Heir to the Kingdom of 1.4 billion people

Chapter 95 The Sage's Name Spreads Across the Southern Territory
In the evening, the moonlight is bright.

Black Wolf Castle.

The study is bathed in bright yellow light with candles lit.

Xia Mingyu sat at the desk, flipping through the indictments sent by the lords of the southern border. There were so many of them that they piled up on the table and almost drowned him.

"I spent a whole day reading it, but I couldn't even finish one tenth of it, and messengers kept coming."

Xia Mingyu held his forehead and looked at the densely packed words on the paper, his handsome face full of bitterness.

Unexpectedly, after traveling through time, he actually experienced the feeling of being an ox or a horse again.

Not only that, many of the crimes committed by the villains on the indictment were so unscrupulous that they were shocking and physically uncomfortable to read.

So much so that after watching it from morning to night, Xia Mingyu even felt dizzy and nauseous all over.

But you can't help but watch it, so as not to misunderstand a good person and let a bad person go.

dong dong.

There was a gentle knock on the room door.

"Enter."

Karen, dressed in military uniform and still a little dusty, opened the door and stepped into the study.

"Your Highness, as you commanded, I have distributed all the food in that granary to the citizens of Night Shadow Territory, sorted by the severity of the famine. I have also taken those who committed the most serious crimes and brought them to the guillotine for public execution."

Karen placed his right hand on his left shoulder and bowed slightly.

In order to reassure His Highness as soon as possible, after he had dealt with everything in Night Shadow Territory, he exhausted two horses and then burst out with magic power to run back on his own two legs, so it was inevitable that he was covered in dust.

"Thank you for your hard work, Karen."

Facing this capable man, Xia Mingyu forced a smile on his face.

Karen glanced at the pile of indictments on the table and the prince's obvious fatigue, and immediately understood everything.

"Your Highness, how about having Danielle look over these incriminating papers? She's always been good with documents, and the Black Wolf Territory purge was largely decided by her."

Karen suggested that he really couldn't bear to see His Highness looking so haggard, as if he was even more tired than if he had run hundreds of miles on his own two legs.

"Danielle still has to take care of Haydn. It wouldn't be a good idea to disturb her, right?" Xia Mingyu hesitated.

"With the blessing you've bestowed upon him, Haydn's physical condition is now almost as good as that of a grown bull. He doesn't need any supervision at all."

"And I think my wife will be very happy to be able to help Your Highness. Please give her this opportunity?" Karen asked sincerely.

"Hehe, then give her a chance." Since Karen insisted again and again, Xia Mingyu could only agree reluctantly.

Swish!
He pushed the incriminating paper on the desk aside with force. Without the obstructing thing, Xia Mingyu felt instantly relieved.

Small hall in the side building.

"cheers!"

Xia Mingyu held up a glass filled with bright red wine and toasted with Karen to celebrate.

Gudongdong.

The cold wine went down his throat, bringing with it a hint of refreshing fruity aroma and mellowness, making Xia Mingyu feel like he was alive again.

Slightly drunk, he reviewed the days since he traveled through time, from a marginalized person with nothing to a person whom all the lords of the entire southern region followed his lead.

Starting from the Fruit Basket Village that was defrauded and could not pay taxes, to the brothels in Mineral Town that oppressed prostitutes, to the Black Wolf Territory and the Night Shadow Territory, and finally... to the entire Southern Territory!

During this process, there should be at least hundreds or thousands of people who feel happy because of him, right?

Whenever he thought of this, Xia Mingyu felt extremely proud. The distant and unreachable dream he had set after coming to this world, which seemed as far away as the stars, seemed to be getting a little closer to him.

However, we can't be too happy, there is still a long way to go.

Thinking of this, Xia Mingyu put down his wine glass and spoke to Karen.

"Karen, the lords of the southern border have requested that I send an envoy to witness their public execution to confirm that they are not cheating. Since time is urgent, I may need you..."

When he said this, a trace of embarrassment flashed across Xia Mingyu's face.

Karen had just returned, and he was going to send him out again, and this time the scope of his travels was the entire southern border.

He was originally a good lord, but he was treated like a slave.

"It is my honor to carry out your orders. Please drive me as far as you can, Your Highness." Karen smiled slightly.

"The moment my child was born with the blessing of the King's godson, my life, and the rest of my life, came under your control, Your Highness."

Karen revealed his true feelings while lifting the bottle to pour wine into His Highness's glass.

".Thank you very much!"

Money is easy to get, but a true friend is hard to find. Xia Mingyu, who didn't want to drink anymore, drank another glass.

"By the way, I feel like I should have reached the bottleneck of promotion, but I still can't be promoted. Do you know why?" Xia Mingyu asked in confusion.

He now felt very strange, as if he was very close to something, but he couldn't break through the membrane no matter what.

"Your Highness, fame and great achievements are both indispensable. Your current fame is sufficient, but perhaps you still lack a great achievement."

"Maybe you can go out for a walk and maybe you can find an opportunity for promotion." Karen thought for a while and replied.

Xia Mingyu went out for a walk and seemed to be lost in thought.

It seems that his previous promotion to extraordinary level with the 1.4 billion blessings was due to the conflict that occurred at the Red Rose Brothel when he was out for a walk.

Now that the southern border had just undergone a major purge, he had the opportunity to go and see with his own eyes whether those lords had truly fulfilled their promise to him.

He and Karen, one in the open and one in the dark, should be able to ensure that the people in the southern border can truly find happiness, right?

The next morning.

After saying goodbye to Karen who was also going out, Xia Mingyu took Anlia and Berg and set off in a carriage to travel around the southern border.

During the trip, he rejected the proposal of the luxurious carriage from the Martha family and the carriage pulled by the Black Abyss Wolf, because after all, it was a trip and there was no need to be too conspicuous.

Moreover, Karen, who needed to travel across the entire southern border in a short period of time, obviously needed the Black Abyss Wolf more than he did.

Tapping.

Berg sat on the front porch of a carriage pulled by a tall black horse sent by the lord of the Iron Horse Territory, waving the whip. The horse neighed, and the wheels of the carriage rumbled over the soft soil and drove away into the distance.

The first stop is Locke Territory, which is the closest to Black Wolf Territory besides Night Shadow Territory.

After Berg drove the carriage for a whole day and Xia Mingyu meditated for a whole day with his head resting on Anlia's soft legs, they finally arrived at the village on the edge of Locke Territory.

At this moment, night has fallen, the last orange-red sunset glow in the sky has disappeared, and twinkling stars are hanging on the branches.

In the open space at the entrance of the village, a huge bonfire was lit. Sparks rose and crackled with the heat waves, like countless red fireflies flying in the air.

The villagers sang and danced around the bonfire, and from time to time someone raised their glasses and sang.

"Your Highness, they are having a bonfire dinner."

Berg reported to Xia Mingyu who was getting off the carriage with Anlia.

The villages in the southern border have had the custom of holding bonfire dinners on happy occasions since ancient times.

At this time, the villagers around the campfire also noticed the group of three people, and they immediately started talking about it.

After all, the appearance and attire of the three people, as well as the unknown protection on their heads, are enough to demonstrate their noble status.

Soon, an old man took the initiative to walk towards the group.

"Your Excellency, I am the village chief here. May I ask what brings you to our Oak Village?" The old man said cautiously to Xia Mingyu.

With his knowledge, he could naturally see that Xia Mingyu, who had hidden protection, was the core of the group in front of him, and his identity must be a noble without a doubt!
"We are just passing by during our trip. Can you tell me why you are holding a bonfire dinner?" Xia Mingyu asked with a hint of curiosity.

"Of course it's to celebrate the blessings brought to us by the great sage Xia Mingyu!" The old man answered without hesitation, his wrinkled face full of gratitude.

"After paying taxes, everyone in our village had to tighten their belts to make ends meet. Gangs would come and rob us from time to time, snatching girls from the village and selling them to brothels."

"But since the arrival of the sage Xia Mingyu in the southern border, the brothels have been destroyed, and those poor girls have been able to return home. The bullying gangs have even been imprisoned along with the nobles behind them."

"I've heard there will be public executions in the town in the next few days. I've lived for decades, and this is the first time I've heard of someone beheading a noble for the sake of commoners. This is definitely not the lord's wish, but the will of that wise man!"

In the light of the bonfire, the old man's expression even had a hint of pilgrim.

"The only pity is that the villagers in our village all want to carve a stone statue of the sage and place it at the entrance of the village to express their gratitude, but they don't know what the sage looks like. It's really a pity!"

The old man's tone was full of regret.

After hearing what he said, Berg and Anlia both covered their mouths and laughed, while Xia Mingyu felt so embarrassed that his scalp was numb.

"Old man, could you allow us to join in the bonfire dinner?"

Looking at the blazing bonfire and the beautiful girl beside him, Xia Mingyu, who had been meditating in the carriage for a whole day, couldn't help but feel a little itchy.

"It is an honor for our village that you can patronize our banquet. Please come in." The old man raised his hand respectfully to welcome you.

He would not be so foolish as to reject a noble in person. Although the sage brought blessings to them, he would not always stay by their side. Commoners and nobles were always people of different statuses.

Under the orange-red light of the bonfire, Xia Mingyu danced gracefully holding the girl's hand.

This time he did not rely on his mind wandering, but tried hard to coordinate his body to keep up with the girl's pace.

Although I can’t dance as perfectly as last time, I’m really happy!

His fingertips felt the coolness of the girl's skin, as if he had touched the morning dew.

The girl's white dress shone softly in the firelight, and the hem of her skirt fluttered gently in the night breeze, as light as the mist in the moonlight.

Her golden hair gleamed delicately in the firelight, her deep blue eyes reflected the young man's image, and her white cheeks were slightly flushed. How beautiful!

Xia Mingyu forgot about the fatigue of the day. At this moment, he just wanted to hug the girl and dance to his heart's content.

Berg, who was sitting alone at a wooden table drinking, was spotted by a girl from the village and invited to dance.

With his emerald green armor, sturdy body, and angular face that had shed its youthful appearance, he was undoubtedly the most eye-catching man at the banquet besides the handsome black-haired young man.

Berg hesitated for a moment, but finally agreed, having never had any contact with the opposite sex. His father had told him that women were natural hunters, and although he didn't quite understand, he thought he might be able to learn a little hunting experience from this young girl.

So a moment later, he also held the girl's hand and danced around the campfire.

Thanks to the hunter's extraordinary physical coordination, he even danced much better than Xia Mingyu.

Just when the atmosphere was at its most lively, someone sang the "Hymn to the Sage" left by a bard who passed by the village some time ago. It was said that he had witnessed the sage with his own eyes and investigated and recorded the sage's good deeds.

"Listen, the wind blows through the southern border, bringing legends from far away~"

"A wise man walks among the mortals, his steps firm and silent~"

"He once set foot in that filthy place, deep in the shadows of the brothel~"

"It's filled with greed and sin, and pure souls are bound by desire~"

"Oh - the red rose among the black thorns, he tore open the cancer under the velvet curtain and turned the whores' chains into flying ashes~"

"A mad peasant woman who lost her child arrogantly called the wise man her son. People thought she was going to be attacked by swords, but she was actually embraced and blessed by him~"

"Because he knows that truth and justice belong to kings and beggars, and to every soul bathed in the starlight~"

"I sing this song for the black-haired, black-eyed sage~"

As they sang, the villagers gradually realized that something was wrong.

The people with black hair and black eyes looked at the young man who was dancing wholeheartedly with the girl in his arms beside the campfire, and their eyes gradually became strange.

So, when Xia Mingyu finished dancing and was about to kiss An Liya, he found that everyone in the village was looking at him, with eyes full of surprise and admiration.

"Respected sir, could it be that you are the sage Xia Mingyu who brings us blessings and eliminates evil?"

The old man from before came to Xia Mingyu tremblingly and asked excitedly.

Xia Mingyu: “.”

Sometimes being too famous is not a good thing!

Blade City.

After being promoted to the Extraordinary Knight, Leo had not had a few days to relax before he and his fellow knights in the castle were given a task - to suppress the mob.

"We want black bread, give us back our food!"

Hundreds of mobs poured into the streets like a tide and continued to move forward. As expected, their final destination was the center of Blade City - Red Fox Castle.

They were all skinny, with thin and pale faces and sunken eye sockets. They were holding wooden sticks, stones and rusty pickaxes, their expressions full of anger and despair.

Standing in front of them were extraordinary knights wearing fine armor, stainless steel helmets, and their bodies were completely airtight, with only a pair of eyes visible.

Behind these knights were hundreds of soldiers wearing leather armor and holding guns with stern eyes.

"If you take another step forward, you will be killed without mercy." The leading knight said coldly.

The mob hesitated for a moment and then rushed forward again like a tide. Hunger had made them lose their minds and forget the sharpness of their swords.

"Looking for death, everyone, charge!" The Knight Commander's eyes turned cold, he gave the order and rushed forward with his sword raised.

Clang clang!
Along with the whistling sound of the sword, the blade pierced through the flesh, leaving behind pieces of blood.

The roar of the mob was instantly drowned out by screams, and the stones and sticks were easily bounced off the armor, without any effect.

Under the might of the Super Knight, these mobs instantly cried and tried to escape, but they could only fall one after another, and their blood dyed the stone slabs red.

"Hmph, let's see if you still dare to ask for bread."

The Knight Commander withdrew his sword, which had been dyed red, with satisfaction, but then he found that one of the knights had not moved at all. Instead, he knelt down beside a dying mob with a dazed look on his face.

Damn it, a knight kneeling next to a commoner, how can this be allowed?!

The knight commander's brow, which had been relaxed, furrowed tightly again.

Suppress the mob?!
When Leo first received this task, he was excited and thrilled.

Firstly, this was the first knight mission he had received after staying in Red Fox Castle for so many years. This was undoubtedly a recognition of him by the people in the castle and Count Martha.

Secondly, the word "mob" clearly refers to a group of vicious and evil villains. As a knight, you should eliminate the evil!

However, all his fantasies and excitement were shattered when he personally arrived at the scene and confronted the "mob".

Can the starving people in front of me, who are skinny, wearing tattered linen clothes and shivering in the cold wind, and who only want a piece of black bread mixed with sawdust, really be called a "mob"?

He even saw many of his peers from the slums among these "mobs". Although they certainly would not recognize Brown Nose in armor, he could still recognize them.

Leo was completely stunned. He did not follow the knight's duty to obey orders. He completely ignored the Knight Commander's orders and just stood there blankly.

It was not until he was awakened by a familiar scream that he noticed that a thug lying on the ground not far away with a pierced heart and bleeding profusely was actually the neighbor uncle who had given him food when he was young!
"Uncle Barron, do you remember me? I'm Brown Nose!"

He staggered over and knelt beside the other person, asking with a hint of tears in his voice.

The dying man looked at the tall knight in front of him, and it took him a long time to find the figure of the timid boy.

The man raised his bloody finger with difficulty, wrote the word "Na" on the ground with all his strength, then closed his eyes and fell silent.

Leo understood what he meant in an instant. Shana was the daughter of his neighbor Uncle Barron. Although she often hated him for asking Uncle Barron for food, she would always quietly hand him a small piece of black bread before leaving.

"Leo, are you okay?"

At this time, the Knight Commander came over. He was about to scold him first, but after recognizing Leo's identity, his tone softened a lot, and there was even a hint of concern.

After all, Leo is the most hardworking among the people who practice in the martial arts field on weekdays.

Moreover, with the blessing of a commoner, he became an extraordinary knight before the age of sixteen. If nothing unexpected happens, he will become a Morning Star Knight to take his place and be loyal to his lord.

However, unexpectedly, Leo suddenly stood up, pushed him away, and ran away in a hurry.

Knight Commander: “???”

slums.

Leo came here again after a long absence. Unlike before, this place is now more desolate, and the people living here are even more skinny, some even with only a layer of skin left.

Dressed in armor, he attracted many people's attention. These eyes were vigilant and filled with strong hatred, which made Leo feel numb all over.

Following his childhood memories, he found his dilapidated little home, which now has become the home of a group of stray cats.

Next to it was Uncle Barron's house. He pushed the door open in a panic and saw a skinny girl lying on the cold ground.

Her cheeks were deeply sunken, and her skin was so pale that it was almost transparent, with the blue blood vessels faintly visible under the skin.

Those once bright eyes were now half-open, with a dull look, as if they could see nothing.

The girl's body was so thin that only a layer of skin covered her bones. Her ribs were clearly visible under her thin clothes, as if they would pierce her skin at any time.

Leo trembled as he stretched out his finger and placed it between the girl's nose. Although the knowledge he had learned as a knight over the years had enabled him to identify dead people, he still longed for a miracle, just like when he had nothing and met His Royal Highness the Prince.

However, this time the miracle did not happen.

The world spun around in an instant, and Leo fell to the ground, his mind going blank.
After burying Shana, Leo didn't know how he returned to Red Fox Castle.

He just kept walking with his head down, and when he bumped his head, he would change his walking position. In this way, he walked back to Red Fox Castle inexplicably.

As soon as he returned to the castle, he was met with the most severe punishment ever - being locked up in the solitary confinement cell for a whole month!
He ignored orders, contradicted his superiors, maliciously left the mission, and was late in returning. If he had been punished for multiple crimes, other knights might have been stripped of their armor and expelled from the castle.

The fact that he was still able to stay in the castle was due to the constant pleading of the eldest lady Rosa.

But even so, being locked up in solitary confinement for a whole month is by no means an easy task.

Because there is almost no sunlight in the confinement cell, and no one is allowed to talk to it, including the servants who deliver meals.

This will undoubtedly create tremendous psychological pressure on those in there. There are even precedents of people going crazy after being released from solitary confinement for too long.

In the confinement room.

Leo lay on the cold floor, it was so dark that he couldn't see his own fingers.

In this small and silent space, his body was indeed in pain, but it was still not as severe as the pain in his heart which seemed to be entangled by countless vines.

Every vine is a question to his inner self.

Am I practicing so hard just to oppress my compatriots?

Why didn't I go back to the slums earlier to save Uncle Barron and Shana? I could have done it.
It was Count Martha who stole everyone's food. Should I kill him to avenge Uncle Barron? But he is Miss Rosa's father. I can't repay kindness with hatred.

Ah! How selfish, ugly, and lustful I am.
The questions in his heart made him roll back and forth on the ground in agony, as if he was in a hell more oppressive than death.

As his consciousness gradually blurred, he saw the burning torch again.

Spark Hall.

Among the twelve pitch-black prisms, the torch on the second prism on the right flickered.

Xia Mingyu came here after being drunk by the villagers who toasted him crazily after learning of his identity as a sage.

At this moment, Leo was squatting alone in the corner of the hall, while Tamerlan and Hercules were standing behind him, looking at him worriedly.

"Your Highness, Leo has been silent since he came here. He seems very sad."

When he saw Xia Mingyu appear, Tamerlan walked up to him and whispered as if he had grabbed a life-saving straw.

During these days of instruction, he gradually developed a master-disciple bond with Leo, who was training very hard. He also sensed some secrets from the boy's nervous expression every time he wanted to say something but couldn't.

He knew that only His Highness knew this secret, so only His Highness could comfort Leo at this moment.

"Leave it to me, Tamerlan, Hercules. You can retreat for now and have a sweet dream."

Xia Mingyu said calmly.

"Yes, Your Highness."

The two men bowed slightly, and then their bodies gradually became transparent until they disappeared.

Afterwards, Xia Mingyu silently took out the book "Biography of Crimson Fire" from the bottom of the bookshelf, where it was covered by a pile of books.

(End of this chapter)