Pioneer Lord: Starting From Daily Intelligence

Chapter 1064: Chapter 157: Family Beauty Comes to Aid · Out of Five Degrees of Kinship, It’s Not Incest Anymore, Right? (2)

Each and every feat was unimaginable for mere mortals, how could they not be admired?

Never underestimate the influence of reputation. There are always people who, even without regard for gain, would gladly follow a hero to perform magnificent deeds. Some have the keen eye to recognize heroes and entrust themselves to a wise leader. Others find only a group of incompetents.

Hundreds of knights and attendants wore tabards bearing the Bauhinia Clan’s emblem, their armor polished to a brilliant shine, reflecting a hard, cold gleam in the autumn sunlight. They stood solemnly, silent as the grave, with only the sound of the wind fluttering through the banners. Every gaze directed at him was filled with unabashed awe and fervor, a reverence for power, for achievements, and for the new hero emerging from the family.

Passing through the solemn ranks of knights, one steps into the slightly warmer and brighter meeting hall of the castle. The atmosphere here is completely different from outside; a few knights were already waiting inside. Their armor too was clean, but not fully donned, only wearing light chest protectors or leather armor, standing casually by the fireplace or leaning against the long table. Their facial features bore some resemblance to Su Li, with the unique markings of the Bauhinia Clan etched in their brows and eyes, only time and the elements had drawn different lines on each of their faces.

Upon seeing Su Li enter, their faces broke into genuine and relaxed smiles, not the distant awe of the knights outside, but a sense of relief and closeness at seeing an outstanding youngster from their own family. They all straightened up, casually performing the clan’s customary gesture of chest tapping.

”Young Master Suli, it’s finally good to see you again!” An old, silver-haired knight with a lean frame and piercing eyes was the first to speak, his voice clear and infused with a smile, ”Time flies indeed, the last time I saw you, you were only this tall,” he gestured to his waist and then laughed heartily, ”Haha, now you’re a towering Lord!”

Another younger, burly knight with short beard chimed in, his tone playful and familiar: ”Indeed, Old Jeff was just saying earlier how he held you when you were three, and you ended up wetting all over him! Ruining the new robe gifted to him by the Lord.” As he spoke, he winked mischievously at the old knight named Jeff.

Old Jeff wasn’t annoyed, instead, he stroked his beard and laughed heartily: ”Oh yes, this little rascal, quite the strength! Who would have thought that the ’little troublemaker’ from back then would now achieve such fame in the Border Prince’s Territory?” His gaze at Su Li was filled with the love of an elder and undisguised pride.

At this point, a visibly chubby, rosy-cheeked female knight standing slightly behind smiled shyly, her round cheeks blushing faintly. Her voice was soft but clear as she added, ”Cousin, we have all heard about your past and your legendary tales here in the family. We are all happy for you.” Her round, bright eyes sparkled with genuine admiration and a touch of bashfulness.

Old Jeff was known to Su Li since he was the Chief Steward of the family’s Armed Attendants Camp, someone Su Li dealt with frequently during his days as an Apprentice Knight. He was even one of the most significant ”shadows” during Su Li’s youth as an apprentice knight.

But in Su Li’s memory, this uncle appeared very different from his current demeanor. The old Jeff of his memory and the kind uncle before him were worlds apart. Back then, old Jeff’s face always seemed shrouded in a layer of cold frost, brow furrowed, with deep, harsh nasolabial folds extending down from the sides of his nose like they were carved with a blade. His gaze was always sharp enough to strip a layer of skin, especially when looking at the wayward family offspring like Su Li, his eyes mixed with disappointment, severity, and a gloominess as if the entire Bauhinia Castle owed him a fortune—as Su Li used to privately complain to Avril, it was ”the face of a debt collector, as if everyone owed him ten Golden Crowns.” When he spoke, his voice was hoarse and low, each word dropping like a cold stone onto the ground, silencing the young ones around him. Old Jeff was an absolute authority and a symbol of fear within the Attendant Camp.

Indeed, once a person succeeds, the whole world smiles upon them.

Su Li’s face softened into a smile in response to these greetings and jokes tinged with familial bonds. He stepped forward, not deliberately maintaining the dignity of a lord, but rather like greeting family elders after a long absence, patting old Jeff’s arm.

”Uncle Jeff, Uncle Carl, and...” he turned his gaze to the young woman who greeted him; her face was round and full, with a slight reddish hue from the long journey, it was a face that was very much a ”bun face,” with fair skin and bright round eyes. The key was her plump figure, full of flesh, she seemed very much a young girl, yet with a mature womanly feel. Noticing Su Li’s gaze upon her, her cheeks seemed to redden further, and she instinctively tensed her body.

”I’m Suna, Cousin Su Li.” Suna promptingly introduced herself.

”Ah, Cousin Suna, and all the other uncles.” Su Li greeted each of them warmly and said with a smile: ”You all had a tiring journey. Let’s put aside those old jokes, have a seat and talk. Bring some warm wine and refreshments. Luckily, I brought back some fresh Star Dew Rose apples for everyone to savor the flavors of Hesse Territory’s autumn.”

But for some reason, even this formal interaction made Suna’s cheeks flush and she shyly lowered her head. This was quite contrary to the valiant and heroic demeanor of the knights. Su Li truly wondered when the family’s female knights became so easily bashful.