Chapter 84: Infant Honor Ceremony, Opening! (Request Monthly Tickets)

At the entrance of Black Wolf Keep.

“Roi, Roland, let’s go in. I can’t wait to see my good grandson.” The old woman said calmly.

“Yes, Mother.” The two knights immediately stepped forward to support the woman as she entered Black Wolf Keep.

Nursery.

Faded light filtered through half-closed curtains, softly spilling onto the crib, like a thin veil draped over the infant within.

The infant had already sprouted fine, short hair of sky-blue, his violet-blue eyes curiously studying the people gathered beside the bed, his chubby little hands waving about as if trying to touch them.

“What a lovely child—no wonder he carries the blood of the Martha family!”

Looking at the infant, Rosa’s weathered face glowed with joy; the bond of blood stirred long-dormant emotions within her heart.

“Yes, his eyes are as beautiful as our little sister’s—when he grows up, he’ll charm countless women.”

Before Roland could finish speaking, Danielle pinched his waist hard, making him instantly fall silent.

Danielle had no desire for her son to grow into a playboy—she wanted her child, Hayden, to become a great hero from a fairy epic.

“He’s already this sturdy at just over three months—he’ll surely become a great knight like our father, Crimson Flame.”

Having learned from his elder brother’s mistake, Roland spoke more cautiously; in this world where strength reigned supreme, praising a child’s potential to become a knight was always a safe compliment.

Yet, upon mentioning the deceased Crimson Flame, the room’s atmosphere abruptly stilled.

Bringing up the dead in the presence of new life always brought sorrow.

“If only Father could have seen little Hayden,” Danielle said, her voice heavy with grief. She lowered her head, her lovely face filled with loss, her eyes slightly reddened.

She still remembered the man who, like fire, warmed everyone around him and protected their family.

Before she turned twelve, sheltered by her father, she had been a true princess—innocent, romantic, even a dying puppy by the roadside could make her weep bitterly.

After her father’s death, the Martha family, stripped of its strongest pillar, plunged into turmoil; her mother aged ten years in an instant, and it was then that Danielle began assisting her mother with affairs, gradually growing accustomed to darkness, her heart growing colder.

Even in death, her father had left her Calen, her perfect husband, securing her present happiness.

Born in the slums, his parents commoners, yet he rose to become a Full Moon Knight, married the daughter of the former Lord of the Southern Region, slew the rebellious Duke, and secured prosperity for the people of the Southern Region.

His father was undoubtedly a living hero—that was why she wished Hayden to become a hero.

“Don’t grieve, Danielle. Your father never sighed before his children. You’re a mother now—I expect you to be the same.”

Rosa walked over and embraced Danielle tightly, stroking her head to soothe her.

“But you still treat me like a child.”

Danielle leaned against Rosa’s shoulder, wiping her tears, her eyes red.

“No matter how old you grow, to me you’re still children.” The old woman smiled warmly.

“By the way, have all the Southern Region lords arrived?” she changed the subject.

“All have arrived. Due to your prestige, even Lord Victor of Nightshade Keep, who has always opposed us, came.”

Calen stepped forward, bowing respectfully.

His gaze toward Rosa was filled with gratitude—all the region’s lords had come to bless his infant son. What an honor!

“Hmph, that cowardly brat—if he dared not show up, I’d strip him of his lordship.”

At the mention of Victor, Rosa’s eyes turned cold, her voice carrying a hint of murderous intent—even Calen, a Grand Knight, was momentarily stunned.

This was the true authority of the Lord of the Southern Region, Calen thought inwardly. He resolved to treat Danielle better from now on—at least stop avoiding her just because of his kidney pain.

“Has Bishop Ruin arrived?” Rosa asked again.

“Not yet. He may still be on the way,” Calen replied respectfully.

“Not here yet?” Upon hearing this, Rosa’s expression turned grim.

The godfather’s blessing was crucial—it accounted for at least half the determination of the infant’s noble protection rank!

If Bishop Ruin ultimately arrived too late to bless her beloved grandson, Rosa felt she might just send assassins to kill him!

“Send your elder and younger brothers on Crimson Foxes to fetch Bishop Ruin. His tardiness as Hayden’s godfather would be a terrible impression,” Rosa said calmly.

Upon hearing this, Danielle and Calen exchanged glances.

“Mother, Bishop Ruin is not Hayden’s godfather—we’ve already chosen someone else,” Danielle said gently.

Otherwise, how could she have allowed Bishop Ruin to come alone? She would have had Calen ride the Black Abyss Wolf to Dawnlight City to personally escort him.

“Oh? Who is this great person?” Rosa felt curious.

Knowing her daughter well, Rosa understood that for Danielle to change the godfather’s identity meant this new godfather must be far nobler than Bishop Ruin.

Bishop Ruin, barely in his thirties, was already the Bishop of the Southern Region branch of the Storm Church and held the rank of Storm Priest of the Morning Star tier.

Whether recalled to the Storm Church’s Holy City, Windwhisper, or promoted to Bishop of the Capital’s branch, his future was undeniably bright.

In the Southern Region, apart from the Martha family, who could possibly be nobler than this bishop? She was eager to meet him.

“I’m sorry, Mother, but at the great one’s request, I cannot reveal his identity,” Danielle apologized.

“But please rest assured—I am Hayden’s mother, I love him, and I am certain this great person’s blessing will ensure Hayden’s future becomes an epic deed worthy of record, making him a renowned great hero.”

Danielle spoke solemnly, her violet-blue eyes filled with unwavering conviction and devotion—so much so that even her mother, Countess Martha, was momentarily stunned.

Rosa had never seen her pleasure-seeking daughter look like this.

Indeed, women change once they become mothers—even Danielle was no exception.

“Heh, then as Hayden’s maternal grandmother, I shall wait and see.”

Rosa turned, using her finger to gently tickle Hayden’s cheek in the crib, smiling warmly.

The softness beneath her fingertip stirred deep emotion within the fifty-year-old woman.

How wonderful—she now had grandchildren, her sons respectful of each other, her daughter happily married, her grandson destined for greatness. For an old woman, this was truly complete.

How wonderful, truly wonderful—yet the only regret was the vow left by her late husband Leo: to secretly find someone who understood strange words like “Blue Star,” “mobile phone,” “Sandy Eagle,” and others.

If found and the secret phrase confirmed, she was to hand over his written will to that person.

She had searched secretly for ten years—yet found not a single clue.

Sigh, that dead man—he won’t even let her rest in peace.

Rosa cursed him fiercely in her heart, then only realized, from the worried expressions of the children around her, that warm liquid was streaming from her eyes.

Evening.

The night sky was a deep painting, stars scattered like randomly sprinkled silver sand, shimmering faintly.

Guest bedroom.

Knock knock.

Xia Mingyu was lying on his bed reading when a knock came at the door.

He rose and opened it to find Calen and Danielle standing nervously before him.

“Come in,” Xia Mingyu ushered them inside.

“Your Highness, Hayden’s Infant Honor Ceremony begins tomorrow at ten a.m. in the main hall’s grand room. First, there will be a two-hour banquet and social gathering, followed by the blessing ceremony at noon precisely. As Hayden’s godfather, you will be the last to offer your blessing.”

Calen spoke, his voice trembling, nearly biting his tongue—he no longer resembled the battle-hardened Grand Knight he was.

Beside him, Danielle clung to his arm, watching him with anxious eyes.

Seeing their expressions, Xia Mingyu immediately understood—they still feared he might renege, hence their palpable unease.

Ah, the heart of a parent, pitiful indeed.

Xia Mingyu took a deep breath, then spoke:

“Calen, Danielle, you’ve helped me greatly—offering me shelter and meals, providing resources for my magical cultivation. To me, you are already important friends.”

“Moreover, being godfather is no longer your demand—it is my duty.”

“Because you fulfilled our agreement: you eradicated brothels and gangs, punished the wicked, and saved starving villagers.”

“Therefore, I shall fulfill my duty—I shall become Hayden’s godfather and offer him my heartfelt blessing.”

Xia Mingyu spoke calmly.

“As friends, stop worrying I’ll break my word—or I’ll truly be angry.”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

Hearing this, Calen was moved to tears, and Danielle’s eyes reddened.

They exchanged a glance, then simultaneously knelt before Xia Mingyu, bowing deeply.

“What are you doing?!”

Xia Mingyu froze, reaching to help them up—but found he could not budge them.

“Your Highness, perhaps to you this was merely an equal exchange,” Calen lifted his head, his gaze growing resolute.

“But Your Highness, you are the noblest person in this world, yet you pitied the suffering of commoners beyond your domain, even taking on the role of godfather to a mere viscount’s son.”

“How kind, how merciful, how noble you are!”

“Compared to you, we are greedy creatures—using the happiness of our own subjects to bargain for such a precious wish.”

“Yet you forgave and embraced our greed, calling us friends.”

“Your Highness, I, Calen Hughes, swear to you: from this day forth, my life, the entire Hughes family, and Black Wolf Keep all belong to you!”

“Wherever your blade points, I shall lead my armies to fight for you at any cost.”

“From now on, the Gluttonous King is no longer my sovereign—you are my sovereign, the true king the Hughes family shall serve!”

Calen spoke passionately for a long while, leaving Xia Mingyu utterly stunned.

Who am I? What was I doing here? What just happened?

He had merely honored his agreement by becoming Hayden’s godfather—and now Calen came to say he renounced the king and would follow him instead?!

Xia Mingyu: “...”

He never imagined he’d one day experience what Zhao Kuangyin felt.

“I understand. Leave now. I will be punctually present in the main hall at ten a.m. tomorrow.”

After a long silence, Xia Mingyu finally forced out these words through clenched teeth.

He truly needed to be alone and quiet.

“Yes, Your Highness, may you have sweet dreams.”

Kallen and Danielle slowly rose, bowed respectfully, then retreated backward out of the room.

“What kind of mess is this!”

After closing the door, Xia Mingyu flung himself onto the soft, large bed and buried his face in the layered silk quilts, sighing helplessly.

He always felt that Kallen and Danielle seemed to misunderstand him.

Oh no, perhaps it wasn’t a misunderstanding—he really did want to change this world full of sin.

But changing the world alone was impossible; he needed enough trustworthy companions and subordinates, even a disciplined army, and thus he must build a team, a vast power.

And all of this must begin with the first stronghold, just as Emperor Gao of Han began in Pei County, or the Overlord Chu in Jiangdong.

Kallen, Lord of Black Wolf Fief, joining him was undoubtedly a promising start.

But all of this depended on one thing: that his blessing truly had a significant protective effect on little Haiden.

If the blessing granted a white commoner’s protection, Xia Mingyu’s lips twitched.

He suspected he wouldn’t even make it out the hall’s door.

The more fervently Kallen and Danielle adored him now, the more they would hate him then.

“Forget it. It’s done. Time to sleep. Tomorrow I must bless little Haiden before all the lords of the realm.”

Xia Mingyu exhaled deeply, suppressed his inner anxiety, rolled over, pulled the quilt up, and closed his eyes, gradually sinking into sleep.

No matter what, ample sleep would give him the strength to face life’s uncertainties.

The next morning at ten o’clock.

Amidst everyone’s anticipation, the infant honor ceremony for Haiden Hughes finally began.

The castle hall.

Candles flickered; hundreds of lit candles stood in the massive iron chandelier hanging from the ceiling, bathing the spacious hall in bright, daylight-like radiance.

Long tables were laden with food: peppered venison legs, honey-glazed suckling pig, herb-stewed fish. These delicacies were everywhere, with several lifelike roasted peacocks as centerpieces and pineapple-like fruits adorning the tables.

Servants in white uniforms moved among the guests, holding silver trays and pouring wine.

Several musicians sat on a raised platform in the corner, playing harps, flutes, lutes, and other instruments, producing melodious tunes.

A painter had set up his canvas, waiting to capture the moment of the blessing, to display it later at the infant’s coming-of-age ceremony.

All the lords of the southern realm had gathered in this hall, clinking cups and chatting freely.

At the same time, Xia Mingyu arrived precisely on time, dressed in a brand-new ceremonial robe.

(End of Chapter)