Chapter 868: Great-grandfather, it's Jiaojiao! [Requesting monthly votes]
"General Chao, what makes you say that?"
Lin Feng revealed the young martial artist's true identity.
She raised her hand to the hilt of her sword, her gaze shifting from the bloodstains on the stone slab to Chao Lian's face. The soldiers confronting the guards parted like a receding tide upon hearing the sound. Lin Feng and his companions slowly stepped forward, the young martial artist looking at Lin Feng with a bewildered expression.
He then put away his weapon: "Lady Lin?"
Lin Feng stepped forward and bowed respectfully. Chao Lian quickly returned the bow, and she said with a slight smile, "Thank you, General Chao, for showing mercy just now. Otherwise, the situation today would have been much more difficult to handle."
Chao Lian looked reserved: "I wouldn't dare."
After parting ways with his sixth and thirteenth brothers, he embarked on his journey back. During this time, the situation in the Northwest Continent changed drastically, and unexpectedly, Shen Jun and Wu Zhaode emerged victorious. Huang Lie was defeated and killed, leaving him with no one to seek revenge. He was always concerned about the safety of his elder brother and relatives. Passing through Uncle Lin's hometown, he thought that delivering a letter wouldn't take much longer, so he decided to deliver it first.
It was the middle of the night when Chao Lian arrived, but surprisingly, the owner of the Lin residence was still awake, his brow furrowed with worry. Chao Lian explained his identity and purpose, recounting some of Uncle Lin's recent situation. The owner of the Lin residence became emotional, pleading with Chao Lian to wait a little longer so he could write a letter home to Uncle Lin, who was wandering far from home. This request was perfectly reasonable, and he naturally did not refuse, agreeing with a slight smile.
result--
The letter from home had barely arrived when someone came to attack.
Chao Lian initially intended to strike hard, but upon learning that the group was acting under Shen Jun's banner and were behaving convincingly, he exercised caution and held back. He only injured the men, not killed them. The Lin residence's guards were inadequate and were surrounded by the invading enemy.
As he pondered how to deal with the situation, someone shouted out his identity. Chao Lian looked in the direction of the voice and finally recognized Lin Feng.
Chao Lian and Lin Feng had met a few times, but they were not familiar with each other.
Rather than recognizing Lin Feng, it would be more accurate to say he recognized the unique floral monogram on her waist. Lin Feng's appearance indirectly confirmed that this group of soldiers belonged to Shen Tang's command. This put Chao Lian in a difficult position: "May I be so bold as to ask, Lady Lin, what is the purpose of your visit?"
Lin Feng spoke in the gentlest tone, yet with the most chilling words: "Our lord has received accurate information that the Lin family and a group of noble families are secretly plotting against you. However, our lord is kind and benevolent, and she is unwilling to engage in mass killings and bloodshed. Therefore, she has ordered us to go and persuade them. If the Lin family sincerely repents, this matter will be resolved with a minor punishment."
Chao Lian sighed, "Shen Jun is still so kind, but people are often bullied because of their kindness. Sometimes, a ruthless approach is necessary."
He couldn't help but think of his older brother.
If his elder brother had been more ruthless, perhaps there would have been a chance for survival. Compared to those heartless bastards in the Dragon Slaying Bureau, he was far too innocent and kind.
Now that her elder brother has passed away, Shen Jun is the only remaining gentleness.
Chao Lian's words angered the old man with a cane on one side.
The latter gave him a look as if he had seen a ghost.
He said sternly, “Shen Youli is perverse and greedy, extorting from powerful families time and time again, which arouses everyone’s indignation and hatred. How come you, a mere brat, have turned it into us? Leading troops to our door, isn’t that a sign that you intend to wipe out our entire families?”
Lin Feng's gaze fell on the old man with the cane with a complicated expression.
His tone softened somewhat: "Old Master Lin, you're mistaken. If you come alone instead of with troops, who knows if there aren't assassins waiting in the shadows at the Lin residence? The Lin family's reputation, built up over generations, isn't easily earned. Old Master Lin, you shouldn't get involved in this mess. I heard that all the able-bodied men in your household moved away during the great calamity in Lingzhou a few years ago? At your age, wouldn't it be better to enjoy your retirement in peace? How much of what your students say is true? Don't be fooled by those with ulterior motives!"
The old man with the cane before me, though unable to cultivate, was extremely learned and had once been a renowned scholar lecturing at the Xin Kingdom's academy. Later, due to internal strife in the royal court, and disapproving of Zheng Qiao's misrule, he retired and returned to his hometown. Nearby noble families, admiring his reputation, flocked to his door with lavish gifts to become his disciples. He, unable to remain idle, accepted students he found agreeable. Later, the Lin family fled south to escape the turmoil, and members of the Lin clan evacuated in batches.
Unexpectedly, he was still there.
The old man with the cane slammed his fist on the ground in anger, his beard practically brimming with fury: "Boy, I don't want to hear your divisive words. Your threats won't scare me! Even if I'm the only old man left in the Lin family, I will never yield or bend!"
Then he added, "Kill me or torture me, it's all up to you!"
The smell of gunpowder in the air suddenly became stronger.
Chao Lian pleaded with a troubled expression, "Lady Lin, the Lin family doesn't even have a single martial arts master among its guards. The manor has neither manpower nor money. The few remaining family members are all elderly people who have difficulty walking, let alone participating in a rebellion. There must be some misunderstanding here; perhaps we've truly been misled by treacherous individuals. I implore you to postpone your actions until this matter is thoroughly investigated."
His position is very awkward right now.
Uncle Lin was his savior; he had helped him deliver a letter home, only to be told that his grandfather had passed away. Chao Lian couldn't just stand by and do nothing about this. But if he intervened, he might drag his elder brother's relatives into the mess, needlessly implicating them.
Chao Lian was caught in a dilemma.
He tried to stall for time, but the old man with the cane was unmoved.
He immediately provoked Lin Feng, saying he had no money but would give him his life.
He said in a sarcastic tone, "...I see that you have a nice sword. If I can die by this sword, it won't be a wasted life."
Lin Feng: "..."
Yu Zi thought Lin Feng was only being polite out of respect for the elderly, but she hadn't expected the old man to be so stubborn and unpleasant, thus betraying her good intentions. She snorted, "You want to die? What's so difficult about that! Your sword is currently unavailable, but mine is unrestricted. If you want to borrow it, I won't hesitate. I'm just afraid the old man doesn't have the guts, and is just taking advantage of his age!"
Enraged, the old man with the cane threw it down and spread his hands: "I will not tolerate such humiliation from you, you brat! Bring my sword!"
Yu Zizhen actually drew her sword and was about to throw it over.
However, Lin Feng was faster than her.
He swiftly reached out and pushed the half-drawn sword back into its sheath.
Yu Zi asked in confusion and surprise, "Your virtue?"
"With the current head of the Lin family absent, there is no one to truly make decisions for them. So I will shamelessly make the decisions for them." Lin Feng's words shocked both sides. The old man with the cane did not expect that Shen Tang's people could be so shameless, and his fingers trembled incessantly.
The old man with the cane was quite old, and Lin Feng was afraid of upsetting him. Under the watchful eyes of many, he opened his mouth and said, "Great-grandfather is getting on in years, so it's best not to get angry."
The old man with the cane: "..."
Yu Zi: "..."
Yang Ying and Lu Ji, who were on high alert, were speechless.
They suddenly remembered that Lin Feng's surname was Lin.
Could they be related to the Lin family?
The sudden outburst nearly threw out the old man's back, but his anger remained undiminished: "Who are you? I've seen people claiming fathers without authorization, but I've never seen anyone claim their own father as their father and grandfather without authorization. The Lin family is too small to accommodate someone as important as you, hmph!"
Lin Feng said helplessly, "Great-grandfather, I am Jiaojiao."
The old man with the cane stood there stunned, because he hadn't heard the nickname "Jiaojiao" mentioned in years. Hearing it again suddenly, it took him a while to recall Jiaojiao's face. In his memory, the child was exquisitely beautiful and blessed.
He has a somewhat mischievous personality and enjoys listening to storybooks.
As his grandchildren multiplied, the Lin family flourished. He was the eldest elder in the family, and the younger generation were all afraid that the children would offend him, so they were all very reserved in his presence. There was only one exception, and that child was his "Jiaojiao." She was also the one who most resembled his eldest daughter who had died young, even down to the chubby cheeks.
He felt a strong connection with the child.
However, his "Jiaojiao," like his ill-fated eldest daughter, also died young. The Lin clan members who fled south to escape the disaster did not find "Jiaojiao" and her party. After some inquiries, they learned that the servants had betrayed them along the way, and all the women, including his fourth grandson, had died.
They didn't even know where the body had been dumped.
When the news reached them, the old man with the cane remained silent for a long time.
Several hours ago, the young man Chao Lian brought back news that his grandson was still alive, having been unexpectedly rescued from the river by a master and his apprentice. This news brought him some comfort, and he even inquired about the location of the accident, preparing to send someone to investigate.
He knew Shen Tang was not to be trifled with, so he made preparations in advance, writing a letter home to his fourth brother and arranging for messengers to travel south to deliver messages… But before he could finish, Shen Tang's henchmen led their troops in. He knew today was his death day, and the result—
The tall woman in front of me called herself "Jiaojiao".
The old man with the cane silently looked at Lin Feng's face, trying to find the rounded curve of "Jiaojiao" in this now mature face. Lin Feng knew that his eyesight was not good, so he slowly stepped forward and leaned closer: "Great-grandfather, I really am Jiaojiao. When you named me, you said that I was the brightest crescent moon in the Lin family. Do you remember?"
The old man with the cane raised his aged but not rough hand and gently touched Lin Feng's cheek. It took him a long time to match the face before him with the girl from years ago. He looked Lin Feng up and down in disbelief: "Jiaojiao...you really are Jiaojiao? Child, child, you've grown so much? How...how did you survive?"
"Great-grandfather, this is a long story. Once it's resolved, Jiaojiao will tell you everything, okay?"
This isn't a place for reminiscing either.
She wasn't so careless as to ignore everyone present.
Lin Feng's words only made things worse. The old man with the cane suddenly remembered that Lin Feng was Shen Tang's man, and his old face twitched slightly. He recalled that his beloved Jiaojiao was a girl, yet Lin Feng was wearing a Wenxin monogram on his waist, and his mind went blank again.
Just as he was about to say something, the little girl who used to skip and hop to him for a reward now firmly pressed down his raised hand and said in a calm and resolute tone, "My great-grandfather is old, and there is no head of the Lin family to make decisions for the time being. According to the rules of the Lin family, I can make this decision!"
The old man with the cane suddenly opened his eyes wide: "Jiaojiao!"
Lin Feng smiled and said, "Great-grandfather, the lord bestowed upon me the name Lin Feng, and my teacher gave me the courtesy name Lingde. With my father and the others gone, I must carry on the Lin family's legacy. Don't you think so? Great-grandfather, you love your juniors and surely don't want Jiaojiao to bear the name of patricide?"
The elderly man holding the cane's facial twitched more intensely.
He gripped Lin Feng's wrist tightly.
However, this amount of force was nothing to the scholar Lin Feng possessed. Lin Feng's smile remained unchanged, but he lowered his eyes slightly, meeting the angry glare from the elder of his clan. The old man with the cane was aged, and his back was no longer as straight as it used to be. Lin Feng was tall and much taller than him. His aura was even more overwhelming.
After a long while, the old man holding the cane loosened his grip.
He sighed and said, "Whatever."
Lin Feng turned around with a smile: "The matter is resolved."
The Lin family's savings were minimal; the vast majority had been transferred. Of the land that couldn't be moved, some were sold to other families, with only a small portion remaining. Once the situation stabilized, the Lin family would have a way out. The old man with the cane sat in the main seat, his face dark.
Another elderly man of similar age chuckled and said, "Why are you so angry, brother? Isn't it a good thing that Jiaojiao is still alive?"
The old man with the cane glanced at his great-granddaughter, who was looking down at the accounts and preparing to take money from the treasury to pay off Shen Tang's bad luck. He muttered to himself, "Girls grow up and leave home! She's even threatening me. If I don't agree, is she planning to kill her own father? I'm so angry, so angry!"
The old man ignored his tantrum-throwing elder brother, slowly moved to Lin Feng's side, craned his neck to glance at the accounts: "Jiaojiao, the household doesn't have much savings, at most five thousand. That's far from the line drawn by your master, so you can only get the last place."
Lin Feng said, "Then take out five thousand."
Anyway, the claim that the bottom three in the rankings would have their entire families exterminated is false.
The recruitment did not extend to the Lin family, so this matter should have nothing to do with them. They were dragged into this purely because they were tricked.
The old man clicked his tongue in astonishment: "They really don't care at all."
Five thousand taels of silver was not a large sum for the Lin family back then, but for the Lin family now consisting of only a few old men, it was their life savings. Lin Feng donated it all without worrying about where the old men would be buried when they died.
"Five thousand taels to buy your lives is nothing to worry about. Treason is a capital offense under any other circumstances."
My lord really knows how to play the three-race match-3 game.
"Jiaojiao, do you really think she's worth following? She's not friendly to aristocratic families, and who knows what the future holds for her." I've seen people who try to extort money, but I've never seen anyone wear their "wanting money" written all over their face.
"Our lord has always believed that we will not attack unless attacked."
The implication is that the aristocratic families themselves made a fool of themselves first.
Lin Feng calmly asked an important question: "The Lin family has too few people, and the information you have has passed through many hands. How can you guarantee that you haven't been deceived and made a scapegoat? I have always remembered the clan's teachings to avoid being ostentatious, but I have never concealed my background. How can you guarantee that they haven't used this as a pretext to kill me?"
Of course, this was just her baseless guess.
Lin Feng no longer concealed anything, and no one connected her with the Lin family's insignificant child, but she deliberately stirred up suspicion in the two old foxes before her. She then added fuel to the fire: "Your grandson is fortunate enough to have condensed the Second Rank Upper-Level Literary Mind. With me here, the Lin family can enjoy decades of peace. Back then, when the clansmen fled in haste, did these local people really want to see the Lin family return to fight? Perhaps not?"
The two brothers fell silent instantly.
His expression was very unpleasant.
"If it had been another colleague instead of me today, given my great-grandfather's temper, the entire Lin family would surely have been massacred. Should I hate him or not? Would the lord still be able to rely on me without any resentment? I urge my great-grandfather to consider this: if such a vicious scheme were to succeed, who would be the most pleased?" Lin Feng handed the accounts to the old steward, instructing him to fetch money from the private treasury.
|ω`)
Lin Feng, the future head of the Lin family, hehe.
(End of this chapter)
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