Duel

"Hmm, all the noble families sent quite a few valuable gifts, especially in my sister's and Cooper's carriages, they were loaded with magic-infused creations!"

In the Dark Dreamscape, Russell and the Little Dream Dragon searched Fluorite Castle from top to bottom.

He knew better than the Baron himself how much wealth the Baron possessed.

"It's a shame none of it is for me," Russell chuckled, merely sighing without any greed.

He was increasingly feeling that the Little Dream Dragon was a true dragon.

As a Knight who even had a dragon, what could these meager offerings outside possibly impress him? Following the Little Dream Dragon, he'd have everything he ever dreamed of eventually!

"Caw!"

"Baa."

His consciousness dimmed, and when he woke again, it was already morning.

No need to pull a bell; the maid's voice rang out from outside, "Good morning, Young Master Russell."

"Seven-thirty, so punctual..." Russell sat up in bed and yawned, "Come in."

Soon, with the servants' assistance, he changed into his festive attire.

"Good morning, Laura."

"Good morning, Russell."

"Good morning, Sister, good morning, Cooper." Russell's mood improved considerably upon seeing his sleepy sister and brother-in-law.

Even his sister, who was already married, and her husband had to abide by the seven-thirty wake-up rule upon entering Fluorite Castle. What else could he not accept?

"Good morning, Russell... Ah... so sleepy," Rowena greeted him while rubbing her eyes and complaining, "I really wish I could give birth soon so I could wash up and eat breakfast in bed, and only get up when I feel like it."

Among nobles, ladies who had given birth and become mothers could wash up and dine in bed, and sleep until whenever they pleased.

"Tell Brother-in-law to work harder tonight, and that day will come soon," Russell said with a smile.

Rowena immediately clenched her fist and shook it, "You're getting bolder, Russell. Dare to tease your sister, huh? Duel, now, immediately, right now!"

"After I finish breakfast."

"You actually dare to accept? You've indeed gotten bolder than before."

"Sister, you are an Armored Knight, and I am also an Armored Knight. What is there to fear in accepting the challenge?" Russell stated a fact with a smile.

There was definitely a gap, but Russell no longer feared it. The era of Rowena riding roughshod over him was about to end.

Now it was Rowena's turn to be astonished. She patted Cooper's arm, "My brother has decided to rebel, Cooper. How do you think I should suppress him?"

Cooper spread his hands, "This is a private matter between you siblings. Please allow me to stay out of it. Also, good luck."

"After breakfast, Knight training class, then duel!" Rowena issued the challenge.

Russell did not refuse, "Alright!"

Just then, his elder brother, Roland, came downstairs. Upon seeing him, Rowena immediately shouted, "Roland, come and be a witness after breakfast. I'm going to teach this arrogant fellow a good lesson! I've only been away from Guangguang River Valley for a few days, and he dares to rebel!"

Roland waved his hand, "You two are truly boring."

He then asked Cooper, "When Rowena went to Black Court Mountain, was she also this fond of fooling around? Did you find it troublesome?"

"She was quite ladylike when at Black Court Mountain. Perhaps after returning to Guangguang River Valley, she's let her true nature out. But this Rowena is also quite lovely, isn't she?" Cooper replied gently.

"Lovely?" Roland was noncommittal, "Perhaps."

Breakfast was exceptionally lavish. Besides the usual fish and egg fried rice, there was also bread, milk, fruit tea, fried eggs, bacon, a vegetable salad, as well as river fish, river shrimp, and even a pot of thick, viscous soup emitting a medicinal aroma.

This was Qi and Blood Paste. The caravan had a stall selling it before; a portion the size of a teapot lid cost three silver coins.

But here, they could drink it freely.

Facing such an opportunity to "milk the system," how could Russell possibly refuse? He scooped bowl after bowl of Qi and Blood Paste, even though its taste wasn't particularly good.

"Have you never seen good things before?" Rowena asked with disdain.

"I'm stocking up on energy. I have to fight you after breakfast, Sister," Russell said without any embarrassment.

After consuming the Qi and Blood Paste, he could clearly feel a warm current spreading from his stomach to every part of his body.

Following that, the Battle Qi in his meridians unconsciously circulated with this warm current, slowly refining the nutrients in the Qi and Blood Paste and nurturing new Battle Qi.

The efficiency wasn't too high, but this meal of Qi and Blood Paste alone could generate enough Battle Qi for three to five days of arduous training.

After eating his fill, they headed to the training grounds behind the castle. This was the place where the knights in the castle trained, and where Russell and the others had cultivated their Battle Qi since childhood.

"Ready, rookie!" Rowena changed into a light combat outfit and picked up a fiery red longsword with a visible red gem embedded in its hilt.

Russell also changed into his combat attire, a set of close-fitting light armor.

Ram, his personal male servant, brought over his Green Ceramic Sword. Eric, his Knight Teacher, gently advised, "Miss Rowena's hand and foot meridians are already clear. It's difficult to win by sheer strength, you'll have to rely on sword techniques."

The Battle Qi of an Armored Knight couldn't be projected outwards for combat; theoretically, combat relied on the body's inherent strength.

Even though Russell's training progress was poor and his arm meridians weren't clear, he might not be much weaker than Rowena.

After all, Rowena was female, and her physiological structure dictated a discount in her combat effectiveness.

"I'll do my best." Russell gripped the Green Ceramic Sword, twirled it in his hand, and then walked into the arena.

Rowena glared fiercely at Russell. "Rookie, you'll pay for your arrogance, dear sister!"

"Empty threats don't scare me anymore, dear sister," Russell retorted, meeting her gaze without fear.

He was no longer the timid, self-deprecating person he used to be. He wouldn't be intimidated by his older brother Roland or his sister Rowena's tyranny any longer.

Besides, he had even hunted a terrifying Snow Ghost. How could he be afraid of Rowena?

Seeing that verbal attacks were useless, Rowena stopped wasting words and swung her red longsword, launching an attack on Russell.

Her moves were powerful and heavy, indicating Rowena's deep mastery of Battle Qi.

Russell, however, showed no signs of tension. Instead, he let out a sigh of relief because he realized Rowena's aura was still a considerable distance from that of a Great Knight.

"So weak!"

He sighed inwardly and directly swung his sword to meet her attack, executing a practiced thrust from the Radiant Sword Technique.

Clang!

The two finely crafted longswords clashed, producing a crisp sound of metal on metal.

Russell and Rowena each took a step back. This exchange had ended in a draw.

Rowena frowned and began swinging her sword again.

Russell breathed another sigh of relief. His sister, who he remembered as someone who liked to show off and fight, was much weaker than he had imagined. While there was still a gap between them, it was a gap he could bridge, unlike when he faced Eric and couldn't find any chance of victory.

The same Radiant Sword Technique, the same Armored Knight.

In just a short while, the siblings had exchanged dozens of blows in the arena. Rowena gradually gained the upper hand, her red longsword like a flickering flame, pressing Russell so hard he couldn't lift his head.

But Russell's sword was steady. He firmly defended the three feet of space in front of him, occasionally unleashing an unexpected thrust that even managed to tear open a gap in Rowena's onslaught, forcing her to parry with her own sword.

"Rowena's getting anxious," Baron Roman said, his arm linked with his wife Meryl's, as he appeared at the edge of the arena at some point.