Half a month later, the General's Manor was filled with silence.
The servants walked with caution, afraid to make even the slightest noise.
Anaga, dressed in white, sat emotionlessly in a wheelchair, holding a military book in his hands, though he hadn't turned a single page in a long while...
Asubo no longer immersed himself in the training grounds. After his elder brother's accident, he often drank to the point of being drunk. He mumbled incoherently, shouting aimlessly...
Adolf remained silent, always going alone to the ancestral hall or his late wife's tomb, murmuring apologies to his family...
Mother Qin Lan cried every day, searching through the medical books left behind by her husband during his travels, hoping to find a way to help her eldest son stand again.
She knew that even if her husband were here, he couldn't make her son stand up, but there might still be a magical pill somewhere that could heal him. However, such a treasure was beyond the reach of a small family like the General's.
Every time she saw her eldest son in the wheelchair, her heart felt as though it were being cut with a knife...
Afengtian still went back and forth between the army camp and the General's Manor, his expression unreadable, though two streaks of white hair had suddenly appeared at his temples, making him look much more worn than before...
Azhiya said nothing. The once lively little girl had lost her smile.
She practiced wood magic every day. She had heard there was a yellow-rank wood magic that could heal severe injuries, and despite never having seen even blue-rank magic, she was determined to learn the yellow-rank spell...
Asura locked himself in his room for three days and nights, not eating or drinking.
No one knew what the boy was doing or thinking in that room. He was just filled with hatred for his own impotence at that time.
He wrote a letter to his future sister-in-law, the one who had shaved her head, telling her that his elder brother would surely rise again and marry her into the family!
Asura swore by his life that within ten years, he would eradicate the Blackwater family. He signed the letter, "Sister-in-law, take care!"
On the morning of the third day, Asura slowly walked out of his room and headed directly to the training grounds.
Standing in the center of the training area, the sunlight illuminated his still somewhat youthful face.
Looking at the row of weapons on the rack, he reached for one but hesitated, as if afraid, or perhaps embarrassed...
After a moment of silence, the boy grabbed a large blade from the rack and began practicing, recalling the movements his father had taught his brothers. He practiced each move one by one.
The training grounds, once the place the boy hated most, and the weapons, once the things he wanted to avoid, now seemed different to him. His eyes were filled with determination. He only regretted awakening too late, regretted picking up the blade too slowly...
Just as Asura was drenched in sweat, practicing his swordplay, a heavy "thud" sounded as something hit the ground.
Asura quickly turned around and saw Asubo, holding a wine jar, fall to the ground.
He rushed over to help his second brother up, saying, "Second Brother, drink less. I know you're not feeling well, but you still need to take the entrance exam for Augus Academy. You can't keep going on like this!"
To his surprise, Asubo laughed bitterly for a while before replying, "Asura, you're practicing well. But I can't go to Augus Academy anymore. I'm fine; I'll drink for a couple more days, and then I'll stop. Don't worry!"
Asura, stunned, asked, "Why can't you go? Isn't getting into Augus your goal? Are you afraid of the Blackwater family's retaliation?"
Asubo, staring at the wine jar, said slowly, "The Blackwater family is an enemy I must eliminate. How could I be afraid of them?"
"My elder brother can't stand anymore, and the A family needs me. The Mountain-shaking Army needs me!"
"The things that my elder brother couldn't finish, I will do. I will protect the family, and Augus Academy doesn't matter anymore!"
After speaking, Asubo looked at his stunned younger brother Asura and patted his shoulder.
"Third Brother, your talent is much greater than mine. You will be the hope of the family. You must take my dream and go to the academy, become a powerful figure in this land!"
"This is my dream. You have to help me realize it!"
Asura had never considered these things. He never thought that after his elder brother fell, his second brother would give up his own dream to stand in front of the family!
Looking into Asubo's eyes, seeing the helplessness and expectation in them, Asura said nothing, but heavily nodded.
At this moment, a voice, full of authority yet tinged with some sadness, rang out from behind: "Third son, are you really willing to go to the academy to cultivate?"
Afengtian slowly walked to his two sons, his gaze complicated as he looked at them both.
Ashura did not hesitate and nodded, replying, "Yes, father, I will pass the entrance exam for Augus Academy. Once I return, I will avenge the Blackwater family!"
Afengtian sighed deeply as he looked at the two brothers. "It's my fault. I haven't fulfilled my responsibility as a father, and I've let you down."
Both brothers shook their heads, with Ashura speaking first: "The rise and fall of the family is everyone's responsibility. It's time for us to shoulder the duty of protecting the family."
Afengtian gazed at the boy, whose face now carried a faint sorrow. The once cheerful boy hadn't smiled in a long time. However, they were right—now, the fate of the family rested in their hands.
A fengtian's tone turned serious: "Your second brother must take over your elder brother's position as the Deputy General of the Mountain-shaking Army!"
"Secondly, it's said that the Blackwater family has placed spies in every town leading to Augus Academy, with your second brother's portrait. Once they spot Asubo, they will kill him on sight!"
Ashura immediately responded, "Father, don't worry, I'm here! I'll head straight for Augus Academy now. I'll definitely pass the exam and enter the academy!"
Afengtian shook his head, saying, "You can't go to Augus Academy. The Blackwater family is watching all the routes. I'm worried you'll run into trouble if you go alone. Your grandfather and I cannot leave the family to escort you."
"Moreover, no matter which academy you want to enter, the qualification requirements are to have reached at least the third rank of warrior or mage before the age of sixteen. You're only at the first rank of warrior, and with less than six months left until the exam, you won't pass."
"Sigh... The academy enrolls once every three years, and by then, you'll have missed the age requirement..."
Ashura's face was filled with unwillingness as he lowered his head in thought. After a while, he suddenly said, "Father, I have a way to pass the exam and enter the academy!"
"There are more than just Augus Academy in the Valency Empire. If I can't go to Augus, then I'll go to the far-off Saint Gopan Academy!"
"Though I'm only at the first rank of warrior now, I believe that within six months, I'll reach the third rank of warrior. I will definitely pass the Saint Gopan Academy's entrance exam!"
Afengtian was stunned by the boy's resolute words. He thought for a while before speaking, "This is no small matter. Saint Gopan Academy is on the other side of the empire, far from here."
"There are countless dangers along the way. You've never left Olay City, how could we be at ease?"
"Furthermore, how will you have time to improve your martial arts on such a long journey? Even if you make it to Saint Gopan Academy, you won't pass the exam. This plan won't work!"
Ashura looked at his father with unwavering determination and shouted, "Father, please believe in me! I will grow stronger at Saint Gopan Academy, and when I return, I will personally wash away the disgrace of our family!"
Asubo, standing beside him, also spoke up, "Father, I believe Third Brother can do it. We all know he's the smartest and most talented!"
Afengtian slowly replied, "There are so many talented individuals in the academies. The young elites from across the continent will apply to all the major academies!"
"Don't think too highly of yourself just because you're smart or talented. Don't be like a frog in a well!"
He paused, closing his eyes for a moment in deep thought. "Since you're determined to venture out, then I'll support you!"
"But promise me one thing: until you've truly grown strong, you must keep a low profile and grow quietly."
"Even if you don't pass the exam, you must travel and continue to cultivate. You've always been impulsive. That's what I'm worried about."
"Our family can't afford any more setbacks. Will you promise me this?"
Ashura thought for a moment, then lowered his head and said, "I promise, Father. I will stay low-key and bide my time."
Afengtian gave him a long, deep look before saying, "Come to the training grounds tomorrow morning. I will teach you our family's ultimate skill, the Thunder Fist. Once you've learned it, set off to pursue your studies, but don't let me down!"
With that, he turned and left.