Chapter 233: Chance Encounter

This time, Luo Ning brought to Wushan Fortress not only a scroll of purification magic but also a small trinket—a white porcelain bowl.

The ceramic workshop had relocated to Grey Soil Village, and after months of construction, a new kiln had been erected.

Under the guidance of the potter Jim, the artisans had undergone countless trials and summations, finally achieving a modest improvement in temperature control.

And so, after the most recent kiln opening, they had harvested two fine white porcelain bowls.

Though these bowls were far from matching the modern standards Luo Ning knew—still distant from pure white, flawless, translucent perfection—their shapes already bore the hallmarks of minimalist elegance and fluid lines, striking the eye with quiet grace.

Luo Ning took one of the bowls along and wandered through several towns, not setting out for Wushan Fortress until the afternoon of the twenty-third.

Carlo soared high into the sky, wings beating powerfully.

According to him, the Wushan Mountains held several formidable beast auras—even he held them in deep caution. Among them was a giant eagle nearly as large as himself.

Though the eagle’s strength was weaker, perhaps only fourth or fifth tier, its flight speed was astonishing—just a few wingbeats left Carlo far behind.

Luo Ning suspected that this eagle, besides its mastery of flight, likely possessed wind-affinity magic, enhancing its velocity.

Seated on the broad back of the dragon, Luo Ning tilted his head downward.

The tiny marsh town, the thriving Horse Pasture City, the lake-side town rich with aquatic bounty—all flashed beneath his gaze in rapid succession.

He couldn’t help recalling how, when he first crossed over, it had taken him nearly ten days to travel from Wushan Fortress to Forest Town.

Even later, with the Cloud Steed under his command and only Macken and Tom accompanying him, they still spent four or five days reaching Wushan Fortress.

But now, it was different.

With Carlo, it was as if he had an airplane. At full speed, the journey would take barely more than an hour.

“Carlo, slow down. We’re in no hurry.”

“Of course, Master.”

The dragon lowered its pace.

Though it remained vigilant for enemies within the Beast Mountains, the skies above this human-inhabited region posed far less danger—and so its mood grew leisurely, almost drowsy.

To avoid panic and unnecessary trouble, Luo Ning had deliberately chosen to depart in the afternoon. By the time Carlo arrived at Wushan City, night had fallen, the sky darkened.

“Land in that forest ahead.”

Luo Ning pointed. Carlo folded his wings and descended swiftly.

At that moment, a patrol unit from Wushan City was returning to the fortress through the twilight. One man looked up just as a dark shadow plunged from the heavens.

“Captain! Something huge just fell from the sky!”

Gallier glanced upward. The night sky was empty. “A giant bird? Where?”

This drew laughter from his companions.

“I bet it’s just the dark getting to him—he’s looking for a giant bird down his pants!”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Zalon. Where’s a giant bird in Zalon? It’s just a little chicken!”

“Hahaha…”

Such jokes were daily fare. Patrolling this road was monotonous work.

Sometimes, they’d rather encounter bandits, thieves, or even a wild boar—anything to break the boredom.

Gallier shook his head with a smile. He himself had once made such jokes in his youth. But with rising rank and status, he no longer did.

Still, he didn’t stop his men. Banter eased tension and fostered camaraderie.

After the laughter faded, they resumed walking.

But no more than a few hundred meters later, a figure on the mountain path caught their attention.

Under the dusk, his silver hair gleamed brilliantly.

Luo Ning’s landing spot was not far from Wushan City’s eastern gate—only a ten-minute walk away.

He had planned to enter the city and find an inn nearby.

He hadn’t expected to encounter a patrol unit on the road—and even less, to recognize its leader.

“Gallier?” Luo Ning turned toward the knight riding toward him.

Gallier froze. As he drew closer and recognized the face, he gasped: “Lord Luo Ning?”

He dismounted at once. “What are you doing here?”

The other cavalrymen, though unfamiliar with Luo Ning, had heard his name. They all dismounted and offered greetings.

“Just taking a leisurely walk,” Luo Ning replied vaguely, then shifted the subject. “Why are you in the patrol unit?”

He knew a bit about Wushan City’s patrols: typically led by four or five professional knights, accompanied by five or six cavalrymen.

The leaders were usually junior knights; mid-tier were rare, senior knights almost nonexistent—let alone a Bronze Knight like Gallier.

Hence his question.

Gallier shrugged helplessly. “It’s all because of Raisen.”

Luo Ning remembered.

Earlier intelligence from Rogner had mentioned: the Haid family accused Gallier of threatening and coercing Knight Filerton into giving false testimony, framing the Zilei family, demanding punishment.

“You’re being punished for that accusation?”

Luo Ning found it hard to believe. He’d assumed Gallier would slip away unscathed.

Gallier was equally frustrated.

After Raisen’s trial, they debated for days whether he’d coerced Filerton.

But Filerton was dead—how could there be any conclusion?

During the debate, Gallier had been placed under house arrest.

To escape the situation, he’d been forced to compromise—sacrificing some of his dignity to regain his freedom and bury the matter.

But nobles prized their honor above all.

Gallier shrugged, feigning nonchalance. “Well, at least it’s only three months as patrol captain. It’s almost over.”

They walked as they spoke, the patrol unit trailing behind.

Luo Ning gleaned some new information from him.

After Raisen’s affair concluded, communication between Wushan and Haid families had sharply declined.

Lady Diane had returned to Black Viper City to visit Count Auson, but had hurried back—likely staying no more than a day and a half.

The incident at Wushan Fortress had been a fatal blow to Auson. Given his arrogance and pride, being reduced to this half-disabled state must have made him blame Diane.

Beyond that, the situation with the Polant Bandits in the southwest had worsened significantly.

Captain Koryn had sent multiple letters, pleading for reinforcements from Wushan Fortress to respond to emergencies in Chi Mountain Town.

But Rulans had refused. He had merely turned a blind eye when Viggins diverted grain from several estates.

Are the Polant thieves really that formidable?”

Roning furrowed his brow. “Even with a knightly order stationed there, they still feel unsafe?”

At this, Galiel’s expression turned slightly dismissive.

“Korien is the weakest among the five knightly commanders—and the most timid. A whisper of wind sets him scrambling to report to Wushan Fortress.”

“If the First Knightly Order had been sent instead, not only would Chi Shan Town be perfectly secure, but even the towns seized by the Polant thieves would be reclaimed!”

The commander of the First Knightly Order was none other than Galiel’s father—Toru, the Golden Knight.

But Roning suspected Galiel was exaggerating.

Though Toru was strong, the First Knightly Order had no second Golden or Silver Knight;

whereas the Fifth Knightly Order, besides Korien, also boasted Hahn as a Silver Knight, and possessed more Bronze-ranked members than the First.

Rulans had stationed Toru’s First Knightly Order in Wushan City primarily for their loyalty. (End of chapter)