Knight Lord: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 432 The Rose in Flames and Merian Who "Grows Larger"

After leaving Bjorn Bay, Su Li quickly led his guards to the foot of the mountain north of the Amethyst Manor.

The warm early spring sun pierced through the thin mist, casting its light upon the increasingly lush vineyards at the foot of the northern mountain of Zijing Manor. Newly sprouted leaves unfurled in the breeze, gleaming with a healthy sheen, while delicate, green vines struggled upwards along the sturdy trellises, foreshadowing another bountiful year to come. The air was filled with the unique, fresh scent of grapevines, mingled with a richer, more vibrant life force.

"Greetings, my lord. May the radiance of dawn forever accompany you." A familiar voice rang out, carrying an undisguised excitement and... a strange tenderness.

Su Li looked in the direction of the voice and saw Merian Safir hurrying out from behind a lush grape trellis. She was still wearing the simple robe that symbolized the Sisters of Dawn, the same style as last year. However, with just one glance, Su Li keenly sensed a drastic change.

Although she was still a virgin, the Merian before her was completely different from the shy, pure, and girlish nun she was last year.

Her figure seemed to have grown slightly taller, her curves becoming strikingly exquisite. The simple nun's robe was now stretched taut, revealing breathtaking curves—her breasts were unusually high and full, taut against the fabric, outlining a rounded, full shape that rose and fell slightly with her rapid breathing, as if brimming with vibrant life. Her slender waist remained, but her hips below appeared even more rounded and pert, swaying slightly with an unconscious, alluring sway as she walked.

What was most breathtaking was her face. Those once clear and devout emerald eyes now seemed to be filled with the shimmering light of a spring lake, carrying an indescribable allure. Her gaze was captivating, sparkling, like a newly blossoming flower receiving the morning dew, pure yet exuding a seductive charm that stirred the heart.

Her cheeks were flushed with a healthy blush, and her lips were more vibrant and luscious than I remembered. Her originally innocent temperament had been subtly infused with a strong feminine charm, and her eyes seemed to be silently flowing with spring waves. Her piety remained, but she was now draped in a captivating and radiant cloak.

"Merrian?" Su Li's voice carried an undisguised surprise and scrutiny. The change was too great, far beyond his imagination, even making him doubt his own judgment for a moment—was she really still a virgin?
This is clearly the allure that comes from experiencing ultimate pleasure, from being thoroughly nourished and blossoming. But the body of a pure maiden is the cornerstone of the territory's gold, amethyst, and brandy industry, and must not be lost.

Under Su Li's sharp gaze, Merian's cheeks flushed even more, and she subconsciously hunched her shoulders slightly, as if trying to hide her overly proud curves, but with little effect.

She lowered her eyelids, her long eyelashes fluttering like butterfly wings, her voice carrying a barely perceptible breath and shyness: "It is...it is me, my lord. May the goddess's grace forever protect you."

She was clearly aware of the enormous changes in her body and demeanor. This shyness, mixed with the helplessness of a devout nun in the face of such "tempting" changes, created an even more fatal attraction.

"What's wrong with you...?" Su Li had no choice but to ask.

“It’s all…it’s all because of the Rose of Fire.” Merian’s voice was tinged with barely suppressed embarrassment and a slight tremor. She even subconsciously clutched the front of her dress, as if trying to suppress her overly full curves.

Su Li raised an eyebrow: "A rose reborn from the ashes??"

He certainly knew the effects of the Fiery Rose, after all, it was something he had Demst retrieve from the Demon Realm of Sorrow.

But he only remembered the effect of the rose on grapes, and never imagined that it would have such a big impact on people.

“Yes, my lord.” Merian took a deep breath, trying to calm the strangeness in her voice, but her eyes, as clear as spring water, betrayed the turmoil in her heart.

"Their life energy is indeed extremely vigorous, far exceeding that of ordinary plants. I... I tried transplanting a young plant into the core area of ​​the Emerald Garden, hoping to use its surging vitality to further nourish the grapevines... Initially, the effect was excellent! The Fiery Rose grew rapidly, blooming with extremely brilliant flowers that burned like flames. The life force it emitted merged with the 'Gilun Wind,' which greatly accelerated the growth of the surrounding acres of grapevines, making their leaves thick and their vines resilient..."

Her voice faltered, her blush deepening and spreading to her fair neck: "But...but a problem soon arose. This rose...it...it brings more than just pure life force!"

Merian's voice was filled with embarrassment and a hint of barely perceptible grievance: "The scent it exudes... or rather, its 'pollen,' contains an extremely strong... aphrodisiac power! My lord, you know, we Dawn Sisters serve the Goddess of Dawn, symbolizing purity, new life, and hope. Our power requires a pure heart and a devout focus on the goddess! But the scent of this rose... it's all-pervasive!"

She turned slightly to the side, seemingly avoiding Su Li's probing gaze, her voice lowered, tinged with embarrassment: "It lingers in the garden day and night, merging into the 'Wind of Jilun' that I guide... I... I simply cannot completely isolate myself from it! My body... my body feels like it has been forcibly matured and transformed by this force..."

She couldn't help but glance down at her ample bosom again, her voice almost trembling with tears: "It...it turned out like this! This is not what I wanted at all! It makes me...it makes me often feel an indescribable...heat and emptiness, making it difficult for me to fully immerse myself in prayer and work. My 'Wind of Giron' has indeed become stronger as a result, expanding to twenty acres, and the grapes are growing better, but...but..."

Merian abruptly raised her head, her shimmering eyes filled with pleading, shame, and a hint of anxiety tormented by this uncontrollable change: "My lord! This can't go on! I'm worried... I'm worried that if this continues, my soul will be corrupted by the scent of roses! I can't guarantee that I can still maintain my purest faith in the goddess and... and the purity of my body! This concerns the very foundation of our highest quality amethyst gold brandy!"

She took a step forward almost urgently, disregarding her alluring figure, her tone filled with an unprecedented determination and pleading: "Please, please think of something! Either... either move that damned Fiery Rose away! Or... either give me more help! Let more of the nuns share the care of the core area, so I can spend less time in the heart of the garden, exposed to that aura! I need to catch my breath, I need to regain my inner peace! Otherwise... otherwise I really don't know how much longer I can hold on!"

Merian's voice was filled with anxiety about losing control of her situation. The "gift" of the phoenix rose felt more like a sweet yet dangerous punishment, pushing her to the brink of an uncontrollable predicament. She tossed and turned every night, clutching the blankets tightly.

Although she was still a virgin, she had already rewarded herself many times. She was afraid that one day she would lose control of the emptiness in her body and make a mistake.

Su Li was truly caught off guard by this situation. He rested his chin on his hand, pondered for a moment, and asked, "How many elite nuns does your Dawn Church have?"

"I mean...you know what I mean?"

Merian nodded quickly and said, "I understand, I understand. There are four more nuns who meet the criteria. They are all under 30 years old, but their strength has reached the elite level, and they are also pure in body."

"They are Sister Isabella, who has long, smooth, light blonde hair that is often braided into delicate plaits, and a gentle and quiet temperament. She is introverted but resilient, and has an extremely keen sense of life. She was previously in charge of cultivating the extraordinary spikes in the territory, and she took care of both the emerald spike and the azure spike."

Su Li decisively said, "Isabella cannot replace you. The importance of the Extraordinary Spike cannot be lost."

With so many Chosen Knights in the territory, they are counting on the Azure Spike to maintain their divine power, improve their aptitude, and increase their chances of breaking through to the legendary level.

This concerns the military backbone of the territory, so Su Li would absolutely not bring Sister Isabella out.

"And there's Sister Ella, with her long, dark brown hair and deep amber eyes. She has a calm and wise demeanor and an extremely keen perception of life. She is in charge of the daily prayers and newborn blessing ceremonies at the main temple of the territory. She is one of the most trusted nuns in the Church of Dawn for mothers and newborn families."

"In addition, she has an extraordinary talent for healing arts. Last winter, a severe childhood fever broke out in the territory. Sister Ella worked tirelessly for several days and nights, using the gentle yet powerful healing magic of dawn to successfully curb the spread of the epidemic and save the lives of dozens of young children. She was affectionately known by the people as the "Hand of Dawn." Her power is more inclined towards healing and comfort."

In that case, it doesn't seem like Ella is suitable to replace Merian. Mainly because she's always worked in medicine and blessing newborns, and isn't skilled in vineyard cultivation.

"Which other nun is there?"

"And then there's Sister Lina, with her vibrant reddish-brown short hair, tall and athletic figure, and wheat-colored skin that suggests she's always outdoors. She's cheerful, straightforward, and very proactive. Sister Lina is in charge of managing the church's herb garden and identifying and collecting wild herbs. She often leads novice nuns and believers deep into the mountains to search for rare medicinal plants."

"She is not only proficient in pharmacology, but also skilled at integrating the Dawn Divine Magic into the cultivation and processing of herbs, cultivating herbs whose potency far exceeds that of ordinary varieties. Currently, she is in charge of all kinds of spiritual herbs in the territory."

Su Li nodded and said, "Then it's her. I'll have her take over for you for a while."

However, Merian's complaint indirectly demonstrates the current strength of the Church of the Dawn Goddess. These are four elite nuns under 30 years old, and still innocent young girls at that.

If we don't include the requirement of "pure young girl," there could be dozens or even nearly a hundred elite nuns.

After resolving Merian's issue, Su Li looked at the lush Emerald Garden and asked, "How is the scale of our Amethyst Vineyard now?"

Merian's face beamed with a devout and proud smile: "Thank you for your care, Lord, and for the grace of the Goddess. The vineyards of Bauhinia Manor have now reached 900 acres, and the Emerald Garden has reached more than 20 acres."

She pointed to an area in the garden where the grapevines were exceptionally thick and the leaves even more lush and green. At the center of that area, what was once a pond-sized point of life energy had transformed into a vibrant miniature oasis, with clear springs of life flowing gently, nourishing the surrounding twenty acres. The fresh, warm, and energetic "Gilun Wind" in the air had also spread from there, covering a wider area and increasing in intensity. Moreover, thanks to the territory's ample supplies and the meticulous guidance of the Dawn Sisters, the newly cultivated plot was thriving.

Merrian continued, "Although most of them need four to six years to reach their optimal fruiting state, the 100 acres that were planted earliest and have the best soil quality have already started bearing fruit for the first time this year! The estimated yield per acre is far less than that of the core area, but it can still reach about 1,500 catties. This greatly increases the base of our total Amethyst grape production."

“Excellent!” Su Li praised. “This is exactly what we want: the core area will focus on quality to create a top-tier brand of amethyst gold brandy; the outer areas will focus on quantity to expand the influence of the ‘Amethyst’ series and meet the needs of different social classes. With this two-pronged approach, the amethyst brandy of Black Forest Territory will surely become famous far and wide.”

"What is the current production situation for gold amethyst brandy?"

"Then you'll need to ask Annalise. She's in charge of brewing."

At Su Li's signal, Annalis was quickly brought over. She was still wearing her signature red hooded robe, and her white stockings were spotless. However, when she stood before Su Li and slightly raised her face, everyone noticed a startling change—the once hideous purple corrosive mark on her left eye had faded by nearly half!
Although a pale purple mark and crystallized bone beneath the skin were still visible around the left eye, the area had shrunk significantly. The area where the skin had been completely corroded was now showing signs of new, slightly pale skin growing around the edges. The unique amethyst eyeball, having shed some of its grotesque appearance, had gained a broken and eerie beauty.

“Annalis!” A hint of surprise flashed in Su Li’s eyes. “Your face… it seems that the power of the Blessed Wisteria and your efforts have not been in vain.”

Annalise's expression remained as aloof as ever, but a faint ripple seemed to flicker deep within her eyes. She nodded slightly, her voice calm: "My lord. The wisteria's vitality is indeed strong yet gentle; it is slowly... 'purifying' the accumulated 'resentment' belonging to Rhea. However, this takes time, and it also requires more fruit essence."

She paused, her gaze sweeping over Merian and the two new nuns. Her tone remained calm, but lacked the intense hostility of last year; it was more like a businesslike statement: "The grapes in the core area are growing very well, far exceeding expectations. This means my workload has increased again."

Merian quickly interjected, "Master Annalise, if it is necessary to move spring water or other heavy objects, our nuns can help. Their strength is not weak when enhanced by divine magic."

Annalise glanced at them, offering no refusal but simply giving a soft "hmm," tacitly acknowledging the cooperation. This subtle change revealed that a year of working together for the territory had forged a fragile tacit understanding between these two extraordinary individuals, who should have been mutually exclusive, based on a shared goal.

Su Li keenly noticed this and was secretly pleased. He asked, "Annalis, is there any progress on the perfect-grade 'nectar' amethyst gold brandy you mentioned last year? With the core area's production doubling this year, is the pressure even greater?"

Annalise's lips, hidden beneath her hood, seemed to curve into a barely perceptible smile. "Pressure? I'm used to it. As for the 'nectar'... it's still being fine-tuned. The ratio of laurel gemstones, the timing of spring water extraction, and the delicate control of distillation temperature all affect the stability and intensity of the final effect. Last year's small-batch trial had... very peculiar results." She seemed to recall something, her tone tinged with amusement. "However, this year I have a more reliable assistant."

As soon as she finished speaking, a girl wearing a clean linen dress and with two braids timidly stepped out from behind Annaliss. She looked to be about sixteen or seventeen years old, with clear eyes that carried a sense of naivety and nervousness.

“Her name is Sophia, a girl from the Ruihou family,” Annalis introduced. “She is pure of heart, quick and efficient, and most importantly… she possesses a rare ‘water affinity’ constitution. The spring water that she personally draws from the purest source of the Gem Pool contains higher and more stable magical activity. She is only responsible for fetching and transporting the water and does not participate in the core brewing process, but her presence greatly increases the success rate of obtaining the perfect ‘nectar’ properties.”

Sophia quickly gave Su Li an awkward but sincere bow.

The Ruehou family? That professional winemaking family?

Su Li nodded to her and then said, "We've already witnessed the effects of the elixir on the battlefield. It allows our soldiers to fight to the death. How many bottles of perfect-grade elixir are left in the territory?"

"There are probably 60 to 70 bottles left."

“Take out half. I’ll take it with me to Maleburg to help you make a name for yourself.” Su Li thought for a moment and then asked, “By the way, how’s your curse? Can you touch men now?”

A rare blush appeared on the face of the eccentric master brewer, Annalis, after all, the effects of the Fiery Rose couldn't possibly be unaffected by her.

Although she is known as a master, she is still very young, only 29 years old. Her beautiful, smooth thighs, paired with white stockings, are very alluring when she walks down the street.

Faced with Su Li's question, she tried her best to suppress the shock in her heart and forced herself to remain calm, replying, "My lord, please rest assured, I still cannot have too much contact with men. I have never kissed anyone, much less opened my legs. I will dedicate my life to the brewing business of the territory."

Su Li had no way to deal with her eccentric personality.

However, even a woman as reclusive as her, who had a physical aversion to men, was strongly affected by the effects of the Rose of Fire.

Su Li felt that the effects of this perfect elixir were already extremely powerful. If he could offer a few bottles to Lady Bayonetta, perhaps getting to know her wouldn't be far off.

However, this method is too crude, and Su Li has no such plans for the time being.

Su Li then suppressed his wild thoughts and asked Annalis, "How many bottles of Amethyst Gold Brandy were produced in total last year?"

"A total of more than 1700 bottles of Bauhinia Gold Brandy of various grades were produced. If we include the ordinary brandy with the name Amethyst, the scale may reach around 8000 bottles."

Within the empire, a bottle of fine wine could cost more than a farmer's entire annual harvest!

The brandy from Hessian territory certainly wouldn't sell for 1 gold crown per bottle, but even if it were 50 gold crowns per bottle, that would still be 4000 gold crowns in revenue, which is quite considerable.

It's truly equivalent to half of the treasury of a kingdom's knights; it would take three or four villages and two or three thousand commoners to produce so much wealth.

It's no wonder that the lords value their vineyards so much, even sending stewards to manage them—it's a real money-maker!

Su Li turned to Merrian and asked, "Do you have any expansion plans for this year?"

Merian nodded excitedly, and a violent aftershock hit Su Li, making him almost dizzy.

"Yes, yes, my lord. We must expand the Emerald Garden so that the Fiery Rose only affects the central area of ​​the Emerald Garden. We estimate that once the area reaches 80 to 100 acres, the Fiery Rose's influence will decrease. After all, she is just a single rose; she can't possibly affect a plantation spanning hundreds of acres."

"Furthermore, this also helps maintain the reputation of our Golden Amethyst Brandy. The effects of the 'Rose of Fire' and the powerful ability of this elixir are outstanding, but we can't make all our Amethyst Brandy have the exact same effects. That would actually affect our reputation. After all, a mild and mellow effect is more likely to sell and become popular. It's better to only make limited editions of the perfect quality, so that people can pursue it without creating a one-sided stereotype about all Golden Amethyst Brandy."

Su Li nodded slightly and said, "What you said makes a lot of sense. If we want Golden Amethyst Brandy to have a wider market and sell well in all territories, we must ensure its pure effect, making it only a fine wine. Those 'Fire Rose' and 'Jade Elixir' can be used as high-end brands to make its name known, but they cannot be widely used in all brandies."

"But can one elite nun really take care of 20 acres of vineyards?"

Previously, Merian could only manage 20 acres of vineyards by herself. If she were to expand production to over 100 acres this year, even an elite nun would be exhausted.

Merian shrugged helplessly and said, "That's definitely not possible. As for how to increase the number of nuns, that's up to you, Lord."

Such rare talents, who also maintain their purity, are truly hard to find more of in the territory.

It seems this trip to Malesburg is inevitable!

(End of this chapter)