Chương 7: Chapter Seven: Use the Flame Fist on Him!
"If there are comprehensive conditions, he can be disposed of without leaving any future troubles... what does this signify?"
As the conversation concluded, Baron Pig fell into deep contemplation, unable to ascertain the true sentiment of those above regarding Chu Yan.
Was he merely an abandoned pawn, or was this a genuine trial?
If it were the former, then Baron Pig could act against Chu Yan without further concerns; however, if it were the latter, he would have to swallow his pride and wait for Chu Yan to complete his trial and depart from this place.
"The elders seem to imply that I should only act when I possess absolute certainty, permitting his demise only through unavoidable 'accidents.' It appears I must exercise greater caution."
Having grasped this nuance, Baron Pig's anger caused his flesh to tremble.
For so many years, he had been the undisputed ruler along the Dead Sea border; apart from the taboo individuals who kept to themselves, he had never felt the need to cater to anyone!
"At dawn, I shall urge John once more to take Xianoya away. Once she is gone, the young lord will be left isolated. Janet, that cunning fox, cannot possibly heed his commands; her apparent kindness is most likely fleeting.
She is surely testing the young lord's standing within the Dragon Flame family."
However, soon Janet would discover that Chu Yan's protector within the dragon lineage had departed, leaving him without any support in the Dead Sea border.
At that moment, Janet's goodwill would come to an end, for a merchant is inherently pragmatic.
...
...
In the lord's castle, within the chambers.
During her "nap," Xianoya groggily rose, sipping a glass of water to soothe her parched throat before returning to her bed to rest.
This discomfort felt reminiscent of a fever; her consciousness blurred under an abnormal body temperature, leading to a muddled perception of the external world.
The boundaries between reality and dreams had become indistinct, and she gradually lost the ability to discern whether she was dreaming or if the currents of time had cast her back to that moment of public scorn...
When Xianoya was merely four years old, she underwent a magical aptitude test, revealing her extraordinary talent in magic. Her desperate mother, overwhelmed with joy, took her to seek refuge within the Lowilan family.
At that time, she was still perplexed by the drastic change in her circumstances, abruptly transitioning from a thatched hut to a lavish mansion.
However, the attitude of the Lowilan family toward her was less than favorable, as she was the illegitimate daughter of a count who had shown unexpected leniency.
Had it not been for her remarkable magical talent, she would never have gained entry into this family nor acquired the noble surname "Lowilan."
The countess harbored the greatest enmity toward her; the offspring of a wild woman living under the same roof as her legitimate wife was utterly unacceptable.
Xianoya and her mother's presence was a direct affront to the countess, serving as the source of her ill temper.
Especially concerning her son John, whose magical talent had received nothing but an embarrassing rating; the countess's hostility toward Xianoya only intensified.
"Let them serve themselves, thinking they can curry favor by moving in here and become the mistresses of the Lowilan family?!
Such delusions! You mother and daughter are nothing but vermin!"
"Talent is but temporary; one's future growth is never guaranteed!"
The servants within the estate trembled before the countess, refraining from any interaction with Xianoya and her mother, leaving them to fend for themselves.
Eating and doing laundry were relegated to the confines of a dusty utility room where the two women squeezed in together.
Meanwhile, her half-brother John, the eldest son of the main house, was consistently influenced by the countess, often treating Xianoya with disdain and ridicule.
He even took pride in his cruelty, as every time he insulted Xianoya, their mother would reward him with approval.
"You worthless, illegitimate girl, get lost! Look at you; outsiders would think the Lowilan family has taken in a pair of beggars!"
"Stay out of my and my mother's sight; do you wish to ruin our entire day?"
Reflecting on those childhood experiences, Xianoya felt no particular grievance, though her heart ached; she understood the countess's perspective.
A legitimate wife would naturally be wary of her husband's unexpected mistress and illegitimate daughter—it was entirely reasonable.
Moreover, Xianoya still vividly remembered the destitute existence within the thatched hut, where the biting winter winds tortured her spirit, making sleep nearly impossible.
Daily meals were uncertain, dependent solely on her mother's ability to find work washing for others; otherwise, hunger would prevail.
She was acutely aware of the flavors of wild herbs and vegetables in varying weather, seasons, and times of day.
On rainy nights during early spring, the wild grasses were most delectable, their tender leaves soaked in rainwater, complemented by the gentle evening breeze.
Conversely, on sunny winter evenings, the dried grasses were nearly inedible, with moisture evaporated, the cold wind bringing the aroma of neighboring households' cooking.
She could smell the savory scent of roasted meat and the mild fragrance of fresh bread, yet what she consumed remained nothing but dry, withered grasses.
In comparison, life within the Lowilan household was a substantial improvement; enduring verbal and physical abuse was merely the cost of food and shelter.
...
As the years passed, by the time Xianoya reached fourteen, she had blossomed into a graceful and captivating young woman.
Her magical talents evidently eclipsed even her beauty.
Xianoya found it difficult to ascertain whether her growth was a blessing or a curse.
Her talents transformed into formidable strength, allowing her to grasp sword magic with exceptional aptitude; she could integrate most forms of magic within a mere three months.
As she faced less criticism, members of the Lowilan family sought to befriend her, hoping to instill in her a sense of loyalty to the family.
Yet the companion who had once stood by her side, her mother, had passed away, never having witnessed her daughter rise to prominence or being invited to reside in the spacious chambers of the estate.
However, during that time, the Lowilan family's fortunes had begun to wane.
The sudden emergence of formidable magical creatures within their territory drastically diminished their wealth, compelling them to spend considerable sums on hiring adventurers for extermination.
One day, John, having somehow acquired an obscure spell, presented it to Xianoya.
"This is our ancestral powerful magic. I hope, as a member of the family, you can learn it swiftly and help eliminate the magical creatures, thus saving the family some expenses."
At that moment, Xianoya perceived this as a genuine opportunity to alter the family's view of her.
Yet later, she would discover that this obscure spell was classified as forbidden black magic, and its practitioners were considered guilty.
John's decision to pass it to her stemmed solely from his apprehension.
He had already recognized the disparity between them—despite her being an illegitimate daughter, her talent was alarmingly high.
John felt threatened, fearing that Xianoya could one day violently usurp his rightful position as the heir!
This girl harbored deep scheming; for all these years of being insulted, she had remained unruffled, surely harboring resentment and intent on revenge!
...
Black magic was indeed arcane; Xianoya took two and a half years to merely reach the entry-level proficiency when she first studied it.
However, mastering it was merely a matter of time, and she understood the necessity for extreme caution regarding this forbidden magic!
How could a noble family such as the Lowilans possess such black magic? How had the direct descendants become so weak?
Soon, the Lowilan family, accompanied by their servants and guards, set forth to combat the magical creatures.
In this battle, the magical creatures demonstrated their true value, proving that without considerable expense for powerful adventurers, they were unassailable.
The money the Lowilan family had spent in recent years was justified; they had no choice but to expend it!
As the warriors faced imminent defeat, Xianoya, before the eyes of all, unleashed the black magic and vanquished the magical creatures.
At that moment, she exhaled deeply, basking in the sense of accomplishment, oblivious to the horrified gazes of her companions.
—Those who harbor fallen ones of forbidden magic share the same punishment!
Yet Xianoya contemplated, "I must have established my footing now, haven't I? The family will save money, and our circumstances will improve."
However, not long after, instead of a celebratory feast, she was met by the forces of the Sanctum of Discipline, who had come to apprehend those who had dared to touch the forbidden.
John, frightened, reported to the knights of the Sanctum:
"She is my father's illegitimate daughter, with a gloomy disposition and deep cunning. I never anticipated her would secretly practice black magic; had this not been revealed, she might very well have come for us."
The common folk, relieved from excessive taxation thanks to Xianoya, had caught wind of rumors from an unknown source and desperately sought the attention of the sanctified nuns, exclaiming:
"For years, children have gone missing, most likely sacrificed by her for her black magic. Perhaps the magical creatures emerged because of her, leaving the populace to suffer, and now she feigns the role of a demon slayer!"
Thus, Xianoya was escorted to the Dead Sea border, to the place labeled as the "End of the World."
Everything transpired so suddenly, resembling a dream—indistinguishable as either good or bad, leaving only a sense of absurdity.
*
"My vacuum cleaner, do you have any household waste? I can help you dispose of it~"
Chu Yan strolled with a blob of slime in tow, greeting the "female roommates" on the first and second floors.
Repurposing waste is somewhat challenging; however, reusing magical creatures is entirely feasible.
These women had yet to engage in substantive conversation with him, merely exchanging nods of acknowledgment.
At that moment, a group burst in, demanding to know the whereabouts of Xianoya.
Though the situation perplexed him, Chu Yan nonetheless indicated upstairs:
"She is resting in the room above; please return tomorrow if you have business."
John disregarded the warning, leading two or three followers upstairs.
Soon, a loud banging on the door ensued, as the young noble shouted:
"Xianoya, come out of your room! The family has paid your ransom; we have all been worried about you. When the knights of the Sanctum arrived earlier, we were left with no choice, otherwise we would have been taken as well.
This is the way for you to legally absolve yourself of guilt; if you wish to express gratitude, hurry and help us eliminate the magical creatures—we have discovered the true lair of those aberrant beasts!
Hey! Don't pretend to be asleep; didn't you hear my voice?"
If it weren't for the exorbitant costs associated with clearing out the magical creature lair, John wouldn't have bothered to make the long trek.
It wasn't that he couldn't afford S-class adventurers; rather, redeeming Xianoya privately was far more cost-effective.
Not receiving a response, John took a stance, preparing to shoulder the door down.
Hearing the commotion, Chu Yan furrowed his brow and ascended the stairs, warning:
"Xianoya is unwell; she is still resting. Do you intend to invade someone else's private space?
There's a saying, isn't there? The wind can enter, the rain can enter, but the king cannot!"
John, unconcerned, dismissed Chu Yan's warning with a smile, having made a deal with Baron Pig:
"I have already paid Baron Pig and redeemed Xianoya; she is now my property!
Her room is my room; I have purchased it!"
With that, John charged forward, utilizing his limited combat skill to burst open the door, casting a challenging glance back at Chu Yan as he strode in, intent on dragging Xianoya from her bed.
The matter of clearing the magical creature lair was urgent!
If delayed, the taxes he would collect this year would be significantly reduced!
The series of noises had already roused Xianoya from her sleep; she emerged from her cocoon, bewildered by the situation.
She was still contemplating whether she was trapped within a dream when she saw John approaching her.
Yet, just as John was about to reach for Xianoya, Chu Yan's fist, ablaze with dragon flame, was upon him!
Boom—
John's face was scorched on one side, and he was sent flying from the room, several teeth knocked loose.
"Apologies, I forgot to mention that this is also my room. By intruding upon my private space, you have found yourself in quite the predicament!"
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