Chapter 2

Jiazhou is located on the banks of the Jia River in the southeast of the Great Wei, named after the river. Due to its location on the plain, the once turbulent Jia River slows down here, not only irrigating the fertile fields on both banks but also bringing a steady stream of merchant ships to Jiazhou. Therefore, the people of Jiazhou live a much more comfortable life compared to other parts of the Great Wei.

More importantly, the nobleman Li, who governed Jiazhou, was always kind to the people. Whenever disasters struck, he immediately reduced taxes. The taxes collected were mostly used for water conservancy projects and the promotion of education, in addition to the portion submitted to the imperial court. Even though Nobleman Li passed away almost two years ago, the people of Jiazhou still often remember this wise nobleman.

Now that both the nobleman and his wife have passed away, the large courtyard in the eastern part of the city, bearing the Li Family's sign, is left with only Li You, the nobleman's sixteen-year-old only son, and the loyal servants left by the nobleman for Young Master You.

When Nobleman Li led the people in water conservancy projects, he often brought Young Master You along and frequently taught him. Every villager who had met Young Master You praised him for his knowledge, manners, and concern for the people! Therefore, all the people of Jiazhou looked forward to Young Master You growing up quickly, hoping that he would inherit his father's title and position after coming of age, continue to govern Jiazhou, and allow them to live a stable life under his wise rule.

So when they heard that Young Master You had fallen off a horse and was unconscious a few days ago, the people spontaneously went to various temples and shrines inside and outside the city to pray for his recovery, hoping that this young nobleman would recover soon.

Perhaps it was the spirit of the old nobleman protecting him, or the people's prayers moved the gods, Young Master You recovered after lying in bed for a few days. However, the recovered Young Master You seemed a bit different! After sitting motionless in bed for half a day, he drove the servants out and locked himself in the study, having his meals delivered there.

In the study, Li You stared blankly at the tiger talisman. He had woken up in this world, transformed into a sixteen-year-old boy, with the same name, Li You, but his body had changed from his twenties to sixteen. All his clothes, wallet, and phone had disappeared, but the tiger talisman remained with him! It seemed that he had been transported here because of it. He had no idea what kind of world he had come to!

He stayed in the study for three whole days before finally calling someone in, "Uncle Zhong, please call Mr. Xu over."

Mr. Xu, named Guang and styled Zongchi, was a subordinate of the old nobleman during his military campaigns. To repay the old nobleman for saving his life, he followed him back to Jiazhou and now serves as the head of security and archery instructor for the young nobleman. Upon hearing the young nobleman's summons, Xu Guang hurried over without delay.

"Little Nobleman! What do you need?" After entering and bowing, Xu Guang waited for a long time without a response from Li You, so he couldn't help but raise his eyes. He met Li You's gaze, which was filled with curiosity and longing... as if a child had seen a fun toy. Xu Guang couldn't help but cough and call out again, "Little Nobleman! Did you call me?"

"Oh... oh, Mr. Xu, please sit!" Before Xu Guang could sit down, Li You asked eagerly, "May I ask what level of martial arts you have in our Great Wei?"

Xu Guang bowed and smiled confidently, "I'm not boasting, but my martial arts were once among the best in the entire Great Wei army! Although I haven't been in battle for a long time, it's still difficult for ten or eight strong men to get close to me!"

"Only ten or eight?" Li You muttered under his breath, seemingly unsatisfied. He frowned and then relaxed, asking again, "Does Mr. Xu have internal strength? Can you perform lightness skills?"

"Since I was young, I have been taught internal strength by a master. I can still break five bricks with my bare hands! As for lightness skills, I can easily jump over a ten-foot wall!" Xu Guang puffed out his chest. Is the young nobleman thinking of learning martial arts?

"Ah!" Li You's gaze shifted from longing to regret. He got up and paced around the room, then suddenly turned and asked, "Mr. Xu, who is the best martial artist in the world? How do they compare to you?"

"The best martial artist in the world is the head instructor of the imperial guards, Yuwen Chong! When I followed the old nobleman in battle, I once sparred with Instructor Yuwen and was defeated after thirty rounds! In my opinion, it would take two people with my level of martial arts to defeat Instructor Yuwen!" I wonder if he's praising others or himself?

"Is military martial arts different from martial arts in the world of martial arts?"

"Martial arts in the world of martial arts are just street performances to earn a few coins! In terms of practical combat, they are far inferior to military martial arts!"

This path is not feasible! Li You shook his head in disappointment, closed his eyes, and leaned back in his chair, his right hand tapping the table rhythmically, exuding a sense of loss.

"Mr. Xu? Can you help me with something?" After a long pause, Li You's voice sounded again. He opened his eyes, seemingly having made a decision.

"Master! If it weren't for the old nobleman, I would have been dead long ago! Whatever you need, I will do it even at the cost of my life!" Xu Guang stood up and bowed.

"Don't get so worked up, don't get so worked up!" Li You seemed uncomfortable with his intense reaction. "It's a small matter, a small matter! Mr. Xu, please get ready, take your usual weapon, and bring a few guards. We're going out!"

"May I ask what the master intends to do?"

"Go beat up a few people!"

"Ah?!" Xu Guang was completely confused by the young nobleman's behavior today, but as he said, he would risk his life for the Li family, so beating up a few people was nothing.

The servants of the Li Family were efficient. By the time Li You reached the main gate, a carriage that looked ordinary but exuded a sense of nobility was already waiting. Xu Guang led eight strong guards to protect the carriage tightly.

"First, let's go to Guanyuan Temple!" Li You lifted the curtain and got in. The fine horses brought back from the northern grasslands trotted steadily towards the city. From today, Li You began his life as a playboy.

He and Mr. Xu, the best martial artist in Jiazhou, beat people from the east of the city to the west, and from the north to the south. The abbot Yongxin of Guanyuan Temple was beaten until his head was full of bumps, looking particularly Buddha-like; the abbot Li Zhichang of Baiyun Temple had his right arm broken and wouldn't be able to perform rituals for two months! Even the nun Xiaofeng of Shuiyue Nunnery and the Western missionary Francisco, who had traveled far to Jiazhou, did not escape this fate, ending up with bruised noses and swollen faces.

This young nobleman went out for no reason, beat up a few people for no reason, and then threw a few silver ingots to them for their recovery, finally returning to the study in the Li Family's courtyard. He drove away the servants and stood alone by the window, looking at the nearby Jia River.

"Ah, no lightness skills, no internal strength, no Buddhist or Taoist magic, not even divine powers! What a boring world this is!" Li You leaned on the windowsill, sighing deeply, his voice filled with endless desolation.

After venting his frustration, Li You poked his head out of the window, looking at the vast Li Family estate and the servants coming and going in the courtyard, finally showing a smile, "But, being a playboy doesn't seem so bad!"

But can he really be so idle? The tiger talisman left in the study began to emit a faint light again...