Chapter 1259: Sibling Strife (Part 1) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]
The young man received his last injection.
Who can live a life without hardship?
The young man's reply left Lin Feng stunned for a long time.
Although her brother wasn't a spoiled brat, he still possessed the arrogance of a scion of a prominent family. On the surface, he was polite to everyone, but only those who truly knew him knew that beneath his gentle demeanor lay an extremely restrained distance. Like many privileged young men from wealthy families, he genuinely categorized people into different classes.
This class distinction did not originate from his own mind, but was influenced by his environment. He naturally believed that governing the country and ensuring its stability was their inherent responsibility, and even more so, a mercy and charity bestowed by those in power upon those in lower positions.
It was truly unexpected for Lin Feng that someone raised in such an environment would say, "Who can live a life without hardship?"
She could tell that these words came from her brother's heart, not from pretense: "Brother, it hurts me even more to hear you say that."
The young man retrieved Lin Feng's dirty clothes.
Although Lin Feng was the head of the household, she was also a busy single woman, and the stewards and servants couldn't manage her too much. She could only see her great-grandfather once every ten days or so, so it was inevitable that she would overlook some details of her daily life. Now that there was war, she became even more careless in her daily life.
If the young man hadn't said anything, she wouldn't have known when her clothes had become torn.
Lin Feng scratched his face awkwardly and thought back carefully.
"It must have been from soldiers getting too close during training and rubbing against each other."
This kind of thing happens often, and Lin Feng is used to it.
"The conditions for marching and fighting are harsh and difficult. Maintaining basic dignity and not being impolite in front of others is already considered meticulous." Watching the young man carefully sew up the hole, Lin Feng leaned on the table, propped his chin on his hand, and looked at his brother mending under the lamp. "How have you been these years, brother?"
The siblings' reunion was hasty, and Lin Feng hadn't had time to properly inquire about his father and brother's experiences over the years. Now that he finally had some free time, he naturally wanted to get to the bottom of it. The young man didn't hide anything, giving a brief account in a calm tone: "...We went south to seek refuge. The journey was filled with war and chaos. We encountered several warlords who tried to extort money from us, but my father paid them off to avoid further trouble. Despite the many setbacks, we finally arrived at our destination smoothly..."
Staying in Lingzhou was a dead end for the Lin family; heading south to seek refuge with relatives offered a chance of survival. After much deliberation, they decided to send the men south with some of their property to scout the area first, and only after confirming the safety of the route would the women follow. However, things didn't go as planned. The unfamiliar environment was far more dangerous than Lingzhou, and they were inevitably ripped off by greedy warlords even while passing through.
What they never expected was that a group of servants born into the household would be tempted by money and murder a group of defenseless and vulnerable women on the way. When they received the bad news, they were less than half a month away from seeking refuge with their relatives, and turning back now was of no use.
Their escape route was cut off, leaving them with no choice but to stumble forward.
At first, the distant relatives were quite welcoming to them.
But when they learned that the majority of the Lin family's wealth lay with the women's group, and that they had been betrayed by the servants halfway through, their attitude immediately changed. Their initial enthusiasm vanished, replaced by their coldest, most mercenary side. The young man understood why; without sufficient wealth, they couldn't afford a proper residence, let alone land or shops. They even had to borrow lodging from relatives. It was only out of consideration for their relationship that they hadn't completely severed ties.
The feeling of living under someone else's roof is truly unpleasant.
Not only was maintaining their usual standard of living impossible, but even their studies and spiritual cultivation were affected. The young man had to learn needlework on his own during that period, as there were no female relatives to care for him; he had to rely on himself for food, clothing, and shelter. He also had an older brother, and the family's limited resources were prioritized for him, making it difficult for the young man to even afford tuition at a prestigious private school. Even so, as a newly arrived "aristocratic family," the Lin family needed to maintain social connections to be accepted; this was a necessary maintenance of their dignity.
From the young people's perspective, this is just putting on a brave face.
We have to pay, or they'll take us all.
In the dim candlelight, the elder brother spoke with bitterness.
They can't return to Lingzhou, and they can't integrate into this foreign land. The more desperate and desolate they are, the more they need to maintain their meager facade. If they lose even this facade, they won't even have the right to associate with local aristocratic families, and their hopes for future prosperity will be even slimmer.
Unable to climb up yet unwilling to fall, the most painful state is being stuck in the middle. Having spent his adolescence in such a difficult and oppressive environment, Lin Feng's most familiar personality had long been worn down: "The hardship of life can be endured... Thinking of the corpses piled up and the roads lined with the dead during the famine years, it is already a blessing from heaven that the Lin family was able to settle down in a new place."
What bothered them was the exclusion and ridicule from local forces.
"If the Lin family wants to prosper, the only way is through an official career."
The young man gave a mocking smile: "It's just not easy to walk on."
"When my father contacted them back then, both families had made arrangements, and the family must have given all the necessary gifts, right?"
The young man said, "A promise is only true at the moment it is made."
The Lin family came seeking refuge with nothing, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call them poor relatives who were just trying to freeload. Naturally, the other party wasn't willing to continue to suffer losses. Coupled with the conflicts of the past few years, not only did they fail to keep their initial promises, but the two sides almost became enemies.
They constantly sabotage and suppress us, both openly and covertly.
The local prominent families were also unwilling to let the Lin family, an outsider, share the spoils. They tried to annex the Lin family several times. As long as the Lin family members agreed to become subordinate, everything, whether it was financial hardship or career setbacks, could be resolved.
The Lin family had no choice but to find another way out.
Lin Feng could sense the bitterness in his words in just a few sentences.
She asked, "Brother, if that's the case—why didn't our great-grandfather return when he contacted you in the first year of the Yuanhuang era?"
If you can't fit in with your hometown, then just go home.
The two families were separated by thousands of miles, and the great-grandfather could only alleviate his longing through letters home once or twice a year. Lin Feng didn't mind her father and brothers returning; the prosperity of the Lin family still depended on its population. If her brothers assisted her, she would have a smoother path in the court.
A strange light flickered in the young man's eyes.
"Wouldn't coming back just make things difficult for you?"
Since it has been divided into two branches, both branches are legitimate.
If Lin Feng is the leader, how can the others respond?
With Lin Feng as his assistant, would the King of Kang and Chu Yao agree?
Could Lin Lingde himself agree to that?
The continuation of a family line is based on which branch prospers and the focus shifts to that branch; no single branch can be passed down from beginning to end.
Like a tree, the trunk directs nutrients towards the branches that grow well, while the branches that don't grow well either remain forever in the shade or try to stretch out to get sunlight.
The decision made back then can only be swallowed with gritted teeth and bitter blood.
Lin Feng frowned at these words: "Brother, you should know that I don't mind these things. How could such a large country as Kang not accommodate two branches of the Lin family? I have lived in Fengluo for a long time, so it is fine to call myself the Fengluo Lin family in the future."
The original Lin family members can still return to Lingzhou.
The young man sewed up everything he could, and smiled bitterly: "Jiaojiao certainly wouldn't mind, but she overlooked human nature. If we just leave like this, dejected and pathetic like stray dogs, what about the tragic deaths of my grandmother, mother, aunt, and cousins? What about all the suffering and humiliation we endured along the way..."
Do they deserve it?
Once you take that step, there's no turning back.
My father and brothers knew all this, and every year when they received the letters from my great-grandfather, they remained silent. No matter how heartbroken they were, they could only grit their teeth and continue on. Besides, there was no turning back then.
Lin Feng could only remain silent about this.
She didn't know what her brothers had gone through over the years that had caused their personalities to become so twisted and extreme, but she knew that the crux of the matter couldn't be resolved with just a few words. All Lin Feng could do was end the conversation.
The brother and sister tacitly agreed not to mention the young man's purpose for coming.
At this crucial juncture in Kangguo's expansion, the young man's intentions might not be what Lin Feng wanted to hear. The young man also said that the Lin family, once separated, could not return, and as a member of it, he naturally couldn't return easily. He wouldn't come without a reason; he must have a purpose.
After finishing his sewing, the young man saw that Lin Feng showed no sign of resting, so he also took out a slightly yellowed and worn booklet.
This is a Taoist scripture.
Lin Feng then noticed that the young man's hair ornament resembled a lotus crown.
"When did you become interested in Taoist scriptures, brother?"
The young man said, "Evening class."
Lin Feng sat up straight: "Evening class?"
The young man then told her, “In my early years, I was just interested. At that time, my family was in dire straits, and it was difficult to continue my studies through normal means. So I thought of taking refuge in the Three Jewels. This practice was very popular in that area, and there were Taoist temples everywhere. Some of these temples were even clan schools, which gathered a large number of talented young men from prominent families… I was delayed for two years because of some things, but I finally got my wish.”
The young man said self-deprecatingly, "But in the end, it's just a hodgepodge."
His body is now a person beyond worldly concerns, but his heart is still attached to the mortal world.
Lin Feng subconsciously didn't ask for details.
Her intuition told her that the experience wasn't pleasant.
The young woman was studying Taoist scriptures during her evening class, while Lin Feng studied a map for a long time by candlelight. This map was drawn by her herself; the lines were simple and clean, marking the course of nearby rivers and mountains, and even the locations of many hidden reefs. While Lin Feng studied it, the young woman's attention remained focused on the Taoist scriptures in her hands, her breathing never faltering.
Lin Feng didn't rest until the middle of the night.
She had placed the map under her pillow.
The young man slept next door to her.
In the dead of night, a dark figure slowly passed through the connecting corridor.
His footsteps were very light, like a ghost.
Just as a hand reached for the door latch, preparing to open the door, a sharp sword whistled through the air, its blade aimed straight for the shadowy figure's vital point. Forced to dodge the sword's momentum, the shadowy figure shifted its stance, and the slanting moonlight illuminated its features clearly.
The master of the sword, Lin Feng.
The dark figure was the young man who was supposed to be sleeping next door.
Lin Feng was not surprised by the young man's actions. Her expression was calm: "Brother, you seem to be in high spirits. Are you planning to go for a moon-viewing night stroll?"
If it weren't for the sword in his hand, it would sound like a normal greeting.
The young man replied, "Yes, let's admire the moon."
Lin Feng scoffed, "A moon-gazing trip that never returns?"
Her sharp questioning did not stir the young man in the slightest; in fact, under the moonlight, his features appeared even gentler: "Seeing that Jiaojiao is doing well, it is time for me to leave so as not to affect you."
Lin Feng's response was to raise his sword and point it at the youth.
"I never knew that my brother's departure without saying goodbye was for my own good!"
The young man stared intently at the sharp sword in Lin Feng's hand for a long time.
He let out a sigh and stopped trying to hide it: "Jiaojiao suspects that your trip is an imitation of Jiang Gan's theft of the letter?"
Lin Feng said, "I never doubted that you're not that stupid."
The young man didn't know whether to laugh or cry at this assessment.
Is this considered a compliment?
“I did come with a purpose, but after spending these past few days with Jiaojiao, I know your temperament and, more importantly, your resolute will. Bringing it up would only be pointless and would damage the only remaining sibling bond between us, so I simply didn’t mention it.” The young man’s tone was as calm as ever. “Leaving without saying goodbye was also to avoid adding to the sadness of parting…”
His real purpose for this trip was to win over Lin Feng.
This task seemed like a pipe dream to him. If Lin Feng could be turned to the side, the Lin family wouldn't be unable to return to its former glory...
When they received the letter from their great-grandfather, some clansmen actually considered swallowing their pride and returning home. Life was tough making a living away from home, but returning meant having the clan's land as a safety net. They could lie low and cultivate their land for a generation or two, and perhaps even prosper. However, this idea couldn't be expressed directly; it had to be hinted at indirectly. But this thought couldn't be hidden from clever people.
Lin Feng understood it at a glance.
He politely declined her suggestion to return to the Lin family and decided to separate from the Lin clan.
While the father was still in charge of the household, his unmarried daughter proposed separating from the main branch of the family and living their own lives. The traditionally conservative father could not accept this. The other members of the clan also fell silent after hearing the reply.
The young man then realized that his sister, whom he hadn't seen for many years, was no longer the soft, cuddly little girl she used to be.
Those with a firm will are not easily swayed by external things.
The young man had no intention of explaining his purpose.
Lin Feng said, "This is not an excuse."
She said coldly, "To prove my brother's innocence, I beg you to bear with this for a few days. After the battle, I will apologize to you with a bundle of thorns on my back."
In short, you can't step out of this door.
The young man looked at Lin Feng, who was blocking his way, and his previously relaxed expression visibly turned serious: "Lingde!"
This was the first time the young man had formally addressed Lin Feng by his courtesy name since the siblings recognized each other. The air was thick with tension, a sense of impending storm brewing. In the darkness, the young man's right hand rested on the sword at his waist. He said, "If I insist on leaving today, what will you do?"
Lin Feng replied without hesitation, "I have no choice but to offend you."
The young man could only grip the hilt of his sword and whispered to Lin Feng, "Of the six arts of a gentleman, I am most skilled in swordsmanship. Be careful!"
Lin Feng's swordsmanship was really not outstanding.
The young man knew this, but what he didn't know was that Lin Feng had strengths in everything except for this weakness, which was why her courtyard had almost no guards or patrols. It wasn't that she didn't care about her safety, but rather that there was absolutely no need for them!
At the base of the wall, dozens of thin, dark shadows crawled along the ground.
The young man recognized this as the eerie and unpredictable [Corpse Vine]. It had been present in several major battles in Kangguo, yet information about its controller remained completely blank. For a moment, he couldn't place it on Lin Feng: "How long has your brother been preparing for this day? Is it really worth you risking everything to kill me just because I left without saying goodbye?"
"Did he simply leave without saying goodbye?"
The young man smiled and asked in return, "Have I done anything else, brother?"
Lin Feng said calmly, "A dream!"
A single word caused the young man's expression to change drastically.
Lin Feng: "People are least wary in their dreams. The Ministry of Justice of Kang State is skilled in using torture and sorcery, including torture in dreams. Although I am not from the Ministry of Justice, a close friend of mine is there and knows about this. If I'm not mistaken, this is your way of the scholar, isn't it?"
Seeing that Lin Feng had noticed, Qing sighed.
"Then guess what kind of scholar's way this is?"
()
“Once upon a time, Zhuangzi dreamed he was a butterfly, fluttering about happily, feeling quite content! He didn’t know he was Zhuangzi. Suddenly he awoke, and there he was Zhuangzi again. He didn’t know whether he was Zhuangzi dreaming he was a butterfly, or a butterfly dreaming he was Zhuangzi. There must be a distinction between Zhuangzi and the butterfly. This is called the transformation of things.”
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