Chapter 30: The second Valencia ring

The clamor of the training grounds had faded away, and the setting sun dyed the entire royal capital a dark red.

The spires of the Badan Family Mansion cast long shadows in the twilight.

Dongfang Jiang, Yisela, and Pandana walked side by side on the road back to the mansion.

Yisela’s golden hair gently fluttered in the evening breeze.

She had declined to walk with Yigenaxiu and instead accompanied Dongfang Jiang as they strolled along the main street.

She just wanted to stay by Dongfang Jiang’s side for a few more minutes.

Pandana, on the other hand, would occasionally steal a glance at the scuffed marks from the battle on Dongfang Jiang’s clothes.

“Go back and have the steward change your clothes. You can’t see Father looking like that.”

Yisela’s tone was calm, but there was a faint, barely perceptible smile at the corner of her lips.

“One set isn’t enough; you’ll need two. Mr. Dongfang made quite a splash today. By tomorrow, the entire royal capital will be buzzing with the news.”

Pandana added this jab.

Dongfang Jiang gaining fame was a good thing.

“Stop it… I just want to eat now.”

Dongfang Jiang rubbed his stomach.

He had fought more than seventy rounds today, and his stamina and energy were nearly depleted.

When the three entered the mansion’s main gate, the steward was already waiting at the entrance.

Seeing Yisela and Dongfang Jiang returning together, he bowed slightly.

“Young Lady, Mr. Dongfang, Miss Douglas. His Grace the Duke requests that the three of you come to his office for a talk.”

“Now?”

Yisela raised an eyebrow.

This was not Yigenaxiu’s usual style.

“Yes, His Lordship said it’s very important.”

The steward gestured for them to follow.

The three of them walked through the corridor and arrived at the familiar office door on the third floor.

After knocking, the door opened.

Yigenaxiu sat behind his desk, with a cup of tea still steaming in front of him.

He saw the three enter together.

His gaze lingered on Yisela and Dongfang Jiang for a moment, and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly.

“Everyone’s here. Have a seat.”

Dongfang Jiang and Pandana sat down on the sofa.

Yisela did not sit by the window; instead, she sat down next to Dongfang Jiang.

Yigenaxiu glanced at his daughter but said nothing.

“I watched today’s battle.”

Yigenaxiu got straight to the point.

He was very satisfied with Dongfang Jiang’s combat ability.

“You beating Qin Ye shows that your strength stands at the pinnacle of the younger generation.”

“You may not know this, but Qin Ye is a genius rarely seen in a century on the continent.”

She went to the battlefield at sixteen, earned military merits at eighteen, and became a general at twenty-seven.

“You defeated her in a direct confrontation. This news will soon spread across the entire continent.”

“Just luck.”

Dongfang Jiang humbly said.

Yigenaxiu shook his head.

“There’s no luck on the battlefield. What allowed you to win today was the combination of your Sword Control Technique and Illusion Magic, as well as your unique understanding of Energy Harmonization. None of that is luck.”

He paused, took a sip of tea, then picked up a notebook.

After flipping through it for a moment, he closed it and added, looking at Dongfang Jiang.

“But I didn’t call you here to praise you.”

“Oh…?”

“At tomorrow’s palace banquet, His Majesty has already seen today’s battle report. She specifically requested to see you.”

Yigenaxiu put down the notebook, his expression turning serious.

“Me?”

Dongfang Jiang was taken aback.

Yisela quietly added from beside him.

“Father was summoned by His Majesty today for a private audience about this matter. His Majesty’s interest in you is far greater than expected.”

“His Majesty’s age…?”

Hearing Yigenaxiu’s words, Dongfang Jiang recalled the king’s appearance at the meeting.

After a brief internal struggle, he tentatively asked the question.

This question had been lingering in Dongfang Jiang’s mind for a long time.

Yigenaxiu glanced at him and spoke slowly.

“His Majesty ascended the throne at sixteen and has just turned eighteen now. About the same age as you.”

The atmosphere in the office shifted subtly.

Pandana blinked, and Yisela tapped her fingers lightly on her knee.

“A young achiever. If it were me, I couldn’t handle that kind of job.”

Dongfang Jiang let out a heartfelt exclamation.

“Truly young and accomplished, but it hasn’t been easy.”

There was a hint of something profound in Yigenaxiu’s tone.

“His Majesty ascended the throne at a young age, surrounded by veteran ministers in the court. Each of us dukes has our own agendas, and Grand General Vard is watching with a covetous eye. Over the years, His Majesty has managed to stabilize the throne amidst these cracks—not through luck.”

“The Badan Family has shouldered the brunt of the firepower on His Majesty’s behalf.”

He looked at Dongfang Jiang, his gaze deep.

“His Majesty needs someone trustworthy and sufficiently strong to help balance the court.”

“Your meaning is…”

“My meaning is that His Majesty has set his sights on you.”

These words fell in the office like a stone thrown into a still lake.

Dongfang Jiang fell silent.

Pandana looked at him, then at Yigenaxiu, unsure of what to say.

Yisela, on the other hand, was very calm, as if she had known this all along.

“Of course, this is not coercion.”

Yigenaxiu waved his hand.

“His Majesty simply wants to meet you first and see what kind of person you are. As for how things proceed from there, that will be your own choice.”

“I understand.”

Yigenaxiu leaned back in his chair, tapping the armrest lightly twice with his fingers.

“Speaking of the banquet, there’s something I need to remind you of.”

“What is it?”

“Before Qin Ye left, did she say anything to you?”

Dongfang Jiang thought for a moment, then nodded.

“She said… that there is more than one Valen Ring near the royal capital.”

The moment he said this, the office fell silent for a beat.

Yisela frowned slightly, and Pandana’s expression grew serious as well.

However, Dongfang Jiang himself was very calm—at least, there was no crack in his expression.

“You’re not surprised?”

Yigenaxiu noticed his reaction.

“I knew from the very beginning that there were seven Valen Rings. Back in Claire Town, I heard the story of King Valen from a guard.”

Dongfang Jiang answered truthfully.

“Seven rings, each sealed with a different power. The Sun Ring that Kaxiu holds is just one of them.”

“Then how did you know that there is more than one Valen Ring appearing in the Kingdom of Aiselin?”

Yisela pressed further.

That was what truly surprised her.

“Ah, although I’m not sure who holds the others or whether they’ve been activated yet.”

Dongfang Jiang sat on the sofa and swept his gaze across the people before him as he spoke slowly.

“Qin Ye’s cryptic remark told me that there is more than one Valen Ring in the royal capital. Furthermore, I feel that this person has some connection with Kaxiu.”

The atmosphere in the office grew even heavier.

“Also, Lord Duke, there is one thing I’ve wanted to ask from the very beginning. Why did Kaxiu—no, why did they target your family?”

Yigenaxiu was silent for a moment, then took out a yellowed piece of parchment from the drawer and spread it on the table.

“Since you already know the origin of the Valen Rings, I don’t need to start from the very beginning.”