After thinking for a moment, Yuan Yuan replied, "There aren't many people in the Yuan Family, and we don't have the custom of hiring outside retainers. Grandfather always says the family is for the old to worry about, and children just need not bring shame to the family. For this, you should ask Nineteen, he's more familiar with it."
"...The Lin family has no such thing as glory," Lin Nineteen said, scratching his head, his expression one of helplessness. "Everyone is thinking about how to commit crimes in Hell every day. Many of the elders don't even bear the Lin surname. The sense of unity comes less from blood ties and more from the Sky's Command inherent in Zhujuyin. It can't be taken as a typical example."
Alright then, one family's lineage is passed down to a single heir through generations, and the other is simply unorthodox.
Thinking about it this way, it really does seem that the Yin's family, with its kind fathers and filial sons, and respectful brothers and deferent younger siblings, is a bit better.
"Teacher, there's no need to be so despondent. Many Sublimators in Yingzhou, especially the traditional ones, usually lack a certain something in their heads. It's pretty normal for them to actively seek death every day."
Lin Nineteen said, "Furthermore, Mr. Sasaki is willing to risk his life for the grace of the Li Jian Family; his loyalty can indeed be called righteous."
"Righteousness, huh..."
Huai Shi thought for a moment, then said no more.
He bowed his head and washed the dishes.
After cleaning up, Yuan Yuan and Little Nineteen bid their farewells.
After saying goodbye to Uncle Fang, who was still studying the cookbooks, the two set off on their way home.
Amidst the night, Yuan Yuan suddenly asked, "Did you just have something you didn't say?"
"Don't you too?"
Lin Nineteen looked back at her and said, "The teacher understands; he's just sad, that's all."
Yuan Yuan did not reply.
"Compared to that, I'm actually the one who really doesn't understand."
Lin Nineteen walked ahead, shaking his head and sighing. "If Grandfather were to say, 'Little Nineteen, come quickly, the Lin family needs you to shed your blood and sacrifice,' I might... go as well. But I'd probably embarrass myself so much I couldn't stand to watch."
"Afraid?"
"Being afraid is normal. Not everyone is like the Yuan Family, treating the battlefield as if it's just another day shopping, trained by Sparta from childhood." Lin Nineteen paused for a long time at this point and couldn't help but smile bitterly. "Actually, the Lin family is pretty much the same; it's just that I'm a bit different."
From childhood to adulthood, it was just him, as if he was left to fend for himself.
No one cared.
Do whatever he pleased.
While everyone else happily engaged in murder and arson, he would sit alone in a corner, quietly radiating an unlikable presence.
Ignored by all.
Yuan Yuan walked calmly behind and suddenly said, "That might not be so bad."
Lin Nineteen laughed. "How so?"
After a moment, Yuan Yuan seriously said, "At least I have never thought about killing you."
"..."
Lin Nineteen rolled his eyes and said no more.
For some reason, he began to recall his childhood.
Back then, there was only one television on the mountain, placed at the entrance to Grandfather's room. Occasionally in the evening, everyone would watch the Dongxia news to keep up with current events and learn advanced criminal expertise from overseas counterparts.
Other than that, no one cared.
Only Lin Nineteen was there squatting in front of the TV every day at six o'clock, without fail.
The moment the music began, the invincible warrior, the super soldier from space, the hope of humanity—the Light Energy Falcon would make a glittering entrance!
Fighting the Space Corps, fighting the Underground Empire, fighting Atlantis, fighting all the little monsters.
"Grandfather, when I grow up, I want to be a hero!"
In the Wood Cottage of old, it seemed such words were once spoken.
During a family meeting, when everyone was asked about their future ambitions, he stood up, struck a super-energy beam pose, and declared loudly, "Just like the Light Energy Falcon!"
He remembered the blank looks on his parents' faces and the astonished expressions of the other uncles and aunts.
As if he had said something wrong.
Only Grandfather was smiling, so happy. He reached out to lift him up, gently encouraging, "Then you must work hard, yeah!"
It was much later that Lin Nineteen realized just how foolish his words had been. Nobody would remember a child's grand declarations after watching a cartoon. Not even Lin Nineteen himself had remembered.
Would Grandfather still remember such a trivial thing?
His steps suddenly paused, as he lowered his head with a bitter expression.
He suddenly understood why Kiyoshi Kusaki was laughing so happily.
Perhaps even a down-and-out ronin samurai aspired to be a hero? Even if he couldn't become one, dying like a hero was just as good.
In the silence, he started laughing softly to himself, full of self-mockery. But I'm different.
This was a secret Lin Nineteen had never uttered from childhood to adulthood.
The reason he wanted to become the Light Energy Falcon was that his girlfriend in the cartoon had really big breasts...
"I've decided!"
Lin Nineteen's steps suddenly paused, his expression turned serious.
When Yuan Yuan turned back in confusion, she heard his resounding shout, "I must find a girlfriend with big breasts, otherwise it would be too much of a loss!"
"..."
In the silence, Yuan Yuan began to search for her Mountain Monarch's Heavy Sword.
Indeed, it was better to kill this embarrassing fellow here and now, to clean up the mess for the teacher.