The room was… small.
Yue Ling sat on the wooden bed, staring blankly at the walls around her.
"…Seriously?"
She stood up and walked around.
No windows.
One door.
Guards outside.
"Wow. I'm really locked up."
She crossed her arms and let out a loud sigh.
"How unfair.
I'm the one who got dragged into another
world, and I'm the one being imprisoned."
Silence.
Then
Her stomach growled.
"…I'm so hungry…"
She dramatically fell back onto the bed.
"If Gu Jin were here, he would've already fed me…"
Her voice softened.
"…Tsk."
She quickly sat up.
"No. I'm not going to cry."
She lightly slapped her cheeks.
"Stay strong, Yue Ling. You can do this."
CREAK
The door opened.
Yue Ling immediately looked up.
"Finally! Is that food?!"
But instead of a servant
It was him.
Shen Yan.
Standing there, calm as ever.
Her expression instantly changed.
"Ah… it's you."
She turned away.
"I thought it was food."
Silence.
"…You care more about food than your situation?"
Shen Yan asked.
She shrugged.
"What else am I supposed to do?
Cry all day?"
He walked inside, his presence filling the room.
"You don't seem afraid."
Yue Ling smirked.
"Should I be?"
He stared at her.
Most people trembled in front of him.
But this woman
Was different.
He stepped closer.
"You still haven't answered my question."
She tilted her head.
"Which one?"
"Who are you?"
Yue Ling sighed.
"I already told you."
"I'm not from this time."
Shen Yan's gaze sharpened.
"You expect me to believe that nonsense?"
She rolled her eyes.
"Why are you so hard to talk to?"
Before he could react
She suddenly stood up and walked toward him.
"Fine."
"I'll prove it to you."
His eyes narrowed.
"…How?"
Yue Ling smirked.
"Fight me."
Silence.
"…What?"
"Aren't you curious about my fighting style?"
she said confidently.
"Then try me."
Shen Yan looked at her as if she had gone insane.
"You are challenging me?"
She pointed at him.
"What? Are you scared?"
The room fell silent.
Dangerously silent.
Outside, the guards stiffened.
No one
No one dared to speak to General Shen Yan like that.
"…Very well."
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
"But don't blame me for what happens next."
Yue Ling grinned.
"Deal."
They stepped outside.
The training ground was empty.
Soldiers watched from afar, whispering among themselves.
"She's dead…"
"She's challenging the General?"
Yue Ling stretched her arms.
"Alright… just a warm-up."
Shen Yan stood still.
Watching her.
Analyzing.
"Start," he said.
Yue Ling moved first.
Fast.
She dashed forward and launched a kick
But Shen Yan blocked it effortlessly.
"…Not bad."
She smirked.
"Told you."
She attacked again.
This time faster.
More precise.
Her movements were unfamiliar
Unpredictable.
Shen Yan's eyes flickered with interest.
"This technique…"
He dodged another strike.
"…I have never seen it before."
Yue Ling spun and kicked
But suddenly
Her wrist was caught.
She froze.
Shen Yan held her firmly, pulling her closer.
Too close.
Her heart skipped a beat.
"You rely too much on speed,"
he said quietly.
"And you…" she shot back, "…talk too much."
For a split second
There was silence between them.
Their eyes met.
And for some reason
It felt...
Strange.
Familiar.
Shen Yan quickly let go.
"…Enough."
Yue Ling stepped back.
"Hey! We're not done yet!"
"I've seen enough," he replied.
She pouted.
"That's so unfair."
He ignored her.
But deep inside
Something had changed.
"You will no longer be treated as a prisoner,"
Shen Yan said.
Yue Ling blinked.
"…Huh?"
"But you will remain here," he continued.
"Under my watch."
She crossed her arms.
"So it's basically the same thing."
"…You talk too much."
She grinned.
"I'm used to it."
As Shen Yan turned to leave
Yue Ling suddenly called out.
"Shen Yan."
He stopped.
"…What?"
She smiled softly.
"…Thank you."
For a brief moment
His expression shifted.
Almost unnoticeable.
Then
He walked away.
Yue Ling watched his back.
Her smile slowly faded.
"…Gu Jin…"
Her voice was barely a whisper.
"…It's really you… isn't it?"