Chapter 104: 105 Attitude

Chapter 104, 105. Attitude

“Hahaha, don’t take it seriously—contracted beasts can’t be given as gifts.”

That remark had been purely Rulans’s jest.

“To contract a beast, you need not only a contract scroll, but also to defeat it. Even if I wanted to give it to you, it wouldn’t agree.”

To beasts, human titles of nobility, fame, bloodlines—all were empty illusions. They recognized only strength.

To win their consent to a master-servant pact, one almost always had to overpower them first.

Luoning clearly couldn’t.

Rulans raised his hand and patted the head of Thunder Chaser. The beast understood, slowly stepping into its enclosure, lying down upon its “bed,” its brass-bell eyes fixed on the grandfather and grandson outside.

Luoning spread his hands, relieved. “When did you start joking?”

In that moment, he hadn’t known how to respond at all.

To refuse? It was a fifth-rank beast—equivalent in level to a Silver Knight, yet its hide possessed astonishing defensive power. Not even a typical Gold Knight could easily pierce it.

To accept? That would be far too conspicuous.

The nobles of Wushan all knew Thunder Chaser was Rulans’s mount. Now, if the old man bestowed it upon a grandson stripped of his inheritance, what did that signify?

How could Luoning possibly remain low-key?

Thankfully, Rulans had merely been teasing.

“Grandfather, did you capture this Thunder Chaser within Wushan?”

“No.”

Rulans’s eyes shimmered with memory. “When I was young, I traveled to Mist City. There lies the Mist Mountains. This fellow was an accidental encounter I had deep within those peaks.”

Speaking of his youth, the old man seemed to regain vigor. He sat again and regaled Luoning with tales of adventure.

Luoning had assumed Rulans had used influence to purchase the contract scroll from some powerful mage—yet the old man claimed it had been found by chance amid the ruins of the Mist Mountains.

Who would believe that?

Luoning, for his part, simply listened.

“Marwen told me he gifted you a Stepping Cloud Steed.”

Rulans’s topic returned to Luoning. “It’s a mount infused with beast blood. Unlike ordinary warhorses, it resonates far more deeply with a knight’s aura.”

“You know the aura armor of high-ranking knights, don’t you? When a high-ranking knight wraps his aura around such a mount, the resulting unified armor is denser, more resilient, and consumes less aura than that of a common horse.”

Luoning recalled how Slein of the Gray Soil Tribe had ridden his ordinary warhorse through Macken’s earthen wall, aura wrapped around him. But he’d never known a beast-blooded steed could achieve such effects—Rogna had never mentioned it when he gave it to him.

“You didn’t awaken your aura seed until you turned seventeen, becoming a professional knight. Even with diligent cultivation, you’ll likely not reach high rank until your thirties, like your father.”

Rulans sighed. It was a pity—if only Luoning had awakened a year or two earlier. The younger the awakening, the greater the potential.

“So you may bestow this Stepping Cloud Steed upon your subordinates as a reward—say, to Macken, the valiant knight. It will deepen their loyalty and maximize the utility of your resources.”

Rulans felt the Stepping Cloud Steed was wasted in Luoning’s hands. He had no idea Luoning was already a high-ranking knight.

Had he not considered it inappropriate to reveal his true strength, Luoning might have delighted the old man with a small shock.

“I’ll consider it.”

Luoning listened patiently to Rulans’s advice. Honestly, since the old man had deemed his grandson useless, he’d rarely offered guidance. For him to speak so much today was rare indeed.

It subtly signaled that Rulans had changed his view of Luoning—and held expectations.

“By the way, Grandfather, some knights in my domain lack combat techniques. Could the family lend me some?”

“My two water-affinity mages only know Water Gathering and Water Arrow. Do you have any related spellbooks?”

Low-level spellbooks weren’t expensive, and Luoning could afford them—but why spend when free ones were available?

Rulans blinked in surprise. How had this grandson amassed so many followers so quickly?

And besides a light-affinity mage, he had water-affinity mages too.

Three mages in a tiny forest town? Unheard of.

“These are minor matters. When you leave, I’ll have Moster send you some. But be cautious with those who submit to you—don’t let yourself be deceived.”

Rulans warned. “Also, that surname ‘Flame Storm’—I think I should find a suitable moment to restore your original one.”

The name change had been Viggins’s demand. Now, the reversal was Rulans’s wish.

Luoning wasn’t foolish—he understood what it meant.

“Whatever you wish.”

Luoning smiled. “No matter the surname, my blood flows with the blood of the Wushan family. My roots lie always in Wushan Keep.”

“Hahaha!”

Rulans burst into laughter. The words pleased him deeply.

For years, he had exhausted himself for the sake of the family’s survival—yet without timing, without terrain, without harmony, he had often been forced to surrender.

Luoning, now, did not yet represent the family’s hope—not nearly enough.

But to see such a change in a descendant? Rulans was deeply glad.

As they spoke, Moster returned.

“Master, Master Luoning—Holwart informs me the evening banquet is ready. Lady Diane invites you.”

“Very well. Let’s go.”

Rulans leaned on his cane and led the way down the mountain path.

Luoning hurried after him, offering his arm—though the old man needed no support.

“Grandfather, I discovered a peculiar tree in the forest town. I named it ‘Black Iron Tree.’ Its hardness is immense. Armor forged from it won’t match iron, but it offers decent defense—enough to arm ordinary guards.”

“A tree like that?” Rulans was astonished.

“I was stunned too when I found it. I had the carpenters in my domain craft several pieces. Would you care to see them?”

Rulans nodded. He’d seen wooden armor before—even armor woven from vines.

“Moster, go tell Toru to come tomorrow and inspect it. If the quality holds, the First Knight Regiment may consider purchasing a batch.”

Luoning grinned. “Also, William, the carpenter from the forest town, has improved the plow. I added a few ideas myself—I brought a design with me…”

“Enough, enough. We’ll see it all tomorrow.”

Rulans chuckled. “I see now—you came to visit your father merely as an excuse. Your real purpose is business, isn’t it?”

“I am ever mindful of Father’s injury!”

Luoning said solemnly. “I was preparing to march against the barbarian tribes—no time to spare. As soon as that was settled, I came straight here.”

Rulans grunted. “Though Viggins treats you poorly, he is still your father. He still carries the family in his heart—just too foolish, too easily swayed by others.”

His voice carried a deep sorrow. He had once hated Viggins. But he had only one son left. What could he do?

He blamed only himself—for failing to nurture him properly, pouring all his attention into Gremes.

“Viggins’s loss of a leg has softened his usual temper and impulsiveness. Go speak with him tonight.”

As the head of the household, Lulan still hoped for greater harmony within the family, especially between father and son.

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(End of chapter)