Chapter Summaries

Luo Ning set out for Wushan Castle with Macken and Tom after advancing Macken to Silver Knight, and stopped in Pasture City to arrange a large slave purchase. He left the Viper Exchange preparing to negotiate a long-term partnership and arrange delivery of a thousand slaves to Mountain Forest Town before April.

• Luo Ning let residents attend the Year Celebration tournament and departed for Wushan Castle with Macken and Tom.
• Luo Ning spent 806 Energy Essence to advance Macken to Silver Knight, leaving 381 Energy Essence in reserve.
• Luo Ning discussed a possible visit to Sain Territory and suggested Baron Leysen might no longer rule it by then.
• Luo Ning sent Tom to deliver a visiting card to Viscount Ironhoof's castle while he and Macken visited the Viper Exchange.
• Luo Ning asked Anthony to provide a thousand slaves, including Craftsmen and a balanced number of men and women, and arranged for them to arrive in batches before April.

Luo Ning visited Pasture City to negotiate with the Iron Hoof Family after buying slaves and selling spell scrolls. Viscount Marvin assessed Luo Ning through Rognar and ended by asking his son what he thought of following him.

• Tom delivered Luo Ning’s visitation letter to Iron Hoof Castle, and Viscount Marvin sent Rognar to escort Luo Ning and ordered a dinner banquet.
• Luo Ning bought a thousand slaves from the Viper Exchange for 1,499 gold coins, then sold twenty-five Healing Spell Scrolls and bought more supplies at the Silva Magic Energy Merchant Association.
• Rognar welcomed Luo Ning, showed him around Pasture City, and brought him to Iron Hoof Castle to meet Viscount Marvin.
• Marvin asked Rognar about Luo Ning, and Rognar said Luo Ning seemed stronger than before and had shown little interest in the city’s brothels.
• Marvin recalled that Rydal had defeated Resen and asked Rognar what he thought of following Luo Ning.

Viscount Marvin considered how Luo Ning’s claim to Wushan Territory could help the Iron Hoof Family counter the Hyde Family, while Rognar preferred to support his brother’s business. Marvin welcomed Luo Ning, agreed to travel with him to Wushan Castle, and arranged a discounted purchase of horses for Luo Ning’s planned Knight Squad.

• Rognar questioned why Marvin wanted him to follow Luo Ning, and Marvin explained that Luo Ning’s status as Wushan’s legitimate heir could become important against the Hyde Family.
• Rognar said he would rather help his brother manage the family businesses than become another noble’s retainer, and Marvin accepted his choice.
• Marvin warmly greeted Luo Ning and invited him to travel with the Iron Hoof caravan to Wushan Castle for the Marquis’s birthday.
• Luo Ning told Marvin and Rognar that he had twelve Professional Knights and wanted to buy horses to form a Knight Squad.
• Marvin expressed confidence in Luo Ning’s future squad and instructed Rognar to take him to the horse farm and offer him a generous discount.

Luo Ning attended Viscount Marvin’s lively banquet at Iron Hoof Castle, where he danced with Jenny and discussed the threat from Baron Leysen. He secured Marvin’s help in arranging caravan transport for Mountain Forest Town’s Ironwood Armor and promised to demonstrate it the next day.

• Luo Ning met Baron Taren Snow and other guests at the banquet, then danced with Jenny and spoke with her about his subordinate defeating Baron Leysen.
• Viscount Marvin asked Luo Ning about Jenny and warned him that Baron Leysen might target Mountain Forest Town despite their agreement.
• Luo Ning asked Marvin to let Iron Hoof Castle’s caravan transport Ironwood Armor for a fee, and Marvin agreed to arrange a meeting with his Business Officer.
• Luo Ning offered to demonstrate the armor the next day, then returned to the banquet and accepted another invitation from Jenny to dance.

After selling Mountain Forest Town’s Ironwood equipment to Viscount Marvin, Luo Ning visited an Iron Hoof Castle horse ranch and decided to buy its horse manure for fertilizer. He left Rognar to contact ranch owners while planning to establish a fertilizer base in the mountains.

• Luo Ning demonstrated Mountain Forest Town’s Ironwood armor and weapons to Viscount Marvin, who bought the equipment at Wushan Castle’s price.
• Luo Ning followed Rognar to a horse ranch and asked how Pasture City dealt with its large quantities of horse manure.
• Rognar explained that ranch owners spread manure on unused grassland or dumped it elsewhere, despite Iron Hoof Castle’s fines for dumping it in the city.
• Luo Ning offered to buy horse manure for one Copper Coin per hundred jin, and Rognar calculated that the purchase could cost hundreds of gold coins each year.
• Luo Ning asked Rognar to find ranch owners willing to sell and said he would build a fertilizer base in the mountains after returning from Wushan Castle.

Luo Ning bought forty-four horses at a steep discount to begin forming a knight squad, then used his days in Pasture City to practice new Level 4 techniques and spells. When Alphonse arrived from Iron Hoof Castle, Luo Ning prepared to set out for Wushan Castle.

• Luo Ning bought two Fine Warhorses, twelve ordinary warhorses, and thirty riding horses for 980 gold coins, arranging to collect them after his trip to Wushan Castle.
• Viscount Marvin and Rognar discussed Luo Ning’s unexpectedly large horse order and Marvin’s decision to support him.
• Luo Ning practiced Storm Blade and other Level 4 techniques and spells in his courtyard, testing Storm Blade against Macken and Wind Tentacles against Macken and Tom.
• Tom told Luo Ning that Alphonse, the steward of Iron Hoof Castle, had arrived, signaling that the caravan was ready to depart for Wushan Castle.

Luo Ning and Viscount Marvin confronted Resen on the road to Wushan Castle, and Luo Ning tried to sow discord by inviting Joffrey to join him. Resen threatened Joffrey and left, while Luo Ning remained determined to recruit the powerful knight.

• Luo Ning traveled toward Wushan Castle with Macken and Tom alongside Viscount Marvin’s extravagant caravan.
• Marvin mocked Resen for losing to an Advanced Knight, and Resen retaliated by recalling Marvin’s defeat by a Bronze Knight.
• Luo Ning asked about Joffrey and publicly invited him to join his command, prompting Marvin to mock Resen and praise Luo Ning’s Wushan Family bloodline.
• Resen threatened Luo Ning, ordered his caravan onward, and warned Joffrey that he would kill his family if Joffrey changed allegiance.
• Luo Ning told Marvin he wanted Joffrey’s service to strengthen Mountain Forest Town, and Marvin wondered how Luo Ning could afford to antagonize Resen.

Rydal used repeated cavalry feints to draw the Black Collar Tribe’s forces out before a planned attack, while Luo Ning arrived at Wushan Castle for Rulans’ birthday and reunited with his sister McKinney. After presenting gifts made from a Storm Direwolf hide and Mountain Forest Town silk, Luo Ning learned that the birthday banquet would include a martial arts tournament with a thousand-gold-coin prize.

• Rydal sent cavalry across the Black Collar Tribe’s boundary to provoke its defenders, then had his riders retreat whenever they were intercepted.
• Philiton ordered his cavalry to pursue the riders, and Rydal told Elrond he would keep provoking the enemy before making a major move on the first.
• Luo Ning arrived at Wushan Castle with Macken and reunited with McKinney and her husband, Cabir.
• Luo Ning gave Rulans a Storm Direwolf coat and a silk scarf, and McKinney asked him to make her a silk dress when more material became available.
• Rulans and Cabir asked about Rydal’s strength, and Rulans told Luo Ning that the birthday banquet would include a martial arts tournament whose champion would receive one thousand gold coins.

Luo Ning visited Wushan Castle, where McKinney urged him to reclaim his Right of Inheritance, but he refused to challenge Brayden. After catching up with Malik, Luo Ning considered whether to reveal that Resen had arranged the attack on Malik and Marina, and decided to inform Rulans first.

• Luo Ning told Rulans about events in Mountain Forest Town and learned that Orson had won two battles against the Black Gold Brotherhood without taking down any major figures.
• Luo Ning and McKinney visited Wiggins, and McKinney told Luo Ning that she and others would support him in taking back the Right of Inheritance from Brayden.
• Luo Ning refused to make a move against Brayden, and McKinney scolded him for speaking carelessly about dying young.
• Malik told Luo Ning that the Green Family had found no clues about the attacks on him and Marina, and that they now needed several knights to escort them.
• Luo Ning considered telling Malik that Resen had arranged the attack, but decided to give Rulans a heads-up first.

Rulans told Luo Ning that Princess Blanche was coming to Wushan Castle and intended to arrange their marriage to protect Luo Ning and the Wushan Family’s interests. Luo Ning accepted the plan for now, and Blanche’s arrival would give them a chance to get acquainted before the King made any formal announcement.

• Rulans asked Luo Ning to receive Princess Blanche when she arrived at Wushan Castle the next morning.
• Rulans explained that Blanche’s two previous marriage partners, Camelot and Oleg, had died from illnesses, sparking rumors that she brought death to her husbands.
• Luo Ning realized Rulans meant to arrange his marriage to Blanche and objected that the proposal was sudden.
• Rulans said the marriage would protect Luo Ning from Orson and his ambitious son after Rulans died, while also serving the interests of the Wushan Family and the royal family.
• Luo Ning accepted the arrangement for the time being, and Rulans said the King would make any formal announcement later.

Luo Ning asked Rulans to help him take Sain Territory, claiming he had enough evidence to expose Resen for a grave crime. Rulans agreed to grant him Sain Territory and the northern lands and raise him to viscount if the evidence brought Resen down, while leaving Luo Ning to reveal his case at the birthday banquet.

• Rulans explained that he had considered a marriage alliance to protect Luo Ning and give him more room to prosper.
• Luo Ning told Rulans he wanted Sain Territory, but insisted the idea was his own rather than Viscount Marvin's.
• Rulans warned that accusing a noble without sufficient evidence could cost Luo Ning his title and territory, but Luo Ning refused to reveal his evidence before the birthday banquet.
• Rulans promised Luo Ning Sain Territory, all the land to the north, and the title of Viscount of Wubei Territory if his evidence brought Resen down.
• Luo Ning asked to be made a count as well, but Rulans refused, saying he would need military merit for that rank.
• After Luo Ning left, Rulans and Most discussed how much he had changed and noted that he already had a retainer capable of defeating a Bronze Knight.

Count Orson arrived at Wushan Castle, where Luo Ning learned more about Orson’s rivalry with Rulans and received formal clothes and an itinerary for Princess Blanche’s visit. The next morning, a royal Griffon Knight arrived ahead of the Princess’s party, and Luo Ning prepared to welcome them.

• Count Orson arrived at Wushan Castle and greeted Lady Diane and Brayden before paying respects to Rulans.
• Sir Laurent told Orson that Princess Blanche would arrive the next day and that Luo Ning would receive her.
• McKinney warned Luo Ning that Orson remained resentful after losing a knightly tournament to Rulans and had repeatedly sought a rematch.
• Most delivered Rulans’s formal clothes and itinerary for Luo Ning to use while hosting Princess Blanche.
• A royal Griffon Knight descended near Wushan Castle, and Luo Ning ordered the nobles to prepare to receive the Princess’s party.

Luo Ning welcomed Princess Blanche and her royal griffon escort to Wushan Castle. As he escorted the princess toward the castle, three unexpected white griffons arrived, carrying Count Jesus Alduin and his Griffon Knights.

• Knight Missy Cox arrived ahead of Princess Blanche and told Luo Ning the princess would reach Wushan Castle in ten minutes.
• Eleven griffons landed in formation, and Princess Blanche descended and greeted Luo Ning.
• Blanche introduced her escort, led by Vice Regimental Commander Brol Geller, and accepted Luo Ning's arm as he escorted her along the red carpet.
• Three more griffons interrupted the procession, and Brol identified them as belonging to Count Jesus Alduin and his Griffon Knights.

Jesus arrived at Wushan Castle and publicly challenged Luo Ning’s role in welcoming Princess Blanche, then joined her and Rulans at the castle. Left alone with Blanche, Luo Ning introduced himself and learned she was willing to consider their Marriage Alliance despite her uneasy past.

• Jesus landed at Wushan Castle and criticized Luo Ning for welcoming Blanche instead of Brayden, while Luo Ning defended Rulans’s decision and warned Jesus not to speak carelessly.
• Blanche interrupted the confrontation and invited Jesus into the castle, where he greeted her warmly and later behaved courteously toward Rulans.
• Luo Ning suspected Jesus had come to cause trouble and considered whether he might be connected to the Poland Thief Group operating near Wushan Territory.
• Rulans welcomed Blanche and announced an evening banquet, then left the hall with the other nobles, leaving Luo Ning and Blanche alone.
• Luo Ning introduced himself as the Baron of Mountain Forest Town, and Blanche encouraged him to bring change to his remote and barren territory.

Diane learned why Orson had invited Jesus: to ensure the royal family and other nobles could challenge any attempt to replace Brayden as heir. Meanwhile, Blanche reflected on Luo Ning’s shortcomings and concealed Dark Attribute before preparing to join him at the Colosseum.

• Diane asked Orson why he had invited Jesus, and Orson explained that he wanted to strengthen Brayden’s position as heir.
• Orson told Diane that Blanche’s marriage alliance with Luo Ning meant Rulans would face greater opposition if he tried to change the heir again.
• Diane accepted the value of Orson’s plan but asked him to consult her before making such arrangements in the future.
• Diane considered Brayden’s future and thought about finding him a suitable marriage alliance.
• Blanche told Missy that Luo Ning seemed courageous and well-mannered but was poor at presenting himself favorably in private.
• Blanche revealed her Dark Attribute magic, then prepared to join Luo Ning for a match at Wushan City’s Colosseum.

Luo Ning accompanied Princess Blanche on a relaxed outing at Wushan Lake, where they grew closer, before taking her to the Wushan City Colosseum. The Colosseum unexpectedly spotlighted Blanche without warning, leaving Luo Ning suspicious and ordering Macken to stay alert.

• Luo Ning and Blanche went fishing on Wushan Lake, and he helped her catch the first fish of her life.
• Luo Ning and Blanche ate lunch by the lakeside, then traveled with Missy and Macken to the Wushan City Colosseum.
• The Colosseum host announced Blanche as a distinguished guest and shone a Magic Crystal Lamp on her, prompting loud applause from the crowd.
• Luo Ning noticed that Most's itinerary had not mentioned the introduction and suspected something was wrong, so he told Macken to stay alert.

Luo Ning and Blanche watched a colosseum beast fight in which a Green-Skinned Troll brutally killed the first gladiator. As three more knights entered the arena to face it, Luo Ning reflected on the cruelty of the spectacle and the things he wanted to do in this world.

• Luo Ning and Blanche watched as the Green-Skinned Troll escaped its cage and Blanche explained its abilities and history.
• The host introduced Wolf King, an Intermediate Rank gladiator, to fight the troll.
• The troll shattered Wolf King’s Sword Aura, killed him, and ate his brains in front of the audience.
• The host sent three more Intermediate Rank gladiators into the arena, and they prepared to attack the troll from three directions.
• Luo Ning watched the fight begin and wondered what he wanted to do in the Otherworld.

During a Colosseum match, Luo Ning watched the Green-Skinned Troll defeat three knights before an Advanced Rank gladiator filled the arena with mist. The fog concealed an assassination attempt on Luo Ning, Blanche, and their companions, and Luo Ning revealed his Advanced Knight strength while defending Blanche.

• The Green-Skinned Troll killed three knights and ate their corpses while the Colosseum organizers let it recover.
• Mondo entered the arena as the next gladiator and used a spell scroll to spread mist throughout the Colosseum.
• Luo Ning used Wind of Detection to spot assassins approaching the private stand, and he blocked an attack aimed at Blanche.
• Luo Ning used Battle Qi Armor and a Flame Slash to protect Blanche from a Wind Blade, revealing that he was an Advanced Knight.
• Luo Ning ordered Macken to fight the assassins and help Knight Missy, then cast Clear Wind Spell to sweep away the mist and expose the attackers.

Luo Ning protected Blanche from a coordinated assassination at the Colosseum, revealing his strength and using a Level 6 Fire Dragon Swallows Heaven scroll against Mondo. The attack scattered the fog and devastated the stands, but Mondo escaped, leaving the conspiracy unresolved.

• Luo Ning and Macken killed or drove back the assassins while Macken and Missy fought the attackers surrounding them.
• Luo Ning killed the remaining assassin near Blanche and protected her as the fighting spread through the stands, injuring and killing spectators.
• Mondo revealed himself as the apparent leader of the attack and prepared to kill Luo Ning and Princess Blanche.
• Luo Ning unleashed Rulans's Level 6 Fire Dragon Swallows Heaven Spell Scroll, blasting Mondo into the arena and dispersing the fog.
• Macken reported that the captured assassins had taken poison, while Luo Ning found Mondo's body missing and realized the Golden Knight had escaped.

After an assassination attempt at Wushan City's Colosseum, Luo Ning arranged an investigation and escorted Blanche back to Wushan Castle. He revealed that he was both a mage and a knight, leaving Blanche entrusted with the secret of his strength.

• Knight Galil took control of the Colosseum, apologized to Blanche and Luo Ning, and received orders to investigate the spectators and staff for hidden assassins.
• Luo Ning warned Galil that a Gold Rank assassin disguised as an Advanced Rank gladiator had survived his Spell Scroll and might have escaped.
• Galil escorted Luo Ning and Blanche from the Colosseum, and Luo Ning rested in the carriage after the battle had drained his Mental Power.
• Blanche asked Luo Ning about his abilities, and he admitted that he was both a knight and a mage.
• Blanche told Luo Ning that Count Bellora was now a Level 9 Archmage and an Advanced Knight.
• Luo Ning told Blanche that he was a Beginner Mage and an Advanced Peak Knight, and asked her to keep his mage identity secret.