Chapter 113: 114 The Team Has Grown Again

Chapter 113: The Party Grew Larger

When Ronin arrived at Wushan Fortress, he had only four companions. But on the return journey, his party swelled to over forty—knights escorting him, craftsmen recruited along the way, and even trainers of the fortress’s messenger pigeons.

After he offered relocation fees, many more apprentices and artisans agreed to accompany him to Forest Town.

Wotton and George, with the aid of Wushan City’s clerks, screened and vetted them, weeding out those who had tried to exploit the relocation scheme. Thirty-six remained.

Two blacksmiths and five blacksmith apprentices;

Three tailor apprentices;

Two carpenters, twelve carpenter apprentices, one master craftsman;

Two masons, five mason apprentices;

One potter, three pottery apprentices.

Though Ronin was willing to pay generous relocation fees, apprentices still outnumbered masters—most artisans chose to remain in Wushan City.

Those who did come were competent, but none had thrived in the city.

Take Jim, the potter—he barely scraped by, unable to find a market for his wares in Wushan. He followed Ronin chiefly for the relocation money, to help his family weather their immediate hardship, and to gamble on a future.

Of them all, Ronin cared most for a carpenter named Darn.

Darn was no ordinary carpenter. He was a certified master by the Wushan Carpentry Guild, his skill far surpassing that of mere craftsmen, honed through years of practice. Whether in Wushan Fortress, the city itself, or the towering manors and castles surrounding it, Darn’s handiwork could be found in nearly every structure.

And this time, he didn’t come alone—he brought two apprentices and eight carpenter pupils with him.

Honestly, Ronin hadn’t believed it when he first heard.

A renowned master craftsman willing to labor in a backwater town?

Only after questioning did he learn the truth: Darn had been present in the workshop the day Ronin explained the design of the curved-plow. He had been captivated by Ronin’s words—and that was why he chose to follow.

For such a man, Ronin treated him with the utmost respect: a daily wage of 150 copper coins, and a relocation bonus of fifty gold coins!

“Master Darn, the journey to Forest Town is long. Should you feel any discomfort or have any demands, please do not hesitate to speak.”

Before departure, Ronin met the famed craftsman personally.

“You are far too kind, Master Ronin!”

Darn was an old man, his face thick with a long white beard, yet his eyes sparkled with vigor.

“In our eyes, the one who conceived such a marvel as the curved-plow—you are the true master.”

Ronin couldn’t help but smile at the memory of that day, when crowds had gathered around him, eyes gleaming with awe as he explained the plow’s structure and briefly touched on force analysis.

He had never built a single structure, nor joined any guild—but they called him “Master Ronin” so reverently, it made his head spin.

“I place great importance on your comfort,” Ronin said sincerely. “Once we reach Forest Town, I have many designs and analyses I must ask you to help me with.”

It was no empty promise.

What Ronin most wanted to build now was not the curved-plow, but the spinning wheel and the loom.

He would never waste Darn’s skill on assembling ironwood armor on a production line. He needed Darn to craft the loom according to his own vision—this was the key to silk production.

Beyond the loom, Ronin also envisioned waterwheels, windmills, even ships—after all, to the north of Wushan lay the sea.

“It is my honor to serve you, my lord!”

Darn’s gaze sharpened.

At his level, there were only two paths to becoming a Grand Master:

Either master the use of magical materials—but he was merely a mortal, with no such gifts;

Or design something entirely new, something unique and valuable.

In Ronin, Darn saw that possibility—and that was why he left Wushan City for Forest Town.

“Lord Ronin, may we set out?”

Knight Galiel rode up on his massive warhorse, politely inquiring.

For the return journey, Vigins had assigned twelve professional knights from the First Knight Squad to escort them.

As Vigins put it, the Skeleton Society might strike at Ronin or Bretton—so he ensured both were guarded whenever they traveled.

Ronin didn’t care whether this was Vigins’ lingering fear after the assassination attempt or genuine concern—he accepted the offer without hesitation.

After all, he carried so many vital people. Their safe arrival in Forest Town was paramount.

“Very well, Galiel. Let us depart.”

Ronin ended the conversation, swung onto his steed, Tiaoyun, and waved farewell to the two stewards who had come to see him off. Then he led the vast procession toward Forest Town.

To ensure comfort on the return, Ronin rented dozens of wagons from Wushan Fortress and purchased food and supplies along the route, spending over forty gold coins in total—all to make the artisans’ journey easier.

Though he had spent over a hundred gold coins in all, the gains far outweighed the cost. This sum did not sting.

He gazed at the sprawling column of travelers. Compared to his last journey, this one carried far more people.

But their quality varied wildly. The eldest was Master Darn, aged forty-seven. Considering his endurance, Ronin had no choice but to slow their pace.

Thus, the journey from Wushan Fortress to Forest Town would likely stretch into early November.

By the time they settled and began production, it would be mid-November at the earliest.

Ronin was eager—but there were no planes, no high-speed trains, no paved highways. No matter how much he rushed, time would not bend.

…

“Ronin left?”

In a training chamber of Wushan Fortress, Bretton paused his sword practice as his mother entered.

The tale of Ronin’s miraculous farming tools had spread through the fortress. Bretton, who had only heard of the curved-plow but never seen it, longed to witness its wonder.

Alas, Diane had forbidden him to leave the grounds—and especially to seek out Ronin.

Diane, with her golden hair and regal bearing, replied calmly, “He left. Under Galiel’s escort.”

“Bretton, it’s time you returned to the Arcane Academy. We failed to secure those lands for Lord Raisen of Saien. We must explain ourselves.”

She handed him a letter. “Take this to the Academy. Give it to Moravi—he’ll deliver it to his father.”

Bretton wiped his hands, took the letter. “I will deliver it.”

Diane did not warn him not to open it. She knew her son’s nature—he never meddled in others’ affairs. That was basic courtesy.

“Then, Sir Laurent, I entrust you with escorting Bretton back this afternoon.”

Laurent Nolan, a knight enfeoffed by the Hyde family, was rumored to rival a Silver-Rank knight in strength.

After Vigins’ assassination attempt, Auson had petitioned Rulans to assign Laurent Nolan as Bretton’s personal bodyguard—to ensure his grandson’s safety.

Though the Wushan Fortress had ample personnel to protect Breton, Rulans did not refuse the Hyde family’s proposal—after all, ensuring Breton’s safety was a shared concern.

“Delighted to serve you, Lady Diane!”

Laurent bowed with solemn respect, yet his gaze upon Diane shimmered with unspoken emotion.

Once, Diane had been beautiful—no, even now, she remained beautiful.

Before she married Viggins, this girl had been the dream of countless knights within the Hyde Earldom, Laurent among them.

Diane averted her eyes from Laurent’s and stepped forward, brushing her fingers gently against Breton’s cheek. “Remember,” she murmured, “once you reach the academy, don’t fixate only on training and cultivation. Learn from your teachers how to manage state affairs.”

“They say Ronin has some insight into managing the domain—don’t let him outshine you, understood?”

Breton nodded. “I understand. I’ll learn from my brother.”

Diane’s hand stiffened for a moment, then relaxed. “Yes. Go.”

Breton departed the training chamber under Laurent’s escort.

Diane watched her son’s retreating figure and sighed softly. Breton possessed great talent in cultivation—but in all else, he was woefully lacking.

Yet she was not alarmed. With her guidance, she was certain her son would make a fine lord of Wushan.

—

Tomorrow, the author must visit the hospital, so the update will come in the evening. There’s been too much going on lately—please forgive me.

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(End of Chapter)