The morning sun shone through the mist onto the General's Mansion courtyard. Morning dew glistened, and the air smelled fresh and damp. The atmosphere in the mansion was more solemn and heavy than usual, for today was the day Lin Feng would set out to roam the world with his master, Master Zhang. As the eldest son, he bore the family's hopes, and this departure meant that he would truly step into the martial world and see a broader expanse of life.
In front of the mansion gate, the Lin family members and the mansion guards gathered together. The send-off atmosphere was quiet and restrained. Dressed in a dark cyan martial robe, Lin Feng strapped his cherished long sword to his waist. Standing tall at the gate, his expression was calm yet determined.
"Feng'er." Qingyinniang (the birth mother of Lin Feng, Lin Yuan, and Lin Wen), wearing an elegant plain dress, stepped forward slowly. She held a carefully wrapped bundle in her hand and gently handed it over. "There's some dry food and silver in here. You might encounter unexpected situations on the way, and this should be enough for you to get by for a while."
Lin Feng took the bundle, his eyes softening slightly. He said softly, "Mother, I'll take good care of myself. I'll definitely come back in great glory in three years."
Qingyinniang nodded, her eyes full of reluctance. But as the daughter of a military family, she knew well that a man should aspire to roam the world and not be confined to the inner chambers. She didn't say much. Instead, she reached out to fix Lin Feng's clothes and said gently but firmly, "Be careful. Don't be too reckless. The martial world isn't like the army. You'll be alone, with no rules. Never forget you're the Lin family's eldest son."
Lady Gu, the mistress of the General's Mansion, who was standing beside them, looked at Lin Feng calmly and admonished, "Your master is a highly skilled person in this era. Since you are learning martial arts from him, you should study hard and not waste this opportunity."
"Yes, Mother," Lin Feng replied solemnly.
"Hey, big brother, don't forget to have a match with me when you come back in three years," Lin Yuan said, standing aside with his arms crossed and a hint of unyielding smile on his lips. "By then, don't let me knock you down with just one slash."
"Haha, you cheeky kid!" Lin Feng laughed, messing up Lin Yuan's hair. "Three more years of training won't make you a match for me."
Lin Gang, the second brother, interjected, "Big brother, when you come back in three years, it probably won't be just about the martial arts match. Most likely, you'll be back to get married."
Upon hearing this, Lin Feng couldn't help but glare at Lin Gang. "You little brat, what nonsense are you talking about?"
Everyone laughed, which eased the sadness of parting a great deal. Lin Feng took a deep breath, took one last look at his family, then mounted his horse and rode away with Master Zhang and the others.
After Lin Feng left, life in the General's Mansion returned to normal, and Lin Yuan's life remained fulfilling. Every morning he practiced with his sword, in the afternoon he practiced calligraphy, and in the evening he would listen to his father tell stories about the battlefield. In three years, he had grown much taller. He wasn't a nine-year-old kid anymore. Now, he'd grown into a tall, upright young man.
Xiao Hei and Xiao Bai were still his loyal companions. Xiao Hei remained as aloof as ever and liked to lie on the windowsill basking in the sun, while Xiao Bai had become increasingly clingy and would pester Lin Yuan every day to take it to play in the courtyard.
Apart from his daily martial arts practice and reading, Lin Yuan also gradually began to pay attention to the situation in the Da'en Kingdom. He learned that the Da'en Kingdom was located in the west, actually on the western side of all the Eastern countries. And for the Eastern countries to reach the Western countries, the journey was extremely arduous. The northern part between the two landmasses of the East and the West was separated by a vast sea. It was said that there were many terrifying creatures in the sea, such as the well fish, a strange beast with a human head and a fish body. They often came out at night to prey on those who fell into the water. There was also the legendary giant whale in the sea. Dozens of zhang long, it could stir up massive waves and gulp down an entire ship.
In the central and southern part was an impenetrable primeval forest. The ancient trees there towered into the sky and were shrouded in mist all year round. In the depths of the forest lived many terrifying beasts. For example, there was a giant wild boar that was bigger than a house and could easily smash through stone walls. There was also a lion with a snake tail that could spray poison, known as the "poison-tailed lion". They were extremely aggressive and were one of the most dangerous predators in the southern forest.
The journey between the two continents was not only full of dangers. Even if everything went smoothly, just crossing this vast land and sea would take at least a dozen years. So, the East and the West rarely interacted, and they were very different in culture, language, and even military strategies.
Lin Yuan was deeply interested in this. He began to deliberately collect information about the various Eastern countries and often asked his father about the art of war and battle strategies of the Da'en Kingdom.
"Sixth brother! Mother is calling you for dinner!"
Lin Yuan was standing in the corridor outside the study, flipping through a book recording the geography of various countries. Hearing Lin Wen's call, he reluctantly set the book aside and headed for the dining hall, mumbling, "Just two meals a day, at 9-11 a.m. and 5-7 p.m. I still can't get used to it."
"What's for dinner today?"
"I don't know. There's a big pot. It seems to be called something like Bo Xia Gong?"
Lin Yuan's eyes brightened and he perked up right away. Bo Xia Gong? That meant hot pot! He hurried along, eager to fill his belly that night.
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清晨的阳光透过薄雾洒在将军府的庭院里,晨露未干,空气中带着清新的湿意.府内的气氛比往日更显庄重而凝重,因为今天是林锋随师父张大师出门闯荡的日子.作为长子,他肩负着家族的期望,而此次离开,意味着他将真正踏入江湖,去见识更广阔的天地.
府门前,林家的家眷和府内的护卫们齐聚一堂,送行的气氛沉静而克制.林锋身着一袭深青色劲装,腰间佩戴着他心爱的长刀,站在大门前,神色沉稳而坚定.
"锋儿." 一袭素雅长裙的清音娘 （林锋,林远和林温的生母）,缓步上前,手中提着一个精心包裹的包袱,轻轻递了过去,"这里面有些干粮和银两,路上难免遇到意外,这些够你应付些时日."
林锋接过包袱,目光微微一软,轻声道:"阿娘,我会照顾好自己,三年后一定风风光光地回来."
清音娘点了点头,眼中满是不舍,但身为将门之女,她深知男子志在四方,不可拘泥于后宅之中.她没有多说什么,只是伸手为林锋整理了一下衣襟,语气柔和而坚定:"凡事谨慎,莫逞强,江湖不同于军中,没有兄弟并肩,也没有规矩束缚,你要时刻记住,你是林家长子."
站在一旁的顾氏,也就是大将军府的主母,她神色沉稳地看着林锋,叮嘱道:"你师父是当世高人,既然你随他修行武艺,便要尽心学艺,不要荒废."
"是,母亲." 林锋郑重地应道.
"哎,大哥,你可别忘了三年后回来跟我比试." 林远站在一旁,双手环抱在胸前,嘴角勾起一丝不服输的笑意,"到时候,别让我一刀就把你砍趴下."
"哈哈,臭小子!" 林锋笑着揉了揉林远的脑袋,"你啊,就算再练三年,也别想赢我."
二哥林刚在一旁插话道:"大哥,三年之后回来,估计不只是比武这么简单了吧?八成得回来成亲."
此话一出,林锋忍不住瞪了林刚一眼:"你这小子,胡说什么?"
众人皆笑,倒是缓解了不少离别的伤感.林锋深吸了一口气,最后看了一眼家人,随即翻身上马,与张大师一行人策马离去.
林锋离开后,将军府的日子回归平静,而林远的生活依旧充实.他每日清晨练刀,午后习字,晚上则会听阿爹讲述战场上的故事.三年的时间,他的身高蹿得极快,已然不像当初那个九岁的稚童,而是逐渐长成了一个身姿挺拔的少年.
小黑和小白依旧是他的忠实伙伴,小黑仍旧高冷无比,最喜欢趴在窗台上晒太阳,而小白则越来越黏人,每天缠着林远带它去院子里玩耍.
除了日常的练武与读书,林远也渐渐开始关注大恩国的局势.他得知,大恩国位于西方,实际上是在整个东方国家的西边,而东方国家想要抵达西方国家,路途极为艰险.东方和西方两片陆地之间的北部被一片浩瀚无垠的海域隔开,听闻海中有着许多可怕的生物,比如井鱼,人首鱼身的异兽,它们常在夜晚出没,捕食落水之人;还有传说中的海上巨鲸,身长数十丈,能掀起滔天巨浪,吞噬整艘船只.
而中南部则是一片密不透风的原始森林,那里的古树参天,终年笼罩在雾气之中,深处更是栖息着许多可怕的猛兽,比如,比一座房屋还大的巨型野猪,能轻易撞毁石墙;还有一种拥有蛇尾,能喷毒的狮子,被称为 "毒尾狮",它们极具攻击性,是南方森林中最危险的掠食者之一.
两片大陆之间的路途,不仅危机四伏,就算一切顺利,单是横跨这片浩瀚土地与海域,也至少需要十几年的时间.因此,东西方的往来极为罕见,彼此间的文化,语言甚至战术策略,都有着极大的差异.
林远对此深感兴趣,他开始刻意收集关于东方众国的消息,也常常向阿爹请教大恩国的兵法战策.
"六哥!阿娘叫你去吃晚饭了!"
林远正站在书房外的走廊上,翻看着一本记载各国地理的书卷,听到林温的呼唤,他无奈地放下书,转身走向饭厅,嘴里忍不住抱怨:"一天才吃两顿饭,巳时和酉时,还是很不习惯啊."
"今天吃什么?"
"不知道,有个很大的锅.好像叫什么拨霞供?"
林远眼睛一亮,顿时精神了几分.拨霞供?那可是火锅啊!他立刻加快脚步,想着今晚一定要多吃点!