CHAPTER 281: CHAPTER 239

Lan Tian said after a long silence, "Mo Junhua, I’m different from you; I am a Cultivator, destined to leave this place sooner or later. The incident last time should have made you feel the difference, right? You’re a mortal, and I’m a Cultivator. Your life is merely fleeting decades, while I will possess an endless life. You are just a scene in my journey. A mere retreat, and the world changes dramatically."

"What about grandma and the others? Uncle and aunt, are they also as fleeting as the changing landscape?"

Lan Tian grimaced. How could they be the same? They’re his kin, tied by blood, with bonds strong as if bone is broken but tendons remain connected.

"Girl, I don’t ask you to like me now. I just want you to give me a chance. You’re right, I’m a mortal; my life is but a few short decades. Let me spend these decades with you. I won’t hinder your Cultivation. Decades later when I’m gone, you can still cultivate freely and at ease, as if merely emerging from a retreat."

Lan Tian: "..." So she wound up confusing herself.

"Girl..."

"Battalion commander, the water’s here!"

Mo Junhua persisted in trying to persuade Lan Tian, but before Su Qing arrived, his voice was already there. Lan Tian breathed a sigh of relief, not knowing why, but she seemed to have become a little soft-hearted toward Mo Junhua—a feeling she never had before. Could it really be just because Mo Junhua had once shielded her from a lightning strike?

"The water’s here, battalion commander, please drink."

Su Qing rushed in from outside, handing him the water. Mo Junhua gave him a cold glance. This kid seemed born to foil him. Several times when he had been about to bond with the girl, it was Su Qing who interrupted. Once back, he was definitely, certainly, and without fail going to send him far away.

"We’ll talk about that later. Your body is fine, and the scars seem worse than they are; they’re merely superficial and will heal in a few days. What are your plans? Are you really going to settle down to farming here?" Lan Tian didn’t believe Mo Junhua was someone who easily accepted defeat, bowed to fate. For him to willingly come here, he must have some contingency.

After drinking the water, Mo Junhua handed the glass to Su Qing, meaning for him to take the glass and leave. Instead, Su Qing casually set the glass on the side table. Mo Junhua covertly signaled him with his eyes, his eyes nearly cramping from the effort, but Su Qing was obliviously standing aside like part of the backdrop, ears perked up, listening.

Mo Junhua clenched his teeth in frustration; who was the idiot that let him stay? Once back, he would definitely have to have a joyful little chat about life’s pleasures with that person.

With such a bright third wheel standing in the room, Mo Junhua restrained himself quite a bit.

"A soldier’s duty is to obey orders. I will be wherever the army needs me." He spoke with such righteousness and impassioned righteousness, anyone unfamiliar would think he was doing something earth-shattering.

Lan Tian had no interest in his balderdash. Suddenly, that dimwit Su Qing said, "Battalion commander is impressive."

"Here, this box was entrusted by Grandpa for me to give to you. He said it was very important to you. Take a look; it might help you out." Lan Tian remembered Su Qing mentioning someone had come seeking the two of them. After all that happened, she was busy with Foundation Establishment, saving Ji Feng, and had neglected Mo Junhua’s matter.

The iron box was only an inch big and perfectly square, light to hold—as if there was nothing inside. Mo Junhua didn’t open it but pondered: why did Grandpa say so? How could he know what he needed?

Lan Tian watched quietly without anxiety or urging. Su Qing was anxious, glancing at the iron box in the battalion commander’s hand, almost rushing to help him open it but then remembered he wouldn’t stand a chance in a fight with the battalion commander, so he let it be.

Mo Junhua glanced at Lan Tian and opened the box.

Inside, a layer of cotton held a rolled-up piece of paper, about as thick as a finger, tied with a red string, nothing else.

The sight was somehow familiar to Lan Tian, resembling a school admission notice. She remembered her own notice from Jingli First Middle School looked similar.

Lan Tian thought this idea absurd. Why would Grandpa give Mo Junhua an admission notice? Was he sending him back to school?

Su Qing seemed a tad disappointed, but without much expectation. Mo Junhua was unexpressive, staring at the paper roll for a few seconds before pulling the red string and revealing the five red characters ’Admission Notice’ to the three of them.

Lan Tian glanced over the notice. It was from some military school, roughly saying that after passing numerous tests, Comrade Mo Junhua met the admission standards and was specially awarded this notice, informing him to enroll at the military school on a specified date. Failure to arrive on time would be deemed waiving the opportunity.

The military school’s address was in Beijing, with detailed instructions on how to get there by bus after arriving in Beijing, which bus to take, which platform to change at, how long to walk—all spelled out.

There was also a warm prompt: the process for active-duty soldiers was simple—with an application to the serving unit, as long as it was approved by either the regiment or military division, one could be admitted.

"Battalion commander, you wouldn’t really consider going, would you?" Su Qing felt the battalion commander’s gaze was off, and he became disconcerted, babbling, "Battalion commander, we know your situation is tough now, but that’s no reason for despair. This is just temporary, we will find solutions for you, the regiment commander wouldn’t just let you farm here either. Please, don’t have dark thoughts." Su Qing spoke with utmost seriousness, barely stopping short of wailing in grief. He also felt a little upset with the old man for giving such a notice, as if driving someone to a dead end.

"Battalion commander," seeing that the battalion commander seemed resolute, Su Qing bit his teeth and said, "Battalion commander, you have been in the camp for over a decade, you know every detail like the back of your hand. The camp is your base, your home; are you now ready to abandon it? To give up on all of us? You built the Third Battalion from scratch; are you willing to let others reap the fruits? Please think it over. Leaving the army is easy, but returning is not, and later there might be no place for you in the camp."

Disconcerted, Su Qing left after speaking. Mo Junhua didn’t stop him. Lan Tian watched Su Qing leave, imprinting a sliver of Divine Sense on him. Turning back to Mo Junhua, she glanced at the admission notice in his hand, "What are you planning to do?"

Grandpa really cared for Mo Junhua, expending so much effort to secure him an admission notice. The military school was undeniably a good option. In ten years, the domestic military will enter a new era with high-tech information management. Dragon Country will downsize part of its forces.

Many soldiers without achievements or distinction are heading for retirement, like outdated weapons, unable to keep up with the times, destined for obsolescence.

Mo Junhua felt moved. Grandpa had owed quite a few favors for this admission notice; it seemed Grandpa and he were on the same wavelength. Mo Junhua had already considered leaving the military for further studies at a military school.