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Mulan’sthoughtswerestilwirlingthenextmorningastheymarchedoutofthecampandtowardtheMountainSteppeGarrison.Thefootstepsofthenewlymadesoldiersprovidedbackgroundnoisetoherpoundingheart.

Herdeceitwasweighingherdownmorethanthebagonherback.Shewantedtostayquiet,butshefeasthoughsheshouldspeclean.Thesemenhadbeherfriends.CommanderTungandSergeantQianghadbementors.Shewasbetrayingthemall,andtogiveherfullattentiononthebattlefield,sheneededaclearmind.Yet,silencewasherfriend,too.Notspeakingwouldallowhertokeephersecret,whiletheotherchoicewouldresuinapunishmentworsethandeath??.??.??.disgrace.

ShelookedaheadtowhereHonghuimarched,hisheadup,hiseyesclear.What,shewondered,wouldhedo?Whatadvicewouldhegiveherifsheweretoask?ThenanimageofthePhoenixflashedinhermind.Wouldherancestorswanthertorevealwhoshewas?Orwouldtheywanthertolivealie?Bythetimetheystoppedtomakecampforthenight,Mulanhadmadeherdecision.

Walkingovertothespmander’stent,shepaused.Takingadeepbreath,shespposedherself.“CommanderTung,”shesaid,announcingherself.“It’sHuaJun.”

“Youmayenter,HuaJun.”CommanderTung’sresponsewasquickandcurt.

Enteringthetent,Mulannoddedatherspmandingofficer.Hisattentionwasfocusedonhissword,whichlayacrosshislap.Hewassharpeningitwithsmooth,methodicalstrokes.

“CommanderTung,”Mulanbegan.“Thereissomethingthatweighsheavilyonmyheart.Ineedtoconfessittoyou.”Hermouthgrewdryasthespmanderlookedupather.Sheopenedandclosedhermouthseveraimes,tryingdesperatelytomakehertongueformtherightwords.“IthastodowiththeThreeVirtues??.??.??.”Thatwasasfarasshecouldget.

Asshestruggled,CommanderTungwatched.Tohersurprise,shesawsppassioninhiseyes,asifseeingherstrugglehurthim.Gettingtohisfeet,thespmanderapproachedher.“There’snoshameinbeingfearfulbeforebattle,”hesaid,mistakingthereasonforhervisit.“Infact,it’satestamenttoyourhonestythatyouconfesssuchdoubt.”

HiswordsstabbedatMulan’salreadyguiyconscience.Honesty?Shewastheretotellhimhowdishonestshewas.Sheshookherhead,tryingtogettheconversationbackontrackandsaywhatsheneededtosay.“Yes,Commander,”shesaid,“buttheothervirtues—”