Chapter 24: Like a lifetime

"Congratulations to the player for completing an exploration of the simulated world. The evaluation of this life simulation is perfect. Your life is brilliant and splendid. It not only broke the upper limit of the class and obtained the true meaning of life, but also left an immortal legend. Do you check the detailed evaluation? and harvest?"

The sky outside the window was already beginning to brighten, casting a gentle light into the room. Beside him lay his young and beautiful wife, a sight that slightly disoriented Lu Bu as he opened his eyes. The wife he had known in the simulated world had long passed away, her image blurred by the passage of time. The wife before him, to Lu Bu's eyes, was a reflection of over sixty years past.

But still, she was undeniably beautiful.

As Lu Bu's grogginess gradually dissipated, his recollections of the past began to take shape, much like the image of his wife's face becoming clear. A faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips. The experience had been wondrous, bidding farewell to the reality of his wife while nurturing an infinite tenderness.

"Why does my husband look at me like this?" Yan's voice broke through the morning quiet, her gaze meeting Lu Bu's. There was a certain expression of affectionate bewilderment in her eyes.

"Cough cough~" Lu Bu cleared his throat, feeling a slight dryness. He couldn't help but avert his gaze as the silk quilt slipped down her form, revealing a momentary sight that felt both familiar and unfamiliar. The moment passed as he coughed a couple of times and then gently pulled the quilt to cover her again, concern evident in his voice, "It's chilly in the morning, you wouldn't want to catch a cold."

The tone he adopted felt more paternal than conjugal. A brazier cast a comforting warmth, creating an environment of cozy reprieve from the cold outside.

"Husband, is something the matter?" Yan's voice held an undertone of confusion. The shifts from last night's ardor to this morning's solicitousness felt a touch incongruent to her.

"How could there be?" Lu Bu replied, getting up from the couch. A reflexive action to stretch his back made him realize something peculiar—his skin around the waist was no longer loose, the familiar ache in his lower back had vanished, and he felt invigorated with a vitality that surpassed his peak in the dream. A sudden realization hit him: he was once again imbued with divine power, the gift of his true origin.

He straightened his posture, standing tall and erect, his chest puffed out. As his fingers brushed over the chiseled muscles of his abdomen, a sense of exhilaration coursed through him.

"Husband~" Yan's voice broke into his thoughts, a hint of playfulness now evident. Lu Bu's initial appearance upon rising had caught her off guard, akin to that of an elder, but the effect was fleeting.

"I had a long dream, and I need time to adjust," Lu Bu explained, sliding back under the quilt with a mischievous grin. The ambiance of the room once again filled with their intimate whispers.

After a half-hour, a freshly attired Lu Bu emerged from the house. The early light of dawn greeted him, and a renewed vitality suffused his being. With the leisure to finally review his evaluation in the life simulator, he sensed that the harvest this time might be particularly rewarding.

As he pondered, information flowed into his mind:

Life Experience: A Farmer's Journey

Current Status: Completed

Status: 1050 (You have surpassed your humble beginnings, transcending your origin and ascending from a destitute farmer to a prominent frontier official. Although the path may not have been free of obstacles, you were bestowed with posthumous honors by the imperial court.)

Reputation: 2000 (With your life, you defended the realm's borderlands, displaying unwavering resolve even in the face of insurmountable odds. Your steadfastness resonated with both the people of the north and the entire nation, and even the foes among the Hu acknowledged your valor. Your legacy shall endure for eternity.)

Descendants: 128 (Through your efforts, your family thrived, producing scholars whose influence endured even until the nation's demise.)

Age: 68 (While this life bore imperfections and disappointments, its brilliance outshone its flaws. A singular blemish is insufficient to mar your luminous existence.)

In spite of the regrets that peppered your journey, your brilliance shines resplendently. In addition to a perfect evaluation and a reward of 3246 life simulation points, you may choose one of the following three options. Moreover, you have the opportunity to inherit a random talent from your dream persona:

1. Swiftness (Your agility and attack speed will be unmatched, akin to a fleeting gust of wind.)

2. Strong Memory (Your memory will far exceed that of ordinary individuals.)

3. Slight Enhancement to the Liver (One of the five internal organs)

You may select one of the three options as your reward, and in addition, you will inherit a talent from your simulated persona. As you lack innate talents in this realm, one will be randomly assigned to you. Select your talent by drawing lots—congratulations on inheriting the trait: Tenacity (Divine rewards favor diligent work, and perseverance enables you to manifest miracles.)

As Lu Bu perused the options, a tinge of perplexity colored his thoughts. After all, in reality, he was already innately gifted, and he couldn't quite fathom the practicality of the trait of tenacity in this world.

His gaze fixed on the three options before him, Lu Bu made a direct choice: the third option. While the first two choices held their appeal, the prospect of gaining power or memory through an external source felt somewhat unnatural to him. Even though he was well aware of the harmlessness of the life simulator, Lu Bu found himself instinctively resistant to power not earned through his own efforts. Comparatively, the enhancement of his internal organs seemed the most acceptable, as it wouldn't provide him with raw strength or agility directly.

As the enhancement was applied to his liver, Lu Bu didn't experience the same dramatic effect he had felt when his heart was strengthened. Not perturbed by the subtleness of the change, he disconnected from the life simulator. He had no intention of rushing back into it; instead, he was content to savor the moments he spent with his wife and children. After a lifetime punctuated by countless life-and-death situations, Lu Bu had developed a more relaxed perspective, focusing primarily on his family. As long as others didn't provoke him, he was willing to let most things slide.

"Prepare some chicken soup for Madame, and arrange for light meals throughout the morning," Lu Bu instructed the butler of the general's residence upon arriving at Chituma.

The butler appeared puzzled, casting a skeptical glance at Lu Bu. "General, are you planning to leave the city?"

"Yes, I have some matters to attend to. Also, make sure to have a jar of fine wine prepared for me," Lu Bu added, adjusting the accessories on his waist. Since he wasn't heading out for combat or hunting, he hadn't brought his Fang Tian Hua halberd or bow and arrow. His sword would suffice. With most people from Heluo having departed, there was little concern that he might face harm.

As Lu Bu made his preparations, he took a deep breath, a sense of contentment and anticipation coursing through him.