"Heaven and earth are dark and yellow; the universe is primordial and vast."
"The sun and moon wax and wane; the stars are arrayed across the expanse."
"Cold comes and summer goes; autumn harvests and winter stores."
Early morning.
Xu Chuan taught the two little ones the Thousand Character Classic.
He wrote two copies, one in each person's hand.
He also personally crafted a set of tables and chairs suited to their height to make studying convenient for them.
He read a line, and the two matched the text on the paper and read a line along with him.
Crisp children's voices echoed throughout the small courtyard, and the roosters and hens all came out of their coops, strolling about the courtyard and pecking for food everywhere.
Wisps of blue smoke slowly rose above the kitchen.
After finishing breakfast.
Bai Jing held her youngest son, supervising Xu Mingwei and Xu Mingyuan as they practiced their copying.
Stroke by stroke, the two wrote with utmost earnestness.
As for Xu Chuan, he began the work of renovating the manor, handling the designs, materials, and finding hired hands, keeping himself happily occupied.
Even so, he still carved out time every day to take a stroll through the fields and mountain forests.
Checking on conditions, weeding, and the like.
Then he would also practice the Little Dragon Elephant Art for an hour.
[Heaven Rewards Diligence], only through perseverance could one reap rewards.
Time slipped by in a flash, and a month and a half passed.
The Xu Household's manor had already undergone a dramatic transformation.
It had become a residence featuring five main rooms, a reception hall, and a half-mu courtyard.
Throughout Dongxi Village, it could well be considered above average.
When a new home is built, there is a custom of housewarming, which inevitably entails a banquet and, naturally, the receiving of gifts.
Years pass in the flick of a finger.
In the blink of an eye, the time for the Year Sacrifice arrived.
Under Xu Chuan's daily instruction and Bai Jing's strict supervision, Xu Mingwei had already learned all the characters of the Thousand Character Classic, and could write a little over half of them.
Because Xu Mingyuan was still young, he was merely at the stage of recognizing characters.
After the Year Sacrifice.
Xu Chuan ultimately made a decision to bestow a talent upon Xu Mingwei.
After the birth of the second-generation descendants, an extra page had appeared in the [Bloodline Genealogy].
Moreover, five Fate Talents had been born.
They were [Natural Divine Strength], [Seek Profit and Avoid Harm], [The Way to Wealth], [Eagle Eye], and [Whispers of All Spirits], respectively.
These were all ownerless talents that could be bestowed upon Xu Chuan himself.
Yet such a thought merely flashed through his mind and vanished.
For even if they were all bestowed upon him, a mortal like him would lack the bandwidth.
Just like now, even though he bore three Fate Talents, [Daily Divination] still held little practical use for him at present.
If a lineage wished to grow strong, it naturally required collective effort and a single heart; that alone was the enduring way.
"Shitou, you are the legitimate eldest son and must support the Xu Household in the future. Your father intends for you to walk the Martial Way-do you have any objections?"
Xu Chuan cast aside his usual gentleness, his expression extremely solemn.
Xu Mingwei also felt the heavy tension in the surrounding air, raising his small face to gaze straight at Xu Chuan as he nodded and said, "These past days, Father has taught us many principles, and Shitou understands."
"Everything will follow Father's instructions."
"Shitou will set a good example for his younger brothers!"
"I will not bring shame upon the Xu Household, nor will I lose face for Father!"
Xu Chuan nodded with gratification, and he took out the clan genealogy.
"Drop a drop of blood onto this."
In the main room, only Xu Chuan and Xu Mingwei were present; all others were ordered not to enter.
Xu Mingwei held absolute trust in Xu Chuan and directly followed suit.
The blood was absorbed by the clan genealogy, and seeing this, Xu Mingwei felt a sense of wonder in his heart, though he did not ask too many questions.
"Next, kneel down, close your eyes, and recite after me."
"In the Yi-Si year, we devoutly sacrifice to our ancestral spirits. May your virtue flow down to later generations, and your grace bless our household. Spring and autumn never slacken; our filial thoughts are sincere. May the spirits brightly descend, protecting and inspiring our family's renown. We respectfully present this offering."
"In the Yi-Si year, we devoutly sacrifice to our ancestral spirits. May your virtue flow down to later generations, and your grace bless our household... We respectfully present this offering."
As the patriarch of a generation and the actual controller of the clan genealogy, Xu Chuan could directly bestow talents upon himself.
Yet others had to follow strict requirements.
If presided over by Xu Chuan, one could also choose specific talents to bestow, but without him, the clan genealogy would randomly grant a Fate Talent.
When Xu Mingwei finished reciting, Xu Chuan felt a translucent thread on him connecting to the clan genealogy.
The clan genealogy emitted a faint azure light, preparing to grant a random reward, but Xu Chuan stopped it.
He pressed his finger between Xu Mingwei's eyebrows, directly bestowing the two talents of [Natural Divine Strength] and [Eagle Eye].
Since he was to walk the path of the Martial Way, he should naturally max out the relevant talents.
[Natural Divine Strength] would cause his future strength to grow day by day, far surpassing ordinary people, and his bones and muscles would gradually undergo a transformation suited to the Martial Way.
[Eagle Eye]-as the name implied, his eyes would become like a falcon's, sharp and profound, capable of perceiving all things.
With both bestowed, Xu Mingwei's most adept weapon in the future was destined to be the bow and arrow.
"Alright, Shitou, open your eyes."
Xu Mingwei obediently obeyed, but upon opening his eyes, he did not see that black booklet.
"How does it feel?"
"Earlier it felt cool between my eyebrows, but now it's gone. But Father, what did that passage we just recited mean?"
"It is the sacrificial prayer of our Xu Household to our ancestors, pleading for the ancestors to grant peace, protection, and flourishing fortune. You must keep it firmly in your heart and pass it down from generation to generation."
"I understand, Father."
Xu Chuan smiled and rubbed Xu Mingwei's head. "Tomorrow you must wake up early, practice martial arts and archery with me, and afterward read and write with A Yuan. Then you will follow me to inspect the paddy fields and mountain forests."
"I don't require you to be skilled in farming, but you must understand the basics so you can make decisions when things arise."
"The rest of your time will be entirely devoted to practicing martial arts."
"Can you do it?"
"Father, Shitou can!"
Determination shone in Xu Mingwei's childish gaze.
With Xu Chuan's personal teachings and exemplary conduct, Xu Mingwei was also someone capable of enduring hardship.
Aside from reading, writing, and accompanying Xu Mingyuan every day, most of his remaining time was spent following Xu Chuan, learning his knowledge, how to conduct himself in the world, and more.
Xu Mingyuan felt that he was being left out in the cold and made a fuss about joining his older brother, but Xu Chuan did not agree and sternly reprimarded him.
It was Xu Mingwei who comforted him, saying, "From now on, when Older Brother practices martial arts in the courtyard, you can stay with me."
"Yay!"
Xu Mingyuan immediately became happy again.
Every day he looked forward to Xu Mingwei returning so he could be with him.
Several days later at night.
"Husband, Shitou is only six years old. Aren't you being a bit too harsh on him?"
"These past few days, I've clearly noticed the exhaustion on his face, and my heart truly aches for him."
Xu Chuan chuckled. "If Wife wants to play the indulgent mother, then Husband can only play the stern father. If both pamper him, what kind of person would they end up teaching?"
"Perhaps Husband is right, but I..."
"Alright." Xu Chuan raised a hand to stop her from continuing.
When firmness was called for, he would naturally be firm.
Seeing that worry still lingered in Bai Jing's eyes, Xu Chuan sighed. "Our Shitou has perseverance, just like me. He can endure hardship and toil; after weathering this period for a bit, he should be able to adapt."
Once a few months passed, his talent would gradually manifest.
"Our household isn't short of silver for the time being, so there's no need to skimp. Let's add meat dishes to our meals every day."
"Shitou is practicing martial arts, so he cannot do without these."
"This wife understands."
"Then Wife, let us rest for the night."
Xu Chuan's hands began to grow restless, but Bai Jing pushed him away in one sweep.
Bai Jing turned on her side to lie down, her tone flat as she said, "This wife is feeling a bit unwell tonight, so Husband can handle things himself."
"Uh--"
Xu Chuan's eyes widened.
This woman, she's rebelling!
He watched quietly for a moment before directly turning off the lamp to sleep.
The next day.
The ink-like morning colors had yet to fully fade, and the eastern sky was already taking on a crab-shell green.
In the courtyard.
The back of Xu Chuan's cotton shirt was soaked through with dark sweat, and his exhaled breath condensed into fine arrows of white mist.
The young Xu Mingwei imitated his movements, his plump little arms resembling lotus roots and looking rather crooked.
Xu Chuan stopped from time to time to correct his movements.
When he did well, he would praise him; when he did poorly, he would sternly reprimand him.
Xu Mingwei's eyes were filled with tenacity. Even if he felt aggrieved in his heart, he would only swallow those feelings down and never show the slightest bit of it.
More than an hour passed.
After a thorough washing up, it was time for reading.
"Heaven and earth are dark and yellow, the universe is primeval and desolate."
"The sun and moon wax and wane, the stars are arrayed in their places."
Two youthful children's voices crisply pierced the thin mist, startling the dozing sparrows under the eaves into flight.
It was yet another brand-new day.