Lin Yuan and his group whipped their horses and raced towards the battlefield. Suddenly, the Valley Master of the Divine Doctor Valley produced a small porcelain vial, uncorked it, and sprinkled a mixture of orange and green powder over the Soul - Binding Pearl. The moment the powder touched the bead, a thick black mist billowed up, hissing like flames, accompanied by faint, ghostly moans.
The moment the powder touched the bead, all Soul-Binding Pearl-affected creatures in Hu Kingdom, even the fearsome mutated cavalry, froze. With a shudder, they turned to ash, whisked away by the wind. The battlefield held its breath... then erupted.
"We've won!!!"
On the main battlefield, the Da'en and Man Kingdom soldiers, who had been struggling, suddenly noticed the enemy's strange behavior. Once they confirmed the mutated cavalry were gone for good, deafening cheers erupted. Lin Feng and Lin Ran on the northern front stopped their attacks, staring at the ashes drifting in the sky, a mix of confusion and overwhelming joy washing over them.
But celebration mingled with grief. Lin Gang died from his wounds before Hu Kingdom fell.
Months later, in the imperial hall.
After intense negotiations with the vassal Man Kingdom, the Da'en Kingdom divided the Hu Kingdom's territory. Da'en claimed ten cities adjacent to its own borders, while the Man Kingdom took the remaining eight. This victory solidified Da'en's dominance over the Eastern Lands, making it the uncontested overlord.
When the Lin Family Army returned in triumph, grief hung heavy over the Lin Estate. Lin Gang's coffin lay in the ancestral hall. Lin Su and Lin Wen, the third and seventh sisters, cried bitterly. It was only after the funeral that they quieted down. When General Lin Jiwu handed back the military insignia to the Emperor of Da'en, his face showed mixed emotions.
Lin Yuan looked at his father and silently sighed. He knew emperors were wary of powerful ministers, fearing they might overshadow the throne, yet also needed capable hands. Now that Da'en had unified the Hu Kingdom's territory and stood at the peak of its power, returning the military tally had subtly weakened the Lin family's hold on the army.
"Don't dwell on it," Lin Su sighed. "With Da'en now the supreme power in the East and Father's high popularity, any emperor would be wary of his military might."
Lin Yuan nodded. "You're right, Third Sister."
That night, in the Lin family study room...
Lin Jiwu sat at his desk, gazing at Lin Yuan across from him. After a long silence, he finally spoke. "When will you leave?"
Lin Yuan pursed his lips. "Father, I don't know, but I'll take care of myself."
Lin Jiwu studied him intently, then let out a soft sigh. "You were never meant to stay. If it's your destiny to go, then go." He stood, walked to the bookcase, and retrieved a dark red scroll from the top shelf, handing it to Lin Yuan.
Lin Yuan took it, looking at his father in confusion.
"Intelligence on secretive sects. Keep them close." Lin Jiwu's palm landed heavily on his shoulder, a rare warmth in his tone. "You're a Lin, let that be your compass."
Lin Yuan nodded gravely, stowed the scroll, bowed, and walked out.
====================
林远等人策马疾驰,朝着战场方向奔去.就在此时,神医谷谷主翻手取出一个小瓷瓶,拔开瓶塞,将其中橙绿交杂的粉末缓缓撒在 '生魂珠' 之上.粉末落下的瞬间,珠子表面泛起一层黑雾,如同烈火灼烧,隐隐传出一阵若有若无的低吟.
顷刻间,胡国境内所有受 '生魂珠' 影响的非人怪物,包括那些骇人的变异骑兵,身躯突然僵直,接着仿佛失去了所有生机,化作黑灰,随风飘散.整个战场瞬间安静了数息,而后...
"胜了!!!"
主战场上,原本陷入苦战的大恩,满国将士们猛然察觉到敌军的异常,在确认变异骑兵已彻底消失后,所有人爆发出震天的欢呼声.北部战场的林锋与林然亦停下手中长刀,望着天空中随风消散的灰烬,皆是心生疑惑以及大大的喜悦.
然而,胜利的欢呼声中,也夹杂着沉痛的哀悼.林刚伤势过重,终究还是没能撑过,在胡国彻底被攻破前便撒手人寰.
数月后,皇城大殿内.
大恩国经过与附属国满国的反复谈判,最终分割胡国疆域.大恩国拿下十座紧邻己方疆土的城池,而满国则取得剩余八座.此战过后,大恩之威震慑东方陆地,成为无可争议的霸主国度.
林家军得胜归来,林府却笼罩着一层悲痛的氛围.林刚的棺椁停放在祠堂内,三姐林苏与七妹林温皆哭得泣不成声,直至安葬完毕,两人才勉强平复心情.林大将军林季无则将兵符归还给大恩皇帝后,神色更添一分复杂.
林远看着父亲,心底微微叹息.他知道,帝王之心深不可测,既忌惮权臣功高盖主,又害怕手中无人可用.如今,大恩国统一胡国疆域,国势鼎盛,兵符归还后,林家的军权虽然仍不可忽视,但总归削弱了几分.
"你少说两句吧." 林苏轻叹,"如今的天下,大恩国已经是东方陆地的霸主国,爹有那么高的民望,再加上兵权,哪个皇帝不怕?"
林远笑了笑,"是是是,三姐说的是."
深夜,林府书房内.
林季无端坐于书案前,望着站在对面的林远,沉默了片刻后,缓缓开口:"几时回来?"
林远抿了抿唇,郑重道:"爹,孩儿不知,但孩儿会照顾好自己."
林季无深深地看着他,半晌后,轻轻叹道:"你本不是池中物,迟早要离开.既然如此,去吧." 说完,他起身走到书柜前,从最顶层取下一卷暗红色的书信,递到林远手中.
林远接过,疑惑地看向父亲.
"这是一些隐秘势力的情报,可能对你有所帮助." 林季无拍了拍他的肩膀,语气带着不易察觉的关怀,"离开后,无论何时何地,记住,你是林家儿郎."
林远郑重地点头,收起书信,行了一礼,转身离去.