The General Says She Won't Marry - Chapter 42 Part 1

Lin Aoxue stepped out of the pharmacy and came face-to-face with Zhan Dong. Her brows furrowed—she had heard every word he had just spoken, and it filled her with an intense sense of disgust. Yet another arrogant young master who didn’t know his place.

However, Lin Aoxue wasn’t at all worried about whether Yun Yan could handle these persistent noble brats. In the past, she had felt anxious because she didn’t understand the forces backing Yun Yan. Even now, she wasn’t entirely clear on the details, but at the very least, she knew that whoever stood behind Yun Yan was not someone the sons of the so-called gentry and military officials of the north could afford to provoke.

Lin Aoxue hadn’t come here today to cause trouble. Since Yun Yan wasn’t coming out, and there was no major issue, she simply cast a glance at Zhan Dong and prepared to leave.

But before she could take more than a couple of steps, he blocked her path. Zhan Dong looked like he was itching for a fight, eyeing Lin Aoxue with a sneer as he deliberately provoked her. 

“What’s your name? What do you do?” he asked.

Lin Aoxue’s expression remained icy, and she didn’t respond. However, the hostility in her gaze deepened.

Although Zhan Dong was the son of a general, he himself knew nothing of martial arts. Intimidated by Lin Aoxue’s overwhelming presence, he instinctively took a step back in fear. Lin Aoxue let out a cold laugh. As she passed by him, she deliberately knocked her shoulder against his.

Being thin and frail, Zhan Dong couldn’t withstand the impact. He staggered back several steps, his face turning livid with rage. Just as he was about to call for his men to stop Lin Aoxue, she had already left the pharmacy and was heading straight toward the military camp without looking back.

Not only had Zhan Dong been humiliated, but Lin Aoxue hadn’t even spared him a proper glance. His fury surged, and he clenched his fists tightly, seething with anger. Losing all face, he had no desire to stay in the pharmacy any longer. With a flick of his sleeve, he stormed outside and called one of the servants he had brought with him.

“Go find out who that man is.”

If he didn’t properly deal with that person, he might as well not be a Zhan.

The servant quickly went to investigate, while Lin Aoxue, oblivious to the fact that she had made an enemy, returned to the military camp with composure.

***

For the next several days, Lin Aoxue remained within the camp. The severity of the ongoing war left her with little time for rest. But more than that, she found herself reluctant to visit Yun Yan’s medical clinic too frequently. Just thinking about the name of the clinic made her feel embarrassed. She was worried that if she went too often, people might recognize her and start spreading rumors.

Even though she stayed in the camp, she wasn’t idle. She had been assigned a battalion of a thousand soldiers with an uneven mix of skill and quality.

To ensure they had a better chance of survival on the battlefield, Lin Aoxue personally supervised their training every day. She tailored their drills according to each soldier’s physical condition, training them with different weapons and focusing on the most fundamental and effective techniques. Her only goal was to maximize their chances of survival.

There was only so much she could do—guiding them, instructing them—but in the end, their survival depended on themselves.

For three consecutive days, the barbarian forces made no move against Xingbei Pass. However, reinforcements were sent to the eastern outpost of Poyan and the western outpost of Mingzheng.

Beichen Long found the barbarians’ movements increasingly perplexing. His frustration and anxiety grew. After much deliberation, he finally decided to summon Lin Aoxue.

Lin Aoxue had just finished overseeing training when the messenger found her. Hearing that Beichen Long was waiting for her in the command tent, she didn’t even take the time to change her clothes—she simply grabbed her silver spear and headed straight for his tent. Pushing aside the entrance curtain, she stepped inside.

She saluted as usual upon entering. Beichen Long waved a hand, signaling her to rise.

“Grand General, is there an important task for me today?” Lin Aoxue asked proactively after standing up.

Beichen Long’s expression was grave. After a moment’s pause, he finally spoke. “Last year, I sent you beyond the pass on a mission. You should have some understanding of the terrain outside our borders.”

Lin Aoxue hadn’t expected Beichen Long to bring this up. A flicker of doubt passed through her eyes, but she lowered her gaze respectfully and replied, “Yes, I do. I am somewhat familiar with the terrain outside the pass.”

Beichen Long nodded, exhaling slowly. There was a trace of hesitation on his face. It was clear that whatever he was about to ask of her was not an easy request. Even though he had already given it considerable thought, now that he had to actually say it aloud, he hesitated.

“Aoxue…” he finally said, voice weighted with reluctance. “There is something I want to ask you to do.”

Lin Aoxue was puzzled. What kind of task could make Beichen Long so hesitant? He was the grand general of the northern frontier, commanding an army of hundreds of thousands. And yet, he was speaking to her, a mere qianhu, in such a cautious tone. It was truly strange.

“Please give your orders, sir.” Lin Aoxue kept her head lowered, her mind already turning. Beichen Long had mentioned the territory beyond the pass, and now he was showing such uncertainty—whatever he was about to ask, it was surely no small matter.

Beichen Long took another deep breath. He clenched his jaw, his eyes flashing with determination before he finally spoke. “Aoxue, I need you to go beyond the pass once more. But this time, it’s not to track barbarian movements. This time, I need you to infiltrate the barbarian tribes and extract the spies I planted there years ago. Bring me information about their recent movements and the internal power structure of the tribes.”

As soon as Beichen Long finished speaking, Lin Aoxue clenched her fists, her expression instantly turning solemn and heavy.

Beichen Long couldn’t possibly be unaware of the dangers beyond the pass. Moreover, by making this decision to send Lin Aoxue deep into the heart of the barbarian territory to investigate the root cause of the barbarians’ recent mysterious actions, he risked exposing the spies embedded within the tribe and possibly sacrificing Lin Aoxue’s life as well.

He knew this mission was extremely perilous. If not for the deep unease that had troubled him since the spring battles, the sense of an impending storm he could not shake, he would never have made such a decision. Years of guarding the border and living by the blade had sharpened his insight beyond that of most people, giving him a unique perspective on warfare.

Since last year, the barbarians’ repeated unusual movements had filled him with an intense sense of crisis. In particular, the final battles of last autumn’s harvest season—where Xingbei Pass was pushed to the brink of collapse and Yong’an fell in utter silence—made him suspect that something was amiss. It had become urgent to use the informants within the barbarian ranks to obtain intelligence on their internal movements.

Though the barbarians seemed rough and unrefined, they were extremely vigilant. Moreover, the people of Beichen and the barbarians had stark differences in appearance and language, making it difficult to plant spies among them. Even after years of effort, Beichen Long had managed to infiltrate fewer than five operatives into the barbarian ranks.

Of these, three had achieved little success, leaving only two who could be of real use.

However, due to the barbarians’ extreme caution, those informants had been unable to send out intelligence. Thus, Beichen Long had decided to send someone to establish contact. And that person would be Lin Aoxue—the very one who had previously ventured beyond Xingbei Pass, successfully evaded the layers of barbarian scouts, and uncovered their movements, allowing Beichen Long to claim victory over tens of thousands of enemy troops.

He trusted Lin Aoxue’s martial skills and intelligence. He also believed she was the best candidate for the mission. But at the same time, he hesitated. If the mission failed, he risked losing both his key informants within the barbarian ranks and Lin Aoxue, a promising young talent worth cultivating.

Beichen Long had deliberated for a long time before making this decision. The battlefield was cruel—achievements came at a cost, and sacrifices were sometimes inevitable. In his mind, those informants and even Lin Aoxue were sacrifices that circumstances had forced upon him.

“I will send two scouts who speak the barbarian tongue to accompany you. Find a way to infiltrate the plains without alerting the barbarian army and determine whether any major changes have occurred within their ranks over the past two years.” As he spoke, the hesitation in Beichen Long’s eyes gradually disappeared, replaced by unwavering determination.

Lin Aoxue listened intently. She did not show the slightest hesitation. Lowering her gaze, she respectfully knelt down and bowed deeply. “I will not fail you, sir.”

She understood the dangers of this mission. But precisely because it was dangerous, it was also an opportunity.

Beichen Long and Beichen He were brothers. Though different in temperament, they were also remarkably alike.

For years, they had been locked in a power struggle—Beichen Long tightly controlled military authority, unwilling to loosen his grip, while Beichen He built his influence in the capital, secretly collecting leverage over various officials. Their ambitions were equally fierce.

In such an environment, both Beichen Long and Beichen He shared one distinct trait: suspicion. They rarely gave their trust.

When Lin Aoxue was in the capital, Beichen He had tested her repeatedly with intricate schemes before barely trusting her, yet even then, he never allowed her to access anything truly critical. Beichen Long was no different. Though she had trained in the military for over a year, she had earned his recognition only through one perilous battle after another—by repeatedly saving Beichen Ji’s life.

This mission was a rare chance. If Lin Aoxue succeeded, she would win Beichen Long’s full trust, weakening his wariness toward her and granting herself greater opportunities.

Even if it was dangerous, it was worth the gamble.

Seeing her resolute demeanor, Beichen Long visibly relaxed. Though he would not have stopped her if she had refused, he would have felt some disappointment.

He nodded, looking pleased, and stepped forward to pat Lin Aoxue on the shoulder. Then he turned to the entrance of the tent and called out, “Bring them in.”

The guards outside soon led in two young men. Their features were rugged, and they wore leather garments distinctive to the barbarians—entirely different from the clothing of Beichen.

They stepped forward and greeted Beichen Long in fluent Beichen dialect. Beichen Long gestured toward them and said to Lin Aoxue, “They live on the borders of the plains. Though they are descended from the barbarians, they also carry Beichen blood. They have been mistreated within the tribe, cast out to the fringes as outcasts and herders. Like us, they harbor deep hatred toward the barbarians.”

Hearing this, Lin Aoxue immediately understood their background.

Though they were born among the barbarians and lived on their land, they were not considered true members of the tribe. They were the children of Beichen women who had been brutally seized by the barbarians in their raids.

Within the barbarian society, they received no fair treatment. Regarded as the lowest of the low, they had been exiled to the outer plains, abandoned by all.

They had no faction to rely on, making them an anomaly outside the barbarians’ full control.

Accompanying these two men would allow Lin Aoxue to find a way into the grasslands. Although they were outcasts, they spoke the language fluently and had an intimate knowledge of the region’s landscape. They could offer invaluable assistance.

After Beichen Long finished speaking, the two men showed no obvious resentment—only a calm acceptance of life’s hardships. Their eyes, however, burned with hatred for the barbarians, born from the injustices their mothers had suffered. They sided with Beichen not out of loyalty but because it offered them a better chance of survival.

Lin Aoxue learned their names.

The dark-skinned, burly man was called Tamu, while the shorter youth with a lighter complexion and a fur-wrapped neck was named Polo.

The two men exchanged polite greetings with Lin Aoxue. Beichen Long then gave her a deep, meaningful look before saying, “Aoxue, return within a month. If you do not, I will assume you died out there.”

His words were cold and ruthless, yet there was still a hint of concern in his eyes. After all, she was a soldier he had personally trained and nurtured—deep down, he was somewhat reluctant to send her on this mission.

Lin Aoxue remained expressionless, but in her heart, she let out a heavy sigh. She took two steps back, dropped to one knee, and said solemnly, “Please rest assured, sir.”

Beichen Long walked over, personally helped her up, and patted her shoulder firmly. “Go now. Take tomorrow to rest properly. The day after, set out. Before you leave, come see me once more.”

Lin Aoxue accepted the order and left the tent with Tamu and Polo. She suggested they have a drink together to get to know each other better, a gesture that left the two men both surprised and honored. They expressed their gratitude repeatedly.

Noticing that their clothing was too conspicuous—likely to cause alarm among the townsfolk if they went to the market—Lin Aoxue first took them to change into more suitable attire.

Tamu and Polo were unfamiliar with Beichen culture, and after changing, they found the experience rather novel. They followed Lin Aoxue out of the military camp and headed to Xingbei Market.

They went to the largest tavern in the market, Fuyun Manor. Lin Aoxue ordered a few pots of good wine and, as they drank, took the opportunity to learn more about the customs of the nomadic tribes—particularly the details she needed to be mindful of when venturing into the plains.

Since they were in a public place, their conversation remained superficial, mostly discussing the general customs of the tribes without going into sensitive details.

After a few rounds of drinks, the three of them became more familiar, and the atmosphere grew more relaxed. Lin Aoxue, in turn, shared some insights about life within Beichen’s borders.

As they chatted, Lin Aoxue’s gaze suddenly sharpened. She placed her wine bowl down and turned her head to the side.

Tamu and Polo also noticed the shift in her demeanor and immediately fell silent, following her gaze. They saw a group of men striding up from downstairs with an imposing presence.

Leading them was a young nobleman in white. The moment he ascended the stairs, his gaze locked onto Lin Aoxue and her companions by the window on the second floor. A sneer crossed his lips as he strode toward their table.

Behind him were several burly soldiers dressed in the uniform of the Northern Frontier Army. It was clear they had just come from the military camp, as they hadn’t even changed out of their gear.

The group’s aggressive demeanor was enough to send a chill through the tavern. The serving boy, upon recognizing the leader of the soldiers, turned pale with fright, not daring to intervene. The other patrons quickly noticed the tension in the air and, fearing they might get caught up in trouble, hastily backed away, clearing the area.

Lin Aoxue’s gaze swept over the approaching men, and when she recognized a familiar face among them, she couldn’t help but chuckle, amusement flickering in her eyes.

Tamu and Polo exchanged uncertain glances, confused about the situation.

Meanwhile, the soldier who had led the group upstairs to avenge his friend froze upon seeing who was seated at the table.

As for the white-clad nobleman—none other than Zhan Dong, the same man who had clashed with Lin Aoxue at Yanxue Medical Clinic—he had brought reinforcements to settle the score. Unfortunately for him, the person he had recruited for help happened to be Beichen Ji.

Lin Aoxue remained seated, completely unfazed. She even lifted her wine bowl and took another sip.

Seeing her composed demeanor, Tamu and Polo relaxed as well, deciding to wait and see how things unfolded.

Zhan Dong slammed his hand down on the table and sneered. “Lin Aoxue, is it? You’ve got some nerve, daring to bump into me! Boys, beat him up!”

However, after his command rang out, there was no response from behind him.

Stunned, Zhan Dong turned around in fury, only to see that Beichen Ji and his soldiers had yet to make a move. They stood there, exchanging uneasy glances, clearly hesitant.

Zhan Dong hadn’t expected such a reaction. Anger flared within him as he snapped, “Beichen Ji, what the hell is this?!”

He had considered Beichen Ji a brother, yet here he was, humiliating him at a critical moment.

Beichen Ji, now equally frustrated, finally lost his temper. When Zhan Dong had asked him to bring men, he had only mentioned someone had caused trouble—he hadn’t said who. Never in his wildest dreams did Beichen Ji expect that the so-called arrogant troublemaker Zhan Dong wanted to deal with was none other than Lin Aoxue.

Had he known, he would never have come.

While he and Zhan Dong had some camaraderie, Lin Aoxue was his comrade-in-arms—his superior, no less. Not to mention, she was a rising star in the military and highly regarded by his father. Compared to her, Zhan Dong was nothing more than a spoiled noble’s son, riding on his family’s coattails.

Beichen Ji knew very well who mattered more.

He caught sight of Lin Aoxue’s half-smile and immediately felt his scalp tingle. Then, with a swift motion, he shoved Zhan Dong aside and bellowed, “Are you blind?! You dare pick a fight with my Lin-laoge?!”

Zhan Dong was utterly dumbfounded. His mind went blank, and for a moment, he even forgot to be angry.

Before he could react, Beichen Ji had already hurried to Lin Aoxue’s table, a smile plastered on his face, his tone obsequious, “My dear laoge, why didn’t you invite me for a drink today?”

Lin Aoxue hadn’t expected Beichen Ji to switch sides so quickly. His stance was crystal clear.

Her gaze turned icy as she glanced at Zhan Dong, whose face was steadily darkening. Then, she abruptly placed her wine bowl down, pointed toward the medical hall Yun Yan operated downstairs, and said to Beichen Ji, “It’s time to fulfill your promise. Bring your friend along and apologize to Yun Yan.”