Shattered Light Sea.
The turbulent waves relentlessly battered the rocky shoreline, booming like muffled thunder.
Somewhere along the coast, beneath an underground cavern accessible only by passing through a Magic Barrier.
Shrouded in dim light, warships—shrunk and stored away by magic inside glass bottles—stood in neat rows upon the dark river, stretching beyond sight.
Upon their banners, four blood-red characters were written in some ancient tongue—Cult of the Skull Remnants.
This was one of the churches under the evil god’s command.
And upon a throne forged from the corpse of some colossal sea monster, with long golden hair cascading down, sat none other than the blood-pact bearer known as “Delusion,” who had been ambushed by Lin Nuo within the illusion: Mirage of Reincarnation.
Clearly, he would not die so easily.
“Lord Blaineau, according to investigations, the Clemence Family’s current Master is indeed absent. The sea route attacking toward Shilang Bay from here is guarded solely by Dax Migludia, Earl of the Migludia Family.”
“The Cult of the Skull Remnants has amassed 200,000 monstrous soldiers over many years—70,000 sailors and 130,000 infantry—vastly outnumbering all Migludia Family forces remaining at Luke, nearly forty times over.”
“Two hundred thousand. Enough to raze Shilang Bay to the ground in a day and a night.”
“Please, Lord Blaineau, give the order to mobilize!”
Listening to the church high priest’s respectful report.
It was as though he had waited his whole life for this moment; Blaineau’s eyes brimmed with hatred and malice.
With the calmest of voices, he issued a command—one that, if spoken openly, would shake half the Salidor Divine Empire—a secret invasion by the cultists: “In that case, declare war on Shilang Bay.”
As he stood, the wound piercing his abdomen flared with pain, reminding him of those two enemies—supposedly at odds, yet the ones who ultimately injured him.
Blaineau’s face grew even more spiteful: “After flattening Shilang Bay and killing her, I’ll go to Claremont Manor and finish him off…”
“Two hundred thousand cultists crushing down, a battle of magic and blood—any individual will be as insignificant as dust, especially since I still have a magic artifact I’ve yet to unleash…”
“At a time like this, I’d like to see just how useful your clever little tricks are, Lin Nuo Clemence!”
***
“Whoa!”
“The Young Master is actually learning swordsmanship now…”
“And the Young Master’s sword skills are improving so fast—how many days has it been? He can already take on Sir Kaier’s moves!”
“Bang, bang, bang.”
Within the sparring grounds at Clemence Family Manor, two men in protective armor faced off, wielding wooden swords meant for practice, clashing between attack, defense, and counter.
Kaier ranked among the top fighters of the guard.
He had mastered a self-developed sword technique that could create two phantom images of his blade, launching attacks from every angle.
Normally, even using half his strength, an ordinary martial knight would have trouble withstanding him.
But facing the Young Master Lin Nuo, a novice just beginning sword training, Kaier thought using just twenty percent of his power would be the best way to gauge any improvement.
Slash, thrust, parry, twist, advance…
As each move was fended off, Kaier was surprised to find that Lin Nuo, who by all rights should have had his wooden sword sent flying ages ago, seemed to have undergone special training—fighting against multiple foes at once.
Amazingly, he could guard himself from both of Kaier’s sword phantoms and every real strike from any direction.
Kaier was mildly astonished.
On their next clash, the wooden swords met with a bang.
Kaier twisted his wrist upward, unleashing a snake-like move—one that, nine times out of ten, would disarm his opponent, and this time he even used thirty percent of his strength.
Yet after so many rounds, and with such force, Lin Nuo’s sword should have been knocked flying at once.
Kaier would then kneel and salute, acknowledging defeat, and sum up the Young Master’s astonishing progress in swordsmanship.
That would have been the expected scenario.
But the Young Master seemed to possess some secret technique, allowing him to recover his stamina in silence and control his body deftly even in battle.
His defense was so precise that Kaier couldn’t knock his sword away.
In that moment of Kaier’s brief lapse, the Young Master seized his chance—aiming a sword straight at Kaier’s crotch!
“Bang!”
Lin Nuo’s wooden sword was finally sent flying by Kaier, as if it were all within expectations, Lin Nuo squeezed his slightly numb, trembling tiger’s mouth, feeling rather pleased with his progress in this short time.
“I acknowledge it.”
As the magic and martial training came to a halt, those gathered to watch finally erupted in exclamations: “Well fought!”
“That guy’s pretty good-looking, though he doesn’t look all that strong—didn’t expect he’d dare spar with Sir Kaier…”
“Seems like he’s more skilled than an average rookie guard, if he can exchange so many moves with Sir Kaier…”
Most of those talking were martial guards and knights of the Migludia Family, currently stationed here.
Lin Nuo’s name was well known, but because of his previously reclusive and low-key nature—and the fact that Young Masters or Young Ladies of noble houses rarely appeared in the rough sparring grounds—none of them recognized this as the sole heir of the Clemence Family.
Letting their skills do the talking, they remained astonished at what they’d just witnessed:
“Only…”
“If Sir Kaier hadn’t managed to restrain that last disarming strike, it would’ve stabbed right into the challenger’s shoulder…”
“And he didn’t even cry out in pain—he’s a real tough one…”
As Lin Nuo, having sheathed his wooden sword, approached the nearby girl in nun’s habit—waiting for him with tea and a saintly air—Kaier’s surprise deepened.
He’d almost been “finished off” by the Young Master, and in the end had to use fifty percent of his strength to finally disarm him.
But their distance was too close to pull back, so the sword had jabbed into the Young Master’s shoulder.
Though it was just a wooden sword, Kaier knew full well the force at its tip… he hadn’t even had time to apologize before the Young Master walked off as if nothing had happened…
‘That’s not right! Why didn’t the Young Master even show a hint of pain? Was the stab too shallow to feel?’
“Young Master, after helping you practice these days, I’m quite satisfied with your progress,” XÄ« gently wiped the sweat from behind his ear with a towel as she spoke softly, “Shouldn’t you reward me a little?”
“Just tell me what you want. Whether it’s a Starfall Crystal from Meteor Harbor, or a Moon Sleep Vine Garland, anything’s fine…” Lin Nuo responded generously, “Whatever you want, I’ll take you to buy it tomorrow.”
His recent progress, of course, owed much to his diligent nun’s patient instruction day and night.
Though XÄ«’s unique Paper Angel had been withdrawn, thanks to her ability to transform white paper into paper figurines, she’d created multiple opponents for his close combat training whenever she had time…
Moreover, she was extraordinarily clever.
She could instantly select the foundational moves most suitable for his current level, resting her chin on her palm and calmly giving a few pointers.
Opening Lin Nuo’s eyes to techniques he’d never imagined: building a miniature “cyclic magic array” at the joints of his sword arm, channeling mana to boost his sword speed and muscle memory…
As for healing spells, well, those remained the same.
Aside from their secondary abilities, the outward-cast healing light cost him too much mana—after a few uses, he set aside further study for now.
And then there was the most elegant—
That magician’s ability known as Flourish Returns to Dust: “Assimilation.”
XÄ« also remarked at the right time, “That magic skill where you turn part of your body into petals to dodge attacks is very useful, but I suggest you don’t use it here, Young Master.”
“Understood.”
When Lin Nuo faced Kaier’s uncontrolled sword tip, he’d used mana to transform the struck area into petals—no pain at all.
But the mana cost for that was truly astonishing.
“With my current strength, I couldn’t use it much even if I wanted to, so even without your reminder, I’d only treat it as a trump card.”
“Mhm.” XÄ« was quite pleased that the Young Master was willing to listen to her advice.
Sensing her sneakily ruffling his hair again, Lin Nuo, still unused to it, tilted his head forward a bit.
Since every inch of him had been pinched, squeezed, and rubbed by her anyway, he simply leaned back and let her be, chatting idly: “At first, I thought you wouldn’t allow me to learn more martial or magic skills.”
“Why would the Young Master think that?”
“I can’t really explain, just a feeling.”
“Then your feeling is pretty accurate,” XÄ« cast a gloomy glance along the edge of the sparring ground, at the maids bringing water to her Young Master, then sighed: “To be honest, I don’t want so many people looking at you, or seeing you grow stronger.”
“I want to keep you to myself, so that everything about you is for me alone to enjoy.”
“But… I’m still not strong enough.”
“So you can rest assured, I won’t lock you up or restrict you… at least not for now.”
XÄ« smiled faintly, “If I tried to tie you to my side, I might end up dragging you to your death. That’s what only fools would do.”
“So I just have to swallow my pride, watching the one who belongs to me draw the gaze of other girls.”
‘Eh? No…’
That powerless-wife remark was really quite unexpected!
Lin Nuo never quite knew how to respond whenever XÄ«, looking so faintly aggrieved, said things like that…
“Young Master~”
XÄ« smiled again, both hands landing on his shoulders as she leaned close to his ear, “After accompanying you in training these days, I haven’t told you what I want as a reward… Young Master, I want you. You—come out with me for a date tomorrow.”
“???”
Lin Nuo, thinking XÄ« only wanted him to buy her some accessory, nearly spit out his tea.
“Why are you looking at me like that… I don’t want those cheap trinkets. Just being with you is enough.”
XÄ« deliberately lowered her voice, “But if you dare not show up…”
“Pa, pa.”
She didn’t specify the consequences for breaking their promise; she simply patted his shoulder lightly twice with her fair hand, yet as if she’d already said everything that needed saying.
Everything was clear, without another word.
***
As evening approached.
XÄ« headed back to the main castle on time, playing the dutiful wife to help prepare his dinner.
Lin Nuo, meanwhile, lingered on the sparring ground lawn, enjoying the evening breeze.
Some knights and guards of the Migludia Family, having heard about his morning bout with Captain Kaier, came over after finishing their own training, eager to chat.
“It’s tough for me—my family’s nun does whatever she wants with me, and she’s cute like a succubus. What should I do? Waiting online, kinda urgent.”
While joking with them and thinking about XÄ«’s proposed date, Lin Nuo even tried to ask for their advice.
To his surprise, the moment he said this, everyone—knowing Clemence Family had only one Young Master, and Lin Nuo never came to the sparring grounds—gave him nothing but disdainful retorts—
“How many drinks did you have to start pretending to be Young Master Lin Nuo? Better buy a bottle of Enema Potion and sober up…”
“Haha, with your smooth skin, I bet you wear slitted dresses at home and sigh at your reflection, then come brag to us—quit it, you sissy!”
“Man, you’re just being silly—trick someone else, but don’t trick yourself…”
“We’re all rough guys here—where would you find a cute nun who does whatever she wants with you!”
Only the guard who’d truly seen the beautiful nun wiping his sweat and serving him water that morning, also the attendant who knew this was really Lin Nuo Clemence, and knew how meticulously Miss XÄ« cared for him, maintained a slightly envious, knowing smile—and said nothing.
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