Wuyou Snake Manor

Creak, creak!

Hooves trod on the path paved with crushed charcoal cinders, making soft sounds as the three knights, unhurried, admired the manor bathed in sunlight in the distance.

On a crooked signpost by the road, the words "Wuyou Snake Manor" were visible.

Below them was another line of small text: "Wuyou Snakes are known to appear nearby; they are venomous, beware of bites."

As if worried someone couldn't read, next to the small text, a charcoal sketch of a coiled, dark snake was drawn, with a large "X" marked over it.

"Among the 19 manors in Guangguang River Valley, Wuyou Snake Manor is a large one. It has nearly 20,000 hectares of land, with 580 serf households, about 3,500 people," said the middle-aged knight on the left horse, his beard scruffy and his teeth yellowed.

He flicked his whip and continued comfortably, "The Baron has granted you this manor as your fief, showing how much he values you, Russell."

"It's a heavy responsibility too," replied the knight on the middle horse. He was young and handsome, with sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, rosy lips, and white teeth. He wore no knight's helmet, and his light golden hair was exceptionally soft. He smiled gently, "Teacher Charles."

Charles, the middle-aged knight with the scruffy beard, chuckled, "Downstream of Guangguang River Valley, beyond Wuyou Snake Manor, there are vast underground caves. The lowlifes there serve as the best moat; you have nothing to worry about."

Hearing this.

The knight on the right said in a low voice, "The free people of Xiangshui River Cave can't be relied upon."

Charles casually replied, "Don't you have me, Eric? As Russell's personal Knight Captain, protecting the safety of Wuyou Snake Manor is your undeniable duty."

Eric, around thirty, had a standard square face. "I will do my best."

"Alright, teachers, Wuyou Snake Manor hasn't been handed over yet. We can make detailed arrangements after the handover," said the young, handsome knight. He gently kicked his horse's belly, and the magnificent black horse immediately galloped on the charcoal cinder road.

It sped directly towards Wuyou Snake Manor ahead.

The wind whistled past his ears.

The weather was still very cold, and tiny ice crystals in the air stung his face.

However, the Battle Qi constantly surging within his body effectively nullified the cold wind's power, keeping him warm even in thin clothes.

"Battle Qi!"

Even after feeling it for a full week, Russell was still amazed by this wondrous power.

His horse's hooves flew.

Approaching his fief, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curl up.

He secretly praised in his heart, "As Roman Roland said, in this world, there is only one true heroism, and that is to love life even after recognizing its truth... As a transmigrator, I am satisfied with my current life..."

Born into a noble family!

His father was named Roman, his elder brother was Roland... he also had an elder sister named Rowena, and a younger sister named Laura.

But their family name wasn't "Roman."

Their family name was "Fluorite Mushroom," a noble surname named after a type of mushroom. This originated from his great-grandfather, the first Baron Gloomlight.

His grandfather inherited the title, becoming the second Baron Gloomlight.

His father then inherited the title, becoming the third Baron Gloomlight.

In his generation, his elder brother Roland Fluorite Mushroom was ambitious and ready to inherit the title of Baron Gloomlight and the fief of Guangguang River Valley at any time.

Of course.

His father, Roman Fluorite Mushroom, was still in his prime and had no intention of passing away anytime soon.

Therefore, he, the somewhat useless second son of the Baron, was able to rely on his parents' love and, after his sixteenth birthday, be granted a noble title and possess a small fief of his own—the nearly 20,000-hectare Wuyou Snake Manor.

Calling it a manor, its area was actually about the same size as the town Russell's family lived in on Earth.

It just had a small population.

580 households, about 3,500 people; a village on Earth might have this many people. Fortunately, these were all serfs of the fief, completely belonging to Russell.

"Whoa!"

As he galloped to the entrance of Wuyou Snake Manor, vast fields could be seen bordering both banks of the Guangguang River, with many serfs bent over working in the fields.

Surrounding the fields was a cluster of low, flat houses, the tallest no more than two stories.

Faint sounds of chickens clucking and dogs barking could be heard.

Clop, clop.

His horse's hooves left the main road and stepped onto the stones by the riverbank.

"Russell, aren't you going to take a look inside?" Charles asked, following behind Russell.

"No need. I'm just here to see it today. After the handover is complete, there will be plenty of time to look," Russell replied.

His coming-of-age ceremony had just passed, and Wuyou Snake Manor hadn't been handed over yet. There were only some serfs and overseers here.

He still needed his parents to recruit retainers and servants for him and grant him sufficient wealth before he could safely move into Wuyou Snake Manor.

"This will be the place where you rise to prominence," Charles flattered, then pointed to a two-story stone house across the Guangguang River. "There, the Baron's secondary residence. It can serve as your castle in the future. Do you want to give it a name?"

Russell shook his head. "No need."

It was just a two-story building. Although it was slightly larger than a rural villa on Earth, it was nowhere near a castle.

How could he bear to give it a name?

Seemingly guessing Russell's thoughts, Charles laughed heartily, "Don't underestimate this place. Every noble starts from a viscount. Russell, your start is already more stable than anyone else's. Strive for ten years, earn military merits, and you might be able to be promoted to Baron."

Eric, looking slightly gloomy, nodded in agreement, "That's true."

Russell responded with a faint smile.

Charles suddenly changed the subject, speaking mysteriously, "Of course, I think the most stable way to advance is actually to win over Lord Ross. Truly, Russell, if you can form a contract with Lord Ross, perhaps even Baron will be yours!"

"Stop right there, Teacher Charles. Don't say such things again," Russell's smile vanished from his face, and he looked calmly at Charles.

Charles immediately gave a sheepish laugh and said, "Ah, the ice period this year is receding later than usual. At this time in previous years, the Guangguang River would already be turbulent and muddy, but this year it's just a shallow layer."

The topic was thus dropped, and the three of them slowly rode their horses along the riverbank, getting a cursory overview of Wuyou Snake Manor.

As the sun slanted westward, Russell turned his horse's head, "Let's go back."

The black horse beneath him shot forward like an arrow onto the main road, galloping back in the direction they had come.

Charles turned his horse's head to follow, watching Russell's rapidly receding back. He quietly gestured to Eric beside him, "I told you it was a good shortcut, didn't I? Gaining Lord Ross's approval is more useful than any military merit."

Eric responded with a muffled sound, "This is Baron's family business, Charles."

After speaking, he urged his horse to chase after Russell.

"Really... we've already been branded by Russell. Russell's rise is our rise... why is everyone so unmotivated, not taking the shortcut when it's right there!" Charles muttered to himself for a couple of sentences, then quickly caught up to Russell and Eric.

And at this moment.

Russell, galloping ahead, was not feeling entirely calm.

This was a bizarre world, a world with extraordinary powers: "Snow demons freezing the land... volcanoes nurturing oases... Knights, Battle Qi... Elves, mushrooms, phantom beasts... and most importantly, Dragons!"

Dragons could decide everything!

And Lord Ross was a Dragon, a Dragon belonging to the Fluorite Mushroom family!