Chapter 35: The First Meeting with the Subjects

Luoning stayed on the hillside for Along time; only after confirming that the people from Sain Territory had left did he prepare to organize the team and set off.

Although he had successfully weathered the immediate crisis, Luoning did not let his guard down regarding Sain Territory in the slightest.

He knew that the desire of Sain Territory to covet Shanlin Town would not disappear; the other side had only chosen not to have a direct confrontation now because Baron Leisen had his reservations.

When there came a day when the other side no longer had these reservations, they would absolutely invade on a large scale.

And before this reservation disappeared, the other side might not target Luoning openly, but whether they would pull some small tricks in the dark was hard to say.

"Ma'erte, from today on, put on a mask and change your name."

Ma'erte, who was following by Luoning's side, felt very complicated at this moment.

He felt awe toward Luoning, and at the same time, he was afraid.

Just from the situation earlier, he, who had been lying on the ground pretending to be a corpse, could not understand just how much courage this Baron before him had to dare to perform that brilliant, bluffing scene.

Ma'erte had truly seen something today!

While tearing a piece of cloth from a corpse behind him to cover his face, he bowed and requested: "My Lord, if it is possible, I would like to ask you to bestow a name upon me!"

Luoning raised his eyebrows, not expecting this fellow to actually ask him to bestow a name.

"Then you shall be called Tangmu."

Ma'erte knelt on one knee respectfully, "Many thanks, My Lord, for the name! Ma'erte has become a thing of the past; from now on, I am only your follower, Tangmu!"

Luoning nodded, swung onto his horse, and the team slowly began to move, heading toward the town.

Maiken led several Infantry riding horses in the front, Luoning, Aierlong, Dawei, and others walked in the middle, and behind them were carts dragging grain and corpses.

He did not bury this group of people from Shanlin Town; after all, most of these people had relatives in Shanlin Town, and handing the corpses over to their relatives could be considered Luoning's benevolence.

Furthermore, he would tell everyone in Shanlin Town that Administrator Pulinsite had led the betrayal of Wushan Castle and had been eliminated by him, and he would no longer pursue the crimes of the others.

This could also serve as a deterrent.

After all, Pulinsite had operated here for nine years; who knew if there were still followers or subordinates in Shanlin Town?

"Tangmu, do you have any other family members?" Luoning asked.

"I... my mother is still alive."

Ma'erte, who had transformed into Tangmu, immediately felt his heart tighten. In his eyes, Luoning was a master who killed as he pleased; he was afraid that Luoning would kill his mother just as he had executed the prisoners, yet he did not dare to lie.

"What does she do?" Luoning asked.

"My Lord, my mother Liya relies on a little money left behind by my father to run a tailor shop in town, and she raised me on that small income."

Luoning nodded and said to Chaha'er: "After we arrive at Shanlin Town, Chaha'er, have Tangmu's mother come to the castle to work."

"Very well, Master!" The manservant Chaha'er noted this matter down.

Tangmu secretly breathed a sigh of relief; that was fortunate.

The team's speed was not fast, but it wasn't long before they arrived in town.

Luoning finally saw his subjects.

Regardless of gender, their faces were very weathered, as if they had suffered greatly, and their expressions were rather dull.

Perhaps only the children chasing and playing beside the dilapidated longhouses still retained a bit of vitality, which allowed Luoning to manage a smile.

However, when this group of people saw that the last few carts were filled with nothing but corpses, and when they saw fresh blood dripping and leaving long lines of blood on the ground, their faces were filled with fear; they hurriedly pulled their children and knelt by the side of the road, not even daring to run.

The further Luoning went toward the center of town, the more people knelt down.

Finally, on the foul-smelling main street, he pulled on the reins and came to a stop.

"Let me introduce myself. I come from Wushan Castle and am the eldest grandson of Marquis Lulansi, the master of Wushan Territory. From today on, I am the Baron of Shanlin Town and your lord!"

Luoning cleared his throat, "Remember your lord's name: Luoning Liehuofengbao!"

The kneeling subjects could not help but look up at Luoning, only feeling that the person sitting on the horse seemed to be glowing all over, making one not dare to look directly at him.

Some Free Citizens with more knowledge saw the Wushan Family crest on the carts and knew that Luoning was not lying.

They could not help but sigh; after so many years, Wushan Territory finally had a true master, and this time it was not some Pioneer Knight, nor some newly promoted Baron, but the direct bloodline of the Wushan Family!

Luoning pulled the reins and came to the last few carts, his tone changing from the previous calmness.

"The former Administrator of Shanlin Town, Pulinsite, betrayed Wushan Castle, betrayed Shanlin Town, and betrayed his lord! They have all been executed by my Knights!"

Those who had just dared to look up at Luoning now only glanced at the corpses and hurriedly lowered their heads.

"I am never merciful toward traitors!"

Luoning chuckled, his voice sounding rather cold to the subjects, "My mercy is only for the subjects who are loyal to me!"

The sound of horse hooves was crisp; all those kneeling on the street did not dare to breathe loudly, though some could not help but weep.

Luoning looked over; those must be the families of the traitors.

Seeing Luoning's gaze, they lowered their heads in a panic, not knowing what to do.

"I believe that the betrayal was merely their personal act and does not involve their families."

Luoning did not want to continue speaking in such an environment, "Whoever among you is their family may come up to claim their corpses. From now on, as long as you are loyal to Shanlin Town and loyal to me, I will not hold you responsible for anything."

After speaking, Luoning instructed his followers: "Dawei, you take two Guards and stay here to watch the carts; let their families claim the corpses."

At the same time, he whispered, "Remember to enforce orders strictly. I have already given you instructions regarding what happened on the mountain; you know what to do."

"Understood, My Lord!"

Dawei selected two Guards and shouted loudly: "The Lord is merciful; you may come up to claim your family's corpses!"

Everyone present dared not move.

Luoning knew that with him here, they did not have the courage, "Let's go, Tangmu, take me to the castle of Shanlin Town."

"Very well, My Lord!"

The castle of Shanlin Town was located on a hill in the northeast corner of the town, built by the first Baron over a dozen years ago, and had been renovated and rebuilt once in recent years under Pulinsite.

Luoning had originally thought the castle would be very crude, but when he walked outside the castle, he discovered that was not the case.

Except for the area being a bit small, in terms of structure, it had everything a building should have: an inner and outer castle, city walls, a gatehouse, and watchtowers.

Pulinsite acted as if he detested nobles, yet his life was no different from theirs.

At this moment, the guards of the castle had all swarmed out, and Luoning and his party walked in without any obstacles.

After entering Shanlin Castle, under the lead of Tangmu, the guards rounded up all the Steward and servants of the castle.

Luoning walked straight toward the fortress, which was built from discarded stones and looked very sturdy, and sat upon the "throne" at the top.

He thought of Lulansi at Wushan Fortress that day.

The other party sat quietly on the high seat without saying a word, yet whether it was Weijinsi or the Golden Lion of the Haide Family, all submitted to Lulansi.

"The weak scream until they are hoarse, and no one cares; the strong speak in a whisper, yet it reaches deep into people's hearts!"

Looking at the servants of Shanlin Castle who were being brought over one after another to kneel below, for a moment, Luoning experienced the thrill of becoming the strong.

This feeling was truly intoxicating.

(End of this chapter)