Finest Servant

Lin Wanrong hurriedly looked up to see a young girl, seemingly about fourteen or fifteen years old, rushing towards him. Her hair was casually tied up, her lips red and teeth white, charming and pretty. She was smiling at him, and it was none other than his junior sister, Li Xiangjun.

"Hi, junior sister," he greeted her with a smile. "You're here too!"

'Playing dumb!' Li Xiangjun stopped in her tracks, glaring at him with a huff. She had already told him about her plans to study in the West, yet he pretended to know nothing about it.

"Miss Xiao," Li Xiangjun, her face as lovely as a flower, bypassed him to grab the hand of the Eldest Miss, smiling, "Did my brother-in-law deceive you into accompanying him to Goryeo? Be careful on the road, don't let the wolves snatch you away!"

Xiao Yuruo blushed and bowed her head, too embarrassed to speak.

With Lin Wanrong's thick-skinned nature, he was indifferent to her indirect mockery. Seeing the two of them standing together in an intimate manner, he couldn't help but say, "Eldest Miss, you seem very close to my junior sister?"

Xiao Yuruo shot him a few annoyed glances, retorting, "What's wrong with that? Xiangjun is familiar with everyone in our family. When you went north to fight against the Turks, we were all together every day."

So that was the case, Lin Wanrong laughed heartily.

Tavernier's eyes widened, "Mister Lin, is this Miss Lucy your relative? No wonder she's so beautiful and charming."

"Lucy? What Lucy?" Lin Wanrong was utterly confused.

"Lucy is this young lady," Tavernier pointed at Li Xiangjun, "Don't you know?"

Lin Wanrong's jaw dropped in astonishment, "Li Xiangjun? Lucy? What's going on?"

The junior sister giggled, "Brother-in-law, you're so silly. That's my Western name!"

Lin Wanrong frowned, pulling her aside, "Why adopt a Western name for no reason? Your name Xiangjun sounds beautiful to me."

"Really?" Li Xiangjun was delighted, "Then say it a few more times for me to hear."

Lin Wanrong snorted, "Junior sister, sending you to study abroad is for you to learn advanced Western knowledge and benefit the people upon your return, not to worship foreign things. You haven't even started studying abroad, and you're already changing your name. If that's the case, there's no need to go to the West at all."

He brushed his sleeves, his darkened face and raised eyebrows exuding an immense authority, his words heavy with meaning.

Li Xiangjun, who usually joked and laughed with him, had never seen him so solemn and was inexplicably frightened. She lowered her head, feeling aggrieved, "Why are you saying such things? What do you mean by 'worshipping foreign things'? The Western name was Sister Xu Zhiqing's idea. She said that since we're studying in the West, we should adopt names that fit in, making it easier to converse with Westerners and aiding our studies. Everyone has chosen a Western name. I, Li Xiangjun, am immensely proud to be of Great Hua and have people here I admire and like the most. Why would I worship foreign things?"

Her words were righteous and convincing. With the integrity of her name, Li Xiangjun, Lin Wanrong realized he might have overreacted. Adopting a Western name was merely for convenience, not an act of worshiping foreign culture.

"I'm sorry, I overthought it," he apologized with a smile to Li Xiangjun. "My hope is that while learning in the West, everyone remembers our homeland and aspires to be elites of Great Hua, not of the West."

His sincere apology, a rare quality among men, warmed Li Xiangjun's heart. She smiled, "Don't worry, I will surely return because I want you to admire me, hehe!"

Lin Wanrong chuckled at her seemingly mad desire to be admired by him, a sentiment she had expressed multiple times. He returned to Xiao Yuruo's side, taking her hand and whispering, "Is Xiangjun upset about something? Why is she always thinking about wanting me to admire her?"

After watching them for a while, Miss Xiao shook her head resignedly, rolling her eyes, "Just wait, you'll see in the future."

Tavernier, noticing the close conversation between Mister Lin and Li Xiangjun, couldn't help asking, "Mister Lin, is this Miss Lucy a relative of yours?"

"She is my wife's sister, oh, my sister-in-law."

"Sister-in-law?" Tavernier repeated in his rudimentary Great Hua language, nodding, "Your sister-in-law is a lady I greatly admire. In just a few days, she has learned much English, far surpassing others."

"Brother-in-law, do you like my dress?" Li Xiangjun grabbed her skirt, spinning around with a giggle, her graceful figure catching the eye.

Though young, she was already blossoming beautifully. Her every word and smile naturally exuded charm, leaving even Miss Xiao amazed: Xiangjun, when grown up, will undoubtedly be an extraordinary beauty.

Tavernier clapped in admiration, "Miss Lucy, your beauty will surely astonish all of France."

Lin Wanrong was even more surprised. Xiangjun had spoken in English, albeit not fluently, but with clear pronunciation. Her progress in just a few days was truly remarkable.

"Excuse me, are you General Lin?" As he marveled at Li Xiangjun's talent, a skinny boy around fourteen or fifteen approached timidly, asking in a soft voice.

"That's me," Lin Wanrong replied with a beaming smile, sizing up the boy, "Young brother, what's your name?"

"You, you really are General Lin? My name is Hong Sheng!" The young boy's lips trembled with excitement as he waved his hand, prompting the remaining youngsters on the deck to swarm around them.

"General Lin—"

"General Lin—"

The boys' faces flushed with excitement as they looked up to him with immense admiration, their voices rising and falling in a chorus.

Their youthful faces brimmed with energy and enthusiasm, like the rising sun. Lin Wanrong was delighted, "Hello everyone, are you all going to study abroad in the West?"

"Yes, General," the boys replied in unison, bowing.

Lin Wanrong smiled slightly, "You are so young, yet ready to travel across oceans to study abroad. Are you afraid?"

"Not afraid—"

Though their reply was robust, it was not perfectly synchronized. These were all fourteen or fifteen-year-old boys, many from humble backgrounds, unaccustomed to such long journeys. Many were seeing Westerners for the first time; to say they harbored no worries would be impossible.

Lin Wanrong laughed heartily, "It's okay to be afraid, what's there to hide? I'll tell you, the first time I went to battle against the White Lotus Sect, I was so scared I almost became a deserter!"

Their laughter roared, his words instantly bridging the gap between them.

"It's natural to feel apprehensive about unfamiliar things. It's nothing to be ashamed of; even the greatest heroes have felt this way," he said, his gaze sweeping over them, "Since you have chosen this path, you must be prepared in your hearts. Overcoming these difficulties will naturally be within your reach."

His words resonated with reason and emotion, and everyone nodded in agreement.

"Actually, these are not the issues I'm worried about." He strolled a few steps, leaning on the deck railing, gazing silently at the distant sea that merged with the sky, speaking softly, "Can anyone tell me, does this vast ocean has an end?"

This question stumped everyone; not just the youngsters, but even the worldly Frenchmen couldn't find an answer.

Li Xiangjun observed the surging blue waves, listening to the soft whooshing of the sea, a faint mist rising in her eyes.

Miss Xiao nestled beside him, quietly taking his hand, her smile blooming like a myriad of flowers.

"Whether or not it has an end is not the question. What I want to tell you is that this world is infinitely vast, not only nurturing Great Hua, the Turks, Goryeo, Dongyin, and France, but also many more continents, oceans, and islands. In our world, there are five continents and seven oceans. Our Great Hua is just one corner of it, a place called Asia. Beyond the end of that ocean, there are Europe, America, Africa, Oceania, and every unexplored corner." His voice was firm and resonant, his words thunderous. Talk of five continents and seven oceans, and lands like Europe, America, Asia, and Africa, was unheard of and startling. Not just the young boys, but even the intelligent Miss Xiao and Li Xiangjun were left speechless in astonishment.

France, a maritime power, had seen Tavernier travel far and wide, yet upon hearing Lin's words, even he was left agape: "Mister Lin, you're saying our world has five continents and seven oceans? Good heavens, I've only been to three continents. Mister Lin, you must teach me where the rest are."

Lin Wanrong shook his head wordlessly, looking at the stunned youngsters, speaking solemnly, "This world is vast. On this journey, you will discover a completely new world, unparalleled in its wonders. I hope you all will have broad minds and wide horizons, learn much, dare much, and not limit yourselves by your current perspectives. Learn from others, study diligently, and neither mock others for their crudeness nor belittle yourself for your shortcomings. Respect others, and respect ourselves."

"The most important thing is, no matter where you are, never forget the color of your skin or where your roots lie. Five years from now, I'll be standing right here, waiting for your return! That's all."

His eyes moistened, he bowed deeply to the children. In this world, perhaps no one could understand the sudden surge of emotion in him, nor the profound meaning of his bow. Not even Xiao Qingxuan, Yueya'er, Fairy Ning, or Vixen An, were they present, would comprehend.

"General—" The boys were startled, kneeling in a rush.

Looking at these naive youngsters, what they would become in five years was uncertain. Everything depended on their own initiative. He shook his head with a silent sigh.

Miss Xiao, sensing the tremor in his heart, quickly clung to his arm, smiling tenderly.

Li Xiangjun, seeing the glint in his eyes, was momentarily stunned, murmuring, "Brother-in-law, what's happened to you?"

"It's nothing, just the sea breeze irritating my eyes," he chuckled, silently tightening his grip on Xiao Yuruo's hand.

Tavernier sighed deeply, "Mister Lin, your words today weren't just for these young people, but also for me. Allow me to express my deepest respect. Five continents and seven oceans, this is the first I've heard of it. But I don't believe you're wrong! You're a strange man, but that doesn't stop you from being great!"

"Thank you, Tavernier," Lin Wanrong shrugged, "Your flattery is well done, but just as well, it won't stop me from buying your warships for ten taels of silver!"

The Frenchman paused, then burst into laughter, admiring the typical Western humor in an Eastern man, a testament to their cleverness and wisdom.

As time grew late, the four ironclad ships had adjusted their sails, readying to set off on their long voyage. Suddenly, Li Xiangjun tugged at his hand, "Brother-in-law, our ship is going to study in the West, and you haven't named it yet! It better be a good one, or I won't forgive you."

Tavernier, as if awakening from a dream, eagerly added, "Yes, Mister Lin, consider this ship a gift to Great Hua from me. Please, name it!"

Lin Wanrong scratched his head, helplessly saying, "Naming a ship? That's not exactly my forte!"

"Being inexperienced is no excuse," Li Xiangjun pouted, "You've raised everyone's expectations, do you plan to just leave it at that?"

Looking around, over thirty eager young boys awaited his decision with keen anticipation, leaving him with no room to refuse.

After pondering for a moment, he smiled, "Since it's the first ship heading to the West, let's call it the Pioneer. It's also a kind of commemoration."

"Pioneer?" The junior sister repeated, then smiled, "I suppose you've put in some effort. It's passable and somewhat nice sounding!"

Thus, the name 'Pioneer' was settled, and the young boys spread the word, cheering and jumping for joy.

Miss Xiao suggested with a smile, "Since you're on a roll, why not think of a name for our ship heading to Goryeo too? But don't call it Pioneer II; our mission is unrelated to that."

Naming his own cruiser proved to be a challenge for him!

The Titanic? A nice name, but with unfortunate connotations. Love of My Wife? Miss Xiao would surely love it, but Xiao Qingxuan and the others would definitely be jealous. After much thought and finding no solution, he turned to Xiao Yuruo, "The name 'Xuan'er' was your creation, and it's incredibly beautiful. This time, I'll have to trouble you again. I have no specific requirements; anything pleasant to the ear will do!"

His flattery left Miss Xiao delighted, though naming a ship was entirely different from naming a person. She hesitated, finding no good ideas.

Seeing the pair pushing the task back and forth, Li Xiangjun couldn't help but raise an eyebrow in disdain, "Is it so hard to name a pleasure boat? In my opinion, just call it the Longing. After all, brother-in-law, with your numerous admirers everywhere, you'll cause and feel longing wherever you go. This word suits best."

Lin Wanrong coughed hurriedly, "Don't talk nonsense, am I such a person? Miss Xiao, why don't you give it a thought?"

Xiao Yuruo, feeling helpless, rolled her eyes at him, "I actually find Longing quite fitting and I like it! If you can come up with something better, go ahead!"

With many occupying his heart, the word 'Longing' indeed resonated with him, but how could he admit it in front of Miss Xiao? He awkwardly conceded, "If we can't think of anything better, let's settle for now. We'll call it Longing, symbolizing my daily longing for Miss Xiao!"

His cheesy approach left Xiao Yuruo powerless, and she nestled into his embrace, blushing as she agreed.

Li Xiangjun, watching the helpless Miss Xiao, shook her head in disbelief, "Miss Xiao, how can you believe such a lame lie? If brother-in-law were reliable, pigs would fly!"

Miss Xiao burst into laughter, causing Lin Wanrong to react furiously, "You little rascal, you're too bold!"

Amidst their playful chasing and laughter, both the Pioneer and Longing, along with Tavernier's two large ships, set sail. The Great Hua youngsters aboard the Pioneer, having trained between Lianyungang and Rizhao Port, had gained considerable knowledge about sailing. Except for occasional guidance needed from the Frenchmen on navigating charts, they were largely capable of managing on their own.

The Longing, originally the flagship of the French fleet, was a massive and luxuriously decorated vessel. Its sailors and stationed troops, handpicked by Xu Zhiqing, had been meticulously trained and were extremely familiar with the ship's firearms.

Moreover, during the voyage, Tavernier personally came aboard the Longing to explain the uses of various firearms to General Lin. The French had gifted him more than ten firearms, all single-shot long muskets. Although they were not as exquisite as the short muskets gifted by Xiao Qingxuan, their range was considerably longer.

Lin Wanrong, holding the long musket, squinted towards the sea and aimed for a while. Suddenly, he pulled the trigger, and a loud bang echoed. The seagulls circling above the water were startled into shrieking and swiftly flew away, scattering feathers.

"Excellent marksmanship, General Lin, truly like a god with a gun!" Tavernier exclaimed, clapping and laughing.

Good marksmanship for scaring off some birds? Lin Wanrong chuckled at Tavernier's flattery, which seemed to have progressed as quickly as his Great Hua language. Patting the hot barrel of the gun, he said, "Tavernier, your firearms need more work on aiming precision and recoil resistance!"

Though Mister Lin was no gunsmith, his insights and perspectives were not something a diamond trader like Tavernier could match. Tavernier listened, genuinely convinced, "Mister Lin, you truly are a master among masters. We've only started using these firearms a few years ago; they still need time. The two issues you mentioned are indeed what gunsmiths across Europe are trying to solve, but currently, there's no good solution!"

"Brother-in-law, come here!" Li Xiangjun, who had been studying sea charts intently with Miss Xiao on the deck, suddenly waved at him energetically.

Lin Wanrong hummed in response, handed the musket to a guard behind him, and walked over with a smile, "Junior sister, why don't you go to the Pioneer? Why run around on my cruiser all day? Don't you want to study abroad anymore?"

"If it weren't for the daily baths and changes of clothes on your ship, who would want to come here? Right, Miss Xiao?" Li Xiangjun hugged Miss Xiao's arm and huffed in mock annoyance.

The luxury of the Longing was evident here. First, its large size allowed for the storage of plenty of fresh water, and second, the French had placed numerous seawater purification chemicals on board. Miss Xu had also prepared some medicine packs. Although not directly drinkable, the treated water was more than sufficient for bathing after boiling.

In these few days, before entering the Yellow Sea and separating from the other ships, Li Xiangjun stayed on the Longing to enjoy the pleasure of bathing at sea.

Xiao Yuruo shook her head with a giggle, "That excuse is unnecessary. You can bathe on the Pioneer too. If you just call for it, those young men who admire you would surely boil the water and deliver it to your cabin door."

Lin Wanrong laughed heartily. Miss Xiao was right; for a rare beauty like Li Xiangjun, although young, admirers were certainly not in short supply.

Thinking of this, he suddenly asked curiously, "By the way, junior sister, where is that Master Hou Fangyu?"

"Master Hou? What does he have to do with me? Why are you asking me about him?" Li Xiangjun widened her eyes at him.

"Oh, perhaps I got it wrong then." He quickly leaned over the table, "Eldest Miss, what are you studying?"

Xiao Yuruo smiled sweetly, pointing at the sea chart, "Xiangjun asked me to ask you, what place is this?"

Lin Wanrong glanced over and said solemnly, "This is the Dongsha Islands [TL: off the coast of Hong Kong, controlled by Taiwan], located above the South China Sea, and part of our great Great Hua's maritime territory."

The junior sister measured the distance from the Yellow Sea to the South China Sea and murmured, "Just the maritime territory of our Great Hua is so vast. Then, the distance from here to France must be thousands, even tens of thousands of miles?"

"Of course," Lin Wanrong chuckled, "Why, are you scared? If so, you don't have to go."

"Who said I'm not going?" Li Xiangjun glared at him, adding softly, "I'm just worried that by the time I return, you won't recognize me anymore."

Lin Wanrong shook his head helplessly at her concern.

He stood up slowly, looking around. All that surrounded him were the churning waves, with the sky seeming to press down upon his head. No land was in sight, only the roar of the sea and the cries of seagulls filled his ears.

The massive body of the Longing appeared insignificant, like a speck in the vast ocean, floating like a leaf on the sea, utterly lost. Just a few days into the journey, and he was already struggling with the isolation; how much more would Xiangjun and the other children suffer on their long voyage across the ocean? He sighed deeply.

"Mister Lin, look, what is that?" Tavernier, standing beside him, suddenly cried out in surprise.

Miss Xiao and the junior sister quickly looked in the direction he pointed. On the vast sea, a fleet of more than ten large ships with full sails approached. The ships were manned with fully armed soldiers, and dozens of dark cannons protruded from their sides. A large flag fluttering in the wind bore a bold "Lin" character.

Lin Wanrong laughed, "Tavernier, no need to panic. This is the Great Hua Shandong naval fleet, here to escort us to Goryeo!"

The Frenchman then realized, thinking to himself that he was wondering how Mister Lin would travel to Goryeo with only one ship. The escort fleet had already been waiting in the Yellow Sea.

Dozens of Great Hua naval ships slowly approached. On the leading ship stood a formidable, dark-faced general who saluted Lin Wanrong from afar, saying respectfully, "Shandong naval commander Shi Changsheng, at your service, General Lin."

The Longing, anchored in the middle of the sea, lowered two long planks, creating a bridge to the Shandong naval ship. Shi Changsheng crossed the bridge and bowed respectfully to Lin Wanrong.

Lin Wanrong, smiling, helped him up, "No need for such formality, Brother Shi. I hear you are the cousin of Brother Hu Bugui's mother-in-law. We are practically family!"

Shi Changsheng stood up, smiling joyfully, "The battle against the Turks was Great Hua's glory of the century. My cousin always mentions General Lin's bravery in his letters. I have admired you greatly. In fact, I witnessed your valor last year during the campaign against the White Lotus Sect!"

"Last year?" Lin Wanrong blinked, "Do you mean—"

Shi Changsheng continued, "Last autumn, when General Lin defeated the White Lotus rebels with a few thousand supply troops, capturing Jining City, I was there, following Master Xu's orders, leading the Shandong naval forces to support you. I witnessed the fall of Jining City with my own eyes."

So, it was an old acquaintance! Lin Wanrong nodded, smiling.

On this voyage to Goryeo, Miss Xu, concerned for his safety, not only personally trained the sailors and soldiers aboard the Longing but also chose the escorting commander from the experienced Shandong naval forces, who was a close relative of Hu Bugui. With such a connection, how could he not be reassured?

Since the Great Hua naval forces had arrived, it meant they had reached the center of the Yellow Sea, and it was time to part ways with the French fleet.

Tavernier, reluctant to part, held onto him, "Mister Lin, if you're free next year, you must come to France! I'll give you another big ship, and you won't have to pay even a tael of silver!"

"Wouldn't that make me guilty of bribery? Better to buy it for ten taels of silver!" Mister Lin replied with a chuckle.

A plank bridge was already set up between the Longing and the Pioneer. As the moment of separation approached, knowing it would be thousands of miles and many years before they returned, even the usually strong Li Xiangjun couldn't help but have her eyes turn red with tears swirling in them. Miss Xiao wrapped her arms around her, softly consoling her, with tears already staining her cheeks.

Lin Wanrong sighed, "Junior sister, the West is not like Great Hua; there's no one to look out for you there. You'll have to rely on yourself! Be careful, and don't let anyone bully you!"

Li Xiangjun huffed, "Have you forgotten? I know martial arts! Who dares to bully me?"

Indeed, with her martial skills, even he sometimes found himself at her mercy, let alone someone in the West. He laughed heartily, then turned to whisper to Tavernier, "Take good care of these children from Great Hua. If they're bullied...well, you know."

He gave a menacing smile, and Tavernier broke into a sweat, quickly reassuring him, "Don't worry, Mister Lin. King Louis and I will warmly welcome them! In France, no one would dare to bully them!"

"That's good to hear," Mister Lin nodded seriously, then sighed softly, "And take special care of my junior sister. She's young and alone in a foreign land; I can't help but worry. Once in France, find her some maids to take care of her, buy a house for her comfort, and put all expenses on my tab. And remember, she's headstrong. Don't tell her I arranged all this. Just say it's special consideration from King Louis."

Tavernier nodded in admiration, "Mister Lin, you really care for your sister-in-law!"

As they conversed quietly in English, Li Xiangjun looked at him silently, tears streaming down her face.

The time to board the ship arrived. As Li Xiangjun slowly stepped onto the plank bridge spanning between the two ships, Lin Wanrong sighed softly. Suddenly, the junior sister rushed back like a whirlwind, panting in front of him, "Brother-in-law, is your English really good?"

"It's passable, why do you ask?" Lin Wanrong replied with a smile.

"Do you know what this means?" She leaned in, whispered something tremblingly into his ear, and Lin Wanrong's face changed dramatically. He stood there, frozen like a puppet, unable to move.

"You're so silly, brother-in-law!" With those words, tears scattering like rain, Li Xiangjun giggled, turned, and ran across the plank bridge. Then, turning around, she stood on the Pioneer's deck, silently gazing at him.

The sails slowly unfurled, and the sailors rowed swiftly. The tail rudder's flow channel ejected streams of dazzling water droplets, twinkling in the sunlight with a rainbow of colors.

The Pioneer silently lifted anchor and quietly sailed into the depths of the ocean.

"Brother-in-law—" Watching his face gradually blur in the distance, Li Xiangjun suddenly stood up, waving her translucent hand towards him, tears streaming down as she called out loudly, "Five years, in five years, I will make you admire me! You must remember my face and wait for my return!"

"Remember my face, wait for my return—"

These echoes lingered over the sea, persisting for a long time. Even after the Pioneer's sails had disappeared from sight, they still circled in his ears.

The French fleet had already vanished into the sea, yet he stood there like a statue, motionless. Xiao Yuruo quickly grabbed his hand, asking gently, "What's wrong with you?"

Lin Wanrong's palms trembled slightly, he sighed deeply as if waking from a dream, puzzled, "Eldest Miss, do you know how old Xiangjun is this year?"

"Why are you asking this all of a sudden?" Xiao Yuruo's eyebrows slightly furrowed, shaking her head, "I don't know. It seems like no one has ever really paid attention to that!"

He first met Li Xiangjun during the battle at the Fairy Hall, where she, still wearing two braids, looked only about eleven or twelve years old. But when she and Qingxuan came down from the mountain, removing her braids, she suddenly appeared as a fourteen or fifteen-year-old girl with bright eyes and white teeth. He had always wondered, just how old was his junior sister?

Seeing him worried, Miss Xiao held his hand gently, "If you can't figure it out, don't think about it too much. The answer will come one day! I am a bit curious though, what exactly did Xiangjun say to you? It seemed to have shaken you to the core!"

"It's nothing, just a joke she played on me!" He hurriedly laughed it off.

"Is that so?" Miss Xiao smiled slightly, "Love tiger oil, love tiger oil, what does that even mean? Xiangjun left us with quite the riddle!"

Lin Wanrong was shocked, quickly explaining, "Love tiger oil, well, it's about a tiger that loves a magical oil, an oil from India, so people call it 'love tiger oil.'"

[TL: It pronounced Ài lǎohǔ yóu, which sounded similar to 'I love you']

"Oh!" Miss Xiao seemed to understand, quietly holding his hand and softly saying, "My Dear, love tiger oil."

Every woman is not a fool! His eyes suddenly filled with tears, he embraced Miss Xiao tightly, overwhelmed with emotion: "Yuruo, in all my life, I will always tiger oil."

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