Chapter 99: Visitors

Outside Purple Fruit Village, Horn and Jenny sat on their horses, gazing in the direction the column had departed.

Although they had remained in Purple Fruit Village, their daughter Erin had gone with the column to Mountain Forest Town.

While the distance between the two places wasn’t great, and they could visit often, this was, after all, Erin’s first time traveling far from her parents on her own.

No matter the world, the love parents have for their children is universal, and the two of them were no exception.

Jenny quietly wiped the corners of her eyes, drying the tears shed at their parting. "I don’t know if letting Erin go with the Baron is a good thing."

Horn sighed and wiped the tear-stains from his wife’s face. "But we didn’t have any other choice, did we?"

Even though Ronin treated them with courtesy—unlike Wodun and Dandy from Cyan Bamboo Village, who had to start with a "probationary period"—and even though Jenny’s strategy had led to the smooth conquest of the Grey Soil Tribe, at the end of the day, they were still surrendered commanders.

Furthermore, given their former identities as remnants and Wildmen, it was impossible for them to have gained the Lord’s complete trust in such a short time.

Therefore, when faced with Ronin’s demand to take Erin with him, they had no grounds to refuse.

Horn offered some comfort. "The Baron is exceptionally outstanding, but he’s still just a seventeen-year-old boy. It’s clear he’s very fond of Erin. In the few days I’ve spent with him, he’s always been kind and benevolent. I believe he’ll treat Erin well."

Jenny shook her head. "Even if they sleep together and develop feelings for each other, Ronin is still a scion of the Wushan Clan. His marriage partner will either be the daughter of a great noble or the daughter of a wealthy magnate. Without exception, it will be someone who can solidify his position. But what do we have?"

She sighed. "We’re just ordinary Second-level Transcendents."

In her eyes, her daughter would surely be seduced and abandoned. She would likely end up as Ronin’s mistress, raising a few illegitimate children.

After all, many nobles were like that.

"But our daughter is a thirteen-year-old Mage! As long as she doesn’t give up her Cultivation, she’ll become a Mage sooner or later!"

Horn’s words were filled with confidence. "No one can look down on a Mage. Besides, we still have a chance to become Advanced Level, or even higher. Don’t be so pessimistic, Jenny!"

"The Baron also places great importance on sericulture. As long as we handle the tasks he’s given us well, the future will get better."

Jenny hesitated, then slowly nodded.

Horn was right. Rather than being dejected and pessimistic, it was better to focus on doing what needed to be done.

In truth, they had really misjudged Ronin.

He took Erin for two reasons. One was indeed to ensure Jenny and Horn wouldn’t get any funny ideas or try to run off, and would instead do their work properly.

The other reason was that, given Erin’s incredible Magic Talent, he truly wanted to take her out to see the world, broaden her horizons, and cultivate her skills properly.

All this business about sleeping together, seducing and abandoning, mistresses, and illegitimate children—it was all just Jenny and Horn imagining things because they saw Ronin as a typical nobleman.

Was Ronin a typical nobleman?

No, he was not. He was a nobleman with principles!

On the way back, Erin clung tightly to Ronin’s hand. Among this group of strangers, he was the one she knew best.

She looked at him pitifully with her slightly red eyes. "Brother Ronin, you won’t bully me, will you?"

"Of course not!" he declared righteously.

"Then you won’t sell me to someone else, right? Father said young Female Mages are very popular with slavers."

Ronin rolled his eyes. ’Why would Horn say something like that? Does he see me as a human trafficker?’

"Don’t worry, I won’t."

"Then... will you sleep with me?" Erin asked.

Her words immediately drew the gazes of the surrounding guards. However, they only glanced over for a moment before staring straight ahead, pretending they hadn’t heard a thing.

Ronin felt a bit awkward and gave a slight cough. "No, I’m not interested in little girls. You’ll sleep by yourself once we get to Mountain Forest Town."

Erin’s eyes gleamed. ’So Mom was just trying to scare me,’ she thought. ’She always used to say there were Magical Beasts in the mountains to make me behave and study and practice my Cultivation.’

But at the thought of sleeping alone, she hesitated. "But I’m a little scared to sleep by myself. What should I do?"

"I’ll have Bella stay with you."

"Who’s Bella? Your wife?"

"No, Bella is my maid."

...

Ronin understood what a little girl leaving her parents for the first time must be feeling, so he answered Erin’s questions as they came, treating it as a way to pass the tedious time.

The journey back to Mountain Forest Town was slow. Since they hadn’t set out early, it wasn’t until around three in the afternoon that they finally emerged from the forest and reached the northern border of the town.

"This is Mountain Forest Town. Look, over there are the orchards and vegetable fields, and over there is the pastureland where we can graze livestock."

Ronin pointed out the different areas to the girl in his arms, but he received no reply.

He couldn’t help but look down, only to find that Erin had, at some point, tilted her head and fallen asleep.

The road from Purple Fruit Village to Mountain Forest Town was not short, and many parts were difficult to traverse on horseback, forcing them to walk.

A journey like this was certainly rough on a Mage like Erin with her weak Constitution, so it was only natural that she was exhausted.

He glanced back at the column. Not everyone who had set out was returning with them.

Besides the Transcendents, only seven of the twenty-seven Guards had returned. The rest had been left with Ridder to help him train the new recruits from the three villages.

However, all eighty militiamen from Mountain Forest Town had been brought back. After all, they had families and land here, so it wouldn’t be appropriate to leave them there.

After returning this time, Ronin had already instructed Macken and David to select thirty of the best-performing militiamen and train them as new Guards.

At the same time, during the off-season for farming, they were to organize regular training for the militia to strengthen their coordination and combat capabilities in preparation for future expansion.

"Let’s go, everyone. If we don’t hurry, we won’t leave Chahar enough time to prepare a celebratory banquet for us all."

The grand procession made its way toward Mountain Forest Castle, naturally attracting the attention of many working villagers along the way.

Thanks to Wilson’s intentional and unintentional leaks, the villagers all knew that the Lord had launched the campaign to clear out the Wilderness Tribes for their safety, which made Ronin’s image seem that much grander.

On top of that, after Wilson had returned to Mountain Forest Town a couple of days ago and boasted of their deeds, the villagers learned that their Lord had conquered three Wilderness Tribes in a row, achieving an unprecedented great victory. Their reverence for him grew even deeper.

Now, upon seeing the triumphant Ronin, the villagers all cheered loudly, running to spread the news.

When Ronin arrived back at the castle, the steward, Chahar, was standing outside the main gate with all the servants.

"My Lord, your loyal servants congratulate you on your triumphant return!"

Led by Chahar, Gallon and Bella all bowed deeply in unison to Ronin.

Erin, who had woken up long ago, was stunned by the scene. ’Brother Ronin is so impressive!’ she thought.

"Hahaha, it’s been a while, Chahar. How are things at the castle?"

Ronin laughed as he walked into the castle, and the people behind him followed one by one across the drawbridge and through the main gate.

"My Lord, rest assured, everything in the domain is in order. The barley from the autumn harvest is almost done drying, and most of it has been stored in the warehouse."

"Excellent!"

Ronin smiled. "To celebrate our victorious return, I’m holding a banquet in the castle tonight. Go and inform Mrs. Bandele and have her and her staff begin the preparations."

"Yes, My Lord!"

Chahar followed closely at his heels. "However, a few people arrived in Mountain Forest Town two days ago. They said they wish to see you. I was wondering when you plan to meet with them?"

"Oh?"

Ronin stopped in his tracks. "Who is it?"