73: parting

"Mother, your son is departing now. Please take care of yourself and Father."

Li Mu and Lin Yue bid farewell to Li Mu's mother together.

Li Mu's mother's eyes were teary. She covered her face with a handkerchief, unable to bear watching Li Mu leave, yet she still feigned strength and said, "Mu'er, be careful.

Your Aunt Han invited me to her residence today, so I won't be accompanying you."

With that, unable to endure the scene, Li Mu's mother turned and went back inside the house.

Li Mu sighed. After this parting, he didn't know when he would return next.

He then turned and walked out the door with Lin Yue.

These days, the two of them spent most of their time practicing martial arts. With the help of the xuan yuan pill, their martial skills had both improved.

"name: Lin Yue

Title: Pioneer

Identity: Martial General (Great Qin)

Nobility: Baron

Official Position: Commandant

Cultivation Art: 'Killing God Art' (Second Layer 20%)

Martial Power: 53

Intelligence: 31

Command: 21

Politics: 22

Charm: 99

Reputation: 2315 (Slightly Renowned)

Talent: Amiability

Skill: Art of Recognizing People"

The side effects of the Bloodrage Talisman had finally disappeared, and thanks to the advancement of the Killing God Art, Lin Yue's Martial Power had increased by one point, now reaching 53. The familiar strength had returned, and he now experienced the power brought by an Initial-stage Martial General.

But he still felt it was too slow. Li Mu had already touched the threshold of a Mid-Level Military General. Among the Great Wall Legion's Commandants, Lin Yue's Martial Power was likely the lowest, which made him very anxious.

Yet, his comrades all believed he was highly skilled in martial arts to be able to defend Heyecheng, which made him somewhat afraid, fearing that the fact of his weakness would be discovered!

However, the path of martial arts, unless one is exceptionally gifted, born with immense strength and different from ordinary people, is ultimately not something that can be achieved overnight.

"Young Master Lin, Young Master Li!" a voice called out.

As Lin Yue and Li Mu had just arrived at the Heavenly Tier Teleportation Array, they saw Yuan Shao, Cao Cao, and Xu You calling out to them from not far away.

"Young Master Yuan, Young Master Cao, Young Master Xu." The two greeted them.

During this period, Yuan Shao and the other two had invited them to gather multiple times, but both had declined, citing martial arts practice. The few of them could only hold a farewell dinner for the two today.

"We finally made it!" Yuan Shao said with a laugh.

"Young Master Lin, I wonder when we will meet again after this parting today!" Cao Cao sighed.

"Next time you come to Xianyang, we won't stop drinking until we're drunk." Lin Yue said with a smile.

"I will soon be heading to the counties and prefectures around Xianyang to serve as a Commandant. When Brother Lin comes to Xianyang then, I will surely rush back to meet with him!" Cao Cao said with a hearty laugh.

He relied on his grandfather's recommendation to be sent out to a local area to serve as a Commandant, commanding ten thousand people and maintaining public order, thus allowing him to realize his ambitions.

At this moment, he was full of youthful vigor, and in response to Lin Yue's invitation, he was naturally extremely magnanimous.

"Congratulations, Brother Mengde! Once Brother Mengde departs, he will surely be like a dragon entering the sea, a fierce tiger returning to the mountains. He will certainly be able to display all his lifelong learning and serve the imperial court!" Lin Yue praised.

Historically, Cao Cao also served in an office near the capital, but because his jurisdiction mostly consisted of powerful and influential families, the then-righteous Cao Cao showed no mercy, eventually offending the powerful officials of the court. Under a promotion in name but demotion in reality, he was transferred out, and eventually implicated and dismissed from office, forced to return to his hometown to live in idleness.

He wondered if, in the game, Cao Cao's journey this time would be as difficult as it was historically.

"Does Brother Lin have any words to give me?" Cao Cao suddenly raised an eyebrow and asked.

"Hmm..." Lin Yue was momentarily speechless. Cao Cao's path ahead was unknown; what should he tell him?

"Brother Mengde, hold true to your heart and just be yourself." After thinking for a moment, Lin Yue finally said.

Such a hegemon could roam the four seas with his own abilities. If he were to interfere strongly, it might backfire. Besides, Cao Cao's capabilities were evident; no matter how the situation changed, he would eventually make a name for himself!

"Hold true to my heart, hold true to my heart?" Cao Cao murmured to himself, chewing on the words a few times. He suddenly looked as if he had a sudden realization, bowed, and performed the action meticulously: "Brother Lin is greatly talented, I am not his equal. Thank you, Brother Lin, for your guidance!"

"Cao Caos style name, there's no need for that. You're giving me too much credit!" Lin Yue quickly turned sideways to help him up.

He had only said a useless sentence, so how could Cao Cao have imagined a profound meaning from it?

Could it be that intelligent people think too much?

Cao Cao shook his head with unusual firmness and said in a deep voice, "If Brother Lin doesn't wish to admit it, then so be it, but I will surely remember Brother Lin's kindness today!"

"Brother Mengde, you're being too formal." Lin Yue demurred, feeling that it was getting hard to explain.

Suddenly, he noticed Yuan Shao looking as if he wanted to speak but hesitated, always taking a small step forward only to unconsciously retreat. He smiled knowingly and said, "This humble one is untalented, but I dare to offer a word of advice to Brother Ben Chu. I wonder if I may?"

"Brother Lin, please speak quickly!" Yuan Shao said excitedly.

After hearing Lin Yue's words to Cao Cao, he felt they made a lot of sense, but out of pride, he couldn't bring himself to say it. Lin Yue's action was exactly what he wanted!

"I apologize for my presumption." Lin Yue bowed slightly in apology, then continued, "In my hometown, there's a saying: 'Listen to advice, and you'll eat your fill.'

Listening to all sides makes one enlightened, while relying on one side makes one benighted. Brother Ben Chu should listen more to the advice of others."

"Ben Chu! We have advised you many times, but you just wouldn't listen.

Brother Lin, though he has only met us once, saw it clearly.

As the saying goes, 'Good advice jars the ear,' but we would never harm you!" Cao Cao said, and Xu You also smiled and nodded in agreement.

Lin Yue understood. It seemed that his childhood friends, having spent so much time together, understood each other better.

Historically, Yuan Shao was the northern hegemon who occupied four provinces. If he had listened to more advice and lived a few more years, he would not have lost to his childhood friend Cao Cao.

"Thank you, Brother Lin!" Yuan Shao said with a smile. Three men make a tiger; when many people say something, it can also shake his heart and make him reflect on himself.

Lin Yue nodded, then intended to take his leave.

Just then, Xu You suddenly asked, "Does Brother Lin have any words to give me?"

Lin Yue felt a bit embarrassed. He only knew some of Xu You's famous moments and didn't really understand him as a person, so how could he easily offer advice!

Wait, he had it!

Lin Yue mysteriously said to Xu You, "In the future, if you encounter a Martial General with the same surname as you, stay far away and do not try to show off!"

Xu You was a bit puzzled, not understanding why.

For the other two, it was advice, but why did it suddenly become fortune-telling for him?

But seeing Lin Yue's sincere gaze, he secretly kept it in mind.

"Thank you, Brother Lin." Xu You cupped his hands.

Lin Yue nodded, not knowing if he had truly taken it to heart.

"Gentlemen, please return." Lin Yue and Li Mu cupped their hands in salute, thanking the three for their kindness in seeing them off!

"May Brother Lin and Brother Li make a name for yourselves on the battlefield and strengthen the prestige of our Great Qin!" The three returned the salute.

"We will meet again someday. Brother Ben Chu, Brother Mengde, Brother Ziyuan, the mountains are high and the waters are far; we part ways here!"

After Lin Yue finished speaking, he led Li Mu and turned to walk towards the Heavenly Tier Teleportation Array!

"Farewell!"

Lin Yue raised his arm and waved, leaving the three with his back as he stepped into the Teleportation Array bound for Xiangping!