Chapter 255 - 254: Seeing Negan Again

As Ronin spoke with the two viscounts outside, nobles and Knights began to converge on Wushan Fortress. Among them were many faces he recognized.

Ronin noticed that Melonika had once again sent his son, Talan, in his stead.

Of Wushan Castle’s five Knight Order Leaders, Melonika was the only one Ronin had yet to meet. The man was certainly a character.

"See? I told you. Here comes the lion."

Marvin pointed to a formidable Knight striding toward them down the fortress’s main road. The man walked with his head held high, his gaze a mixture of cold indifference and ferocity that was enough to make one shrink in fear.

Negan Golden Frenzied Lion, a Golden Knight under the command of Ossen Count.

Ronin recognized him. He’d been intimidated by the man’s aura right after he first transmigrated.

It seemed that Ossen wouldn’t be attending the nobles’ assembly this time, nor would his son, Barrington. He had sent this man as his representative once again.

"No, an assembly of this importance requires a member of the Hyde Clan to be present. Look at the man next to him."

Sandro said, "If I recall correctly, that’s Ossen Count’s younger brother, Alan Hyde. He’s said to be a Silver Knight."

Ronin raised an eyebrow, his gaze shifting to the older Knight beside Negan.

The Hyde Clan was truly brimming with military might. Not even counting their retainers, the family’s own high-level combatants included one at the Meteor Level, one at the Golden Level, and one at the Silver Level.

"Bretton, how strong are your cousins on your mother’s side?"

Bretton thought for a moment before answering, "My cousin Slant was an Advanced Level Knight, but he was killed in battle last year. My cousin Kalima is nineteen and an Intermediate Mage. And as for my cousin Selena..."

He glanced at Ronin as he spoke and trailed off.

That was the cousin who had committed suicide because of Ronin.

"There’s also my cousin Tomris. He’s my age, but he’s still just a Basic Level Knight."

"They say Sir Alan’s son, Omar, is a Silver Knight, and his grandson, Vasily, is a sixteen-year-old Basic Level Mage who’s now studying at the Wushan Extraordinary Academy."

’What a large and prosperous clan,’ Ronin thought.

’And it seems that, aside from Dianey, the rest of them all have decent talent for cultivation?’

’I wonder if Dianey feels a little awkward when she goes back to her family home, surrounded by all of them?’

’His stepmother’s attitude toward him had been surprisingly good lately,’ he mused. ’Could it be she suffered some setback with the Hyde Clan, prompting a change of heart? Is she finally starting to think about the Wushan Clan’s interests?’

As his thoughts wandered, Negan had appeared before him without him noticing.

He first nodded to Bretton in greeting, then his eyes narrowed as he turned his cold gaze on Ronin.

"When I think of Miss Selena’s tragic suicide and then see you thriving like this, Ronin, I realize I should have insisted on sending you to prison!"

He was as arrogant and aggressive as ever.

Marvin wanted to step forward and trade a few barbs, but he considered his position and held his tongue.

If Ronin couldn’t handle it, it wouldn’t be too late to step in.

The area was bustling with activity, and Negan’s actions immediately drew the attention of many nobles and Knights, who stopped to watch.

The Ronin of a year ago would have likely cowered before Negan’s Golden Knight Level presence and his aggressive attitude.

But times had changed. A Golden Knight was now only one level higher than Ronin.

If it came down to a fight to the death, Ronin wasn’t even sure he would lose.

"Negan, you’ve made another mistake. You shouldn’t regret failing to send me to prison; you should regret not killing me on the spot to avenge Selena."

Ronin’s tone was mocking and provocative. He stared directly into the other man’s eyes. "I just wonder... if you have the guts to make a move on me now."

Nobles were expected to be polite and speak with decorum, but that depended on the occasion.

Ugly scenes of them cursing or even spitting at one another were not unheard of.

Faced with Negan’s rudeness, Ronin saw no reason to be polite in return.

"Oh? You’ve grown bold after becoming the Viscount of Wubei?"

Negan sneered, a frigid aura radiating from him.

As the aura spread, the surrounding Knights felt their hearts clench, and those with less strength couldn’t help but shiver.

A Combat Skill that affected one’s Spirit was a rare sight.

Marvin instinctively moved to intervene on Ronin’s behalf.

This "Terrifying Atmosphere" was Negan’s signature move. If used at full force against an Advanced Level Knight’s Spirit, it could cause a brief moment of vertigo, followed by a period of disorientation.

Although it caused no physical damage, that single moment of vertigo on a battlefield could be fatal.

However, Marvin was taken aback when he saw Ronin’s completely unbothered expression, and he held back.

Even Sandro, who was standing to the side, looked at Ronin with new appreciation. This young viscount was truly different.

A slight smile played on Ronin’s lips, his tone still light and unconcerned. "Negan Knight, you can retract your aura now."

’As a Chief Mage, my Spiritual Power is leagues beyond that of a Golden Knight. I didn’t feel the slightest attack on my Spirit.’

"If you have that much energy to spare, you’d be better off using it against the Black Gold Brotherhood."

He continued, "I see Haid’s County has strength in abundance. Why don’t you just deal with the Black Gold Brotherhood on your own this year?"

"Haha, Viscount Ronin is right!"

Marvin chimed in at the perfect moment. "The Black Gold Brotherhood is probably only about as strong as a single Knight Order. With the power of the Count’s Domain, dealing with them should be no problem at all. You don’t need our help in the slightest."

Several nobles, who had been put off by Negan’s rude behavior, let out chuckles.

Just then, Sir Alan, who was beside Negan, finally spoke up. He offered a small smile, and his words immediately defused the tense atmosphere.

"Negan, you’ve been discourteous."

Alan continued, "What happened in the past was unpleasant, but it is in the past. Don’t let your impulsive nature harm the good relations between the Wushan Clan and the Hyde Clan."

Negan snorted and retracted his aura, but his gaze remained fixed on Ronin, full of scrutiny.

’Compared to the last time they met, this young man seems like a completely different person,’ Negan thought. ’His bearing, his way of speaking, even his strength... none of it can be connected to that good-for-nothing from before.’

’No wonder the Count was certain Lurans would restore Ronin’s inheritance. This Ronin is indeed a problem.’

"Following the Marquis’s orders, the Count’s Domain has been fighting both the Skull Society and the Black Gold Brotherhood, and we have suffered considerable losses in that time. Now that the Black Gold Brotherhood is once again amassing troops to invade the Wushan Territory, we of the Hyde Clan, as vassals of Wushan Castle, will of course actively answer the call."

Alan said with a smile, "However, confronting this band of brigands is not a burden for the Hyde Clan to bear alone. Come, my fellow nobles, let us go and hear the Marquis’s instructions!"

After speaking, he gave a slight bow and led Negan into Wushan Fortress.

The various other nobles exchanged greetings and followed them into the fortress.

"So, what do you think of Negan’s strength?" Marvin asked with a smile.

Ronin considered it seriously for a moment. "I’m no match for him."

His words made both Marvin and Sandro break into a smile.

How could an Advanced Level Knight possibly be a match for a Golden Knight?

The two of them simply took it as Ronin’s dry way of answering.