4: Personal Guard

Lin Aoxue reported everything that had happened at Yanyu Tower today, omitting only the remark Yun Yan had made while teasing her.

Beichen Long nodded after hearing the report and said, “Alright, wait outside the tent for now.”

At his words, Lin Aoxue bowed again. Without sparing Beichen Ji a glance, she turned and left the tent.

Not long after, Beichen Ji also came out, glaring at Lin Aoxue with a deep look of resentment, leaving her completely baffled.

***

Once both of them had exited, Beichen Long walked over to the desk, picked up a brush, and, with a smile, asked the person behind the screen, “What do you think of Lin Aoxue?”

Shortly after Beichen Long finished speaking, a low, hoarse voice came from behind the screen, “I’ve heard that this young man is a disciple of Master Hongming.”

Beichen Long’s hand paused slightly before he responded, “I have already sent people to verify it. It is true.” He let out a long sigh before continuing, “Master Hongming left the capital years ago, distancing himself from politics and worldly affairs. Now, his disciple has come north to join the military. For the sake of my old acquaintance, I should pay extra attention to him.”

The person behind the screen remained silent for a long time before finally speaking again, but instead of mentioning Master Hongming, they commented, “This young man has a strong and upright character, outstanding abilities, and a keen mind beneath a rough exterior. Though he is arrogant and unruly, he knows when to advance and retreat. He is worth using, but he has ambitions for personal gain and will need some guidance.”

Beichen Long smiled at these words. “If he had no ambitions and no interest in women, he would be difficult to control. No one is perfect. Since he desires success and recognition, let’s see if he is worthy of the position he seeks. As you suggested, we shall give him some guidance.”

***

Lin Aoxue did not have to wait long outside the tent before Beichen Long summoned her back in. He then assigned her to be Beichen Ji’s personal guard, instructing her to oversee Beichen Ji’s conduct and ensure that he read military texts for at least two hours and trained in martial arts for three hours daily. If he failed to meet these requirements, he would not be allowed to leave the camp.

Hearing Beichen Long’s decision, Lin Aoxue subtly furrowed her brows.

Becoming Beichen Ji’s personal guard seemed like a promotion, but in reality, aside from the title of the general shielding him, Beichen Ji had no real influence in the army. His personal guard was essentially a meaningless position.

However, Lin Aoxue did not let her thoughts show. Once Beichen Long finished speaking, she respectfully accepted the order and withdrew, following Beichen Ji to the temporary tent that Beichen Long had arranged for him.

Along the way, Beichen Ji grumbled incessantly. Beichen Long had dismissed all his former guards who had obeyed him, leaving only Lin Aoxue, who was as unyielding as iron and completely insensitive to human sentiment. Beichen Ji could already foresee the dull and grueling days ahead.

Not long after Beichen Ji returned to his tent, Beichen Long sent someone to bring a selection of military texts from the general’s residence to the camp. Under Lin Aoxue’s supervision, Beichen Ji barely managed to read for the duration of a single incense stick before he felt unbearably drowsy, his head bobbing up and down.

Lin Aoxue smacked the table, startling him awake. He looked at her with resentment, pushing the book away, his thoughts drifting longingly toward the freedom outside the camp. Lin Aoxue, however, remained indifferent to his complaints, keeping a stern expression as she insisted he complete the full two hours of reading before allowing him to go out and stretch.

For the next few days, Lin Aoxue dutifully carried out her role as Beichen Ji’s personal guard. She had no time to participate in military drills, and word soon spread about her punishment at the hands of the grand general for causing trouble at the training grounds. A few days later, when Shang Wu found some free time, he came to visit and informed Lin Aoxue of the rumors circulating in the camp.

What infuriated Shang Wu the most was that the veteran soldier who had provoked Lin Aoxue that day had been promoted from squad leader to platoon leader afterward. For the past few days, he had been strutting around, flaunting his new rank, leaving Shang Wu seething with frustration and nowhere to vent.

After hearing what Shang Wu had to say, Lin Aoxue didn’t react with anger. Instead, she tilted her head slightly, lost in thought.

Seeing her lack of response, Shang Wu grew exasperated, stamping his foot in frustration. “These people are stepping all over you! How can you not be angry?!”

Lin Aoxue, amused by his reaction, unexpectedly burst into a carefree laugh. “What’s there to be mad about? They’re making a fuss because they can’t beat me—what’s the point?”

Rumors were just rumors. Besides, she had indeed been stripped of her position by the grand general. As for the exact reason, she couldn’t quite figure it out, but Beichen Long placing her by Beichen Ji’s side didn’t seem like a bad thing. The rumors didn’t actually affect her in any meaningful way, so why should she care?

Moreover, after years of begging in the capital, she had endured more than her fair share of cold stares. How could an unfounded rumor possibly provoke her?

With her arms crossed, Lin Aoxue instead took it upon herself to console Shang Wu.

“Shang-xiong, calm down. Let them say whatever they want. This is the Northern Frontier Army camp—we’re all going to the battlefield sooner or later. Spending more time figuring out how to survive in battle is far more important than worrying about these trivial things.”

(T/N: 兄 (xiōng) means “older brother or an older male friend”; formal.)

Shang Wu, hearing Lin Aoxue’s words, felt as if he had been doused with a bucket of cold water, waking him up. He abruptly stood up, slapped his thigh hard, and let out a long sigh. “Lin-xiongdi, you’re absolutely right! I was being too petty!”

(T/N: 兄弟 (xiōngdì) means “younger brother” or younger male friend”; formal)

Determined to focus on his martial training and stop wasting energy on meaningless disputes, Shang Wu chatted with Lin Aoxue for a little while longer before taking his leave.

***

A few more days passed, and Beichen Ji finally reached his breaking point.

He had always indulged in leisurely pleasures and had no interest in military tactics or martial arts. No matter how hard he tried, he simply couldn’t concentrate on them. For half a month, he hadn’t completed a single day of the tasks Beichen Long had assigned him, which meant he hadn’t been allowed to leave the military camp even once.

Having endured this much was already pushing his limits!

He decided to take advantage of Lin Aoxue’s training session to sneak out from the other side of the tent.

Once everything was prepared, Beichen Ji peeked through the tent flap and saw Lin Aoxue fully immersed in practicing her spear techniques, completely focused on her movements.

He quietly drew a sharp dagger from the sole of his shoe and moved to the opposite side of the tent, carefully slicing through the fabric. With a small tear now open, he crouched and slipped through the hole.

There were plenty of soldiers in the camp—once he was out, he could blend into any unit and make his escape. He figured no one would dare to offend him, and even if he got caught and brought back, at worst, he’d be scolded.

Feeling triumphant, Beichen Ji was convinced that Beichen Long, despite years of keeping a close watch on him, had never been able to truly restrain him. A mere Lin Aoxue wouldn’t be able to hold him back either.

With confidence, he crawled out of the hole. But just as he was about to stand up, his smug smile froze.

A long, slender shadow stretched across the ground in front of him.

His throat tightened. Stiffly, he looked up—only to see Lin Aoxue standing before him, a red-tasseled spear in hand, watching him with an amused expression.

The playful glint in Lin Aoxue’s exposed eyes burned Beichen Ji’s cheeks with embarrassment. Overcome with shame and fury, he lashed out—springing up from his crouched position and swinging his dagger at her in the same motion!

Beichen Ji had learned some martial arts, but compared to Lin Aoxue’s decade of relentless training, his skills were far inferior. He barely managed to withstand three moves before she subdued him, twisting his arm behind his back and pinning him to the ground, rendering him completely immobile.

Even as Lin Aoxue held him down, he remained defiant, his face flushed with rage as he barked, “Lin Aoxue! How dare you defy your superior?!”

Lin Aoxue looked at him as if he were a mere buffoon. Though officially serving as Beichen Ji’s personal guard, she spoke to him from a position of absolute dominance. “I was entrusted by the grand general to keep watch over you, and I will fulfill my duty. If you have the strength to escape from me, then you are free to enjoy whatever ‘freedom’ you claim to seek.” Her eyes narrowed slightly as she gazed at Beichen Ji, who was still struggling in vain. It was as if something buried deep in her memory had surfaced—something she would rather forget. Taking a deep breath, she added, “If you lack the strength, then no matter your status, you’re nothing more than an ant.”

With that, she released his arms, allowing him to ease the soreness from his twisted limbs.

Her words were utterly improper, striking directly at Beichen Ji’s pride. His face burned with anger, his eyes turning red, veins bursting with fury. He spun around, just about to explode, but then he caught a fleeting glimpse of the somber look that briefly crossed Lin Aoxue’s face. He froze. A memory surfaced—

Yang Jin had once shown him a dossier detailing Lin Aoxue’s past.

This was someone who had forged her skills through relentless hardship. Unlike him, she had not been born into wealth. She had no powerful family to shield her. Everything she had, she had earned with her own hands.

Beichen Ji fell silent. He lowered his head slightly, turned back toward his tent, and never brought up leaving the camp again.

That day seemed to awaken something in him. It was as if he had been struck awake. Overnight, he transformed—immersing himself in rigorous martial training, studying military strategy. And when he finally completed the tasks Beichen Long had assigned him, he no longer rushed off to indulge in pleasure-seeking.

***

Half a month later, Beichen Ji took the initiative to seek out Beichen Long, requesting to formally enlist and train alongside the soldiers.

Beichen Long was stunned, then overjoyed. Without hesitation, he arranged for Beichen Ji’s enlistment, appointing him as a squad leader based on his current abilities. Lin Aoxue, in turn, was allowed to return to the training grounds, and their units were merged into the same platoon.

Once they had left, Beichen Long immediately summoned the secret guards who had been monitoring Beichen Ji and Lin Aoxue. He carefully inquired about the recent events, paying special attention to the days leading up to Beichen Ji’s drastic change.

The conclusion was clear—Lin Aoxue was the one who had changed Beichen Ji.

Beichen Ji had not always been a hedonist. Years ago, a certain incident had dealt him a devastating blow. Beichen Long had always carried guilt over it, and that guilt led him to overindulge Beichen Ji, neglecting discipline. It was this negligence that had shaped Beichen Ji into the man he was now.

Beichen Long rubbed his chin thoughtfully, pacing back and forth in his tent for a long time. At last, he stepped outside, turning his gaze toward Yuanming Temple in the distance. Letting out a long breath, he murmured, “Hongming…”

***

Neither Beichen Ji nor Lin Aoxue had any idea of the thoughts weighing on Beichen Long’s mind. After returning to the training grounds together, the field marshal introduced a newly appointed platoon leader.

The moment Lin Aoxue laid eyes on him, her brows arched slightly, and a hint of amusement flickered across her otherwise cold and stern face.

What a small world.

The new platoon leader was none other than the veteran soldier who had clashed with her on the training grounds a month ago.