Chapter 502: Chapter IF 1: First Step of the Conquest Mission, First Meeting

The gates of the Northern Border Camp.

Ji Qingwu stood before them, a bundle on her back, her right hand clenched in excitement.

She had lingered in a nearby town for a month, finally receiving the news that the camp was recruiting military doctors.

Perfect. She had completed the first step of her childbearing mission.

Entering the camp’s gates was a small step, but it felt like a giant leap.

Next, she just had to find the one the system had mentioned—the General of Extinction, the man she was supposed to bear a child for.

Ji Qingwu’s heart surged with fighting spirit.

A soldier guided her to her quarters. Ji Qingwu asked, “I’d like to ask, who is the main general of our army?”

The soldier said sternly, “Why are you asking about that?”

Ji Qingwu smiled. “I’m new here. Since I’ll be in the army from now on, I’m afraid of accidentally offending someone important.”

The soldier said bluntly, “A little military doctor like you won’t get to meet the General. The General has his own dedicated Medical Officer. Don’t waste your time worrying about it.”

Ji Qingwu felt a small pang of disappointment.

But she was prepared for hardship and quickly recovered her spirits. In a chatty tone, she said, “Brother, from your accent, are you from Jining Town?”

When the soldier nodded, Ji Qingwu let out a little “Ah!” and said, “I passed through Jining Town on my way here.”

As she spoke, she pulled a bag of flatbread from her bundle and pressed it into his hands. “An old woman from a farming family gave me these ash-baked flatbreads to thank me for treating her little grandson.”

The soldier finally gave her a proper look. He didn’t take the flatbreads, pushing them back to her, but his attitude softened considerably.

Jining Town and Ninghe Town were close, and the soldier’s hometown had also suffered from the disaster. Though he found the female doctor a bit chatty, he could tell she was a good physician.

Rounding a corner, the soldier said, “General Zhenbei is gentle and good-tempered. As long as you don’t make any mistakes, he won’t punish you. But…”

Ji Qingwu’s eyes darted. She had her first piece of useful information.

General Zhenbei.

‘Not a bad temper, huh.’

She ignored the soldier’s hesitant “but.”

When they arrived at the tent, two people were already living inside: a cook and a washerwoman.

The soldier made a brief introduction, handed Ji Qingwu a set of military supplies, and then left.

The washerwoman greeted Ji Qingwu warmly. “It’s been a long time since we’ve seen such a pretty girl in the camp.”

She took the bedding from Ji Qingwu’s hands, placed it on the cot nearest the tent flap, and said enthusiastically, “You can stay here, miss.”

Ji Qingwu was about to ask how to address her when the washerwoman said, “Just call me Aunt Zhang.”

The cook was a woman of few words. She gave Ji Qingwu a nod and went out.

Aunt Zhang, the washerwoman, said, “That’s just Sister Bai’s personality. Don’t take it to heart.”

Ji Qingwu didn’t take it to heart. For one, it was nothing to be concerned about. For another, she needed to focus her energy on her mission to win over the General of Extinction.

She was just about to ask Aunt Zhang for more information about this General Zhenbei when a horn suddenly sounded in the camp.

Ji Qingwu asked, “What’s that sound?”

Aunt Zhang said, “That’s the call for dinner, miss. Come on, let’s go get something to eat.”

The camp was divided into eastern and western sections, with the training ground in the middle designated as the dining area. Higher-ranking officers ate in the watchtower.

There was fighting on the border, so aside from those out on campaign or patrol duty, only a few hundred soldiers remained in the camp.

The soldiers lined up in an orderly fashion, passing by five large earthenware vats to get their food.

Ji Qingwu followed Aunt Zhang and sat down in the southwest corner. The meal consisted of millet rice with pickled leeks and fermented black beans. It was far from delicious, but the portions were large and filling.

Chef Bai must have recognized Ji Qingwu, as she served her a heaping spoonful of millet rice.

Ji Qingwu ate for a while, but the rice in her bowl was still piled high.

But in these chaotic times, a hot meal was a luxury for many common people.

Ji Qingwu didn’t dare waste food. She shoveled a large mouthful and forced it down.

Just then, the horn sounded again. This time, it was more urgent and rousing than the call for dinner.

Ji Qingwu looked around and saw the soldiers putting down their bowls and chopsticks, standing ramrod straight.

Aunt Zhang, beside her, also stood up, tugging on her arm. With her mouth still full of rice she hadn’t yet swallowed, Ji Qingwu scrambled to her feet as well.

“What’s happening?”

Aunt Zhang said, “The General is back with his troops.”

Ji Qingwu’s eyes lit up. ‘My luck is incredible! I get to see my target on my very first day!’

The thundering of hooves grew closer, but they didn’t head straight for the training ground. From the sound of it, they went to the stables in the east.

「A quarter of an hour passed.」

Because the General had returned unexpectedly, the dinner preparations were only enough for those already in camp, so Aunt Zhang was called away to help.

Ji Qingwu remained alone in the southwest corner, watching as a dark, dense crowd of people approached the center of the camp.

The man in the lead had not removed his Xuan Armor. His steps were heavy and sure, the sword at his waist was still unsheathed, its blade edged with a frosty glint, and his aura was chillingly cold.

As the man drew near, the soldiers on the training ground cupped their fists in unison and saluted, “Greetings, General!”

The distance was too great for Ji Qingwu to make out General Zhenbei’s face or expression. He stood before his men, as still and imposing as a deep abyss or a towering mountain, and the entire army fell silent.

Ji Qingwu grew nervous as well, her heart pounding like a drum.

‘This is the ‘gentle and good-tempered’ man the soldier was talking about?’

She was deeply skeptical. Just from his silhouette, she could tell he was a cold, stern man who wouldn’t be easy to get along with.

Perhaps he had sensed her silent criticism, as Ji Qingwu felt as if he were looking in her direction.

She lowered her head, feeling a pang of guilt, but quickly raised it again.

‘There are so many people between us!’

‘He’d need the eyes of a hawk to see my expression.’

Ji Qingwu’s cheeks were puffed out. As she struggled to swallow the coarse, scratchy rice, she saw the soldiers before her part, layer by layer.

A messenger ran into the middle of the training ground. Judging by his attire, he didn’t look like a soldier, more like…

When the man spoke, his voice was high and sharp. “Are you the new military doctor?”

Ji Qingwu sized up the elderly eunuch and replied, “Yes, I just arrived this afternoon.”

The old eunuch nodded. “Come with me.”

Ji Qingwu asked curiously, “Is something the matter?”

‘Even if the General were injured, it wouldn’t be my turn to treat him. Why does he want to see me?’

The old eunuch didn’t say what for, only offered a piece of advice: “Later, just answer whatever the General asks. Don’t ask what you shouldn’t.”

Ji Qingwu pressed her lips together and followed behind him.

She was only halfway there when she felt her shoulders grow heavy, the pressure bearing down on her head intensifying.

It wasn’t the gazes of the many soldiers, but the heavy, oppressive stare coming from straight ahead—from her target.

By the time Ji Qingwu had walked the dozen or so meters to the center, her legs had gone a little soft.

Before, the old eunuch had been blocking the view. The moment he stepped aside, she was hit with the full force of the man’s oppressive presence.

But then she remembered this was her target, the man she was supposed to be all lovey-dovey with and have children with in the future.

Ji Qingwu raised her head to meet his gaze, but her bravado lasted only for a second. After their eyes met for a brief instant, she hurriedly looked away.

She had gotten a clear look at his face, and her heart leaped at the stunning sight.

At that moment, Ji Qingwu had only one thought.

‘I had fantasized earlier that, if it came down to it, I could complete the mission by seducing him.’

‘But with a face so radiant you could hardly look at it directly… who was seducing whom?’

The air around them seemed to freeze. Ji Qingwu hastily bowed her head and said, “Greetings, General.”