Outside the Wounded Soldier Camp!
Wang Yan was sitting beside a campfire, with a whole sheep roasting over the flames.
Around her were trusted aides forming a protective circle.
"Which one of you is Army Marquis Wang Yan?"
At this moment!
Zhao Feng walked out from the Wounded Soldier Camp. Seeing the situation outside, he immediately called out.
A trusted aide came over, glanced at Zhao Feng, then asked, "Are you Zhao Feng?"
"I am," Zhao Feng nodded.
"Please come with me." The aide led the way at once.
"The authority to have trusted aides like this belongs only to someone above the main general. Is this Army Marquis the young lass I saw back in Yang City?"
Looking at the formidable trusted aides, Zhao Feng thought to himself.
Zhao Feng had a deep impression of these trusted aides.
He followed the aide's lead.
Zhao Feng arrived at the campfire.
"It really is that little lass."
"Obvious at a glance she's a woman disguised as a man." Zhao Feng took one look and recognized her immediately.
Why so easy to tell?
Although she wore her hair up like all the other elite soldiers, her fair face and petite build made it clear, and if you looked closely, you'd see she had no Adam's apple.
Zhao Feng walked up.
"Army Marquis, the man has been brought."
The aide beside them bowed low.
Wang Yan immediately stood up and turned her head. When she saw Zhao Feng, a trace of astonishment flashed across her face.
She seemed surprised by Zhao Feng's appearance.
Or perhaps she'd guessed wrong about Zhao Feng's age and looks.
"Why is he so young?" Wang Yan wondered to herself.
Yesterday's battle!
Zhao Feng's face was covered in blood and grime, so his features were impossible to see.
"Are you Zhao Feng?" Wang Yan asked tentatively.
"Yes."
Zhao Feng nodded, then cupped his fists and said, "I wonder what the Army Marquis wishes of me?"
"You may all withdraw."
Wang Yan waved her hand at her aides.
"Yes, sir."
The trusted aides all withdrew.
With no one else around—
Wang Yan smiled slightly, then suddenly bowed deeply to Zhao Feng: "I deliberately came to thank you for saving my life. If you hadn't helped me yesterday, I'd probably have died under the enemy's spear."
"I saved you?"
Zhao Feng was stunned, his mind tracing back.
Yesterday, when killing Bao Yuan, he had indeed saved someone in passing.
But Zhao Feng hadn't paid much attention to it.
After all, he actually saved quite a few people yesterday.
"We're Pao Ze, after all. Killing the enemy was just convenient. No need for Army Marquis to be so formal," Zhao Feng said calmly.
Hearing this,
Seeing how composed Zhao Feng was, Wang Yan grew even more surprised inside.
In her mind,
If most people knew they'd saved her and gained her gratitude, even if they didn't show it, they'd at least look pleased, right?
After all, Zhao Feng was only a Logistics Army member, and she was a main Army Marquis—their status was worlds apart.
"Perhaps it was nothing for you, but for me, you saved my life."
"I owe you my life. Tell me what you want, and within my ability, I'll grant it," Wang Yan said, looking straight at Zhao Feng.
"There's nothing I really want." Zhao Feng shook his head.
"Money? Power?"
"Feel free to ask for either," Wang Yan pressed, unwilling to give up.
She had sought Zhao Feng out just to repay him.
She was the daughter of Great Qin General Wang Jian and had been raised with the principle of repaying all favors. If she couldn't, how could others see her as honorable?
"I don't have much desire for money. My annual salary is enough for my family to live on."
"As for power, it's useless to me even if I got it."
"Moreover, this time I killed Bao Yuan, so I'll be rewarded handsomely under the military merit system," Zhao Feng still said calmly, shaking his head.
Hearing this,
Wang Yan grew a little anxious.
Zhao Feng in front of her seemed so young, about her age, yet his temperament wasn't that of someone his age.
"Is there really nothing you want?" Wang Yan persisted.
"If you insist, there's actually one thing."
"But can you really do it?" Zhao Feng suddenly smiled.
"Say it," Wang Yan replied immediately.
"I want to retire from the army and go home."
"Can you make it happen?" Zhao Feng said at once, his eyes full of hope as he looked at Wang Yan.
If she could make this happen—
Zhao Feng would truly be grateful to her.
Compared to winning glory or wielding power, Zhao Feng still cared more about serving his mother.
Of course!
With his current strength, as long as he followed Qin's path to unification, he'd have a chance to become a top official in the future.
But the truth was, Zhao Feng knew all too well: after Qin unifies, Emperor Qin Shi Huang dies, Hu Hai ascends, and Emperor Qin Ershi falls—the Second Qin ends.
Zhao Feng knew this perfectly well.
It sounded far away, but in reality, it was only about twenty years off.
Qin's national fortune only lasted so long.
If Zhao Feng wished, he could seek power at the end of Qin even more successfully.
Of course!
Zhao Feng truly didn't care for military power. The real reason was that his mother was in poor health. He and his younger sister were twins—dragon and phoenix—and ever since their birth, their mother's body had been extremely frail and sickly. Zhao Feng wanted nothing more than to do his duty as a son and care for his mother.
In this era, giving birth was like having one foot in the grave. Twins were even more dangerous.
Zhao Feng didn't want to be that son who regrets wanting to serve his mother after she's gone.
"What?"
"You want to retire and go home?"
Wang Yan looked at Zhao Feng in disbelief.
"Yes," Zhao Feng nodded.
"Do you understand what you're saying?"
"You killed nearly three hundred enemies in this single battle—that's an enormous feat."
"And you killed Bao Yuan on top of it—it's merit upon merit."
"It's thanks to you that our supplies and food route weren't ambushed by Bao Yuan. Your credit is immense."
"With this, you could get several promotions in rank and title. Your future is limitless."
"And you still want to retire?" Wang Yan exclaimed in disbelief.
Staring at Wang Yan's astonishment, Zhao Feng remained perfectly calm. Maybe others would think he was crazy to try and retire with such merit, but Zhao Feng honestly didn't care.
"Yes." Zhao Feng replied.
Seeing Zhao Feng wasn't joking, Wang Yan was at a loss for words.
Zhao Feng saw the roasted mutton over the fire and didn't stand on ceremony: "Is this mutton for your subordinates?"
Wang Yan said nothing, staring at Zhao Feng as if his words made her doubt herself.
Zhao Feng didn't mind; he sat straight down by the fire, took out a small knife, and began carving meat.
"Qin's military service system: basic service is two years, elite soldiers serve five years."
"No one may alter this; no soldier can end their service early. Otherwise, the laws of Qin severely punish it."
"You're right. I can't grant that request," Wang Yan said.
...