The Old Knight from Back Then

"Settle down!"

"If we go to the Demon Territory, it won't be us having more fun chopping up demons—it'll be the demons having more fun chopping us up."

Long Haoyu flicked No Edge on the forehead, half tempted to split the little fellow's head open and see what exactly was inside.

He had not even reached the strength of a Fourth Order professional, yet he wanted to run off to the Demon Territory for thrills. Even an old man hanging himself would not be this reckless.

No Edge covered his aching little head and asked blankly, "Then Master, you have to tell me who we're going to chop up next, right?"

"Still the Demon Race."

Long Haoyu gave his answer.

As he carefully calculated how much time had passed, many memories surfaced in his mind.

No Edge wore a wooden expression, his little head full of question marks.

If they were not going to the Demon Territory, where were they supposed to find demons to chop?

"Master, did you go crazy from all that chopping over the past year or so?"

"We're in Human Race territory right now."

Long Haoyu did not answer No Edge's question.

As the memories emerged and he analyzed the timeline, it seemed that not much time remained before the tragedy in Odin Town.

Why go through all the trouble of running to the Demon Territory to kill demons when there were demons delivering themselves to his doorstep?

"Master, don't suddenly stop talking. It's creepy," No Edge continued.

Long Haoyu asked in return, "Are you human?"

"Master, why can't a Sword Spirit be human?" No Edge said, hands on his hips.

Long Haoyu could not help laughing.

He grabbed Little Coal Ball and gave it a vigorous rub.

He was extremely fond of Little Coal Ball as well.

Though it looked like a Sword Spirit and was indeed rather crazy, it still had a touch of mischievous cleverness.

Over the past year and a half of training, he had been almost entirely immersed in slaughter.

If No Edge had not made jokes from time to time, he worried that he might have completely sunk into it.

"Some restless demons have already infiltrated Human Race territory."

"These demons that came to us are perfect nourishment for your growth."

"As for the rest, I won't say much for now."

Long Haoyu gave a simple explanation, cold light beginning to flash in his eyes.

He had never considered himself a good person, nor was he some kind-hearted saint or someone overflowing with compassion.

But knowing that the Demon Race's butcher's blade would fall within Human Race territory, he would never let them run rampant.

Especially when there were many people he knew in Odin Town—uncles and aunts who had helped him and Long Haochen when they were little.

Repaying kindness had always been Long Haoyu's principle in life.

With that as a premise, there was even less chance he would let the Demon Race wreak havoc.

"I see, then I understand!"

"Master, let's go find those demons right away!"

"Chop them up! Chop them down!"

Little Coal Ball spoke excitedly, constantly flying up and down in front of Long Haoyu, utterly thrilled.

Long Haoyu grabbed Little Coal Ball and rubbed it into No Edge. With No Edge on his back, he took one more look at Haoyue Marsh, where he had stayed for a year and a half.

Then, without looking back, he headed toward Mount Odin.

On Mount Odin.

When Long Haoyu returned, Long Xingyu was sparring with Long Haochen.

After a year and a half, Long Haochen still had not chosen to become a Retribution Knight.

Now, with a shield in one hand and a Fine Iron Sword in the other, he faced Long Xingyu's attacks with far less panic than he had a year and a half ago.

At a steady rhythm, he defended against Long Xingyu's attacks from every direction.

Seeing his little brother's growth, Long Haoyu revealed a faint smile.

"Brother, you're back?" Long Haochen noticed Long Haoyu's return. After stopping, he immediately called out happily.

Long Haoyu smiled faintly, walked over, and rubbed Long Haochen's head. "I'm back. How has your training been these past year or so?"

"I've been working hard to catch up to you, Brother! My strength has improved a lot now," Long Haochen answered.

"It's good that you've improved. Keep it up!"

"Understood!"

Long Xingyu also saw Long Haoyu return, and his 'stern' gaze turned toward him.

"It's good that you returned safely."

"After training for so long, how much has your strength improved?"

Long Xingyu could not find much else to say. Sensing the changes in Long Haoyu, he asked in a deep voice.

Long Haoyu pondered for a moment. "I'm currently around Third Order Ninth Grade. I've reached a bottleneck."

"Third Order Ninth Grade?"

"That's right!"

Long Xingyu was startled.

His gaze toward Long Haoyu immediately shifted slightly.

Compared to a year and a half ago, Haoyu's Spirit Energy has increased by at least 200 points. This rate of improvement truly lives up to his talent.

It seems my guess was correct. That person must have had a hand in this child's progress.

But with that person's guidance, considering Haoyu's talent, how could he possibly have a bottleneck?

Long Xingyu could not understand it.

In his understanding, it would be effortless for that person to train a Retribution Knight.

Even the current leader of the Alliance was considered half his disciple. One could imagine how terrifying he was.

The more he understood this, the less he could make sense of it.

Could it be that person deliberately left such an opportunity for Haoyu and me to repair our relationship?

Did that person also notice that Haoyu's personality is a little too unusual?

Long Xingyu continued to speculate. Thinking of this, he suddenly felt it was quite possible.

But when he thought of Long Haoyu's temperament, he could not help feeling a headache. Was a personality that had nearly become fixed really so easy to change and mend?

Suppressing his troubled feelings, Long Xingyu looked at Long Haoyu with a complicated expression and asked in a deep voice, "Haoyu, what bottleneck have you encountered?"

"The Magic Beasts in Haoyue Marsh are no longer high enough in level. The improvement from actual combat has become too slow," Long Haoyu answered.

Long Xingyu: "..."

"Then you came back because you plan to have me spar with you?"

Long Haoyu shook his head. "No. Sparring with you won't get anyone killed, so it won't bring much improvement."

"While I was in Haoyue Marsh, I encountered some Adventurers. They told me that their people had discovered traces of the Demon Race in Odin Town."

"So, I plan to use these demons as my first targets!"

When Long Haoyu said that sparring with him would not get anyone killed, Long Xingyu's frustration was just about to overflow.

Then the words Demon Race suddenly entered his ears.

Boundless cold light burst from Long Xingyu's eyes.

A chilling aura instantly blanketed Mount Odin.

"Are you sure it's the Demon Race?" Long Xingyu's voice turned cold.

Long Haoyu answered, "I'm sure. According to the information those Adventurers gave me, the ones who infiltrated Odin Town are Demon Wolfmen of the Demon Race."

"Our Odin Town lies on the border with the Demon Territory. These Demon Wolfmen infiltrated Odin Town, so they must be planning to harm us humans."

"So, I plan to use them as my whetstones before they make their move!"

The expression on Long Xingyu's face gradually calmed.

Hearing Long Haoyu say this, and seeing his intense hostility toward the Demon Race, Long Xingyu felt an inexplicable sense of comfort.

But the fact that Demon Wolfmen of the Demon Race had come to Odin Town made killing intent surge within him once more.

For the moment, however, he had not sensed any unusual activity or demonic aura, so he continued to verify the matter.

"The Adventurer you mentioned—is he the Old Knight you met back then?"

"Was it him who told you to do this?"