Chapter 26 I'm Not Reconciled

As Zhao Dabao spoke, tears welled up in the corners of his eyes. "I'm already a man, but...but...I'm still so scared." As he spoke, he squatted down.

If it were in modern times, perhaps Xu Zhao would hold the little boy who was trembling with fear in his arms, but in this era, he is already a little adult, and it would be inappropriate to do so.

"Don't be afraid. You can tell your sister why you are afraid." Xu Zhao was not fussy about details. He just sat cross-legged on the ground and talked to Zhao Dabao.

Zhao Dabao sniffed, "My brothers in the military camp said that people will die on the battlefield. The brothers who were still talking and laughing with me the night before yesterday are all gone now."

"If I go to the battlefield, will I be the next one?"

It is impossible for her to say that she is not afraid of death at such a young age, not to mention that her parents had an accident in front of her, which probably left a big trauma in her heart.

"Dabao, it is true that you may die on the battlefield. Some people's death is as light as a feather, but some are heavier than Mount Tai, just like the soldiers who share the room with you."

"They bravely went to the frontline for the Moon Country. Maybe no one will remember them in the near future, but I believe that Prince Shen will remember them, and remember those good brothers who went through life and death with him."

Xu Zhao had just taken a closer look and saw that there seemed to be a few monks standing behind the large group of generals. They were probably found by Shen Yu in a nearby temple.

It happened that at this moment, there was a monk who was following Chen Yu in reciting the names of the dead generals one by one, and the others were chanting scriptures that Xu Zhao could not understand at all. They should be the Great Compassion Mantra and the Rebirth Mantra.

"Listen, the prince remembers every one of them."

Zhao Dabao's emotions stabilized slightly.

"Dabao, at the border, if you want to seek revenge, defending your country is probably the best choice right now. But Dabao, you can't be trapped by the past. When you grow up and can support yourself, you will have a new life after leaving the barracks."

Xu Zhao stated a fact. In modern times, if you encounter such a thing, you would call the police, but in ancient times, it seems that this is the only way.

"But Sister Xu, I can't accept it. I can't accept that my parents lost their lives like this. The prince can't stay at the border forever. If Mobei Kingdom attacks again, more people will lose their parents like me."

Zhao Dabao held his head and expressed his unwillingness in pain.

The sound of chanting sutras not far away came into his ears. Dabao's eyelids drooped and he spoke listlessly, "Sister Xu, do you think there are really ghosts in this world? If I die, will I be bullied on the road to the underworld? I used to hear the adults at home say that ghosts are very scary, they look ferocious, and they eat children."

"And those older brothers who died, if I die, can I meet them in the underworld? Will they not recognize me?"

Xu Zhao had never expected that no matter what era, parents always used the same method to scare their children.

"You should think positively after everything. As long as you practice martial arts diligently and improve your martial arts skills, you will be unstoppable on the battlefield and become an invincible general like the prince. In this way, you will not go to the underworld and be bullied by those vicious ghosts. When you are old and go to the underworld, you will no longer be a child and will not be eaten by those ghosts."

Xu Zhao has a lot of tricks to coax children, and he tells lies without blinking an eye.

Speaking of fierce and evil spirits, Xu Zhao remembered the mask she brought with her. She jumped up from the ground and said, "Wait for me for a moment. I'll get you something."

Xu Zhao quickly ran back to her tent. There were few things related to her in the tent. She placed the blue blood moon mask on an empty space on the antique shelf.

She picked up the mask and walked out. Her steps were quick and soon she returned to Zhao Dabao, who handed him the mask.

After Xu Zhao left, Zhao Dabao stood up and stared at the direction where Xu Zhao left. Even when he saw her come back, his eyes never left Xu Zhao.

"Here, if you go to the battlefield in the future, bring this with you. You see, this mask looks ferocious. If something unexpected happens, the mask will go with you to the underworld, and all the ghosts on the road will be scared by this mask."

"And you see, there is a moon on this mask. So, the Moon God will bless every Moon Countryman who wears this mask and bless them to return home safely every time."

I have to say that this mask is indeed a bit scary, and Zhao Dabao was so scared that he didn't dare to reach out to take it.

"Aiya," Xu Zhao put the mask on him, "You are already a little man, what's there to be afraid of with just a mask? Besides, when you put on the mask, others will be afraid of you. A man should act like a man."

Xu Zhao patted his back and said, "Come on, follow me. First, straighten your back." Xu Zhao tilted his head back with his back straight.

"Keep your head up high, don't look at me, look ahead!"

This was the first time that Zhao Dabao straightened his back. In the past, he viewed himself as an adopted child. Whenever he saw soldiers coming and going, he would hunch over and dare not look at them.

Now, under Xu Zhao's guidance, he stood up straight.

"Yes, that's it. Very good. You look like a real man now." Xu Zhao and Zhao Dabao looked at each other through the two holes on the mask. "Dabao, your eyes are still not firm enough."

This sentence instantly made Zhao Dabao lose his temper. He complained: "Sister Xu, I have tried very hard, but..."

Seeing Zhao Dabao finally cheering up, but suddenly became listless, Xu Zhao immediately supported his shoulders and said, "It's not that you didn't do well, it's just not good enough."

At this moment, Xu Zhao suddenly felt that this sentence was familiar. It was very similar to what her boss would say to encourage her when she was working like a slave.

I never thought that one day she would say this to someone else.

"Can……"

Xu Zhao interrupted him, "There is no but. You just need to do as I say, keep your back straight, look firm, and think about defending your country, defeating Mobei, and avenging your parents!"

"Defend our country, defeat the Mobei Kingdom, and avenge my parents!" Zhao Dabao straightened his back and recited aloud.

Seeing his eyes becoming firm, Xu Zhao continued to encourage him: "You did a good job. Now you are like a real soldier!"

Except for the fact that he has not experienced the baptism of war, Zhao Dabao's aura at this moment is like that of a soldier who is defending his country.

"Very good, hold on. Starting tomorrow, you will go to the training ground and practice with the others."