Killing a Knight

The victory in this battle left Earl Lautz utterly bewildered.

Based on actual combat strength, the Southern Knights were indeed slightly weaker than the Northern Knights. Although they were thirty to forty men fewer, Earl William's knight squad wouldn't necessarily be at a disadvantage. The worst-case scenario would be a stalemate.

However, an unforeseen variable appeared in this war. This variable exhausted over a dozen of Earl William's knights, allowing Earl Lautz to pick up the spoils. After being captured, Earl William could only bleed internally as he ceded three baronial fiefs near Rose Territory from his own domain, secretly vowing to reclaim these three fiefs in the future!

Earl Lautz laughed heartily. How many years had it been? The Southern Faction, which had always been at a disadvantage in terms of military strength, had today beaten those Northern fellows so badly. It was exhilarating, truly exhilarating!

Having suddenly gained three baronies, Earl Lautz, after receiving these three territories, quickly enfeoffed his two younger sons and a loyal subordinate as barons, granting them these three new territories.

Of course, Earl Lautz did not mistreat the twelve barons who had followed him into battle. He distributed a considerable amount of bounty to each of them and granted each baron 15 knight slots, allowing the barons who had lost many knights in this war to not only fully staff their knight squads upon returning but also expand them further—provided their territories could grant so many fiefs.

"Respected Earl, I do not wish for the reward of bounty. I wish to become a noble knight!"

Inside the large tent, Zhou Ming knelt on one knee, looking eagerly at Earl Lautz at the head of the table.

Earl Lautz was deeply impressed by this "farmer" who had performed exceptionally well on the battlefield. After specially summoning him and asking what reward he desired, Zhou Ming said this.

"Young man, your loyalty and courage greatly surprise me, but to become a knight, these are far from enough. Can you pass the knight's assessment and obtain a knight's medal?"

Becoming a knight was not as simple as just saying it. Any knight in any territory had to pass the martial arts assessment of the Royal Knight Academy to receive knight certification.

These assessments included horsemanship, swordsmanship, spearmanship, archery, and so on. After passing the assessments for these martial arts disciplines, one also had to serve the king as a squire for two years. Only after the service period was completed could one be awarded a knight's medal and be officially appointed as a knight.

Of course, there was also an important prerequisite: anyone who wished to become a knight had to be of noble descent.

This single prerequisite disqualified Zhou Ming, who was of "farmer's son" status.

"Respected Earl, I will pass these assessments through diligent and arduous effort. Please give me such an opportunity!"

Zhou Ming knew there was another way to change his fate, and that was the Earl's "letter of recommendation." The quota for such "letters of recommendation" was very small; each Earl only had ten per year. If Earl Lautz was willing to give him a recommendation slot, even if he was a farmer's son, the professors at the Royal Knight Academy would give him a chance to enroll out of respect for Earl Lautz.

"Child, you have great potential, but you are simply too old. You have already missed the best period to become a knight. Take this bag of gold coins and go back. Go back, marry, have children, and live a peaceful and prosperous life. This is what you most deserve."

Earl Lautz shook his head and threw a money bag in front of Zhou Ming. The coins in the bag jingled, but Zhou Ming's eyes were dull. After a while, he picked up the money bag and left the tent dejectedly.

Baron Connor, who had been saved by Zhou Ming and was lying severely wounded in bed, learned about this matter from the gossiping knights. He called Zhou Ming over and comforted him.

"Child, I see your talent and effort. If you are still willing to stay in Glan Territory in the future, I can entrust you with the management of all the manors outside the castle. If you want to assist Donny and venture out with him, then study hard with Scholar Ellen. Perhaps in the future, you can also become a respected scholar."

Baron Connor gave Zhou Ming two choices, which were the two best choices he could offer Zhou Ming. He could not give any more.

"Thank you, Baron. If it's still possible, I will continue to pursue my dream. If not, I will do something I am good at."

Zhou Ming did not give a clear answer. Just like this war, even he did not expect that his somewhat crazy actions would bring him a reward of 100 gold coins. What if he played a greater role in a certain war?

Wealth is sought in danger. In this world full of wars, perhaps there are many opportunities waiting for him in the wilderness?

Just as Zhou Ming was starting to feel a little eager, a provocative question disrupted his thoughts.

"Kid, with your chicken-like physique, you want to be a noble knight? Are you still dreaming from last night and haven't woken up yet?"

A knight with a scar on his face appeared before him at some point, reeking of alcohol, his face ugly and repulsive, and his mouth incessantly noisy.

A hint of greed appeared in the scar-faced knight's eyes as he stared at the bag tied around Zhou Ming's waist and said, "Kid, I heard you performed meritorious service on the battlefield, and the Earl gave you a lot of reward money? Be smart and give me that bag quickly! The little merit you earned is simply an insult to us knights. You still want to pocket this money obtained by insulting knights?"

The scar-faced man's words drew the unanimous agreement of several knights around, who all demanded that Zhou Ming hand over the money.

"Fernandi, teach this lowly kid a good lesson. How can the dignity of us knights be desecrated by such a lowly thing?"

"Kid, hand over the money obediently. When this lord is drunk and happy, maybe I won't trouble you anymore."

"Ryan, you should take out the 200 gold coins in your pocket and buy these Knight lords a drink. They'll let you go!" At some point, the fat man Baum stood behind the group of Knights and said in a provocative tone.

"Good heavens, 200 gold coins, we could even consider killing this little fellow..." Someone's eyes lit up, thinking to themselves.

Looking at the Knights who were getting closer and closer, Zhou Ming's heart sank. It was trouble caused by money again. It seemed like this matter wouldn't end well today.

However, his face remained expressionless as he said, "So, you want to rob me, esteemed Knight sir?"

Hearing the word "rob," Fernandi's temper flared. He let out a puff of alcoholic breath and grabbed Zhou Ming by the collar, saying, "Kid! Stop talking nonsense! Be honest! Quickly take out all the money on you!"

"What if I don't?" Zhou Ming asked.

"Heh heh!"

Fernandi was so angry he laughed instead. He really wanted to draw his sword and kill the kid in front of him immediately, but with so many people present... he slightly restrained his anger and said, "Kid, I'll give you a chance not to hand it over! We'll have a one-on-one match. If you win, the money is yours. If I win..."

"The money is yours?" Zhou Ming finished his sentence.

"Correct answer! Kid."

"But you are a Knight, and I am just a farmer. Is that fair?"

"Hey! I want to have a match with this kid. Everyone, tell me, is it fair?" Fernandi shouted to the surroundings.

"Fair! Very fair!" The surrounding crowd answered in unison, especially the fat man Baum's voice was the loudest.

"Alright! I'll have a match with you."

Zhou Ming took off his coat and threw the money bag at his waist onto the ox cart. The mouth of the money bag loosened, and a golden light spilled out. The onlookers gasped in surprise. So many gold coins! Then they became furious, thinking, This damned kid has so much money on him, but he won't even buy them a drink!

Soon, Zhou Ming brought over the long spear that had killed seventeen farmers and wiped the dried blood off it with a piece of linen.

Knight Fernandi, however, was in full heavy armor and rode his warhorse over.

"Fernandi, is it necessary to ride your horse to deal with such a kid? You're being too unknightly, aren't you?" Among the onlookers, a familiar acquaintance of Knight Fernandi exclaimed.

Fernandi, mounted on his warhorse, showed a cruel smile and grinned, "Just watch from the side! See how I trample this kid into meat paste and chop him into pieces! Today, I will use this kid's death to prove how powerful we Knights are!"

"Well said!" "Good job, Fernandi!" "Fernandi, for the glory of the Knights, crush this kid!"

Everyone cheered, their hearts filled with anticipation. They all wanted to see how this annoying farmer kid would be crushed by Fernandi.

A flat, open area.

Separated by a distance of about twenty meters, one man and one horse stood facing each other.

"Kid, prepare to die!"

As soon as the match began, Fernandi, eager to crush the farmer kid opposite him into meat paste, spurred his warhorse and swung his long sword, charging towards Zhou Ming.

Looking at the rapidly approaching warhorse and the overwhelming impact it brought, Zhou Ming chose not to confront it head-on. Instead, he placed the long spear aside, lowered his head, and rolled on the ground, dodging the fatal blow that would surely bring death.

One charge.

Two charges.

Multiple charges.

For over ten consecutive charges back and forth, the cautious Zhou Ming narrowly avoided them all.

"Damn brat, if you've got the guts, stop running and let this old man chop you with a sword!" The exasperated Fernandi roared, swinging his sword.

Zhou Ming, neither hurried nor slow, flexibly dodged another attack, sneering inwardly: Stand there and let you chop me? Do you think I'm a fool?

After more than thirty rounds of cavalry charges, Fernandi still hadn't managed to hit Zhou Ming even once. Instead, his warhorse was panting heavily, and he himself was drenched in sweat, feeling his armor grow heavier and heavier.

"That's enough..."

Looking at the warhorse slowly charging towards him, and the knight whose reactions were sluggish due to the alcohol... Zhou Ming picked up the spear he had placed on the ground, adjusted his breathing, and fixed his gaze on the unprotected eyes on Fernandi's face.

"Brat, you're finally not dodging this time! Go to hell!"

Seeing Zhou Ming standing there motionless, bent at the waist, Fernandi was overjoyed. He excitedly raised the longsword in his hand and swung it down again with force!

However, before he could see the brat below split in two, a black shadow like a venomous snake darted into his eye socket, followed by intense pain, and then, he plunged into deep darkness.

"Boom~!"

As Fernandi's body crashed to the ground with a thunderous sound, the knights present and all the onlookers watching the spectacle were speechless and dumbfounded.