Chapter 348: For Saint Xisi! For Kelin!

In the evening, Luo Yan was leisurely picking out "local specialties" for old acquaintances at the market in the Shengcheng, while the Tangtaisi villa on King Street was in chaos.

Edmond, who had been busy all day, heard the bad news as soon as he got home: his cute little Emily had played a prank on the new tutor again, and this time she had made the kind girl cry.

He hadn't realized before that this well-behaved little girl had so much mischief in her belly, actually balancing a paper cup full of water on the door frame, and when the door was pushed open, it drenched the girl.

This time it was truly too much. He couldn't hold back, took off his belt, and whipped the sofa fiercely, scaring Emily into crying on the spot.

The house was in an uproar.

Looking at his wailing daughter, Edmond finally softened his heart, hugging her, comforting her, and apologizing, then sincerely bowed his head to Ms. Xiwei, who had come out after changing her clothes, and placed a gold coin in the latter's hand, which turned that aggrieved expression into a smile through tears.

Saint Xisi above, if only little Emily were as easy to coax.

Looking back at the messy living room, Edmond only felt even more exhausted in his heart.

At dinner time, his wife Anna also returned home, performing a scene of "the iron fist of justice beating the bad guy" in front of little Emily, which finally coaxed this little ancestor.

Incidentally, since the funeral that day, the Tangtaisi family had officially entered the upper society of the Shengcheng.

Not only did Edmond himself have many social engagements, but his wife Anna also gained acceptance from the noble ladies of the Shengcheng, attending many tea parties and salons that they had never even heard of before as Lady Tangtaisi.

In order not to lose face for the Tangtaisi family, Anna learned the etiquette of high society very carefully and tried her best to remember every face that had greeted her.

As for the other family members, they all had their own things to be busy with.

Sophia was currently preparing for the interview of the Imperial Royal Academy of Arts, and Francois's personality was too shy, as for Lu Xien... that idiot was big enough, but unfortunately, he didn't know how to take care of children. Last time he actually tried to take little Emily horseback riding!

Honestly, Edmond felt a bit indebted to his little daughter in his heart.

She was just at an age where she had just begun to understand the world, and her life had undergone such earth-shaking changes.

At this critical point in time, he and his wife happened to be negligent in their care for her... perhaps this was the real reason why her temperament had become strange, and it wasn't because she was full of mischief.

He had actually thought about whether to send little Emily back to the Saint Mother Academy to study.

The children there wouldn't make her feel lonely, and Lady Agnes's character was obvious to all. Even if that lady couldn't share her love with every child, she would surely be able to make little Emily an optimistic, upright, and kind person.

However, every time he brought this up, Anna would stare at him and refuse.

As for the reason, it was nothing more than that sentence—how could a daughter of the Tangtaisi family go to such a place!

In her view, Sophia was struggling so much when she grew up because she didn't lay a good foundation when she was a child.

But Emily was different. The little one's life had just begun, and it must not be "settled for"!

Edmond didn't have such great ambitions for his daughter; his ambitions were mainly on his two sons. As for little Emily, he hoped she would just be happy.

However, he thought about it, the distance from King Street to Loyalty Street was indeed quite far, so far that it was like two worlds. It didn't seem realistic to go to school there every day, and he was even less at ease with boarding.

He could only leave everything to time.

Finally, it was dinner time. The servants pushed the dining cart into the kitchen and set the sumptuous dinner on the long table.

Smelling the fragrance of wine, Edmond's brow relaxed slightly.

However, before he could enjoy the brief peace before the pre-dinner prayer, his most restless eldest son suddenly blurted out a sentence.

"I've decided, Father."

His eldest son, Lu Xien, wiped his mouth with a napkin and put down the knife and fork he hadn't used yet.

His movements carried an unprecedented solemnity, and a burning flame burned in his eyes, like the rising morning sun.

"Tomorrow morning, I will sign up for the Templar Order!"

This sentence was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, stirring up layers of ripples.

"What?!"

Anna was the first to exclaim. She looked at her son, who had always been obedient, in disbelief and said in surprise.

"Lu Xien, my baby, do you know what that means? That place is even more barbaric than the New Continent. Don't listen to people saying that gold is everywhere there and really think that continent is made of gold—"

"I know, Mother."

Lu Xien's tone was unusually firm, his eyes shining—that was the light of ideals!

"But precisely because of this, I must go even more! Because I belong there!"

"No, Brother, you belong to the Shengcheng... You were born here, that place has nothing to do with you." Francois reminded him in a low voice.

Sophia also nodded gently, looking at her brother with worry, not knowing what he was up to again.

As if guessing that his younger brother would say such discouraging words, Lu Xien raised a heroic smile at the corner of his mouth and continued to speak with reason.

"I know, Francois, but the fallen leaves that land on the roots are rotten, only those that are scattered to the distance are seeds!"

He rarely could win against his younger brother with his mouth, but this time he left him speechless.

"This is Prince Kelin's original words again..." Francois said in a low voice.

"This is not important! What is important is that as citizens of Saint Xisi, we have the obligation to spread the Holy Light to every corner of the world. This is our inherent responsibility!"

His voice rose slightly due to excitement, and a flush of excitement appeared on his face.

Francois closed his mouth.

He knew that someone in this state couldn't be persuaded, and could only let him feel the scorching heat of the Holy Light with his body.

Little Emily bit her spoon, staring with wide eyes, smacking her lips, not understanding what had happened.

Looking at his family members who were looking at each other and silent, Lu Xien smiled slightly and continued to speak.

"And... you have also seen Baron Kosia's story, right? That gentleman was alone, yet he could survive in the wilderness for nearly ten years and finally open up his own career. I, Lu Xien Tangtaisi, a healthy young man who has received a good education, don't even have this bit of courage?"

"I long to become a man who stands tall like Baron Kosia, and I long even more to follow in Prince Kelin's footsteps. I want to prove to him that the descendants of the Tangtaisi family are by no means cowards who only know how to hide under the shade of their elders! I have thought about it for a long time, don't try to persuade me anymore!"

Edmond looked at his son's impassioned appearance and only felt a headache.

He put down his wine glass and persuaded him in a deep voice.

"Lu Xien, calm down. First of all, Prince Kelin absolutely does not look down on us; you don't need to prove anything to him. Secondly, a story is a story, and reality is reality. You only saw Baron Kosia's legend, but you didn't see the life-and-death dangers behind him. You may have remembered every word of Prince Kelin, but don't confidently think that you really understand him; you simply can't see the complex interest entanglements behind this."

"Brother, Father is right," Sophia also persuaded softly, "You can also make contributions to the family by staying in the Shengcheng, and the opportunities here are far more than those in the New Continent. The Templar Order... that is too dangerous, and it is not a place you should go."

She said it very obscurely, but every sentence was the truth.

Unable to care about being angry with her father, little Emily felt that her brother was going to a very far place.

She jumped off the chair, ran to Lu Xien's side, pulled his hem, and said timidly: "Brother, don't go, okay... I don't want you to go to such a far place."

However, no one could persuade this young man who was already "on the head."

The dissuasion of his family seemed more like a questioning of his ability in his eyes.

Yes.

He was not a very powerful person, whether it was academic or extraordinary power, he was a half-baked one, the kind that would be drowned in the sea of people in an instant if thrown on the street of the Shengcheng.

But how can one bow to fate in this life?

He wanted to be a white whale surging on the vast ocean, fighting against the evil waves of fate!

Like a real brave man!

Lu Xien stood up, his gaze sweeping over every family member, and finally fixed on his father Edmond's face.

His voice was no longer impassioned, but carried an unquestionable decisiveness and calmness.

"Father, Mother, my mind is made up. I don't want to live an easy life of being fed and clothed anymore. I want to win my own honor with my own hands and sword. I want to see the Jana Continent with my own eyes, spread the faith of Saint Xisi on that barbaric land, and let the Empire's eagle flag fly high there. This is my dream, and it is also my responsibility... I hope you can understand."

The dining room fell into a long silence.

The candlelight flickered, casting Lu Xien's firm silhouette on the wall, appearing unusually tall.

For a long time, Edmond and his wife Anna looked at each other, seeing helplessness and fatigue in each other's eyes.

Besides that... there was also a hint of pride.

They understood that their son had grown up; he had his own will and determination, and any more obstruction would only push him further away.

He had no ability.

But who has it when they are born?

At least he had the ambition to become stronger and the courage to make changes!

Children in the eyes of their fathers are always childish and shining. Edmond sighed and finally compromised, choosing to believe.

"Since you have already decided..."

As he spoke, he summoned the butler, took a piece of fine letter paper and a quill pen from the latter's hand, and placed it on the table.

"Then, as your father, the only thing I can do is support you."

He dipped in ink and wrote quickly and powerfully on the paper.

That was a letter of recommendation, in which he praised his son's courage, character, and faith, and implored the person in charge of the knight order to give him a chance to prove himself.

After writing, he took out the family's crest seal from another small box, melted the fire lacquer with a candle, and solemnly stamped the emblem representing the Tangtaisi family at the end of the letter paper.

This was the most important link, so he did it extra seriously, even holding his breath.

Thanks to Prince Kelin, the family crest of the Tangtaisi family now had some weight.

"Take it," he handed the letter to Lu Xien, "Don't lose face for our Tangtaisi family."

Lu Xien's eyes were red, he nodded heavily, and took the heavy letter.

Anna looked at this scene, put her hands together in front of her chest, closed her eyes silently, and prayed in a voice that was almost a groan.

"Saint Xisi above... please... please must bless this simple, kind, and brave child."

Lu Xien, who accepted the envelope, complained with a red face.

"Mom, I'm not a child anymore, can you change a title when you greet Saint Xisi?"

Anna stared at him with bulging eyes.

"Shut up, don't interrupt my prayer!"

The next morning, at the harbor of the Shengcheng, the sea breeze carried a salty, damp scent and noisy human voices.

The newsboys running through the streets waved the newspapers in their hands, shouting as they ran.

"Take a look! News from the New World! Baron Kosia's adventure story is updated again! This time he met a beautiful lizardman girl in the jungle, thanks to her help in sucking it out, he saved his life! That snake was really poisonous!"

A group of gentlemen in bowler hats heard that "The Drifting Chronicles of Baron Kosia" was updated, stopped one after another, and hurried over. "Lizardman?!"

"Beautiful?!"

"This... give me a copy to see!"

The newsboy was surrounded, and the newspapers in his bag were soon snatched up.

Lu Xien, sitting in the carriage, saw this scene as if looking at flowers while riding a horse, his heart felt like it was being clawed, and he also wanted to buy a copy to see.

But thinking that he would soon set foot on that continent himself, he calmed down.

Signing up is the priority!

The carriage passed through the bustling streets and stopped outside the harbor of the Shengcheng.

Following Lu Xien's footsteps, Edmond and his wife Anna stepped off the carriage one after another.

Looking at their eldest son, who was in high spirits and full of energy, their eyes were full of reluctance and worry.

They had always thought of themselves as young people, until this moment, they realized that they had grown old.

"Lu Xien, my child," Anna straightened her son's collar again, her eyes red, and said while sobbing, "Take good care of yourself when you get there, remember to write to us on time."

Edmond stared at him and exhorted again.

"Remember to find your Uncle Kelin when you encounter things, write to him, don't feel embarrassed. Also, any things or help he gives you, you must politely accept, and then express your gratitude from the bottom of your heart... Remember, him giving it to you is looking up to you, being too stiff is unappreciative. Finally... have less contact with lizardmen!"

"Don't worry, I know it all!" Lu Xien's face was filled with a confident smile, and he gave his mother a forceful hug, "I will become a real knight and let the glory of the Tangtaisi family resound throughout the continent!"

"That's not important to us, we only hope you are safe, really... go, child, we are waiting for you here." Anna said, looking at him with teary eyes.

"I will be safe! Also, it is very important to me!"

Lu Xien smiled confidently, turned around, and gave his father a hug.

Edmond didn't say much, just patted his back heavily, and all the exhortations and expectations were in silence.

Saying goodbye to his parents, Lu Xien turned around, held his head high, and walked toward the temporary registration office built at the harbor without hesitation.

His back looked like a young warrior heading to the battlefield, his eyes full of infinite longing for the future.

There were many young men like him, the open space in front of the harbor was already crowded with people, just like when Prince Kelin boarded this harbor... as if those people who were chasing his footsteps had returned here.

With the support of the Valencia family and the Regent, the office of the Templar Order was opened in the most conspicuous place at the harbor.

A flag with a red cross was hung at the location of the temporary registration office, making it easy for people to see its location.

The queue in front of the registration office was even more crowded, and the long queue stretched from the door of the wooden house to the pier of the harbor.

They were about the same age as Lu Xien, also seventeen or eighteen, twenty-one or twenty-two.

And like Lu Xien, they all had proud expressions on their faces, some came with their parents, and others carried heavy luggage on their backs... they should have come from very far away.

Standing in the queue, he could clearly hear the excited discussions of the young men around him.

"Hey! Jimmy! Which regiment are you assigned to? I'm in the Third Regiment!"

"Haha! I'm lucky, I'm in the First Regiment! The destination is New John Harbor! I heard it's a fjord, the scenery must be very beautiful!"

"That's great! From today on, we will all be knights!"

Listening to these vibrant conversations, Lu Xien felt the blood all over his body boiling.

So much so that the last bit of nervousness and confusion about the future in his heart was diluted a lot by this fanatical atmosphere and the surging crowd.

Of course, not all the stories happening at the harbor were happy, and some people walked out of the registration office dejectedly.

They were either because their physical fitness did not meet the standard, or because of some other reason, in short, they were ruthlessly brushed down.

Seeing this scene, Lu Xien couldn't help but feel a hint of nervousness in his heart.

His strength was average, just a Black Iron level who had just awakened extraordinary power, stronger than ordinary people, and he practiced the most popular basic martial arts in the Shengcheng.

If he were a magician, perhaps his chances of being selected would be greater... at least he wouldn't have to compete with those adventurers.

The long queue moved forward slowly, and finally, it was his turn.

Lu Xien handed over the pre-filled form with a nervous mood.

The registration clerk at the harbor was a middle-aged man with a face that had lost enthusiasm for work and life.

He took the document without raising his head, glanced at it casually, took a beautifully crafted medal from a box on the side, and pushed it out together with the document.

"Templar Order First Regiment, location New John Harbor, someone will tell you who your superior is when you get there. Take this badge, and from now on you are a knight."

His tone was as flat as distributing bread, completely different from the enthusiastic clerk next door.

However, Lu Xien didn't care, because at this moment all his attention was on the badge symbolizing the identity of the knight order.

In the Aus Empire, the shield is one of the symbols of a knight, and bestowing a shield is also a tradition of many Imperial knight orders.

For example, the Royal Knight Order is like this!

Although this "shield" is a bit small... but it can barely be considered a shield!

His heart beat violently with joy, Lu Xien excitedly took the medal engraved with the Holy Grail and the long sword, holding it carefully in his palm, as if it were a torch that illuminated his life.

He suppressed his excitement and continued to ask in a slightly trembling voice: "Sir, may I ask... my fief? Where exactly is it in New John Harbor? How big is the area?"

The registration clerk finally raised his head and looked at him, as if he felt this question was a bit strange, and as if he felt this person was strange.

He picked up a thick charter on the side, flipped through it casually, then cleared his throat, and read in a tone of reading from a book: "In principle, all the land of the Templar Order belongs to all members of the knight order. In a word, the entire earldom is your fief, of course, it is also the fief of all other knights."

Lu Xien was confused by this sentence, standing blankly in place.

However, he was not really stupid, at least he was smarter than the people around him, so he asked cautiously.

"That is to say... there is no fief that belongs only to me?"

"Didn't I say it, the entire earldom is yours, young man, what else do you want?"

The registration clerk said perfunctorily with some impatience.

"However, that place is still very desolate, and everything needs you to build it with your own hands. After a while, your regiment leader will naturally discuss the land with you."

Saying that, he skipped this topic.

"Listen, the following are the precautions. New John Harbor is located in the fjord area of the central coast of the Jana Continent, the climate is humid and rainy, remember to bring magic medicine to prevent malaria, and clothes that dry quickly. The closest to your station is the lizardman tribe of the Tide Clan, you can use rum or spices to exchange for fresh fish and pearls with them..."

He finished reading like reading a textbook, took out a roughly printed booklet from under the table, and threw it to Lu Xien.

"The specific situation is written on this. Your flight departure time is in a week, go back and prepare well. Alright, don't block the people behind, next!"

Lu Xien nodded blankly.

Even though he was dizzy from this, he still tried his best to remember every word the registration clerk said.

Including preparing medicine, rain gear, using rum to exchange for food with lizardmen, maybe he could also bring his old man's fishing rod... although all this was far from the glorious knight career he imagined, it also carried a strange and real freshness.

Speaking of which, what was this knight order supposed to do?

Although he heard Prince Kelin's generous declaration after the funeral word for word, he had little impression of this most important thing, and he didn't know if he missed it, or if that Prince skipped it.

Just as he was about to turn and leave, he suddenly remembered his father's solemn exhortation before leaving, and hurriedly took out the letter carefully sealed with fire lacquer from his arms.

Although he felt it was a bit late, he still cheekily lingered at the counter, ignoring the urging of the people behind, and handed the letter out.

"Wait, sir, I still have a letter of recommendation... may I ask who I should give this to?"

The registration clerk had already been too lazy to pay attention to him, and was impatiently waving at the people behind.

In his view, the guys who could really go through the back door had their resumes in the drawers of Duke Valencia or Marshal Aiberg long ago, who would be stupid enough to come to the harbor to queue in such a long line?

Not to mention the wind was big and cold, and if you were unlucky, you would be thrown a pile by a seagull.

However, just as he thought so, the corner of his eye suddenly swept across the exquisite and clear fire lacquer crest on the envelope.

In just an instant, the impatience on his face froze, replaced by unprecedented seriousness.

He sat up straight suddenly, took the letter, lowered his voice, and said nervously: "Wait, let me see your letter... you... you are surnamed Tangtaisi?"

He raised his head, repeatedly comparing Lu Xien's young and handsome face... although he had neither seen the legendary Sir Tangtaisi, nor did he know what Prince Kelin's distant nephew should look like.

"Yes."

Lu Xien puffed out his chest.

He didn't think much about the twists and turns, only remembered his father's words—don't lose face for your family.

The registration clerk talked to his colleague for a few words, checked the family crest on the envelope again, confirmed it was correct, and the expression on his face became unusually wonderful.

He silently leaned over, snatched the First Regiment medal that Lu Xien had just hung on his chest and hadn't warmed up yet, and then quickly took out another medal from a more exquisite box and changed it for him without question.

"I made a mistake in the list just now, you have been reassigned to the Seventh Regiment, the destination is Deadwood Harbor! That place needs to prepare... uh, well, actually there is nothing special to prepare. Bring your personal clothes and photos of your family, in case you get homesick."

According to some unconfirmed rumors circulating from the navy, among all the stations of the Templar Order, the conditions in Deadwood Harbor are the best.

At least, there is a real harbor there, and a "castle." As for the destinations of other regiments, most of them currently only exist on the map.

"Deadwood Harbor? What is the difference between there and New John Harbor?" Lu Xien asked nervously.

For some reason, he always felt that the word "Deadwood" was full of ominous colors, far less full of hope than "New John Harbor."

After learning his surname, the smile on the registration clerk's face was obviously much more enthusiastic, and his tone was not as cold as before, and even the title was changed.

"I really don't know about this, brother," he grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth, "But I heard that it is now the territory of Baron Kosia, the one in 'The Drifting Chronicles of Baron Kosia,' you should have read that newspaper, right? It's the one published by the newspaper office said to be invested by Prince Kelin."

Most citizens buy that newspaper to watch the fun, but those who really know the goods buy it for the surname Kelin.

At least in the past two years, there has been nothing more important in the Shengcheng than those 7 million square kilometers.

Hearing that familiar name, Lu Xien's eyes lit up, and he was overjoyed.

"That place is Uncle Kosia's territory!? That's great!"

"That's right, that's great, I hope everything goes well for you over there! Also, my name is Duqi, serving in the Near-Sea Defense Fleet, the fleet commanded by General Kastelion! Maybe we will meet in the Jana Continent in the future, I hope you still remember me then."

The clerk named Duqi handed a beautifully printed booklet to him solemnly, and finally said happily.

"I wish you a smooth journey, future Knight!"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 349 =====