In the blink of an eye, half a year had passed. Through rigorous training and hard work, Lin Lei had experienced a warm spring, a scorching summer, and entered the cool autumn. On the vacant land to the east of Wushan Town, a row of tall poplar trees now shed many dried yellow leaves with each gust of wind, fluttering slowly to the ground. The entire area was covered with yellow fallen leaves.
The sky was gradually darkening.
Today, there were unusually many people on the vacant land to the east, around three hundred.
"The training for tonight ends here," Hillman said with a smile. "But before that, let us wish these children from Wushan Town who are about to join the army."
After the busy autumn harvest, it was time to enlist in the army. In an era where martial arts prevailed throughout the continent, every young man took pride in becoming a great warrior. Of course, many also aspired to become magicians. However, the difficulty of becoming a magician was very high, as only one out of ten thousand people had the qualification. With such low odds, it was not something most people could achieve.
Becoming a warrior, on the other hand, was much easier. As long as one reached the age of sixteen and achieved at least the level of a first-tier warrior, they could easily enter the army.
"Hillman, thank you!" 126 seventeen or eighteen-year-old youths respectfully bowed. These young men usually did not participate in the training as they were already adults with their own jobs. However, they had been nurtured by Hillman since they were young, making him their mentor.
Before joining the army, they needed to bid farewell to Hillman.
Hillman looked at these energetic seventeen or eighteen-year-old youths, feeling a mixture of emotions. Because he knew that while these children were full of aspirations for military life at the moment, how many of them would be able to return after ten years of military service?
"I hope at least half of these 126 will survive," Hillman hoped.
Looking at the group of youths, he firmly said, "Listen up, all of you! You are the men of Wushan Town. Men of Wushan Town should stand tall, face any challenge without fear. Do you hear me?"
The group of seventeen-year-olds all stood tall, their bodies straight, their eager eyes looking forward to their future military life, all shouting in unison, "Yes, sir!"
"Very well." Hillman, with his straight posture and stern gaze, exuded the aura of a soldier.
"Tomorrow, you will set off. Prepare well tonight. I know your abilities, and you can easily enter the army! I, Hillman, will be waiting for your triumphant return to Wushan Town in the future!" Hillman declared with a strong voice.
The 126 youths' eyes sparkled with anticipation.
Returning home in glory was the dream of every young soul.
"Now, I command you to go back and prepare well. Dismissed!" Hillman said sternly.
"Yes, sir."
The 126 youths respectfully responded and left one by one, leaving the eager eyes of nearly two hundred children who had not yet come of age. Tomorrow, they would embark on a new journey.
"I have two more years, and when I come of age, I can join the army too."
"I really want to experience the exhilarating life in the army. If I stay in Wushan Town for the rest of my life, no matter how long, it would be meaningless."
...
A group of thirteen or fourteen-year-old youths were discussing with each other, full of expectations for a passionate and adventurous life. They wanted to achieve greatness, to earn the admiration of girls, and to receive the praises of their hometown families.
That was their dream!
"Lin Lei, your father Lord Hogg has something very important to attend to today. Stop playing with the other children and come with us." Hillman walked up to Lin Lei, looking at him with joy.
Lin Lei was very bright, having learned many words under the education from his father Hogg. Reading was a luxury, usually only available to nobles. The Baruk family was a very ancient one, with a wealth of books.
"Hillman, I know. Father has instructed me three times already today. He has never valued anything so much before. I won't play around here," Lin Lei smiled, showing a row of pearly teeth, with one missing in the middle.
Lin Lei had started losing his baby teeth.
"All right, you're missing a front tooth, so you whistle when you smile," Hillman chuckled. "Come, let's go back."
******
In the courtyard of the ancient mansion of the Baruk family, after dinner, Lin Lei was playing with his two and a half-year-old brother.
"Brother, hug me, hug me."
Little Wodon, with his pure and innocent eyes, looking at Lin Lei, took unsteady steps towards him, reaching out his chubby little hands. Lin Lei squatted nearby, waiting for Wodon to run into his embrace.
"Wodon, you can do it, you can do it," Lin Lei encouraged.
Wodon's steps made one worry that he might stumble. But in the end, Wodon rushed into Lin Lei's arms, his skin as clear as water now blushing, his big round eyes excitedly looking at Lin Lei as he shouted in a childish voice, "Brother, brother."
Looking at his dear younger brother, Lin Lei felt an infinite love in his heart.
With no mother, no grandparents, although his father and the old steward took care of him, Lin Lei, mature beyond his years, was very protective of his little brother. In Lin Lei's eyes, being a brother meant taking care of his sibling.
"Wodon, what did you learn today?" Lin Lei asked with a smile.
Furrowing his brows in an adorable manner, Wodon thought for a moment and excitedly said, "Today, I learned to use burlap!"
"Burlap?" Lin Lei couldn't help but smile. "What did you clean?"
Counting on his fingers, Wodon said, "First, I used burlap to clean the floor, then I cleaned the chamber pot, and finally... the bowls for meals!" Wodon looked at Lin Lei excitedly, expecting his praise.
"You cleaned the chamber pot, and then the bowls?" Lin Lei widened his eyes.
"What's wrong? I cleaned them very well," Wodon tilted his little head, looking at his brother with confusion in his eyes.
"Young Master Lin Lei, your father is looking for you. Let me hold Little Wodon," a kind old man with a scruffy nose walked over. This old man was 'Syri', the steward of the Baruk family. There wasn't even a maid in the entire family.
Lin Lei had no time to talk with Wodon and immediately handed him over to Grandpa Syri, then walked towards the living room.
"Father, what is the matter this time that you have called me?" Despite his young age, Lin Lei felt that his father's summons held great importance this time.
******
Entering the living room, Lin Lei noticed a tall grandfather clock in one corner that was taller than him.
A grandfather clock was considered a luxury item, usually owned by wealthy or noble families. Lin Lei's father was sitting in front of the fireplace, which crackled with the sound of burning firewood, gazing at the flames burning before him.
"Huh? Father, why did you change your clothes?" Lin Lei was surprised to see his father dressed in luxurious clothes. At home, his father usually wore simple attire. During dinner, his father wore normal clothes, but now, he was dressed elegantly.
Hogg exuded an ancient noble temperament, a quality that money alone couldn't buy. It was a quality cultivated by a family with a long tradition. With a history of five thousand years, the Baruk family was beyond comparison with ordinary families.
Hogg stood up, turned around, and when he saw Lin Lei, his eyes lit up.
"Lin Lei, come with me to the ancestral hall. Syri, you know about our family's affairs, so come with us," Hogg smiled.
"To the ancestral hall?" Lin Lei was surprised.
In the Baruk family mansion, family members usually lived in the front courtyard, while the back courtyards were often left unattended. Only the ancestral hall, where ancestors were worshipped, was situated in the back. It was regularly cleaned every month.
"Why go to the ancestral hall when it's not the time for ancestral worship?" Lin Lei was full of doubts.
Exiting the living room, Hogg, Lin Lei, and Grandpa Syri holding Wodon, walked along the ancient stone path that was now covered with moss, heading towards the rear courtyard.
In the cool water-like air of late autumn, a chill ran down Lin Lei's spine. Despite feeling the unusual atmosphere, he remained silent. Following his father, they entered the ancestral hall.
*Creak.* The doors of the ancestral hall closed.
As a row of candles was lit in the hall, the entire hall lit up brightly. Lin Lei saw rows of ancestral tablets placed at the front of the hall. The sight of the dense rows of tablets emphasized the ancientness of the Baruk family.
Hogg stood quietly in front of the numerous tablets, saying nothing.
Lin Lei felt nervous in the silent hall, where only the burning candles could be heard, creating a terrifying silence that weighed heavily on the heart.
Suddenly, Hogg turned around, gazing at Lin Lei with seriousness. "Lin Lei, today there are many things to do. But before that, I will tell you some of the Baruk family's affairs."
A feeling of anticipation rose in Lin Lei's heart, as he heard his father mention the family matters.
"The family's matters? What could they be?" Lin Lei also felt curious, but dare not speak.
Hogg's face showed a hint of pride as he said loudly, "Lin Lei, our Baruk family has been passed down for five thousand years. In the entire Kingdom of Finlay, there probably isn't another family as ancient as ours." Hogg's tone was filled with absolute pride.
Ancient, this was something that nobles highly valued.
"Lin Lei, do you know that in the legendary history of the Yulan Continent, there are four ultimate warriors?" Hogg turned to look at Lin Lei.
Lin Lei's eyes lit up as he nodded, "I know, I heard Uncle Hillman say that the legendary four ultimate warriors are the Dragon Blood Warrior, the Purple Flame Warrior, the Tiger Stripe Warrior, and the Undead Warrior."
Hogg smiled satisfactorily and nodded, "Yes, now I will tell you! The four ultimate warriors actually represent four ancient families, and our Baruk family carries the noble lineage of the Dragon Blood Warrior, an ancient family!"