Defeated Opponent

"You mean Russell might win?" Madam Meryl looked at Russell, who was being forced back across the field, in surprise. "His Battle Aura only just blossomed, while Rowena's has been blossomed for four or five years already!"

She knew that her second son had inherited her beauty, and she also knew that he had failed to inherit his father's talent for cultivation.

Of course, she also knew that her eldest daughter had not inherited her beauty, but had inherited Baron Roman's talent for cultivation.

Her Battle Qi Seed had blossomed at thirteen, allowing her to cultivate true Battle Aura. Five years had passed since then, and her Battle Aura had only grown stronger.

That was why she could not quite understand the current situation.

"He might win, or he might lose. That depends on whether Rowena can calm down. But from the looks of it, she's getting more and more anxious..." the baron said.

He then added, "Russell's talent for battle is far greater than his talent for cultivation. He advances steadily, avoids his own weaknesses well... like a coiled venomous snake, patiently searching for a fatal strike."

"Like your Wuyou Snake King?" Madam Meryl asked thoughtfully.

Wuyou snakes were the most common venomous snakes in Guangguang River Valley and were also considered one of its specialties. Their gallbladders, flesh, and blood could all be used as supplementary ingredients for Magic Potions.

Moreover, a Phantom Beast had once been born among the Wuyou snakes—the Wuyou Snake King—and had been contracted by Baron Roman.

The Wuyou Snake Manor granted to Russell had been named after that Phantom Beast, the Wuyou Snake King—it had originally been discovered within the manor.

However, as the farmland of Wuyou Snake Manor was reclaimed, sightings of Wuyou snakes had become increasingly rare.

"Very much so." The baron smiled.

At the same time, the battle grew fiercer. Unable to break through for so long, Rowena became more and more agitated. Her attacks turned broad and reckless as she focused only on defeating Russell as quickly as possible.

Yet Russell remained as unhurried as before, as though he had wrapped himself in a turtle shell. He blocked when he could, dodged when he could not, and never rashly traded attacks with Rowena. But whenever he found an opening, he still slashed or thrust with his sword, leaving Rowena scrambling.

A hundred exchanges passed.

Rowena was already panting heavily, and Russell was not feeling much better. His Battle Aura was nearly drained dry.

It was then that Rowena swung her red longsword, intending to put more force into her attack and crush Russell's resistance in one stroke.

But the Battle Aura within her was beginning to fail her, causing the slightest disorder in her footwork.

A flash of brilliance passed through Russell's eyes. The fatal opportunity he had painstakingly sought had finally been caught. He no longer defended passively. Instead, as if performing the move he had tempered through countless repetitions in every morning knight lesson, he drove the Green Ceramic Sword forward in a standard slashing thrust.

The opportunity was fleeting, but in that instant, the Green Ceramic Sword had already broken through Rowena's offense.

Before Rowena's red longsword could fall, it struck precisely against her chest.

He did not hold back.

Gripping the sword with both hands, Russell thrust forward fiercely. The Green Ceramic Sword pierced through Rowena's combat uniform and struck the soft armor she wore underneath.

It failed to pierce the soft armor, but the tremendous force hit Rowena like a thunderbolt. Her body went limp, her form completely fell apart, and she landed hard on the grass.

He sheathed his sword.

He cupped his hands.

Russell tried to calm his heaving chest and smiled faintly. "Sister, thank you for letting me win."

"I... lost?" Rowena found it hard to accept. She could no longer defeat the younger brother she had bullied since childhood.

Picking up the red longsword that had fallen beside her, Rowena prepared to fight again. "I don't believe it. Again!"

Cooper walked over and pulled her back. "That's enough, Rowena. It's only a contest between siblings. Go change your clothes quickly. Grandmother will be here soon."

Rowena was still unconvinced, but she did not persist. She only glared at Russell and shouted, "I'll be staying at Fluorite Castle for a few days, Russell. We'll duel again!"

Russell grinned. "I don't really like fighting defeated opponents."

"You!" Rowena nearly fainted from rage. If Cooper had not dragged her away, she might have fought Russell to the death on the spot.

Baron Roman stepped forward. "Cooper, take Rowena to change."

"Yes, Father-in-law."

After sending away the disgruntled Rowena, Baron Roman looked at Russell with satisfaction. "You performed very well. It seems letting you adapt to the life of a lord ahead of time has been beneficial. You are much steadier now than before. Keep working hard."

"Yes, Father."

Roland, who had been watching from the side, also came over and clapped Russell on the shoulder. "Not bad, kid. You've even got my hands itching for a fight."

Charles squeezed over and secretly gave him a thumbs-up. "My lord is mighty!"

"Russell, you're becoming more and more outstanding!" Dave Golden Mushroom laughed heartily as he came over to praise him.

"Thank you, thank you."

A duel between siblings that did not involve life or death could not really prove much, but victory was always pleasing.

"Chirp!"

On the top of a nearby tower, Clay Dragon Ross seemed to be watching them and let out a cry of unclear meaning.

Russell looked up at Lord Ross and somehow felt that the Clay Dragon was mocking him.

But since Lord Ross had not come looking for trouble, he would not provoke him either. Ignoring him was enough. After exchanging a few polite words with those who had come to flatter him, he went back to change clothes as well.

Once he had changed, there was not much time for idle chat before the castle bells rang.

His grandmother, Old Madam Ingrid, had arrived.

Escorting Old Madam Ingrid were his uncle Rosen's family: his aunt Clara, his elder cousin Royal, and his younger cousin Roil.

A long round of greetings followed.

Everyone gathered around the birthday matriarch and entered the castle's great hall.

"All the little ghost fires are here. This makes me happier than the holidays." Old Madam Ingrid beamed with delight. Nothing pleased her more than seeing the Fluorite Mushroom Family flourishing with descendants.

Yet there was also regret. She swept her gaze over the crowd and sighed. "Roby didn't come again? How many years has it been since she returned?"

Roby was Russell's aunt, married to Golden Baron Davis Kingdingmo.

Baron Roman comforted her. "My sister has always been frail and cannot endure cold winds. With all this ice and snow along the way, how could she return? You know that."

"If she can't return, then you must visit her more often."

"Don't worry. I will."

Meanwhile, Russell was pulled aside by his uncle Rosen. The uncle and nephew chatted for a while, mainly about the responsibilities of vassals.

"You can hunt Snow Ghosts now, and Eric has also advanced to Phantom Beast Knight. That is good. At last, someone can share my burden." Rosen had a face shape similar to Baron Roman's, but his features were far more ordinary, the sort that would disappear in a crowd.

"I'm still learning, Uncle."

"Then learn from your uncle. In the future, you will certainly need to shoulder the work of socializing throughout the territory."

"I understand."

"There is one more matter. Royal has already nurtured a Battle Qi Seed, and I plan to send him off as a knight attendant. So I wanted to ask whether you have any intention of taking on knight attendants. If you do, I hope to send Royal to you."

"About that..." Russell was surprised, but quickly shook his head. "My Battle Aura cultivation has only just begun. I haven't considered taking on knight attendants for now."

Rosen was not surprised. "All right, I'll ask someone else later."