Chapter 113: The Gift

Ronin walked into Lurans’s bedroom.

As the weather grew colder, Lurans’s physical condition worsened. It wasn’t that his illness was progressing; in truth, he always suffered greatly during the winter.

The fireplace had already made the room very warm, but Lurans was still covered with a thick wool quilt. He looked hot just lying there.

"Grandfather, how are you feeling?"

’Just what kind of illness could torment a Meteor Knight—one who had tempered his flesh, organs, and bones, and even broken through the Falu Wheel—for so many years?’ Ronin was deeply puzzled.

"The usual. As long as I don’t use my Fighting Qi, I’m fine."

Lurans propped himself up and leaned against the headboard. "I hear you’re leaving tomorrow?"

Ronin nodded.

Today was the seventeenth. Two days had passed since Curry gave him the Three Thousand Gold Coins, and it had been five days since he returned to Wushan Castle.

"The day before yesterday, I instructed the city’s Carpenters and Blacksmiths, and they can now produce the Curved Plow. My men have also recruited a group of craftsmen and apprentices, so it’s time for me to head back."

Ronin said with a smile, "There are still many things waiting for me in Mountain Forest Town."

"Heh, you certainly are a good Lord who cares about his territory."

Lurans tilted his head to look at his grandson, who sat diagonally across from the bed. A sharp glint shone in his eyes. "I’ve been observing you these past few days. Ever since the incident with Selena, and since I arranged for you to be made a Baron in Mountain Forest Town, you’ve changed a lot."

He shook his head. "No, it’s like you’re a completely different person."

Ronin’s heart skipped a beat. ’His grandfather’s judgment is spot on,’ he thought. ’I really am a different person.’

’Fortunately, even though this world has Transcendents, no one has the ability to see through the transmigration of a soul.’

"I read a passage in a novel once. It said that after experiencing a drastic change, people might alter their old habits and behaviors. A diligent person might suddenly become lazy, an ambitious person might suddenly grow weary, a hot-tempered person might suddenly become quiet, and so on. Perhaps I’m one of those cases."

"Haha, I think this change of yours is excellent!"

Lurans said with relief, "Child, do you realize that if you had shown this side of yourself sooner, I would not have stripped you of your inheritance rights so easily?"

The heir to a Noble Title must possess either sufficient strength or sufficient capability. Both are qualities that earn the recognition of one’s Vassals. Unfortunately, the previous Ronin had neither. Neither did Wiggin.

Lurans’s words were sudden and without preamble, but Ronin didn’t find them unreasonable.

Ever since returning to Wushan Castle this time, he had sensed a significant change in Lurans’s attitude toward him.

Take the business negotiations at Wushan Fortress the other day, for example. It had clearly been an introductory meeting orchestrated by Lurans.

In the end, his grandfather had even told Ronin that if he needed anything, he could seek out Marvin Viscount in Pasture City.

"Actually, being the Baron of the Forest is quite nice. I have plenty of time and freedom to do what I want."

Ronin chuckled. "As for inheriting the Marquis title, there’s still Father. And even when he grows old, Bretton is a good choice. With his talent, he’ll probably have caught up to you by then."

"Bretton’s talent is indeed impressive."

Lurans didn’t deny it. "If he didn’t have such complicated connections behind him, he would indeed be the most suitable heir. But that child was raised by his mother, and he listens to her. And Dianey..."

He trailed off, falling silent for a moment as if lost in thought, then shook his head and turned the topic back to Ronin. "So, how about it? Are you interested in becoming the heir now?"

Uh...

Ronin hadn’t expected the old man to be so direct. It had only been a few months since his inheritance rights were revoked, and now he was being asked to have them restored?

’This feels like a bit of a joke,’ he thought.

"The King might have only just approved the documents for you to change the heir. If you change it again now, it would only..."

Lurans waved his hand dismissively. "The King has no time for such matters. He’s a busy man."

Ronin’s words were cut off, leaving him momentarily speechless. ’Could Lurans be as impulsive as Wiggin, acting on every whim?’

He shook his head. "I’m not interested in the inheritance right now. Besides, if you were to really change it again, Wushan Castle would lose all credibility in the eyes of the other nobles."

Ronin’s predecessor had a terrible reputation and few supporters. Even so, many reasons had to be fabricated just to disinherit him.

Now that the inheritance has fallen to Bretton, changing it again wouldn’t be a simple matter. He has an incredibly powerful maternal grandfather backing him. If things went sour, it could even lead to war.

And in that scenario, Ronin would be pushed to the very front lines.

’So what’s the point of an inheritance right with no real power?’ Ronin thought. ’What would I even do with it?’

Lurans stared at Ronin intently, finally nodding slowly after a long moment.

"It seems you’ve truly matured, child! If you had agreed just now without a second thought, I would have concluded that your newfound composure was limited to only trivial matters."

’Just as I thought,’ Ronin mused. ’Lurans isn’t impulsive like Wiggin.’

"Go, bring me that box from the desk."

’A box?’

Ronin looked over in surprise. On the desk not far away, there was indeed a long, black wooden box. It seemed Lurans had prepared it in advance.

’What could it be?’

Filled with curiosity, he brought the long box over.

"This is a parting gift for you. Open it," Lurans said with a smile.

"This is a wonderful surprise!"

When it came to gifts, Ronin never refused. For one, he was short on resources. For another, why risk offending the giver by refusing their goodwill?

Brimming with anticipation, Ronin opened the long box. Inside, five scrolls lay quietly.

"What’s this?"

Confused, he took out the topmost scroll and unrolled it. It was covered in dense, mysterious, and obscure Magic Patterns. Looking at them too closely caused a sense of strain.

Ronin was familiar with this sensation. He’d felt it when he stared closely at the array used to summon Macken and the others, though it had been much stronger then.

Without a doubt, these were Magic Scrolls.

He saw the description in the bottom right corner: Sixth-level Magic, Fire Dragon Devouring Heaven.

This wasn’t just any Magic Scroll; it was a Sixth-level Magic!

Lurans’s voice sounded at just the right moment. "There are five Magic Scrolls in there in total. One scroll of the Sixth-level Fire Attribute Magic, ’Fire Dragon Devouring Heaven’; three scrolls of the Fifth-level Earth Magic, ’Guardian Armor’; and one scroll of the Sixth-level Light Attribute Magic, ’Strong Healing Skill.’"

HISS!

Ronin sucked in a sharp breath. "This... this is too valuable!"

Ronin hadn’t been particularly moved by Lurans’s previous gifts. After all, items worth a few Hundred Gold Coins were nothing to a Marquis.

Even the Curved Plow deal had been a result of his own merit. If the Curved Plow hadn’t been so effective, he wouldn’t have earned those 3,000 Gold Coins.

But now, the value of the scrolls Lurans was giving him was simply too high. No matter how thick-skinned Ronin was, he felt he couldn’t accept them.

To say nothing of the others, the Strong Healing Skill Scroll alone sold for Six Thousand Gold Coins. It was what had saved Wiggin’s life.

The combined value of these five Magic Scrolls was likely over ten thousand Gold Coins.

No matter how wealthy Lurans was, it was unlikely he would give away so many precious Magic Scrolls at once.

"These things hold no value for an old man with one foot in the grave like me. Besides, I live in Wushan Castle year-round and have no opportunity to use them. Rather than let them go to waste, it’s better to give them to you. Perhaps you’ll find some use for them."

Lurans said earnestly, "I have high hopes for you, child. Even if you don’t inherit the title of Marquis of Wushan Territory in the future, I believe that with your wisdom and ability, you can still become an outstanding Lord!"

That was remarkably high praise.

Ronin’s grip on the scrolls tightened. He never thought he would be so moved.

At that moment, he truly felt the hardships this old man before him faced.

’A Meteor Powerhouse, possessing immense strength yet unable to even use his Fighting Qi;’

’The head of a Marquis Clan, yet unable to find a single suitably qualified heir. For Lurans, this was a painful and helpless situation.’

’This family, this castle, this territory... it’s all likely held up by Lurans alone,’ Ronin thought. ’Once he dies, the current situation will probably fall apart.’

’Kingdoms and nobles are never short on disputes and wars.’

"Thank you, Grandfather!"

Ronin said sincerely, "I will make good use of them. I won’t let your gift go to waste!"

"Heh, you’d better not use them."

Lurans shook his head with a smile. "Magic Scrolls aren’t something just anyone can use. Activating them consumes Extraordinary Power and a certain amount of Spiritual Power."

"You can’t. You’re too weak! You have neither Fighting Qi nor Magic Power. You might just manage to use a second or Third-level Magic Scroll, but if you try to force the activation of these, they will drain you of your very life."

He advised, "Have your Knight, Macken, use them. An Advanced Level Knight can barely manage to use Fifth or Sixth-level Magic Scrolls, but the cost is immense. Don’t touch them unless it’s a last resort."

"Especially that Strong Healing Skill Scroll. It’s the only one in all of Wushan Castle. Use it where you feel it will have the most value."

Ronin couldn’t help but look at the scrolls in the box. ’To think he’d give me the only Strong Healing Skill Scroll... Just how highly does Lurans think of me?’

What Lurans didn’t know, however, was that Ronin was already a Dual-Profession Advanced Level Transcendent. He was more than capable of using these scrolls himself.

Ronin listened to this advice with great seriousness, a heavy feeling settling in his heart.

’Sometimes, you aren’t afraid of people treating you poorly; you’re afraid of them treating you too well.’

"Alright, I’ve said all I need to say. You should go."

Lurans waved his hand and lay back down. "I need to rest now."

Ronin took a deep breath, put away the long box, and bowed deeply. "Please take care of yourself. I will come to visit you again at the end of December!"