Chapter 107: 108 Generous Lulance

Chapter 107: 108. The Generous Rulans

Before the conversation, Ro Ning had expected Breton to strut about like a petty man who’d just tasted power, seeking to assert himself. But he found that Breton did no such thing.

Then, when Ro Ning refused his request, he assumed Breton would grow angry—perhaps even furious. But again, Breton showed no such reaction.

So Ro Ning decided to linger a while longer, to understand just what thoughts stirred in this so-called younger brother.

After their talk, Ro Ning gained an entirely new perception of Breton.

In Breton’s eyes, the plight of Wushan Castle stemmed from two causes:

First, Rulans’s health had been steadily declining. Second, Viggins lacked sufficient strength.

In short: Wushan Castle had lost its pillar of martial might, and its standing had grown unstable.

Since childhood, Breton had aspired to become a true powerhouse. Especially after once overhearing certain nobles whispering derisively about Viggins’s incompetence at a banquet’s corner—his desire to grow stronger had intensified tenfold.

In his worldview, as long as one’s strength was great enough, as long as one’s fists were hard enough, nothing else mattered.

As for governance, he knew little and cared even less. Today, acting as a messenger for Sein’s territory was merely an act of friendship toward a classmate.

Ro Ning naturally found such words half-suspect—until he saw the calluses on Breton’s palms, thick as those of a battle-worn veteran. Suddenly, he wondered if he’d been too quick to judge.

Perhaps Breton was merely a martial obsessive, trapped in an information bubble, genuinely unaware of certain truths.

“Lord, you’ve finally returned.”

McKen and the others, waiting in the small house’s parlor, rose at once to greet him.

“You should rest. In Wushan Castle, my safety is no concern.”

Ro Ning smiled. “Have you eaten dinner?”

“We have,” Macken replied. “Housekeeper Holwart arranged everything splendidly.”

Wotton and George nodded vigorously.

Though they hadn’t been invited to dine in the main hall, even the lesser dining chamber had opened their eyes—sumptuous fare, impeccable service.

They had savored the full splendor of noble evening banquets. By the time they returned to Hillwood Town, they’d have tales to spin for years.

“Alright, go rest now.”

McKen added, “Lord, Master Most came by just now. He brought many books—he said they were prepared for you by the Marquis. They’re all on your bedside table.”

When Ro Ning descended the mountain, he had mentioned to Rulans that he needed manuals on martial arts and magic. He hadn’t expected them to arrive so swiftly.

He entered his bedroom.

The magic crystal lamps bathed the room in brilliant light. At once, Ro Ning saw a small mountain of books piled upon his desk.

“The old man is truly generous—giving me so many at once!”

He hurried to the desk and noticed that Most had thoughtfully sorted the books into seven piles by elemental affinity: Earth, Wind, Water, Fire, Lightning, Light, and Darkness.

Ro Ning, considering his own elemental alignment, first examined the Wind and Fire piles.

“Intermediate, Advanced, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Starflow-level Fire techniques…”

Ro Ning was stunned. Rulans had provided every single Fire technique from Intermediate to Starflow level—and even a copy of the *Wushan Qi Cultivation Codex*.

A Qi Codex was a specialized method of circulating martial energy.

It was well known that Intermediate Knights must unblock their Qi meridians, channeling the energy flowing from their Qi seeds without loss to every part of the body, finally rupturing the Qi Sea to enter Advanced rank.

For Advanced Knights, cultivation focused on expanding the Qi Sea to store greater quantities of energy.

In later stages, Knights used this energy to temper their skin and flesh, enhancing their resilience.

When tempered sufficiently, faint bronze patterns would flash across the Knight’s skin—marking the transition into Bronze Rank.

The Qi Codex served as an auxiliary cultivation method to aid this tempering.

Many such codices existed on the market, all serving the same purpose, yet differing vastly in quality.

Superior codices improved tempering efficiency and conserved Qi.

The Wushan family’s codex was not the finest in existence—but it was undeniably elite, of exceptional quality.

Of course, for Ro Ning, he needed none of this.

His strength required only a single point allocation—no amount of daily tempering could match the boost of one attribute point.

Nor would it greatly aid Macken or Rida—they had their own methods.

But others in the domain, other Knightly professions, would need this when they reached Advanced rank.

Ro Ning could easily bestow the *Wushan Qi Codex* as a treasure upon those loyal and trustworthy.

“The old man is thoughtful indeed!”

Ro Ning set aside the codex and turned to the Wind techniques and magical tomes.

…

Meanwhile, in another building, Breton—separated from Ro Ning—returned to the parlor and sank onto the sofa.

His mother, Dianie, was reading a book. Seeing her son, she asked, “Well? Did Ro Ning agree?”

Clearly, she knew why Breton had sought him out.

“No, Mother. He refused.”

Breton replied. “Ro Ning intends to manage those lands himself.”

Dianie’s elegant brow furrowed as she closed her book. “Him? With only the pitiful population of Hillwood Town? How could he possibly manage?”

Breton countered, “I think Brother Ro Ning can. He’s confident.”

“Oh, heavens, Breton, have you lost your mind?”

Dianie was stunned by her son’s words.

“How can you believe Ro Ning’s nonsense? Don’t you know what manner of man he is? Handing those lands to him would yield not a single ounce of value!”

In public, Dianie never spoke so bluntly of Ro Ning—or anyone. But with her son, she was always direct.

Breton frowned, puzzled. “Hasn’t Ro Ning changed? He’s conquered the barbarian tribes!”

“The few barbarian tribes? I could send a single line of infantry from my knightly squad and conquer them. What does that prove?”

Dianie sighed, her eyes heavy with disappointment.

“I thought entrusting this matter to you would be simple. Yet you’ve failed to accomplish it—and now you’re defending Ro Ning. It seems your grandfather was right: you excel only in cultivation. In governance and negotiation, you have no talent whatsoever.”

Breton lowered his head, offering no rebuttal. He felt his mother’s words were true.

Dianie exhaled slowly. “I’ve told you countless times: the northern lands of Wushan Domain must be controlled by our own. Only then can we curb the treacherous nobles lurking there!”

Breton looked confused. “Isn’t Brother Ro Ning one of us?”

“He is your rival!”

Dianie whispered, her voice thick with anger. “He has never been one of us. How much clearer must I make it?”

Breton shook his head. He found the question too profound to comprehend.

In his view, he had clearly secured his inheritance; Luo Ning had even promised him to restore the family’s glory. They had just been laughing and chatting together—how could it now be that he was no longer one of them?

“Mother, when you say ‘we,’ exactly whom do you mean?”

Breton’s voice was weary. “Luo Ning and I are brothers; we both belong to Wushan. We—”

“Enough!”

Diane snapped. “I don’t want to hear that phrase come out of your mouth again!”

She looked at him as if he were a fool. “Remember, Breton—no one will ever stand by you forever except me, except the Hyde family!”

“No one else. You can trust no one else!”

After a long silence, her anger subsided, and her tone grew heavy with meaning: “Child, there are things you don’t understand yet. When you’re older, you’ll see everything I’ve done was for your own good.”

Breton gazed at his mother with a tangled heart, and finally, his resolve melted. “All right… I understand…”

(End of Chapter)