At dawn, Yunchang was already running up and down to report in, ready to take command of his new division and meet his new comrade.

Entering Han Yin’s office, he looked around but didn’t see her. Suddenly, he heard a voice from behind him.

“Up early, are we?”

Yunchang turned to see Han Yin preparing tea behind him.

“Couldn’t sleep much last night,” he replied.

Han Yin laughed softly. “What, were you up to some sneaky business, then?”

Yunchang’s skin prickled. Had the girl yesterday told her everything?

“What? No way! I’d rather die than doing something like that!”

“Good to know,” she replied, moving back to her seat with her tea.

“We’ve got fifteen minutes before official hours start. Got anything to say to me?”

“Not really,” he said. “There’s not much to talk about.”

“Still bitter about yesterday’s thrashing?”

“Not at all,” he replied coolly. “I’m pretty much inferior to you in every aspect there is. It would be strange if you hadn’t beaten me. If anything, it would’ve been even stranger for me to stand any chance at all. And just so you know, you are my superior, not my friend, so stop acting like one.”

“Oh? What made you say that? Am I not worthy for you to consider as a friend?”

“Not exactly. I’d just say you’re a bit too... crafty. I don’t trust you enough to chat for fun.”

“Oh, crafty, am I? And I suppose that makes someone like you a noble gentleman?”

“A born gambler like me is no goody two shoes either, but the way you act around me is certainly suspicious. It takes one to know one they say. Had any other soldier spoken to you like I did, you’d have them in shackles—if not worse.”

Han Yin took a sip of her tea. “Simply put, my hospitality is only for those who earned it. You’re here because you’ve proven yourself in battle; you’re far from just any ordinary soldier. I let you talk as you please because it’s before office hours, and you’re clearly itching to say something. It’s a shame, though. You’ve only had a single victory, but you act like you’re the talk of the army. Believe me, in a few years, if people speak of the name Guan Yunchang ever again, it won’t be you. So enjoy showing off now, while you still can.”

Han Yin took her tea and walked outside, leaving Yunchang fuming. “This woman—she thinks just because she has a higher rank than me she can insult me as she likes. Well, forget it; sometimes silence is gold.”

“Yunchang, time to meet your new colleague, General Lethal Tempest,” Han Yin called from the doorway.

Yunchang turned around, and his jaw nearly dropped when he saw Han Yin standing beside another young woman—that same girl from yesterday. He froze, both in fear that his bad behavior might be exposed and in disbelief.

“The ‘Lethal Tempest’ is a girl? Weren't they saying he was some phantom warrior that no one has ever seen the face of?”

“Yunchang, this is my younger sister, Lei Wen,” Han Yin introduced them. “The two of you will be working together. I expect you’ll support each other well.”

Lei Wen gave her sister a brief, disapproving look. Yunchang, for his part, was stunned that this young woman could possess such speed and lethality. The sisters’ skills were beyond anything he’d ever encountered.

Awkwardly, he stepped forward to shake her hand. “Uh… Nice to meet you for the first time. ‘Lethal Tempest,’ right? Cool nickname.”

“What am I saying? This is so embarrassing,” he thought to himself.

Seeing him make an effort, Lei Wen reciprocated, though a bit stiffly.

“I’ve heard about your victory in the Dead Forest, Yunchang,” she replied.

“Ah, that? It was nothing, really,” he said, glancing at Han Yin. “Some might even call it a fluke.”

Han Yin laughed. “No need to be coy. Anyway, later on, you two will each take a team and conduct a mock battle for me to observe. Yunchang, I’m sure you’ll lose, so I’m just here for the show.”

“Underestimating me again, are you?” he shot back.

“It’s not underestimating; it’s called being a realist.”

“We’ll see who wins,” he said, narrowing his eyes.

Han Yin assigned each of them 500 troops and set the camp as the boundary. Each would establish defenses, and the goal was to capture the other’s base.

After they selected their troops, Lei Wen approached Yunchang.

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“You seem like the offensive type of leader,” she said.

“You could say that. The last to strike is the first to lose.”

“Let’s see if that applies here.”

Once he’d established his camp, Yunchang summoned Guotai.

“Take 250 troops and go straight for their camp. No need for fancy maneuvers—just charge.”

“Their side’s probably set up an ambush. We’ll be destroyed if we go in headfirst,” Guotai cautioned.

“Can’t catch a tiger cub without entering the tiger’s den,” Yunchang replied.

Per the rules, as this is solely a test of wits, neither Generals could join the fight personally to avoid overwhelming the test with their individual strength. In order words, so that Yunchang’s side wouldn’t get beaten immediately. The soldiers also used bamboo weapons to avoid injuries. Guotai led his troops forward in a direct assault. As expected, Lei Wen anticipated his approach and spread her forces into a bow formation, allowing her troops to strike from behind, encircling Guotai’s men.

Watching from afar, Yunchang immediately called in Juan Hong.

“Guotai’s unit was defeated. Take 50 troops, do some shenanigans at their camp, and then pull everyone back to our’s immediately. I want everyone to be ready for an ambush when Lei Wen’s forces come after us.”

Hong obeyed, sending his troops in for a quick hit-and-run, doing just enough damage to disrupt their defenses. Lei Wen’s troops quickly cleared them out and led her entire force in a rapid assault on Yunchang’s camp. When nearly arriving at the camp, Lei Wen ordered all of her troops to stop moving abruptly.

“Wait, I can sense it…It’s a trap!”

Right then, she knew something was off and ordered all her troops to retreat immediately, but It was already too late. Suddenly, Juan Hong’s and Yong Kang’s units emerged, both in front of them and behind them, leaving them no way to escape. Lei Wen’s troops struggled to break free, caught between advancing and retreating, while Yunchang’s forces had already occupied her base. Lei Wen, knowing that she'd lost, let out a loud sigh.

“Turned out I'm better as a lone wolf after all. Well played, Yunchang”.

After the battle, Yunchang’s comrades lifted him on their shoulders, cheering.

“Yunchang commands like Zhuge Liang or Lord Bao himself—there’s no way he’ll ever lose!”

Yunchang tried to suppress a grin. “You guys are exaggerating. It’s just a couple of victories.”

“No way! Clearly ‘Lethal Tempest’ is just a title. Guan Yunchang however is the real deal!”

“Shh, keep it down! If anyone hears, we’ll be in trouble.”

Just then, a messenger arrived, informing Yunchang that Han Yin had summoned him.

On his way to her office, he bumped into Lei Wen.

“You’ve got a real talent for strategy. Better than what my sister told me.”

“Did she tell you I’m just a lucky fool with no real talent?”

“Not exactly. She said you had potential but were impulsive and careless. ‘All talk, not suitable for real responsibility.’ Honestly, I underestimated you myself because of, well… yesterday.”

“Pffff, If I’m ‘all talk,’ she’s two of me.”

Lei Wen smirked, but before either of them could continue, they noticed Han Yin standing behind them, having overheard everything.

“Finished talking? Good. Follow me,” she said.

Yunchang’s heart sank. “Great, she heard me. I’m done for. Popping up out of nowhere like that…”

In Han Yin’s office, she immediately directed her anger toward Lei Wen.

“That was literally the same tactic he used before and you fell for it! Ridiculous! I expected better from you. This is unacceptable!”

Yunchang was taken aback. “Sure, I used the same strategy twice and I was lucky she didn’t expect it, luck is a skill after all. Though, If I were in her place, I might have pursued with some forces, but I’d definitely keep reserves back to avoid a trap.”

He couldn’t resist retorting, “So, Commander-in-chief right? What would you have done in her place?”

“I’d have held the camp, no matter what. With twice as many soldiers, there would have been no way in God's name you are breaking through.”

“Then it would just be a stalemate.”

“Stalemates happen when both sides perform equally well. She had a clear advantage, but got carried away. And she lost to the likes of you!.”

The tension in the room thickened. Han Yin’s usual restrained demeanor had slipped, her calm giving way to frustration. Yunchang had never seen her this agitated. Normally, she was a picture of calculated calm, exuding confidence no matter the situation. Now, her sharp gaze and every movement seemed to bite with irritation, like a predator tearing into its prey. This was only for practice after all, not to mention Lei Wen was her family, her flesh and blood. The severity of her tone felt oddly misplaced.

Han Yin finally let out a frustrated sigh. “Enough! Both of you, leave my office at once. Lei Wen, you’re to chop down 2000 trees at the border by the end of the day. Fail, and don’t bother coming back. We’re no longer sisters then, understood?”

Yunchang couldn’t hold back. “Bitch! Are you out of your goddamn mind? My entire troop couldn’t cut down that many in a day! And she’s your sister!”

Han Yin’s expression hardened. “Thank you for the reminder. Make that 3,000 trees. And as for you, Yunchang—1,000 trees for disrespecting your superior.”

“You…”

“I what then?! Let me guess, you are about to call me something else as if that wasn’t enough for you to receive a death sentence? No one asked for your opinion in the first place. Try to shut up for once!”

Her golden eyes shifted from Lei Wen to Yunchang, locking him in place with a steely gaze that froze him to the spot, every muscle tense and unyielding. Yunchang was too scared to say anything else, as the room fell into silence.

Breaking the silence, Lei Wen finally spoke. “Commander-in-chief,” a soft voice that managed to cut through the tension. “I accept full responsibility and the punishment as it stands. However, I respectfully request leniency for Yunchang in recognition of his strategic victory.”

Han Yin’s fiery expression softened slightly. “Very well. Yunchang, you’re excused from punishment. Lei Wen, you will still complete the task of 3,000 trees.”

Before Yunchang could object, Lei Wen nodded. “I accept.”

“Then you’re both dismissed.”

Outside, Yunchang scratched his head. “About earlier… I’m sorry.”

“No need. She’s always like that—I’m used to it.”

“Always, even with family?”

“More so because I’m family. Don’t blame yourself for it.”

“How can I not? It’s my fault you’re getting punished. No, I’ll join you. Two people will get it done faster.”

Lei Wen looked at him with a hint of admiration but shook her head. “You didn’t do anything wrong. I failed; and failures like me need to be punished.”

With that, she turned and walked into the forest, leaving Yunchang standing there, torn between guilt and helplessness.