Honghuididn’tsayanything,thoughhedidsitup.Swinginghislegsoverthesideofthesleepingplatform,heinchedcloser.Mulaninstinctivelybackedup.Whatwashedoing?Whywashegettingcloser?Washe??.??.??.couldhebe?Hecamecloserstill.Hebreathedin,andforamoment,Mulanwasconvincedhewasgoingtokissher.

Andthenherecoiled.“Youshouldreallyconsiderskippingguarddutyandtakeashower,”hesaid.“Youstink,man.”Then,standingup,heslappedherontheshoulderandleft.

Mulangroaned.Thathadtakenaturntowardthemortifying.Liftingherarm,shetookaquickwhiff.Thensheletoutaloudergroan.Honghuiwasright.Shedidsmell.Shesmelledexactlylikeaman.

Somethinghadshifted.Ithadstartedinthediningareaandhadcontinuedtogrowastheyspokeinthesleepingtent.AfriendshiphadbeguntoformbetweenMulanandHonghui.AfriendshiplacedwithsomethingelseMulanwasn’tsureshecouldname,butitwasundeniable.ShenolongerfearedHonghui,andtimespentinthediningareaandthesleepingbarrackswaseasierknowingshehadanally.

Onthetrainingground,therelationshiptookadifferentshape.Itwasbecomingclear,tothesergeantsandthesoldiers,thatofalltheconscripts,HonghuiandMulanshowedthemostpotential.NoonewassurprisedbyHonghui.Hewasbuilttobeawarrior.Strong,intense,andwithbrainstomatch.ButMulanwasasurprise.Shewasneverthefirstorthefastest,butshealwaysaccomplishedhertasks,andshedidsowithaquietdignitythatmadeothersstopandtakenotice.Asthedayspassed,shegrewstronger,too.

Standinginthemiddleoftheparadegroundsonemorning,Mulanheldaspearoutinfrontofher.Theconscriptshadgraduatedfromtheirearliertraining,whentheirweaponshadbeensticks,andwerenowbeingpaireduptopracticeone-on-onecombatwiththerealthing.Instinctively,MulanandHonghuigravitatedtowardeachother.WhenSergeantQianggavethenod,theyliftedtheirspears.

Andthentheybegantofight.

Attack.Block.Attack.Block.EachmoveHonghuimade,Mulananticipated,liftingherownspearinasteady,smoothrhythmthatHonghuimet.Thetempobuiltastheymovedfasterandfaster.MulanspunoutofreachasHonghuikicked.HonghuiblockedasMulancameathimwithherownattack.Backandforthitwent,theirmovementsoddlybeautiful.Theymeteachotherwithequalintensity,theireyeslocked.

Unawarethatothershadstoppedtheirownfightstowatch,MulanandHonghuicontinuedtogoateachother.Harder,faster,fiercertheyfought,eachdeterminedtomaketheotheronefalter.Soldierscheeredonthepair.Hearingthecommotion,CommanderTungemergedfromhistentandcametostandbesideSergeantQiang.TheyexchangedlooksbeforethecommanderfocusedonMulan.SweatdrippeddownMulan’sbrow,andhecouldseehershouldersshaking,buttheconcentrationonherfacedidn’tfalter.

Mulanswung,catchingHonghuioffguard.Hestumbledbackandforamoment,itseemedMulanhadtheadvantage.Butinonesmoothmove,heswungbackaroundandknockedherspeartotheground.

Throwinghishandsintheairandlettingoutashoutofvictory,Honghuididn’tseeMulanreachdownandgrabthespearagain.Nordidheseethedeterminationonherfaceandtherenewedfocus.ButCommanderTungdid.Hesawthelookandquietlycheeredheron.

Withashout,MulanwentafterHonghui.Herferocitywasunparalleled,andHonghuihadnochoicebuttogoonthedefensive,liftinghisweapontoblockasMulanspunherspearthroughtheair.Lettingoutashout,sheranathimandjumped??.??.??.

Foramoment,sheappearedtohangintheair,asifheldaloftbywings.Andthen,inamovesofastitwasnothingbutablur,shebroughtherspearwhippingdown.Therewasaloudcrackasspearmetspear,andthenagaspasHonghui’sweaponwassentflyingfromhishand.Ittwirledacrosstheparadeground,endoverend.Asthemencheered,Mulanleaptagain,onlythistimeshe,too,spunintheair,herfootcomingoutandmeetingthestillflyingspear.Whippingherfootfastandfuriously,shekickedthebluntendofthespear,sendingithurtlingthroughtheairwithspeedandpower.Itslammedintothesideofapolewithapingandstayedthere,embeddeddeepinthewood.

Mulanlandedontheground.Asshedidso,sheslammedherspearintotheearth.Themen’scheersstopped.Theystoodopen-mouthedastheylookedfromMulantoHonghuiandbackagain.

Catchingherbreath,Mulanfelttheadrenalineleaveherbody.Slowly,shebecameawareofthesoldiers’eyesonher.Shecringed.ShehadletherneedtowinandherconfusingfeelingsforHonghuioverpowerher.Shehadgottencarriedawayandbroughtunwantedattentiontoherself.Thatwasthelastthingsheneeded—especiallynow,whenshewasjustbeginningtofeellikeshecouldfitin.

MumblinganapologyinHonghui’sgeneraldirection,Mulanduckedherheadandhurriedaway.Behindher,therestofthemenwatched,shockedintosilence.What,theyallwondered,hadtheyjustwitnessed?