Ever since all the adult men in the Shangguan Family had died in battle, there had been no movement from them. The elders, women, and children had only stayed at home to teach the young children, to practice martial arts and study, hoping that one day, they would fight on the battlefield again and rebuild the family's reputation.
It looked like the Shangguan Family would be quiet for the time being, at least.
However, once something happened to Old Mistress Shangguan, even the current emperor would not dare neglect it and would treat it with caution.
Shangguan Lingxiu, who was in front of Yun Yang, was the person who held the Shangguan Family of Generals' younger generation.
Like her name, this woman was extraordinarily beautiful and well-versed in worldly affairs, but she did not go out easily. However, since she had come to the Yun Residence to look for Yun Yang today, there must be something that Yun Yang could not ignore and that he had to show himself.
It was not for anything else but the name of the Shangguan Family of Generals alone that Yun Yang was naturally filled with respect and could not refuse.
"Young Brother Yun." Shangguan Lingxiu smiled faintly and said, "My purpose of coming here is to ask Young Brother Yun to introduce me to Ling Xiaozui, Master Ling."
Her words were laced with an obvious militaristic aura. They were clean and direct, going straight to the point without beating around the bush.
"Ling Xiaozui?" Yun Yang said, "He has left. I wonder what Sister Lingxiu wants to see Ling Xiaozui for? Can you explain it to me? Let's see if I can be of help. "
It was unreasonable to probe into other people's affairs, but Shangguan Lingxiu hoped to contact Ling Xiaozui through him. No matter how much Yun Yang believed in the Shangguan Family's style, he had to clarify the other party's intentions before deciding whether to help.
Shangguan Lingxiu said in a low voice, "Even if Young Brother Yun didn't ask, I would have said it. My nephew has three innately awakened eight chakras. I want to try my luck and see if one of them can catch Master Ling's eye and enter his tutelage."
"If this can be done, the Shangguan Family will have a few experts in the future. They'll have an additional ability to protect themselves when they go on the battlefield in the future," Shangguan Lingxiu said with a lowered brow.
Speaking of the ability to protect themselves, Shangguan Lingxiu could not help but lower her head.
Yun Yang was shocked. "Go on the battlefield in the future? How old are they? Why are you talking about galloping on the battlefield! "
Shangguan Lingxiu said proudly, "The three nephews I mentioned earlier are already six years old. The Shangguan Family is born for the battlefield, we live for war. The sons of the Shangguan Family step onto the battlefield at the age of fifteen! Serve the country and defend against foreign enemies! "
Yun Yang's heart skipped a beat.
He was only six years old, but he was already planning to go on the battlefield and kill enemies for his country?
However, everyone in the Shangguan Family was happy to see this happen. They even instinctively thought that it was a matter of course!
"It's a pity that Master Ling has already left. I don't know where he went either. It's hard to find him."
Yun Yang shook his head and sighed, an inexplicable feeling welling up in his heart.
How much had the Shangguan Family of Generals sacrificed for the sake of 'a family of loyal martyrs'? How much more do I have to pay? It was as if in the stubborn hearts of this family, a man should go to the battlefield and return with his dead body on the battlefield!
This was a respectable family!
Yet, it was also a family of great sorrow!
Shangguan Lingxiu looked dejected as she murmured, "Actually, I'm only here to try my luck. Even if I did see him, Master Ling might not be willing to accept … accept a descendant of such a family who carries a blood feud with him as a disciple."
"My original intention was only for these young brothers to go on the battlefield in the future …"
Shangguan Lingxiu sighed softly and stood up. "Young Brother Yun, thank you. Farewell. "
She had told him everything and left immediately if it did not work out.
Yun Yang could not help saying softly, "Actually, these young brothers don't have to go to the battlefield in the future."
With her back facing Yun Yang, Shangguan Lingxiu said faintly, "Generations of the Shangguan Family have perished on the battlefield. If they don't go to the battlefield to kill their enemies, who will be the one to avenge the blood debt of their ancestors? This is the mission of the Shangguan Family's men, it's their destiny! "
Yun Yang was stunned when he heard what Shangguan Lingxiu said.
"The Shangguan Family's men have died on the battlefield. Whether they've been framed, ambushed, or killed in a direct confrontation, it's the destiny of a soldier. There's no regret. We won't seek revenge outside of the battlefield, lest we humiliate our ancestors' noble name. However, this blood debt still exists. Since it exists, let it be settled on the battlefield. Before the two armies, a life for a life. Use the enemy's blood and lives to wash away this grudge and avenge our ancestors. "
"Shangguan Men are born for the battlefield, live for the war, die for the country, and die for the people!"
Shangguan Lingxiu said vehemently, "This is the family motto of the Shangguan Family!"
"Born for the battlefield, live for the war. Die for the country, die for the people! "
Yun Yang repeated the words in a murmur.
This was the family motto of the Shangguan Family of Generals!
Watching as Shangguan Lingxiu turned to leave, the tall silhouette of a girl was obviously graceful, but the young lady of the Shangguan Family had exuded a domineering aura!
Her steps were firm; once she started, she did not turn back.
She was only a young lady of twenty years of age, but she exuded a steely coldness.
"Sister Lingxiu," Yun Yang could not help calling out.
"What is it?" Shangguan Lingxiu turned to look at Yun Yang and suddenly smiled. "I'm leaving."
She turned and waved.
"If Sister Lingxiu's original intention is to let your nephews cultivate mystical Qi to enhance their abilities and protect themselves, you don't have to look for Ling Xiaozui," said Yun Yang, "I have some methods here as well."
With her back facing him, Shangguan Lingxiu shook her head and said, "We have cultivation methods too, we know each other. The real reason I'm looking for Ling Xiaozui isn't for any cultivation method, but … to find a support for my nephews that can protect their lives. That's all. "
"The so-called reason is only an excuse." Shangguan Lingxiu smiled sadly. "The men of the Shangguan Family will never return once they go to the battlefield. We've known this for a long time. It's an irreversible fate."
"No enemy dares to let the descendants of the Shangguan Family of Generals grow at ease. Although all the generals in the continent respect and admire the Shangguan Family of Generals, the descendants of the Shangguan Family will only suffer worse once they go to the battlefield."
"No country's military hopes for the Shangguan Family of Generals' revival." Shangguan Lingxiu said calmly, "When my nephews go to the battlefield, that's when they die."
"However, our mission is on the battlefield. We can't not go, we're destined to go."
"That's why I've looked for Ling Xiaozui today, hoping to ask for a talisman for my nephews. Although I know that the enemies on the battlefield may not be willing to acknowledge this talisman, I still want to try. However, Master Ling's absence proves once again that this is the fate of the Shangguan Family's men. "
"Thank you, Young Brother Yun." Shangguan Lingxiu strode away.
Her long silhouette disappeared before Yun Yang's eyes.
Yun Yang was still in a daze, his thoughts unsettled for a long time.
…
The autumn wind howled above Tiantang City.
At this moment, the backyard of the Shangguan Clan was bustling with activity.
It was a small drill ground.
An old woman with a head full of white hair stood coldly by the side of the drill ground with her arms behind her back, watching the movements within without missing a single detail.
Six children stood in a row in the drill ground. The oldest looked to be in his teens while the youngest was no more than five or six years old. They were all young children.
The group of children were in a horse stance, and at this moment, every one of them was already drenched in sweat. Steam was rising from their bodies, and their sweat had already soaked the ground beneath their feet, but they were still doing their best to persevere.
Their tiny bodies were already struggling as they swayed. The eyes of the younger ones were filled with tears, big droplets of sweat rolling down their cheeks but they kept their mouths shut, unwilling to cry out loud.
"Hold on!" The old mistress's gaze was cold, ignoring the pathetic state of her grandchildren.
Finally …
A child's body swayed and fell to the ground with a thud. Then, he fainted.
"Drag him away!" The old mistress hollered.
Plop, plop …
After a while, the other children fainted as well, unable to take it anymore.
"Rest for a quarter of an hour. We'll begin the horse archery training after that!"
…
The children who had rested regained some of their strength and climbed onto the horses' backs agilely. Gritting their teeth, they bounced up and down on the horses' backs, performing all sorts of movements. They slanted from the horse's back, crawled under the horse's belly, flipped onto the horse's back from the other side, and drew their bows immediately.
There were a total of more than a dozen movements, and they continued to repeat them over and over until the steed could no longer hold on, but the six children did not stop. However, these children had already used up too much energy when they were squatting in the horse stance, so how much could they recover after a quarter of an hour of rest? They were already exhausted after struggling to hold on for so long, and they were only relying on one breath to hold on. Even with this breath, they were out of breath. Finally, one of the youngest children suddenly swayed and fell off the steed.
This slip was different from before. A slip in the horse stance would at most cause one to fall to the ground, but when one fell from the horse, the horse under one's crotch was still moving freely. The danger level had increased exponentially!
The warhorse's hooves were about to step on the young body due to its uncontrollable movements.
"Don't move!" The old mistress bellowed. Those who were about to rush out to rescue the child immediately stopped in their tracks. They could only look at the scene with worried eyes.
The eyes of a few noblewomen at the side were already red, tears welling up in their eyes.
The child who fell from the horse twisted his body with all his might, struggling to move a little on the ground. The horse's hooves almost brushed past his face as he fell to the ground with a thud.
However, the other horses were already charging over.
…
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
