Five Years’ Promise

"Xiao Yu, Xiao Yu? Are you okay?"

Luo Yu struggled to open his eyes. His parents' worried faces were hovering over his sickbed.

"Ouch~"

Though his left shoulder wound had been bandaged, it still throbbed with pain.

"Qiang soldiers, what about the Qiang soldiers? Is everyone alright?"

The first thing Luo Yu asked upon regaining consciousness wasn't about himself, but about others.

Wu Chengliang's nose tingled, gently consoling him:

"Don't worry, everyone's fine. The enemy soldiers have been driven off.

As for you, why did you fight so desperately? Fortunately, the sword missed your vital organs, only injuring your flesh. Rest for a few days and you'll be fine."

"Yu'er, you scared me to death!"

Luo Yunshu's eyes were red:

"If anything happened to you, what would your mother do?"

"Ha ha, Mother, I'm fine."

Luo Yu forced a smile: "As long as Mother is safe, I'm at ease."

Wu Chengliang stood up, looking coldly at Lady Chang:

"This time Yu'er saved you from a sword wound, nearly losing his life. If you still want to prevent them from entering the residence, wouldn't that be returning kindness with ingratitude?"

The atmosphere became tense again. Wu Rupai quietly tugged at his mother's sleeve from behind.

"Hmph!"

Lady Chang snorted, her gaze toward Luo Yu finally softening:

"This time I owe you a life debt. Letting your mother enter the residence isn't impossible."

Luo Yu's spirits lifted - this sword strike wasn't in vain.

"Don't be too happy yet, let me finish."

Lady Chang continued:

"Your father started as a mere captain, fighting for thirty years on the battlefield, narrowly escaping death countless times to become today's Eastern Defense General.

I, Chang Roshuang, bore him four sons, all of whom joined the military. The third and fourth died in battle before they turned eighteen."

At this point, Lady Chang paused, her eyes reddening as she recalled her sons' deaths. Luo Yunshu and Luo Yu's pupils constricted - they hadn't known this story.

Luo Yunshu's nose tingled. As a mother, she understood how deeply that pain cut.

The grief of burying one's children is the most tragic thing there is.

Lady Chang casually wiped her eyes, her tone becoming cold again:

"I'm telling you this to make you understand - the Wu family is a house of loyal warriors, where men are all upright heroes. Whether legitimate or illegitimate, anyone who wants to enter the Wu residence must be worthy of the Wu name!

Cowards and cowards, even if they're my own sons, will be kicked out of the family!

Because you saved me from that sword, I'll allow your mother to enter the residence. But you, not yet.

With the Qiang army pressing at our borders and war raging, Longxi border regions are recruiting soldiers everywhere. If you want to enter the Wu residence, you'll have to earn your place through real combat on the border.

If you can't do that, it means you're not worthy of being a Wu family member."

After saying this, she turned to Luo Yunshu:

"Don't think me heartless. The Wu family is a military family. My sons were also sent to the border at fifteen or sixteen, to fight their way up.

As a mother, though it pains me, only this way can they become worthy Wu family warriors."

Luo Yunshu was extremely reluctant, but Lady Chang's sons had been treated the same way. What could she say?

"Luo Yu, what a good name, but we'll see if you live up to it."

Lady Chang said calmly:

"I'll take your mother to the capital and visit all the famous doctors to treat her. If a hair on her head is harmed, you can hold me responsible.

Five years, I'll give you five years. If you can become a general in one of Longxi's border cities - a fifth-rank official - then you'll have proven yourself. When that time comes, I, Chang Roshuang, won't stand in your way, and your mother will naturally have her proper status.

But if you can't do it, take your mother far away from the Wu family. Your father can't afford to lose face."

"Too harsh?"

Wu Chengliang frowned:

"He has no official rank, no battlefield experience. Five years to become a fifth-rank general is incredibly difficult."

"Be afraid of difficulty and don't enter the Wu residence!"

Lady Chang's tone was firm:

"War rages across the seven kingdoms, mountains and rivers lie in ruins. Cowards don't deserve to live in this world!

Why shouldn't a man carry a sword and ride into battle to pacify the nine provinces?

Those were his own words!"

"I accept!"

Luo Yu clenched his fist:

"Five years it is. Please take good care of Mother, Father and Lady Chang!"

"Yu'er, the border is too dangerous!"

Luo Yunshu was still reluctant. Having lived on the border for so long, how could she not know the cruelty of war? To throw her son into battle like this, who could bear it?

"It's fine, Mother. I can do it."

Luo Yu smiled:

"Five years' promise, it's settled!"

…

In the vast desert, a fifty-man cavalry squad halted. Their armor gleamed coldly, their weapons intimidating. Today, Wu Chengliang would take Luo Yunshu back to the capital.

Luo Yu stood by the roadside, a bundle on his back, his left shoulder still injured. Luo Yunshu was giving him endless instructions, her eyes full of reluctance. This parting might mean they wouldn't see each other again for a long time.

Wu Chengliang spoke earnestly:

"Your father has already said everything important last night. From now on, you'll have to make your own way. The Wu family won't give you any help."

Wu Rupai seemed to have taken a liking to this younger brother, patting Luo Yu's shoulder:

"There are no cowards in the Wu family."

Last night, the three of them had talked all night, discussing so many things.

"I understand."

Luo Yu gave a light bow:

"Please don't worry, Father, Mother, Brother. I won't let you down."

"Yunshu, let's go."

Wu Chengliang gently took Luo Yunshu's hand:

"A true man should have lofty ambitions. If you want to be a Wu family member, this is a path you must take."

Amidst choked sobs, Luo Yunshu was helped into the carriage. Lady Chang was stopped by Luo Yu:

"Lady Chang, may I have a word?"

"Oh? You have something to say to me?"

Lady Chang was quite curious. In her eyes, she should be an unrepentant villain who had been making things difficult for him. Was he here to say goodbye?

"Lady Chang is skilled."

"What do you mean?"

"The Qiang soldiers who attacked the camp - weren't they your people in disguise?"

The corners of Luo Yu's mouth curled up:

"I have to admit, it was a good play. But if you were going to pretend to be Qiang soldiers, why not change their weapons? How could they still be using Wu family long swords?"

"You…"

A look of shock and confusion appeared on Lady Chang's face. Her gaze sharpened:

"Since you noticed, why did you still block that sword?"

Luo Yu shrugged:

"I only noticed when the sword pierced my shoulder. If I had known earlier, I wouldn't have blocked it. A wasted sword strike.

You used a sedative to test my filial piety, and sent people to pretend to be assassins to test my courage and whether I considered you family.

Isn't that right?"

"Ha ha."

Lady Chang suddenly laughed:

"Truly Wu Chengliang's son. You have courage, discernment, bravery, and a pure heart.

I suddenly like you. Not bad."

"Thank you, Lady."

Luo Yu smiled: "Father secretly told me that Lady Chang has a kind heart despite her harsh words. He told me not to bear you any grudge."

"That old Wu, he's really gone too far!"

Lady Chang's anger was tinged with jealousy:

"It seems he truly cares about you two. Well, more people in the house means more liveliness."

The atmosphere suddenly became much more relaxed.

Luo Yu bowed respectfully:

"Please take good care of Mother. I am deeply grateful."

"Don't worry!"

Lady Chang lifted the carriage curtain, looking back at Luo Yu:

"Don't forget, if you don't complete the agreement, your mother will be thrown out. A man must support his mother, not rely on others' charity.

If you complete the agreement, I, Chang Roshuang, will personally welcome you through the gates of the general's residence. If you die in battle, I'll bring your mother to give you a proper burial! Your spirit tablet will be placed alongside my sons'!"

"It's settled!"

Luo Yu shouted loudly to the slowly departing convoy:

"In five years, the name Luo Yu will be known throughout the land!"