The current Blackdirt City was extremely developed.
The policy of no taxation caused many people to desire to migrate to Blackdirt City, and caused Blackdirt City to be bursting from the seams. This had resulted in the population management department of Blackdirt City to raise the immigration requirements. But as the political center of this dominion, Blackdirt City continued to attract many migrants.
“Boss, Blackdirt City has changed so much.” Standing on Linley’s shoulders, Bebe accompanied Linley as he walked along one of the primary roads.
Linley also stared at the surrounding hotels, clothing stores, and weaponry stores on each side of the road. When Linley had first arrived at Blackdirt City, the local citizens were dressed in rags and most looked yellow and malnourished. But in recent months, Blackdirt City had completely changed.
Those tattered old stores had all been completely renovated.
The streets had been repaved as well, and there were trees on each side of the road. In some of the hotels, Linley saw many commoners drinking wine while casually chatting. Most of them were talking about their ‘five wargods’.
Under the leadership of these five virtually invincible wargods, their lives had become stable, and the null taxation rate had caused their quality of life to improve by several levels.
“If those five wargods were to be defeated…” Just as a person in the hotel spoke these words…
“Motherfucker, what are you farting about?”
“Those wargods are invincible. How can they be defeated? Punk, you better watch your mouth.”
Many people instantly began to curse him angrily. These commoners all deeply enjoyed their current peaceful, stable lives. Naturally, they didn’t wish for their lives to be disrupted.
“In the O’Brien Empire and the Holy Union, peaceful lives are so easily found, but in the Anarchic Lands, they are so precious and valuable.” Linley was suddenly moved. “This is what constant chaos causes.”
“If one day, the Anarchic Lands could be unified and the chaos brought to an end…”
Looking at the smiles on the faces of the commoners, Linley suddenly realized that his heart had a happy, satisfied feeling.
“Unification?” Linley shook his head and laughed.
He didn’t aspire to this. To be able to make his loved ones happy and to allow himself to constantly improve in his training. This would make him very satisfied.
“It’s best to allow Zassler and Barker to continue handling the affairs of war.” Linley’s body suddenly flickered and disappeared with a light wind.
Within the city governor’s mansion in Blackdirt City, Jenne, Rebecca, Leena, and the others were eating lunch in the living room. Suddenly, Linley appeared in front of the door…
“Lord.” Barker immediately stood up, and the others did as well. Linley hurriedly said, “Sit, everyone. I’m just here to visit you and talk about a few things.” Linley smiled as he walked to a nearby chair and sat down.
Zassler immediately said, “Linley, we were planning to go find you and discuss recent developments with you. Now that you are here, Jenne… make your report to Linley.” Currently, Jenne was the highest-level administrator of their dominion.
But just as Jenne opened her mouth and was about to begin, Linley chuckled as he reached out to stop her. “Jenne, sit. No rush.”
Jenne nodded and sat down.
“As far as the wars are concerned, you can make up your minds on your own. Right now, I am thinking… there is still a period of time before we begin to do battle against the Radiant Church. I want to take this opportunity to make a trip to the south and spar with a few Saints.”
Linley still remembered the invitation from that Miller.
Sparring with experts, especially experts who trained in the same Elemental Laws, would give him many insights. In addition, his forces would soon do battle against the Radiant Church. By the time the battles started, he wouldn’t dare to casually leave.
He had to seize the time he had.
“Lord, don’t worry.” Barker laughed. “However, in another seven or eight days, we will begin attacking the duchies controlled by the Radiant Church. Given what we discussed with you last time, Lord, if the Radiant Church fights us head on, we won’t cower from them, and a month from now, we will found our duchy as the Baruch Duchy. If they are afraid of us, we can continue to pretend as we attack them, and pick another name for the duchy.”
Linley nodded.
“Very well, then. Haeru will stay with you, in case of any emergency. Bebe and I will head out.” Linley immediately stood up.
“Big Brother Linley, won’t you have a meal with us?” Jenne suddenly said.
Linley chuckled towards Jenne, then shook his head. “No.” Linley’s body flickered, then disappeared from within the living room. Jenne, somewhat disappointed, let out a soft sigh.
In the southern areas of the Anarchic Lands. Within that quiet, mysterious little village.
Ever since the news of Reynolds choosing to stay here in the village had spread out, Reynolds had been ostracized within the village! The reason? Monica! Monica was the most beautiful, eye-catching girl in this village. There were simply too many suitors pursuing her.
Originally, many youngsters had thought that Reynolds would definitely leave and thus not be a threat.
But in the end, Reynolds had stayed.
Within a hotel in the mountain village. Reynolds was sitting there drinking wine.
“Hey, punk, move over.” Three youngsters walked over and slapped his table hard as they barked viciously at Reynolds.
Reynolds lifted his head up and glanced at them.
“What, you got a problem?” Those three youngsters’ bodies began to faintly glow with battle-qi. A magus of the seventh rank didn’t count for much in this mysterious mountain village. There were dozens of youths here who had reached the seventh rank, and quite a few who had reached the eighth. The three youngsters in front of him? One was a warrior of the seventh rank. The stronger one was of the eighth rank.
There was nothing he would be able to do if they wanted to beat him.
Taking a deep breath, Reynolds held down his temper and moved aside. There was nothing he could do… he had no one to rely on here in this village. But many of the uncles, aunts, grandparents and what not of the youngsters here were all experts. How could he possibly fight against them? And many of the youths here had grown up together. If they banded together, how could he possibly fight them all?
“What are you doing?”
Monica and her serving maid came over, and she snapped angrily at them.
“Princess Monica.” Those three youngsters immediately bowed. Within this mysterious mountain village, Monica’s father’s status was extremely high. According to legend… this mysterious mountain village had already existed a thousand years ago, and at that time, Monica’s father had looked exactly the way he looked right now.
Monica stared angrily at each of them, then grabbed Reynolds by the hand. “Big Brother Reynolds, let’s go.”
Reynolds stood up. Taking a deep breath, he left alongside Monica.
“All he can do is hide behind a woman. Useless creature,” those three youths cursed him in whispers. Reynolds, who had left alongside Monica, naturally could hear their voices. His body just trembled slightly, and then he followed Monica away.
In this mysterious mountain village, he had no one to rely on. All he could do was endure it!
56
Third Bro?
Within a grassy area near the mountain village.
Monica had her serving girl go back, and then held hands with Reynolds as they walked together.
“Big Brother Reynolds, those people go way too far. This isn’t the first time either. I’m going to tell Uncle Miller and have Uncle Miller teach them a lesson.” Monica was so angry that her face was a bit red. Looking at Monica, Reynolds only smiled. “Monica, it’s fine. Don’t tell your Uncle Miller.”
“Bu
t Big Brother Reynolds, they…” Monica said frantically,
Reynolds shook his head. “These people are only angry that you are always with me. They are jealous of me, get it?”
Monica’s face instantly turned red.
Seeing the embarrassed look on Monica’s face, Reynolds quickly felt that the little bit of unhappiness he had just experienced was nothing. “Monica, for you, I chose to stay in the mountain village. I knew these things would happen. Monica… don’t worry. I’m still weak. When I grow stronger, they won’t dare to do these things any longer.”
“But that will take a long time.” Monica frowned.
Reynolds said confidently, “Trust in your Big Brother Reynolds. I’ll be fine.”
Monica nodded obediently.
It must be said that Reynolds was extremely skilled in chasing girls. Despite having only known him for a few months, Monica had very early on fallen for this experienced, humorous, and attentive man, Reynolds.
Holding hands, the two quietly walked on the grass.
“If we can always be like this and walk together into eternity, how wonderful would that be?” Monica leaned against Reynolds.
Reynolds gently said, “Monica, let’s get married.”
“AH!”
Monica jerked her head up as though she had been hit by lightning. Utterly stunned, her face turned pure scarlet. Reynolds laughed and lowered his head to look at her. “What, Monica? Are you unwilling?”
Monica stuttered for a few moments, then said with a frown, “My mother wouldn’t agree.”
“Why wouldn’t your mother agree?” Reynolds asked.
Monica shook her head. “My mother has very strict requirements. She originally said that only a person at the Saint level could marry me. After my father coaxed and cajoled her, she still said… that my husband had to at least be of the ninth rank. My mother looks down upon the weak.”
Reynolds was stunned.
“How could your mother…” Reynolds didn’t know what to say.
Monica lowered her voice to a whisper. “Big Brother Reynolds, my mother is very cold. Only in front of me does she occasionally smile. Usually… even Uncle Miller is terrified of her.”
Reynolds was shocked. Reynolds had a faint idea as to how powerful Miller was. His terrifying speed was something that most likely warriors of the ninth rank would find difficult or impossible to reach. In other words… this Uncle Miller was at least of the ninth rank, or perhaps a Saint.
The two chatted on the grass for a long time.
“Alright, it’s getting late.” Monica looked upwards at the sky. “I need to go back and eat dinner. If I get home late, mother will reprimand me again.” Reynolds nodded slightly, watching Monica as she left.
Monica’s residence was one of the restricted areas in the mysterious village. Aside from a few people like Miller who were granted entry, most of the dwellers of the village were not permitted to go near it. Naturally… Reynolds couldn’t go there either, and he hadn’t met Monica’s parents.
Shortly after Monica had left.
“Reynolds, you seem to be enjoying yourself.” Five youths walked over. Their leader had long golden hair, like that of a lion, and a handsome, rugged face. Seeing these people, Reynolds knew that today was not going to be a good day.
The name of this youngster was Videle. He was one of the leaders of the younger generation. Despite only being forty, he was a warrior of the eighth rank.
To those powerful warriors and magi, their lifespan was usually quite long, at least three or four centuries. Forty was quite young.
“Reynolds, I already warned you last time to stop bothering Monica.” Videle stared coldly at Reynolds. “A man should know his limits. Punk, how can you be worthy of Monica? Monica’s parents are both Saints. And what are you?”
Reynolds was startled. He knew that Monica’s father was a Saint, but this was the first time he had heard that Monica’s mother was a Saint as well.
“Big Brother Videle’s father is a Saint as well. Him and Monica are a good match. You outsider punk, what type of thing are you?” The other youngsters were cursing Reynolds as well. These youngsters simply couldn’t stand to watch an outsider take away ‘their’ princess.
“Brothers, help this punk learn his lesson,” Videle said coldly.
The four nearby youths immediately charged forward together, while Reynolds continuously retreated… and then immediately turned and began running towards the village. But he was a magus; how could he compete against warriors in speed? In a few short moments, he was caught up to.
Instantly, punches and kicks began to land all over his body. His face, however, wasn’t injured at all. These people were quite clever, reserving their attacks for Reynolds’ body. But the rules of the village were strict; the villagers were not to engage in mutual slaughter. Fighting was fine, but if someone was killed, those youths would have been in for it.
This was the reason why Reynolds had endured.
He knew that these people wouldn’t dare to kill him.
“Creaaak.” Reynolds opened his door. At this time, a burly neighbor of his laughed, “Reynolds, you are back? Hrm? What’s wrong? You seem to have some trouble walking. Did those punks beat you up again?”
Reynolds forced out a smile. “Big Brother Field, I’m fine.”
In the village, there were still some people who were very kind to Reynolds. These were mostly the older crowd. Because Reynolds had a good character, many people liked Reynolds. Field was one of those who cared about Reynolds the most.
“Reynolds, in the future, don’t go out so much. Maybe you can help out at my weapon shop. As long as you are with me, I’d like to see who’d dare try and abuse you,” Field said repeatedly.
“Thank you.” Reynolds forced out a smile as he entered his room.
In his quiet room, Reynolds sat down cross legged, thinking to himself, “Those bastards! But in this village, I am an outsider, after all. All I can do is to endure. One day… when my power increases, I won’t be afraid of them again.”
His life in this village was very tough.
But Reynolds had never thought about abandoning it. Each time he was humiliated, Reynolds would think about Monica. This was the only reason why he had been able to endure.
“Boss… Second Bro… Third Bro… who knows when I’ll be able to meet you again?” Reynolds couldn’t help but think of his dear friends. And then, he closed his eyes and began to meditate. In the past, he had never trained so hard before, but he knew that the only way he would be allowed to leave the village was if he reached the top ten in the annual tournament.
The sky was clear and blue. Linley flew agilely through the skies, with Bebe by his side. Beneath them was the boundless earth and cities which seemed the size of a fist. They had left at noon. Just by using the Windshadow spell, by the afternoon, Linley had arrived at the southern part of the Anarchic Lands.
Linley was able to easily find that large mountain around a hundred kilometers south of Southmount City.
“This little mountain village really is mysterious.” Flying into the air above the mountain valley, Linley stared down at the quiet little village below. Linley instructed Bebe, “Bebe, don’t use your spiritual energy to scan them. Let’s just go down.”
Bebe snickered, “Boss, I got it. It is very impolite to use spiritual energy to scan other Saints, right?”
Linley nodded slightly.
It was actually not a big deal if a powerful Saint used his spiritual energy to scan a weak Saint, but Linley had interacted with Miller before. According to Miller… there were multiple Saints within this mysterious village, and in particular, they had that ‘Lord’ amongst them.
Someone whom even Miller would refer to as ‘Lord’ was definitely someone much more powerful than Linley.
In a place such as this, it was better to be a bit humble.
Before Linley even had a chance to fly down, suddenly, a human figure streaked into the air at high speed.
It was Miller. Miller’s face was all smiles. “Haha, brother Linley. You came. This is wonderful. As soon as I got back, I began to wonder to myself when you would come, brother Linley.”
“Miller, you really are powerful. As soon as I came, you noticed me,” Linley said with surprise.
Neither he nor Bebe had utilized their spiritual energy, and yet they had been discovered so quickly. This was indeed terrifying. Miller laughed self-mockingly. “Linley, I am not as formidable as that. When you arrived, his Lordship discovered you and spoke to me mentally to inform me.”
“Spoke to you mentally?” Linley stared at Miller in surprise.
They weren’t master and magical beast companion. How could they mentally communicate? At most, Saints would be able to reach the level of using spiritual energy to broadcast their location or to scan people. There was no way one could use spiritual energy to communicate.
“You and I aren’t capable of it, but that doesn’t mean his Lordship isn’t capable of it.” Miller laughed.
Linley became even more curious about this mysterious expert.
Suddenly, another human figure flew towards them at high speed. It was someone with fiery red hair and a dominating aura that made even Linley feel surprised. This person should be extremely powerful.
“Miller, is this the genius, ‘Linley’, that you mentioned?” The red-haired man stared at Linley, as though staring at some sort of rare specimen.
Miller immediately made the introductions. “Linley, this is my good friend, Livingston. He trains in the Elemental Laws of Fire, and is on par with me in power.” The nearby red-haired man hurriedly said, “What do you mean, on par with you? Miller… when you fight with me, you always dodge here and dodge there. If you are so tough, take me head on!”
Linley began to laugh.
“That’s Livingston for you.” Miller laughed as well.
Livingston glanced at him, then laughed towards Linley. “Linley, although I rarely leave the village, I’ve heard of you long ago. You are only twenty-seven… oh, twenty-eight years old now, right?”
Baruch Rising_Book 3 of the Coiling Dragon Saga Page 44
