Chapter 163: Return

The deep‑sea dome's dark blue was torn in an instant by searing white; Robin's Condemnation Sword in his hand suddenly burst with a dazzling glare.

That light was like a supernova about to explode, far beyond the scope of Legendary‑grade weapons.

The massive muzzle of the Mechanical Sea Monster flared, as if a gaze from the abyss.

Robin, however, did not retreat but advanced, the Order chains around him swirling wildly like a golden dragon, enveloping him completely.

In the next instant, a brilliant golden light shone behind him, coalescing into the phantasm of a shield‑bearing knight—that was the Order Phantasm unique to Order Knights!

From afar, Ba Long, who was watching the battle, had his pupils snap shut, his breath catching.

"Such a young Order Knight? No, that's wrong! He hasn't truly broken through yet; he merely borrowed the Order's power briefly!" Ba Long instantly judged and his steps quickened involuntarily.

He could not stand by and watch this exceptionally gifted youth fall here!

At the hair‑breadth moment, a fierce sword flash tore through the air, colliding with the Sea Monster's death ray in a thunderous clash.

Amid the roar of the energy explosion, Robin spun at an incredible speed, the Condemnation Sword snapping like a venomous snake, precisely piercing the weak spot on the Mechanical Sea Monster's rear neck.

Accompanied by a deafening boom, the massive beast toppled with a crash, the surge of waves sweeping the surroundings like a tsunami.

The wreckage of the Mechanical Sea Monster smoked on the charred deck; Robin knelt on one knee, supporting the Condemnation Sword while gasping, his steaming sweat tinged with a sharp metallic scorch odor.

Suddenly, a pair of long boots bearing a gilded emblem stepped into view; as the shadow fell, he heard a familiar low voice.

"Young man, we meet again," Ba Long's smoke‑streaked cloak swept the ground, the crimson mantle beneath revealing dark‑iron armor still smoldering with battle embers.

The kingdom's guardian bent down, his fingertip thumping heavily on Robin's trembling shoulder from overusing the Order's power, "That Order Phantasm you just used is far more impressive than the tricks I played at twenty."

Robin's pallid face forced a faint smile, his knuckles whitening from gripping the sword hilt, "Fighting for the kingdom is the honor of every Knight."

His gaze pierced the lingering smoke, landing on the glinting mechanical patterns of the Sea Monster's wreckage, "Having dealt with the Mechanical Church these years, I know their methods well—where gears turn, there lies conspiracy."

Ba Long brushed the gilded emblem on his cloak, a cold glint flashing in his aged eyes.

Robin's subtle hints were like a key, instantly unlocking the mystery in his heart.

Viscount Wei Er Ke, though born of the western frontier aristocracy, leaned toward the royal family.

Now he has been drawn into this "accident," clearly someone intends to use the Mechanical Church's hand to erase this loyal family from the power board.

"Someone wants Wei Er Ke's sword to gather dust," Ba Long suddenly drew his side‑blade, the blade parting Robin's torn sleeve to reveal a snarling scorch mark, "But a true Sharp Blade only becomes sharper when forged in fire."

He flicked his wrist, the blade reflecting the shattered deck behind them, "Come, we must go to the royal capital, let some see that a Knight's oath never rusts."

Robin opened his mouth, a strained expression flaring across his face.

Lord Ba Long was clearly urging him to join the kingdom's First Knight Order.

At that moment, hurried footsteps and the rustle of fabric arrived; Li Ya supported Viscount Wei Er Ke as he approached slowly, his pallid face still showing traces of weakness, yet under the chapel priest's treatment he finally shed the prior near‑death pallor.

"Father!" Robin lunged forward, three steps in two, grasping his father's still‑cold hand, his gaze wandering over the bandaged wound, his voice wrapped in unshakable worry.

Viscount Wei Er Ke, leaning on Li Ya, straightened slightly, a grateful light flickering in his cloudy eyes.

Earlier Li Ya had recounted the battle in detail; now, seeing her son's blood‑stained yet upright form, the old man's face broke into a faint smile, his trembling hand gently patting Robin's back of the hand, "Good child, truly my child."

Robin half‑kneeling, steadied his father's arm on his own shoulder, and looked up at Ba Long with sincere eyes, "Lord Ba Long! I am deeply grateful for this journey to the royal capital, but my father is injured; I must first escort him back to our domain."

A breeze swept the battlefield, lifting the blood‑stained hem of his cloak; now his taut muscles were more stubborn than ever.

Ba Long gazed at the father and son, a hint of understanding flashing in his eyes. He reached out, pressing Robin's shoulder where he intended to bow, the warmth of his palm passing through the fabric, "Go."

The old man's voice, wrapped in undeniable authority, "The scion of the Wei Er Ke house should not be confined to a sickbed—if you encounter an unsolvable problem, come to the royal capital and find me."

Having said that, he untied a bronze token etched with a Griffin Emblem from his waist, slipped it into Robin's palm; the metal's coolness and lingering warmth passed between them, "This is a pass for the royal capital; remember, a true battlefield never lies in this realm."

Robin rubbed the Griffin Emblem token, Ba Long's parting words about the "true battlefield" echoing repeatedly in his ears.

He lifted his gaze to the rolling black clouds where sea meets sky, suddenly recalling his pact with Mei Lin Da a year away; that mysterious outsider would return, showing him the vast lands beyond the kingdom.

As dusk cloaked the royal capital, Robin settled his father onto the carved wooden bed in the Viscount's manor.

Viscount Wei Er Ke clutched his son's wrist, his cloudy eyes full of lingering fear, "Do not take such risks again," he said, but before the words finished, the Viscount fell into deep sleep, his knuckles still gripping Robin's sleeve.

At dawn the next day, the morning mist had not lifted.

Robin strapped the Condemnation Sword to his waist, cast a final glance at the family banner fluttering before the manor's gate, then turned and mounted his horse.

The horse's hooves shattered the frost‑covered ground, and from behind came Li Ya's calling out, "I'll return to Viscount Wei Er Ke's domain to find you."

Robin did not look back, merely waved his hand, indicating he understood.

At that moment his father leaned against the carriage window, his gaze both proud and worried.

"Should we tell the child about that after all?"

On the day they returned to the domain, Viscount Wei Er Ke leaned on an ebony cane, standing at the castle steps with the steward's support.

When he saw his son return safely, the old man's eyes reddened as he patted Robin's back, muttering, "From now on, guard the domain; with your Legendary skill."

His voice grew softer, yet could not hide his heartfelt relief, "All those private guards combined are still less reassuring than a single finger of yours."

"Fine!" Robin replied with a smile.

He would use this time to solidify his cultivation, and regarding the Duke of Hawk's revenge, he was untroubled.

After all, the Duke of Hawk is one of the western frontier's most powerful nobles; to move against Viscount Wei Er Ke would require a legitimate reason, otherwise how could the western nobles be swayed.

(End of Chapter)