On the bed, Zong Ling was half-lying, leaning against it, while Tong San sat on a stool beside him. The two of them looked at Dongbo Xueying, who had just run in from outside.
"Uncle Zong, are you alright?" Dongbo Xueying examined him closely. Uncle Zong had already changed into a clean white robe and seemed to have no visible injuries, but his face was pale.
Zong Ling smiled and said, "The leader of the Crescent Blade Alliance is indeed formidable. If it weren't for the alchemical inner armor protecting me, I might have really lost my... cough, cough, cough..." As he spoke, he started coughing and covered his mouth with a handkerchief. The white handkerchief quickly turned red as blood spread across it.
Dongbo Xueying's heart trembled. Coughing up blood? Is it an internal injury?
"Uncle Zong." Dongbo Xueying sat down by the bed.
"It's nothing, I won't die," Zong Ling said, putting the handkerchief aside and throwing it into a basin, then smiled, "This is nothing. Back when I was adventuring with your parents and Uncle Tong, we faced much worse injuries many times."
"Xueying, don't worry. With the constitution of a Six-Armed Snake Demon, it will take one or two months to recover from this level of injury," Tong San said calmly. They had long been accustomed to walking on the edge of life and death, "By the way, Zong Ling, how did you get so badly injured? You led a whole battalion of soldiers. Is the leader of the Crescent Blade Alliance that powerful?"
"He is indeed powerful, even more so than I expected. He is truly the strongest bandit in the Yishui region," Zong Ling said.
"Who is the leader of the Crescent Blade Alliance, and what is his background?" Dongbo Xueying was completely puzzled.
"It's time I told you about these matters," Zong Ling said, "After all, the affairs of the Xueying Manor will eventually be handed over to you."
Zong Ling looked at Dongbo Xueying, "As a lord, you have the authority to control your territory, but you also have the responsibility to protect it and all its people! When bandits invade your territory, killing and plundering, you must eliminate them!"
Dongbo Xueying nodded.
"When your parents were alive, your mother was a Heaven Rank Mage. With a powerful mage's support, the army could perform much better. Moreover, our Xueying Manor was equipped with a large number of Star-Breaking Crossbows. No bandits in the entire Yishui County dared to offend us," Zong Ling said, "After your parents were captured, the bandits have been watching. They are also wary of the Star-Breaking Crossbows."
Dongbo Xueying was well aware of the power of the Star-Breaking Crossbows. His father had originally equipped five hundred of them!
Just these Star-Breaking Crossbows alone cost fifty thousand gold coins, enough to buy the entire Xueying Manor. So, in the entire Yishui County, the Dongbo family of the Xueying Manor was quite famous.
"The tax in the Xueying Manor is low, and the people love their lord! Over the years, the people have lived well, which has made many bandits envious," Zong Ling said, "After your parents were captured, they became restless. Finally, the strongest bandit group in the entire Yishui County—the Crescent Blade Alliance—began to plunder our territory."
"I received the news and led a battalion of three hundred soldiers, each riding a horse and carrying a Star-Breaking Crossbow, but by the time we arrived, more than five hundred civilians had already been killed and plundered."
Dongbo Xueying's eyes turned red as he listened.
More than five hundred people died?
This, this...
These damned bandits! What did those civilians do to them?
"When I arrived and was tracking the bandits, I didn't expect the leader of the Crescent Blade Alliance, the evil leader 'Gai Bin,' to be hiding alone in the village that had been massacred. He suddenly launched a surprise attack on me," Zong Ling sighed, "We were caught off guard, and the three hundred soldiers were also in disarray. I could only try to defend myself."
"Gai Bin, the leader of the Crescent Blade Alliance, is a Meteor Rank Knight! I have fought Meteor Rank Knights before and can usually hold them off for a while," Zong Ling sighed, "But Gai Bin's sword skills are incredibly fast, much faster than a normal Meteor Rank Knight... I suspect he has some special combat techniques."
Dongbo Xueying understood.
In terms of strength, among his father, Uncle Tong, and Uncle Zong, Uncle Zong was the strongest. Although he was only a Heaven Rank Knight, he was of the Snake People royal family. As a Six-Armed Snake Demon, he was very strong and could attack with six arms simultaneously in battle. The presence of his snake tail made his movements even more agile and swift... so even when fighting a Meteor Rank Knight, he could hold out for a while.
"My sword skills are fast, but his are faster. I couldn't block him and was struck by three consecutive slashes! Fortunately, the alchemical inner armor protected me, and I only suffered some internal injuries. The three hundred soldiers also began attacking with their Star-Breaking Crossbows, forcing the leader of the Crescent Blade Alliance to flee, and he was also lightly injured," Zong Ling sighed, "His sword skills and movements are both very fast, no wonder he has such a fearsome reputation."
Dongbo Xueying felt a chill. Uncle Zong was struck by three slashes. If his luck had been worse or the fight had lasted longer, he might have lost his life!
"Xueying, rest assured."
Beside him, Tong San's voice was deep, "In the entire Yishui County, there are only four Meteor Rank Knights and one Meteor Rank Great Mage! Among the bandits, there is only the leader of the Crescent Blade Alliance. This time, the leader of the Crescent Blade Alliance was injured and saw the power of the Star-Breaking Crossbows... he probably won't dare to take the risk again. And if he doesn't come, the other bandits will be even more hesitant."
"Um." Dongbo Xueying sighed in relief.
"Why would Gai Bin, a Meteor Rank Knight, choose to be a bandit?" Dongbo Xueying asked.
"Hmph." Tong San grunted, "Xueying, even some powerful experts in this world prefer to gain without effort and enjoy plundering! It's said that Gai Bin killed a noble to seize treasure and was eventually exposed and wanted, so he became a bandit."
Zong Ling also said, "In the past, his reputation was already bad, but no one could catch him. After doing so many evil deeds, he was eventually exposed and wanted. However, with his strength and hiding in the Ruined Mountains, leading a large group of desperados... he has been able to act arrogantly until now. Forget it, it's not something we can worry about, even if we wanted to, we can't do anything."
Dongbo Xueying nodded.
There's nothing we can do.
Hiding in the Ruined Mountains, even the city guards of the empire's cities are unwilling to attack. The Ruined Mountains stretch over ten thousand miles, connecting four provinces and are the largest mountain range in the entire empire, home to countless terrifying magical beasts. Many desperados hide in the outer regions of the Ruined Mountains.
The inner regions of the Ruined Mountains are too dangerous.
"For now, we won't worry about them. When I have enough strength, I will definitely eliminate this cancer," Dongbo Xueying thought to himself.
"By the way, Xueying, have you thought about the Changfeng Academy?" Zong Ling suddenly asked.
"Xueying!" Tong San also urged, "The Changfeng Academy is the top academy in the Anyang Province and the most powerful force. It is much stronger than your mother's Moyang family! The chancellor of the Changfeng Academy, 'Changfeng Knight' Chi Qiubai, is the strongest in the entire province... your strength and conditions are more than enough to enter this academy. It's already winter, and if you don't register soon, it will be too late."
"Ten years old is the final limit. If you exceed ten years old, the Changfeng Academy won't accept you," Zong Ling also looked at Dongbo Xueying.
Dongbo Xueying fell silent.
He had thought about it for a long time.
The Changfeng Academy only accepts boys under ten years old! This age is full of potential for cultivation, especially during the physical development period... it is the most critical time for knight training. Some early developers start growing rapidly at ten years old, so the academy's age limit of 'ten years' is not without reason.
The Changfeng Academy is the strongest force in Anyang Province! The chancellor is the most powerful being in the entire province!
The students it cultivates enter as ordinary boys and graduate as at least Heaven Rank Knights! Many can even reach the Meteor Rank, but the entrance examination is very strict. Of course, with Dongbo Xueying's physical condition and spear skills, it would be very easy for him.
"I have thought about it for a long time and have made my decision," Dongbo Xueying said.