Chapter 009: First, Keep Two Classmates

Upstairs, Nagataro Muraoka stood with his mouth agape, so stunned that even the cold wind blowing into his mouth barely registered. He was utterly bewildered. The only thought in his head was, “This guy is terrifying! I should never go up against him, nor should anyone else!”

Down below, Daizo Kawamoto and the rest of the audience shared the same sentiment—this was simply too frightening! The single-sword style indeed!

Under the astonished gazes of the crowd, Qiao Aoki found the discarded prop sword sheath, slid the blade back in, stood upright, and bowed to the corpse of Take Sakurada. He then turned and bowed to Daizo Kawamoto and the stunned audience, and finally bowed in the direction of the fourth floor. I’ve known you were watching all along, old man.

After finishing his bows, Qiao Aoki strode up to Daizo Kawamoto. “Thank you, Section Chief, for hosting. Please urge the Interrogation Section to prepare Liu Junze’s interrogation records—I’ll need them tomorrow.” He bowed again.

In truth, at this point in the affair, whether or not he saw the interrogation records no longer mattered. What Qiao Aoki wanted was momentum! The momentum to suppress both Section 2 and the Interrogation Section single-handedly!

Damn it, I’m a lieutenant colonel, and you still need Section 2’s chief to approve me seeing an interrogation record? That’s a blatant slight!

Now, try asking that man, the one lying in two pieces on the ground, for his approval!

Having finished his grandstanding, Qiao Aoki strode out of the compound and into the night.

Out in the darkness, Jiehua Chen walked with his left hand gripping his officer’s sword, eyes closed to sense his surroundings. Detecting no one tailing him nor any hostile gazes, he quickly returned to his lodgings.

Zhou Yongsu cautiously opened the door for him. By this time, Liu Junze had already awakened.

While Chen Jiehua was away, Zhou Yongsu had fed Liu Junze millet porridge and water. After all, Liu Junze was trained in martial arts; his constitution was strong, and he was already able to struggle upright.

Chen Jiehua approached the bed and pressed Liu Junze back down as he tried to rise. “No need to get up. Conserve your strength and stay put.”

He set down his officer’s sword, picked up the glass of water on the table, and drank deeply. After arguing with Section 2, he’d wasted plenty of saliva—he really was thirsty.

“Aren’t you afraid I poisoned the water?” Zhou Yongsu remarked.

“Would you know how?” “Of course.” “No, you wouldn’t.”

Liu Junze, listening nearby, was left speechless, shaking his head at the pair.

By now, both of them clearly understood the situation. They were no fools—no fool would ever make it into the Japanese Army Academy.

If Aoki Seigen (they didn’t yet know he had changed his name) had truly been a villain, he could have simply left Liu Junze to die, killed Zhou Yongsu outright, or handed her over to headquarters. There were countless conventional courses of action.

But instead, he saved Liu Junze, gave Zhou Yongsu money to buy supplies, and let them stay in his home. Even if it was all an act, it was overkill. At the very least, his expressions, mannerisms, and habits could not have been faked.

That final gulp of water was the deciding moment.

Yet this, too, puzzled the pair. Clearly, Aoki Seigen was hiding something. Otherwise, after the incident at the graduation over a year ago, the Chinese students involved would not have fared so well—Zhao Yiyue must have misunderstood something!

But since he didn’t speak of it, they thought it best not to press. When he could or should explain, he would do so himself.

“Tell me briefly—what happened?” Chen Jiehua asked.

Liu Junze hesitated for a long while, glanced at Zhou Yongsu, and only began speaking after she nodded. “I’m just an artillery regiment trainer in the Young Marshal’s army. We were stationed inside the pass. This time, I came back to arrange my father’s funeral. Take Sakurada spotted me and tried to coerce me into falsely accusing the Young Marshal of anti-Japanese statements. When I refused, he accused me of harassing Japanese nationals and had me arrested.”

“Young Marshal? Zhang Xiaoliu?”

“Yes, that’s him! After graduating that year, I returned home and joined the Young Marshal, helping him train his troops.”

“What about you, Yongsu?”

“I studied engineering, and I’m small and frail, so the Young Marshal wouldn’t take me.”

“Heh, Zhang Xiaoliu needs better judgment!”

Chen Jiehua then asked about their lives after graduation, and they shared what they could.

“Stay here and recover for now. With both legs broken, you won’t be running off anytime soon, and you’re safe here. Once you’re healed, we’ll make plans.”

“Winter is too cold here. Tomorrow, Yongsu, go get some bedding and quilts. Don’t burn charcoal inside the room—a charcoal brazier in the shop out front is fine. I’ll stay at the hotel again tonight.”

With that, Chen Jiehua left for the inn where he’d stayed the previous night, pondering as he walked.

These two classmates—even if headquarters came asking, there was a record to check. They were genuine classmates from the 17th class of the Army Academy; the main office had their files, so there was nothing to worry about. As for other matters, he’d keep quiet for now, observe a while, and avoid the passive situation that befell Zhao Yiyue.

At the inn, Chen Jiehua lay down but couldn’t sleep out of habit. He reflected on his time at the Army Academy—how he’d arrived in this world and immediately entered the Academy, stabilized his footing for a while, then been summoned home as Aoki Seigen, only for disaster to strike. Upon returning to the Academy, new challenges awaited.

December 11, 1924 (Year 13 of the Republic of China, Year 13 of the Taisho era), Japanese Army Academy.

The head of academic affairs sent word through the military police, summoning Aoki Seigen to report to the office.

The walk from the training grounds to the academic office was short, but Chen Jiehua was anxious. Why the academic office? Why had the head summoned him out of the blue?

He had spent each day treading carefully, finally enjoying a month of peace, and now this summons from the academic office came without any clear reason. He could only prepare for the unexpected and be ready to adapt.

“Reporting! Aoki Seigen, 17th Infantry Class, present!” (in Japanese)

“Come in! Good! Let me have a look at the spirited young man from the Aoki family! Oh—how you’ve grown!”

In the upper left corner of his vision: Masaki Jinzaburo, leader of the Imperial Way faction, Head of Academic Affairs at the Army Academy (to be promoted to principal in two years). Chen Jiehua was excited. “Wow! The principal!”

But the system reminded him: maintain your persona. Don’t speak first—let the other party lead, especially when you don’t know the situation.

But who was Masaki Jinzaburo? Why didn’t he recognize him? Nor did Aoki Seigen’s memory.

Yet the man’s words were clear: “Let me see the spirited young man from the Aoki family! Oh—how you’ve grown!”

Reasoning quickly, Chen Jiehua decided to stay the course and wait for the other to speak first.

Damn, this is tough! What a difficult start, one challenge after another!

“You must have forgotten me! I was your grandfather’s student and your father Saburo Aoki’s friend! I visited your home when you were young—I’ve met you before!”

Chen Jiehua’s eyes widened; he reacted in 0.23 seconds. “Uncle, how do you do!”

“Good!” The head of academic affairs was clearly delighted by Chen Jiehua’s respectful greeting.