Xiao Man's gaze drifted into the distance. "I've been waiting."
"Waiting for the murderer to reveal themselves?" Nangong Yu asked softly. Xiao Zhen's death was a thorn in Xiao Man's heart, a pain that would not cease until the killer was caught. As long as the murderer remained at large, she would never forgive herself.
"The murderer won't reveal themselves," Xiao Man replied, turning her gaze to Nangong Yu. She had been lost in grief for so long that she hadn't paid attention to the people around her. "Are you ill? You don't look well?"
She reached out to feel Nangong Yu's pulse, but he dodged her hand. "I'm fine, just haven't been resting well. Don't worry."
"It's good you're fine," Xiao Man said, not pressing the issue when Nangong Yu clearly didn't want her to take his pulse. After all, with the divine physician Ye Qing by his side, if he truly had a problem, Ye Qing wouldn't ignore it.
"I've meticulously investigated your father's movements that day. He must have decided to leave the city on a whim. The reason for his departure was likely an appointment with someone outside the city."
"Yes, I found the note from the killer asking him to meet outside the city," Xiao Man said slowly. "And the elder by my father's side said the handwriting was my mother's."
"Your mother is still alive?" Nangong Yu asked in surprise. That shouldn't be. If Xiao Man's birth mother were alive, Xiao Zhen would surely have sought her out. It was more likely someone deliberately imitated it.
"My mother passed away long ago. I can confirm that. It's likely someone exploited my father's lingering feelings for my mother to lure him out of the city," Xiao Man said with a sigh. "This person must have been a mutual friend of my father and mother, familiar with my mother's handwriting, and knew how deep their affection was."
"Do you have any suspects?"
Xiao Man shook her head. "I don't know the people around my father well, let alone their mutual friends." Xiao Man didn't share the clues she had discovered with Nangong Yu, as she didn't want to drag him into danger. If the mastermind was indeed connected to him, his involvement would put him at risk.
"If I find any useful information, I will tell you immediately. You must not act rashly. The person who meticulously planned your father's murder is clearly ruthless." Nangong Yu grasped Xiao Man's hand. "If you discover anything, you must also inform me promptly. Don't keep it from me, understand?"
Xiao Man nodded, indicating she understood.
Halfway through the burning of the second incense stick, Ying Xue led her people down the mountain. The scene was quite spectacular, with Ran Sheng and his group bound and brought back. Pei Jun and Lu Yi each carried a banner, walking proudly at the front.
"Master, we won!"
Xiao Man was not surprised. After all, the people she brought were handpicked from the Scarlet Feather Iron Cavalry. If they lost to these pampered young masters of the Imperial Capital Camp, it would truly tarnish the reputation of the Scarlet Feather Iron Cavalry.
"Untie them at once."
Ying Xue immediately unbound Ran Sheng. Ran Sheng had initially thought that since Xiao Man didn't participate, no one would be a match for him. However, he was too naive and imagined his opponents to be too upright. On the battlefield, situations changed rapidly. How could they possibly engage him in a straightforward fight? His loss was not unjust.
"Ran Sheng pays respects to the Commander."
"Paying respects to the Commander."
Xiao Man nodded slowly. "From today onwards, I, Xiao Man, am the Commander of the Imperial Capital Camp. Everyone must obey my orders. Those who disobey will be executed!"
"Yes, Commander."
"Furthermore, starting tomorrow, you must train according to my requirements. The last one to finish training will not receive any food." Xiao Man handed the training plan to Ran Sheng.
Ran Sheng opened it, his brows knitting into a frown. "Commander, isn't this too harsh?"
Xiao Man cast a cold glance at Ran Sheng. "Everyone will be divided into groups of ten. You will run thirty kilometers back and forth, within two incense sticks. If even one person in a group fails to finish, the entire group will be deemed unqualified. Those who do not complete the task will continue running until they do, or they will be expelled from the Imperial Capital Camp."
The people below exchanged glances. Thirty kilometers back and forth within two incense sticks—wasn't this deliberately making things difficult for them? They said a new official would bring three fires, but this fire seemed to be burning too intensely.
"Running thirty kilometers back and forth within two incense sticks is clearly making things difficult!"
"Difficult?" Xiao Man scoffed. "Ying Xue, Pei Jun, run with them."
"Yes, Commander."
Xiao Man's expression was icy. "The girls by my side will run with you. If you can't keep up, don't call yourselves men anymore. Light the incense."
With a command, Ying Xue and the others sprinted off. The guards of the Imperial Capital Camp had no choice but to follow. Xiao Man's words were too insulting. They refused to believe that they, who had undergone years of high-intensity training, could not outrun a young girl!
Ran Sheng stood still. Xiao Man glanced at him. "Aren't you going to follow?"
"I have to run too?"
"Here, only I am an exception."
Upon hearing this, Ran Sheng immediately followed. Outside the Imperial Capital Camp, people witnessed a peculiar sight: a woman leading a group of Imperial Capital Camp soldiers, running laps around the mountain. Some tried to overtake the woman, but she wasn't rushed, maintaining her pace. Those who had expended a lot of energy trying to overtake her were soon left behind.
Ran Sheng watched as his soldiers, driven by competitiveness, wasted too much energy in the beginning, leading to exhaustion and falling to the rear. He frowned. "Everyone, maintain your speed. Don't waste too much energy at the start, or you'll run out of stamina before completing the entire distance!"
Xiao Man watched as the three incense sticks burned out. Though not many, a third of the participants had finished, which was good and better than she had expected.
Ran Sheng panted heavily, looking at the people Xiao Man brought. They had finished the thirty-kilometer round trip and appeared relaxed. His expression was priceless. These twenty people were not top-tier experts, but their stamina was exceptional. If his men had faced them, they would have been no match. Had they deliberately lost the polo match?
"Vice Commander Ran, you will guard this location," Xiao Man said slowly. "Only those who can complete thirty kilometers back and forth within two hours will be admitted to the Imperial Capital Camp. They can only return to the camp once they can run thirty kilometers."
"Commander, isn't this too harsh?"
"What do you think the Imperial Capital Camp is?" Xiao Man asked coldly. "A place for rich young masters to gild their reputations? This is a military camp, the elite guard protecting His Majesty and the Imperial City. If they can't even complete this basic training, what use are they?"
Ran Sheng lowered his head, not daring to speak further. He had thought the General was harsh enough, but Xiao Man was even more so, treating the soldiers with greater severity. Now, many of the pampered young masters who couldn't bear it would likely choose to desert.
After Xiao Man left, Ran Sheng remained alone at the finish line, waiting for those who had not yet completed the task, silently praying they would show some spirit!