Dianey’s enthusiasm didn’t end with their initial greeting. She went on to prepare all sorts of fruits and snacks for Ronin. For lunch, she even asked what he’d like and had it made specially for him.
It was as if she had transford from a stepmother into his birth mother.
No, she was probably acting more affectionate than a birth mother. Dianey might not even be this enthusiastic when Bretton ca ho.
With Bretton, she was more demanding and encouraging, pushing him to spend all his ti on his Cultivation, improve his strength as much as possible, and quickly beco a powerful Knight capable of standing on his own.
But this abnormal enthusiasm only made Ronin more cautious.
Regardless of her motives, it was never a mistake to be a little careful.
After eating so fruit and telling her what he wanted for lunch, Ronin finally escaped Dianey’s fervor and headed to the rear courtyard alone.
"Young Master Ronin, you’ve finally arrived!"
After hearing the Guards’ report, the old butler, Mosite, relayed the news to Lurans. The Marquis showed a rare expression of happiness.
"It’s been a while, Mosite. How is my grandfather?"
"He’s well, he’s well, everything is well!"
Ronin couldn’t tell if Mosite was being truthful or not. "The master was overjoyed when he received your letter and learned you’d be returning for your birthday. He’s been talking about you constantly!"
His description made Ronin picture a lonely old man, waiting at ho for his children to return. Lurans couldn’t be that forlorn, though.
Even though this was where the Marquis lived, the furnishings and scenery seed unchanged.
Mosite led Ronin to Lurans’s study, where he soon found his grandfather sitting upright on a sofa, resting.
The old man was dressed quite formally, and his spirits seed high. But when Ronin saw Lurans’s face, he was shocked.
Lurans was much thinner than before, almost skin and bones. His hair was completely gray, and his eyes were deeply sunken.
"Grandfather, how are you?"
Ronin asked with concern, "Why have you gotten so thin?"
Lurans raised a hand. Mosite understood the signal, bowed, and promptly exited the study, closing the door behind him.
"These are the side effects of the Soul-Devouring Surge. After one intense use, the backlash grows progressively stronger until it reaches a new equilibrium."
Lurans smiled. "Don’t worry. I’ve just gotten a bit thinner, that’s all."
He looked Ronin up and down, then nodded slightly. "You’ve grown taller and seem more mature. How is the developnt of Wubei Territory coming along?"
Ronin took a Purification Skill Magic Scroll from his coat. "Grandfather, I managed to get a few Magic Scrolls for the Light Attribute Magic, Purification Skill. Do you think they’ll have any effect?"
"Purification Skill Magic Scrolls aren’t easy to co by. It seems you paid a high price."
Lurans took the Scroll, opened it for a look, then rolled it back up. "It’s a sha you went to the expense, but unfortunately, this has no effect on the Soul-Devouring Surge."
"None at all?"
Ronin asked instinctively, but from his grandfather’s expression, he could guess that Lurans had likely already been treated with the Purification Skill.
His grandfather’s next words confird Ronin’s suspicion.
"I heard about the Fourth-level Light Attribute Magic, Purification Skill, back when I was young. Light Attribute Mages are rare, but there are still so across the entire Orland Continent. In those days, I used my connections to find a Light Attribute Great Mage. He cast the Purification Skill for personally. Aside from making my body feel a bit more comfortable, it had no effect whatsoever on the Soul-Devouring Surge."
’That makes sense,’ Ronin thought. ’To cure his ailnt, Lurans must have paid a trendous price and pulled countless strings back in the day. He must have heard of a Magic like the Purification Skill and would have certainly tried it.’
"There is one very peculiar thing about this Magic."
Lurans continued, "When other types of Magic are used to treat , not only do they have no effect, they often trigger a backlash from the Soul-Devouring Surge. But the Light Attribute’s Healing Skill, Purification Skill, and a few other spells don’t have that problem."
"This is the main reason Miroslav and Silva insist that Light Attribute Magic can heal my internal injuries."
Ronin could only put the Purification Skill Magic Scroll away. "Alright. I’ll find a Magic that can cure you."
’If I can obtain the Sixth-level Magical Beast, Carlos, I’ll have no problem protecting myself.’
’Ridder is also advancing his Level thanks to his own talent for Cultivation. I’ll invest the next batch of Energy Essence into Elron and get him to beco an Eighth-level Mage as soon as possible.’
’But looking at Grandfather’s current condition, I don’t know if he can really hold on for another seven or eight years like he said.’
’If he doesn’t have that much ti, I’m afraid I won’t be able to make it.’
’After all, an Eighth-level Mage is one of the most powerful beings on this continent. To raise a subordinate to that Level... even if I can get a decent amount of Energy Essence from my monthly sign-ins, the pressure is still imnse.’
’I’ll have to focus more on achievents to accumulate more Energy Essence.’
"The developnt of Wubei Territory is on the right track."
Since there was no cure for now, Ronin answered his grandfather’s earlier question.
"The biggest issue right now is a population shortage."
Ronin said, "I’ve already had my people recruit more Free People to join Wubei Territory, which has eased the pressure, but progress is still slow."
"Developing a territory doesn’t happen overnight. Make a solid plan, proceed step-by-step, and have patience."
Lurans advised, "A typical Viscount’s Domain has a population of around fifty to sixty thousand. A prosperous city like Trojan City has over a hundred thousand. These are the results of many years of developnt."
"As long as you develop the territory’s economy, establish its unique characteristics, and build your reputation, many Free People and Knights will naturally flock to your banner."
"As for population, even through natural growth, if you wait ten or twenty years—as long as you develop the territory’s resources—the population will increase on its own."
That was the conventional thod, but Ronin wanted to achieve more. He needed to increase his population in the short term.
’Waiting ten or twenty years... putting aside whether I’m willing to wait that long, Grandfather definitely won’t have the chance to see that day.’
Nevertheless, Ronin listened attentively to Lurans’s guidance.
"Grandfather, you just ntioned unique characteristics. I actually brought a specialty from Wubei Territory this ti."
"Oh?"
Lurans said with a smile, "It isn’t more silk clothing, is it?"
He had been very fond of the scarf from last ti.
"Not exactly. Wubei Territory just has a few more specialties than you’re aware of."
As he spoke, he took a wooden box from a nearby Guard, placed it on the table, and slowly opened it.
The box was lined with grass for cushioning, and in the center sat a white porcelain bowl.
"What is this?"
Lurans lifted the white porcelain bowl from the box in astonishnt. "How can it be so exquisite? Is this pottery?"
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