Chapter 950: Beating (Part 1) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]

Gong Xichou glanced at them sideways.

He said in an unfriendly tone, "What kind of expressions are those?"

In these people's eyes, what kind of unreasonable and reckless person was Gong Xi Chou? Tsk, he likes to solve problems with force because it's easier. If you can solve it with your fists, why bother with your brains to scheme and plot?

But that doesn't mean he's brainless.

If he weren't a little shrewd, he wouldn't have been able to fool even Tang Guo, let alone live to this age: "You all judge people by their appearance, I don't know how you grew up."

Uncle Lin and Fang Yan and the others: "..."

I never expected that I would be taught a lesson by Gong Xichou.

Just as Uncle Lin was thinking of smoothing things over, a grasshopper made of straw fell from the sky and landed on Gong Xichou's shoulder. He looked at the unmoved Gong Xichou, then at the grasshopper, and thought to himself, "Has this guy gone mad with anger?"

Martial arts practitioners are highly vigilant.

The stronger one is, the stronger their unconscious self-protection becomes. If you casually approach any martial artist, you might have your hands broken or even be killed before you even touch them! The discipline that martial artists cultivate over the years is no joke!

Gong Xi Chou, however, remained unmoved by the grasshopper.

Is it so easy to get close to him?

The answer is clearly no.

Gong Xiqiu raised his hand, took the grasshopper from the straw, looked up at a window of the tall building across the street, and waved in that direction.

Ji Moqiu asked, "Is it someone we know?"

Gong Xichou laughed and said, "He is my benefactor."

A moment later, a figure leaped out of the window and landed lightly not far from Gong Xichou, exclaiming in surprise, "It really is you."

Gong Xichou returned the grasshopper woven from straw to her. The young woman smiled and took it, then turned and tossed it back to the girl who was shorter than her: "When are you going to change this habit?"

Gong Xiqiu looked at the young woman: "Your student?"

“I haven’t even truly mastered my craft yet, how could I possibly be a teacher? This child is a distant relative from the same clan; my great-grandfather took a liking to her and raised her in our household. She’s young, but she’s quite precocious, and she has a particular fondness for talented young men who pass by.” The young woman flicked the girl’s brow with her finger. “There aren’t many children in our household, so everyone spoils her. Please don’t be angry, Master Gongxi.”

The girl snorted and hid behind the young woman.

Although the young woman spoke euphemistically, Gong Xiqiu understood that he had been harassed in the street.

The one who teased him was still a child.

It was just a harmless joke, especially since the person in question was a member of his benefactor's clan. Gong Xichou didn't have a temper and chuckled self-deprecatingly, saying, "At my age, being her father would be considered late marriage. How can I be considered a young talent? The young lady has misjudged me."

Upon hearing this, the girl's eyes widened suddenly.

Seemingly surprised that Gong Xichou was so much older than he appeared, she cast a questioning look at the young woman accompanying her, who nodded in confirmation. The girl pouted and said, "So, you're a Martial Arts Warrior? Why aren't you wearing the Martial Arts Tiger Talisman?"

Gong Xichou said, "I don't have that habit."

The girl was dissatisfied with the answer, and with a hint of pride, she raised her chin slightly and said, "But this is Fengluo! Didn't you see the entry notice when you entered the city?"

Gong Xichou glanced at the young woman and shook his head.

He hadn't really paid attention to any of the rules for entering the city.

The young woman explained, "Requiring the wearing of the Martial Tiger Tally is also to verify identity and reduce unnecessary conflicts."

Most people would weigh the token they see.

In the first six months after the capital's completion, fights frequently broke out. To maintain order, this regulation was introduced. Violators, if discovered, could be barred from entering the capital openly for several years, and those who sneak in would be arrested.

If caught, you could end up spending seven days in jail.

Gong Xichou: "..."

"However, Gongxi Langjun is an exception."

In name, Gongxi Chou was also a general of Kang State.

The young woman secretly glanced at the group of people accompanying Gong Xichou, and some of them looked familiar, as if she had seen them somewhere before.

When her gaze swept over Uncle Lin, she paused, the inexplicable sense of familiarity growing stronger. Perhaps she lingered on Uncle Lin for too long, for the others were also looking at her with a hint of inquiry in their eyes. She suddenly smiled and said, "Judging from your travel-worn appearances, you must be weary from your journey. It's fate that we've met. Why don't I treat you all to a cup of tea?"

Chao Lian nodded and said, "Ms. Lin has gone to great lengths."

The young woman before them hadn't changed much from four years ago, only appearing more mature, elegant, and composed, like a piece of warm, lustrous jade, or a gentle, fleeting breeze. The young woman led the group back to the high-rise building and had the banquet re-arranged for the guests.

The girl leaned against the window again, looking down at the commotion.

Her fingers flew nimbly, and soon another grasshopper appeared. She peeked out, spotted someone, and threw it down. Soon, several angry roars came from downstairs.

The girl giggled and pulled the forked pole away.

The young woman shook her head with amusement: "Aren't you going to run away?"

Footsteps echoed upstairs from outside the private room. The girl pushed open the window and climbed out: "Aunt, I'll go back later."

The girl disappeared without a trace, and the door to the private room was opened.

"You, surnamed Lin—" The boys who pushed open the door fell silent the moment they saw the people inside, and hurriedly bowed and apologized.

The young woman pointed to the window.

The boys blushed, bowed, thanked them, and withdrew.

Gong Xichou and his companions had never seen such a scene before.

It wasn't that they were inexperienced; rather, they had spent most of their lives wandering and struggling, either killing or fighting, or on their way to killing. In their memory, it was extremely rare to see someone so old still so playful and innocent. If they had been like that in their youth, they would be skeletons by now. The young woman smiled, "Those were her classmates, just playing around."

The academy rarely had a holiday, and the children, who had been confined for more than half a year, couldn't wait to get out and enjoy themselves. The girl pestered her, who rarely had a day off, to come out for a stroll, and she agreed. She just didn't expect to run into Gong Xichou: "Normally, they are quite calm and composed."

Gong Xichou sighed, "It's good to be a little mischievous."

He was much more mischievous during his years in the clan's territory.

The young woman's gaze fell on the silent Ji Moqiu: "Is this young master... a junior member of the Gongxi family?"

Just by looking at their appearances, you can tell they are related by blood.

It's just unclear whether he's Gongxi Chou's son or nephew.

"Yes, he's my older brother's child, his name is—"

Gong Xichou's mind suddenly went blank at this point.

I've always called him my nephew, and I know his courtesy name is "Shaobai," but I really don't know his full name.

There was a moment of awkwardness in the private room.

Until Qiu of Jimo came to the rescue.

"My surname is Jimo, my given name is Qiu, and my courtesy name is Shaobai."

Lin Feng didn't quite understand the customs of the Gongxi clan. He was curious as to why the uncle and nephew didn't have the same surname. He saw Gongxi Chou staring blankly at Jimo Qiu with a somewhat confused expression. There was no dispute that his nephew's surname was Jimo. His divine power and equipment that belonged to the high priest were genuine. It was perfectly reasonable for him to change his surname from Gongxi to Jimo. But why was he called "Qiu"?

Which "autumn" is it?

How come you have the same name as my older brother?

Although the Gongxi clan doesn't adhere to the strict rules of the secular world, they still value seniority and respect for elders. Generally, they avoid using the same names as their elders. The eldest nephew's name… could it be that the eldest brother, placing high hopes on him, deliberately gave his own name to his eldest son? That would make sense. After some thought, Gongxi Chou suppressed his rising doubts.

Upon hearing this, the young woman sincerely congratulated Gong Xichou.

Gongxi Chou's long-standing absence in search of his brother and nephew was an open secret among the Kang Kingdom's high-ranking officials. Now that he has brought his eldest nephew back, it means that Gongxi Chou will not be leaving again anytime soon, which is good news for the Kang Kingdom, where border tensions are high.

She then looked at Fang Yan and the others.

He tentatively inquired, "Are you all former subordinates of Lord Gu?"

Fang Yan and the others introduced themselves one by one, and finally it was Uncle Lin's turn.

The young woman had frequently accompanied the army in her early years and had some impression of Gu Ren's sworn brothers, recognizing them even after many years. However, she was completely unfamiliar with this silent middle-aged scholar. Judging from their conversation, the middle-aged scholar was most likely one of Gu Ren's former subordinates who had miraculously survived. Just as this thought crossed her mind, she heard Uncle Lin introduce himself: "My name is Lin Chao, courtesy name Yanchao."

The young woman's hand trembled as she held the teacup, spilling the tea.

She looked up in astonishment at Uncle Lin's face.

The unusual reaction drew curious glances from Fang Yan and the others.

What is the relationship between this young lady and Uncle Lin?

"Fourth Uncle!"

Uncle Lin was stunned and asked, "What?"

The woman hurriedly stepped forward: "Fourth Uncle, it's me, Jiaojiao!"

Uncle Lin's astonishment was palpable. He instinctively turned his gaze to Chao Lian, the only one who knew about his relationship with the Lin family and had seen Lin Feng as an adult. But Chao Lian slapped his forehead, only now remembering the matter.

He nodded hurriedly: "Yes, that's right."

Uncle Lin finally came to his senses, staring in disbelief at his now mature niece, trying hard to recall her innocent appearance from years ago. He knew he would encounter relatives on this trip, but he never expected it to be so unexpected.

After a long pause, he managed to utter a few words with difficulty.

"Good, good, good... Jiaojiao has grown up too." Looking more closely at Lin Feng's appearance, there was indeed some resemblance between his eyebrows and eyes and his elder brother and sister-in-law. "How is Grandfather?"

Lin Feng said, "My great-grandfather was in very good health."

Perhaps regretting missing Lin Feng's gradual enlightenment and growth, he is now keeping a close eye on the younger generation—as the situation within Kang Kingdom stabilizes, several clansmen who went missing years ago, or their descendants, have been found. The girl from earlier was one of them.

That's why the mansion is so lively.

Now that my fourth uncle has returned, my great-grandfather will be overjoyed.

Uncle Lin asked again, "Where are my elder brother and the others?"

Lin Feng said dejectedly, "We had some contact in the early years, but the political situation there was not very stable, and communication between the two places was very difficult."

Uncle Lin sighed repeatedly upon hearing this.

"This is truly a cruel twist of fate."

Upon entering Kang, he clearly sensed that this country was different from others. Based on current intelligence, the ruler placed great importance on the basic needs of the common people, most evident in the fact that one rarely saw beggars or the elderly on the streets! The closer one got to the capital, the cleaner and tidier the clothes of the common people became. Even in less affluent areas, where patches could be seen on the clothes, the complexions of the common people were generally healthy.

It's extremely rare to see someone so hungry that their cheeks are gaunt.

The official road was flat and accessible in all directions.

The fields are neat and the crops are thriving.

It's hard to imagine that this is a young country that is not rich in resources in any aspect and has only been established for five years.

The Lin family's relocation back then did indeed avoid the immediate troubles, but it didn't bring lasting stability. They endured so much hardship along the way; who knows how many members of the family are still alive? Hearing about the political instability in that area deepened his worries, and he let out another long sigh.

"Have the elder brothers said they'd be coming back?"

Lin Feng shook his head: "It wasn't mentioned."

Even if you have this thought, coming back won't be easy.

"Fourth Uncle, where are you staying right now?" Lin Feng asked tentatively, secretly hoping that he could go home to see his great-grandfather tonight.

Uncle Lin said, "It's not decided yet."

Lin Feng was delighted upon hearing this: "In that case, why don't we rest at your home for the night and send someone to contact the Duke's Mansion tomorrow?"

Fang Yan and his group will definitely be looking for the Gu family.

Kang State currently has only one Duke's Mansion.

"In that case, I'll have to trouble you, Miss Lin."

Lin Feng's mansion was unexpectedly spacious.

When they returned, their great-grandfather had already gone to bed, and Lin Feng didn't want to send anyone to disturb him, so he first settled his fourth uncle and the others in the guest courtyard. Although the guest courtyard was uninhabited year-round, it was regularly cleaned by someone. Lin's fourth uncle put down his luggage and looked around the room.

The furnishings weren't particularly luxurious, but they were better than he had imagined.

If I remember correctly, the Lin family moved away with the rest of their family, taking most of their assets with them. The savings they left behind probably wouldn't be enough to build such a house. I wonder how much hardship my little niece suffered because of it. Lin Feng couldn't help but laugh when he heard his sigh.

"No, it wasn't; the Lord paid for it."

Uncle Lin looked at her in confusion: "The King?"

Lin Feng: "The Lord said this is a form of repayment."

Shen Tang's initial start-up fund, which consisted of confiscated Lin family assets, was something she remembered for Lin Feng. She had initially intended it as a dowry for him, but unexpectedly, so many things happened. This "dowry" became an initial investment. When the capital was completed, Lin Feng originally planned to rent a house with his great-grandfather and the rest of the family, but Shen Tang generously agreed.

He gifted the house to Lin Feng.

It has a great location and exquisite decoration.

The prices of residences in the same area have risen accordingly.

Lin Feng would have a hard time affording that meager salary.

Uncle Lin listened with great interest, occasionally smiling, feeling both gratified and worried about the path Lin Feng had taken over the years.

"Thank you for your hard work over the years."

Lin Feng takes care of the elderly who remain in the clan's territory.

This left Uncle Lin feeling uneasy.

As her uncle, these responsibilities should have been borne by her brothers, but now a junior has to shoulder them.

Lin Feng lit a lamp for him: "It's nothing to complain about. As the head of the Lin clan, it's my duty to shoulder these responsibilities. You don't need to blame yourself."

Uncle Lin almost choked on his own saliva.

"Varied--"

Lin Feng looked at him and said, "This is part of the reason why my father and the others are unwilling to come back. I am the head of this branch of the Lin family."

Uncle Lin silently processed this shocking news.

Lin Feng didn't say anything more.

He simply said, "Fourth Uncle has been gone for too long. Kangguo is different from other places now. You can get used to some things gradually."

"It's getting late, Fourth Uncle, you should go to bed early."

Lin Feng nodded to him and stepped back out the door.

When leaving the guest house, they encountered Gong Xichou climbing over the wall.

The latter showed no embarrassment at climbing over the host's wall as a guest: "Does Lin Xiaoma know where my old subordinates are?"

|ω`)

My essay, which I wrote this morning, was deleted! (I'm so angry!)

Regarding the courtiers fighting in the previous chapter, that's quite normal. After all, this isn't the era of the Manchurian gentry. The relationship between the emperor and his ministers wasn't as rigid as people might think. Going back further back, when a minister bowed to the emperor, the emperor would return the bow (the practice of punishing someone for their words or the prevalence of literary inquisitions came much later. In fact, even if a minister criticized the emperor to his face, he generally wouldn't get into trouble. Some officials' duty was to supervise the emperor, let alone be beheaded or have their entire family wiped out).

Upon meeting the emperor, they would stand and bow with their hands clasped in greeting (from standing to kneeling and kowtowing, the status of a subject is truly astounding...).

It was not uncommon for court officials to fight, and there were even instances of ambushing and beating them on their way home from court (there was apparently one instance of someone being killed during a court session, but such cases are rare). This does not mean that court officials fighting meant that the emperor lacked control over them (the emperor's practice of treating his officials like servants only lasted for one dynasty).

(End of this chapter)