Luo Ning remained on the hillside for a long time. Only after confirming that the people from Sain Territory had left did he prepare the group to depart.
Although he had safely overcome the immediate crisis, Luo Ning did not let down his guard against Sain Territory in the slightest.
He knew that Sain Territory's desire for Mountain Forest Town would not disappear. They had merely chosen not to clash with him head-on for now because Baron Leysen had his reservations.
The day those reservations no longer existed, they would definitely invade in force.
Before that concern disappeared, they might not target Luo Ning openly again, but whether they would make some small moves in secret was hard to say.
"Malt, from today onwards, wear a mask and change your name."
Malt, who followed beside Luo Ning, was feeling extremely conflicted.
He both revered and feared Luo Ning.
In that situation just now, as he lay on the ground pretending to be a corpse, he could not understand how much nerve this Baron possessed to put on such a brilliant bluff.
Malt had truly broadened his horizons today!
As he tore a piece of cloth from a corpse behind them and covered his face with it, he bowed and pleaded, "My lord, if possible, I would like to ask you to grant me a name!"
Luo Ning raised an eyebrow. He had not expected this fellow to ask him for a name.
"Then you shall be called Tom."
Malt respectfully knelt on one knee. "Thank you for granting me a name, my lord! Malt is already part of the past. From now on, I am only Tom, my lord's follower!"
Luo Ning nodded, mounted his horse, and only then did the group slowly begin moving toward the town.
Macken led several infantrymen on horseback at the front. Luo Ning, Elrond, David, and the others rode in the middle, while carriages carrying grain and corpses followed behind.
He had not buried these people from Mountain Forest Town. After all, most of them had relatives there. Returning their bodies to their families could be considered an act of benevolence on Luo Ning's part.
Furthermore, he would tell everyone in Mountain Forest Town that Administrator Prinster had led the betrayal of Wushan Castle and had been eliminated by him. He would no longer pursue the crimes of the others.
That would also serve as a deterrent.
After all, Prinster had operated here for nine years. Who knew whether he still had followers or subordinates in Mountain Forest Town?
"Tom, do you have any other family?" Luo Ning asked.
"I... my mother is still alive."
Malt, now Tom, immediately grew tense. In his eyes, Luo Ning was someone who killed without hesitation. He feared that Luo Ning would kill his mother as he had executed the prisoners, but he did not dare lie.
"What does she do?" Luo Ning asked.
"My lord, my mother, Leah, used a little money left behind by my father to open a tailor shop in town. She raised me on its meager income."
Luo Ning nodded and said to Chahar, "After we reach Mountain Forest Town, have Tom's mother come work at the castle."
"Yes, my lord!" The servant Chahar committed the matter to memory.
Tom secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Thankfully.
The group did not travel quickly, but before long, they arrived at the town.
Luo Ning finally saw his subjects.
Whether men or women, their faces were weathered, as though they had suffered every hardship imaginable, and their expressions were rather dull.
Perhaps only the children chasing and playing beside the dilapidated longhouses retained a trace of vitality, enough to make Luo Ning smile.
However, when these people saw that the last few carriages were filled with corpses, and saw blood dripping onto the ground, leaving long streaks of red behind, their faces filled with terror. They hurriedly pulled their children close and knelt by the roadside, not even daring to run.
The farther Luo Ning traveled toward the center of town, the more people knelt.
Finally, on the foul-smelling street, he pulled on the reins and came to a stop.
"Allow me to introduce myself. I come from Wushan Castle. I am the legitimate grandson of Marquis Lulance, the lord of Wushan Territory. From today onwards, I am the Baron of Mountain Forest Town and your lord!"
Luo Ning cleared his throat. "My name is Luo Ning. Remember it!"
The kneeling subjects could not help raising their heads to look at Luo Ning. They only felt that the man on horseback seemed to be glowing from head to toe, making them afraid to look directly at him.
Some of the more knowledgeable freemen saw the crest of the Wushan Family on the carriages and knew that Luo Ning was not lying.
They could not help sighing. After so many years, Wushan Territory finally had a true master. This time, it was neither some Pioneer Knight nor a newly appointed Baron, but a direct descendant of the Wushan Family!
Luo Ning tugged the reins and rode over to the last few carriages, his tone no longer as gentle as before.
"Mountain Forest Town's former Administrator, Prinster, betrayed Wushan Castle, betrayed Mountain Forest Town, and betrayed his lord! He and his men have all been executed by my knights!"
The people who had just dared to raise their heads toward Luo Ning now merely glanced at the corpses before hurriedly lowering their heads.
"I am never merciful to traitors!"
Luo Ning gave a soft laugh. His voice sounded cold to the subjects. "My mercy is reserved only for subjects loyal to me!"
The clopping of hooves rang clearly. With so many people kneeling in the street, none dared even breathe loudly, though some could not stop themselves from weeping.
Luo Ning looked over. They were likely the families of the traitors.
When they met Luo Ning's gaze, they lowered their heads in panic, not knowing what to do.
"I believe their betrayal was their own personal act and does not implicate their families."
Luo Ning did not wish to continue speaking in such an atmosphere. "Those who are their family may come forward and claim their bodies. So long as you remain loyal to Mountain Forest Town and loyal to me in the future, I will not hold any of you responsible."
After saying that, Luo Ning instructed his followers, "David, take two guards and remain here to watch the carriages. Let their families claim the bodies."
At the same time, he quietly added, "Remember to follow orders. I have already explained what happened on the mountain. You know what to do."
"Understood, my lord!"
David selected two guards and shouted, "The lord is merciful! You may come forward and claim your family members' bodies!"
No one present dared move.
Luo Ning knew that as long as he remained here, they would not have the courage. "Come, Tom. Take me to Mountain Forest Town's castle."
"Yes, my lord!"
Mountain Forest Town's castle stood on a hill in the northeastern corner of town. It had been built more than ten years ago by the first Baron, then renovated and rebuilt under Prinster a few years back.
Luo Ning had expected the castle to be extremely crude, but when he reached the outside, he found that was not the case.
Aside from being somewhat small, it had an inner castle, an Outer Castle, walls, a gatehouse, watchtowers—everything such a structure should have.
Prinster had appeared to despise nobles, yet his lifestyle was no different from theirs.
At that moment, the castle guards had all come out, allowing Luo Ning's party to enter without any obstruction.
After entering Mountain Forest Castle, under Tom's guidance, the guards seized all the castle's stewards and servants.
Luo Ning, meanwhile, walked straight into the fortress built from piled stone, which looked extremely sturdy, and sat upon the "throne" above.
He thought of Rulans at Wushan Fortress that day.
The man had simply sat quietly on the high seat without uttering a word, yet whether it was Wiggins or the Golden Mad Lion of the Hyde Family, all submitted to Rulans.
"When the weak scream themselves hoarse, no one cares; when the strong speak softly, their words reach the heart!"
As he watched the servants of Mountain Forest Castle being brought in one after another and forced to kneel below, Luo Ning briefly experienced the thrill of being strong.
The feeling was truly intoxicating.
Before you continue