Dawn had just begun to tear the sky open with orange hues when Li Wei rose from his hard wooden bed. He had slept little. Excitement and anxiety had kept him awake for most of the night. That day would mark the beginning of his life as a military apprentice at the local academy, a privilege reserved for the sons of nobles and distinguished officers.
Dressed in simple but clean clothes, Li Wei made his way to the courtyard, where his grandfather awaited him. The old man, Li Zhang, was a figure of imposing presence, with a patch over his left eye, a neatly trimmed white beard, and ceremonial armor he wore only on important occasions. He had once been a general commanding 15,000 men in his prime, and was now the lord of the small city ruled by the Li family.
—Wei, —his grandfather said in a deep, firm voice— before I send you to the academy, I want you to remember something. The name Li carries weight. You have the blood of a warrior, but also of a leader. Don't let anyone tell you who you are. Let them see it with their own eyes.
Li Wei nodded respectfully, but with a spark of determination that made the old general smile.
—I will not judge you by your physical strength or your speed, but by your intelligence and your heart, —the elder continued— That was what allowed me to command 15,000 men, even without being the strongest.
The carriage was ready. Before he left, Li Zhang leaned in and placed a hand on his grandson's shoulder.
—Return with honor, and I will know that the future of our family is secure.
The academy was a walled compound atop a hill, with training yards, barracks, and a central building housing the instructors' offices and the military library. Upon arrival, Li Wei was assigned to a shared dormitory with three other cadets.
There he met Guo Jian, a talkative boy from a merchant family, and Tian Xun, the quiet son of a local official. The third, a muscular boy named Bao, ignored him completely.
The day began with physical tests: endurance, speed, and strength. Li Wei didn't stand out, but he made up for it with technique and strategy, using his prior knowledge to optimize movement and conserve energy. The system showed his progress:
"Training completed with efficiency. +2 Endurance, +1 Speed."
That night, he wrote a letter to his grandfather, detailing what he had learned. It wasn't common for a grandson to write so frequently to his grandfather, but Li Wei craved his guidance. Weeks later, he received a reply:
"Your mind is your sharpest sword. But a sword without an arm is just a piece of iron. Strengthen your body, Wei."
The relationship between the two began to grow, nourished by regular letters. In each one, the old general shared stories from past campaigns and leadership advice. Li Wei began to see in his grandfather not just a figure of respect, but a living, breathing mentor.
In the final lines of his third letter, Li Zhang wrote:
"One day, Wei, you will have to choose between glory and duty. Choose wisely."
And Li Wei, reading those words under the flickering light of an oil lamp, felt the weight of his bloodline's legacy.
The first month at the academy flew by. Li Wei improved in all his trials. His combat ability increased thanks to his persistence and keen observation.
"Training completed. +3 Combat Skill. System Reward: 'Combat Pattern Analysis' unlocked."
He knew he was still far from being a complete warrior, but he felt the strength of his lineage and the growing affection of his grandfather, who, despite his stern appearance, had become his strongest pillar.
And from afar, Li Zhang watched every one of his grandson's achievements, smiling silently, convinced that the future of the Li family had been reborn in that reincarnated youth with a brilliant mind and a steadfast heart.