Five days quickly passed as the regiment continued their travels. For the brothers, they marched during the day and trained in the evening. The general had them sparring with each other daily, trying to implement and create their own fighting styles. Another full evening of sparring between them had just ended.

  “Damn it, this is getting us nowhere, Yin,” Lu Yang said, frustration clear in his voice. “Instead of getting stronger, I feel like I’m getting weaker trying all these random new things.”

  “Be patient, Yang. The general wouldn’t steer us in the wrong direction. Little by little, our styles are developing—and when it clicks, we’ll be much stronger than before.”

  At least I hope so. I haven’t gotten any closer to finding my style at all, Lu Yin thought to himself.

  Their thoughts were interrupted by the booming voice of the general making an announcement.

  “Soldiers, I know it’s still early in our travels, but tomorrow, we’ll be making an important stop at one of our military outposts nearby. Enjoy that last break—because after we leave there, our next destination will be the northern frontier.”

  “Important stop?” Lu Yang questioned.

  “He didn’t mention it. I wonder what it’s about.”

  The brothers made their way over to the general, who was now speaking with the lieutenants, curious about the sudden announcement.

  “General An Lushan,” Yang called out.

  “Yang. You two finished your sparring for the day, then?”

  “Yes, General. That announcement you just made—what’s the important stop for?”

  “It’s to pick up a close friend. Someone essential for our team.”

  “Essential? There’s another fighter we need other than the lieutenants?” Lu Yang asked.

  “You truly are young and inexperienced, Yang. There’s more to war than just fighting,” Yin Zhongkan chimed in.

  “This man is more valuable than any fighter, Lu Yang. I doubt I’d be where I am today without him,” An Lushan said.

  Lu Yin’s interest piqued. “You give him a lot of credit, General. Just who is he?”

  “His name is Wang Xuance—my military strategist and personal adviser.”

  “Military strategist…” Lu Yin mused. “I understand why you place such importance on him. Renfu often said that wars were won with tactics, not strength.”

  “Ah yeah, I remember now! He gave us so many of those strategy books to read,” Yang said.

  “And let me guess—you didn’t read a single one, did you, Yang?” Shi Siming joked.

  “You already know me well, Siming. Those books were nothing but a headache.”

  “But important nonetheless. Being a top-level fighter means understanding the battlefield. One wrong read from a smarter opponent could easily get you killed.”

  “Well, that’s what I’ve got Yin for, General. He read all those books more than once.”

  “You should listen, brother. I may not always be there to think for you.”

  “Alright, alright—I get it. So what’s this Wang Xuance like?”

  “He’s brilliant. Those books you read? Some of them may have been written by him. He’s the genius strategist of our generation,” Liu Fang said, glancing up from his own book.

  “He’s too smart for his own good, is what he is,” Li Yi scoffed.

  “You still holding onto that grudge, Li Yi?” An Lushan asked, laughing.

  Li Yi clicked her teeth. “Of course not.”

  The lieutenants chuckled. Clearly, there was history between the squad and Wang Xuance.

  “Don’t worry, Yin and Yang. You’ll meet him tomorrow. There’s a lesson in everything he says, so listen closely when he speaks.”

  Lu Yin had always loved strategies and tactics. He was now genuinely looking forward to meeting the man known as Wang Xuance.

  The next day, the regiment reached the outskirts of the outpost. The road narrowed between forested ridges until the trees gave way to a massive structure nestled between two sloping hills.

  The outpost loomed ahead—not just fortified but engineered. Every stone, every beam, every gate seemed to serve a purpose beyond defense. In its center stood a towering watchtower, tall enough to overlook miles of terrain in every direction. Its view reached far into the mountain pass beyond—an ideal vantage point for spotting enemies, tracking movement… or anticipating betrayal.

  Around the perimeter, soldiers patrolled in tightly controlled formations. Their armor was spotless, their steps perfectly in sync, and their faces betrayed nothing. Discipline radiated from them like heat from stone. This was more than a garrison—it was a chessboard, and every soldier a living piece waiting for command.

  Among the regiment, the tension was unmistakable. The place felt like a coiled spring, ready to snap into action at the slightest threat.

  Lu Yang squinted toward the outpost as the regiment slowed. “This is where we’ll find the strategist, General?”

  An Lushan nodded. “Whether he’s on duty or at rest, this outpost is where Wang Xuance lives. He designed every inch of it himself.”

  “He designed this?” Lu Yang blinked. “How long would something like that take?”

  “For most men? Years. For Xuance?” He smiled faintly. “A day.”

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  “A day?” Lu Yin frowned. “Is this guy even human?”

  Shi Siming snorted. “Don’t get too comfortable. I wouldn’t be surprised if the trees were traps and the stones were listening. Just follow the path and don’t stray. Trust me.”

  “Why build something this… complex?” Lu Yin asked, glancing around as they passed through the outer gates. “What’s the purpose?”

  An Lushan’s voice lowered. “This outpost sits at the heart of three converging paths—north to the frontier, south to the capital, and west to the old rebel routes. That makes it one of the most tactically vulnerable—and therefore valuable—positions in the empire.”

  He gestured toward the outpost.

  “But to Xuance, every weakness is just an unsolved problem. He built this place as a fortress… and a statement.”

  “What kind of statement?” Lu Yin asked.

  “That even if the empire fell around him… this place would still stand.”

  The brothers took heed of Shi Siming’s warning and followed the path to the entrance.

  The guards ahead stepped aside without a word—already prepared for the regiment’s arrival.

  Creeeak.

  The massive wooden gates opened slowly, almost ceremoniously, revealing the outpost’s heart.

  A tall, middle-aged man stood just beyond the threshold. His eyes were sharp beneath his scholarly brow, and his hand gently stroked the length of his silver-threaded beard.

  He walked forward with calm, calculated steps—studying every detail with a gaze that could dissect the soul.

  Then—finally—his expression softened.

  “My friend, we meet again.”

  An Lushan stepped forward and gave a respectful bow. “Xuance. Still alive, I see. Though I do spot a few new wrinkles. Don’t tell me you’re getting old.”

  Wang Xuance chuckled softly. “Maybe I am, Lushan. But the heart has no wrinkles. My soul still dances in its youth.”

  An Lushan laughed. “You haven’t changed one bit. Still speaking in riddles and verses.”

  “Poetry,” Xuance corrected, smiling faintly. “It’s simply the most honest language I know.”

  His eyes drifted past the general—toward the brothers.

  “You, however… seem to have changed quite a bit.”

  An Lushan raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

  “You always said you’d never take on a student,” Xuance replied, gaze unflinching. “Now you have two.”

  “They could be anyone. How can you tell by a glance that they’re my students?”

  “You have the mannerisms of a teacher now, Lushan.” Xuance narrowed his eyes. “You glanced back at them twice already. Subtle—but not to me. And those two haven’t taken their eyes off you once, waiting for their next instruction.”

  “Really? Just from that?”

  Xuance smiled slyly. “Have you forgotten who you’re speaking to?” Then, more warmly: “Well? Aren’t you going to introduce them?”

  The general gestured toward the brothers.

  Lu Yang stepped forward first, standing tall and proud. “Mister Wang Xuance, my name is Lu Yang—future greatest soldier under General An Lushan.”

  Then Lu Yin followed, offering a respectful bow. “Mister Wang Xuance, my name is Lu Yin. I’ve recently heard of your brilliance and intelligence. It’s truly an honor to meet you.”

  “Yin and Yang, is it?” Xuance’s voice softened with interest. “Are you two aware of the true meaning behind those names?”

  Lu Yang chimed in, “Yeah, it’s a symbol, right? Black and white. Light and dark. Fire and water. Opposites or something.”

  Wang Xuance chuckled faintly, then turned to Lu Yin. “And you?”

  “Yin and Yang are opposites, yes… but not just that.” Lu Yin touched the faint symbol on his forehead. “They are opposite forces that are also inseparable. Constantly interacting. Neither being superior to the other. A perfect harmony. It’s what our mother wished for us—to be opposite yet whole. Brothers who support each other on one path.”

  Xuance smiled. “A thoughtful answer. But may I add one thing? Who knows—it may be of use to know.”

  He folded his hands behind his back. “Yin and Yang also teach a hidden truth: inter-transformation. At the right moment, under the right conditions… one becomes the other.”

  Lu Yin nodded. “Change from within the balance itself… I see.”

  How would that ever be useful to know? Lu Yang wondered, mildly confused.

  Xuance glanced at him—just briefly. But it was the kind of glance that reached straight through thought.

  With a quiet smile, he added, almost offhandedly:

  “Opposites are not enemies. The storm and the stillness… are part of the same sky.”

  Lu Yin blinked, unsure whether he’d heard it right—or whether it had been meant for him at all.

  Before the silence could stretch, Wang Xuance turned his gaze toward the lieutenants.

  “I’m glad to see that you four are still keeping Lushan in one piece. Without you, who knows what he’d charge into next.”

  Yin Zhongkan gave a dry chuckle. “It’s no easy task to follow this hearty general at my age.”

  “That’s why we’re here to return him back to you, Xuance. For repairs—he’s long overdue for some maintenance,” Li Yi added.

  “Maybe you can install a silence function while you’re at it,” Shi Siming said with a grin.

  An Lushan raised an eyebrow. “I’m still standing here, you know?”

  Liu Fang looked up from his book. “Master Xuance, your latest treatise on counter-flanking was nothing short of a masterpiece.”

  Xuance gave a modest nod. “Ah, still the young scholar I see. You’ve grown since I last saw you—but not enough to stop reading during a conversation.”

  “Speaking of youths,” Li Yi cut in, “where’s my lovely Wang Hua? She should’ve been here to greet me. I was promised a reunion hug.”

  Wang Xuance chuckled. “Please spare her, Yi. She wanted to, but these are her studying hours. She’s probably waiting for you with excitement inside.”

  He turned toward the soldiers gathered at the back. “I’ll have someone escort the rest of your men to their quarters. As for the rest of you—your rooms are already prepared.”

  Lu Yin and Lu Yang were about to follow the soldiers when—

  “The two of you as well,” said Wang Xuance.

  “Really!? Thank you, Mister!” Lu Yang beamed.

  Lu Yin bowed once more. “We’re honored, Wang Xuance.”

  “Lose the formalities,” Xuance waved it off. “If Lushan is your teacher—then I consider you students of mine as well.”

  An Lushan crossed his arms with a smirk. “Careful, Xuance. Don’t go stealing my disciples.”

  Xuance chuckled. “Come. Let me show you to your rooms.”

  With that, the strategist led them forward into the heart of the outpost, the afternoon sun casting long shadows over the walls he had designed.

  Wang Xuance gave a short tour of the massive outpost before stopping outside a pair of wooden doors.

  “Yin and Yang, the two of you will stay here for tonight,” he said. “It’s already getting late, but you have free rein in the outpost for the short time you’ll be here. Feel free to explore.”

  “Thank you, Master Xuance,” the brothers said in unison, bowing with gratitude.

  The general chimed in. “We’ll be gathering in about an hour or so for dinner. We’ll discuss strategic plans for the northern frontier. I want you both there. It’ll be a good lesson.”

  The others continued deeper into the outpost, leaving the brothers at their temporary quarters.

  Inside, the room was warm, well-kept, and far more luxurious than anything they were used to.

  “This might be the best place we’ve ever slept in,” Lu Yang said, dropping his pack and flopping onto one of the two beds. “It’s a palace compared to sleeping on the ground wherever Old Man Fu stopped for the night.”

  Lu Yin smiled, running his hand along the smooth frame of the bed. “Yeah… I can’t even remember the last time we had a roof and a real mattress.”

  “Let’s enjoy it while we can. Might be our last good sleep for a long time.”

  “We’ll be on the front lines soon, after all.”

  Lu Yang stood and stretched. “Yin, I’m going to see if this place has a training zone. Maybe I can find someone decent to spar with. You coming?”

  “You’re still full of energy after all that?” Lu Yin chuckled. “Nah. You go ahead—I’m going to find somewhere quiet to clear my head.”

  Lu Yang opened the door and gave a mischievous grin over his shoulder. “Don’t go wandering into one of Xuance’s hidden trap rooms.”

  “I should be saying that to you,” Lu Yin replied. “Don’t do anything crazy.”

  Lu Yang laughed. “Don’t worry, brother. When have I ever done such a thing?”

  The door shut behind him.

  Lu Yin lingered in the quiet, staring at the closed door.

  For the first time in days, they weren’t marching, sparring, or being tested.

  They were waiting.

  He moved to the window, fingers brushing lightly against the wooden frame, and looked out over the courtyard below where torchlight danced across the stone.

  The outpost felt still… but not silent.

  Something stirred in the air—subtle and strange. Like the hush before a storm or the breath held just before a leap.

  He couldn’t name it.

  Only feel it.

  A shift.

  A thread tugging at something deeper inside him.

  He closed his eyes and let the quiet settle.

  Tomorrow, the journey would resume.

  But tonight…

  Something was coming.

  Something that would change everything.