I maxed out the Scholar talent at the start, but I want to be a Warrior.

Before dawn, the village of Anle was deserted.

It's not leaving, it's fleeing.

The elderly carried bedding on their backs, the women held children in their arms, and the young men put on armor captured from the battlefield and took up their swords and spears.

Everyone took everything they could—rations, bedding, and iron pots. What they couldn't take, they left behind.

No one looked back.

Gu Cheng was supported by his third uncle, Gu Daliang, on his right arm as they walked south step by step.

With each step, my ribs throbbed with pain, as if someone were poking me between my ribs with an awl.

He gritted his teeth and remained silent.

The line stretched very long, from the village entrance all the way to the foot of the mountain.

There were about a hundred people, including the elderly and the young, as well as many wounded and sick.

Gu Chang'an walked at the very back.

He held a long spear in his hand, his white hair standing out starkly in the night.

He glanced back to the north every now and then—the barbarians had retreated, but that didn't mean they wouldn't return.

No one spoke.

There were only footsteps and the occasional cry of a child.

Gu Cheng, supported by Gu Daliang, listened to the commotion behind him, but his mind was elsewhere.

Everything happened so suddenly: reading, time travel, awakening, killing enemies, and escaping.

These seemingly unrelated things came together.

"Third Uncle," Gu Cheng said in a low voice, "how far is Fulong Mountain?"

"Once we cross that mountain, we'll be in the heart of the Fulong Mountains," Gu Daliang said in a low voice. "Once we're in the mountains, things will be much easier. The forests are dense, and the cavalry can't get in."

Gu Cheng nodded and said nothing more.

All he can do now is recover as quickly as possible and try to survive when the crisis comes.

The group traveled for about an hour.

As dawn broke, Gu Chang'an ordered everyone to rest on the spot.

"Take a break, have some water, and eat something." His voice was a little hoarse. "We'll continue our journey when it gets light. Traveling on mountain paths during the day is safer than at night."

The able-bodied men sat down against the tree trunks, some took out their dry rations and ate a few bites, while others simply lay down on the ground and fell asleep.

Gu Daliang placed Gu Cheng under an old locust tree and sat down against the trunk.

"You rest first, I'll go get you some water."

"Um."

Gu Daliang is gone.

Gu Cheng leaned against the tree trunk and closed his eyes.

He originally wanted to rest.

But the sensation in his body made him frown.

My ribs... don't hurt as much anymore?

He subconsciously pressed the broken area with his hand.

Not only was it less painful, but I could even feel the bone healing—a slightly warm sensation spreading from the fracture site outwards, like someone had applied a warm plaster to the wound.

He moved his body again—the scrapes on his arms, the bruises on his knees, the bruises on his shoulder from the barbarian's blow... were all visibly fading.

It's not "a little better," but "significantly subsided."

He opened his eyes and silently recited "explore" in his mind—

The screen lit up.

【体质：22→28】【力量：18→22】【精神：69】

Physical constitution recovered by 6 points. Strength recovered by 4 points, but mental state remained unchanged.

He stared at the number for a few seconds, then turned off the screen, closed his eyes, and began to recall the original owner's memories.

The original owner had a vague understanding of attributes—after all, he had hated martial arts since childhood and was not interested in such things.

But he overheard bits and pieces of it when the elders in the clan were chatting.

Once your strength exceeds fifty, you awaken warrior skills. Gun techniques, swordsmanship, archery, and movement techniques are all driven by strength, enabling close-quarters combat.

How do I know if I'm over fifty?

The elders in the clan mentioned something called an "attribute stone," which you could press on your hand and the attribute value would be clearly displayed.

However, that's a treasure only favored by the heavens; people in a small place like Anle Village have never even seen it.

Those with a mental capacity exceeding fifty awaken the skills of a scholar. Manipulating objects, using fire, flooding, and formations—all driven by the mind, these techniques are used to kill.

It's somewhat similar to a mage in a game.

Having a high physique will not awaken combat skills, but it will bring a strong physique, and greatly improve endurance and recovery ability.

Once one's spirit or strength exceeds fifty, a barrier arises every nine years.

Fifty-nine is a barrier; breaking through it awakens the second combat skill.

Sixty-nine is also a barrier; breaking through it awakens the third combat skill.

His mental state is stuck at sixty-nine.

Once you upgrade again, you can awaken the Scholar skill once more.

Right now, his "mage" talent was at its maximum. He glanced at his stats:

[Spirit: 100 (maximum) / 69]

With that kind of talent, it's a shame he's not a "mage".

......

But I also want to be like my uncle, carrying a big gun and charging left and right.

He's so handsome!

He noticed that the physique and strength values ​​on the screen were changing—

[Constitution: 28→29] [Strength: 22→23]

It went up a little more.

My physical condition is gradually improving. It's like a warm current is slowly washing away the damaged meridians and bones within my body, and wherever it goes, the injuries heal a little.

he realized

The time travel brought more than just attribute panels.

It also has a body with amazing recovery ability.

He leaned against the tree trunk, and the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.

That's just like a cockroach.

As long as you don't die, you can stay alive and kicking forever.

With that kind of talent, it would be a waste not to be a warrior.

No, I need to think of something.

"Xiao Cheng, water."

Gu Daliang returned and handed him a water bag.

Gu Cheng took the water and drank a couple of sips. The cool water flowed down his throat, making him feel much more awake.

"Third Uncle," he tried to move his body, "I'll try to walk by myself."

Gu Daliang glanced at him, somewhat surprised: "You can walk by yourself?"

"Give it a try."

Gu Daliang helped him stand up. Gu Cheng tentatively took a step—his ribs still hurt a little, but it was much better than before. It went from "every step felt like being pricked by an awl" to "a dull ache".

"Alright, slow down." Gu Daliang loosened one hand, only holding his arm.

Gu Cheng nodded and slowly took a few steps.

It can walk.

Although I can't walk fast, at least I don't need anyone to support me anymore.

Gu Daliang looked at him, hesitant to speak.

"What's wrong?"

"It's nothing," Gu Daliang shook his head, "It's just that... you seem a little different today than usual."

Gu Cheng's heart skipped a beat, but he remained outwardly calm.

"What's different?"

"I can't quite put my finger on it," Gu Daliang said after thinking for a moment.

Gu Cheng did not respond.

Of course he has changed.

Because this is not the original Gu Cheng.

"Maybe it's because I almost died that I've figured some things out," he said.

Gu Daliang sighed and patted him on the shoulder.

"It's good that you've figured it out. Your uncle was always worried about you, afraid that you'd get stuck on something."

Gu Cheng remained silent.

He looked up and glanced to the north.

Daylight had broken, and the distant mountain ridges were clearly visible in the morning light. In the direction of Anle Village, a wisp of smoke could be faintly seen—whether it was an embered fire that hadn't been extinguished, or the return of the barbarians, it was unclear.

He looked away and glanced at the screen.

[Physical Fitness: 29]

It's still rising.

Not urgent.

Once his injuries have fully healed and he is in a safe place, his uncle will teach him martial arts.

Gu Cheng leaned back against the tree trunk and closed his eyes. He needed to rest.

The warm water inside my body was still flowing slowly.

In the distance, the mountain wind whistled through the treetops.

From some unknown direction, the faint sound of horses' hooves could be heard.

Very light, very far.

But Gu Cheng heard it.

He opened his eyes and looked north.

It was broad daylight, but you couldn't see anything.

But the sound of horses' hooves grew clearer and clearer.

It's not a horse.

There are many horses.