With such strength, and yet you still come to practice archery? Mr. Su, are you thinking of joining the army?
The female voice coming from behind made you pause for a moment.
You turned around and looked at the person behind you; she had a pair of pointed, fur-covered ears.
She was a Foxian…
Heroic and striking, she was truly a sight to behold.
You shook your head and smiled faintly, indicating that you had no such intention.
"I don't have that kind of ambition."
You spoke softly, making your stance clear. Enlisting in the army…
One needed both resolve and a reason.
"Clad in golden armor through a hundred battles in the yellow sands, I will not return until Loulan is destroyed…"
The fox woman's eyes suddenly lit up, as if they held stars within them.
"Mr. Su, who can write such magnificent poetry, surprisingly has no ambition to join the army."
"What a pity…"
The Foxian woman wore a short, fitted martial outfit. She carried herself with extraordinary presence, her features beautiful yet powerful.
"Commander Yueyu, one of the Seven Arbiter Generals. I noticed Mr. Su because of your recent poem, Ballad of the Army."
"Your poetry is grand and magnificent, your aspirations vast… I imagine you wouldn't want to be just a teacher, would you?"
Commander Yueyu said gently.
"In truth, I only wish to be a teacher…"
"Mm…"
Commander Yueyu stared into your eyes, trying to discern something—some trace of "great ambition."
But she found nothing…
To be fair, you were an ordinary person with no grand aspirations. Moreover…
You were not a native resident of the Celestial Ark. For now, you felt no strong sense of belonging to it.
You practiced archery, first, to maintain your physical condition.
Second, you had been feeling a faint sense of unease lately. After all, war was approaching, and you wanted greater ability to survive amid the coming chaos.
"Everyone has their own aspirations. I spoke too much."
"Sir, your grip on the bow is incorrect…"
General Commander Yueyu said nothing more and instead corrected your grip on the bow.
You felt a bit embarrassed—this was rather like teaching a master.
That day, perhaps by coincidence, she had come to discuss matters with Yao Guang.
You spent half a day in brief contact with this Celestial Ark general.
She taught you many combat techniques—archery, close combat, hand-to-hand fighting… and was greatly surprised by your talent in martial arts.
"You have the potential to become a general… Are you truly not considering leaving your studies to join the army?"
You smiled and shook your head.
She seemed regretful and turned to leave.
You watched her departing figure, once again confirming that you had no intention of joining the army, and then saw her off.
She could never have imagined that this casual act of appreciating talent would allow her to survive this extremely brutal war…
As for you, at that time you were unaware of it and were simply pursuing your goal in silence.
"Longevity…"
You extended your hand, grasping at the sky. Through your fingers, you seemed to see a solitary yet brilliant star waiting for your companionship, your embrace.
…
Life on the Yuque Celestial Ark seemed almost unchanged. The war was drawing near.
In your heart, you knew that according to the current timeline, the outbreak of this epoch-defining war was still decades away.
By then, if you had not found the method of longevity,
Perhaps you would already be in your final years.
Thinking too much was useless. You were not anxious; instead, you gradually immersed yourself in your present life—teaching, eating, sleeping…
When you had free time, you read materials, such as the "taboo" topic of why the people of the Celestial Ark could live forever.
"Before the mulberry leaves fall, their foliage is lush…"
Today, you were teaching the Book of Odes.
Three hundred poems… pure thoughts.
You felt that those words, those clean and pure sentiments, were very fitting for the children in front of you who were learning to read.
Even if they did not understand the meaning, as long as they could remember them, they might feel something in the future…
"Master, what does this mean?"
Little Fu Xuan, still in her childhood, looked up. Her bright eyes sparkled with innocence.
You smiled faintly; naturally, you were not stingy about telling them a story.
A story about a young woman's pure and simple longing for beautiful love…
Though the children were somewhat confused, they listened very attentively.
"If I do not see Fuguan, my tears flow endlessly…"
"When I see Fuguan, I laugh and speak…"
A young woman's journey of love, from longing to waiting…
Falling, and then regretting…
This was what people experienced as "life" while walking through the world.
As you explained with emotion, the girl's large eyes grew misty.
"If I hadn't married him…"
She murmured softly.
Perhaps it was that moment of empathy that allowed little Fu Xuan to capture sympathy for the woman in The Rogue.
"This may be a decree of fate."
You sighed, a casual remark with an underlying intent.
But it made the girl start to think.
"Fate…"
"Master, what is fate?"
Four-year-old Fu Xuan asked this question.
Clearly, it was not a profound inquiry, and you could still answer it based on your own experience.
"What people call fate is the trace you leave in this world…"
"It is the past, the present, and also the future…"
This was the answer you gave.
If…
The essence of fate were a moon, then your answer was merely a finger trying to point at it.
Though superficial, it became a seed that took root deep in little Fu Xuan's heart.
As for how she would interpret fate in the future, that would depend on what kind of fruit that seed would bear.
Little Fu Xuan was very intelligent and loved to think. Sometimes, her questions made you feel slightly challenged.
But fortunately…
Your [Impart Knowledge] was still able to handle it.
Perhaps because you answered so many questions, the way she looked at you was filled with admiration.
"Master, how do you know everything?"
"Haha, you'll be like this in the future too—and you'll know even more than I do…"
You smiled. Who doesn't see childhood through a filter when it comes to teachers or parents?
"Is that also my destiny?"
"No, it isn't. Your destiny is not something I decide—it's something beneath your feet…"
This answer was your limit, carrying your own thoughts and beliefs.
Life is not predetermined, but written by our own hands.
This was also a prevailing view in the minds of all romantics.
"Mmm!"
She puffed out her cheeks and gave you a sweet smile. She liked the answer.
Destiny is not predetermined, but held in our hands. Destiny can be changed; appearances can be shaped…
Mysteriously, you too grew fond of this curious child.
It was an affection born from your role as a teacher and a sense of responsibility.
You greatly enjoyed answering her questions.
When you saw her satisfied after receiving an answer, you felt happy as well.
This must be the meaning of being a teacher…
You sighed inwardly. Unconsciously, you had already become a true teacher, guiding every child with diligence, seriousness, and responsibility…