(This is a Chinese idiom that describes an awkward situation where one's own people have mistakenly harmed their own. The literal meaning: the great flood has swept into the Dragon King's Temple. The Dragon King, being the god of water, did not expect his own temple to be harmed by water.)
A series of conjectures raced through his mind, and his face visibly changed, but he soon got a hold of himself. He suddenly realized that his body no longer hurt, and the cold energy that had been piercing his insides seemed to have gone dormant, gathering in his Dantian, filling it to the brim and creating a feeling as if he had overeaten.
The situation caused him anxiety and bewilderment. What had happened? Could it be that because he held a Seilian kingdom's sword, they had mistaken him for one of their own?
But he was still wearing the Great Jade Dynasty's underclothes! And besides... his body's current state...
At that moment, a sound came from outside. He flinched, instantly lay back down, and with a single motion, pulled a thin blanket over himself, hiding beneath it. He pretended to still be unconscious, then held his breath and waited.
Just a few moments passed before he heard approaching footsteps. Someone entered the tent and slowly moved toward his cot.
Should he attack?
Few people could move freely in the camp—such privileges belonged only to high-ranking individuals. If he seized the moment, suddenly lunged forward, and took the stranger hostage, could he perhaps escape?
No, that wouldn't work! The outside was full of soldiers. He would have to take the commander-in-chief himself captive... Otherwise, there was no way he could get out!
But if this really was the commander, his strength was surely incredible. How could he, a self-taught practitioner with only three sword techniques and not even a third-rate internal energy, possibly deal with him?
In just a few seconds, hundreds of thoughts raced through his mind. And it was at that very moment that the footsteps reached the cot... and stopped.
He could feel it: he had been noticed and was now being watched.
In fact, the person who had entered was none other than Cheng Yu-hou. And he had indeed realized that something was wrong.
The main suspicion was raised by the fact that when he had visited this girl the day before, everything had looked different. And now—a strangely draped blanket, with her literally wrapped up to her head, leaving only the crown of her head visible. If he hadn't noticed this, one might have thought he was blind.
But, after all, she was just a girl. Yes, she knew martial arts, but Cheng Yu-hou had already assessed the level of her internal strength during the treatment and knew: she was no match for him.
So now, with unconcealed curiosity, he stared at the blanket, trying to figure out what she was going to do. Would she try to attack him?
The moment this thought flashed in his mind, it came to pass!
The thin blanket was suddenly flung upward, rising as a barrier between them and completely blocking their view of each other.
And then, a raised outline appeared in the center of the blanket—as if a sword blade had torn through the fabric. But his weapon had been confiscated a long time ago, so it wasn't a sword... Most likely, it was a palm.
This hand shot straight for Cheng Yu-hou's chest, delivering a strike that resembled a cleaving swing of a blade.
Recognizing the familiar move, Cheng Yu-hou couldn't hold back a surprised exclamation, instinctively dodged—and narrowly avoided the strike.
But two more attacks followed immediately, replacing each other in rapid succession. Although the attacker only used their palms and not a real weapon, the strikes still looked quite powerful—so much so that in the blink of an eye they tore the blanket to shreds, making the light scraps of fabric swirl in the air.
In the large tent, where the swift movement had occurred, the flame of the oil lamp wavered for a moment, creating a play of light and shadow. The figure on the bed had risen, attacking with speed.
Three strikes.
Cheng Yu-hou knew these moves too well—not least because he had a hand in their creation himself. And now, for someone to use them against him... If even one of those strikes had hit its target, it would have been simply ridiculous!
Three attacks, three precise dodges—he retreated with ease, evading the strikes by mere millimeters. His movements were graceful, natural, and filled with confident ease, and there was even a smile playing on his face.
Events unfolded at lightning speed. The noise in the tent immediately drew the attention of the soldiers outside, and the next moment, a person burst inside, swiftly cutting through the air.
At that moment, the shreds of the torn blanket hadn't even hit the floor, and Ye Qing was still on the bed. Yet, the stranger, without a moment's hesitation, aimed a devastating palm strike at him.
"Do you want to die?!"
"Stop!"
The attacker's angry cry and Cheng Yu-hou's command sounded at the same time. The first man's arm was instantly intercepted by Cheng Yu-hou, but at that very moment, Ye Qing's attack had already reached its target—his palm struck Cheng Yu-hou's back directly.
"Lord General!"
"General!"
Frightened voices erupted from all sides, and a commotion immediately ensued in the tent.
Now, the tent was calm. The oil lamp no longer swayed, and its soft light evenly illuminated the space.
After a brief explanation, the warriors who had burst inside left the tent. Only four remained: Cheng Yu-hou himself, of course, Mr. Li—the military physician—and another man—a young man in his twenties with thick eyebrows and expressive eyes, clad in armor.
This young man's name was Qi Cheng; he was Cheng Yu-hou's personal bodyguard. In peacetime, he followed his lord, ensuring his safety, and during war, he accompanied him on campaigns.
Qi Cheng's eyes were already large, but when he got angry, he'd stare so wide that they resembled a bull's.
And that was exactly how he looked right now—glaring furiously at Ye Qing, who, paying him no mind, was calmly sipping the decoction in small mouthfuls.
The reason for his fury was obvious—he was angry at Ye Qing for the sudden attack on Cheng Yu-hou. Even if the strike hadn't caused serious harm, the very fact that someone dared to attack such a respected person was unacceptable.
In truth, if not for Cheng Yu-hou's order, Qi Cheng would have long since hit this guy, regardless of whether he was a man or a woman!
Ye Qing also felt extremely awkward. He had been so certain he was a prisoner of the Seilian warriors, only to find out he had been saved by soldiers of the Great Jade Dynasty! This was just like a raging river flooding the Dragon King's temple—his own people had turned against their own!
And it was even more awkward to realize that his savior was none other than the legendary Cheng Yu-hou!
Even though Ye Qing didn't belong to this world, he had inherited Chen Dahu's memories, and in the army, everyone knew Cheng Yu-hou. Moreover, many soldiers worshipped him as their hero!
According to Chen Dahu's memories, Cheng Yu-hou was the emperor's eldest son from a concubine of the Great Jade Dynasty. He possessed outstanding talents in both martial arts and strategy, and at such a young age, he was already commanding troops. What's more, he had not suffered a single defeat, winning brilliant victories time and again.
His name inspired fear in enemy states—if he personally led an army, his opponents, without a strong commander of their own, would prefer to flee rather than engage in battle.
And this man... he had just struck him! If anyone found out about this, he would probably be dragged off to his execution immediately!
The atmosphere in the tent was not overtly tense, but there was a palpable awkwardness. Qi Cheng, glaring at him with a malevolent stare, and Mr. Li Qiu, the military physician who had introduced himself earlier, were looking at him with completely different expressions. One with anger, the other with curiosity.
But worst of all was Cheng Yu-hou himself. This young, distinguished commander watched him with a restrained smile and a mocking expression, which sent shivers down Ye Qing's spine. The taste of the bitter decoction, which had already made his tongue numb, no longer seemed so bitter.
He drank slowly, but the potion wasn't endless—he finished it, passed the cup to the physician, glanced at the people in the room, and was about to speak...
But before he could open his mouth, a loud, rumbling sound distinctly echoed in the quiet tent.
In the complete silence, that sound was particularly clear—just like a drumbeat.
"Hmm, it seems our guest is hungry!" Cheng Yu-hou smirked and immediately gave an order: "Have them prepare a bowl of porridge for her."
A servant instantly nodded and hurried to carry out the order.
"I am not a girl!" Ye Qing blurted out an indignant protest.
Even if Chen Dahu himself, or anyone else from this world, were in his place, upon learning that Cheng Yu-hou stood before him, no one would have dared to contradict him.
But Ye Qing was different. Although he had inherited Chen Dahu's memory, he did not have the deeply ingrained sense of hierarchy native to this world. Even if the emperor himself stood before him, he might admire his greatness, but he certainly wouldn't feel inferior.
Especially since Cheng Yu-hou seemed quite friendly and wasn't trying to suppress him with his authority. It seemed he could be reasoned with.
But while Cheng Yu-hou was being condescending, the others in the tent clearly did not share his approach.
Qi Cheng and Mr. Li exclaimed at the same time:
"Impudence!"
"You can't talk like that!"
Ye Qing hadn't expected such a vehement reaction from the two of them and was slightly taken aback. Before he could say anything, Cheng Yu-hou calmly said, "It's nothing serious! What are you two so flustered about? You'll scare her!"
After those words, Qi Cheng was forced to swallow the remark that was about to escape his lips, but he still continued to stare a hole through Ye Qing with his "bull's eyes."
Li Qiu, on the other hand, didn't react so sharply—he only looked at Ye Qing with curiosity, as if trying to see right through him.
"Well, if you don't want to be called a girl, perhaps you can tell me your name?" Cheng Yu-hou asked.
"My name is Ye Qing," he replied.
"Ye Qing? Then I'll call you Qing-er!" Cheng Yu-hou said with a smile.
"...Just call me Ye Qing," he grumbled discontentedly. "'Qing-er' sounds like a girl's name!" Was this man deliberately trying to give him a fitting nickname just because he looked like a girl?
Cheng Yu-hou smirked, a sly gleam in his eyes, but he nodded: "Alright, I'll call you Ye Qing."
Ye Qing, in turn, nodded back, satisfied with this outcome.
"Then tell me, Ye Qing, how is it that you were found unconscious by the road, dressed in a Great Jade Dynasty soldier's uniform but with a Seilian kingdom's weapon?" Cheng Yu-hou asked. "Did you come from the border?"
This question didn't catch Ye Qing off guard—he had prepared an answer in advance.
"It's obvious that I know martial arts, isn't it? So it's simple: I killed a Seilian warrior and took his weapon, and then I found the corpse of a Great Jade Dynasty soldier and took his clothes."
"I see. Well, that explanation certainly makes sense," Cheng Yu-hou nodded slightly, as if he had already expected this very answer. But then he added, "However, how do you explain knowing the 'Three Blades' technique, which is used exclusively in the army?"
"I... I learned it from my... from my father!" Ye Qing almost blurted out "papa," but caught himself in time and corrected it. In this world, no one calls their parents "papa" or "mama"; everyone says "father" or "parent."
"Hmm, well, that's also explainable," Cheng Yu-hou agreed. The 'Three Blades' technique was indeed a military style and was considered a secret, forbidden for distribution among civilians. In practice, however, this prohibition was hardly enforced—it was too difficult to control. Many retired soldiers taught their children, so having such skills in the descendants of military men wasn't particularly surprising.
"Where is your home? Where are you from?" Cheng Yu-hou asked, one question after another.
Ye Qing didn't hesitate for a second and answered precisely as it corresponded with Chen Dahu's biography.
After some time, a soldier entered the tent with a bowl of porridge. Only then did Cheng Yu-hou cease his questioning, gesturing that the conversation was over. Together with Li Qiu and Qi Cheng, he left, leaving Ye Qing alone with his food.
Answering from memory wasn't difficult, but the interrogation itself had made Ye Qing tense. Cheng Yu-hou didn't miss a single detail, and his persistence kept him on edge. Only when they had gone did he subtly exhale with relief, take the bowl, and begin to eat the porridge with a hearty appetite.
Outside, having left the tent, Cheng Yu-hou, Li Qiu, and Qi Cheng did not go far—they stopped in the shadows at the right corner of the tent and conversed quietly.
"What do you say, Mr. Li?" Cheng Yu-hou raised his head to the sky. Stars shone in the dark night; there wasn't a single cloud—tomorrow promised good weather.
"Hmm... half-truth, half-lie," Li Qiu replied.
"What do you mean 'half'?! There wasn't a single word of truth there!" Qi Cheng grumbled irritably. He was still seething with anger over the fact that Ye Qing had dared to strike Cheng Yu-hou.
Cheng Yu-hou only chuckled softly: "I think Mr. Li is right." He then clarified: "What exactly do you mean by 'half'?"
"The person himself is real, and the hometown is likely also real, but the name is questionable," Li Qiu replied.
"Yes, I think so too," Cheng Yu-hou agreed with a nod. "However, it doesn't matter. We don't need to figure out who he really is. The main thing is whether he knows anything about the Northern Army."
"Lord General!" unable to contain himself, Qi Cheng stepped forward and clenched his fist in a sign of respect, addressing Cheng Yu-hou. "That girl lies at every step. How can we believe her words about the enemy?"
"Of course, we won't blindly believe his every word!" Cheng Yu-hou said. "But the place he spoke of isn't too far. We can send people to check. Then the truth will reveal itself. This targeted search will save us a lot of time on gathering information."
"That..." Qi Cheng opened his mouth, about to object, but then realized that there was a point to Cheng Yu-hou's words. He simply had nothing to say in return.
Watching this, Li Qiu laughed: "See that, boy? You're too hot-headed sometimes; it's time you started using your head!"
"I am using my head!" Qi Cheng muttered, frowning discontentedly.
But instead of continuing the argument, Li Qiu and Cheng Yu-hou only shook their heads and smiled.
While they were talking in the corner of the camp, a soldier approached and reported: "Lord General, that girl has finished eating."
Cheng Yu-hou nodded slightly, then, without wasting time, he and Li Qiu and Qi Cheng re-entered the tent. This time, they were not going to ask questions about Ye Qing's identity—their interest was in the state of the Northern Army.
Chen Dahu himself had been just an ordinary soldier, and his knowledge of the enemy's strategic plans was quite limited. However, being on the battlefield, he had still noticed some strange things.
And the first thing he reported to Cheng Yu-hou was a truly alarming piece of news: The Northern Army had been completely annihilated.