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I am Noah, Noah Darke, born in a time of chaos. The village where I live lies adjacent to the two great nations, Grand Valorian and Grand Sui.
This place was once considered prosperous and fertile. But after eight years of war, everything has been worn down; the former glory is now just the past, and all that remains is dust and suffering. Everywhere, people are dying of hunger.
I was born into a farming family, with three children. I am diligent and hardworking, blessed with an extraordinary physique. Since childhood, I have always been stubborn. Once I set my mind to something, I will see it through to the end, no matter what happens. Because of this, in the village, some people admire me, while others despise me.
That year, when the war broke out, I was only eight years old. Witnessing my loved ones torn apart, the people in my village dying under the blades of the invaders, I should have died too. But a soldier of the enemy saved me. He protected me. He said I reminded him of his younger brother. And he told me that if I had the chance, I should run and save my life.
Later, I learned that many ordinary people were forced to go to the battlefield even though they didn't want to. If they didn't kill, they would be killed. Many wanted to escape but were brutally executed to set an example. They suffered just like me. They said, such is the fate of the weak. I didn't want to become one of the weak.
I swore that one day, I would end this war.
That same year, I occasionally felt a strange ability to sense approaching danger.
After eight years of struggling in the outside world, I learned how harsh and miraculous this world is. There are warriors who can soar through the skies, move mountains, and split rocks with a single strike. I resolved to become a powerful warrior so I would no longer be oppressed, strong enough to stop the war.
That was my ideal, but for the sake of food and clothing, and to become stronger, I had no choice but to become a soldier and join this war.
At sixteen, I officially became a logistics soldier in the Grand Valorian army.
During my service, I was taught a body-strengthening technique.
Thanks to my extraordinary physique, diligence, and fearlessness of pain, I achieved minor success in just three months. Looking at my hands, scarred and calloused, and feeling the surging strength within, I knew I would succeed.
At eighteen, after three years of enlistment,
I had trained relentlessly and reached the great success stage. In the army, I was regarded as a genius. This reached the ears of the legion commander, who met me and expressed his desire to adopt me as his son. He even promised to take me to the capital to study.
I agreed. In this world, without someone to back you, achieving anything is as difficult as climbing to the heavens. Besides, the commander already had many adopted sons.
At the end of that year, I was sent to the capital to study. My school was the Elderstone Academy, divided into two sections: the genius class and the talent class.
I was assigned to Talent Class No. 34, near the bottom.
At nineteen, after a year of studying at the academy, my progress had barely advanced. The teacher said that the more difficult the technique, the slower the cultivation progress, which was common in the talent class. The genius class, however, were the darlings of heaven, blessed with great rewards for little effort. This hurdle didn't trouble them.
That same year, I felt as if I could see glimpses of future events, like the sudden assassination of the prime minister or which prince would rise to power.
At first, I thought I was going mad, but the events unfolded without a single mistake. I realized I could foresee certain things in the future. I kept this secret to myself, not telling a soul. Quietly, I used this ability to gamble and earn money, seek treasures to boost my strength, and, most importantly, align myself with the winning side—the Eleventh Princess Elara Vespera.
She currently seems unremarkable, with no notable reputation. But it's all just a disguise. In the future, she will ascend as the Queen, unifying the two nations, Grand Valorian and Grand Sui.
At twenty, I broke through to the warrior stage. I became a close guard of the princess.
In the entire academy, I was seen as a miracle among the talent class. Many factions tried to recruit me, but I refused them all. I declared that the Eleventh Princess Elara had shown me kindness, and I would serve as her guard for life.
At twenty-two, my strength broke through to the peak of the martial master stage. In the shadows, I became her right-hand man, helping her handle many matters.
At twenty-four, I am now the commander of a cavalry unit, advancing to suppress a rebellious prince opposing the new Queen. That man is Prince Edmund Vespera, the Western Pacification King.
Recently, during the day, I've been constantly quelling rebellions. At night, in my dreams, I keep seeing a young man telling me to cherish what I have. That feeling grows stronger every day.
I don't understand. I've always cherished what I have. So where does this feeling come from? For now, I can only take note and stay vigilant.
After ten days, I successfully suppressed the Western Pacification King, confiscated his assets, and captured all the rebels in his residence.
Among the captives, I met an old acquaintance—Xiao Hui, the adorable younger sister from Aunt Thẩm's family, three years younger than me. When we were kids, she always followed me everywhere. The two of us were the legendary troublemaking duo of the village.
After losing her home, she became a refugee, wandering aimlessly. Just recently, she sold herself as a servant to the Western Pacification King's residence, not even a month ago.
Looking at her emaciated body and ashen skin, she must have endured great hardship.
After an emotional reunion, I brought her back to my residence to care for her.
From her, I learned that my siblings and parents had fled to Grand Sui to escape the war. No wonder I couldn't find any trace of them over the years—they had gone to Grand Sui.
After some time, as the situation stabilized, I no longer had to travel constantly. In the court, I am the Queen's right-hand man, holding a high position and possessing wealth that could last a lifetime.
In my residence, with the help of various rare treasures, Xiao Hui has recovered. She is no longer skin and bones. Her body has filled out, her skin soft and fair, her hair smooth and braided into two plaits over her shoulders. Her smile is bright and warm.
I didn't ask much about her past. We simply enjoyed each other's company, playing and causing mischief like we did as kids.
One afternoon at sunset, as we passed by the river, I noticed she seemed troubled and unhappy. On impulse, I hugged her and jumped into the water with her.
I thought she'd scream or scold me, but she just quietly swam to shore. Her soaked clothes clung to her body—not slender, but perfectly proportioned, delicate where it should be, and full where it should be. Blushing, she scolded me, saying she couldn't return to the city looking like that.
Afterward, we lit a small fire and sat until late at night. Both of us were wearing only thin clothing. The flickering firelight illuminated her beautiful curves and rosy-white skin. Xiao Hui sat by the fire, her cheeks flushed, her words shy as she said,
"Why are you staring? Your face is all red... Have you never seen a woman's body before?"
Her words struck me like lightning. I realized that in my twenty-five years, I had never seen a woman's body. I didn't even know what was wrong with me. Before, I had only focused on training in martial arts. I had never explored matters of love.
Noticing my bewildered expression, Xiao Hui asked with some embarrassment,
"You're not lying to me, are you?"
I shook my head absentmindedly, my eyes blankly staring at the fire.
The air fell silent; neither of us spoke.
Xiao Hui bit her lip, hesitated, then said,
"When I was nineteen, because I was starving, my parents sold me to a poor middle-aged man as a concubine.
Every time I recall the events of that wedding night, fear grips my heart. It was so painful, as if my body was being torn in two. Thankfully, it only lasted a short while.
I thought love between a man and a woman was terrifying. The idea of enduring such torment every day made me want to die.
But fate is unpredictable. I hadn't been married for even a day when a rebellion broke out in the city, and my husband's entire family was killed. I became a wanderer again until you saved me.
That's why I've always avoided matters of love, thinking it's so painful.
But last night, I accidentally saw Manager James with the maid Isabella behind the courtyard.
It didn't seem like Isabella was in pain at all; in fact, she looked quite happy. I couldn't understand it and wanted to ask you, but I was afraid you'd laugh at me. Who would've thought you don't know much either..."
When I heard about Manager James and Isabella, anger flared within me. The servant dared to act before the master! When I return, I won't let this slide. He must be properly punished.
Seeing Xiao Hui's expectant eyes, waiting for an answer, I realized I didn't know much about love either, but I couldn't let her down.
After some discussion, we decided to investigate this matter together, starting with Manager