[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces":3,"chapter-the-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces-the-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces-chapter-70":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Dragon of a Thousand Faces",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2269716,4431,"Chapter 70: Bestowal of Honors","the-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces-chapter-70",70,"\u003Cp>Li En arrived at the Lu Xifude Count’s mansion six hours early—or rather, the castle named after the mansion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This Count’s mansion, named for Radiance, was a small fortress complex built of enchanted white stone, appearing dull and gray, yet truly invaluable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the city lord’s private residence, it lacked the luxury befitting a high noble, instead resembling a frontline fortress ready for battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Li En walked through, he saw siege crossbows, engineering hammers, war golems, and numerous dwarf and goblin artisans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following shouts and battle sounds, he spotted soldiers training beneath three layers of walls, and a large number of transcendent beings chatting in the inner banquet area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Radiant Guards, subtly alert and scanning their surroundings, each carried an air of readiness, as if they could step onto the battlefield at any moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s said the current ‘Radiant Count,’ Albert Lu Xifude, was trained as a military knight and even fought in the great war over a decade ago—he was a comrade of the former Hero, Lex. More than his role as city lord, he clearly values his identity as a royal knight, often wearing armor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The information Li En gathered left him with a strange feeling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, drawing that previous card meant the former Hero Lex was likely also a “Li Ensu,” and possibly the closest one to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, he was about to meet his past-life comrade—perhaps even his past-past-life comrade?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Gak! Comrade? What’s that! Daughter! My past-life daughter!” Ku Ku was unusually excited, though it was unclear what he was excited about.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li En fell silent at once—he’d never even dated anyone, and now he had a past-life daughter?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had never truly decided how to face this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But considering Li Ensu’s repeated reincarnations and the existence of long-lived races in this world, he should prepare soon—his karmic entanglements from past lives wouldn’t end here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The past Li Ensu is not me”—this wasn’t shirking responsibility, but a sober reality he’d carefully considered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A person’s upbringing and environment shape a completely different personality—even if many factors and memories are identical, even if all memories are fully restored, they still shouldn’t be considered the same individual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Superficial! Individual! Soul!”—Ku Ku meant the soul is one, and the soul is the essence that defines individuality?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li En shook his head; he did not accept it, even if the other might be more authoritative, more correct.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Forget it—I’ll just take it one step at a time.” It seemed that, for now, this was all Li En could do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Entering this fortress-like city lord’s mansion, Li En carefully observed and indeed noticed several uniquely styled furnishings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like Sallyman’s mansion, there were clear portraits and statues of former Heroes—but unlike Sallyman’s, which resembled artistic decorations, these were coarser and more battlefield-oriented.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They didn’t depict any single individual; knights in battle were the theme, and many paintings showed group battle scenes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tables displaying various battle-damaged weapons were labeled with their former owners’ names.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under specimens and skull artifacts of monsters and demons were the names of the hunters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The largest mural depicted the Hero presiding over a war council in a tent; the closest middle-aged knight bore the griffon crest—likely the city lord himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In some sense, perhaps this experience was why, even after the kingdom’s decline, he remained a staunch royalist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, you’re here early?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li En was led by a servant into a small reception room, where Lari was already waiting, chatting with two local hosts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had changed into a nobleman’s formal attire—stiff high collar, tall and slender, strikingly handsome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A young, beautiful male knight with an extraordinarily handsome face—perhaps especially alluring to noble ladies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet she seemed distinctly uncomfortable; even seated, she instinctively tugged at her white shirt. But given the possibility of meeting royalty, wearing such formal attire was appropriate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li En hadn’t bothered with formal wear—he came as a knight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To don formal attire would have been impractical—first, there wasn’t time; second, as a “former noble,” he didn’t suit it, and would appear overly eager to curry favor with nobility and royalty, inviting disdain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li En naturally didn’t understand any of this—but Sallyman explained it clearly, even helping him acquire a decorative armor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lord Li En!” Seeing him arrive, she stood up in delight and hurried over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sight made Li En feel odd—if she had a tail, it would surely be wagging wildly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sorry, yesterday I was kept at home and couldn’t meet you at the docks.” Clearly, she knew of Li En’s “great feat” yesterday.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knowing Li En had regained his Holy Knight powers, she was probably happier than Li En himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li En reached up and patted her shoulder—both encouragement and a signal to step back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ha! You must be Li En—excellent, excellent!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li En was slapped on the shoulder again by a large hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly appearing before him was an elderly man with silver hair—but upon closer look, he wasn’t truly old, rather resembling an prematurely aged middle-aged man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A canine beastman, he was as massive as a baby elephant, his cheeks scarred, his beard flecked white, like a warrior who’d endured countless battles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He towered over Li En by a full head, and his strength sent Li En reeling backward with each slap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Excellency, the City Lord.” Li En recognized him and quickly bowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heroes emerge in youth—truly impressive. It reminds me of the old Hero.” His tone immediately carried the weight of an elder, always reminiscing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Li En froze—how should he respond? Was he this unlucky, recognized immediately? Hadn’t his appearance’s memory been erased?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lord Li En, don’t mind it—the Count always speaks this way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old city lord was suddenly kicked aside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You old fool, stop dragging the Hero into every conversation—how many future Heroes have you mentioned this year?” The woman behind the Count, annoyed, tapped her father’s head, halting his childish antics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Knight Claire.” Li En (Sallyman) had done his homework—he knew this captain of the Radiant Guards was most likely to receive them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Radiant Count” Albert Lu Xifude had several children, but none were notable or powerful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The true backbone of this city were his two adopted daughters and three adopted sons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rumor had it they were mostly orphans of his former comrades—the Count had held considerable prestige in the military before the kingdom’s collapse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Red-Haired Demon” Claire Furode was the name of the tall woman before him, draped in a lion-headed cloak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was famed on the battlefield for her frenzied blood-drinking—Li En felt odd; she was likely a lizardfolk, perhaps even a pseudo-dragon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, she seemed far more normal than her adoptive father.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ha, different—this time it’s truly similar, too similar.” The old knight kept comparing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lord Li En, ignore him—my father’s like this. He’s retired, no one to play with, always teasing the young.” This time, even the adopted daughter refused to bother with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The atmosphere in the small hall remained pleasant, maintaining the style of “knights meeting, comrades chatting.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was likely deliberately cultivated by the host.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Li En still felt uneasy for certain reasons, he understood the sincerity and goodwill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially the Count’s excessive warmth toward Li En—far surpassing even his treatment of noble-born Lari, despite their shared faction (royalist).\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From another angle, inviting Lari for the award ceremony, while the Labol side fully cooperated, subtly revealed the higher-ups’ hope to ease tensions between the “liberal faction” and the “conservative faction.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least, let this incident—the royal family and the Count jointly assassinating the finance vice-minister and several nobles—pass without further fallout.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After conflict arises, a banquet is often needed to mend things—at least on the surface.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Count was busy; he came, exchanged a few words, and left—he came primarily for Sudar (Sallyman), not Li En himself, as they were political allies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it was clear his admiration for outstanding knights and warriors was genuine and unhidden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He even proposed on the spot that Li En join the city guard with officer status, and once his powers recovered somewhat, directly join the Radiant Guards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From Claire’s irritated expression behind him, it was clear this was another impulsive, unsanctioned act of opportunistic admiration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After pretending to consider for a moment, Li En politely declined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Count wasn’t offended—only patted Li En’s shoulder, saying the offer remained open, and he was welcome to change his mind anytime.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the Count left, both Lari and Li En exhaled in relief—but what struck Li En as odd was that he felt absolutely nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Indeed, I feel nothing toward Lex’s comrades.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No nostalgia, no extra emotion, no memory flashes—just as if meeting a stranger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the Count left, Claire chatted briefly—sufficient sincerity and etiquette—and then departed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not long after, Talia was led in by a servant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Beautiful. Perfect for you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The elegant black gown suited her refined figure; her neatly styled hair softened her otherwise fierce aura.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first glance, she transformed from a tomboy into a noble lady.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heh.” The woman covered her mouth with a light laugh, making Li En even more uneasy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I learned this—to approach my target.” In the next instant, her expression turned cold and calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After surviving the bloodshed together, the few who became comrades naturally grew closer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The last one, Dimon, wouldn’t come—his status made it unsuitable. Talia needed this award most—no matter what she planned, she needed a better starting identity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, with rare free time, they casually discussed recent events.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dock district seemed to be going well; other city areas weren’t idle either—the conservatives and liberals had reached a tentative agreement and were now hunting down cultists together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The royal family was overseeing the operation—they clearly intended to exterminate every last one of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many small fish and minor organizations had been wiped out, but no major figures like the former finance vice-minister had been seen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This award ceremony itself was something all sides hoped to see: honoring a core member of the liberal faction, Labol’s family, signaling that the royal family was targeting specific acts, not exterminating entire factions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li En now realized how serious this matter truly was—even the Princess was suspected of having come specifically to handle it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She arrived in this city on the very day the vice-minister was assassinated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On another front, Labol’s attitude toward Li En had clearly changed—this incident effectively gave Li En a golden sheen in the Holy Knight world through Lari.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A classical Oath Knight’s status among Holy Knights might carry no official position or great power—but merely this record alone made other knights look at him with respect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After royal intervention, Li En’s “knightly honor” received official endorsement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Associating with Li En greatly benefited Lari’s future—and indirectly, Labol’s as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Labol harmed Li En, it would severely damage Lari’s knightly honor, branding him as “ungrateful” or “betraying comrades\u002Fprior.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Between the likely heir, the “eldest son,” and the notorious “criminal,” the choice for the patriarch was obvious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the poor third son, misled by cultists—being buried under Labol’s name was already more than enough sentimentality from the current patriarch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Truly cruel.” Li En, the one involved, didn’t know how to judge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...” Lari gave a bitter smile, unsure how to respond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he still shared some good news.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I feel my heart-soul ability is beginning to awaken.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This, perhaps, is rather peculiar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a normal practitioner, awakening a heart-soul ability at third-rank is already early.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in this knight squad, where everyone carries deep grievances, this is already painfully slow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Li En and Talia still congratulated her, praising her for gaining clarity within herself—this greatly pleased her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When they asked what exactly her ability was, the reply was a vague: “Probably a protective ability.” It seemed she was far from full awakening—perhaps not until she advanced in rank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a brief casual chat, a etiquette teacher arrived to instruct them on what to do and say during the ceremony.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This incident was still officially labeled as a cult sect colluding with certain nobles to incite unrest; all they needed to do was utter empty words of loyalty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li En practiced briefly—it wasn’t difficult. His role required nothing more than standard knightly etiquette.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But soon after, when the award ceremony began and Li En finally saw the recipient, he completely lost his composure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait, isn’t this Long Shou?! She’s my past-life daughter?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Staring at the familiar yet strange little girl on the podium, with her cold, serious expression, Li En froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What made it even more peculiar was the thing she unconsciously swayed atop her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“These cat ears and lion ears are far more real than Laina’s fake ones. Huh, there’s even a fake tail—and it can move?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man’s face was calm, but the thoughts swirling in his mind long ago should have been expelled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2133,"2026-06-19T21:45:41.002Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","7f75d36f5214e766b9d4b15d589f3b0d64e91d73e736531c7d5b2f72a5eadddf","the-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces-chapter-71","the-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces-chapter-69",362,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces-cover.jpg"]