After Horn’s death, the peace Yize had hoped for did not arrive.
Quite the contrary, over the next half a month, the number of Blood Race gathering around the outskirts of the Betty Territory did not decrease. Instead, they continued to multiply.
The guards on the city walls were rotated in constant shifts, yet every face was etched with fatigue and a tension that was difficult to hide.
The magic barrier was kept running at its minimum level at all times, but the energy core was consuming power far faster than it could be replenished.
The inner city, which once possessed a spark of life, had now completely transformed into a massive military fortress.
The figures moving through the streets were no longer vendors and residents, but fully armed soldiers and supply teams hurrying to and fro.
Yize stood by the window of his temporary residence, frowning as he gazed at the faint silhouettes of the Blood Race visible on the distant horizon.
He had not expected the situation to deteriorate to such an extent.
The Betty Territory, originally just a noble fief on the edge of the Empire, had now dramatically become the focal point of the war between humanity and the Blood Race, drawing eyes and forces from all directions.
Fortunately, perhaps realizing that the fall of one would lead to the fall of all, many nobles within the Empire finally stopped watching from the sidelines and began to dispatch reinforcements.
Various family banners fluttered over the Betty Territory, bringing soldiers, supplies, and a sliver of hope.
However, what truly made Yize feel that he was being dragged into the main storyline was the arrival of the “male lead,” Li En.
The first to arrive were the reinforcements from the Wilson family. Leading this fifty-man knight order was none other than his overly energetic junior — Luke Wilson.
The moment that familiar, loud voice accompanied by a flash of fiery red hair entered his sight, Yize knew his peaceful days were officially over.
“Waah! Senior Yize! I finally found you! I missed you so much!”
Luke performed an incredibly natural sliding kneel, skidding precisely to a halt in front of Yize. He grabbed Yize’s leg and began to wail loudly.
“Senior Yize! You have no idea! During these days without you, I couldn’t eat or drink, I couldn’t sleep at night, and I didn’t even have the energy to cultivate!”
“Every day, I worried whether you’d run into danger on the front lines, whether you were eating well, whether you were sleeping well…”
Yize’s mouth twitched. Feeling the warm moisture soaking into his pant leg, veins began to throb on his forehead.
He tried forcefully to pull his leg away and hissed, “Get up! Your snot! You’re going to rub your snot on my clothes! Don’t be so disgusting!”
As he spoke, he warily scanned the surroundings.
Sure enough, the passing soldiers and officers sent by other nobles were all casting glances filled with a mixture of shock, curiosity, and a few suggestive smirks.
“And another thing!” Yize lowered his voice, sounding a bit flustered and angry. “Take back those words that invite misunderstanding! I am just your senior, not your fiancée!”
Just then, the Lord of Betty, having received news of the arrival, walked over quickly.
Luke seemed to switch personalities instantly. He bounced up from the ground, swiftly brushed off non-existent dust from his armor, and straightened his back.
That cynical and exaggerated expression was immediately replaced by a reserved seriousness befitting his noble status.
He cleared his throat and offered a standard knight’s salute to the Lord of Betty, his voice booming and clear.
“I, Luke Wilson, on behalf of the Wilson family, lead 5,000 members of the Wilson Knight Order to provide reinforcements! We are willing to fight side-by-side with the Betty family to resist the foreign enemy!”
The Lord of Betty could not hide his exhaustion, but he still managed a sincere smile as he solemnly expressed his gratitude to Luke.
Soon, professional officers stepped forward to guide the Wilson family’s knight order to their designated defensive sector for rest and organization.
Once they were away from public view and back in Yize’s slightly cluttered temporary residence, Luke finally relaxed again.
However, the scene inside the room caused him to blink in surprise.
Swann Raymond was currently holding a broom, carefully sweeping dust from the corners.
Hearing the door open, Swann looked up. Seeing Yize return, a bright light immediately radiated from his face.
Hugging the broom, he trotted over. “Senior Yize, you’re back!”
Then, his gaze landed on Luke behind Yize, and his excited expression froze.
A blush rapidly dyed his fair cheeks at a visible rate. He stood there awkwardly, his voice dropping low.
“Um… Hello, Senior Luke…”
Luke was also a bit stunned. His impression of Swann was still stuck on the silent orphan who carried a blood feud and a permanent gloom between his brows.
But the person before him… his skin seemed even fairer and more delicate than before, the contours of his facial features had softened significantly, and he even possessed an… indescribable sense of prettiness?
And what was with this habit of blushing at the drop of a hat?
Yize looked at the broom in Swann’s hand and sighed helplessly.
“Swann, why are you cleaning my room again? I’ve told you many times, if you want walnut milk, just tell me. You don’t need to do this.”
He paused, his tone becoming serious.
“You are the sole heir to the Raymond family. Don’t always make yourself look like a… like a maid.”
Hearing this, the tips of Swann’s ears turned even redder. He lowered his head, his fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of his clothes, his voice as soft as a mosquito’s hum.
“I just felt… it’s always such a bother to have you make me walnut milk, Senior. I felt bad… so I thought I could at least do some small chores for you…”
He was too embarrassed to tell the truth. The one who truly couldn’t get enough of the walnut milk was Iguneel, who was currently depressed in his mind because resurrection seemed hopeless and was in desperate need of sweets for comfort.
Luke watched the strangely familiar yet subtle atmosphere between the two. His eyes darted back and forth before he smirked.
“Senior Yize, I haven’t tasted that walnut milk in a long time either. I’ve missed it. Although…” He leaned in close to Yize and lowered his voice. “Since when did your relationship with Junior Swann become so… close?”
At the mention of this, Yize’s face took on a complicated expression.
He rubbed his temples. “Let’s just say… things happen.”
He truly didn’t want to be too deeply involved with Swann, especially after they had shared their biggest secrets. It was a connection that was hard to sever.
Perhaps, from the moment he chose to save Swann from being hunted by the Westis family back at the academy, some kind of “Karma” had already been sown.
Soon, Yize skillfully brewed a pot of fragrant walnut milk and poured a bowl each for Luke and Swann.
Luke picked it up and gulped it down with a satisfied expression. “Ah! This is the taste! I love this stuff!”
Swann drank in small sips, feeling the satisfied purring from Iguneel in his mind.
After finishing, as if afraid of interrupting Yize and Luke’s reunion, he hurriedly put down the empty bowl and whispered.
“Senior Yize, you two talk. I’ll head out first.”
Then, with his head down, he quickly left the room.
Watching Swann leave, Luke immediately returned to his gossipy self. He nudged Yize with his elbow and said with a grin.
“Must be nice, Senior. It looks like you’ve gained another loyal little fan. This level of care is quite thorough.”
Yize gave him an annoyed look.
“Stop talking nonsense. The Betty Territory is so dangerous right now; why did the Wilson family agree to let you come here?”
Luke tucked away his joking demeanor and patted his chest, his tone carrying a hint of pride.
“Wasn’t it because I was worried about you, Senior? Besides, ever since I gained insights into Flame Magic in the Realm of Law, I’ve put in hard work to study it. My strength has improved quite a bit.”
“I showed off a little at home and told them… it was all thanks to your ‘guidance.’ Only then did they reluctantly agree to let me lead the team here.”
Yize frowned slightly. “Didn’t I tell you to keep a low profile and not mention me so much?”
Luke waved his hands quickly. “Don’t worry, Senior! I only mentioned it to my family. I definitely haven’t been bragging to outsiders! Otherwise, what excuse would I have to come find you?”
He paused, his eyes turning serious.
“Besides, I swore to follow you. How could I hide in the back and live in comfort while knowing you’re facing danger on the front lines? What kind of man would that make Luke Wilson?”
Looking at the genuine concern and determination in Luke’s eyes, Yize’s heart softened slightly.
The care and occasional “investments” he had made in Luke over the years had not been in vain.
This kid might look careless and have strange logic usually, but at critical moments, his loyalty was real.
He patted Luke’s shoulder, his tone softening. “I guess you have a bit of a conscience after all.”
However, Yize’s sentiment didn’t even last three seconds before Luke’s familiar, mischievous expression returned.
He lowered his voice and asked with a sly smile.
“Senior, tell me honestly… do you… happen to favor this kind of fair-skinned, obedient-looking boy?”
Yize’s face instantly darkened. His fists clenched unconsciously, his knuckles letting out a soft crack.
“Try. Saying. Another. Word. Who told you I like men?”
Seeing this, Luke immediately held his head and begged for mercy. “No, no, no! Senior! Have mercy! I swear I won’t say a word to anyone! I was just curious!”
He had personally experienced Yize’s seemingly ordinary but terrifyingly powerful fists.
“Curious?” Yize narrowed his eyes, his fists still clenched.
Luke hurried to explain. “Look, Senior. The thing between you and Lord Rhea… I later… well, I remembered a little bit of it.”
Seeing Yize’s gaze sharpen, he quickly added.
“I swear I’ll keep my mouth shut! It’s just… I just feel like, although Junior Swann and Lord Rhea have completely different temperaments, personalities, and looks, for some reason, they give me a… subtly similar feeling?”
Yize was stunned for a moment.
Luke might be reckless when it came to serious business, but in terms of gossip and intuition, he was terrifyingly sharp.
Thinking carefully, Swann and Rhea did indeed share similarities in a certain sense.
Seeing that Yize didn’t immediately refute him, Luke grew bolder and continued his “reasoning.”
“Or maybe… is it that you have a… special charm that specifically attracts this kind of temperament?”
He was answered by several merciless kicks from Yize.
“Get out! Get out! If you dare utter another word of nonsense, believe it or not, I’ll give you a potion to make you mute for the rest of your life!”
……
On the other side, Swann fled Yize’s room in a flustered state. His mind was still echoing with Luke’s meaningful gaze and Senior Yize’s helpless expression. For a moment, he was distracted.
Thud!
After a slight collision, Swann felt himself hit a solid chest.
He quickly took a step back, bowing his head and apologizing repeatedly. “I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I wasn’t looking where I was going…”
A gentle and slightly magnetic voice sounded above his head.
“It’s alright. You are… Principal Ceboa’s disciple, Swann, right? I remember you. It’s better to look where you’re going when you walk.”
Swann looked up and finally saw the person he had bumped into. Before him stood a handsome young man with a sun-like, warm smile.
He recognized him. This was the genius of Liyue Academy, Li En.
Back when Rhea had visited Teacher Ceboa with the Dragon Scale, this Li En had been by her side.
“Yes, yes, Senior Li En. I’m sorry for bumping into you.” Swann apologized again, feeling embarrassed.
Li En smiled, indicating he didn’t mind.
However, the instant their eyes met, the voice of Iguneel in Swann’s mind — which had been somewhat lazy due to the walnut milk — suddenly became sharp and serious.
‘Swann! Watch out for this man!’
‘His body… carries the aura of my power!’
‘But… it’s strange. Unlike the way those filthy Blood Race forcibly extract and pollute my power… he seems more like… he has directly consumed my blood! And it seems to have perfectly integrated into his own body!’
Swann’s heart jolted. He stared at Li En for several seconds in a daze.
He didn’t dare stay any longer. Nodding to Li En once more, he hurried away.
Li En stood in place, watching Swann’s slightly rushed silhouette disappear around the corner of the corridor. The gentle smile on his face gradually faded, and his gaze became deep.
At the same time, he recalled the mysterious voice that had given him guidance in his mind a while ago.
[Key Character: Swann Raymond]
[Hint: A key clue to further mastering the “Dragonification” power and breaking through your current bottleneck is closely related to this person.]
[Additional Information: Maintain a friendly relationship. In the future, through him, you can become acquainted with a… Dragon Race female who will be vital to you.]
It was precisely because of the voice’s hint that he had come to the Betty Territory.
Li En gently rubbed his chin, a flash of determination shining in his eyes.
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