Enjoying the Noble Life

The meal lasted half an hour, during which Li Yan got to know his younger brother and sister. His brother was named Li Wei, and his sister was Li Chang'an. His sister was the youngest, only two months old, while his brother was just over a year old, still at an age when he barely understood anything.

Li Wei seemed to understand that Li Yan was his older brother and kept calling him "big brother" in a soft, childish voice. Li Yan could only stroke his head dotingly.

The squads his father had given him were the most elite soldiers of the Tiger Head Army. Most of their members came from the family's branch lines and answered directly to the family. They worked together seamlessly and had powerful physiques.

As the commander of these squads, Li Yan briefly surveyed them as a whole. They were very obedient toward their new commander and did not look down on him in the least because of his age.

"Young master!"

"Good afternoon, young master!"

The soldiers shouted in unison, and the squad leaders began introducing themselves and reporting on their squads one by one.

"Levi, captain of the Tiger Head Army's first squad. Twelve members in total. Greetings, young master."

"Kelly, captain of the Tiger Head Army's second squad. Twelve members in total. Greetings, young master."

"Jack, captain of the Tiger Head Army's third squad. Twelve members in total. Greetings, young master."

Their voices rang out, loud and clear. The vigorous, well-equipped soldiers of the Tiger Head Army stood tall and looked at Li Yan, their longswords all the same model as the Holy Sword.

"Ahem, good afternoon, everyone. Just carry on with your regular training."

Li Yan spoke, feeling somewhat unaccustomed to this. As a research mage who stayed at home, he trained his physique and combat techniques entirely because of his family. Although he had also studied some military instruction and tactics, he found it difficult to apply his book knowledge in practice.

Perhaps only when he truly faced monsters and demons would he be able to put it to use.

"By the commander's orders, everyone, proceed with regular training!"

The captains of the Tiger Head Army shouted orders to their soldiers. They marched away in perfect formation, their disciplined military bearing stirring Li Yan's blood.

Curious, Li Yan made a point of walking around the training grounds to watch. Their training included sparring, swordsmanship contests, tempering their wills, and comprehensive physical exercises.

On the training grounds, where they fought with fiery vigor and shouted in unison, Li Yan felt his own passion surge. The hot-blooded impulses in his body urged him to step forward and show what he could do.

Xiao Wu and Xiao Xue followed close behind Li Yan, silently keeping him company as he watched. With the blazing sun overhead, they waved small fans as hard as they could to make him a little more comfortable.

Cool air brushed past Li Yan, and his fired-up heart fell into indulgence. In such comfortable surroundings, how could he not take the time to enjoy himself?

After watching for a while, Li Yan rose and left. It was getting a little hot, making it the perfect time to enjoy a bath. It had been a long time since he had enjoyed himself in a spacious bathhouse.

The enormous bathhouse in the castle was reserved exclusively for Li Yan. Although it had been a long time since he last bathed there, it was still spotless, without a speck of dust.

Xiao Wu and Xiao Xue thoughtfully removed Li Yan's outer clothes. It had been a long time since they had bathed him, and their technique was a little rusty, but they still did their best to attend to him.

Now in his youth, Li Yan calmly stepped into the bathing pool, with Xiao Wu and Xiao Xue close behind. As his personal maids, they had to follow him closely wherever he went.

Feeling their delicate jade hands scrub his back, Li Yan silently found himself missing his old life as a noble.

After washing for a full hour, Li Yan put on a nobleman's suit and looked at his reflection in the mirror. His hair had been styled like an adult's, and he could not quite get used to it, so he fussed with it until he looked like a boy again.

"Young master, the madam and the Earl are already waiting for you in the dining room."

The head butler, dressed in a butler's suit, bowed as he reported. Li Yan let out a long breath and strolled into the dining room for his meal. As far as he was concerned, dinners like this were a bit of a hassle.

"A Yan, I've entrusted my three most elite squads to you. Don't disappoint the family's expectations."

His father, the Earl, raised his glass of red wine toward Li Yan, a faint smile on his face.

In this era, fourteen was already considered adulthood. With demons running rampant, survival was especially difficult for the human race.

"Yan, get a good rest tonight. There's no need to rush out and fight the demons," Li Yan's mother said with concern.

As Li Yan's mother, her first thoughts were not of family glory or fame and achievement, but of his physical and mental well-being.

"I know."

Li Yan gave a perfunctory reply and silently sat at the table, eating the lavish dinner. Tonight's roast suckling pig was a little more tender than the one at noon, and Li Yan could not resist taking a few extra bites.

His young sister was held by her wet nurse and fed a generous dinner, while his one-year-old brother ate millet porridge and vegetables.

Dinner ended without incident, and Li Yan silently left the table and went to his room. As a mage, he really disliked these tedious dinners; they were something of a waste of time.

While Xiao Wu and Xiao Xue massaged him, Li Yan read a magic tome in comfort. Time flowed like water, and before he knew it, it was ten at night, time for bed.

Xiao Wu and Xiao Xue softly called to Li Yan, rousing him from his engrossment in the magic tome. Reminded of the time, he stretched a little wearily and let them remove his clothes as he prepared for bed.

"Young master, the madam arranged for Xiao Wu and me to stay tonight."

Xiao Xue spoke softly, a youthful blush coloring her face.

"Huh?"

Li Yan blinked, not quite understanding what Xiao Xue had just said.

"Young master, the madam means for Xiao Xue and me to keep you company tonight, just like when we were little."

Xiao Wu spoke in a soft, sweet voice. Her little face had grown much redder too, like an apple at harvest time.

"Oh..."

Li Yan nodded thoughtfully. It was a tradition among nobles.

The lights went out, and the room gradually fell quiet, with only the sound of gentle breathing.

"Young master, the family's head maid taught us about these things. You only need to act as you normally do."

Xiao Xue spoke softly, with a touch of maidenly shyness.

"Young master, if you don't like it..."

Li Yan blinked in confusion. At that moment, he hardly dared to speak, and once again found himself reflecting on the life of a noble.