Being a knight is not easy

Chapter 201 Allegiance
“I understand your concerns,” Robin’s voice softened slightly, “but times are changing, and we cannot remain stagnant.”

He turned and looked at the warriors who were training, a hint of expectation in his eyes. "To overthrow the old order, we must have great power. We don't have it now, so we need their help. When we overthrow the kingdom, you will no longer be knights, but new noble lords."

And all you have to do is become stronger. Once you surpass those warriors, you will be lords, while their future is merely that of your knights.

The twenty knights remained silent for a moment, their eyes revealing a thoughtful expression.

Robin's words struck their hearts like a heavy hammer.

“My lord, we understand.” The older knight knelt on one knee again, a hint of respect in his eyes. “We are willing to follow your orders and protect Viscount Wilke’s territory alongside these warriors.”

Robin nodded slightly, a relieved smile playing on his lips. "Good, from this day forward, we are no longer nobleman and serf, but brothers fighting side-by-side." His voice carried a hint of pride. "Let us write the legend of Wilke together!"

In the camp, the breaths of the warriors and the oaths of the knights mingled together, echoing in the night sky.

Robin gazed into the distance, a resolute look in his eyes.

Inside Robin's tent.

Robin lightly tapped Andy's chest with his fingertip, the attribute data jumping on the system panel illuminating his focused eyes.

The middle-aged knight's body was tense, and cold sweat seeped from the gaps in his rough armor.

Within the knightly ranks of Viscount Wilke, he never dared to hope for personal guidance from the family heir.

“Listen carefully.” Robin withdrew his hand. “Your constitution is earth, yet you are practicing the wind-based ‘Azure Breathing Technique,’ which is like trying to fill a basket with water.” He pulled out the yellowed breathing technique manual from his waist, turned to a certain page, and said, “Try this ‘Earth Dragon Breathing Technique,’ and combine it with the Mountain-Shaking Fist I taught you. Perhaps you can even break through to the legendary level.”

Andy Sue took the manual with trembling hands; the sound of paper rubbing together was especially clear in the silent tent.

The knights gathered around, some gripping their sword hilts tightly. They knew better than anyone that these so-called "common" basic breathing techniques were nothing but useless to nobles, yet the young man before them had made a name for himself with them.

"Look here." Robin suddenly reached out and grabbed the wrist of another knight, who immediately felt his blood and energy flowing like a stream being pulled. "When coordinating your breathing with 'Swift Step,' it's not simply about pursuing speed, but about ensuring that every step lands on the key points of energy." With a flash of afterimages, he actually stepped out of the nine palaces position within the cramped tent. "Follow me! Inhale, lift your ankle, slam your knee, exhale!"

Muffled groans rose and fell from within the tent.

The knights' foreheads bulged with veins, and their bodies glowed with blue or brown light in rhythm with their breathing.

As Robin channeled strands of life force into their bodies, the three knights simultaneously let out a long howl. The bottleneck that had bound them for many years shattered with a deafening roar, and the powerful life force erupted like a volcano, nearly causing the oil lamp to fall to the ground.

"How...how is this possible?" The newly advanced young knight stared at his trembling hands, his eyes filled with disbelief.

He recalled sitting in the dead of night staring at a tattered breathing manual, never imagining that one day he would receive such exquisite guidance.

Robin wiped the thin layer of sweat from his brow; the notification sound on the system panel was still echoing. He looked at the knights with their varied expressions, his gaze finally settling on Andisu: "Strength has never been the exclusive domain of nobles." His voice was like a heavy hammer, striking each of them deeply. "When you are willing to set aside your prejudices, even these 'commoners' can become the sharpest weapons to break the deadlock."

Andisu knelt on one knee, his eyes gleaming with fervent light, his voice firm and powerful: "My lord, I will certainly not fail your expectations!"

His voice echoed within the tent, filled with unwavering loyalty and determination.

Robin nodded slightly, a hint of satisfaction in his eyes: "Andysu, remember, strength is the foundation. The Earth Dragon Breathing Technique is just the basics, but as long as you practice diligently, you can achieve legendary status. However, I broke through to the legendary level by using the Earth Dragon Breathing Technique."

Andysu took a deep breath, his chest heaving violently. He raised his head and looked at Robin, his voice trembling: "My lord, you actually broke through to the legendary level with the Earth Dragon Breathing Technique. This... this is simply a miracle!" His voice was filled with admiration and shock.

Robin smiled faintly: "So-called miracles are nothing more than the result of relentless effort and a stroke of luck. The Earth Dragon Breathing Technique has been perfected in my hands through continuous experimentation and improvement."

His gaze was deep, as if recalling the moment he broke through to the legendary level. "With my refinement, you should be able to do it too."

Andisu clenched his fist, a resolute glint in his eyes: "My lord, I understand! I will certainly cultivate diligently and live up to your expectations!" He stood up, straightening his back, his armor making a crisp sound.

Andysu then took off his family crest ring and handed it to Robin as a sign of loyalty.

The other knights suddenly realized what was happening and took off their rings.

When the last knight removed his family crest ring and solemnly placed it in Robin's palm, the atmosphere in the tent was both solemn and fervent.

The twenty rings refracted different colors of light under the candlelight, like twenty stars surrendering to their new master.

Robin looked at these knights who had once been considered "useless," and on the system panel, their loyalty values ​​all climbed to the maximum.

Viscount Wilke stood on the castle tower, the bronze telescope in his hand swaying slightly. He looked at the figures moving about in the camp, a relieved smile playing on his aged lips.

The parchment scrolls rustled on the desk, the latest statistics on the territory's military equipment shocking:

Of the 107 knights, nearly 20% were under Robin's command; of the 589 knight apprentices, half had been assigned to mixed formations of warriors.

"Master, the prestige of young master Allen..." The butler hesitated, his gaze sweeping over the Wilke family's fluttering iris banner outside the window.

“It was bound to happen sooner or later.” The Viscount twirled the ring engraved with the family motto, his knuckles aching from rheumatism. “When I brought him back, I knew this child was destined to stir up a storm.”

He looked north toward the Earldom of Minnesota, where black smoke was rising. "Those old fogies think they can suppress him with knightly privileges? When twenty knights shouted 'My fate is in the Lord's hands,' the ironclad class laws of the entire West trembled."

Early the next morning, Robin stood alone on the camp's watchtower. He stroked the twenty heavy rings around his waist, quietly gazing into the distance. The newly reorganized slave troops were practicing their formations, the sounds of spears clashing against shields mingling with the shouts of the knights during training, creating a peculiar rhythm.

(End of this chapter)