Chang Geng was caught off guard, accidentally licked his finger, and bit into his mouth's soft meat in his panic. He called out in pain and angrily glared at the trouble-bringer Shiliu.

"Withered flowers can bloom again; a person's youth cannot remain."

Shen Shiliu did not look back. He picked up a single bean, lifted it, and pointed in the direction of the sun. His hands were incredibly beautiful, slender and white, like a pair that belonged to the youths of pristine families, more befitting to lift a chess piece, or to carry a notebook; holding this black bean was very unsuitable.

Shen Shiliu said with the manner of someone who had been through many ups and downs: "When you grow up, you will understand that one's youth is only as big as the size of a bean, it will pass over you in the blink of an eye. Never again will it return. Only then will you realize how much time you have wasted."

Chang Geng: " ...... "

He really could not understand how someone like Shiliu had the audacity to talk about a thing such as 'wasted time'?

Just then, the crowd of people near the city gate suddenly burst into cheers.

Even if one was half-blind, they could still see the 'Giant Kite' lowering down from a distance.

Countless flaming fins were pointing upward, tons of billowing white smoke was bursting out, which resembled cotton wool falling right out of the sky.

Then, a huge ship slowly emerged from the vast expanse of the smoke. The eight dragon heads decorating the front of the vessel appeared as if they were real, cutting through the clouds as it moved forward with unparalleled might.

Shen Shiliu was startled at first. Then he tilted his head, and the cinnabar-color beauty mark on his earlobe appeared to be flashing red. He frowned, whispering: "How come the ship is so light this year?"

But his words quickly faded into the loud thundering noise of the Giant Kite surrounding them and the lively cheers of the crowd. Even Chang Geng, who was right by his side, did not catch them.

The children in the crowd held onto their small bamboo baskets, fighting to get in the best position and wait for the rations.

A group of officers and men lined up and moved out, and the soldiers in charge of signaling were standing behind the three zhang* tall tong hou**, awaiting command.

*丈, an ancient unit of measurement, equal to 3.2 meters.

**铜吼, lit. copper roar, name of the horn speaker in this universe.

The 'tong hou' was like a big horn, placed side-by-side on the city's wall. There was a circle of green rust on the outside, and they were pleasant looking - their shape resembled a carved flower.

The commander took a deep breath, raised his voice, and spoke into one end of the tong hou. The sound coming out from the other end was magnified by a dozen, echoing endlessly.