Previously, Qing Mulian and her female soldiers wore armour that obscured most of their faces, making it hard to discern their features.
Now, dressed in sleek training clothes with their hair tied back, Jinfeng saw Qing Mulian’s face clearly for the first time and couldn’t help but silently praise, “Who’d have thought this fiery girl is a beauty.”
People often compare a pretty girl to a princess, and it’s not without reason.
Emperors choose wives of exceptional beauty, so their children are rarely unattractive.
Though not royalty, Qinghuai’s family were seasoned nobles, with generations of officials. Qing Mulian’s father, Qing Liancheng, was handsome, and her mother was renowned as a beauty for miles around.
Qing Mulian inherited their best traits, her features strikingly refined, on par with Guan Xiaorou and Tang Dongdong.
What surprised Jinfeng most was that, beyond Qing Mulian’s beauty, her soldiers were also above average in looks, some even rivalling her.
“Is Qing Mulian planning to use a beauty strategy on the battlefield?” Jinfeng mused to himself.
He soon realised her soldiers were likely chosen from the household’s maids.
Wealthy families wouldn’t pick unattractive maids.
Due to frequent outdoor training, Qing Mulian and her soldiers weren’t pale but had a healthy wheat-coloured complexion.
This, combined with their fit physiques and tight training clothes, gave them a spirited, heroic air, like a true women’s militia.
But Jinfeng wasn’t a naive youth. After a brief moment of distraction, he refocused, leading them out of the courtyard. “Let’s go to the back hill.”
At the back hill, Zhang Liang and Tie Niu arrived with the veteran soldiers.
Xihe Bay was small; news spread fast. The arrival of female soldiers was already village gossip.
The veterans, having heard about it after training, were curious.
Seeing Jinfeng with a group of women, they craned their necks.
“Wow, such pretty girls.”
“One beauty’s enough, but all of them? Training won’t be dull now.”
“I heard she’s the marquis’s sister. Don’t get any ideas, or go home and bother your wife.”
“Who’s getting ideas? I just mean it’s nice to have pretty girls around. Makes training more lively.”
“When you put it that way…”
These rough mountain-born veterans had never seen so many beauties.
They were thrilled, some joking, some clapping, others pretending calm while stealing glances.
“Quiet down!” Zhang Liang barked, and the veterans instantly stood straight.
“Liang, they’re your responsibility now,” Jinfeng said, pointing to the female soldiers. “Don’t go easy because she’s Qinghuai’s sister. Train them the same as the others, got it?”
“Got it,” Zhang Liang nodded firmly.
“Since you’re staying, drop the highborn act,” Jinfeng turned to Qing Mulian. “These are retired Iron Forest Army veterans, heroes who bled for Dakang. If I hear you’re throwing your weight around, don’t expect me to be polite.”
“Understood,” Qing Mulian replied impatiently, then strode to Zhang Liang, clasping her fists like a man. “I’ll be in your care, Brother Liang.”
Zhang Liang didn’t return the gesture, asking flatly, “Ready?”
“Ready!”
“Move out,” Zhang Liang nodded to Jinfeng, leading the group into the hills.
Qing Mulian hurriedly followed with her soldiers.
This was their first direct challenge against male soldiers, and both she and her team were determined to prove themselves.
At the start, they were confident, finding the thirty-jin packs light. Qing Mulian even thought the men ran too slowly, leading her team ahead of the veterans.
Long-distance running requires pacing. Starting too fast burns energy, making the rest tough.
Some veterans wanted to warn them, but Zhang Liang stopped them.
“Liang, you’re getting sneaky,” Tie Niu grinned, winking.
“Xiaofeng said to temper their spirit,” Zhang Liang replied with a smile.
For the first two kilometres, the women ran fast, leaving the men dozens of metres behind.
But after two kilometres, they felt the strain of the weighted five-kilometre run.
What seemed light at first became a boulder. Over half the women were gasping heavily.
Their breathing grew erratic, steps unsteady, and pace slowed.
The veterans gradually caught up.
Qing Mulian noticed the men maintained their initial steady pace, barely sweating.
Only then did she realise the gap between her team and the veterans.
Her stubborn nature refused defeat. She shouted while running, “Come on, push harder. Don’t let the men look down on us.”
Led by Qing Mulian, the women sped up, pulling ahead by a dozen metres.
This was like drinking poison to quench thirst. By three kilometres, many felt their lungs burning, each breath searing.
Qing Mulian’s encouragement no longer worked. Their pace slowed, and the veterans overtook them.
At four kilometres, some women couldn’t continue and fell behind.
“Xiaoju, hold on!” A stronger soldier took her struggling companion’s pack, carrying it herself.
“Thanks, Sister Mei,” the lagging soldier felt lighter and rejoined the group.
Seeing this, Zhang Liang nodded slightly, signalling the veterans to slow down.
Jinfeng had instructed to challenge them, not break them.
The final kilometre saw the women supporting each other to finish.
At the end, they collapsed, panting heavily, heedless of appearances.
Qing Mulian didn’t sit. She approached Zhang Liang, saying quietly, “Thanks.”
She knew they wouldn’t have finished without him slowing the pace.
“You finished on your own strength. Why thank me?” Zhang Liang said impassively. “Rest, then head to the canteen. Meet back here in half an hour for formation drills.”
“Understood,” Qing Mulian nodded, leading her soldiers to the nearby canteen.
After the morning’s lesson, Qing Mulian adjusted her mindset. The next day’s run saw her team pacing steadily like the veterans, not rushing ahead.
From that day, Xihe Bay gained a new sight to behold.
