Year 350 of the Anping Calendar.
Great Xia Prefecture, Nanyuan City.
The Su household.
The moment Su Yu stepped through the front door, the aroma of food greeted his nose. Tossing his bookbag aside, he walked over to the dining table and casually picked up a piece of braised pork, popping it into his mouth.
Chewing, he called out indistinctly toward the kitchen, "Dad, switch up the soup tomorrow. Eating meat every day gets old."
"Be glad there's food at all! Still so picky!"
Su Long's grumble drifted out from the kitchen. "Look at you. You're eighteen this year. When are you ever going to learn how to take care of yourself? Your old man has played both father and mother all these years looking after you. Finally, I'm about to be set free."
Su Yu chewed on the braised pork and chuckled. "Dad, your cooking is practically chef-level. I'd love to cook myself, but anything I make is inedible!"
"Hah!"
Su Long let out a dry laugh. All talk and no action, this kid. If you're so eager, why don't you step into the kitchen?
Moments later, Su Long emerged carrying dishes, an apron tied around his waist.
Standing nearly one meter ninety with a burly, powerful build, he looked utterly comical squeezed into that tiny apron.
Su Yu brought it up every single time, and today was no exception. Shaking his head, he said, "Dad, couldn't you just get a bigger apron? It's not like our family can't afford one!"
"What do you know?"
Su Long didn't bother to argue. He set the dishes on the table and sat down without taking off the apron. "Eat! Save every bit we can. Besides, this apron is brand new..."
"You've been saying that for three years!"
Su Yu rolled his eyes. Three years ago, claiming it was new was one thing, but saying the same thing three years later—his old man really had some nerve.
Su Long didn't care. He sat down and dug in, wolfing his food down at blazing speed.
Su Yu was used to it. He sat down as well, sighing as he ate. "Dad, is the front line at war again? On my way back just now, I saw a conscription vehicle downstairs. Are they drafting in our neighborhood? Wonder whose family it's for..."
Su Long's chopsticks paused for a second. He soon put down his bowl and utensils, his face turning serious. "Defending home and country is everyone's duty! From the sound of your voice, do you think serving in the army is a bad thing?"
"No!"
Su Yu quickly cleared himself. His father was a veteran; he couldn't afford to run his mouth, or his dad's bear-paw slap was no joke.
Su Long gave a soft grunt, picked up his bowl and chopsticks again, and resumed eating.
As he ate, Su Long's tone shifted, growing slightly somber. "Ah Yu, the front line is in turmoil. The major war corps have issued mobilization orders again and again—drafting new recruits into service and recalling veterans back to the ranks..."
Su Yu's chopsticks halted in midair. Raising his head, all his earlier nonchalance vanished as he frowned at his father. "Dad, that doesn't have much to do with us, right? You've been discharged for eighteen years, and I just came of age. Besides, I'm going to take the exam for higher academies. The draft wouldn't reach our family..."
"Eighteen years..."
Su Long let out a slow breath. Yes, eighteen years.
"Eighteen years since my discharge. Counting this one, the Demon Suppression Army has issued veteran recall orders five times! After turning fifty, one is no longer subject to recall."
"The first four times, you were still young. I was worried about you, worried you couldn't take care of yourself, so I didn't answer the call."
Su Yu's expression shifted slightly. "Dad, our family doesn't have to go. The policy allows it!"
"Yes, the policy allows it!"
Su Long grinned and looked up at his son. "That's why I didn't go. Eighteen years, four recalls, and I didn't answer any of them! But today, my son has come of age! You're eighteen!"
"Dad!"
Su Yu's face changed completely. "What are you trying to say?"
"You know what I'm trying to say."
Su Long looked at his son, feeling both gratified and relieved. He smiled and said, "Eighteen years ago, your dad might not have been much, but I was at least a squad leader in the Demon Suppression Army, in charge of thirty men."
"Back then, your mother was about to give birth to you, so I requested leave and came home. Who could have known... your mother just left like that, right after you were born. We had no elders at home to help out, and I really couldn't walk away..."
"There was no other choice. I was discharged!"
Su Long bared his teeth in a bitter smile. "When I left the Demon Suppression Army, not a single brother from my squad came to see me off! It wasn't because they couldn't wait for me to leave; they were afraid that if they showed up, I wouldn't be able to stop myself from running right back!"
"For eighteen years, no one contacted me, afraid I'd want to return. In my dreams, I could hear them shouting at me, telling me to go home and nurse the baby..."
"Thirty men. In the first year after I left, nine fell in battle..."
"Not one was discharged and went home. Of the remaining twenty-one... do you know how many are left?"
"They're still on the battlefield!"
Su Long's eyes reddened. "I was selfish, so I didn't dare ask, didn't dare inquire! The previous four recalls, I didn't answer. But this time... Ah Yu, your old man thinks that even if I die, it ought to be on the battlefield, wrapped in horsehide! Your old man... doesn't want to die in the rear!"
Su Yu fell silent.
He had always known his father longed for the front line, longed for those old brothers of his. If his mother hadn't died from complications during childbirth back then, his father would never have retired from the Demon Suppression Army.
Yet he had thought that after eighteen years, his father should have forgotten, should have let it go.
Today, his father was telling him: no!
He couldn't let it go!
"Dad..."
Su Yu looked terrible, his face pale. "The front lines are in turmoil, and more and more soldiers are dying in battle. In eighteen years alone, there have been five veteran recalls—one every three or four years. You served; you know what that means..."
"I... I haven't gotten married yet, I haven't gotten into a higher academy, I haven't given you a grandchild..."
Su Long grinned. "It's fine. Your dad will wait! Did you think I'm heading back just to throw my life away? Your old man is going there to win battles!"
"Dad!"
"Kid, cut the crap and eat!"
Su Long cut his son off. Chewing, he said indistinctly, "After this meal, you'll be cooking for yourself! If there's nothing to eat, go eat out. There's money in the card, and you know the pin."
"They're waiting for me downstairs. I can't delay too long."
"Once you get into a higher academy, remember to write to me. I'll get it when I have time."
"Aim for the Great Xia Civilization Academy. You've brought so much honor to your old man. It's practically guaranteed. Your teachers already talked with me—as long as nothing goes wrong, you're definitely getting in. A true talent has finally emerged in our Su family!"
"I wonder how that brain of yours is wired. You're so smart, your old man even wondered if you were really mine... But fortunately, you look just like I did when I was young..."
Though his face remained pale, Su Yu couldn't resist retorting, "Dad, are you sure you looked like me when you were young?"
"Nonsense, how could that be false?!"
Su Long looked up, his rugged face breaking into a wide grin. "Go ask the neighbors next door if we look alike!"
Su Yu felt helpless. Knowing his father was trying to change the subject, he steered it back. "Dad, are you really going? Not to look down on you, but you've been off the battlefield for eighteen years and haven't cultivated since. Even now, you're only at the ninth layer of Qianjun. What difference can you make?"
"Who are you looking down on?"
Su Long said in annoyance, "What's wrong with the ninth layer of Qianjun? The battlefield isn't just about martial strength! If it were only about strength, why fight at all? Anything can happen on the battlefield! Back in the day, when your old man was at the seventh layer of Qianjun, I even killed an expert at the Wanshi Realm!"
Su Yu felt troubled. He didn't know whether that was true, but his father had claimed it for years, and there was a decent chance it was.
The crux of the matter was that he didn't want his father to go to the front.
The front line was in turmoil, countless soldiers fell each year, and the situation was growing increasingly perilous. His old man was nearly fifty. Returning to the battlefield at this point... Su Yu dared not imagine it.
"Dad..."
"Shut it!"
Su Long cut him off, standing up to clear the bowls and chopsticks. His tone turned solemn. "Your old man has already registered. If I don't go now, I'm a deserter! Before registering, it wouldn't have mattered. But once registered, you know the consequences if I don't go! Being a deserter means death just the same!"
"Dad, couldn't you have waited until I got back to talk it over?!"
Su Yu was furious!
He realized now that nothing could be changed. Just as his father said, before registering, it wouldn't have been an issue. The recall wasn't mandatory for veterans like him; those who made it out alive back then had all earned military merits on the battlefield.
But once registered, it meant reenlisting. He was a soldier again. If he refused to go now, he would be a deserter.
"Talk over what?"
Su Long said dismissively, "Don't worry, I won't die that easily. Even if I do fall in battle, the pension is plenty—just remember to claim it yourself! It'll be enough for you to take a wife and have kids. Your old man has planned it all out for you!"
With that, Su Long picked up the luggage he had packed long before, took off his apron, and hoisted his bag. As if merely heading out on a distant trip, he casually instructed, "Do well on your exams. Supporting the human race from the rear is just as important. Once you're at the civilization academy, bring glory to the Su family!"
"Civilization academy... Once your old man gets back there, I'll brag my heart out about how my son got into a civilization academy, leagues ahead of those bastards!"
"It's just a shame your dad won't get to see the acceptance letter. When it arrives, take a photo and mail it with a letter, or those fellows will think I'm blowing hot air..."
"Dad!"
Su Yu hurriedly scrambled up and caught up with his father, panic written all over his face.
His dad was really leaving!
For eighteen years, he had been accustomed to depending on his father. For his father to leave all of a sudden today, he was entirely unprepared.
"You're a grown man, not a kid. Don't go wetting yourself!"
Su Long chuckled. "If you hadn't come of age, your dad wouldn't leave! But now, I have to go back. Eighteen years ago, in my squad, there were several lads the same age as you. Ah Yu, do you know? I had a dream. I dreamt of them... In the dream, they were crying and screaming about how much it hurt, shouting to slaughter all those beasts. Your dad kind of regrets it. Back then... I should have sent you to the military dependents' compound. Someone would have raised you anyway."
Su Long's eyes grew red. "Five recalls. For the first four, I had my bags packed, but every time I looked at you, I turned selfish. I couldn't bear to leave! This is the fifth time. Will there ever be a next? Once I turn fifty, the Demon Suppression Army won't take me!"
"I'm off. All-Heavens Battlefield... your old man is coming back!"
"This time, your old man will kill a few Wanshi Realm bastards to show you, and I'll make sure to bring back proof so you've got nothing to say!"
Su Long waved his hand and strode forward.
For the first time in eighteen years, Su Yu saw his father look so unburdened, so commanding.
Yet this... was not what he wanted to see.
"Dad..."
"I told you, quit blabbering..."
Standing at the doorway, Su Yu gritted his teeth and suddenly roared, "If you don't come back, I'll marry into another family as a matrilocal son-in-law! I'll change my surname and end the Su family line! If you don't care, just see if I won't do it!"
"You..."
Su Long stumbled, nearly turning around to start cursing.
He suddenly didn't want to leave—he wanted to march back inside and beat this brat to death!
This kid was genuinely capable of doing it!
The Su family had finally produced a prodigy after all this time. If he married into another family, Su Long wouldn't be able to rest in peace even in death!