Whoever can strike me hard will be rewarded handsomely.

Martial arts training ground on the outskirts of Beijing.

The afternoon sun scorched the earth, and waves of heat rose from the ground.

Thirty catapults were arranged in formation facing the target tower, and ninety elite soldiers stood in groups of three behind the catapults. Each of them was as upright as a pine tree and full of energy. Sweat streamed down their temples and soaked into their collars, and no one moved an inch.

A handsome young general, clad in armor, stood with his hands behind his back on the command platform, next to a fair-faced boy.

Shang Jingming's gaze swept over the elite soldiers poised for action in the training ground, each word spoken clearly and forcefully: "Prepare for the first round of test firing."

As soon as he finished speaking, the flag bearer raised his arm sharply, and the flag fluttered loudly in the wind.

Ninety elite soldiers performed their duties in an orderly manner: one loaded the load, one calibrated it, and one adjusted the counterweight. Their movements were crisp, efficient, and uniform.

Once everything was ready, Shang Jingming gave the order: "Release!"

With a wave of the command flag, the throwing arm was raised, and thirty stone projectiles, accompanied by a piercing whistling sound, streaked across the sky like meteors.

"Boom, boom—"

With a series of loud bangs, the stones hit the target tower, the earthen walls trembled, a layer of mud and sand fell down, and a yellow mist rose up, almost engulfing the target tower.

Shang Jingming said clearly, "Prepare for the second round."

Round after round of stone projectiles struck the target building, the rumbling sound like thunder. The sturdy target building stood firm amidst the barrage of stones, like a rock. From being completely still to teetering on the brink of collapse, each tremor was amplified by the impact. Finally, after an unknown number of rounds of attacks, it could no longer withstand the heavy load and collapsed into ruins.

The handsome young man looked at the collapsed target tower, his eyes gleaming, and said smugly, "How about that? I told you that reinforcing the earthen wall by another ten inches wouldn't have been a problem, right?"

Shang Jingming glanced at him and lowered his voice: "Senior Brother, you're amazing."

Bian Yushu couldn't help but smile, her happiness radiating from her face: "Of course."

After training these elite soldiers in cooperation with Bian Yushu, a soldier stepped forward and whispered a few words in Shang Jingming's ear. Shang Jingming then rushed back to the Five Cities Military Command without stopping.

He didn't enter through the main gate of the official residence, but instead went around it via a side gate, asking the soldiers who came to greet him as he went, "When did Xie Wumian arrive?"

"They've been here for a while, accompanied by a doctor, and they're standing at the main entrance, saying they want to see you."

Shang Jingming paused in his tracks: "Did you tell him I wasn't here?"

The soldier also looked frustrated: "I told him to go back and come back later, but he refused to leave. He insisted on pushing the doctor in first, saying that saving lives is as urgent as putting out a fire."

"Didn't I give you anything as a token of my respect?"

The soldier cried out, "How could I dare to answer without your permission?"

Shang Jingming laughed and said, "He won't give up so easily."

The soldiers, as if they had finally found an outlet for their grievances, poured out their complaints: "You have no idea, he found a few people from somewhere and they blocked the doorway reciting the Great Yin Law! We brothers didn't know whether to chase them away or not. If we let him keep making such a racket, what would become of us? We've been so glad you're back."

"Reciting the Great Yin Law?" Shang Jingming asked, somewhat surprised. "Did it alert the guest in the side room?"

"The side room is in the backyard, which is far away. Steward Sun asked us to deliver the newly seized fake exam questions and the papers written by others. The guest was so busy that he didn't notice the noise in front."

A hint of interest flickered in Shang Jingming's eyes: "Which passage did Da Yinlu recite?"

The soldier scratched his head and said, "What... If a prisoner is critically ill, only one relative is allowed to visit him to fulfill human rights? They say this is a benevolent policy of the court and a grace of the emperor, and then they ask us, the soldiers of the Five Cities Garrison, why we are preventing him from visiting his seriously ill commander, as if we are defying the law and disobeying the emperor's will. With this accusation pinned on us, which of us brothers would dare to drive him away?"

Shang Jingming walked briskly further inside, casually remarking, "Not bad, you can even recite a couple of lines from the Great Yin Law?"

Seeing that the commander was not angry, the soldier said in a relaxed tone, "Those few men, they just kept repeating the same few sentences over and over for half an hour. My ears are tired of hearing it. They could probably recite a few of those sentences to the two stone lions at the gate. Please don't tease me."

Shang Jingming walked into the living quarters behind the signing room, took off his armor and changed his clothes, then washed his face and said while wiping his hands, "Go and invite Xie Wumian to the main hall of the front office. Tell him I will be there immediately. Take the doctor he brought, as well as those who carry the Great Yin Law, to the side hall and treat them well."

The soldiers responded, "Yes, sir."

Just as he was about to leave, Shang Jingming put down the handkerchief in his hand: "Also, invite the old gentleman who is busy in the side room to the front office. Invite him to the side room next to the main hall and tell him that there is new progress in the case. I have some questions about handwriting that I would like to ask him."

"Yes."

...

The front office of the Five Cities Military Command.

Xie Wumian followed the soldiers into the front office. Just as he reached the desk, the doctors and others around him were asked to leave.

He suppressed his anxiety and calmly looked around.

Apart from the soldier who brought him in, there were no other officers in sight, only a worn-out desk and two rows of wooden chairs.

He stood with his eyes down under the plaque that read "A Clear Mirror Hangs High," waiting quietly for the person who would arrive.

A moment later, a series of crisp, clean footsteps rang out.

Shang Jingming stepped across the threshold, not wearing armor, but only an indigo robe with a leather belt around his waist. He was tall, handsome and dashing.

He had an extraordinary-looking sword hanging at his waist. Unlike the previous two times I had seen him, he not only exuded the murderous aura of a warrior, but his attire also gave him a touch of the unruliness of a young master, creating a strange and harmonious feeling that is hard to describe.

He sat down decisively behind the desk, a slightly amused smile on his face: "Zhao Siye's esteemed student, please sit."

...

First update delivered. I'm too sleepy, so I haven't finished writing the second update yet. I'll make up for it tomorrow.

I'm only about 200 words short of writing this out of love. I'll update separately tomorrow, and with the extra chapters I made up, there will be two chapters tomorrow. Love you all!