Chapter Three: The General and the Soldier

Leaf Night Academy.

Liu Ru gently mouthed these four words.

At this moment, she was soaking in warm water, reclining in a wooden tub lined with iron, beneath which charcoal burned steadily, allowing her to enjoy a long, comfortable bath even in the heart of winter.

She desperately needed this indulgence to relax her body and spirit, which had both been pushed to their absolute limits. Yet, even as she unwound, her thoughts turned more deeply to her present situation.

She had never heard of a place called Leaf Night Academy—indeed, her previous self had known nothing at all of this world. She was like those country folk who live their entire lives on their own narrow plots of land, oblivious to the rise and fall of dynasties, never once curious about the world beyond their village.

Until disaster struck at their very doorstep.

Who exactly was this Su Ziye, the boy who had claimed such a name? What was his true identity and purpose? In Liu Ru’s eyes, this young man, not much older than herself, already possessed a power comparable to the gods and demons of legend. Why, then, did someone like him need to go to an academy to study?

She was only Liu Ru—of these things, she knew nothing.

But at least one thing was clear to her: Su Ziye had given her a new life and a new future. Though he seemed not to expect anything in return, gratitude, at the very least, demanded some form of repayment.

With this in mind, Liu Ru straightened up in the tub, preparing to step out.

Just then, Su Ziye’s voice drifted in from outside: “Miss, please wait a moment. Dinner isn’t ready yet—why not soak a little longer?”

Liu Ru reluctantly sank back into the warm water, pouting in mild annoyance as she blew bubbles beneath the surface—she really had no secrets from him at all, it seemed.

…

The meal Su Ziye prepared was even simpler than Liu Ru had imagined.

A bowl of meat broth, a handful of bright green scallions and cilantro floating on top; a plate of finely sliced flatbread; a small dish of fragrant, enticing red sauce.

Liu Ru took a sip of the soup. The rich aroma of meat mingled with the broth’s sweet savor, as if she’d been transported to paradise.

“The soup is delicious,” she murmured in quiet praise.

If Su Ziye truly had made this himself, his identity became all the more perplexing.

After all, cooking was not something one imagined a person of status would do.

“You should try it with the bread,” Su Ziye said with a smile. As he spoke, he took some of the sliced flatbread and dropped it into her bowl. “Can you handle spicy food?” he asked.

“Spicy?” Liu Ru echoed uncertainly, watching the thin strips of bread sink slowly into the broth. She shook her head. “I’m not sure.”

“Then give it a try.” Su Ziye continued to smile, scooping a small spoonful of the red sauce into her bowl, and stirred it gently with his finger. “But don’t eat it all at once.”

Liu Ru nodded, using her chopsticks to mix the sauce into the soup. The surface turned a strange, vivid red, and a sharp, enticing fragrance rose to her nose.

Trusting that he would not poison her, Liu Ru took another cautious sip. This time, a wave of heat tingled across her tongue—not overwhelming, but almost dancing on her taste buds. The already delicious flavor of the meat seemed only to become richer under the gentle burn.

She looked at Su Ziye in astonishment. This was a taste she had never known, but she liked it—liked it immensely.

She said nothing, but her eyes and her expression told the whole story.

“If you can eat spicy food,” Su Ziye said, “then we’re bound to be great friends.”

Liu Ru nodded quietly and continued eating.

The spicy red sauce was exquisite; the broth, savory and full of depth, with slices of meat that satisfied a deep hunger. The flatbread, soaked in the soup, was perfectly chewy with a hint of char from the grill—a taste that made her soul tremble.

It had been a long time since Liu Ru had tasted anything remotely decent—perhaps she never had. But this simple, delicious meal made her whole body tremble uncontrollably.

She lowered her head, and fat tears fell, dripping into the crimson bowl.

She had not wept when her parents died before her eyes. She had not wept when she was sold as a slave and beaten. She had not wept when she was paraded on a platform and lashed.

But now, faced with a bowl of soup so delicious it defied words, she could not control herself and sobbed openly.

Su Ziye watched her quietly. He did not speak, nor did he comfort her; he simply watched.

Only when Liu Ru finally stopped crying and bent once more to her bowl did he speak.

“I can get you a fresh bowl,” Su Ziye offered.

She had wept nearly half a bowl of tears into the soup.

Liu Ru shook her head stubbornly. She ate, mouthful after mouthful, swallowing the broth mixed with her own tears, not pausing until she had finished every last scrap of bread, meat, and garnish, and not a drop remained.

Her eyes were rimmed red.

She looked at Su Ziye, biting her lip softly. “Why are you being so kind to me?”

If all this was merely an attempt to win her heart, then she had already been utterly conquered by his gentleness.

It was like those stories of girls falling for scoundrels—simply because those men could offer a tenderness and care these girls might never experience in their whole lives.

“Let me tell you a story,” Su Ziye said, still smiling faintly, as if her tears had not moved him at all.

“Long ago, there was a great general, famed for his skill in battle. He ate and slept alongside his soldiers, sharing hardship and joy alike. One day, one of his men developed a terrible sore, and the general personally sucked the pus and blood from the wound with his own mouth.”

Su Ziye’s black eyes showed no emotion—not pity, not fervor. He was simply telling a story.

“Everyone praised the general’s virtue. But when the soldier’s mother heard of it, she broke down, weeping bitterly. Do you know why she cried?” he asked.

Liu Ru shook her head. “I don’t know.”

“Because her husband had also served under that general, and the general had done the same for him. Out of gratitude, her husband had fought bravely in battle, never retreating from danger, and in the end, he died for his commander. Now her son had received the same great favor, and she knew he too would fight fearlessly and likely die. Having just lost her husband, she realized she was about to lose her only son. That is why she wept.”

This time, Liu Ru understood.

In that moment, she had indeed been so moved that she would have died for Su Ziye without hesitation.

But if all of this was just a calculated ploy, the heat in her heart cooled in an instant.

She looked at Su Ziye. “Why are you telling me this story?”

“I want nothing of your loyalty,” Su Ziye replied with a smile. “If one day betraying me would bring you greater benefit than anything I can offer, then betray me cleanly and without hesitation. Everything I do for you, you can consider it my attempt to buy your allegiance.”

“But just the same,” he continued, unreadable as ever, “I can also be a very good friend. If you choose to stand by my side, then together we can reach a world and a destiny unlike any before.”

“Even if, right now, you and I both have nothing at all.”