Chapter 181: 181 Exhortation

Chapter 181: Instructions

As Rulans accepted Orson’s challenge, the topic within the Wushan Fortress shifted to when and where this duel would take place.

A Star-Class Knight’s battle carried devastating force; it could not be held in any courtyard, lawn, or square within the castle.

Moreover, considering the nobles’ need to witness the event, the venue had to be open and unobstructed.

After much deliberation, they settled on an abandoned pasture just beyond the castle walls—vast, open terrain, with no buildings to risk destroying.

The time was set for three in the afternoon.

In the study, Rulans was polishing his longsword. He appeared utterly calm, unruffled—not as though this decision had been made on a whim.

“Grandfather, why did you accept?” Luo Ning asked, bewildered. “I already agreed to Orson’s proposal.”

“Yes, Father,” Viggins added, voice tinged with both complaint and worry. “Your body cannot endure such intense combat.”

Though hot-tempered and lacking in achievement, Viggins had always revered—and feared—Rulans since childhood.

Compared to his father-in-law Orson, he dreaded even more the thought of his own father being hurt.

Rulans set the sword aside and regarded Luo Ning and Viggins, then finally fixed his gaze on Breton, who had remained silent.

“Breton,” Rulans asked, “what are you thinking?”

Breton’s eyes were red, his position painfully awkward.

“I don’t understand why Grandfather, knowing you’re injured, would still challenge you. But I also feel… perhaps you should have refused outright.”

Rulans nodded. “I’m heartened—you all care for my safety. But I have my reasons for accepting.”

Orson’s behavior was no longer new. Today’s open provocation? Simply because his strength has grown.

Whether I accept or not, Wushan’s status as home to a Star-Class warrior is now fixed—and that will inevitably weaken the fortress’s influence, especially given our current lack of talent.

At this moment, granting the northern lands to Luo Ning is trivial. What matters far more is preserving Wushan Fortress’s prestige.

Rulans had his own plan.

He swept his gaze across the three men before him and smiled faintly. “Sometimes, stepping outside yourself and viewing matters from the family’s perspective yields a different truth.”

“Especially you, Breton.”

His eyes locked onto Breton’s, his solemn expression forcing the young man into rigid silence.

“I know you’ve always carried the family in your heart. You’ve devoted yourself to training, hoping to restore Wushan’s legacy with a new champion. But this has left you blind to everything else.”

“Yet remember this, always: your kin are only the three standing before you now. Your brother is Luo Ning—and no one else.”

Breton’s gaze flickered. He didn’t fully grasp the meaning, but he would remember.

“I understand, Grandfather.”

Rulans nodded, then turned to Viggins. “Think before you speak. Rage without reason makes you look foolish. If you can’t think, then be mute. Be deaf.”

Viggins slumped in his wheelchair. “Understood.”

Finally, Rulans looked to Luo Ning—and smiled with quiet pride. He had once despised this boy, even written him off. Yet now, he was the most composed of them all.

“Train hard.”

Luo Ning sighed. “To be honest, I hate this atmosphere. It feels like you’re giving your last instructions. But since the fight is inevitable… I still hope you come back unharmed.”

“Hahahaha…”

Rulans laughed freely, joyfully. “I’ve simply not given you all such advice in so long—why does it sound like a deathbed farewell?”

He waved them off. “Enough. Go. I need to prepare myself.”

Meanwhile, in another chamber:

“Father, why did you do this?” Dianni asked, her voice laced with confusion and reproach. “You know the Marquis is unfit to fight—why challenge him?”

She shook her head in frustration. “I don’t understand. What benefit does this bring you?”

“Dianni, perhaps you’ve misunderstood. It wasn’t I who proposed challenging the Marquis—it was Count Hesu of Moonlight Valley.”

Orson leaned back in his chair, feigning innocence. “By the Seven Gods, after Hesu uttered those words, until the Marquis accepted, I spoke but one sentence—and that was merely to offer Wushan Fortress a face-saving exit, to calm the hall’s uproar.”

He spread his hands. “But before I could finish, Lord Rulans agreed to Hesu’s proposal. What was I to do?”

It was, in fact, true.

“Father… do you even believe that yourself?”

Orson’s expression cooled. “Dianni, you must not question your father so. Do you not know why I do this? Do you feel no urgency?”

Dianni fell silent.

She understood perfectly well the threat Luo Ning now posed to Breton. And she felt the shift in Rulans’s attitude toward him.

“But the Marquis himself said he would not lightly change the heir, did he not?”

In Dianni’s eyes, Breton and Luo Ning were not the same. So long as the Haid family remained strong, guarding the border, her son’s position as heir was secure.

Orson’s challenge was pointless.

Beyond that, Dianni truly did not wish to see Rulans wounded.

She had her own quiet calculations.

If Rulans lived, Breton would have more time, more space to grow. The stronger Breton became, the heavier his weight in the future—and the less likely he would become a pawn in others’ hands.

“Father,” Dianni said solemnly, “if you truly care for Breton, I urge you to cancel today’s duel.”

“I do not wish to see Rulans hurt. Nor do I wish to see you hurt.”

Orson slowly shook his head. “Since the Marquis has accepted, this duel is inevitable. I have no grounds to withdraw.”

Dianni sighed. A deep, helpless weariness settled over her.

Elsewhere in Wushan Fortress, nobles gathered in small groups, whispering of the coming duel.

Some had already sent word via the pigeons they kept in Wushan City, spreading the news of Rulans and Orson’s impending clash.

Everyone had assumed the New Year festivities had quieted the fortress. No one expected this.

Luo Ning toyed with the potent healing scroll in his hand—a gift from Rulans. It was the last one left in Wushan Fortress.

“Macken, if anything happens this afternoon, rush in and use this scroll.”

“Yes!”

Luo Ning handed the scroll to Macken.

“We need more preparations.”

He frowned. He had to prepare for the possibility that Rulans would lose. At that moment, he had no intention of letting Orson walk away unchallenged.

True, Orson was a Star-Class Knight, crushing any Gold-Rank in strength—but he was not invincible.

Beyond Rulans and Orson, Wushan Fortress still held one other Star-Class Knight: Broel, who accompanied Branqi.

And there were several Gold- and Silver-Rank knights as well.

We must first gauge their attitude.

(End of chapter)