Wizard: You can become stronger by living life to the fullest.

Chapter 28: From the Misty Forest (Please read on! Please read on!)

Rosie then told Knight Karl about her desire to learn swordsmanship, which was a trivial matter for Knight Karl, who readily agreed.

"This request is far from repaying your assistance; please keep the badge."

Knight Karl then began to instruct Rosie in swordsmanship.

A few days later.

"The hand holding the sword must be steady. Always remember that for a knight, the sword is life, the sword is everything. With this belief, keep the sword in your hand and never let go under any circumstances."

"When you strike, you must be ruthless. You must pour all your strength into your hand, concentrate it on one point, and then strike out with all your might from that point."

"The target must be accurate. It's not just about seeing with your eyes, but also feeling with your heart. You need to focus your thoughts and intentions on that point so you don't miss it."

"Steady, ruthless, and accurate—these are the three most basic elements of the Swift Sword, and also the core elements of this sword technique. Sword technique is merely its form; the true core lies in these three elements."

The sword technique that Knight Karl taught Rosie is called Swift Sword. It is the most common basic sword technique for knights on the continent. It is swift, easy to learn, and very suitable for beginners.

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh!" A fierce sound of wind breaking through the air rang out.

On the open ground, following Knight Karl's instructions, Rosie brandished a cross-shaped sword repeatedly in his hand.

After unleashing a series of swift sword strikes, Rosie stopped.

"Complete a serious and swift sword strike, resulting in a critical hit, and the time limit is increased by 8 days."

Knight Karl nodded repeatedly: "Very good. Although there are still some shortcomings in the details, you have mastered the basic techniques of power generation and swordsmanship. You really don't seem like a beginner."

Rosie had a decent talent for swordsmanship, and she mastered the Swift Sword technique to a basic level in just a few days. For an ordinary person, it would take at least ten days to half a month, and even the Knight Karl took nearly a week.

Luo Xi said, "Perhaps it's because I've been practicing Body Refining Fist all along."

Knight Karl shook his head: "Body Refining Fist is just physical training. What truly matters in swordsmanship is the feel for the sword and the spiritual connection between the sword and the cross sword."

It's a mysterious yet undeniably real feeling, much like how some people just can't seem to learn to drive, while others feel an instant connection with the car as soon as they sit in the driver's seat.

After a pause, Karl said, "So? Aren't you going to seriously reconsider my proposal?"

"Although the life of a mercenary may seem thrilling and exciting, it also has many pleasures that ordinary people cannot experience, such as meeting different people, going to different places, and sleeping with different women."

"What an ordinary person can't earn in a lifetime, we might just do in one mission."

"Life is only a few decades long. To stay in a small plot of land, find a woman with big feet, and wallow in a shack until you die of old age—what a boring life that is! Don't you want to see the outside world?"

"The world is very, very big. Believe me, your perception will change after you go out and see it."

Karl greatly admired Rossi. After spending a few days with him, he discovered that the young man not only had outstanding swordsmanship but also made people feel very comfortable in his interactions with others. Karl couldn't help but feel a sense of appreciation for his talent.

In the past few days, he has tried more than once to persuade Rosie to stay and join the mercenary group as a mercenary.

Rosie shook her head: "I'm sorry, Sir Karl, but I really have no intention of becoming a mercenary at the moment. My mother and brother are waiting for me to return."

Carl sighed and said regretfully, "Alright."

That's how ordinary people are; they value being law-abiding above all else. Staying in one place, getting married, having children, and continuing the family line when they reach a certain age is the best life for them.

In their eyes, the world seems to be only as big as their small town, and the farthest place they have ever been is probably the nearest city.

They will never know how vast and boundless this world is, how there are even larger kingdoms outside, cities with more than 100,000 people, or how wonderful this world is.

"If you change your mind, you can come find me anytime."

"OK."

Around noon the next day, Rosie arrived at Blackrock, her destination. The convoy would then head north, so they could only drop her off here. Continuing west, they would reach Blackrock Castle before sunset.

Upon parting, Sir Karl gave Rosie a cross-shaped sword.

"This sword is called Glory. I had it made before the new year, but I haven't used it much yet."

This is a two-handed cross sword, wider than a palm, about 1.3 meters long, and looks very imposing and powerful when held in the hand.

He then gave Luo Xi some further instructions: "Although the journey is only half a day's journey, we still cannot let our guard down."

"With the Earl seriously ill, the nobles throughout the Western Territory are busy vying for power and profit, and unscrupulous people are taking the opportunity to emerge and cause trouble."

Suppressing bandits was originally the responsibility of nobles. In normal, peaceful times, if bandits appeared in a certain place, the local nobles would definitely lead knights to deal with them in time and prevent them from growing stronger.

Conversely, a sudden increase in the number of bandits in a certain area often reflects political instability in that region.

Blackstone Town at dusk.

Blackrock Town is a border town located in the southern part of the western border of the Kingdom of Karel, near the Misty Forest. It is the direct territory of the Western Lords and also the hometown where the Fernandi family first rose to prominence.

Upon entering Blackstone Town, Luo Xi looked around.

It's not much different from any other small town. Rows of Gothic-style detached houses stand on both sides of the road, and people dressed in all sorts of clothes come and go on the road. In the distance are vast wheat fields, with piles of ripe wheat being sent to the mill.

Towers, streams, stone bridges, straw, and stables—it’s a typical Gothic town, only with smoother and cleaner roads compared to ordinary towns.

Rohi checked the historical records of the Kingdom of Karel. Blackstone Town was where the Fernandi family rose to prominence and was also their earliest fiefdom.

Although times have changed and thanks to the efforts and intermarriages of generations of the Fernand family's ancestors, the former Blackrock hillbillies have become influential Earls of the Westerlands and ruled Windbreak City, Blackrock Territory remains the family's irreplaceable spiritual homeland.

The Earls of Blackstone would return every year to perform rites, and after their deaths, no matter where they died, their remains would be transported to the family cemetery here.

"Sir Lova, that's the man."

"They sneaked into town, looking around furtively ever since they came in."

Just then, more than ten soldiers dressed in bright armor and carrying cross-shaped swords walked over. The silver wolf head emblem on their chests identified them.

The Fernandi family's personal guard.

Led by a townsman, the dozen or so guards approached Rosie and immediately surrounded him.

Each soldier had his hand on the hilt of his sword, demonstrating excellent training.

A middle-aged man walked up to Rosie. This was the captain of the guard, Knight Lova, one of the top three most powerful knights in the Fernandi family.

Beneath the iron helmet were a pair of cold, stern eyes. He first glanced at the cross-shaped sword at Rosie's waist, then asked, "This is the territory of the Fernandi family. State your identity and purpose, stranger."

The townspeople living in Blackrock Town are all descendants of the Fernandi family or people who have made contributions to the Fernandi family. It is a semi-closed town. When Rosie, a stranger, arrived here, the townspeople noticed him immediately and reported him to Knight Lova.

With the Count seriously ill, the Fernandez family was in a tense situation, so the Knight of Lova immediately brought his men to the scene.

Luo Xi didn't say anything, but simply put one hand into his pocket.

Although it was just a small movement, it was obvious that the surrounding soldiers tensed up immediately.

If Sir Lova hadn't raised a hand to signal them in time, Rosie had no doubt that the soldiers would have immediately drawn their cross-shaped swords.

Luo Xi reached into his pocket and took out a copper coin.

This is a copper coin from a previous dynasty, long since no longer in use, and it is covered with the marks of time.

However, the moment he saw the copper coin, Knight Lova's body trembled violently.

He removed his helmet and asked in a slightly trembling voice, "Who are you, sir?"

Rosie remained calm: "From the Misty Forest."

A simple sentence, yet it seemed to contain some strange power, causing the burly Knight Lova, who had practiced martial arts for decades, to suddenly sway.

He took a deep breath and immediately knelt down at Rossi's feet, displaying a humility he had never shown even to the Earl.

Just when everyone was filled with doubt, his next sentence easily dispelled all their doubts and made everyone kneel down as humbly as he did.

But Lova exclaimed, "My lord wizard!"

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(End of this chapter)