Chapter 3: My Desire for Strength (1/2)

During those ten days bedridden, Cao Peng had pondered many things.

Deep within, he still felt some regret about being reborn in ancient times. Being betrayed by his best friend was like a thorn lodged in his heart, making him uncomfortable. But what could discomfort change? He could not return! This was a reality he could not alter.

His experiences in his previous life had left Cao Peng weary.

Especially the words Yang Zi spoke before firing the gun, which lingered in his mind: "In your next life, don’t try to be a hero!"

A hero?

It sounded glorious, but who could know the blood and tears behind it? People often say, "Good people rarely meet good ends." Cao Peng used to scoff at this—now, he could no longer dismiss it. The age of economy brought Western winds and progress. Reform and openness allowed China to soar, yet was it not also a kind of decline? Cao Peng had no strength to change things; he merely wished to live well. Yet even so, he met a tragic end… Looking back, Cao Peng felt a faint sense of loss, and a strange exhaustion.

Reborn in the first year of Jian’an, Cao Peng needed to make a choice!

To be precise, the first year of Jian’an was not the Three Kingdoms, but the late Eastern Han when various powers vied for supremacy.

Cao Cao had just begun to command the lords with imperial authority; Sun Quan had yet to ascend; as for the imperial uncle, he had not yet been legitimized.

It was still a chaotic era with an uncertain future.

Perhaps, he could blend into this turbulent age… But Cao Peng knew well—the Three Kingdoms had yet to emerge, but the tripartite balance was already faintly visible. He was only thirteen this year, late to join the game. He had missed the best opportunity to rise.

Given this, he could only seek attachment!

But whom could he attach himself to?

Emotionally, Cao Peng leaned toward Liu Bei.

Rationally, he knew the best choice was Cao Cao.

Liu Bei was now like a clay idol crossing a river, barely able to protect himself. As for Sun Wu of Jiangdong, from the start, Cao Peng had set them aside. The structure of Sun Wu was a court controlled by the local aristocracy. In truth, the most powerful in Jiangdong were not the Sun clan, but the gentry who attached themselves to the Suns. These families, due to years of conflict with the mountain tribes, maintained private armies. By the end of the Three Kingdoms, the entire military might of Jiangdong was nearly monopolized by the Lu family—an ancient gentry of the region.

Why did those civil officials surrender at the Battle of Red Cliffs?

Not for lack of loyalty, but because their primary concern was not the Sun regime, but their own families.

Even after submitting to Cao Cao, they could use their soldiers to stand firm in Jiangdong… Hence, Lu Su advised Sun Quan: "Anyone in Jiangdong can surrender; only the lord must not surrender!"

So, Cao Peng could not choose Eastern Wu.

As for Yuan Shao and Liu Biao, there would be no place for him to shine…

Thus, it seemed his only option was Cao Cao. Yet Cao Peng knew, though Cao Cao disregarded birth and promoted men of humble origins, there was a condition—talent! As his decree seeking men of ability declared: anyone with a skill could be employed. So, what strengths did he possess that could attract Cao Cao’s attention, even favor?

He lowered his head, opened his palm.

Suddenly, he clenched his fists, stamped his feet, twisted his waist, and punched the air.

In troubled times, only strength and cunning led to prominence!

Cunning…

Cao Peng dared not claim brilliance. If he truly excelled at intrigue, he would not have been betrayed by his friend.

As for martial prowess?

He seemed to have a bit more confidence.

In his previous life, he had apprenticed under a local master of White Ape Tongbei Boxing for three years. Yet in the twilight of martial arts, its status was awkward—ten years of hard training could not stop a bullet. So, as he grew older, he abandoned practice and focused on work.

He vaguely recalled visiting his master for New Year’s greetings in his second year of work.

When the old master learned he had given up martial arts, the gray-haired man’s eyes reflected bleakness and confusion…

In the age of declining martial arts, it became merely a means of fitness, even a gimmick for fame.

But in this era…

Cao Peng closed his eyes, striving to recall his days of training. Fortunately, although he later gave it up, everything he had learned was indelibly etched in his memory. Only, this body was terribly weak! To regain those skills, he would need to exert tenfold, twentyfold, even a hundredfold effort! Martial arts demanded wealth—his path would be long!

Beyond this, Cao Peng’s interests were wide-ranging.

Forensic investigation was a stressful job, living daily on the edge of life and death.

If one did not learn to relax, one would be crushed by that pressure… Some drank to excess; some indulged in sensual pleasures. Cao Peng’s way of easing stress was different: reading and collecting books! All kinds of books, all sorts of collections—regardless of their value, as long as he liked them, he would buy and keep… Eventually, his home became a miniature library, filled with all manner of volumes.

"Great walls are not built in a day!"

Cao Peng murmured to himself, a gentle smile gracing his delicate features.

Cao Ji was broad and burly, seemingly full of strength. If one looked at Cao Peng, one could never imagine Cao Ji’s appearance. People often said sons take after their mothers. Cao Peng resembled the Zhang family… But due to congenital malnutrition, he appeared extremely frail.

Thin arms and legs—an unflattering metaphor: you could chew him for days and not squeeze out a few ounces of oil!

This body, this physique…

It was unlikely he could survive long in such troubled times.

Standing before the home’s only bronze mirror, Cao Peng gazed at the blurred reflection and could not help but smile wryly.

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To strengthen his body would not be a simple task.

Even stretching a bit in his cramped room left Cao Peng panting, exhausted. White Ape Tongbei Boxing emphasized fundamentals, but his foundation was abysmal! So poor, even he felt embarrassed to explain.

Resting on the couch, he gradually recovered his spirit.

Stepping out of his room, he saw Cao Ji preparing to extinguish the furnace and tidy up.

"Father, are you closing up already?"

"Yes, apart from your Uncle Wang, not a single customer all morning. I doubt there’ll be any business today.

I’ll pack up now. Tomorrow your mother and I are going to Zhongyang Temple for talisman water, so we won’t work today… Peng’er, are you heading out?"

"Yes, I’ve been cooped up at home so long—I’d like to take a walk nearby!"

"That’s good. Staying home all the time might make you ill… But come home early, lest your mother worry."

Cao Peng beamed, nodded, and walked out the gate.

"This boy, after such a serious illness, is much more cheerful than before!"

Watching him leave, Cao Ji smiled with satisfaction.

Previously, Cao Peng was a bit withdrawn, not fond of speaking. His frail body meant he rarely went outside. Even when he played, it was because Cao Ji and his wife forced him out. If he did go out, it was usually just to Wang Meng’s house, exchanging a few words with Wang Mai.

Now, his initiative to stroll was a clear sign of progress.

Cao Ji was straightforward and unsophisticated, never suspecting that inside Cao Peng’s body was the soul of a thirty-year-old man.

He had no idea that Cao Peng himself was full of complaints!

This old Cao Peng was too much of a homebody… Even worse than the recluses of later times.

Even after searching his memory fragments, there was little useful information. He only knew that Cao Peng had studied the "Cangjie Primer" in life; besides that, mostly trivial things. However, Cao Peng had been a devoted son, deeply attached to his sister Cao Nan and his mother Zhang. Many memories were scenes of childhood play with his sister.

He still did not know what kind of person this sister was.

Cao Peng walked slowly along the street, admiring the small town from eighteen centuries ago.

Zhongyang Town was small, with two main streets and a circular lane, forming a field-shaped grid. The town was divided into four sections—east, south, west, and north. At the center was a marketplace, the liveliest spot. To enter Zhongyang Mountain, one had to pass through Zhongyang Town, so despite its size, it had everything needed.

There were taverns, shops…

The weather had turned cold, but the marketplace was bustling.

When tired, Cao Peng sat by the roadside, watching the passing crowd, feeling especially calm.

"Ah Fu!"

Just as he was enjoying himself, someone called his name.

Turning, he saw Wang Mai carrying a bamboo basket, running from the market.

"How did you come out?"

Wang Mai sat down next to him, dropping the basket in front.

Inside were hunting tools and a piece of coarse cloth—its purpose unclear. Wang Mai wore a gray coarse robe with a diagonal collar, a broad belt at his waist, a piece of black cloth wrapped around his head, his forehead beaded with fine sweat…

"Weren’t you home?"

Wang Mai said, "Uncle is going up the mountain tomorrow. My father and I are accompanying him, so my father sent me to buy things."

"I see!"

Cao Peng’s heart stirred, suddenly feeling warmth.

He knew Cao Ji was going to the mountain to seek talisman water for him; Wang Meng and his son were actually going for his sake as well.

Being cared for—what a wonderful feeling!

Cao Peng whispered, "Wang Mai, thank your father for me."

Did talisman water work?

Cao Peng knew very well…

But he could not disregard their kindness.

Wang Mai laughed, "No need for thanks. We’re brothers!"

Brothers!

Cao Peng’s heart suddenly tightened.

Betrayed by his best friend, who had once sworn, "We’re brothers." Yet in the end…

After being reborn, Cao Peng had become sensitive and suspicious.

Especially the word "brother," which now felt like a needle, stabbing his heart until it bled. At that moment, he fell silent, unsure how to respond.

Wang Mai noticed his silence and pale face, becoming nervous.

"Ah Fu, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

"Oh, it’s nothing!"

Cao Peng snapped out of it, forced a smile, "Just suddenly feeling a bit tired… I’ll head home now. You should get back soon, and please thank your father for me."

"Should I walk you home?"

"No need, I can manage."

With that, Cao Peng stood up.

But just as he turned to leave, a commotion erupted in the marketplace.

"Shopkeeper Cheng, this item is clearly mine!"

"You wretch, how could you own such fine jade… This is an heirloom of my family; I was just playing with it, how did it become yours?"

"Shopkeeper Cheng, this is a family treasure passed down to me—how can you…"

Smack!

A loud slap cut off the pleading.

"Do you know who I am? I, Cheng Ji, would never covet your possessions! I tell you, today if you don’t hand it over, you won’t leave here."

Cao Peng shivered, turning to look at the market.

That pleading voice was all too familiar! Though he had only spent ten days with her, he recognized it at once—it was his mother Zhang’s voice…

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February 18th, first installment.

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