Chapter 1, Winter Day

Forget it, I will go another time if there is an opportunity; I won't go this time. Han Dong looked at the distant snow by the pipeline and said with his head lowered

Moreover, I have prepared so many bags for you, so why should you be afraid

Han Dong looked at him, both amused and exasperated. Listening to him speak, he was just the same as he had been over the past four years, showing no signs of change, still so poor in his expressions. "If you feel cold, how can you be sweating?"

"Still laughing, are you? Everyone is watching," Liu Yuan said in a tone mimicking that of a little girl acting cute.

"You have seriously hurt my self-esteem, and I have decided to sever ties with you." Han Dong listened to what Liu Yuan said and pretended to be angry.

Turning around, I stepped onto the half-step footprint I had originally intended to take, walking towards the distant official road.

Ah, I digressed. Liu Yuan smiled and continued, "I had my father ask someone, the place you are going this time definitely does not have the main forces, only Sangqi's troops are the strongest. You know this person, so I won't mention it. He definitely won't fall on the battlefield. Alright, alright, I won't mention the word 'fall'. Besides, it's not just you; there are also the troops from the town."

"Sigh, how should I put this to you?" Han Dong looked at him and smiled

It is somewhat amusing to see Liu Yuan's serious demeanor, "Alright, there are no outsiders here, we shall meet again."

The snow on the official road is indeed very thick, and the snow falling from the sky is also quite heavy. The footprints behind Han Dong have already been covered by a considerable amount of snow.

"Don't be so serious, I'm just joking," Han Dong said while pulling Liu Yuan.

Han Dong shook his head at him, saying, "Forget it, I won't say anything more about you. Just the fact that you were supposed to give me a ride, yet you kept me waiting for so long, hesitating and unwilling to show up, does that mean you no longer recognize me as your brother?"

Perhaps in the eyes of modern individuals, a time traveler should not be so bewildered. Some may view this as the perfect opportunity to realize their grand ambitions, to fully express their thoughts in this alternate world. However, Han Dong did not share this perspective. During his university years, he spent his days glued to the computer playing games, walking by the lake in romantic pursuits, and sitting in class while his mind had long since soared to the heavens.

Han Dong scrutinized Liu Yuan closely, "It would be great if you were a woman"

However, upon arriving here, I unintentionally became a student at the Far East Military Academy, yet I failed to seize the great opportunity. In the blink of an eye, four years have passed, and I have no choice but to go to the battlefield. Sometimes, Han Dong wonders why, even in a time travel scenario, he couldn't become an emperor, or a prime minister, a minister, a general, or a noble; at the very least, he could have been wealthy.

"Alright, why are you leaving so early? After the New Year, I will send you to the front lines," Liu Yuan said, adjusting himself.

Forget it, I will definitely go when I have the chance in the future. Liu Yuan understood Han Dong's character and did not press him.

Seeing Han Dong turn to leave, Liu Yuan stepped forward and took out a pouch from his bosom, "This is one hundred taels of silver, for your use on the journey." Noticing that Han Dong was about to speak, Liu Yuan quickly interrupted and added, "No need to say anything, just a small token of my regard. You may need it on the road, so do not shortchange yourself."

After a long time apart, Liu Yuan looked at Han Dong, wiped away his tears, and said, "You're such a grown man, why are you crying? Alright, let's hurry up and go; I need to get back, I'm freezing to death." As he spoke, he patted Han Dong on the shoulder.

The snow continues to fall, blanketing everything in a vast expanse of white, swirling and drifting gently.

Yet he possesses only one identity, that of an intern at the Far East Military Academy, without father or mother

"It can't be that bad, haha." Han Dong looked at him and laughed loudly

Han Dong looked at this brother with whom he had shared four years of school; after all, a brother is a brother, the closest of all

Alright

Liu Yuan stood panting in the snow, and before Han Dong could ask, Liu Yuan took off his bamboo hat and placed it on Han Dong's head, then removed his own coat and draped it over Han Dong. "Sigh, you say you want to leave, take everything of mine with you, do you have the heart to do that?" Liu Yuan poked Han Dong's body with his hand and said

Alright, it is getting late, I must leave now; otherwise, I won't make it to the inn before dark," Han Dong said, looking at the sky.

Oh, oh, I say, how can you be like this? You say, apart from me, who else would come to see you? Who else would come to see you?

Heavy snowflakes fell, covering everything in a silver-white blanket. Amidst the rustling sounds, the entire official road was already blanketed with a thick layer of snow. Looking up, the sky, the earth, and all things between them formed a vast expanse of white.

"Alas, do not be ungrateful; I have come to see you off, and yet you still speak to me like this," Liu Yuan said, pointing at him

Han Dong looked at this brother. For his brother, he knew that all the necessary formalities were superfluous, so he did not refuse, quietly accepting everything. He patted the trembling body of his brother in front of him and nodded.

Sang Qi, this individual, was already aware in the final semester of "A Brief Overview of Modern Generals" that he possessed bravery without strategy, which pales in comparison to Nie Qing, who is reputed as the "God of War".

Han Dong stood in the snow, gazing at the half footprint before him, one that he had just stepped out of and then retracted. As a military academy student, regardless of what you learned, how you learned it, or how well you performed at the academy, you ultimately have to go to the battlefield. Just like Han Dong in this moment, standing in the snow, staring blankly at the official road buried thickly under the snow, he felt a profound sense of confusion about the path ahead.

Indeed, I didn't think much about it either," Han Dong replied.

"Wait a moment, wait a moment." The voice coming from behind was undoubtedly Liu Yuan's. Han Dong turned around and saw Liu Yuan hurrying over, his slightly plump body swaying in the snow, trembling as he approached.

"Be serious! Besides, if I were a woman, I definitely wouldn't marry you." Liu Yuan looked at Han Dong, who was in a state of bliss, and couldn't help but be somewhat taken aback.

Who says that one cannot sweat when it is cold? Cold weather refers to the temperature, while sweating is what I do to run for you.

This is the knife my father gave me, a family heirloom, so you must not damage it. I am looking forward to passing it on to my son when I have one. This is the boxwood bow my father bought for me when I entered military school; I don't know if you can draw it, so practice slowly. There are also some daily necessities set aside; you said you would leave without taking anything, are you trying to die

Han Dong strode forward

Liu Yuan looked at Han Dong and performed a traditional clasped-hand salute of the continental warriors, saying, "As you depart, we shall be separated by mountains and rivers. Please take care of yourself, and we shall meet again in the future"

Originally, there was no intention to bow, but upon seeing Liu Yuan's signaling gaze, Han Dong had no choice but to perform a bow.

Han Dong did not refuse, allowing Liu Yuan to place a hat on his head and drape a coat over him. Watching Liu Yuan shiver even more violently in the snow, he embraced Liu Yuan tightly, tears silently streaming down his face, soaking his entire cheek

How should this be said

Reflecting on our four years as classmates, Liu Yuan felt a deep sense of injustice in his heart. "I said, Brother Han, why are you leaving so early? You made me get up at this early hour to see you off. Look at how cold the sky is, sigh."

You see, if you were a woman, you would surely be better than other women, attentive and caring, how wonderful. Don't worry about not being able to get married; although you may not look great, at least you are much better than a car accident scene. If all else fails, just marry me.

Be serious! Han Dong said with a smile

"Why not? Look at me, I am tall and handsome, charming and dashing, strikingly good-looking, and I graduated from a prestigious military academy in the Far East. In the future, I won't have to worry about cars or houses. What do you think?" Han Dong looked at Liu Yuan, proudly praising himself with his head held high.

"No, there's nothing special about the New Year. I might as well head to the front lines early to familiarize myself with the situation," Han Dong thought about what Liu Yuan said and agreed, noting that there were still more than twenty days until the new year.

Upon hearing this, Han Dong immediately fell silent. Indeed, during his four years at this school, apart from the somewhat impoverished and talkative Liu Yuan in front of him, he truly had very few confidants, and no one else would come to see him off.

The biting cold wind rages, and snowflakes dance in the air

"Hey, I told you not to look at me like that, or my face will turn into a red apple." Liu Yuan looked at him with a slightly surprised expression, tilting his head.

The snow continues to fall, and the conical hat on his head is already covered with a layer of snow. Han Dong turns back to look at Liu Yuan's figure running back, "Brother," he says, then turns his head again to continue on his journey

Liu Yuan was exhaling white breath rapidly, wearing a bamboo hat, with a wrapped bow slung over his shoulder along with a quiver. In his left hand, he held a large bundle, while in his right hand, he grasped a knife wrapped in white cloth. Perhaps it was the heavy load, or perhaps the severe cold of deep winter, but his somewhat plump figure was shivering in the snow, forming a stark contrast with Han Dong standing before him

Han Dong knew that Liu Yuan had always been this kind of person; whenever he said something wrong or encountered some personal troubles, he would change the subject. For four years, it had been the same every year, and ever since they became brothers, it had never changed.

"Is that true? I have been looking forward to you. I have taken this thing away," he said, preparing to pack up and leave

"If it's not with you, you don't want it? What's the matter? Don't you want it? If you don't want it, why am I still giving it to you?" As he spoke, Liu Yuan hugged the knife wrapped in his hand to his chest, his movement more adept than that of a five-year-old child dodging others trying to snatch candy from him.

"Cut it out, just you? You say I'm better than a car accident scene, but I think you're even worse than that scene. You talk about being graceful and charming, handsome and extraordinary—what nonsense!" Liu Yuan could no longer tolerate Han Dong's narcissism and sarcastically retorted.

"Alas, I say, why are you not saying a word?" Liu Yuan set down what he was carrying, wiped his forehead with his hand, and continued, "Look at you, you don't even consider my feelings. On such a cold day, you made me run such a long way to see you, and I'm already sweating from the heat."

Han Dong shook his head helplessly, "What are you singing?"

Hi, there is nothing to worry about this time on the battlefield. My father has already said that the place you are going to is not the front line, and there are no main forces there

Liu Yuan watched Han Dong's figure gradually recede, and softly murmured, "Brother..." Turning around, two lines of clear tears streamed from the corners of his eyes. He, Liu Yuan, could no longer hold back, and in the snow, he ran back with large strides, allowing the tears to fall freely.

Where is it inappropriate

Han Dong turned and continued along the official road he had just walked past

Han Dong did not turn back, knowing it was his friend Liu Yuan and not someone else, simply because he had specifically asked him to see him off before leaving in the morning

I thought you were going to abandon your life and shed blood alongside me? Is this what you have prepared for me?

"That will do. If anything happens on the battlefield, write to me, remember that." Liu Yuan advised Han Dong as he looked at him

"Didn’t we agree that you would come to my house? It has been four years, and you haven’t come even once, always making excuses. How can this be acceptable?" Liu Yuan complained to Han Dong.

Han Dong turned around to look at his friend, gazing at this brother with whom he had spent four years attending classes, sharing a dormitory, dining together, and skipping classes. Now, however, he found himself at a loss for how to say goodbye, perhaps overthinking the situation.