Chapter 40 Family Bliss (Part 2) [Votes & Favorites Please]

It was the beginning of summer.

Lin Xing strolled alone into the rear garden. He gazed at the vibrant scene, with flowers in full bloom and lush green grass. Birds chirped cheerfully in the trees, carefree and without a care.

Breathing in the fresh air, Lin Xing felt wonderful, a sense of comfort, unlike anything he'd felt before, welled up inside him.

He wandered aimlessly through the garden, enjoying the peaceful life, free from troubles, his mind pleasantly blank.

As he meandered through the garden, Lin Xing found himself at the pavilion. "Lin Xing," a voice suddenly called out.

Lin Xing started, realizing he hadn't detected anyone nearby. Looking up, he saw it was his father.

"Father," Lin Xing greeted him, though inwardly he chided himself for being so careless. He had been so absorbed in the surrounding scenery that he had let his guard down! It was truly a grave oversight.

If this had been somewhere else, if someone had launched a sneak attack... Thinking of this, Lin Xing couldn't help but feel a chill of fear. He didn't dare to finish the thought.

"Father, you're here too?" Lin Xing asked, a bit surprised.

"Haha, yes, I had some free time today, so I came to the garden for a walk and to relax. Lin Xing, sit," Lin Zhantian said, pointing to the spot beside him.

"Let's have a good chat, just the two of us, father and son." Lin Zhantian was in high spirits and eagerly called Lin Xing over as soon as he saw him.

"Yes, Father," Lin Xing replied, taking a seat beside him.

"Father, you came back early this time because something's going on, right?" Lin Xing was still a bit puzzled about why Lin Zhantian had returned so soon.

"Yes," Lin Zhantian frowned. "There's trouble brewing on the border. I came back to report the situation to His Majesty."

"What?" Lin Xing was also taken aback. After so many years of peace, is trouble stirring on the border again? The continent was growing restless.

"It's nothing major. Some of the principalities near our border are getting restless. According to our scouts' reports, they likely have hostile intentions toward our Huaxia Empire."

"They are currently mustering forces along our border—some secretly, others openly. But they publicly claim it's to strengthen border defenses. Everyone knows that's just an excuse."

"But what gives them the courage to attack us? Could there be an empire backing them?" Lin Xing couldn't help but ask.

Those principalities wouldn't dare attack an empire, because an empire—a true empire—could easily wipe out a principality! A few loosely allied principalities are no match for an empire. Otherwise, the Four Empires of the Kasla Continent wouldn't have endured for millennia.

Lin Zhantian gave Lin Xing an appreciative look. Lin Xing's quick thinking truly lived up to his reputation as a genius, deducing from such small clues that these principalities had an empire backing them.

"That's exactly why I came back. There must be an empire supporting them from behind; otherwise, they wouldn't dare move against our empire. But we don't know whether it's one empire, two, or even three empires eyeing our Huaxia Empire. We haven't figured that out yet."

He paused.

"Because of this, we can't afford to underestimate their movements. However, I've already made arrangements before returning, so there shouldn't be any gaps in our defenses. Still, this issue is troubling."

The four empires have maintained a balance of power on the Kasla Continent for thousands of years. Although there are no major wars at the moment, the other three empires are eyeing Huaxia Empire like a piece of juicy meat.

This is because Huaxia Empire occupies the best location on the entire Kasla Continent and possesses the most fertile land on the continent! It's no wonder other nations can't stop thinking about it.

However, Huaxia Empire is indeed powerful. If war were to break out, it would be anyone's guess. Thus, for thousands of years, there has been no major conflict.

No one wants to fight a war with no guarantee of victory, especially when they might end up utterly defeated!

"Father, what did His Majesty say?" Lin Zhantian must have returned to report this matter. Lin Xing also wanted to know how they planned to handle it.

"His Majesty and the others are taking this very seriously. But judging from the current situation, they won't dare launch a war for several years. So, for now, we just need to fortify our border defenses." Lin Zhantian leaned back in his chair, looked up at the distant sky where white clouds drifted, and suddenly said with passion:

"We'll meet their soldiers with our own, and stem any flood with earth! What do we have to fear? Our Huaxia Empire has never been afraid, and our Lin family has never been afraid! Even if the three empires unite, we have the confidence to send them packing with their tails between their legs!"

As he finished speaking, his eyes gleamed with a fiery light!

"Always fighting these small, insignificant skirmishes with those second-rate principalities—it doesn't even count as a real war. It's so boring. I really look forward to a proper war with another empire!"

Seeing his father's passionate expression, Lin Xing smiled slightly. It seemed his father was a true warrior at heart too. But then again, as the Legion Commander of the Red Dragon Legion, one of Huaxia Empire's elite legions, only fighting minor battles with principalities was practically beneath them! It was utterly dull.

Only an opponent who could match him would be a worthy adversary. But currently, no major wars were breaking out between the empires, leaving this general extremely frustrated.

A general with no war to fight is frustrated, and fighting opponents who are constantly being crushed is even more frustrating!

What his father pursued was a kind of passion, and wasn't Lin Xing the same? They just expressed it in different ways!

"By the way, Lin Xing, you're not planning to go out on your training journey now, are you? You're still too young," Lin Zhantian suddenly changed the subject.

"No, I'll wait a few more years. I want to spend more time at home with Mother and the others. Especially Mother—if I leave, she'll be all alone."

"Your mother, ah..." Lin Zhantian sighed. "I really feel guilty toward her. I hardly have any time to spend by her side."

Seeing the guilt on his father's face, Lin Xing fell silent. He hadn't known before, but since his birth, his father had spent very little time with his mother—only a few days each year!

Yet, his mother had never blamed his father, and neither had Lin Xing, because his father was busy serving the nation. A true man should be like that!

Still, deep down, Lin Xing felt a tinge of regret.

"I've let you all down," Lin Zhantian said guiltily to Lin Xing.

"Father, we've never blamed you. We understand."

"Lin Xing." Lin Zhantian was deeply moved, but the guilt in his heart grew even stronger.

"Someday, I'll put aside the legion's affairs and come home to spend time with my wife and children!" Lin Zhantian thought to himself.

For a moment, they fell silent.

They simply enjoyed the freshness and tranquility of the garden!