Wuyou Snake Manor

Creak, creak!

Horseshoes struck the road paved with crushed charcoal slag, making soft, scattered sounds as the three knights leisurely admired the manor basking in the sunlight ahead.

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

Below them was a smaller line: "Wuyou snakes have been spotted nearby. They are venomous. Beware of bites."

As if afraid someone might be unable to read, someone had also drawn a black, coiled-up snake beside the warning in charcoal and marked it with a large "X."

"Among the nineteen manors of Guangguang River Valley, Wuyou Snake Manor counts as a large one. It has nearly twenty thousand hectares of land, with 580 serf households, around 3,500 people." The middle-aged knight on the left had an unkempt beard and brownish-yellow teeth.

Flicking his whip, the middle-aged knight said comfortably, "The Baron Lord has granted you this manor as your fief. It shows just how highly he values you, Russell."

"The responsibility is heavy too." The young, handsome knight in the middle had sharp brows, bright eyes, red lips, and white teeth. He wore no knight's helmet, and his light golden hair was especially soft and smooth. Smiling gently, he said, "Teacher Charles."

Charles, the bearded middle-aged knight, laughed. "Further downstream in Guangguang River Valley, beyond Wuyou Snake Manor, there are vast underground river caverns. The lowborn people there make the best moat. You need not worry at all."

At that.

The knight on the right said in a muffled voice, "The free folk of Xiangshui River Cave cannot be relied upon."

Charles casually replied, "But you're here, aren't you, Eric? As Russell's Knight Captain guard, you bear an inescapable responsibility for Wuyou Snake Manor's safety."

Eric was around thirty and had a square, resolute face. "I'll do my best."

"Alright, teachers. Wuyou Snake Manor has not yet been handed over. We can make detailed arrangements after the transfer." The young, handsome knight lightly tapped his horse's belly, and the magnificent black horse beneath him immediately broke into a gallop along the charcoal-slag road.

He headed straight for Wuyou Snake Manor ahead.

The wind howled past his ears.

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

But the Battle Aura continuously rising within him greatly weakened the cold wind. No matter how thin his clothes were, his body remained warm.

"Battle Aura!"

Even after experiencing it for an entire week, Russell still found this miraculous power unbelievable.

The hooves flew swiftly.

As he neared his own fief, the corners of his mouth rose involuntarily.

He secretly marveled, "Roman Roland once said that there is only one true heroism in this world: to continue loving life after recognizing its truth... As a transmigrator, I am satisfied with my current life."

He had been born into a noble family!

His father was named Roman, and his eldest brother was named Roland... He also had an older sister named Rowena and, well, a younger sister named Laura.

But their family name was not "Luo."

Their surname was Fluorite Mushroom, a noble surname named after a certain kind of mushroom. It originated with his great-grandfather, the first Baron Gloomlight.

His grandfather inherited the title and became the second Baron Gloomlight.

Then his father inherited the title and became the third Baron Gloomlight.

In his generation, his eldest brother Roland Fluorite Mushroom was ambitious and had long prepared himself 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 the prime of life and had no intention of passing away anytime soon.

That was why he, the somewhat useless second son of the baron, could rely on his parents' affection to be granted the title of knight after his coming-of-age ceremony at sixteen, along with his own small fief—Wuyou Snake Manor, nearly twenty thousand hectares in size.

It was called a manor, but its area was actually about the same as the town in Russell's hometown on Earth.

There were simply very few people.

Five hundred and eighty households, around 3,500 people. A single village in his hometown on Earth might have had that many people. Fortunately, all of them were serfs of his fief and belonged completely to Russell.

"Whoa!"

At the entrance to Wuyou Snake Manor, he could see vast farmlands lining both banks of the Glimmering River, where many serfs bent over their work.

Amid the fields stood a cluster of low, plain houses, none taller than two stories.

Faint sounds of chickens crowing and dogs barking drifted over.

Clop, clop.

The horses left the main road, their hooves stepping over stones by the riverbank.

"Russell, aren't you going in to take a look?" Charles asked from behind him.

"No need. We only came to have a look today. Once the handover is complete, there will be plenty of time to inspect it." Russell said.

His coming-of-age ceremony had only just passed, and Wuyou Snake Manor had not yet been transferred. There were only serfs and serf overseers here for now.

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

"This will become the place where you rise to greatness." Charles flattered him, then pointed to a large two-story stone house across the Glimmering River. "That is the baron's country residence. It can serve as your castle in the future. Would you like to give it a name first?"

Russell shook his head. "No need."

It was only a two-story building. Though it was somewhat larger than the rural villas in his hometown on Earth, it was nowhere close to being a castle.

How could he possibly have the nerve to name it?

Seemingly guessing Russell's thoughts, Charles laughed heartily. "Don't underestimate this place. Every noble starts as a knight. Russell, your foundation is already steadier than anyone's. Fight for ten years and earn military merit, and you may well be promoted to baron."

Eric, who had seemed rather taciturn, nodded in agreement. "Indeed."

Russell answered with a faint smile.

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

"Stop, Teacher Charles. Don't say such things again." The smile vanished from Russell's face as he calmly glanced at Charles.

Charles immediately gave an embarrassed laugh and changed the subject. "Ah, this year's Ice Age has retreated later than usual. At this time in previous years, the Glimmering River would already be rushing and muddy. This year, it is still only a shallow layer."

With that, the subject was dropped. The three of them slowly rode along the little river, taking in the general state of Wuyou Snake Manor at a cursory glance.

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

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

Charles turned his horse around as well. Watching Russell's rapidly retreating figure, he quietly signaled to Eric beside him. "What I said is a good shortcut, isn't it? Gaining Lord Ross's approval is more useful than any military merit."

Eric replied in his muffled voice, "This is the Baron Lord's family affair, Charles."

With that, he spurred his horse after Russell.

"Honestly... We already bear Russell's mark. Russell's rise is our rise... Why are they both so unconcerned? There's a shortcut, yet they refuse to take it!" Charles muttered to himself before quickly catching up with Russell and Eric.

At that moment.

Russell, galloping ahead, was far from calm.

This was a bizarre and wondrous world, a world with Extraordinary Power. "Snow Demons freeze the land... volcanoes nurture oases... knights, Battle Aura... 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!

This was my first time writing a book. I hope everyone will bookmark and support it. Love you all~