Chapter 290: Paving the Way

The victory banquet reached its climax with the birth of the new Earl of Wushan.

Amidst waves of cheers and applause, Luo Ning accepted the golden medal and letters patent from Rulans, symbols of his new title.

In an instant, two lines of text materialized before his eyes:

【“Famous Throughout the Land” achievement unlocked: +500 attribute points, +1000 energy essences】

【Monthly check-in system updated: reward multiplier +2】

【“Conquer Territory” achievement unlocked: +200 attribute points, +400 energy essences】

Luo Ning’s heart leapt with joy.

Achievements and the check-in system were tied to noble rank—now that he had become an earl, their effects naturally activated.

Each month, he now gained 417 attribute points and 345 energy essences—not counting those earned through achievements—and without them, he would surpass Level Six in just one year.

If he completed more achievements during this time, the pace would accelerate further.

Rulans clapped Luo Ning on the shoulder and offered a few words of encouragement.

The investiture was not yet over, but the subsequent knighting of honor knights was far simpler, less formal, and far less grand than the earldom ceremony.

Yet for those who had crossed the threshold from commoner to the lowest rank of nobility, it remained a moment of profound significance.

Though they received no lands, this step was one many knightly careers could never attain.

Six honor knights raised their voices in vows of lifelong loyalty to Wushan Castle, kissing their medals with trembling reverence.

When all was done, Rulans raised his cup in a toast with the crowd, then departed the hall—let the young ones revel in their celebration.

“Hah! Congratulations, my Lord Earl!” Marven was the first to approach with his felicitations.

Luo Ning smiled. “Uncle Marven, just call me Luo Ning.”

Marven raised his glass, sighing. “I still remember the day you bought horses from my pasture. I never imagined you’d rise from baron to earl so swiftly!”

“This is a tale worthy of bards and knightly epics!”

Others surged forward, eager to offer their congratulations.

Luo Ning thanked them all, while also extending his own blessings to the newly ennobled lords and knights.

The hall buzzed with merriment, yet not every smile hid genuine joy—some hearts churned with bitterness.

Take, for instance, Viscount Denis of Spire City.

During the campaign against the Polant Raiders, Viscount Vittorino, a Silver-rank noble, had been counted among the top combatants.

Yet Vittorino had not joined the battle himself—due to some matters, he had merely dispatched a contingent of knights and soldiers.

He should have led the charge against the Polant Raiders, but circumstances kept him away.

Now, as he raised his cup to congratulate Philip and the other newly elevated barons, he wondered: Had he fought, would he too have reaped such rich rewards?

He could not hope to become a count—but could he, like Marven, have claimed a stretch of land?

After all, there were many villages near the Riverbank Town.

But regret was useless now—only envy remained.

Equally displeased was the representative of the Hyde family.

Nearly all those ennobled today hailed from the southwestern front. On the southeastern front, save for Melonicca, not a single honor knight had been raised, nor a single acre of land granted.

The two newly reclaimed territories would likely fall under Wushan Castle’s direct administration—but given the Black Gold Brotherhood’s persistent harassment, Viggins would probably invest little effort into those baronies.

Two reasons accounted for the stark disparity in rewards.

First, the southeastern front’s achievements paled beside those of the southwest: the Black Gold Brotherhood had merely provided support, fleeing without serious resistance to Black Pine Ridge when Melonicca led the assault.

Second, Rulans had deliberately arranged it this way.

The great victory on the southwestern front had been won largely through Luo Ning’s efforts. Those knighted and ennobled knew full well they owed their fortunes to him—and thus, deep within their hearts, they would feel gratitude.

With this bond, figures like Philip and Solstan would likely become Luo Ning’s unwavering supporters.

Rulans had even placed their lands near the town of Cassir and the village of Sari—close to Chi Mountain Town—for precisely this reason.

Moreover, such a distribution sent a clear message: to follow Luo Ning was to prosper.

The banquet continued in full revelry, the invited performers staging lively acts.

Some exchanged toasts beneath melodious tunes, others stepped outside to spar and converse, while still others danced in the ballroom’s swirling rhythm.

In a corner of the hall, Eileen watched Luo Ning chatting merrily with the nobility, her eyes brimming with envy.

“Hey, little beauty, why not join us for a dance?”

McKinney sauntered over and sat beside her, raising her glass to share a drink—only to find Eileen clutching a glass of juice.

“No wine?”

Eileen flushed and shook her head shyly. “Lord Luo… said I’m still too young. Drinking stunts growth.”

McKinney couldn’t help laughing.

“My brother actually said that?”

She studied Eileen from head to toe, teasing, “You’re developing just fine. No need to worry.”

Eileen blushed deeper, at a loss for words—but now she understood the identity of this mature woman.

“Are you… Lord Luo’s sister?”

“Of course. His own blood sister!”

McKinney’s gaze drifted toward Luo Ning amid the crowd, her tone suddenly tinged with wistfulness.

“Perhaps because our mother and grandfather died so young, Luo Ning never lived in Sari Village. Had he, he would have reclaimed it as his own.”

Sari Village—long held by the Polant Raiders—was now restored to Wushan’s domain.

Yet over the years, it had lain barren: few souls, no valuable resources. Luo Ning had paid it little heed.

She sighed. “I should’ve made Cabir accompany Luo Ning this time, and sent Marven to the southeast. Then Cabir might have been ennobled, and I could’ve lived in Sari again.”

Cabir, stationed in Brilliant City, controlled considerable wealth.

But like Toru, he came from humble origins. McKinney’s marriage had lifted him somewhat, yet he remained merely an honor knight—never a baron.

This was truly a missed opportunity.

Eileen comforted her. “Sari Village has been reclaimed from the Polant Raiders. With your status, you could visit anytime.”

McKinney nodded slightly. She had assumed the girl from the mountains would be timid, but in conversation, she found Eileen shy yet articulate—not stammering like so many common-born children.

“Yes… we owe it all to Luo Ning. I never imagined he’d grow so fast!”

As McKinney gazed at her brother among the crowd, she suddenly realized—he had become tall, strikingly handsome.

A quiet hope stirred within her: “He has become the backbone of the Wushan family! I believe that, should he wed Princess Branqi, the Wushan lineage shall rise to glory once more!”

Eileen froze, then asked without thinking: “Wed Princess Branqi?”

“You didn’t know?” McKinney frowned.

Though people in the northern Wushan lands had heard Luo Ning rescued Princess Branqi when he was elevated to baron, none knew of any betrothal between them.

True enough; until things are settled, Luo Ning won’t go blabbing to outsiders.”

McKinney nodded slowly: “But in my view, this matter is unlikely to change now.”

Eileen’s expression suddenly grew uneasy. (End of chapter)