A silver-white Flying Boat about twenty or thirty meters long sat on an empty lawn at Dragon Mountain Tower in Qinghe Prefecture. It was covered in magical patterns.
"Everyone, get aboard." Tower Master Yuan Wu led Dongbo Xueying and the other four over to the Flying Boat.
"What a beautiful Flying Boat." Dongbo Xueying's eyes lit up. This was his first time seeing one in person; before, he'd only heard about them. "I heard even the cheapest alchemical Flying Boats cost more than two hundred thousand gold coins apiece. Usually, only Title-level experts and major powers can afford them."
Si Borong gave Dongbo Xueying a sidelong look and said with a faint smile, "Tower Master Yuan, this alchemical Flying Boat is made entirely of Kan Silver Gold, and even its cabin is made of glass. It must have cost five hundred thousand gold coins."
"Haha, your Si Family has to buy from Alchemy Masters, but our Dragon Mountain Tower gets its Flying Boats sent directly from the headquarters. We don't have to pay in gold coins. Besides, this one was made by the Alchemy Masters at the provincial capital's Dragon Mountain Tower headquarters, so the cost is lower. I'd guess it came to three hundred thousand gold coins," Tower Master Yuan Wu said.
Si Borong's guess had been wrong, but his expression didn't change. He exclaimed, "Impressive. I'm thinking of buying an alchemical Flying Boat. Can I buy one from Dragon Mountain Tower?"
"Of course, but the price is about the same as elsewhere," Tower Master Yuan Wu said with a smile. "We can't sell it to you at cost. The Alchemy Masters need to make a living, too."
Thud, thud, thud.
Mage Yu Jingqiu was the first to board the Flying Boat. She had always disliked Si Borong because he liked showing off and using his family's influence to bully people. Wasn't he doing exactly that now, bragging that he could afford a Flying Boat? Yu Jingqiu had studied under a Transcendent Archmage. What she aspired to was becoming a Transcendent like her teacher.
That was true power! Showing off? Throwing his family's weight around? How shallow!
Thud, thud, thud. Dongbo Xueying boarded as well. With no one left to show off to, Si Borong boarded with his subordinate guard, Liang Yong, and Tang Xiong, who always followed his lead.
"Have a safe trip."
Tower Master Yuan Wu watched from the lawn as they departed.
Whoosh.
The Flying Boat quickly rose into the air, climbing higher and higher. Once it had reached a height of over a thousand meters, it sped off into the distance, flying higher and farther until it soon vanished beyond the horizon.
Inside the Flying Boat's cabin.
The entire cabin was made of transparent glass, allowing them to see the scenery outside clearly. A faint rainbow sheen shimmered across the glass, making it truly beautiful.
"Everyone."
Two Dragon Mountain Tower experts who were piloting the Flying Boat looked at Dongbo Xueying and the others. One of them, a man clad in silver armor, said, "You're headed to the Lu Clan castle in Qutai City. Do you plan to attack at night or during the day? If you choose daytime, the Flying Boat can travel at top speed and get us there in just two hours. If there's no rush, we can fly more slowly and arrive around dusk."
"There isn't much difference between attacking during the day and at night," Yu Jingqiu said in her pleasant voice. "Lu Huairu is a Meteor Rank mage and an expert in alchemy. Since that place is such a secret stronghold, he must have set up plenty of Warning Magic Arrays and the like. The moment we infiltrate, we'll be discovered."
"Jing Qiu is a Silver Moon Rank mage. If she says those Warning Magic Arrays will expose us, then they will," Si Borong said. "Since we'll be discovered either way, we should attack during the day. The sooner, the better."
"There's no need to rush. Let's arrive at dusk," Yu Jingqiu said. "The castle's soldiers will be changing shifts or preparing dinner around then, so they'll be less alert. During the day, security will be tighter, and at night, the darkness will make traps and magic arrays more troublesome."
"Jing Qiu is so clever," Si Borong said at once.
"Very well, dusk it is." The two Dragon Mountain Tower personnel piloting the Flying Boat immediately made the decision. In truth, traveling at a moderate speed used the least energy.
Dongbo Xueying soon left the cabin and stepped onto the Flying Boat's deck.
"This really is something else."
The wind was stronger on deck.
But because of the Flying Boat's shape, most of the wind rushed over it. The wind on deck was much weaker than out in the open.
"Whoosh..." Standing at the railing and looking at the clouds drifting around him, with the vast earth faintly visible below, Dongbo Xueying found the view truly beautiful and felt refreshed.
Thud, thud, thud. Someone else left the cabin and came onto the deck.
Dongbo Xueying turned to look. It was Si Borong, who had a somewhat cold air about him. Dressed in finery, he carried himself like a nobleman. He walked over to the railing and gazed out at the scenery. "I've seen it many times, but the view from a Flying Boat really is wonderful. Dongbo Xueying, this is your first time aboard one, isn't it?"
Dongbo Xueying ignored him.
"I know who you are, Dongbo Xueying, from Yi Water City! I heard your parents were captured by the Moyang Clan. You have a younger brother named Dongbo Qingshi, right?" Si Borong said casually.
Dongbo Xueying frowned and looked at him.
"There's nothing in Qinghe Prefecture my Si Family doesn't know," Si Borong said, looking at him. "It would be easy for us to wipe out a little family like the Dongbo Clan. For example, your clan has two beastmen: a Lion-Man and a Six-Armed Snake Demon. Plenty of beastmen are rebels. We could make up some excuse and accuse your clan of harboring rebel insurgents, and the Dongbo Clan would be finished. Then your dantian and qi sea would be crippled, and you'd never become a knight! Your younger brother would have his magic power crippled, too. We could send the two of you off as slaves. What do you think?"
Si Borong spoke as casually as if he were making small talk.
But his threat was vicious.
Normally, Dongbo Xueying couldn't be bothered to deal with the children of powerful families. But Si Borong's words still ignited his anger, especially when he brought up his younger brother. Dongbo Xueying had watched over him as he grew up, protecting him every step of the way. And now Si Borong was talking about making him a slave?
"Si Borong," Dongbo Xueying said.
"Hmm?" Si Borong smiled at Dongbo Xueying. He was used to seeing other families bow their heads before the Si Family. "Realized you were wrong? Just apologize to us today, then give us fifty thousand gold coins later, and we'll consider the matter settled."
"Si Borong," Dongbo Xueying said coldly. "Has anyone ever told you that you're an idiot?"
Si Borong stared in shock. "You..."
"You're an idiot! A three-year-old would be smarter than you!" Dongbo Xueying said coldly. "We're going to Qutai City to deal with a branch altar of an Evil God and Demon God in Qinghe Prefecture! The five of us are risking our lives even working together, and you choose this moment to threaten and intimidate me? Even if I bowed my head for now, I'd still resent you. Then, when we attack the Lu Clan castle, I could stab you in the back at a critical moment. You might even lose your life."
"If you really wanted to threaten and intimidate me, you could at least have waited until the mission was over."
"Threatening me now will only make me resent you. What else do you think you'll accomplish?" Dongbo Xueying frowned. "Tell me, aren't you an idiot?"
"You—you..." Si Borong's face darkened. "You really aren't afraid I'll..."
"Do as you please! But you'll have to bear the consequences, and they might not turn out the way you expect!" Dongbo Xueying turned and walked back toward the cabin. He couldn't be bothered to waste another word on this idiot.
He'd only taken this mission to gain some experience.
After it was over, he would apply for a Bronze Token and take a Bronze-level mission! The rights granted by Title-level combat strength were on an entirely different level. The City Guard Army and other law-enforcement organizations had no authority to deal with him. Even if they wanted to, ordinary people would find it hard to threaten a Title-level fighter. So even when one committed a crime, Dragon Mountain Tower was the one that judged them!
That meant the Si Family couldn't threaten a Title-level fighter. Those at Title-level had the standing to speak to one another as equals.
Si Lianghong was, of course, a powerful figure ranked around five hundredth on the entire Longshan Ranking. Dongbo Xueying didn't want to make an enemy of her unless he had to.
"You—you..." Si Borong watched Dongbo Xueying disappear into the cabin, grinding his teeth in anger. "He actually dared to ignore me! He actually dared to ignore me! Fine, fine, I'll remember this! After this mission, I'll make sure..."
"Hm?"
Si Borong's expression changed. "That damned brat—what if he really does stab me in the back during the mission?"
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