If not for the war's reach, Ling Li truly wouldn't have returned to Yu State.
Certainly, his status as an Advanced Scholar far exceeded most of his peers, yet he couldn't overcome his own shortcomings.
Moreover, he held pride in his heart; rather than compare himself to fellow students who also failed, he measured himself against the successful Advanced Scholars.
Thinking that if they succeeded, why should he not?
And thus, he found himself stuck in this dilemma.
Now, at forty-three, while others at this age are enjoying the warmth of their family, with wives, children, and even grandchildren,
he remained unmarried, without even a child.
The family proposed matches for him, but he swore that unless he made it to the list of Advanced Scholars, he would never marry, so he refused them all.
For this reason, how could he bear to return home?
