Reputation Fermenting

When Ye Wei'an went to the countryside to deliver pension funds, he truly felt the extent of his reputation within the territory.

As soon as word spread that Ye Wei'an's carriage had appeared at the village entrance, farmers who had previously hidden indoors would spontaneously pour out of their homes. They no longer scattered like they did when avoiding tax collectors; instead, they bowed to the young mage with a mix of reserve and genuine warmth.

Of course, they did not respect Ye Wei'an without expecting something in return.

"Master Ye Wei'an, please, I beg you to judge this fairly. The neighbor in the next village has occupied my family's irrigation ditch..."

"My Lord, that miller overcharged me by twenty percent for flour. Please, uphold justice for me!"

Whenever he encountered these roadside "appeals to the throne," Ye Wei'an never showed a hint of annoyance.

He would push open the carriage door, patiently listen to the trivial details of their domestic disputes, and then deliver a verdict.

In the process of passing judgment, he never resorted to direct violence. Instead, he used the simplest logic and common sense of the law to make his rulings, leaving every party involved feeling convinced and satisfied.

This attitude, which combined both gentleness and authority, left every tenant who met him deeply impressed.

Compared to the simple adoration in the countryside, the winds of gossip within Firefall Fortress were of an entirely different hue.

Although Lady Selina had strictly forbidden anyone from speaking of the negotiation in the dining hall that night, and only her trusted confidants were present, there are no airtight walls in this world.

Based solely on the commotion that leaked out and the fragmented words of those confidants, the castle guards and maids deduced the truth—Lady Selina had suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the illegitimate son.

The miserable state of Master Lucas was the best evidence.

That second young master, who usually walked with his head held high, had not dared to step out of his room for three full days, with even his daily meals being passed through the door by his personal servant.

By the fourth day, he was hastily sent away to the nearby Temple of the Lord of Morning by Lady Selina under the guise of "praying for his father"—everyone knew full well that it wasn't for prayer, but to avoid further trouble and to treat the hair that had been burned down to the roots.

With this, the attitude of the entire castle toward Ye Wei'an changed.

Passing maids would bow deeply with flushed faces, not even daring to look him in the eye;

When he passed by, the clanking of the guards' armor was even more synchronized than before;

The servants who had once avoided him like the plague now wore expressions of humble obsequiousness.

As the people closest to him, Ailian and Lina instantly became the most envied individuals in the entire castle.

Lina felt this most deeply.

The maids who had once worked alongside her spoke to her in a different tone—one that was sour yet carried an unconcealable yearning:

"You are truly blessed by the Goddess Waukeen, Lina. You spotted that the eldest young master was a hidden gem at a single glance."

"Lina's eye for talent is sharp indeed. Who could have imagined that the once reticent young master would have such a transformation?"

"Indeed, don't forget your sisters when you follow the eldest young master to become the head maid."

Ye Wei'an was not surprised by this. In his view, it would be best if these days lasted a little longer, as it would give him ample time to win over the hearts of the people in the territory—this way, he could take a few more talents with him when he recruited his own subjects.

Unfortunately, these days only lasted until his seventh day back home.

Early that morning, Ye Wei'an was reading the notes of that female sorcerer, with the occasional crisp chirping of birds drifting in from outside the window.

"Knock, knock, knock!"

The urgent knocking shattered the tranquility of the study.

A servant pushed the door open, panting, not even bothering to offer a salute: "Master Ye Wei'an! Quickly! The Baron is in critical condition... he has specifically requested that all of you go to him!"

Ye Wei'an closed the book, his fingertips trembling slightly.

Ever since he first used [Lesser Restoration] on the Baron, he had known this moment would come sooner or later.

When he arrived at the Baron's bedroom, the area outside the door was already crowded. The air in the hallway was so stifling it made it hard to breathe, and the sound of sobbing could be heard from time to time.

Lady Selina was dressed in a solemn, deep purple gown, her hand clutching a lace handkerchief tightly. Behind her stood Lucas, who had been missing for several days.

This once arrogant young master now wore a soft cap to cover his hairless head. The moment he saw Ye Wei'an, he recoiled behind his mother's figure, almost instinctively, as if he had seen some terrifying monster.

Guarding the door were two knights clad in iron armor—the very same two who had carried the Baron earlier.

Ye Wei'an already knew their names: Morse and Hilt.

These two veteran knights, who had followed the Baron into battle for many years, stood guard at the door with solemn expressions, standing their final watch for their lord.

Ye Wei'an nodded slightly to them, acknowledging their presence.

He then stood still, directly opposite Lady Selina.

Neither of them spoke a word.

Time ticked by, second by second, the air feeling as heavy as lead.

After about five minutes, the bedroom door slowly creaked open.

Orion, the Bishop of Lathander, draped in golden-red holy robes, walked out with a look of pity on his face.

He glanced at the crowd and let out a long, weary sigh:

"The candle of the Baron's life has reached its end... Go in and see him one last time. The Lord of Morning will guide his soul to rest."

The group filed in one by one, surrounding the Baron's bed.

Compared to seven days ago, Baron Harandir's appearance had withered significantly, reminding Ye Wei'an of the undead he had seen at the Battlemage Academy.

The Baron struggled to open his eyes, his gaze moving slowly around the room, his voice so faint that Ye Wei'an had to lean in close to hear him.

"I am sorry, I cannot continue to accompany you all... In my life... I haven't achieved anything earth-shattering. When I am gone, remember to hang my portrait in the hallway, alongside our ancestors. From now on... Firefall Valley will depend on you."

He turned his head to look at Selina, who was sitting by the bed, his withered hand covering the back of hers: "Selina, take good care of Lucas. Stop coddling him so much; you must raise him to be a true nobleman. Firefall Territory... is entrusted to you."

Although Selina had hated the Baron for twelve years and had schemed against him for just as long, twelve years of life as husband and wife were, in the end, real.

A thousand thoughts converged into a genuine, piercing grief at this moment.

Her once-exquisite makeup had long since been ruined by tears; listening to her husband's final entrustment, she nodded, unable to speak through her sobs: "I know, Harandir... I know, I will guard Firefall Valley well. By Sharess, I promise you."

The Baron then looked toward the two knights standing by the door, Morse and Hilt.

"I am sorry... I cannot fight alongside you anymore." He offered them a smile.

The eyes of the two iron-willed men turned red instantly: "It is alright, Lord Harandir. In the divine realm of Lathander, we shall fight side by side once more."

"Of course..." The Baron nodded with effort, "I have only one last order for you... protect Lucas well."

"We swear our lives to the Summerstar Family, my Lord." The two bowed their heads, their voices hoarse.

Finally, the Baron's gaze landed on Ye Wei'an, who was standing on the outermost edge.

In that instant, a glimmer of spirit seemed to ignite in his dim pupils—a complex emotion mixed with relief and regret.

"Ye Wei'an, come here..." The Baron called his name with difficulty.

The crowd made way so that Ye Wei'an could crouch beside the bed.

"...Father." Ye Wei'an reached out and grasped the Baron's hand, which was now nothing but skin and bone.

"Ye Wei'an, you are the greatest pride of my life." Looking at the increasingly handsome young man before him, the light in the Baron's eyes grew brighter, "It is a pity... I will not be able to see the day you become an Archmage with my own eyes. Tell Father, what are your plans for the future? Will you return to Suzar... and become a respected battlemage?"

Under that burning gaze, Ye Wei'an shook his head:

"No, Father, merely becoming a battlemage does not satisfy me. I want to become a pioneering lord."

"A pioneering lord?" The Baron paused, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth, "That is a difficult path filled with thorns, with many dangers standing in your way... But the men of the Summerstar Family... should have such ambition."

He took a deep breath, as if using the last of his strength to announce: "Since you have such ambition, as your father, I cannot let you go empty-handed. I declare... that twenty thousand gold coins shall be allocated from the territory's treasury to support your pioneering cause; this is the inheritance you deserve."

Having said this, he looked at his wife beside him: "I am sorry, Selina, for making this decision without consulting you. What do you think?"

The Baron had expected this statement to trigger a fierce argument, and he was already mentally prepared to appease his wife and his legitimate son.

However, the room fell into an eerie silence.

Lucas kept his head down, his shaved head hidden beneath his hat, not daring to move or utter a word.

Selina merely twitched at the corner of her eye, then meekly lowered her gaze, tacitly accepting the arrangement—as long as it was only twenty thousand gold coins, it remained within her acceptable limits.

She also understood that when Ye Wei'an had insisted the compensation must come from her private assets, he had already taken this into account.

The Baron did not know what had transpired between his eldest son and his wife, but looking at this harmonious scene of "brotherly love and filial piety," he still revealed a relieved smile.

"Good... good, that you can be so harmonious... Sharess will smile upon this too..."

The Baron turned his head with effort to look at Bishop Orion, who stood solemnly by the bed.

"Orion... my old friend, my final will..."

Bishop Orion nodded slightly, speaking in a tone of unquestionable solemnity: "In the name of the Morninglord Lathander, I hereby witness that the will of Baron Harandir Summerstar is true and valid. The Baron's second son, Lucas, shall inherit his title and territory, and his eldest son, Ye Wei'an, shall receive twenty thousand gold coins and the corresponding support for his pioneering efforts. His final wishes shall be under the protection of the Morninglord."

Hearing the Bishop's confirmation, a childlike peace appeared on the Baron's face, which had been entangled with the aura of death.

He clutched the holy symbol on his chest tightly, his cracked lips moving as he whispered his final, faint murmur: "Lathander... please cleanse my sins and guide me to the eternal Morninglord's divine realm..."

In the second before his consciousness completely dissipated, he looked at Ye Wei'an one last time, his gaze filled with a softness and trance-like quality he had never shown before: "Wei'an... the way you smile, you look just like your mother... that was the most beautiful spring in Suzar..."

Then, turning his head, he spoke his final words to the sobbing Selina: "I have failed you."

With his final breath, the Baron's chest ceased its rise and fall.

This lord, who had controlled Firefall Valley for over twenty years yet achieved little, had completely bid farewell to the world.