Knight Holy Mountain (2)

"If you want to die, I don't mind sending you to join the one who just died." Li Xin's icy voice brimmed with sharp killing intent.

The two burly men were both warriors as well. One wielded a heavy sword, while the other carried a rapier and shield. As they looked at Li Xin, their expressions flickered uncertainly. They naturally knew they had no grounds to stand on. Long Haochen had killed the bearded man in a duel; even the city guards had no right to interfere.

The heavy sword-wielding warrior roared, "My third brother only made a few jokes, and this brat killed him. Is this the benevolence you knights speak of?"

Of the two warriors, one was a third-tier, second-level Battle Master, while the other was a second-tier, eighth-level warrior. Together, they naturally did not fear Li Xin. Yet they could not help but fear the Knight Temple behind her.

Li Xin snorted disdainfully. "Are you blind? My little brother is a Punishment Knight, not a Guardian Knight. A Punishment Knight's creed is that eliminating evil is promoting good. With my brother's temperament, would he have killed if your companion hadn't said something utterly disgusting? If you're not convinced, then come at me together."

As she spoke, the longsword in Li Xin's hands traced a string of strange paths through the air, while pale golden light energy surged from her body.

"Neigh—" Amid a long whinny, a tall, powerful steed emerged from those bizarre, twisting trails.

The horse was an extraordinarily rare pink all over, about eight feet long and six feet tall. The wings on its back were not yet broad enough, seemingly unable to carry it into flight, and there was a small bump atop its head. Its eyes were rose-red, and the moment it appeared, a dense aura of energy burst forth from its body. Majesty radiated from those rose-colored eyes.

Li Xin tapped the ground with her toes, leaping onto the horse's back. Looking at the two warriors opposite her, her eyes were filled with contempt and disdain.

Li Xin's nickname, Hell Rose, came from this mount of hers. It was an immature Rose Unicorn. Even in its immature state, it was still a genuine early-stage fifth-level Magic Beast. With it, not to mention third-tier warriors—even fourth-tier ones would have to take a detour when they saw her. Warriors of the same tier had never been a match for knights to begin with.

"She's a knight who returned from the Knight Holy Mountain?" the shield-wielding warrior cried out. The two exchanged a glance, not daring to say another word. They swiftly hoisted up their companion's corpse and fled in disgrace.

Quite a few adventurers nearby were whispering among themselves. "Those guys were obviously outsiders. They don't even recognize Hell Rose, the number one genius of the Haoyue Branch Temple. They deserved to suffer. And besides, she's also..."

"Big Sister." Long Haochen had been standing beside Li Xin the entire time. After killing someone, his expression had not changed much.

Li Xin jumped down from the Rose Unicorn's back and smiled. "Silly boy, what are you doing at the Adventurer's Guild?" It turned out that after hearing Long Haochen ask about the Adventurer's Guild, she had worried about him coming alone to such a mixed and chaotic place, so she had followed him. She had arrived just in time to witness what had happened.

Long Haochen said, "Teacher told me to take a level-two mission."

Li Xin was somewhat speechless. "Your teacher really is at ease leaving you on your own. Come on, I'll go with you."

When they entered the Adventurer's Guild again, the looks the adventurers gave Long Haochen had completely changed. Setting aside the powerful older sister at his side, the strength he had displayed when he killed that Axe Warrior in just a few moves was absolutely that of a Quasi-Knight!

These people might not recognize Divine Seal Block, but they could see Long Haochen's age. He was already a Quasi-Knight at such a young age—wouldn't the Knight Temple protect him like a treasure? Who would dare cause trouble now?

"Knight, Sir Knight, here is your badge." The young woman who had been behind the counter hurried over the moment they returned to the Adventurer's Guild and respectfully handed Long Haochen his badge. After seeing the badge earlier, she too had run outside to watch the fight and had witnessed everything. The look in her eyes as she regarded Long Haochen now was filled more with curiosity.

The rest was simple. Long Haochen selected a mission to hunt ten mid-stage second-level Magic Beasts in Haoyue Swamp, a hundred li north of Bright Moon City.

"Little brother, let me go with you. Otherwise, I won't be at ease. Although Haoyue Swamp doesn't have any high-level Magic Beasts, there are still third-level ones, and fourth-level ones have even appeared there before. Besides, if I go with you, it'll be faster."

"Big Sister, wouldn't that be inappropriate? Teacher told me to complete the mission alone."

"What's inappropriate about it? You'll be completing the mission alone! You kill the mission Magic Beasts yourself. I'll only be responsible for protecting you from sneak attacks by other Magic Beasts. It's settled. Let's go."

As she spoke, Li Xin pulled Long Haochen out of the Adventurer's Guild. They climbed directly onto her Rose Unicorn and rode out of the city.

This was Long Haochen's first time riding a mount, and he found it immensely novel.

Sitting on the Rose Unicorn's back was exceptionally steady, with Li Xin behind him. He could smell a faint rose fragrance, though he did not know whether it came from his older sister or the Rose Unicorn.

The two soon left the city. To Long Haochen's surprise, Li Xin did not slow her horse as they passed through the gates. Instead, the soldiers guarding the city saluted her.

Once they had left Bright Moon City, the Rose Unicorn finally unleashed its speed. A scene that left Long Haochen stunned unfolded before him: a layer of faint red light spread out from the Rose Unicorn's body, and the temperature around them noticeably rose. Its speed abruptly surged, yet protected by that pale red curtain of light, he could not feel the wind battering against him at all. The wings on the Rose Unicorn's back spread from time to time, making its gallop even steadier. It was so fast that it seemed to be flying through the air.

"So fast! Big Sister, your mount is incredible. How can I get a mount like this?" Long Haochen was still a child, so how could such a novel experience not excite him?

Li Xin smiled. "Answer one question for me, and I'll tell you."

Long Haochen said, "Ask away, Big Sister."

Li Xin asked, "Have you killed someone before? Otherwise, why did you seem completely unaffected after killing that Axe Warrior? I'll never forget the agony after I killed someone for the first time. I threw up for three days and three nights!"

Long Haochen scratched his head. "I haven't killed people before, but I have killed Magic Beasts. Teacher said that when facing enemies, you must treat them as Magic Beasts and show no mercy whatsoever. Before you are certain the opponent is dead, you must never let your guard down. Since he was a Magic Beast, why would I feel uncomfortable? I've killed quite a few Magic Beasts. Besides, after delivering the final blow, I never looked at him again." In truth, even he himself did not know that the arduous cultivation in the Owl Ant Lair had long since driven the emotion of fear far away from him.

Li Xin said helplessly, "I really don't know whether to call you pure and unblemished at heart or cold-blooded. Still, your teacher is right. When rooting out evil, leave none behind."

Eager to learn how he could obtain such an excellent mount as a Rose Unicorn, Long Haochen hurriedly asked, "Big Sister, how can I get a Rose Unicorn?"

Li Xin said, "Don't be so impatient. Actually, even if I don't tell you, you'll definitely learn about it in the future. Because like me, you also have the qualifications to go to the Knight Holy Mountain and choose a mount."

"What kind of place is the Knight Holy Mountain?" Long Haochen asked curiously.

"Within our Knight Temple, the vast majority of knights can only choose fine horses or tame wild Magic Beasts to serve as their mounts. But there are some exceptions: the most talented young knights in each branch temple. Anyone who can pass the knight assessment and become a knight of at least third-tier, first-level before the age of twenty is qualified to go to the Knight Holy Mountain upon recommendation from their branch temple. You're already a Quasi-Knight at just ten years old, so becoming a knight before twenty won't be a problem at all."