I was a lord farming, how did I become an emperor?

Chapter 249 Ember Breathing Technique

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A morning at Red Griffin Castle.

A thin mist shrouded the towering stone walls as dawn broke.

The masters in the castle had not yet risen, but the servants were already busy.

Fetching water, carrying firewood, kneading dough, sweeping, emptying chamber pots...

These things need to be done before the masters get up.

A man with an ugly face pushed a wooden cart loaded with buckets of filth through the castle courtyard.

The wheel rolled over the clean stone slab, leaving a dirty mud trail on it.

"Couldn't you have wiped the mud off your wheels before entering the castle?"

A young maid with freckles on her face, carrying a ceramic pot, stepped forward with an unhappy tone.
"Little Luke, we still have to clean up if you keep doing this!"

"Okay, okay, Sister Katina, I'll definitely be more careful next time!"

The ugly man readily agreed, his face full of flattery.

The maid, Katina, who was being called "sister," gave a soft snort.
"Aren't you going to help? This pottery jar is incredibly heavy!"

"Good good!"

Luke quickly stepped forward, took the earthenware pot, and poured all the wild urine inside into the filth bucket.

At this moment, Katina lowered her voice instantly, her tone changed drastically, and she said seriously:

"Just received news that Susanna didn't come back from her lover's place last night. This is a good opportunity to complete the mission. Try to stall for time as much as possible."

"Okay!" Luke replied softly.

"So slow!"

Katina's expression returned to normal, and she gave Luke a disdainful look. "There are still two chamber pots to collect. Just wait!"

"Yes, yes, yes, Sister Katina!"

Luke responded loudly, not daring to utter a single rebuttal.

Katina shook off the lingering stench from the pottery jar, turned around, and walked through the side door into the main building of the castle.

As a maid, she has free access to most areas.

Katina walked through the hall with a huge red griffin banner hanging from the dome, and without any hesitation, skillfully bypassed the main staircase and headed for the side staircase reserved for servants.

The spiral stone steps are very narrow, allowing only one person to pass at a time.

Katina climbed upwards with practiced ease.

The second floor is the guest room area.

The third floor is the noble living quarters of the Red Griffin family.

Katina stopped at the top of the stairs on the third floor.

The fourth floor is the old Earl's private area.

Katina hesitated for a moment, and after checking that no one else was around, she headed towards the stairs to the fourth floor.

"Katina, you're up and working so early?"

Just as I was about to reach the top of the stairs, a deep, aged male voice came from behind me.

Katina quickly turned around.

Frank, the butler, was leaning against the wall, his eyes lingering on her.

Good morning, Mr. Frank.

Katina bowed, a professional smile plastered on her face.

"You got up so early?"

I'm thinking of you.

Frank took a few steps closer and looked Katina up and down.
"It's such a waste that such a pretty girl is doing this kind of dirty work."

His hand reached towards Katina's chin.

Katina involuntarily took a half step back, but still maintained her smile.

"Your Excellency, you have given me a reward."

"I am just a lowly maid."

Katina's attitude was respectful, yet carried a hint of distance.
"It is my honor to serve the castle."

"Hahaha!"

Frank couldn't help but burst out laughing, "You have such a sweet tongue."

“I think you can do some more valuable work in this castle.”

Frank ignored Katina's refusal and whispered, "Come to my room after dinner tonight, and I'll teach you a lesson."

Katina's smile froze for a moment, but quickly returned to normal.

"Of course, my lord."

"I will be there on time."

"A smart and good girl."

Frank nodded in satisfaction, his hand casually stroking Katina's back.

"Remember, don't keep me waiting too long after dinner."

Frank gave a brief instruction, then turned and went downstairs.

The footsteps faded into the distance, and Katina's smile vanished instantly.

"Old man, dream on!"

Katina clenched her fist, spat, and her nails dug into her palm.

After taking a few deep breaths, Katina carefully placed the empty ceramic pot into another young lady's room and quietly went up to the fourth floor.

The corridors inside the building were dimly lit, with faded tapestries hanging on the stone walls, depicting the history of the Red Griffin family's conquests, and flickering shadows cast by the dim light of torches.

Katina had sneaked up here a few times before, and with the information provided by the Night Whisperers, she was quite familiar with the place.

only……

Where are the guards?

Katina nervously observed her surroundings.

Katina had arranged everything—the sisters who emptied the chamber pots on the fourth floor had also been drugged and were still asleep.

Katina only said that she was helping out with the work, and that her friends should thank her when they woke up.

But the lack of guards made Katina somewhat uneasy.

The count could not be without guards.

Never mind, let's finish the task first.

Katina held her breath, tiptoed, and walked casually toward the old count's master bedroom.

Katina gently knocked on the bedroom door.

“Your Excellency Earl, I am here to serve your chamber pot.”

There was no sound inside.

Katina asked a couple more questions in a low voice, but received no response.

He then took out a small crowbar—shaped like an extremely thin fishbone, with a slightly curved hook at the end.

With his other hand, he pulled out a flat piece of iron, shorter than his little finger.

Katina inserted the flat metal sheet into the outermost edge of the keyhole, then inserted the small pry bar into the keyhole, pushing it in little by little like a fishbone probe.

"Click."

With a soft click, the lock was opened with ease.

A smug smile appeared on Katina's lips.

Before joining the Night Whisperers, Katina often did this to avoid starving herself.

Quietly, Katina moved the wooden door a little bit open and squeezed into the bedroom.

A musty, damp smell wafted over.

However, this was nothing to Katina, who was emptying chamber pots.

The room was dimly lit, with thick curtains blocking out the morning light. Only a sliver of light shone through the gaps, illuminating the intricately carved wooden bed.

The elderly Earl, the aging head of the Red Griffin family, lay on his bed with his eyes closed.

His white hair was scattered messily on his aged and haggard face, his chest rose and fell slightly, and soft snoring came from his nose, clearly indicating that he was immersed in a dream.

Katina glanced at it, then tiptoed to the desk, where a silver cup, several sheets of parchment, and a silver bookmark were placed.

Katina ignored the items on the table and turned her gaze to the wooden cabinet under the table.

She bent down and carefully moved the wooden cabinet away, then lifted the leather blanket on the floor.

Below were rows of stone bricks. Katina's gaze swept over them, and she spotted the third stone brick. She picked at the edge with her fingers and pulled it out forcefully.

Beneath the brick was a small silver box.

"It's really here!"

Katina was overjoyed and, holding her breath, took out the small silver box and put it in her bosom.

Katina didn't know what was in the silver box, but that was what she was told to steal.

With this, her child and mother can live a life free from worries about food and clothing.

After putting the silver box away, Katina put the stone bricks back in their original place, laid out a blanket, and put them back in the cabinet.

Carefully getting up, Katina turned around, but her body suddenly tensed.

The old count had turned his head and was staring at her silently.

How did you know it was there?

The old count's hoarse voice, carrying a steady and dignified air, was like cold water splashed onto the back of Katina's neck.

Katina couldn't help but shiver.

But Katina did not back down. She pulled a narrow-bladed dagger from her sleeve and held it up to the old count's throat.

“I don’t want to hurt you, I just want this silver box.”

The old count, his face calm and composed, said indifferently...
"Young lady, your hands are trembling."

"I've killed people before, so I'll fight you to the death if you yell."

Katina took a hard line.

"Hahaha... Killing is normal. I killed a lot when I was young."

The old count sighed, "And now he's lying here helplessly, isn't he?"

"Sorry, I'm getting old, and I end up rambling on a lot."

The old count stared at Katina.
Do you know what's inside the silver box?

Katina shook her head slightly.

"Then who do you serve?" the old count pressed.

Katina remained silent, her eyes resolute.

"You silly girl."

The old count shook his head. "The box contains the Ember Breathing Technique, which requires the bloodline of the Red Griffin to concoct the potion."

"Without bloodline, it's just waste paper."

“You didn’t steal any other valuables, but instead precisely located the silver box containing the breathing technique.”

A glint of shrewdness shone in the old count's cloudy eyes.
"Clearly, the person behind you is familiar with this place and also possesses the bloodline of the Red Griffin, right?"

The old count sighed deeply and spoke slowly.
"Oh, my poor Avril... Is she alright?"

Katina's expression tightened. Remembering the instructions from above, she hesitated for a moment before putting away her dagger.

“I apologize, Your Excellency, I did not mean to offend you.”

Katina bowed slightly. "Miss Avril...please give her my regards. She is doing well."

The old count's gaze softened, as if he were recalling a distant past.

"I received news that she died in the wasteland, but later I heard that she was rescued... Baron Rhodes, are you one of his men?"

His voice carried a hint of warmth, and his gaze passed through Katina as if he were looking at his daughter in the distance.

Katina hesitated for a moment, but ultimately didn't speak.

"You girl, really."

The old count shook his head helplessly.
"Breathing techniques alone are not enough; you also need to use potions."

The old count pointed to under his pillow, "The recipe is in here."

Katina looked at the old count, hesitated for a moment, and then stepped forward to pull out the pillow.

The old count reluctantly raised his head to cooperate.

"Be careful, young lady, you have to be gentle with this old man."

“抱歉，伯爵大人。”

Katina felt a little embarrassed. She tore open the old count's pillow and found a small parchment scroll inside. Katina quickly took it out and carefully put it away.

Katina then carefully placed the old count's pillow before whispering, "Miss Avril is doing well and is living a very free life in Frostleaf Town."

"Does she still enjoy reading in the garden as much as she used to?" the old count asked.

"Yes, Your Excellency."

Katina nodded.

In reality, Katina knew nothing about whether there was a garden in the manor, but she lied to please the old count.

"What kind of person is Baron Rhodes? Is he good to her?"

"My lord, I have never had any dealings with our lord, so I cannot comment..."

Katina said earnestly, "But Frostleaf Town no longer needs to worry about people dying in winter."

The old count nodded slowly.
"It seems that Baron Rhodes is not only capable, but also very kind."

The old count pondered for a moment, then said, "Could you deliver a letter for me?"

"My lord, it's too late today..."

Katina was somewhat embarrassed.

"Can you come and talk to me more often in the future?"

The old count offered, "I will help you get rid of the guards."

Katina nodded vigorously. "I'll do my best if you need me to."

"But I'm curious... why aren't your guards here?"

"You'd better not ask any more questions about this."

The old count's smile was somewhat mysterious. "I wish you all the best."

"Thank you for your blessing."

Katina bowed and quietly left the room.

After she left, a figure emerged from the shadows unnoticed by anyone.
"I never expected that instead of that bitch's assassination attempt, I would have such an unexpected gain today."

A cool, clear female voice rang out, and a middle-aged woman who bore a striking resemblance to Avril Lavigne appeared with a hint of amusement on her face.
"After you die, I will go find my niece."

……

……

Katina breathed a sigh of relief as she left the fourth floor.

Without stopping, Katina carried the pottery jar and hurried downstairs, quickly walking to the spot where Luke had parked his car by the side door.

Luke stepped forward, took the earthenware pot, and poured the urine into the sludge bucket.

As she handed the pottery jar back, Katina casually handed the small silver box and scroll to Luke.

"This is all the mission details, make sure you take it with you!" Katina instructed.

"it is good!"

Luke looked around to make sure no one was watching, then wrapped the items up and threw them into the sludge bucket.

"Be safe yourself."

Luke gave a word of advice, gripped the handlebars, and prepared to push the bike away.

Just then, Katina grabbed his wrist.

"Is there anything else?" Luke asked.

"Do you have any more sleeping pills? Poison will do too, just give me some more!"

Katina whispered, "A male dog is trying to bite me. I'm going to have some fun with him!"

……

……

In the cave.

Rod looked at the little guy in front of him with curiosity.

"It shouldn't be a normal creature, right?"

Rhodes casually remarked to the white wolf, "Is this little dragon made of pebbles an elemental creature?"

The white wolf was also sizing up the little creature in front of it.

"I didn't smell any life, only magical fluctuations and the aura of the dead."

"What? A necromancer?"

The little dragon amidst the rubble in the center of the stone tablet spoke in a sharp tone, glaring fiercely at the white wolf.
"I am not a necromancer! I have just awakened from my slumber!"

"Oh……"

Rod drew out the sound and nodded slightly.
"It seems to be an undead."

"what!"

The little stone dragon roared angrily, the cave trembled, and dirt fell from the walls.

But that's about it.

Rhodes had initially planned to proceed cautiously, but upon confirming that the Rockbreaker Dragon could only roar helplessly, he shook his head with a smile.

"Alright, if you were really capable, you would have come and killed my earth dragon long ago."

Rhodes calmly looked at the Stone Dragon. "Be quiet. Let's talk this over. Who are you, and where is this place?"

"...Who am I?"

The little stone dragon asked, his voice full of confusion, "Yes, who am I?"

"..."

Rhodes was speechless; this guy didn't even remember who he was.

"Since you don't remember who you are, then I'll call you Crushed Stone,"

Rhodes pressed on, "Stone Breaker, please tell me what kind of place this is?"

"This... seems to be that old man's resurrection stone circle..."

The little dragon murmured to itself, "That old man slaughtered many dragons to resurrect me... He was my lifelong partner... But what was his name...?"

"It's all your fault!"

The little stone dragon pointed at the earth dragon and roared, "That despicable thief stole my heart core!"

As he spoke, the little stone dragon suddenly flew towards the earth dragon, and Rhodes immediately raised the dragon bone longbow!
However, just as the Stone Dragon was about to cross the stone tablet, its figure suddenly disappeared!
The next instant, it reappeared in the center of the stone tablet array!
"interesting."

Rhodes laughed. "Still a groundbound necromancer."

So-called "bound spirits" are souls that are trapped in one place for some reason.

In this way, the soul is immortal, but it can only stay in this one place forever and cannot go anywhere else.

"Ah! I am not that kind of filthy fellow!"

The little stone dragon roared and charged at the earth dragon once more.

But the result is still the same.

It shattered and disappeared, then reappeared in the center of the stone tablet array.

The Stone Dragon tried many times, but all attempts failed.

Furthermore, the number of pebbles on his body decreased, and his figure visibly faded.

"Okay, stop trying."

Rhodes kindly advised, "If you try again, you'll disappear completely."

The Stone Dragon clearly realized this as well, stopped trying, and hovered in mid-air.

"Little human, I don't know why, but I have a very good feeling about you."

The little stone dragon calmly said to Rhodes, "Help me retrieve the dragon crystal, and I'll give you a reward."

"What reward?"

Rod watched the little stone dragon with great interest.

"I am very rich!"

The little stone dragon looked intently at Rhodes: "Sparkling gems, sparkling armor, sparkling gold, sparkling treasures... whatever you want, I have it!"

"Where?" Rod pressed.

"Where...I can't remember!"

The little dragon with broken stones said firmly, "But if you help me find the dragon crystal, I'll give you whatever you want after I regain my memories!"

Rhodes couldn't help but rub his forehead, frowning as he looked at the little stone dragon.

Why does this sound so familiar?
The rhetoric of Qin Shi Huang in a text message from a past life.

"forget it."

Rhodes shook his head slightly. "Let's not even talk about whether you give me the treasure or not. The key is that once the Dragon Crystal Earth Dragon eats it, it can't spit it out."

The promise of the Stone Dragon was more distant and unreal than the stars in the sky; Rhodes certainly couldn't believe it.

Earth dragons are more practical.

"Ah! That damned thief!"

The little stone dragon stared intently at the earth dragon, "Why did you eat my core when I woke up!"

The Stonebreaker Dragon continued to roar, but it had learned its lesson and did not launch another charge.

"Hey, I'm curious, how did you suddenly wake up?"

Rhodes looked at the Stone Dragon with a puzzled expression. "Has some kind of opportunity or magic circle been activated here?"

Logically speaking, even in a deep sleep, the long years should only cause the soul's energy to gradually dissipate and be lost.

Impossible, waking up suddenly for no reason.

Just like the white dragon Isolther, who froze himself, he was awakened by the great shaman; otherwise, with the energy of ten thousand years gradually dissipating, he would have become a corpse.

"I don't know either. Not long ago, I suddenly felt an energy flow into my soul, and then I was awakened."

As the stone dragon spoke, it glared angrily at the earth dragon.

"Then it awakened my core, and then it was swallowed whole by this thief!"

"Then you really have bad luck."

Rhodes sighed, and something suddenly dawned on him.

The sudden energy not long ago... Could it be the effect of the Nature Overlord's attribute that caused the Stoneshattering Dragon's soul to mutate, increasing its vitality or spiritual power?

Rhodes's mind was a bit muddled, and he asked slowly, "White Wolf, Vivian, do you two think necromancers and elemental spirits are considered living beings?"

"...What a profound theory."

Vivian looked a little confused. "Let me ask my sister."

"I think it's about life."

White Wolf said in a deep voice, "Legend has it that many of the gods' followers are undead and elemental spirits, and that the gods' messengers also include heroic spirits."

"So, I think they should be considered as life."

Rod nodded thoughtfully.

If that's the case, then my previous understanding was still too limited.

Now, it seems that only undead or elemental spirits with souls are also included in the creatures category by the system.

This also explains why Little Dragon of Shattered Stone had a very good impression of himself.

"Stone Shard, I can't get your dragon crystal back for you."

Rhodes said calmly, "But I can look for other ways to try to help you restore your soul energy, which might help you remember something."

"Ah, that shameless thief!"

The rubble roared again, but in the end it could only sigh helplessly, "Alright, human, I can only rely on you now."

"Let me make it clear beforehand that you may address me as Baron Rhodes, or Lord, and please do not refer to me as 'I' in my presence."

Rod frowned. "That sounds awkward."

“Alright, I… I agree, Lord Rhodes.”

Without hesitation, Shaft agreed.

"In that case, I can try my first method for you."

The scorching energy within Rhode's body circulated, and a vibrant green seed-like energy ball slowly emerged from his chest and landed in his hand.
"This is a natural seed that can slowly help you absorb energy."

"It's yours if you want it."

"Really?"

With a hint of surprise in his voice, Cui Shi stared intently at the Seed of Nature, "I... I can feel the life force contained within it, this is a good thing!"

"Will you give it to me?"

"of course."

Rod replied with a smile.

“I am a generous and kind lord, and I am happy to help lost souls like you.”

(End of this chapter)