Chapter 37 – Time to Praise Me

Jin Beiyun turned to Deng Xingchao and asked, “This young lady, she’s a Jinyiwei too? Does Great Qian actually have female guards?”

“Yes,” Deng Xingchao replied briefly, offering no unnecessary explanation.

Jin Beiyun raised a doubtful brow. “Strange, I’ve never heard that Great Qian employs female guards.”

“Our Emperor is preparing to establish an academy for women and open the Imperial Examinations to women. She’s the first woman to hold an official post,” Deng Xingchao explained.

“Oh?” Jin Beiyun gave Mu Nanjin a curious once-over. “Preparing to establish an academy and women’s Imperial Examinations, meaning it hasn’t even been founded yet. And yet she’s already an official? Then she must be quite extraordinary.”

Deng Xingchao: “…”

Does exposing people’s secrets every day count as extraordinary?

【Comrade Old Deng, this is your cue to praise me! Hurry up and sing my praises!】

【Tell him I can manage both the battlefield and the kitchen, earn fortunes, buy grand estates, and take down enemies with ease. As long as I’m alive, Great Qian will never fall.】

【With how perfect I am, I’ll scare him so badly he won’t dare let Great Wei invade Great Qian.】

Deng Xingchao: “…”

I’d praise you if I thought anyone would believe it.

Jin Beiyun, noticing his silence, looked at him in mild confusion. “Why aren’t you saying anything?”

Deng Xingchao coughed lightly. “She once saved His Majesty’s life.”

【Comrade Old Deng, how could you introduce me so casually? I’m so disappointed in you. When we get back to the Commandant’s Office, I’ll have Comrade Old Kan give you a proper lecture.】

Deng Xingchao: “…”

Jin Beiyun’s curiosity was piqued. “Is that so? Then her martial rank must be quite high.”

【Tell him my rank surpasses that of a Martial God. That way, the Poison Sect in their country won’t dare make a move against our Emperor.】

The Martial God was the highest level of martial cultivation, a realm practically unheard of in smaller nations like Great Qian.

Still, Deng Xingchao didn’t want Jin Beiyun to look down on Mu Nanjin or the Jinyiwei. Smiling politely, he replied, “As a fellow martial artist, you must know that it’s taboo to reveal one’s rank to outsiders. I hope you’ll forgive me for keeping it confidential.”

Jin Beiyun nodded in understanding. “Of course. Then, may I at least know the lady’s name?”

Deng Xingchao glanced at Mu Nanjin, and after she gave her permission, he answered, “Her name is Mu Nanjin.”

Jin Beiyun turned to her with a polite smile. “Miss Mu, would you be willing to spar with me?”

Mu Nanjin hesitated.

【Should I accept the challenge? But what if I end up crippling him by accident? Would that start a war between our nations?】

Deng Xingchao, who knew she had once saved the Emperor at Jingtuo Temple, could only think helplessly, Girl, you’re overthinking it. You’ll be lucky if you’re not the one getting crippled.

【Maybe I should pretend to lose…】

【But that would embarrass Great Qian and me.】

【What about a draw?】

【But what’s the point of a draw in a spar? Might as well not fight at all.】

Jin Beiyun asked gently, “Is something the matter, Miss Mu?”

Before Mu Nanjin could respond, Deng Xingchao interjected quickly, “Our esteemed envoys have traveled far to reach Great Qian. If we have you spar with them before they’ve even rested, wouldn’t that make us seem inhospitable? If His Majesty were to hear of it, he might think we’ve treated our guests poorly.”

Jin Beiyun considered that and found it reasonable. He wasn’t in a hurry, after all. “Very well. We’ll spar another time, once we’ve rested.”

Deng Xingchao immediately answered on her behalf, “Agreed.”

He could always come up with an excuse later when that day arrived.