In a critical moment, only Amy and Da Qingshan could cooperate with such seamless understanding.
This was a historic moment, a unique moment. It was only at this moment that the weapons of the four boys before them clashed with the true force of life-and-death battle.
Future martial artists believed that the only weapon capable of directly countering the deadly blow of Horns' battle axe was mercenary king Amy's two-handed greatsword. Meanwhile, the only thing capable of intercepting the black-clad boy's serpentine and cunning longsword was the holy dragon knight Da Qingshan's shield.
Amy's longsword thrust forward with great force, striking precisely at the junction of Horns' battle axe handle and blade. This was exactly the axe's leverage point; only by applying force here could the axe's trajectory be altered. The tip of the Ice Blade struck heavily, sparking fiercely in the dusk. The battle axe's direction changed, and Horns, unable to stop, stumbled past the black-clad boy and crashed into the high wall behind, which trembled slightly before collapsing with a boom.
Da Qingshan's shield spun to intercept the attacking longsword, while his right-hand sword blocked any potential assaults. In those brief moments, the direction of the longsword constantly shifted.
When Amy pulled Horns from the rubble of the collapsed wall, the dynamics of the battle had changed.
Two boys of similar height, both clad in black, wielded longswords poised to strike. Each carried a steel shield protecting their bodies, and even their offensive and defensive stances seemed identical.
If one had to make a distinction, Da Qingshan's complexion was dark, whereas the black-clad boy's face was pale. Compared to the black-clad boy's cold demeanor, Da Qingshan appeared more straightforward and honest.
Clearly, the boy had not anticipated facing two strong opponents in such a short time, having just survived a life-threatening situation. Now, this...
"Da Qingshan, stop fighting, stop fighting!" Lin Yushang and Sha Ruo, who had been waiting outside for a long time without seeing them emerge, pushed through the crowd just in time to witness the intense scene. Lin Yushang shouted anxiously.
The black-clad boy, who was about to attack, clearly heard as well. "Da Qingshan?" He murmured the name twice, then turned to Amy with suspicion, "Are you Amy?"
Amy, puzzled about any connection with the boy, nodded in surprise.
"Hmph," the black-clad boy grunted angrily after confirmation, muttering "scum" before disappearing through the crowd.
Several boys who had been attacked approached, about to speak to Amy and his group when Lin Yushang and Sha Ruo reached Amy. The boys immediately became enthusiastic upon seeing Lin Yushang.
"Oh, Miss Lin, have you just returned from the Frozen Continent? I asked about your return at your residence the day before yesterday," said a boy, nursing an injured arm but greeting Lin Yushang warmly.
"Indeed, Miss Lin, I intended to go, but the king... Anyway, you've faced many hardships on your journey, haven't you?" Inquired the imperial squad leader, lowering his head with concern, almost whispering into Lin Yushang's ear.
Lin Yushang frowned slightly, "Thank you, gentlemen, we have matters to attend to. See you later." She then pulled Amy, signaling Da Qingshan and Horns to leave.
Ordinarily, others might probe further, but these three boys were different. Amy didn't care about matters unrelated to him, Da Qingshan was uninterested in such affairs, and Horns realized there must be something significant but chose not to ask.
Soon, they reached the northern district of the capital. This area, home to nobles, had wider streets and towering walls flanking them. Some courtyards housed influential people, resembling independent fortresses, complete with small watchtowers.
The Lin family estate was also impressive, clearly owned by a military person. Four soldiers stood guard at the entrance, holding swords with a commanding presence. Upon seeing Lin Yushang, two soldiers rushed to greet her, while another went inside to report her arrival.
Lin Yushang halted the reporting soldier, "Wait, help me move the items inside first. It's the Magic Realm for magical beasts, handle it with care. Don't announce our arrival yet; I'll run an errand nearby and be right back." The soldiers and coachmen moved the Magic Realm into the estate.
As night fell, the sky darkened completely after they turned two corners.
Following the numbering, they soon found 8th Street, No. 8. This estate was the largest in the block, or rather, a classic fortress with outer walls towering 6 meters high. Even in the dark, one could see the 1.5-meter high watchtowers every 15 meters, each lit with lamps.
The large gate was shut, but a side door was open, guarded by several imperial officers. In the lamplight, their lowest rank appeared to be a squad leader.
"Who goes there?" The soldier demanded sternly.
"We're here to see Mr. Chi Hanfeng. We're his students," Amy stepped forward quickly.
"Oh, are you Lord Amy or Lord Da Qingshan?" The officers, recognizing them, immediately became welcoming.
At this moment, Lin Yushang recalled the estate's owner and exclaimed in surprise.
"The Duke's Mansion?!"
One of the officers ran inside, announcing loudly, "Lord Amy and Lord Da Qingshan are here to visit."
Amy and Da Qingshan were surprised by their own renown. Had news spread so quickly, even reaching the capital? If Chi Hanfeng was indeed a retainer of this ducal estate, he would surely be proud.
Soon, a familiar, gentle male voice echoed from inside, "Oh, I've heard there's not only one freeloader named Lei Ge, but now two more freeloaders have arrived?"
"We intended to pay, but now we won't, and there may be more than just two. I wonder if the retainer's quarters can accommodate us?" Amy whispered to Da Qingshan and the others. The fallen noble's strict upbringing had left Amy somewhat anxious. Overhead, Lü'er, hesitating between leaving or staying, shivered at the familiar voice.
Chi Hanfeng emerged, looking almost unchanged from a few months ago.
"Ha, not only do we have two little fools, but also two young ladies and a young man," Chi Hanfeng exclaimed, approaching Lin Yushang and Sha Ruo for a closer look. "Hmm, Amy, Da Qingshan, in just a few months, you've learned to captivate young women. Let me see, you—" he pointed at Sha Ruo, "you must prefer Da Qingshan, right?"
Everyone looked at Chi Hanfeng, Da Qingshan, and the now blushing Sha Ruo in surprise.
Fortunately, the awkward moment was broken by an elderly voice from the fortress, "Is that my dear apprentice?"
"Master, it's me! Uncle Chi was just telling us about your freeloading here," Amy called out, now adept at diverting attention.
"Hmph, what right does he have to speak in this house?" Lei Ge said, stepping out from the fortress. "Oh, isn't this the Lin family's young lady?"
"Greetings, Master Lei, we just returned from the Kingdom of Hamir with Miss Sha Ruo of the Holy Church. Amy and Da Qingshan are mercenaries we hired. We accompanied him to find Mr. Chi Hanfeng and are delighted to meet you," Lin Yushang greeted Lei Ge respectfully.
Oil and water, as they say, Lei Ge seemed to naturally counter Chi Hanfeng. Chi Hanfeng, wanting to interject during Lin Yushang's speech, restrained himself, knowing that without his magical beast for backup, angering Lei Ge would be unwise.
Feeling emboldened by the presence of his teacher, Amy chimed in, "Yes, yes, Uncle Chi, are you the retainer here? Seems like our teacher holds more power."
Lei Ge paused, "What retainer?"
"Uncle Chi said he's a fallen noble, and Miss Lin thinks he's a retainer here. Is that right?" Amy asked naively, his impression of Chi Hanfeng deeply influenced by years of his antics and self-deprecation.
Chi Hanfeng chuckled awkwardly, while Lei Ge tapped his head, "Remember, young man, I'll tell your father what you said." Then, turning to Amy and Da Qingshan, he added, "I never noticed his deception; he's the second son of Duke Chi, with the rank of Earl." Shaking his head, he mused, "I thought you'd learned to spot a fox's tail after all these years of trickery."
What? Everyone was stunned. An Earl? Amy and Da Qingshan might not grasp the significance, but Lin Yushang and Sha Ruo felt the stark contrast.
The Chi family, renowned as the crème de la crème of the empire, was deeply intertwined with the royal family and military. Chi Tongyun, of humble origin, was a close friend of the founding emperor of the Amy Empire, one of its four founding marshals. For 500 years, every generation's head assumed the rank of marshal based on personal merit. Besides the head, the Lin family produced three marshals, totaling 16 marshals, along with numerous other high-ranking officials and alliances through marriage.
A saying circulated within and around the empire: "As long as the Chi family stands, the empire remains." This underscored the family's importance.
Yet Lin Yushang and Sha Ruo were puzzled. If Chi Hanfeng was indeed the legitimate son of the current head, with the rank of Earl, why hadn't they heard of him?
Chi Hanfeng circled them, asking curiously, "Where's my precious Lü'er? I feel like hugging it."
Before he finished, Lü'er, hovering above and undecided about staying, heard the familiar and unsettling words "hug" and "precious," panicked, and, losing control, fell to the ground at Chi Hanfeng's feet.
"Who's there?" Before Chi Hanfeng could react, the officers drew their swords, surrounding them.
Chi Hanfeng looked down, delighted to see Lü'er's head by his feet. Hugging it, he exaggeratedly exclaimed, "555, I've finally found you. I really want to hug you. Can you fly now? Really? Oh, heaven rewards the diligent. Lü'er, don't cry, don't let those tears flow. I know you're thinking of me, I know you're grateful, I know..."
Who would have known that the mighty holy dragon's tears were due to fright? But Amy deduced this after the fact. Even when Lü'er could transform into a human, it never admitted this incident, perhaps the only thing in its life it dared not acknowledge.