At dawn, the fire in Lu Village raged on, growing more intense, but the fire in Lu Bu's house had already burned out. Naturally, the entire village was not killed, but after this incident, Lu Village was no more.

When Lu Bu returned, carrying a blood-stained hatchet, his father was kneeling amidst the ruins, cradling two charred bodies in his arms. Lu Bu stared blankly at the scene, his chest tightening. He looked into his father's vacant eyes and opened his mouth, saying, “Father…”

“I-I don’t dare,” Father Lu shook his head. "I don’t dare to aspire to greatness. I don’t know where you got that fierceness, but we are merely commoners. If we want to survive in this world, we have to bear the grievances and swallow some hardships. We can't always speak up and fight back like you just did. Your anger, it's too much for us simple commoners.”

Was he wrong? Lu Bu didn't think he was wrong. It was clearly Lu Hong's fault, so why should he have to put up with it? But... looking at the charred bodies of his mother and sister, Lu Bu could not argue back.

As the escaping villagers reported the incident to the authorities, they had sent officials to apprehend the culprits. Lu Bu grabbed his father's arm and said, “Father, we must leave now!”

“You go,” Father Lu shook his head, holding the charred bodies. “I have lived here for half my life and have no idea where to go. You are still young and have a promising future ahead. Escape on your own, but before we part ways, I urge you to temper your character. I may not have received an education, but I still understand some truths. In this life, things can't always go as planned. If you continue to resort to such methods in everything you do, no matter your position or abilities, the outcome will likely be unfavorable.”

“Father, if you have anything to say, we can discuss it after we leave!” Lu Bu held onto his father's arm, uncertain when the officials would arrive, but time was of the essence.

Lu Bu's father remained silent, only cradling the two charred bodies. “Your mother accompanied me throughout my life, never experiencing any true happiness. Now that she's gone, I want to accompany her on her final journey and give her a proper burial. Your younger sister, who remained with us because of you, now she also died because of you. I cannot let her corpse be exposed in the wilderness.”

Lu Bu opened his mouth, but he didn't know what to say. After a long pause, he suddenly threw the blood-stained hatchet aside. He had already experienced death once, what was he afraid of?

At that moment, he no longer thought of escaping. He stayed by his father's side, silently digging two graves for his mother and younger sister. They couldn't afford proper coffins, so they hastily buried them, covered only with soil.

In the afternoon, the officials finally arrived. They looked at the mostly burned Lu Village and listened to people recounting the events of the previous night. They were stunned and speechless. A magistrate stared at Lu Bu with wide eyes and said, “So, your house was burned down. You not only killed the arsonists but also slaughtered Lu Hong’s entire family and burned down the entire Lu Village?”

“That's right.” Facing these officials, Lu Bu was not as restrained as his father and nodded coldly.. He had already accepted his fate. This life hadn't been good, and he wondered: Would he retain his memories of this life in his next one?

 

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“The cause was that Lu Hong wanted to raise taxes on you?” The magistrate looked at Lu Bu and asked again. “Exactly,” Lu Bu nodded once more. “Young man, you're young and vigorous and have great skills, but it's a pity,” the magistrate sighed. Killing nearly a hundred people in one night, it was a capital offense. Even if there were a general amnesty, it wouldn't pardon such crimes. However, looking at Lu Bu's youthful face, he couldn't help but sigh again. With such talent, if he were to serve on the frontier, he could have become a great warrior and bring glory to his ancestors. But he will have to meet his end here. Feeling a sense of pity, the magistrate couldn't help but ask, “Do you have any regrets?” Lu Bu glanced at him and replied, “Why should I have regrets? What did I do wrong?” “In the realm of principles, you are not mistaken. However, in this world, not all matters can be reasoned with. Many affairs defy logic. This calamity resulted in the untimely demise of your honorable mother and cherished sister. Even if we were to take a step back and imagine their survival, how could your family have sustained itself in Lu Village? If forced to abandon your ancestral land, how would you eke out a living? Remember in your next life to heed the wisdom of considering the greater scheme, pondering all aspects. Just for the sake of two people, you have jeopardized your entire lineage. Do you deem such a sacrifice worthy?” The magistrate gazed at Lu Bu. “But that disrespect…” Lu Bu complained, feeling dissatisfied. He couldn't tolerate being treated with disrespect. “Disrespect? In this world, who doesn't experience it?" The magistrate shook his head, finding it somewhat amusing. “But you're still young, perhaps you don't understand these principles. If the day comes you can endure grievances for the sake of your family, you might have achieved great things in this lifetime. It's a pity, though. You probably won't live to see that day.” The experienced magistrate had a soft spot for talent, that’s why he had spoken a little more than necessary. In his view, it was not uncommon for someone of Lu Bu's age to be bold and ruthless. To possess power beyond one's years might not necessarily be a good thing. However, these words made Lu Bu feel somewhat agitated. After all... he had the memories of his past life, and combining the two lives together, he was nearly forty years old. He couldn't be considered young, yet he still couldn't control his impulsive nature. “It's good to have strength, but one must not be controlled by it,” the magistrate shook his head and walked away. Although this case was quite big, it wasn't particularly difficult to solve. Due to the significant impact of killing nearly a hundred people overnight in this peaceful era, the official decree for Lu Bu and his father was quickly issued—execution by beheading. The father and son were executed in public, marking the end of Lu Bu's short twelve-year life. However, his consciousness did not dissipate when their heads fell to the ground. Just like twelve years ago when he arrived in this world, today, twelve years later, Lu Bu's consciousness began to rise slowly after leaving his body. The surrounding scenery once again appeared in his consciousness. First, the execution ground, then gradually, as his consciousness ascended, the entire county unfolded before him.. Seeing the grotesque sight of his and his father's severed heads, Lu Bu suddenly had a question. He wondered if his father's soul, like his own, would also float up. However, he couldn't find anything. It was not until he regained consciousness again that Lu Bu suddenly opened his eyes. The surroundings seemed somewhat unfamiliar yet also familiar. In the dim room, Lu Bu slowly sat up and stared at the oil lamp in front of him, lost in thought. Until the voice in his mind resounded once again...

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