'What does the word 'fight' mean?'

A young Wuzhi, at the cusp of boyhood, remembered wondering about this question when he came across the word in his books for the first time. Unable to reason it himself, he went to his two guardians to satiate his curiosity.

When he asked his loving mother, she thought for a moment before replying; 'Fighting' is an honourable action wherein two opponents clash against each other to prove their mettle and protect their honours.

She then made Wuzhi promise to never engage in fights for as long as she was around. Wuzhi, being an obedient child, promised her and kept his promise.

He then went to his strange-tempered teacher and asked him the same question. His teacher shot the boyish Wuzhi a disdainful look and replied; 'Fighting' is a stupid, barbaric practice invented by savage apes whose fists are full and brains are empty.

He then slapped Wuzhi's head and ordered him to return to his books. Wuzhi, being an obedient child, complied and returned to studying.

Still, Wuzhi's curiosity remained unsatisfied. The two opposing answers given to him by his two guardians lent him a basic idea but was unable to solve the question at its roots. Since then, the question has continued to remain within Wuzhi's heart.

What exactly does it mean to 'fight?'

It was only today when he faced an opponent charging at him with a tall weapon, did Wuzhi get a glimpse at the answer.

Fighting. It was an act where, after being provoked, an opponent would charge towards the provoker with the intent to kill. A 'fight' would end when either the provoker or the one being provoked, perished.

Wuzhi, having received the answer to his long-standing query, felt disappointed. Why did humans practice such an inane activity? Wasn't it all just a waste of time?

Life was awarded by the earth, and Death was decided by the Heavens. Why did mortals furiously rush forward to overturn this decree and seek to cut their lives short? Wasn't living a good thing?

To Wuzhi, who had studied his teacher's 'Schemes and Strategies', it all seemed pointless and foolish.

'The able would lead and the unable would be led. With superior and inferior, talented and untalented, master and servant; working together in harmony, mankind will flourish under the lead of the Supreme Master!'

These were the words written on the first page of 'Schemes and Strategies.'

If these words were to be realised, the word 'fighting' would be rendered meaningless. The act will no longer have any value for there would no longer be any need to compete.

The Supreme Master will lead mankind into an era of peace, prosperity, and abject harmony!

Wuzhi firmly believed in this conviction and hoped to realise it. This was the reason why he had drawn a 'Grand Strategy,' and the reason why he had left his town to roam the world.

Wuzhi firmly believed that with his efforts, he would be able to make those words, written by his teacher on the first page of his life's work, into reality!

And as such, communing with his muse was the first step of his 'Grand Strategy.' To these people who hindered him from attaining his goal, Wuzhi would rid them from the face of the earth and return them to the warm embrace of the Heavens!

Upon speaking his words of challenge, Wuzhi bent down to pick up the halberd from the dead captain's hands. Finding it too heavy to be picked up by his hands, Wuzhi promptly gave up and reached to retrieve his previously used sword.

The blade was quite firmly lodged into the neck of the dead captain, causing Wuzhi to exert great force. Holding the grip, he stepped on the head of the dead captain with his feet to hold it down and pulled out the sword after great effort.

Swinging the blade to rid it of the blood, Wuzhi turned his gaze towards the frozen assailants. Their pupils had shrunken to resemble pinholes and a cold shiver passed down their backs.

"Are you not going to come and fight?" asked Wuzhi, apparently confused by his opponents' strange display.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

In the books that he had read, the underlings, after seeing their beloved captain fall under the hands of the enemy, would be filled with righteous anger and would rush to slay them in unison. They would even shout some repetitive, blood-boiling dialogues that were variations of the same standard script.

Seeing his current opponents do none of these things, Wuzhi was quite honestly confused. "Perhaps, you want me to come forward and fight?"

He then took a step, sword and suitcase in hand.

The group of assailants flinched in fear, snapping out of their stupors. They then wore a look of horror on their faces before hurriedly turning around their horses and running away.

"Run! That youth slew the Bloody Rakshasa! He's a hidden expert!!"

"Quick! Escape if you don't want to be caught! Dammit! The intel did not mention a hidden expert of such calibre protecting the target in secret!"

"That youth, no! That expert has been baiting us from the start! Run away! Run away if you want to keep your lives!!"

"Heavens! Please leave me alone! I don't want to die yet! My lover at the brothel is still waiting for me!"

Wuzhi watched stunned, as the group of assailants fled farther and farther. His argent eyes then flashed with mysterious calculations that soon disappeared. Shrugging his shoulder, he quietly muttered. "I suppose that works too."

Although his plans and traps for the following battle had been overturned, Wuzhi wasn't too bothered. His end result had been achieved in such a surprising fashion, saving him from further effort and exhaustion.

'Though, I still wanted to further explore 'fighting'.' Wuzhi thought to himself in want. Today marked his first time fighting, and he still felt his answer to the age-old question to be shallow and lacking. 'I'll just explore it another day. I am certain that the near future will be filled with more such fights.'

Turning around, Wuzhi gazed at the guards who were staring at him with shock, wariness, and fear. Their thoughts weren't much different from the assailants who had fled either. They too wondered from where such a hidden expert had popped up and what his intentions were.

Reading their expressions and guessing their thoughts, Wuzhi promptly lowered his sword and bowed his head. With an even voice, he spoke.

"Esteemed Sirs must forgive this young scholar for intercepting your battle. This young scholar is named Wuzhi, and would like to pledge my services to the Venerable Emperor!"

Wuzhi's words immediately put the guards on alert. Their hold over their weapons tightened as the same thought echoed within each of their minds; how did this youth know that it was their Esteemed Emperor who sat within this carriage?

An older guard, who from the looks of it seemed to be the leader of this party, trotted forward and questioned Wuzhi. "Speak! How do you know that it is the Emperor that sits within this carriage? How did learn about His whereabouts?"

Faced with this question, Wuzhi kept his polite bow and honestly answered. "The Will of the Heavens instructed me to arrive at this location and commune with its Blessed. Wuzhi, as Heaven's proxy, obeyed and arrived, only to find the Emperor's life being threatened by rebels."

"Wuzhi did as any dutiful subject would and stepped in to protect the Venerable Emperor's life from the rebels."

Cupping his fists, he sincerely repeated. "Wuzhi would like to pledge his services to Venerable Emperor. Wuzhi swears that for as long as I live, I will not let a single harm befall the Emperor. Wuzhi also swears to aid the Emperor in restoring His seat and in reclaiming His power!"

Wuzhi's answer left the guards just as confused as before. What 'will of the Heavens?' What 'Heaven's proxy?' None of their doubts was answered and their suspicions remained.

At least, the scholarly youth's action of pledging his services to the Emperor left a good impression in the hearts of these guards. It had to be known that while their Esteemed Emperor held this supreme title, he was all but powerless.

The sudden coup followed by the war for the continent, saw the old Emperor perishing in the hands of traitors and the new Emperor, always surrounded by mortal danger.

If there was one thing that these guards, loyal to the Emperor, wished, it was for Heaven's assistance to break free from this hopeless quarry.

It was then, that a childish voice rang from within the carriage.

"Why do you seek to pledge your allegiance to Us? We, don't recall doing anything that would attract the allegiance of a supreme talent such as you."

[AN: Henceforth, the Emperor (and other Emperor-like characters) will refer to themselves in capitalised, third-person pronouns. Blame the English language for being barren in referral pronouns.]

"Replying to Venerable Emperor," Wuzhi answered with a smile. "Wuzhi's purpose in life is to act as Heaven's Emissary. Wuzhi simply looks, understands, and obeys Heaven's guidance before acting upon its will. Right now, the Will of the Heavens instructs me to protect and pledge my services to Venerable Emperor."

Taking a deep breath, he exclaimed with solemnity. "Such is the will of the Heavens!"

"Such is the will of the Heavens…" The figure within the carriage absentmindedly repeated Wuzhi's words. A strong feeling emerged within its heart; this scholarly youth was speaking the truth. He was indeed an opportunity sent down by the Heavens to guide him out of this quagmire!

'Fret not, sister! With the guidance of this saviour of mine, I shall soon find you! Wherever you are!'

'Worry not, Father! I, Alexandros Centinni the Twelfth, shall avenge you and restore our family as the one, true Hegemon of the South Aislu Continent!'

A blazing resolution shone in the depths of the young, boy emperor's eyes. His tiny, silken fists clenched with conviction as he reached forward and opened the shut doors of the carriage.

With the light of the sun shining down on his immaculate countenance, Alexandros revealed himself before Wuzhi.

Just as the scholarly youth and his Royal Guards seemed to be stunned by his appearance, he spoke. "Very well then. I, Alexandros Centinni the Twelfth, accept you, Sir Wuzhi, as my Royal Teacher and Advisor!"

Cupping his hands, Alexandros kneeled before Wuzhi and greeted, "I greet Teacher and thank Teacher for rescuing me from the sinister hands of the rebels."

Wuzhi and the Royal Guards genuinely had their minds blank out from shock.