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At this moment, Wang Bo fell once again into endless blankness. Although Wang Bo had mentally prepared himself for all of this, when he actually experienced it, he still could not help feeling stunned. The Three Kingdoms period was an era that produced a multitude of exceptional talents, and Yingchuan was the cradle of these talents. One might accidentally hit a future great talent simply by throwing a brick, yet Wang Bo never imagined that he would run into Guo Jia right off the bat.

Who was Guo Jia? Anyone familiar with the Three Kingdoms period would certainly know of him. Naturally, our Wang Bo was also a fan of Guo Jia. Widely known as a ghost talent, Guo Jia was praised in historical records as "a man of exceptional stratagems and planning, an extraordinary scholar of his time." Cao Cao commended him for his surpassing insight, calling him his "incomparable counselor." The credit for Cao Cao's unification of the northern territories was largely owed to him. However, heaven is often jealous of brilliant talents, causing him to pass away early before reaching the age of forty. Had Guo Jia not died prematurely, the brilliance of his guiding star would have rivaled that of Zhuge Liang.

People often said that acquiring either Wolong or Fengchu would grant one the empire, but in Wang Bo's view, possessing Guo Fengxiao alone was sufficient to pacify the realm.

"Little Bo, what are you pondering?" Seeing Wang Bo fall into a trance once again, Sima Hui, who stood nearby, asked.

"Ah, nothing, nothing," Wang Bo shook his head and hurriedly replied.

"You child..." Sima Hui pointed at Wang Bo and shook his head helplessly. He sensed that the youth before him concealed quite a few secrets. "Never mind, let's go." With that, Sima Hui continued to lead Wang Bo toward the rear courtyard.

Upon reaching the back courtyard, rows of dwellings appeared before Wang Bo's eyes. The neat and simple rooms looked very comfortable, and looking through the windows, one could see that the interiors were kept spotlessly clean. There were two beds in each room, which meant two students to a quarter.

Sima Hui led Wang Bo past building after building until they reached the innermost one, and then said to Wang Bo with a slightly apologetic tone: "From now on, you shall live in this room."

Wang Bo had no objections regarding which room to stay in. However, seeing Sima Hui's unusual expression, he felt quite puzzled. "Could there be something wrong with the room? Why else would Master Sima wear such a slightly apologetic expression?"

"Then you should rest."

"Farewell, Master." Wang Bo hurriedly bowed to send Sima Hui off. Watching Sima Hui disappear into the distance, Wang Bo turned his attention back to inspect the room that would accompany him for the next few years. From the outside, the room looked completely normal. "Since that is the case, why did Master Sima wear that expression? The problem must lie inside the room," Wang Bo thought to himself, then pushed the door open and walked in.

As soon as he opened the door, a wave of alcohol fumes rushed overwhelmingly toward Wang Bo, making him feel a bit dizzy from the potency. "Could this be a wine cellar? That shouldn't be right." After dispersing the dense aroma of wine from the room, Wang Bo began to inspect his quarters properly. He found the room in complete chaos, with numerous wine jars of various sizes tossed about haphazardly. Furthermore, the bed where he was supposed to sleep in the future was densely packed with jars of wine.

"This..." Seeing the scene before him, Wang Bo finally understood the source of Sima Hui's apology. At the same time, he was filled with curiosity about his future roommate. Who on earth could be so obsessed with alcohol? "Sigh, it seems my fate is a bitter one," Wang Bo sighed up to the heavens, then rolled up his sleeves and set to work cleaning the room.

"Whew..." Wang Bo let out a deep breath. After bustling about for more than half an hour, he finally managed to put the room in order. Collapsing onto the bed, he felt as though he hadn't an ounce of strength left to rise.

"Hmm? Just as I expected. However, isn't this cleaned a bit too thoroughly?" At that moment, a crisp child's voice came from the doorway. Wang Bo raised his head and saw the same child who had made faces at him earlier—or to be precise, Guo Jia—standing outside the door, looking into the room with a faint smile.

"The owner of this room is you?" Wang Bo asked with a look of utter shock.

"That's right." Guo Jia stepped into the room, dropped heavily onto his own bed, and looked at Wang Bo with a smile.

"I should have guessed it was him. Otherwise, who else in the entire academy could be so lawless?" Wang Bo muttered softly as he looked at Guo Jia before him.

"What are you muttering about under your breath?" Guo Jia asked.

"Nothing!" Wang Bo stared and shook his head.

"Is that so?" Guo Jia gazed at Wang Bo with a smile, his bright, lively eyes fixed directly on him.

Wang Bo stared back at Guo Jia. Looking into those piercing, lively eyes, Wang Bo felt an inexplicable sensation of being seen right through. It felt as though nothing could remain hidden from those eyes.

After watching for a while, Guo Jia found it dull. He jumped down from the bed, walked over to the side where Wang Bo had neatly stacked the wine jars, and selected an unopened one. Hugging it in his arms, he walked unsteadily over to Wang Bo and asked, "Top-quality fine wine, care for a drop?" As he spoke, Guo Jia wore a provocative expression.

"He truly is a drunkard." Seeing Guo Jia's fanatical devotion to alcohol, Wang Bo thought with helpless amusement. Yet, seeing Guo Jia's provocative look, Wang Bo felt somewhat piqued. To be looked down upon by a child not even ten years old—even if this person was destined to become a peerless genius renowned throughout later generations—was something he simply could not accept.

"Come then, if you want to drink, who's afraid of whom?" Wang Bo matched the provocation with a challenging expression of his own.

"Hahaha, straightforward!" Guo Jia laughed.

Wang Bo got up to fetch two bowls, while Guo Jia broke the mud seal of the jar. Without bothering with any food, the two of them began to drink bowl after bowl.

Facing this dedicated wine addict, Wang Bo had initially felt a bit apprehensive; if he were truly drunk under the table by a child not yet ten years old, he would genuinely have no face left to meet people. However, Wang Bo's worries proved somewhat unnecessary. Although Guo Jia was obsessed with alcohol, his tolerance and drinking etiquette were shockingly poor. Before even finishing a single jar, Guo Jia's mind was already growing hazy. Through this contest, Wang Bo finally recovered his self-esteem. In the past, he was always the one drinking others under the table, but now he could finally knock someone else down.

"Is this really my idol?" Looking at Guo Jia before him, Wang Bo truly struggled to find the words to describe his feelings. Watching Guo Jia, who had already begun to throw a drunken tantrum, Wang Bo experienced a profound sense of inner conflict. The Guo Jia before his eyes had completely shattered the image of his idol.

"Come on, let's keep drinking! We won't stop until we're drunk!" Guo Jia said, holding up his wine bowl to Wang Bo. Before Wang Bo could respond, Guo Jia's head tilted to the side, and he passed out cold.

Looking at the intoxicated Guo Jia, Wang Bo couldn't help feeling a bit troubled. With great difficulty, he helped Guo Jia onto the bed and then tidied up the room once more.

Having filled his stomach with wine and lacking any appetite for a proper meal, Wang Bo lay down on his bed and drifted into boundless daydreams. "After enduring countless hardships, I have finally arrived at Yingchuan, finally enrolled in Yingchuan Academy, and established a decent relationship with one of Cao Cao's key strategists." Thinking of this, Wang Bo turned his head to glance at Guo Jia on the bed, muttering to himself, "I suppose our relationship can be considered decent."

"Most of my plans have already been realized. What I need to do now is quietly bide my time, waiting for the opportunity to rise in prominence and return in glory to Jizhou—return to Changshan, to Zhending. When that time comes, I must wash the Zhang family in blood to comfort the spirits of my parents and my teacher in heaven." Thinking and pondering, Wang Bo slowly drifted off into dreamland.

Early the next morning, Wang Bo woke up early once again. The habit cultivated over a long period made it nearly impossible for him to sleep in. After getting up, he noticed that Guo Jia was still fast asleep beside him, so he went to wake him up.

Amidst Wang Bo's repeated urgings, Guo Jia finally opened his drowsy eyes. Raising his head, he saw that the sky outside was not yet fully bright. "What time is it even? Why wake up?" Grumbling a complaint, he flopped right back down and continued to sleep.

Seeing Guo Jia's rogue-like behavior, Wang Bo was initially tempted to let him be. However, recalling his fate of dying prematurely, Wang Bo hardened his patience and continued to rouse him.

Subjected to Wang Bo's relentless torture, Guo Jia finally opened his eyes once more in response to the calls. Looking at the Wang Bo before him, deep dissatisfaction welled up in Guo Jia's heart. "You... what on earth are you trying to do? Why disturb my sweet dream?" Guo Jia said with some hesitation. Clearly, having his sleep interrupted made him feel extremely displeased.

"I say, Guo Jia, how long are you planning to sleep? The day's plan lies in the morning, sleeping the time away is no good," Wang Bo persuaded patiently.

"How do you know my name?" Guo Jia asked with suspicion.

"Master told me," Wang Bo replied truthfully.

"That's right, I still don't know your name."

"My name is Wang Bo," Wang Bo replied with black lines crisscrossing his forehead. They had spent the entire night drinking together, yet the other party still didn't know his name.

"Wang Bo is it? Then I'll call you Brother Bo. After all, you drink better than I do," Guo Jia said matter-of-factly.

Hearing this answer, Wang Bo felt dark lines sprout on his forehead again. "Could this kid determine seniority entirely based on drinking capacity?"

"Alright, introductions are done. I'm going back to sleep." With that, Guo Jia prepared to lie down again. But Wang Bo was quick-handed and sharp-eyed, instantly grabbing hold of him.

"Get up, stop sleeping!" Wang Bo pulled Guo Jia out of the room without any room for argument. Once outside, Wang Bo took a deep, refreshing breath, feeling invigorated and exceptionally comfortable. In contrast, Guo Jia hung his head, looking utterly listless and spiritless. Seeing Guo Jia in such a state, Wang Bo felt quite helpless, so he leaned gently close to Guo Jia's ear and whispered a single sentence. Immediately, Guo Jia reacted as if he had taken a stimulant, instantly regaining his energy.

"Brother Bo, you aren't lying to me, are you?" Guo Jia widened his eyes, staring eagerly at Wang Bo.

"Naturally. Do you take me for someone who breaks his word?" Wang Bo asked with a smile. This method of his proved to be overwhelmingly effective on Guo Jia.

"In that case, Brother Bo, lead the way." Guo Jia nodded in agreement.

If one wondered why Guo Jia transformed so drastically, it was entirely thanks to Wang Bo's temptation of offering benefits. Wang Bo had phrased it this way: "When I was young, I was a worker at a winery and learned the art of brewing wine since childhood. If you get up with me every day and learn a set of boxing forms from me, I will personally brew a jar of fine wine for you. It will certainly be a hundred times better than last night's wine—an absolute pinnacle of alcoholic brews, the finest in the world."

For a wine addict obsessed with alcohol like Guo Jia, how could he possibly resist the temptation of such fine wine dangled before him by Wang Bo? At this rate, let alone asking him to learn martial arts, Guo Jia probably wouldn't even refuse if asked to commit thievery or murder—provided, of course, that he had the capability to do so.

"However, hearing is believing, seeing is doubting. You still have to prove it first." Just as Wang Bo was about to begin practicing his boxing, he heard these words from Guo Jia. Turning his head, he saw Guo Jia looking at him with a smile, those clear eyes occasionally flashing with shrewd brilliance.

"This kid never lets the hawk see the rabbit without tossing out a morsel," Wang Bo thought with a wry inward smile. After pondering for a moment, he spoke up: "I don't have the materials on hand right now. After a few days, I will surely present you with fine wine."

"It's a deal then. A gentleman's word is worth a fast horse and a whip." Fearing that Wang Bo might go back on his word, Guo Jia spoke up hurriedly.

"That's only after you've learned the boxing forms," Wang Bo said, anticipating this exact response.

"Come on then, I'd like to see what kind of boxing could possibly stump this young master." Guo Jia curled the corners of his lips, a look of undisguised complacency clearly etched across his face. It was only natural for Guo Jia to act this way; after all, he was exceptionally sharp, and his superior intelligence since childhood allowed him to learn and master things with great speed and effectiveness. A touch of pride and arrogance was entirely normal.

Wang Bo completely ignored Guo Jia's self-satisfaction and threw himself heart and soul into practicing his boxing.

At first, Guo Jia watched with considerable interest, and his imitation of the movements looked somewhat decent. Gradually, however, he found himself unable to keep up with the rhythm. Movements that Wang Bo performed with effortless ease were entirely impossible for him to execute. This left Guo Jia feeling quite bewildered; it seemed that the brain he had always relied upon so heavily could no longer help him here.

After finishing the set of boxing forms, Wang Bo let out a long breath. The more he practiced these Five-Animal Exercises, the more he appreciated their benefits and the more engrossed he became. Ending his posture, Wang Bo turned his head to look at Guo Jia and saw him deep in thought with a bitter expression, his body twisting unceasingly as he tried to strike a particular pose. Yet try as he might, he simply couldn't do it, and not only could he not execute it, but the resulting posture looked utterly comical as well, causing Wang Bo to burst out laughing.

"Well? Who was it earlier that spoke so boastfully, claiming my boxing forms wouldn't puzzle a certain young master?" Wang Bo asked with a smile.

Wang Bo's words acted like a sharp needle, piercing straight into Guo Jia's pride. In an instant, Guo Jia's slightly pale face flushed a brilliant red.

As the sun slowly climbed higher, more and more students woke up. Soon, some of them noticed the actions of Wang Bo and Guo Jia. Curious onlookers gathered around. Seeing Guo Jia performing bizarre movements in the courtyard, the students were both surprised and amused.

Guo Jia enjoyed quite a reputation throughout Yingchuan Academy, famously known as the tyrant of the academy. He was eccentric, his head filled with strange and bizarre notions, and extremely mischievous. However, certain members of the Xun clan held him in high regard, so no matter how big a trouble Guo Jia caused, someone would always cover for him, leaving even the teachers helpless against him. This cemented Guo Jia's title as the little tyrant of the academy. Yet at this moment, the academy's little tyrant was behaving like an obedient child in the courtyard, performing such strange movements—how could it not astonish everyone?

"Guo Jia, what are you doing?" Just as the crowd was pointing and whispering among themselves, a voice rang out from the midst of the onlookers. Hearing the sound, the crowd looked over, eager to see who dared to provoke the little tyrant. But when they saw who it was, an expression of sudden realization dawned upon them. "So it's him," everyone thought in unison. Wang Bo also looked over at the sound and saw a teenage youth whose appearance marked him out immediately as a meticulous person. Being the complete opposite of Guo Jia, he looked every bit the teacher's pet. One could easily imagine the sparks that would fly when two such extreme opposites collided.

"Who is this guy? He looks as if he has a personal grudge against you," Wang Bo asked softly.

"Chen Qun of the Chen clan of Yingchuan," Guo Jia murmured back in a low voice.

"What I do is none of your concern, Young Master Chen," Guo Jia halted his movements, cracked a grin, and stared defiantly at Chen Qun.

"Unreasonable!" Chen Qun snorted coldly, flicked his sleeves, and walked away.

"Just as I thought..." Watching the interaction between the two, Wang Bo felt even more confident in his own assessment.