Towards Lian Pass!

On the 3rd night of the march. Charles's troops were quite tired from the long walk and had all decided to set up camp to rest for the night. Some of the soldiers had managed to hunt down some deer and rabbits for everyone to enjoy with their alcohol. They talked and laughed through the night as everyone cheered each other up to keep their morale up. Even Andreas was joining the fun with the soldiers as they relieve stress by singing and dancing. Meanwhile, Charles was not having fun with the soldiers enjoying the food but instead was sitting next to a river near the campsite looking at the sky he thought to himself.

Charles thought about the past few days. It felt like everything had gone too fast, he had been sold to the arena, but in just a few days he had suddenly been forced into a battlefield. He looked at the stars in the sky as he contemplated what he should do. "I Haven't seen you sitting down and thinking like this in a while," Janko commented. "Yeah, everything has been going so quickly. I haven't had any time to think. Janko, do you think I'm normal?" Charles asked. "Normal? Honestly...no. Let's just look at the number of people you've killed already. I have not even seen you once think twice before cutting someone down. Not to mention the fact that you feel like you don't even have a soul when you talk to people!" Janko replied.

"I don't even remember the faces of those people, Janko. All I kept doing was telling myself to survive. What do I do Janko?" Charles asked as he tried to remember the times when he was fighting. "Find something to care about, find some damn purpose," Janko replied. "Purpose? I don't understand," Charles said confused but before Janko could reply Luo Cheng walked up to Charles. "Commander, why are you just sitting here? Aren't you going to join everyone else?" Luo Cheng asked as he sat beside Charles with some deer meat in his hands. "The troops are enjoying themselves back there." Luo Cheng commented as he took a bite of the meat and looked at the calm flowing river.

"Luo Cheng, do you have a purpose?" Charles asked. "What's with the deep questions suddenly? Did something happen?" Luo Cheng asked. "No, nothing happened. I just...want to know what your purpose in life is." Charles replied. "Well, when I left my parents I wanted to be a scholar. Almost did, but I couldn't take the test due to my low status in society! A lowly peasant like me could never stand in an imperial court they said. Even though I've studied everything, they wanted I was still rejected for my low status. So while drunk I asked an old man how can I increase my status in society and he told me to join the army! Sure there is the high risk of me dying, but it's the fastest way to gain a higher status! All I have to do is to become a high ranked lieutenant or commander." Liu Xuan explained.

"So a purpose is a goal?" Charles asked. "You could put it that way, though why are you asking me about that? You do have your purpose in life right, Commander? Someone as strong as you has to have his purpose." Lei Cheng said as he finished his food. "I'll leave you by yourself, Commander. Sorry for bothering you during your alone time." Lei Cheng bowed and left. "So a goal huh? What do you think, Janko? What kind of goal should I give myself." Charles asked. "You should ask yourself that question," Janko replied. "I see, I'll think about it." Charles thought to himself as he looked at the calm river.

Three days pass and Charles's troops reached Lian City; the city was surrounded by a tall wall with many soldiers patrolling the top of it. As they arrived at the entrance, Charles spotted Liu Xuan coming out of the city entrance on a horse. "Charles, there is no need to enter the city. Lian Pass is only half a day away!" Liu Xuan shouted. "Lieutenant, why are you here? Is Commander Yue here as well?" Charles asked. "Sadly no, Commander Yue is out on the southern front defending against The State of Yu. But she said that she has that front covered, so I was sent here instead." Liu Xuan replied with a smile.

Charles's troops and Liu Xuan left Lian City and started moving to Lian Pass. "Lieutenant, why do you not have any men with you?" Charles asked, "I gave all my men to Commander Yue, she needed all the men with her to defend the south." Liu Xuan replied cheerfully. "I see. Lieutenant, do you think someone should have a purpose in life?" Charles asked. "A purpose? Why should someone need that? I'll ask you the same question. If a man who has no goals or purpose in life still lived his life by eating, working and enjoying time with the people around him does that make him any less of a person? If you cannot find a purpose in life then live the life you have now, and maybe in time that purpose will come." Liu Xuan replied.

"Do not overthink about such a complicated topic before we even enter the battlefield, Charles. The thoughts will weigh you down." Liu Xuan said as they continued down the road to Lian Pass.