Since the upheaval in the palace, after several twists and turns, they finally obtained a crucial clue to Ursa's whereabouts—her hotown, Rah.
However, at this point, their investigation had to temporarily halt.
The reason was simple: Rah is a small, remote town in the Fire Nation, and to investigate, they would have to go there in person.
But neither Kahn, Azula, nor Zuko's current situations allowed them to leave the capital; even Azula was helpless.
After a fit of frustrated rage, she could only reluctantly give up and wait for the right mont.
And this wait lasted for over a year.
The Fire Nation was currently engaged in an all-out war against the entire world, yet life within its borders remained peaceful and prosperous, which Kahn found sowhat surreal.
Amidst the war, Ozai did not forget to continue sidelining Iroh.
According to information Azula overheard, almost all the generals in the Fire Nation army had been replaced.
Iroh had indeed beco a retired old man whom no one paid attention to.
However, Ozai's progress did not seem entirely smooth.
A Rear Admiral nad Jeong Jeong, dissatisfied, defected and fled.
His whereabouts remained unknown to this day, causing quite a stir.
Because of this incident, Iroh, with a beaming smile, was kicked out of the council chamber by Ozai, yet he seed unusually pleased.
Jeong Jeong was also one of the Fire Nation's extrely rare firebending masters and a Rear Admiral, so he likely had so connection with Iroh.
It was a pity that when Kahn asked him about it, he only spoke in riddles and then smiled without explaining, truly an old enigma.
Iroh had also successfully transford from a muscular, fierce general into a pot-bellied, benevolent old man.
Coupled with his gray hair, he now looked less like Ozai's brother and more like his uncle when they stood together.
But if anyone were to assu Iroh had beco a harmless lamb because of his appearance, they would be gravely mistaken.
Over this past year, Kahn's strength had improved rapidly, yet he had never won a single spar against Iroh.
Although they used the sa techniques and their power was roughly similar, whenever they fought, Iroh could always effortlessly neutralize Kahn's attacks with a smile, making it impossible for Kahn to grasp the limits of his strength.
This was a true firebending master; in terms of understanding fire and firebending, Iroh stood at a height Kahn could not yet hope to reach.
What else was there to say?
Keep practicing.
The only relatively dangerous incident during this period was when Ozai suddenly rembered Kahn during the New Year and took the ti to summon him, wanting to see the results of Azula's influence.
Fortunately, after spending so much ti with Azula, Kahn's acting skills had improved considerably, and with her cooperation, they successfully bluffed their way through.
Afterward, he secretly cursed Ozai for three days and three nights.
Aside from that, the rest of the ti was relatively peaceful.
He delved deeper into firebending, learned chi blocking, read books, and occasionally indulged in so leisure.
Before he knew it, he had already turned twelve.
Kori only studied here for less than a school year.
After the situation around Yu Island stabilized, her mother eagerly took her back ho.
No matter how safe the capital was, for them it was still living abroad; Yu Island was their true ho.
Honestly, if it weren't for Kori's safety, her mother would rather have stayed with her husband.
Her husband had no firebending talent and was just an ordinary person.
If a conflict truly broke out, she was far more capable than he was.
As one of his few friends, Kahn personally saw Kori and her mother off on the day of their departure.
Kori, uncharacteristically, did not act like her usual tomboyish self but instead showed the reluctant deanor of a young girl, which was a rare sight for him.
After so teasing and playful banter, the sadness of parting eased considerably.
Before saying goodbye, they once again invited Kahn to visit Yu Island in the future, and he naturally agreed with a nod.
At twelve or thirteen, the Fire Nation's six-year compulsory education was coming to an end.
After that, everyone would either return to inherit their family businesses, join the military, work for a living, or begin integrating into society as another cog in the machine.
Of course, they could also continue their education by entering higher institutions.
Although the competition was fierce, graduating guaranteed a respectable position and was also the best path for commoners to enter politics.
Kahn did not plan to continue his studies.
Politics held little aning for him, and besides, as soone within the imperial circle, becoming an official would be effortless.
Most of his classmates were also descendants of high-ranking officials and nobles, and the majority had no intention of pursuing further education.
Only a small number of true academic elites would choose that path.
The bolder ones would join a relatively safe military branch as junior officers to gain experience.
Most planned to return and follow their parents' arrangents, living routine lives.
The lazier ones would simply rely on their families, enjoying a lifeti of wealth and privilege.
Everyone had a bright future.
How to put it?
As the saying goes, all roads lead to Ba Sing Se, but so people are born already living there.
Very true.
Azula, Mai, and Ty Lee's group had not changed much, only growing taller, becoming prettier, and getting stronger—perhaps more than just a little stronger.
However, Azula's appearance was sowhat difficult to describe.
It wasn't that she wasn't pretty; it was just that her unchanging masculine attire and terrible personality, when compared to Mai and Ty Lee beside her, made the difference imdiately obvious.
Kahn had been complaining about this for a long ti.
She would be very pretty if she just dressed up properly, but Azula was always inexplicably confident, refusing to listen.
Whenever he brought up the topic, she would start a fight with him.
Better not provoke her.
No fixing her.
Goodbye.
Zuko, however, began trying to beco more composed.
Although the results weren't great, he had been working toward it.
According to him, after turning twelve, he could officially begin learning and gradually participate in discussions of state affairs.
As the future Fire Lord, he had to beco more reliable than before.
He said that, but he still fell into fits of rage whenever provoked by Azula.
Speaking of which, Kahn's writing journey was sowhat bumpy.
He was used to typing on a keyboard in his previous life, so writing by hand was slow and torturous.
But he eventually pushed through, and it beca a great success, earning him his first fortune in this life—congratulations.
The Monkey King once again beca the childhood idol of a generation, and Kahn also gained so national fa, fulfilling a childhood dream.
However, these were rely embellishnts in his colorful life.
To survive in this dangerous world, what he valued most was, of course, the study of firebending and the improvent of his strength.
Over this past year, Kahn's progress had been rapid.
Not only had he fully mastered all the techniques of firebending, but he had also begun integrating them, prompting Iroh to call him a monster.
Even Azula was slightly inferior in comparison.
Azula, who had once seed invincible to Kahn a year ago, was no longer so unattainable.
And as his age and strength grew, that mont drew closer—
The opportunity to travel beyond the capital.
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