Knight Lord: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 406 Family Beauties Arrive to Help - Beyond the Fifth Relative's Door
After returning to Black Forest Territory, Su Li's life became pleasant and peaceful.

The clamor of war had finally subsided, and the familiar castle and manor brought him a quiet sense of belonging. He temporarily put aside the complicated aftermath of the new territory and the wealth that was difficult to liquidate—problems that Oliver needed to face.

For the next few cycles, Su Li's life became very peaceful. He no longer needed to be constantly on edge, dealing with the uncertainties on the front lines. Most of the time, he stayed in his manor or Ingrid's treehouse. In the early morning, as sunlight streamed in through the high windows, he would push open the heavy wooden windows, letting in the cool air, and stand quietly for a while, overlooking the gradually awakening territory. The outline of the fields in the distance, the regular movements of the servants in the nearby courtyard, all exuded an atmosphere of tranquility.

He merely gave brief comments to the core government affairs documents piled up on his desk before handing them over to the territory's officials. The officials were already very familiar with these tax accounts, detailed government affairs, and fund deposits.

In the afternoons, if the weather was fine, he would ride his griffin to patrol the territory near the castle. The wind blew along familiar paths, flanking either the harvested, empty fields or the still verdant woodlands. He rode slowly, observing the farmers preparing for autumn, the craftsmen repairing houses, and the caravans transporting supplies along the roads. This patrol had no urgent purpose; it was more like a confirmation, a confirmation that the pulse of this land, his roots, was still beating steadily and powerfully.

What he loved most was undoubtedly his life with the female courtiers in the castle. After Arielia awoke, his training intensity increased dramatically.

One fact that many people don't believe is that women really need to be developed.

Many women may not be initially interested in spiritual practice and intimacy, and their willingness to do these things is entirely out of love, to satisfy a man's needs and desires.

Even before spiritual practice and intimacy, massaging their entire bodies to relax them is more pleasurable for both mind and body than the spiritual practice itself.

However, once a woman truly experiences pleasure, it's as if her inner energy has been unlocked, and she's become addicted. The discomfort she felt during intimacy suddenly disappears, and her affection and love for the man surge dramatically; she might even be willing to do anything for him.

That's why some women are like docile kittens, while others are like tigresses.

Su Li undoubtedly used this time to further enhance his intimate relationships with his female courtiers. Even the usually aloof and distant Seranville looked at him with tender affection, almost to the point of being smitten.

This is a true story of mutual support and affection that blossomed over time.

This was the life he had always dreamed of—no tense atmosphere of war, no insidious encroachment of evil, and even more gratifyingly, a good harvest in this peaceful year.

When Su Li returned to Black Forest Territory from Blue Mirror Territory, it was already autumn, and Black Forest Territory had a very good harvest during this bountiful season.

Although the fighting on the front lines was extremely fierce and the casualties were heavy, the impact on the rear was not significant because this battle was an attack by Black Forest Territory on Blue Mirror Territory.

The main reason is that grain was transported by canal boats, so it did not require much manpower.

This kept the rear stable, allowing production to proceed at full capacity.

Every day, watching large quantities of grain being continuously transported to the granary and seeing barren lands being transformed into fertile farmland, Su Li was always in a good mood.

Moreover, amidst this wonderful life, there is new good news, good news closely related to Su Li himself.

While he was inspecting the orchards in Rotten Canyon, Hilde came to his side with good news, reporting: "My lord, the family has sent people, bringing another powerful reinforcement."

Are family members here?

Su Li was overjoyed. He was now beginning to understand why people in ancient times would be so happy to receive a letter from home.

In this foreign land, being able to feel the connection from one's hometown and loved ones is indeed a comforting thing.

In particular, this contact came late, a month or two later than expected.

Su Li immediately directed the nuns of the Dawn Church around him, saying, "Quick, pick a batch of Star Dew Rose apples, fill a cart with them, and I'll also send some local specialties to Bauhinia Castle."

"Also, I'll pack a box of wildflower honey from Luoteng Canyon and take it with me."

Although these two items are not very valuable—a cartload of apples and honey might only cost 10 gold crowns—they best represent Su Li's sentiments: sending a batch of local specialties to her relatives.

Soon, the nuns and servants prepared two carts of local specialties and handed them over to Su Li, then returned to Zijing Fortress with him.

At this moment, on the road beside the gate of Zijing Fortress, hundreds of knights and servants of the Zijing Flower Clan stood in neat rows, their bodies tense and their attitude solemn, looking up at Su Li riding a griffin past.

The way they looked at Su Li, this good-for-nothing young master, back in Zijing Fortress was completely different.

After all, they had only just arrived at the border prince's territory when they heard countless legends of Young Master Su Li's power: fierce battles against the chosen demons, subduing powerful green dragons, killing a large number of chosen monsters, and even a fierce battle with a legendary knight, annihilating tens of thousands of powerful enemy troops.

Each and every one of these feats is an extraordinary achievement that ordinary people would not dare to imagine. How could they not admire them?

Don't underestimate the power of fame. There will always be a group of people who, even without personal gain, are willing to follow a hero in performing a magnificent feat. Some people have the discerning eye to recognize a hero and successfully entrust him to a wise ruler. Others, however, find nothing more than a group of incompetent and unwise individuals.

Hundreds of knights and squires, clad in robes bearing the Bauhinia family crest, their armor gleaming and reflecting a cold, hard sheen in the autumn sunlight, stood solemnly silent, broken only by the fluttering of their banners in the wind. Every gaze directed at him was filled with undisguised awe and fervor—a reverence for power, achievement, and the rise of a new hero within the family.

Passing through the solemn ranks of knights, we entered the castle's slightly warmer and brighter meeting hall. The atmosphere here was completely different from outside. Several knights were already waiting in the hall. Although their armor had been wiped clean, they were not fully armored, wearing only light breastplates or leather armor, standing casually by the fireplace or leaning against the long table. Their facial features did bear some resemblance to Su Li's, with the distinctive marks of the Bauhinia family in their brows and eyes, but the years and hardships had etched different marks on their faces.

Upon seeing Su Li enter, the group's faces broke into genuine and relaxed smiles. This wasn't the distant, awe-inspiring reverence of the knights outside, but rather a sense of pride and closeness at seeing their outstanding junior. They all straightened up and casually performed a gesture of respect commonly used within the family, a gesture of placing a hand on the chest.

"Young Master Su Li, it's great to see you again!" An old knight with gray hair, a lean build, and piercing eyes spoke first, his voice booming with laughter. "Time flies! Last time I saw you, you were only this short," he gestured to his waist with his hand, then laughed heartily, "Haha, now you're a towering lord!"

Another, slightly younger, burly knight with a short beard chimed in, his tone both teasing and familiar: "That's right, old Jeff was just saying that when you were three, he held you in his arms, and you peed all over him! You ruined the new robe the lord had given him." As he spoke, he winked mischievously at the old knight named Jeff.

Old Jeff wasn't annoyed at all. Instead, he stroked his beard and laughed heartily: "Yes, yes, yes! This little rascal is quite something! Who would have thought that the 'little troublemaker' back then would make such a name for himself in the border prince's territory?" His eyes were filled with the loving kindness of an elder and undisguised pride as he looked at Su Li.

At this moment, the plump, chubby-cheeked female knight, standing a little further back, smiled shyly, her round cheeks slightly flushed. She added in a soft but clear voice, "Cousin, we've all heard about your past and your legendary stories here within the family. We're all so happy for you." Her bright eyes sparkled with sincere admiration and a touch of bashfulness.

Su Li knew Old Jeff; after all, he was the head of the family's armed retainer battalion, and Su Li had dealt with him quite a bit before becoming a knight apprentice. In fact, he could be considered one of the most profound "shadows" in Su Li's young knight apprenticeship.

But in Su Li's memory, his uncle was not like this at all. The old Jeff in his memory was completely different from the kind-faced uncle before him. Back then, old Jeff's face seemed forever shrouded in frost, his brows tightly furrowed, and deep nasolabial folds jutting down from the sides of his nose, as if carved by a knife. His gaze was always sharp enough to scrape off a layer of skin, especially when he looked at Su Li and the other good-for-nothing family scions. His eyes were a mixture of disappointment, severity, and a gloomy look as if the entire Purple Thorn Fortress owed him a huge debt—in Su Li's private complaints to Avril back then, it was "a debt-collecting face that everyone owed him ten golden crowns." When he lectured, his voice was hoarse and low, each word like a cold stone hitting the ground, silencing the boys. Back then, old Jeff was the absolute authority and a symbol of fear in the entourage.

Indeed, once you succeed, the whole world smiles at you.

Faced with these greetings and jokes imbued with kinship, Su Li smiled with relief. He stepped forward, not bothering to maintain the dignity of a lord, but instead patting Old Jeff's arm as if he were a long-lost family member.

“Uncle Jeff, Uncle Carl, and…” He turned to look at the beautiful woman who greeted him. Her face was round and full, with a slight blush from her long journey; she had an extremely plump “baby face,” fair skin, and bright, round eyes. Most importantly, she was voluptuous and voluptuous; although she was a young girl, she exuded the air of a mature woman. When she noticed Su Li’s gaze sweep over her, her cheeks seemed to flush even more, and she subconsciously tensed up.

"My name is Su Na, and I'm Su Li's cousin," Su Na introduced herself very considerately.

"Oh, cousin Suna, and a few uncles," Su Li greeted them one by one, his attitude gentle, and said with a smile, "You must be tired from your journey. Let's not dwell on those embarrassing old stories, sit down and talk. Someone, bring some hot wine and snacks. I just brought back some fresh Star Dew Rose apples, everyone should try the autumn flavors of Blackforest Territory." But for some reason, Su Li's very formal conversation made Suna blush and shyly lower her head. This was quite different from the dashing and heroic demeanor of the knights. Su Li didn't know when the female knights of the family had become so easily shy.

Upon seeing this, Jeff stroked his beard and burst into hearty laughter. He sat down in a chair in the hall, his face glowing, as if he had encountered some joyous occasion.

After tasting a piece of fruit, he started talking and said, "Young Master Su Li, do you know why I came here?"

Su Li shook his head in surprise and asked, "Uncle Jeff, aren't you staying here?" He thought that Jeff had brought the team here this time to continue to provide him with support, just like Connor.

Jeff immediately shook his head and laughed, saying, "This old man won't get in the way and annoy anyone. Black Forest Territory was conquered by you; it's a young man's territory. My meddling here will only invite disgust. Besides, to be honest, your territory is so powerful that it doesn't need my old bones."

Su Li said humbly, "We still need Uncle Jeff's extensive knowledge and guidance for our territory. As the saying goes, 'An elder in the family is a treasure.' With you here, we feel more at ease."

Jeff quickly waved his hand and said, "Young Master Su Li, if word gets out that I'll be laughed out of the house. What qualifications do I, an elite knight, have to guide a genius who can defeat a legendary knight? Actually, I came here on behalf of the family head to visit you."

"The most important task is to resolve the request you made in your previous letter to the family, and to resolve the issue of your family crest's bloodline."

The crest of the Bauhinia family—this is indeed an issue that Su Li urgently needs the family's support for.

The main reason is that this badge can only be made from the blood of the Bauhinia family. Not to mention that it consumes a lot of blood, Su Li can only make 2 to 3 badges a day by drawing blood.

To equip these thousands of soldiers with family badges, wouldn't we have to treat Su Li like a blood pig, drawing blood from him non-stop every day for three years?

If the army expands further, then it will truly be a dark and hopeless situation. Even if we drain Su Li dry, we still can't supply so many family badges.

So Su Li was really concerned about what Jeff was talking about, and immediately asked, "How many clansmen did the family send over?"

“Hmm… most of the family members have gone to participate in the Holy Crusade.” Jeff spread his hands and said, “As you know, this sacred undertaking has an unparalleled attraction for young knights. Many knights hope to make a name for themselves in the Holy Crusade and acquire enough wealth at the same time.”

"So the clan chief also went to great lengths to recruit 20 clan members."

"Only 20 clansmen?" Su Li frowned slightly. Based on each person providing 500 milliliters of blood, their daily output could only make a maximum of 60 Bauhinia badges.

It would take a long time to meet the army's needs with this number, and more importantly, Su Li has grand plans. By then, banners, armor, and even weapons (such as sword hilts) will be engraved with the emblem of the Bauhinia family.

The effects of these badges are similar to those of dwarven runes. There are three types: protective badges, weapon badges, and banner badges.

With 20 clansmen, it might take a year to complete the costume change for all the high-ranking personal attendants.

Jeff immediately assured him, "Young Master Su Li, rest assured, this is only the first batch of support from the clan. After the Holy Great Expedition ends, a second batch of clansmen will come to support us."

"Moreover! The clan chief considered that it is better to teach a man to fish than to give him a fish! So he specially sent Suna over."

As the conversation turned to Suna, Suna immediately lowered her head shyly, her cheeks becoming even redder.

Su Li's gentle smile froze instantly. He stared wide-eyed in disbelief at the smug old Jeff, then at his cousin Su Na, who was so embarrassed she almost buried her head in her chest.

"Wait!" Su Li's voice trembled, filled with intense astonishment. "Uncle Jeff, what... what do you mean by that? Sending Suna over? What... what does this have to do with resolving the bloodline badge issue?"

An extremely absurd thought popped into my head uncontrollably—could it be orthopedics?

Although such practices are quite common among nobles. Some noble and knightly families, in order to ensure the purity of their bloodline, only pass on their lineage within themselves; these are the famous blue-blooded nobles.

But Su Li clearly hadn't considered this possibility. He couldn't help but glance at Su Na, whose cheeks were flushed. Was this cousin beautiful? Undoubtedly, she was incredibly alluring, with fair, plump, and voluptuous skin. Crucially, her legs were round, glossy, and delicately tempting. Despite her cute, round face, she possessed the captivating sensuality and mature charm of a married woman. It was impossible for Su Li not to be tempted. But that didn't mean he could accept this solution!
When old Jeff saw Su Li's astonished expression, he was first taken aback, then burst into an even louder laugh, which made Uncle Karl and the other knights beside him chuckle.

"Hahaha! Young Master Su Li! What...what are you thinking!" Jeff laughed so hard his beard trembled, slapping his thigh forcefully. "Although I'm old, I'm not so confused as to play matchmaker!"

He laughed and waved his hands repeatedly, seeing that Su Li still looked doubtful and uncertain, and quickly explained, "You've misunderstood! You've completely misunderstood! Su Na is here to help you 'generate blood,' but not in the way you're thinking!"

Jeff caught his breath and said seriously, "Although Suna is young, she is a treasure in the family, especially in terms of bloodline techniques! She has mastered a secret technique that can increase the probability of pregnancy in the family bloodline, which we call the Bloodline Activation Technique!"

"Bloodline Activation Technique?" Su Li repeated, his tightly furrowed brows relaxing slightly, but the doubt in his eyes had not completely dissipated.

“That’s right!” Old Jeff nodded vigorously, his eyes gleaming. “This secret technique can increase the probability of pregnancy in the family bloodline through specific drugs. Normally, this ability wouldn’t be of much use, but it would be very beneficial to you, Young Master Su Li.”

He pointed at Suna: "Suna is quite talented. The clan leader decided to send Suna with this skill to support you because you have a huge demand for badge blood, and the clan can only send a limited number of bloodline members. With her, combined with your own blood, and our twenty 'blood sources,' we will be able to support your large-scale badge production needs in the future!"

Su Li suddenly realized what was happening, and let out a long sigh of relief. The feeling of shock he had just experienced instantly dissipated. He touched his nose somewhat awkwardly, and his gaze towards Su Na carried a hint of gratitude.

"I see!" Su Li's voice returned to normal, even with a hint of surprise. "Cousin Su Na, I never expected you to possess such a precious skill! This is truly... a great help! I was really... rude just now."

He sincerely apologized to Suna, whose cheeks were still flushed. She looked up, her bright eyes showing a hint of relief and a forced composure: "Cousin, you flatter me. It is Suna's honor to be able to contribute to the family and share your burdens. This skill can indeed alleviate the pressure on the bloodline's supply in the future. Moreover..."

She paused, then added softly but clearly, "Furthermore, according to Chapter 7 of Volume 5 of the Imperial Sacred Code, my blood relation with you, cousin, is beyond the fifth degree of kinship. Strictly speaking, under both secular and canon law, we are not considered close relatives." She seemed to be emphasizing this crucial point to completely dispel Su Li's earlier awkward misunderstanding.

Huh? We're out of the fifth generation?
In that case, it shouldn't be considered orthopedics, right?

From both secular and canonal law perspectives, the two individuals are indeed legally permitted to marry.

Although old Jeff specifically emphasized Suna's abilities, it felt like the family must have said something to this cousin.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have been blushing ever since she met Su Li. After all, if others can reproduce, so can her fair, plump, and voluptuous body. So, she could teach Su Li how to fish, and also bear him a child.

Moreover, from the family's perspective, this arrangement is clearly more perfect. It strengthens the ties between the Black Forest Territory and the family.

Just like Phyllis and Avril's choices back then, a kite with only one string is easily broken. But when many strings are tangled together, the intricate connections can never be severed.

Moreover, from a marriage law perspective, there's absolutely no problem with them being together. They'd barely met before, and Suna didn't even know which kingdom's knight's daughter she was. Purplethorn Castle is an earldom, with many barons and royal knights under its jurisdiction, and this young woman had barely visited Purplethorn Castle a few times. If it weren't for Su Li's request, they might never have met in their entire lives.

Thinking this way, Su Li gradually felt relieved and decided to let things take their course. At least for the time being, he could be free; the arrival of more than 20 members of his family would provide him with blood for a considerable period.

(End of this chapter)