"Do you want to die? Daring to be distracted on the battlefield! If it weren't for the fact that you're still children, I would have kicked you off the city wall by now, believe it or not!

"If you're going to continue being distracted, then get lost! This is a battlefield for heroes, not for cowards! We are not nannies; we can't look after your every single move..."

Yet, in this process, the elders didn't mention their own deeds at all, only hoping these little ones would learn their lesson.

But that was precisely why, even if these children wanted to refute the accusations, they couldn't find a proper opening. Because that was the truth; that was their shame... So they could only listen, their expressions shifting, their hands fidgeting awkwardly.

Thus, gradually, accompanied by the furious rebukes of these men and after the endless grievances in their young hearts, some children finally began to understand. They understood why those elders would risk their lives to fight, even if it was like moths to a flame, with only a slim chance of survival! Because they are heroes! They are indomitable heroes! They are the heroes who can determine their own fate and future! If no one steps up, then they must be the first to do so. The goal isn't for others to remember their merits, but because it is something they *must* do! Otherwise, how can they change their own destiny?

For these children, they were too young. Forget becoming heroes; they still had a long, long way to go even to become qualified warriors! Therefore, it was from this moment, under the example set by the elders, that they began to understand more...

But what they would never know was that, while they were enduring this real-world education of blood and tears, and wondering why Jin Botao—who always stood at the pinnacle of Quan State, coordinating the entire region—never once intervened to stop these men and their harsh methods, choosing instead to remain silent... Jin Botao was, in fact, right there. He was standing in the shadows, observing them through the disorienting play of light.

Just as he had watched those seemingly decrepit old men charge into battle, he maintained a cold, detached attitude, watching these children now.

In war, such actions—where kindness yields to evil, and the strong relentlessly push forward—are destined to become part of a frustrating, helpless, yet eternally unresolvable story. And Jin Botao was the one who, from beginning to end, watched all of this with a cold, God-like perspective.

However, Jin Botao's choice to act this way was, in itself, a matter of grim necessity. It all came down to the fact that, on the path of life, he was the undisputed senior to these young ones before him. Guiding the younger generation has always been an inescapable responsibility and duty passed down through the ages. Moreover, as a senior, if he couldn't leave behind any experience or lessons for his juniors, then what would have been the point of his long life?

Therefore, whether it was to gain more support on the battlefield or to forcibly drill into these children's minds the lessons of survival and death, of heroes and cowards, he had to do it. He had to use this education of blood and tears to make these juniors truly understand: Living in this world, one cannot go far alone. The Federation's people need them, but they also need the Federation!

Consequently, Jin Botao had to be ruthless and unsparing, not like an ordinary old man gradually aging while continuing to enjoy domestic bliss. Because, whether living on Earth during the dark years or in the ascendant Federation, everyone knew that as long as the Beast Clan existed, no one, undoubtedly, had the right to live at ease!

And so, this old man—who had a brief encounter with Wang Zhan and had since developed an immense fondness and respect for him—at the critical moment when the Beast Tide was invading in force and the entirety of Quan State teetered on the brink of annihilation, boldly ascended the city walls of Quan State City!

His actions subsequently caused a not-insignificant tremor among the high-level echelons of Quan State, shaking the entire state awake. It spurred all the hidden powerhouses in Quan State to unanimously decide to join forces and contend with the beasts.

Meanwhile, Wang Zhan, the one who had quietly slipped back to Chu State with two "tagalongs" behind him, had then, unnoticed by anyone, snuck back into his now-empty home. He was preparing to lie low, recuperate, and then find an opportune moment to act in secret.

In fact, much like those in Quan State pondering the future, he was quietly missing his mother, and his sister, Wang Qi, from whom he had been separated for far too long! Then, he began trying to discern the shape of tomorrow.

However, there was a pressing issue before that. Despite how much Wang Zhan racked his brains, thought, and even exerted himself, the fact remained that, to this day, he still hadn't received any news about Wang Qi, even after enlisting Qin Ying's help.

At this moment, Wang Zhan suddenly realized something. It seemed that ever since he became a true Martial Artist, the instances of him meeting his mother and sister had become fewer and fewer. They were apart more often than they were together!

Furthermore, with his increasing strength came more endless bewilderment and unknowns. It felt as if these things clung to him like maggots to rotting flesh, a price that seemingly had to be paid. This kind of price was apparently the cost of becoming a Martial Artist, and also a necessary path in the journey of life—loneliness.

In that instant, Wang Zhan had a flash of insight. Every Martial Artist must be a strong and lonely warrior! The only thing that could make them stand out was the choice of direction on the path beneath their feet.

But soon, a slight movement in front of him interrupted his thoughts. The two ever-present sisters were currently admiring the furnishings in his house. They even darted into his room, pointing at the graffiti that covered the walls—crudely concealed by some posters—and giggled at each other.

"Sister, look! The drawings are so ugly! And is this a pig? Why is it so fat..." Ouyang Yue chirped.

Wang Zhan could only shake his head and smile bitterly. He didn't want to hurt any kind-hearted woman, but it seemed this situation would only make him appear more sentimental.

Luckily, Ouyang Sheng still possessed some tact and didn't let Wang Zhan become too embarrassed. So, when her younger sister, Ouyang Yue, posed her question, Ouyang Sheng first let a slight smile touch her lips. Then, putting on an exasperated expression and assuming her role as the elder sister, she corrected, almost as if scolding a slow child, "It's a cat! Can't you see its whiskers? It's just drawn a little chubby..."

"HEE HEE HEE..."

Ouyang Yue immediately burst into unrestrained giggles, her delight evident. Her smile was as radiant as a roadside White Flower, and her bell-like laughter resembled the calls of a cuckoo bird, heard only in spring and summer.

But, to Wang Zhan's surprise, after they finished looking around his room, the sisters, still full of curiosity, ventured into Wang Qi's room on their own initiative.

When they saw the scrolls covering the walls, densely packed with drawings and accompanied by elegant, enduring handwriting, they were utterly stunned, truly shocked! They gasped.

"So amazing!!..." Ouyang Yue exclaimed, her voice filled with awe.

Because those were clearly, one after another, densely packed certificates—the most commendable testaments to a genius's development! Simultaneously, they were the best rewards reaped from a continuous journey of past struggles.

After carefully reading them, the sisters quickly discovered that the certificates listed achievements such as: 'Three good students of the entire school,' 'Excellent Class Leader of the entire school,' 'First Place in Chu State Physics Competition,' and so on. All of them were top-ranking and exceptionally outstanding accomplishments.

These were achievements that, even if an ordinary family managed to obtain just one, would bring great honor to their ancestors and signify the potential emergence of a distinguished individual. What incredible dedication and hard work must have gone into earning such honors! And how many days and nights must have been spent to achieve such results?

One should know, even for the two of them, if placed in such a competitive environment, they would undoubtedly be considered underachievers. On one hand, they had never received systematic education from birth. On the other hand, although the hardships of life couldn't stop their exploration of the unknown, their starting point meant they were destined to be a step behind others.

Yet, right at this moment, a person of such caliber—truly on par with any top student—had appeared before them as if in a fleeting, graceful glimpse, allowing them to see just the tip of the iceberg! One could imagine that, based on these achievements alone, if a comparison were made, the two sisters would be utterly outclassed, with no ability to even compete.

Moreover, there was another crucial point: how could such a talented woman emerge from a family that, at first glance, clearly belonged to the lower strata of the Federation, merely struggling to survive? And it was evident that the owner of these certificates was a girl related to Wang Zhan—either his older or younger sister. What kind of family conditions could nurture such an outstanding child!

And so, naturally, the two sisters finally saw the name written on the certificates—a name penned in a script that, while neat and elegant, exuded an exceptionally grand aura.

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