Swallowing the Starry Sky Starts with a Sword

Chapter 7 New Year's Day, Practical Assessment
"What did you talk about with your cousin? Why does she look like she's been crying?"

After Third Aunt and the others left, Zhou Yuying came to the martial arts training hall and asked Zhou Ning softly.

"I said, the winter jasmine downstairs is pretty. When it blooms next year, I'll ask my cousin to take a look."

Zhou Ning sat cross-legged on the ground, speaking in a gentle tone. Suddenly he looked up and asked, "Mom, cousin Zhiyue is getting engaged. Did you know?"

Zhou Yuying was silent.

"Just like you did back then."

"You said that the Zhou family wanted to arrange a marriage for you back then, and the person you married was someone you had only met a few times. In fact, it is rare for both parties to be truly satisfied with a marriage between a large family. This is a transaction, a transaction made with a human life."

Zhou Ning heard his mother let out a long sigh.

"Zhiyue is the same as I was at the beginning, but also different from me. I also want to persuade her, but I don't know whether I should."

"It's easy to elope."

"But things don't go as planned. Nine times out of ten, although your father and I have lived a good life, I can't say that I have no regrets over the years."

Zhou Yuying walked this road himself and only then did he understand the hardships it was along the way.

"Because I broke off the engagement, the Zhou family suffered a lot of losses. Your grandparents defended me and fell out with several uncles."

"Over the years, because of this, I couldn't visit them, and they couldn't visit me."

"Those are my parents. I feel sorry for them."

As far as Zhou Ning could remember, this was the first time he heard his mother sobbing.

"Mom, you always watch the videos on the USB flash drive that cousin Zhiyue brings you. In fact, the voice that explains the details of the battle is grandpa?" Zhou Ning asked solemnly.

In the eyes of others, Zhou Ning is just a normal child, not even a warrior. How can he understand the details when he has to watch general-level battle videos and materials since he was a child?
Each of the videos sent by cousin Zhiyue has a very detailed explanation, so detailed that even ordinary people can understand it. Who watches these high-level battle videos?
It was obviously a commentary specially added for Zhou Ning.

The voice and tone of the commentator sounded like that of a middle-aged or even older elder.

In addition, my mother is an ordinary person who is not interested in martial arts, but she has to watch those battle videos several times every time.
Zhou Ning had guessed it a long time ago.

"You guessed it a long time ago?" Zhou Yuying tried to control his emotions, reached out his hand, and gently stroked Zhou Ning's hair: "Your grandpa loves you so much."

"I only talk to him occasionally on the phone, and every time I ask how you are doing, and ask me if you can understand those things. I really want to take you to see him."

She finally whimpered.

"mom."

Zhou Ning stood up and hugged his mother. He found that he was already more than a head taller than his mother without knowing it.

He didn't say anything.

Hugging mother quietly.

~~~~~~~~~~~
2056, January 1, New Year’s Day.

It was very cold in the early morning and the sky was a little gray.

Zhou Ning got up very early, and his father and mother still saw him out.

"Don't be careless in actual combat assessments, be careful in everything." Zhou Jingyun said seriously, "Every year in actual combat assessments, many would-be warriors suffer casualties."

Zhou Ning smiled and said, "I see. Even a tiger will use all its strength to fight a rabbit."

Zhou Yuying's eyes were a little red, probably because she cried for too long last night. Zhou Ning said some comforting words to her.

Then one person set out on the journey.

They first met at the Extreme Martial Arts Hall, and under the leadership of a warrior, more than twenty prospective warriors headed to the train station.

Although there are only dozens of prospective warriors taking the exam in Yangzhou City, the total number of prospective warriors taking the exam in the entire Jiangnan base city is over a thousand each time.

In the fully enclosed train, Zhou Ningjing sat quietly in a seat, surrounded by a group of would-be warriors from Yangzhou City.

Although he seldom displayed his strength in front of others, he would occasionally try his skills during assessments. Coupled with his status as a quasi-warrior at the age of seventeen, Zhou Ning also gained some fame.

"Dear prospective warriors, future warriors, I am from the HR Alliance." The speech of a amiable middle-aged man was broadcast live on the large screen in the carriage.

Next, three other forces, namely, the Extreme Martial Arts School, the Thunder Martial Arts School, and the national military, also broadcast live to recruit prospective warriors on the train.

The would-be warriors around were discussing excitedly, deliberating which force was stronger, which offered better treatment, and which was more suitable for them.

Zhou Ning was lost in thought.

I'm still thinking about what happened yesterday, my mother, my grandfather, and my cousin Zhiyue.

"Zhou family."

The Zhou family is one of the top families in China. Although my mother is from the Zhou family, she has severed ties with the family.

Zhou Ning, to the Zhou family, can only be considered an outsider.

An outsider wants to interfere in the affairs of the country's top families?
"Mars."

Zhou Ning closed his eyes, the words "God of War" had enough weight.

During the Great Nirvana Period, human civilization was built by the efforts of Hong, Thunder God, and many warriors. The foundation of the entire human civilization today is all warriors!
No matter how powerful a family is in the country, they have to give enough face to a god of war among warriors. After all, the HR Alliance was formed by the union of the world's super families. The power of a domestic family alone is several levels inferior to that of the HR Alliance!
"arrive!"

A thin young would-be warrior next to him shouted excitedly, and at the same time Zhou Ning also felt the train slowing down.

in the afternoon.

More than a thousand would-be warriors gathered in a square, distributing equipment and weapons. Near the square, there was a quiet two-story building.

"Zhuge! I heard that your Extreme Martial Arts School has produced several good talents this time?"

The burly man in the purple battle suit sat there carelessly, and teased the middle-aged man with the hooked nose beside him: "How about letting two of them go to my Thunder and Lightning Martial Arts School? It'll be a favor to you!"

Zhuge Tao, from Jiangnan Base City, is one of the three general managers of the Extreme Martial Arts School.

Zhuge Tao had a feminine look to his features. He smiled and said, "Wang Heng, how many seedlings are your favor worth? How about this, you give me a few seedlings and I'll owe you a favor."

"Tsk!"

Wang Heng shook his head and suddenly remembered: "Oh, you have a Zhou Ning over there, I heard he's only seventeen years old? In the quasi-warrior assessment, his nerve reaction speed is perfect, and his strength and sprint speed are also good. I heard he taught himself swordsmanship since he was a child, so his swordsmanship is not bad either?"

(End of this chapter)