Chapter 7

Xia Zuoyi slowly opened his eyes. Bright light filtered through the gaps in the thorny brush piled at the cave entrance, allowing him to clearly assess his current situation.

He saw a young man leaning against the mountain wall with his head lowered as he dozed. An article of clothing covered Xia Zuoyi, and a somewhat worn leather waterskin sat beside him.

Clearly, someone had saved him.

Xia Zuoyi moved with difficulty, and the faint sound startled the young man awake.

One hand swiftly gripped a hoe while the other picked up a stone. He first checked outside the cave, then abruptly turned his head after realizing Xia Zuoyi was awake.

"You're awake?!"

Xia Zuoyi nodded. "Mm, I want to sit up."

His entire body ached terribly, and his right arm was completely numb.

Hearing this, Gibran Kino stood and walked over, carefully helping him sit up.

Xia Zuoyi said, "Thank you for saving me."

"It was nothing..."

Gibran Kino chose his words carefully. "Do you remember what happened last night? You seemed to have rolled down the hillside... Does it hurt?"

There were countless scratches and swollen red marks on the little noble's exposed pale skin.

After a night had passed, they had become even more obvious, blue and purple bruises overlapping in stark contrast. It looked as though even the lightest touch would worsen the pain.

Xia Zuoyi said, "I remember. It hurts."

His face was pale from the pain, and his lips had lost their color, yet he neither cried nor fussed. He simply leaned quietly against the mountain wall.

He wondered how Judith and the others were doing, whether they were safe now...

Doing his best to ignore his physical discomfort, Xia Zuoyi began considering how to deal with what came next.

Since that band of robbers had mainly targeted him, they certainly would not give up searching for him until they had confirmed his death and seen his corpse.

Xia Zuoyi looked at the young man before him. "Big brother from the market, can you do me a favor?"

He could only ask the young man for help.

Gibran Kino froze. The little noble actually remembered him.

"How do you want me to help?"

He thought to himself, The little noble's voice sounded so soft and sweet, and those moist caramel-colored eyes made him seem more obedient and adorable the longer one looked.

Xia Zuoyi pulled a badge engraved with a thorny rose from his clothes and handed it over. "Leave Par Mountain and go to Visas. Find the patrolling knights and bring them here to rescue me."

The commoners and slaves living in Visas all knew the emblem representing the Desinia Family.

Gibran Kino was stunned to learn that the little noble was actually Count Desinia.

After a long while, he accepted the badge and clenched it tightly. He finally found his voice. "But you... What will you do, my lord?"

Xia Zuoyi said, "I'll stay here and wait for you to return."

If he brought Xia Zuoyi along, it would undoubtedly slow the young man's efforts to seek help. Besides, only by separating from him would the young man be safe.

Gibran Kino asked, "You trust me?"

"I trust you. You saved me."

Gibran Kino said, "It's a little over three thousand one hundred feet from here to Visas. I'll be back within the time it takes for two sandglasses to run out."

"Don't be afraid, my lord. I'll definitely bring knights back to save you."

After saying that, he turned and quickly left.

On the Western Continent, sandglasses and water sundials were commonly used to tell time.

There was also a kind of chiming clock powered by heavy weights. It was large and immovable, usually installed in the centers of major cities, and extremely expensive. A rural place like Visas did not have one.

Xia Zuoyi was somewhat surprised that the young man could state the approximate distance from Par Mountain to Visas, as well as the time required for the round trip, with such accuracy.

It seemed that he was very familiar with Par Mountain's terrain and directions.

Before leaving, the young man thoughtfully concealed the cave entrance. The light inside dimmed slightly, but it did not hinder visibility.

Xia Zuoyi gently pinched his right arm, confirmed the location of the dislocation, then used the mountain wall's counterforce—there was a click, and the joint slipped back into place.

Before, no, rather, in his previous life, he had worked as a documentary video director specializing in wilderness survival. Of course, the "actor" appearing in those documentaries had also been him.

He had traveled everywhere year-round, climbing mountains, crossing seas, going abroad and around the country. Wilderness survival was part of his daily life.

Injuries were common. Dislocations were the lightest of them. The worst time had been when a venomous snake bit him and he nearly lost his life. Fortunately, timely treatment had pulled him out of danger.

In the end, he had been hit by a car and killed while saving someone on the way home after receiving an award.

After resting against the mountain wall for a while, Xia Zuoyi checked the prestige points he had accumulated during this period. There were twenty-eight in total.

He tapped open the white building icon and searched for the keyword "Chinese herbal medicine." Among the listed books, he first exchanged for Illustrated Guide and Detailed Explanation of Chinese Herbal Medicine.

The other books included Chinese Herbal Medicine Potion Formulas, Complete Collection of Chinese Herbal Medicine Ointments... There were more than twenty books listed in total.

Studying medicine could save lives.

In the future, it could also make him a qualified alchemist with genuine knowledge and skill.

At the very least, he could not let the doctors of this era use hammers and drills on his head, leeches to suck his blood, enemas and cauterization for minor illnesses, amputation and fumigation for serious illnesses, and prayers, repentance, and holy water even when there was no illness at all. It was simply terrifying.

Improving medical conditions had to be a key part of the infrastructure plan.

"May the Creator God bless him. Count Xia will definitely be all right," Kelly prayed.

After Xia Zuoyi rolled down the hillside, Fernandi Edward led the remaining knights out of the encirclement and used the deepening night to evade the "robbers'" pursuit.

They had to remain alert to the other side's search throughout the night.

They found a way to secretly return to the original location and searched along the hillside for the count's traces, only to find the unconscious Kelly first.

Now that the sky was fully bright, Xia Zuoyi was still nowhere to be seen.

Judith was frantic with worry.

"Is there no way to go down the mountain to Visas for help?"

The knight who had gone to scout the situation shook his head. "That band of robbers is currently blocking the mountain road leading to Visas. If we want to go down the mountain, we can only confront them head-on and force our way through, but they outnumber us..."

Moreover, they had already lost half their men and lacked sufficient fighting strength.

Thinking of this, the knight gave Fernandi Edward a complicated look. He had never expected a slave to lead them to survival.

Judith asked, "What about another way?"

The knight said, "Turn back."

"Cross over by another mountain path. But if we do that, it will take too long, and Count Xia's situation may become even more dangerous..."

"More importantly, only a badge engraved with the thorny rose can mobilize the patrolling knights stationed in Visas."

Judith's hair was disheveled, his nerves taut, and blood stained his clothes. His anxious worry left his eyes red, dry, and sore.

After a long while, he asked, "How certain are we if we force our way through?"

The knight glanced at Fernandi Edward.

Judith turned to look at him as well.

Fernandi Edward silently leaned against a tree. Quite a bit of blood had already dried and congealed on the greatsword in his hand.

In a low, hoarse voice, he said, "Less than forty percent. We were lucky to break through yesterday."

"The disparity in our strength is too great. Besides, their goal is not money. They want to kill all of us on Par Mountain. They came prepared."

A heavy atmosphere spread through the group.

Just then, the knight watching the robbers' movements suddenly ran back, shouting.

"Someone has brought patrolling knights to rescue us!"

Inside the cave.

Xia Zuoyi folded the coat the young man had left behind and placed the leather waterskin beside it.

He examined his injuries and found that most were merely swollen bruises that would heal after a few days of rest. Only his dislocated right arm would probably take a month before he could lift it again.

A long time had passed.

Xia Zuoyi moved to a spot close to the cave entrance and saw that the sun in the sky was nearly at its highest point.

He wondered whether the young man had reached Visas safely and found the patrolling knights...

"Where the hell is that little brat hiding? We searched all night and still couldn't find him."

"Who knows? Stop talking nonsense. The mission wasn't completed. Do you want to go back and be punished?"

The voices of two men suddenly came from outside.

When encountering advertisements such as "Are you a real person?", there is no need to pay attention to them. Just close them. Do not scan any codes or send text messages!

Xia Zuoyi abruptly held his breath, pressed his lips tightly together, and picked up the hoe the young man had left by the entrance.

"Of course I don't... Wait, look over there. Isn't that a cave?" A man with his face covered in black cloth pointed his sword at Xia Zuoyi's hiding place.

The cave entrance was covered in tall, tangled thorny brush. The inside was pitch-black, and a tree beside it blocked the view. It really could be overlooked without careful attention.

"Looks like it... Come on, let's take a look."

Xia Zuoyi's heart pounded violently.

The two men drew closer and closer. Just as a curved blade was about to cut through the thorny brush, a sword suddenly flew over and pierced one man's chest from behind.

In an instant, blood splattered everywhere.

The other man was stunned, then immediately tried to rush into the cave.

But Fernandi Edward leaped forward like a lion. The greatsword's attack was unstoppable, and within moments, he killed the man at the cave entrance as well.

Gibran Kino had successfully brought the patrolling knights, and they had happened to meet the robbers blocking the mountain road head-on.

Fernandi Edward and the others joined forces with the patrolling knights Gibran Kino had brought to wipe out the robbers.

They had originally wanted to leave one or two alive for later interrogation, but when the remaining robbers realized the situation was hopeless, they took the chance to kill one another.

Afterward, Gibran Kino led them here.

"Count!" Judith cried, unable to suppress his excitement and worry.

The thorny brush covering the cave entrance was slowly pushed aside.

A small figure walked out. The white shirt with its ruffled collar was already filthy and disordered, covered in blades of grass and mud, with several tears in it. The black shorts were in much the same state.

The miserable state of Xia Zuoyi's exposed pale arms and calves made Judith's nose sting.

He hurried over and dropped to one knee. "Count, how are you?"

Xia Zuoyi said, "I'm fine. Sorry for making you worry, Judith."

Judith lowered his head and gently took Xia Zuoyi's small hand, pressing it against his forehead. "Count, please don't push me away again in the future. Your safety is more important than my life..."

At first, he had only wanted to offer his loyalty, but from this moment onward, he could devote his life to Xia Zuoyi Desinia.

The soft little hand suddenly left his palm and, in the moment Judith froze, rested on his head.

"But I hope you can always remain my butler."

After a long time, Judith said, "As you wish, my lord. I will."

Before returning to the castle.

Xia Zuoyi asked Gibran Kino what reward he wanted.

Gibran Kino licked his dry lips. "...Anything?"

Xia Zuoyi said, "Yes."

"Can I become your manservant?"

Gibran Kino wanted a stable life. He wanted neither himself nor his younger brother to worry about food and clothing anymore.

Xia Zuoyi said, "If your family agrees..."

"I only have one younger brother, my lord."

Xia Zuoyi nodded. "You can bring your younger brother to the castle with you."

Gibran Kino immediately said joyfully, "Thank you! Count!"

Xia Zuoyi had a knight accompany Gibran Kino back to pack his belongings.

The rest of them returned to the castle first.

The count had left in perfect health but returned injured. His pitiful appearance frightened the servants.

Not to mention the craftsmen and knights who had gone with him—some were injured, and some had died.

Xia Zuoyi ordered the bodies of the craftsmen and knights collected, arranged for the injured to be settled, and provided generous compensation to them or their families.

After all matters had been handled.

Fernandi Edward was summoned to the study.

Xia Zuoyi asked, "What do you think about the attackers' identities?"

Fernandi Edward said, "They didn't seem like robbers. They seemed more like a group of well-trained knights."

Old Count Matt Desinia had stayed in the castle, obsessed with alchemy. He rarely even went to Visas, so it was impossible for him to have made any enemies.

A group of knights had disguised themselves as robbers, and their attack had happened just as Xia Zuoyi was about to offer the Seawater Solar Salt-Making Method to the king... It could not be such a coincidence.

Xia Zuoyi said, "Judith, was Bevis Elliot's territory granted directly by the king?"

Judith froze, then immediately understood. "No, Count. Count Bevis Elliot's superior lord is Duke Bass Riches. You suspect..."

Xia Zuoyi said, "It isn't suspicion."

"I can now be certain that Bass Riches was tempted by profit. Komoy Fort and Visas are separated by Par Mountain but lie adjacent to each other. What could be more convenient than having the lord of Komoy Fort act?"

Count Desinia had been robbed and murdered by a band of robbers on his way back to his territory, dying an unfortunate death.

With Visas lacking a lord and having no other heirs, it would surely be reclaimed by the king.

However, seawater salt-making still had to continue. The most likely outcome would be for Visas to be granted to someone else.

There was no need to say who that person would be.

The old king relied most heavily on Duke Bass Riches.

Unfortunately, even if they had analyzed the truth of the matter, they could not accuse a count or even a duke without evidence.

For now, they could only swallow this indignation.

But while a gentleman could wait ten years for revenge, a petty man sought revenge from morning until night.

He was neither a gentleman nor a petty man, so he would take the middle path and first find a way to retaliate against Count Bevis Elliot.

And Komoy Fort was the next target he wanted to light up.

Xia Zuoyi asked, "Fernandi Edward, do you want to be freed from slavery?"

Fernandi Edward abruptly raised his head. His gaze flickered constantly, and after a long while, he said hoarsely, "...I do."

Xia Zuoyi said, "You have earned merit by saving me, but I don't know about your past. I hope you can tell me the truth and not conceal anything."

Fernandi Edward remained silent for even longer this time.

Xia Zuoyi waited patiently.

At last, he said, "As you know, I am Gaina. I once served a marquis of the Gaina Kingdom, Bruno Green."

"I had a younger sister who depended on me for survival. She was beautiful and kind, and she would wait for me to come home every day. But once, while I was away fighting, she was... brutally tortured and killed by the lord's younger brother."

"The last thing I saw... was my sister's mutilated corpse."

"You already know what happened afterward."

He should have been executed.

But the lord spared his life out of consideration for their old friendship.

Xia Zuoyi asked softly, "Do you regret it?"

"I do not. A knight fights for justice against unfairness and evil, faces powerful enemies bravely, and confronts sinners without reservation. I did not betray the spirit of chivalry."

But for his sister's sake, he had betrayed the lord he served.

Xia Zuoyi said, "I don't think you were wrong to kill the lord's younger brother."

"But suppose the person who killed your sister had been the lord himself. Would you still seek revenge without hesitation?"

Between family and loyalty, which would you choose?

Fernandi Edward suddenly looked at Xia Zuoyi.

His voice was hoarse. "I would take revenge."

"Afterward, I would kill myself."

Let the devil take his soul, even if he could never see his sister again.

The study remained silent for quite a while.

Xia Zuoyi asked, "Once you are no longer a slave, do you want to become a knight again?"

Fernandi Edward's pupils trembled.