TSFLIP Chapter 1013

Chapter 1013: Strategy for the Poisonous Manor Lord

She knew at least a little of The Art of War. Thanks to her best friend, who loved studying classical literature and used to recite passages in her ear every day, she had ended up memorizing bits of it whether she wanted to or not.

Her best friend?

Feng Guang scratched her head. Did she even have a best friend?

The phrase had suddenly popped into her mind. She thought about it for a long time but couldn’t figure out why. When she looked down again, she saw Feng Yan staring in her direction without blinking. Only then did she snap back to reality—this child was still waiting for her to speak. Now wasn’t the time to be thinking about other things.

This was a fictional dynasty. She had checked earlier in the Imperial Study: the emperor owned many books on military strategy, but not a single copy of The Art of War. If she had Feng Yan memorize passages from it, maybe it could give him an unexpected advantage someday.

Feng Guang said, “Forget about that book. I’ll teach you a few lines instead.”

Feng Yan casually tossed the book in his hand onto the ground.

This kid really did everything straightforwardly and roughly. But when Feng Guang remembered the bruises she had just seen on his body—patches of blue and purple—her sympathy rose again.

After thinking for a moment, she said gently,
“Those who arrive first on the battlefield and await the enemy are at ease; those who arrive later and rush into battle are exhausted. Therefore, those skilled in warfare bring the enemy to them and are not brought by the enemy… Can you remember that?”

“Those who arrive first on the battlefield and await the enemy are at ease; those who arrive later and rush into battle are exhausted. Therefore, those skilled in warfare bring the enemy to them and are not brought by the enemy.”

He recited it word for word, without missing a single character.

Feng Guang stared in surprise. “Little Feng Yan, your memory is amazing!”

He only said calmly, “What comes next?”

She had never seen a child remain so calm after being praised. Feng Guang cleared her throat and continued:

“If you wish the enemy to come to you, entice them with profit. If you wish to prevent them from coming, harm them. Thus, if the enemy is at ease, make them toil; if they are well-fed, make them hungry; if they are settled, make them move. Attack where they are unprepared, and appear where they do not expect you. One who can march a thousand miles without exhaustion travels through places where no enemy lies.”

“‘If you wish the enemy to come to you, entice them with profit. If you wish to prevent them from coming, harm them…’”

…

They spent the entire afternoon like that. By the end, Feng Guang felt completely defeated. Compared with her, this child seemed like someone who had just come out of the gaokao exams. The ability to remember something perfectly after hearing it only once was something countless people could only dream of.

She crouched beneath the willow tree, surrounded by a deep gloom.

Feng Yan walked over and also crouched beneath the tree. He didn’t realize that he was only about ten centimeters away from her. In a quiet voice, he asked, “Did I disappoint you?”

Feng Guang froze for a moment. “Why would you ask that?”

“Because you suddenly stopped talking.”
He couldn’t see her, and he was afraid she had left.

“No, I’m not disappointed at all. You’re very smart. I’m actually really happy.”

What a sensitive child. Feng Guang rested her chin in her hand and admired the boy’s small but rather handsome face. Now that he was clean and had been eating well these past few days, he already looked much better. At this rate, he might grow up to be a devastatingly handsome man someday.

Feng Yan suddenly lowered his head. “I’m sorry.”

She was startled. “Why are you apologizing to me?”

“I dug up the willow tree’s roots before. I didn’t know it was you.”

Feng Guang instantly felt like laughing and crying at the same time. “Don’t worry. I may be a little spirit living in the willow tree, but I’m not the tree itself. It’s just my temporary home. I can hear its voice. The willow tree says it’s happy to help you and keep you alive.”

After all, he was just a child—and one who rarely interacted with others. It wasn’t surprising that he believed Feng Guang’s story about being a little tree spirit.