I maxed out the Scholar talent at the start, but I want to be a Warrior.

The sky is bright.

Gu Cheng carried the pear blossom spear on his back and his bag in his hand as he walked out of the room.

Gu Chang'an was already waiting outside.

Gu Chang'an was dressed in clean coarse cloth clothes, and his hair was neatly tied up.

His iron spear hung on the victory hook on his horse's back, the tassel swaying slightly in the morning breeze.

Gu Qingshan and Gu He escorted the two to the entrance of the village.

"Uncle Chang'an, leave the affairs of the stronghold to us." Gu Qingshan patted his chest.

Gu Chang'an glanced at him and nodded.

"Remember to arrange for personnel to patrol regularly to guard against bandits."

"Understood, Uncle."

"Don't worry, Uncle Chang'an."

Gu Chang'an nodded and mounted his horse.

Gu Cheng also climbed onto the horse's back.

"Let's go." Gu Chang'an spurred his horse and set off first.

After walking several dozen steps, Gu Cheng turned back and glanced at the mountain stronghold.

Many villagers had already gotten up to work, and the shouts of the young and strong working men and the laughter of the children playing together mingled together.

A scene of prosperity and flourishing.

─────────

They headed towards Shuofang City.

After cycling for most of the day, I saw the traces of the war.

There were burned-down villages along the roadside, with broken walls and ruins, and many uncovered skeletons on the ground.

The fields were trampled to pieces by horses' hooves, and crops were flattened and fell over in large swaths.

We walked a little further ahead.

Refugees began to appear on the road.

In twos and threes, with their families in tow.

Some carried bundles on their backs, while others pushed carts piled high with bedding and pots and pans.

Gu Cheng scanned it with his probe.

The various attribute signals were densely packed, all from ordinary people, with not a single one favored by heaven.

Gu Cheng withdrew his gaze.

Gu Chang'an rode in front without ever looking back.

But Gu Cheng noticed that his uncle's horse slowed down after traveling for a while.

That stretch of road was no different from any other road—the same yellow earth, the same withered grass.

But his uncle's gaze lingered there for two breaths.

The two traveled in silence, heads down, hurrying on their way.

That night, they found a dilapidated temple to rest in.

Gu Chang'an lit a fire, took out some dry rations, heated up a flatbread, and handed one to Gu Cheng.

"Cheng'er, eat it with water, otherwise it'll be dry."

The two silently ate their dry rations.

The flickering firelight cast a dim glow on my uncle's face.

Gu Cheng hesitated for a moment before speaking.

"Uncle, can you tell me about Shuofang City? What is Shuofang City like?"

Gu Chang'an chewed on his dry rations, not answering immediately, as if he was thinking.

"It's quite big," he said.

Gu Chang'an paused, looked at Gu Cheng, and a smile flashed in his eyes. "It's very lively, with lots of restaurants and shops, lots of fun things to do and delicious food. I reckon you'll really like it there."

"Then, could you tell me about my maternal grandparents?"

Gu Chang'an swallowed the dry rations in his hand, clapped his hands, and patted the crumbs onto the ground.

"Your maternal grandfather was named Shen Pei. The Shen family has been scholars for generations. I went to Shuofang this time to find your maternal grandfather and see if I could find you a scholar as a teacher."

Gu Cheng nodded.

"Uncle, tell me about my mother."

The original owner only had a vague memory of her mother, knowing that she was a very gentle woman.

In the dead of night, Gu Cheng sometimes sees a woman in his dreams, calling out to him:

"Cheng'er... wait for Mother to come back..."

"Cheng'er? What's wrong?"

Gu Chang'an's call brought Gu Cheng back to his senses.

Gu Chang'an continued, "Your mother was the eldest daughter of the Shen family. Actually, your maternal grandfather wasn't too happy when she married your eldest brother. He felt that military families, always fighting and rushing to the front lines, were unstable. Out of concern for his daughter's happiness, he hoped your mother could marry a scholar."

"And then?"

"Later, your mother insisted on choosing your eldest brother, and he accepted it," Gu Chang'an said. "Your maternal grandfather was... a rather rigid person, and he was very particular about doing everything in a very methodical way."

"There's one more thing," Gu Chang'an said, looking at the fire. "Your father had a close friend named Qin Zheng, who was previously the infantry captain of Shuofang City."

"Captain?"

"The military officer in charge of the city's defenses," Gu Chang'an said. "Your father and Qin Zheng were inseparable back then. The year you were born, Qin Zheng's daughter was born, and the two of them arranged a marriage between you two as children, wanting to strengthen their family ties."

"Both families agreed that you would get married when you grew up," Gu Chang'an said. "You're fifteen now, so why not go and meet your fiancée?"

Gu Cheng opened his mouth.

this......

These two fathers didn't even ask what we younger generation thought before arranging a marriage between their children just because they have a good relationship. It was really too hasty.

Gu Cheng suppressed that thought and asked a practical question.

"Are Uncle Qin and the others still in Shuofang City?"

Gu Chang'an remained silent for a while.

"I don't know," he said. "After the battle with the barbarians, I took you with me. I don't know what happened after that."

The fire crackled, sparks flew up, and then it went out.

"Once we arrive in Shuofang City, we'll go to the Shen family first," Gu Chang'an said. "Back then, I left without saying goodbye... This time, I also need to properly apologize to your maternal grandfather."

Gu Cheng nodded.

"Go to sleep. We'll continue our journey tomorrow." Gu Chang'an leaned against the wall and closed his eyes.

Gu Cheng didn't go to sleep right away.

He lay on the ground of the dilapidated temple, staring at the drafty roof above him, his mind racing.

Shen Pei.

Qin Zheng.

A marriage arranged between children.

Shuofang City.

────

The outline of Shuofang City appeared on the horizon the following evening.

Gu Cheng looked over from afar and was stunned for a moment.

Big.

It was much bigger than he had imagined.

The city wall was three zhang high, built of bluestone, and stretched for several miles, like a giant gray python coiled on the plain. The flags of the Great Yu were planted on the city towers, fluttering in the setting sun.

"Is this Shuofang City?" Gu Cheng asked.

"Hmm." Gu Chang'an's gaze lingered on the city wall for a long time.

There was a long queue at the city gate.

The city was teeming with refugees, merchants, cart pushers, and porters. The soldiers guarding the city wore leather armor and carried guns, conducting searches. Their attitude was not particularly harsh, but it was not polite either.

"Where did it come from?"

"What are you going into the city for?"

Do you have a travel permit?

Gu Chang'an took the bamboo hat off his horse, put it on, and pulled the brim down low.

"uncle?"

"Let's go." Gu Chang'an's voice was calm.

Gu Cheng didn't press the matter, but he noticed his uncle's hand tighten.

Queue up, check, enter the city.

Upon entering the city, Gu Cheng's first impression was—noisy.

Shops lined both sides of the street, their calls, shouts, and the clatter of horses' hooves blending together. Restaurants, cloth shops, blacksmith shops, and pharmacies stood side by side.

But upon closer inspection, many shops were closed, with "Temporarily Closed" signs posted on the doors. The pedestrians on the street also looked rather grim, hurrying along as if something was weighing on their minds.

after the war.

The prosperity remains, but it will take time to recover.

The two led their horses along the main street for a while, and Gu Cheng was about to ask his uncle where they were going next—

A commotion erupted.

He subconsciously turned his head to look over.

Across the street, a patrol of cavalry passed by.

The leader rode a black horse, was burly and strong, and had a broad-shouldered sword at his waist.

It was exactly the same figure who swept through the barbarians last time—Zhang Lie.

He was about twenty steps away from Gu Cheng.

Up close, he appears even more imposing and imposing than when viewed from the hillside.

Gu Cheng instinctively tightened his grip on the reins.

Gu Cheng was about to speak up and remind his uncle—

"Chang'an?!"

A sound like thunder exploded in the street.

Zhang Lie looked over, and when he saw Gu Chang'an's iron spear, he suddenly pulled on the reins, and the black horse reared up and neighed.

He dismounted and strode across the street toward Gu Chang'an, the armor plates clanging against each other.

He grabbed Gu Chang'an's arm.

"You're still alive?!"

Zhang Lie's eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief, and his voice trembled.

"Ten years! Ten years! I thought you were dead!"

People on the street all looked over.

Gu Chang'an slowly raised his hand and took off his straw hat.

His full head of white hair looked particularly striking in the setting sun.

Zhang Lie was stunned when he saw the white hair.

He opened his mouth slightly and said, "It's good that you're back. Come on, let's go back and have a drink! We won't leave until we're drunk tonight."

Gu Chang'an looked at him, and the corners of his mouth twitched.

"good!"