In Qi Zhenzhen's view, Qi Yi was destined for a scholarly path through the imperial examinations. Practicing martial arts at the training grounds was sufficient for him. Going to that other place was unnecessary.
It wasn't that she wanted to interfere, but Gu Sinian had said that place was meant to temper one's will. Those who emerged from it, barring unforeseen circumstances, would become exceptionally ruthless and indifferent. If her good younger brother turned out that way, wouldn't the Yun family and their good-for-nothing father blame her?
"Brother Yi, I ask you, why do you want to go to that place?" Qi Zhenzhen inquired.
"Brother Little Niu said that after coming out of that place, one's skills become incredibly powerful," Qi Yi replied earnestly.
"If, in addition to becoming very powerful, it requires you to lose something precious, would you still be willing to go?" Qi Zhenzhen guided him gently.
"Lose what?" Qi Yi asked, confused.
"For example, your true nature," Qi Zhenzhen said, trying to slow her speech. "Brother Yi's true nature is kind and cheerful, and he is warm to others. But if you go through training in that place, these true qualities might all be worn away. Sister isn't being alarmist; it's just that you only know one aspect of that place, not the other. While it can certainly improve your skills, you will lose many precious qualities."
Qi Zhenzhen briefly explained the rules of survival in that place: survival of the fittest, filled with bloodshed.
In her previous life, Qi Zhenzhen had been a mercenary, walking that very path. A group of people trained together, and only a few emerged as victors. To secure a spot, they were forced to act against companions they had trained with day in and day out. At such times, if one's heart wasn't hardened, they would lose their life. To survive, one had to abandon their true self and become a cruel, cold-blooded person.
Qi Yi did not need to walk such a path.
"I ask you, between studying and martial arts, which path do you prefer?" Qi Zhenzhen asked again when Qi Yi remained silent.
Qi Yi recalled that he had started practicing martial arts to strengthen his body. His eldest sister had said that studying was not an easy task, and without a good body, the path of scholarship could not be sustained. That was why he began practicing martial arts.
"Studying, I prefer studying," Qi Yi stated firmly.
Qi Zhenzhen breathed a sigh of relief. Boys of this age did not like to take advice from others. Sometimes, once they made up their minds, even nine oxen couldn't pull them back. Qi Zhenzhen had truly feared Qi Yi would be like that, but fortunately, this boy still clearly knew which path he wanted to take.
"Therefore, it is not advisable to put the cart before the horse," Qi Zhenzhen said, patting Qi Yi's shoulder.
She had originally intended to pat his head, but at some point, the boy's height had grown rapidly, and he was now half a head taller than her.
"I will remember what Eldest Sister said," Qi Yi said seriously.
"Not just this time, but in the future, whenever you encounter something, you must ask your own heart what your true intention is," Qi Zhenzhen added.
Qi Yi nodded, feeling that his eldest sister's words were very reasonable. Following her advice, he was sure, would not lead him astray.
To Qi Yi, Qi Zhenzhen was not just an elder sister but more like a wise mentor and friend. Whatever he didn't understand, he could ask his sister and get an answer. Whatever problems he couldn't solve, he could turn to his sister, and she would always resolve them perfectly. In his heart, his sister was synonymous with omnipotence.
Qi Zhenzhen gave a few more instructions, and Qi Yi agreed to each one.
Madam Yun was very pleased, feeling increasingly that Qi Zhenzhen was thoughtful. For a moment, she thought of her own daughter, hoping that somewhere, she was living very well.
After the mother and her two children finished their meal, Qi Yi needed to return to the training grounds, while Qi Zhenzhen had to go back to the Duke's mansion. As the training grounds and the Duke's mansion were in the same direction, the siblings decided to go together. On the way, Qi Zhenzhen mentioned Amuer's matter, only to discover that Qi Yi already knew Amuer.
"Amuer is very skilled in archery and horsemanship; he has guided me in archery," Qi Yi said. "Moreover, he is honest and forthright, much easier to get along with than those noble young masters with their convoluted minds."