"On this, there was originally the crest of the Tulip Clan, a tulip flower. I added a dragon claw of a Two-legged Flying Dragon to it as my family crest."
Durant looked at the twisted threads on it and commented, "Made hastily overnight by the village women, the embroidery is rough, but it's recognizable."
The noble descendants who do not inherit the family can redesign their own family crest after being conferred as lords.
If the relationship with the family is not good, it can be completely redesigned.
But usually, changes are made to the existing family crest.
Durant does not have much affection for the Tulip Clan, but he has not broken away from the Earl of the Tulip, so he added new elements on the original basis.
Mainly because it's more convenient this way.
"Is this your first family crest?"
Man Xiu received the leather pouch with trembling hands.
"This, this is too precious!"
No matter what's inside the pouch, the weight of this gift far exceeds its actual value.
The commemorative significance of the first family crest is self-evident, truly representing Durant's goodwill.
Man Xiu took a deep breath nervously, opened the pouch, and took out a small sharp fang of a Two-legged Flying Dragon.
"I can't give you the tusk; it's material for making weapons. This smaller sharp fang is a gift for you."
Seeing Man Xiu's cautious manner, Durant reminded: "It's already been treated by Luna, and it's not poisonous."
Man Xiu smiled awkwardly, and only then dared to take out the sharp fang.
After admiring it, Man Xiu stepped back and solemnly bowed to Durant,
"Thank you for your gift, Lord Baron, this is the most special gift I've ever received."
"But I can't return the gift because I currently have nothing to match it."
Durant was a bit surprised by Man Xiu's reaction and said offhandedly: "Acknowledging its value is enough; just bring back more of the slaves you promised me, and that can be counted as a return gift."
Durant truly didn't think that a roughly embroidered family crest would be of much value.
Giving Man Xiu the gift was more aimed at enticing this somewhat influential merchant.
"It's not the same." Man Xiu shook his head solemnly.
"Then do one thing for me."
Durant said generously: "Forget everything you've seen here at Black Pine Ridge when you leave, just remember me as a friend."
"No problem, I understand your caution."
Man Xiu readily agreed, then said worriedly: "But the news of your dragon slaying will eventually spread."
"As long as merchants don't speak, news travels slowly across the Desert."
Durant wasn't afraid of others knowing he had slain a Two-legged Flying Dragon; he just needed more time to peacefully develop his territory.
Whether it's the Dragon Egg or the dragon skin of the Two-legged Flying Dragon, they are treasures that are easily contested, and if others dig deeply into his dragon-slaying process, they might discover he has a blade sharp enough to cut through dragon scales.
He didn't want to be in the spotlight just yet.
"Besides, I hope you, Man Xiu, can help me keep an eye on the other lords in the Desert."
Man Xiu was slightly stunned and remarked: "Lord Baron, I have to say, you truly are a shrewd and farsighted lord."
Durant laughed lightly and waved his hand, "I'll take that as a compliment."
"Of course, Lord Baron."
Man Xiu nodded earnestly: "Please patiently await my slaves and intelligence reports."
With that, Man Xiu waved goodbye to Durant, and the caravan set off.
Durant waved too, watching as the caravan disappeared from sight, then turned back to Frost Leaf Town.
...
...
Dusk, Frost Leaf Town.
Atop the hill at the manor,
Lawrence was shouting loudly with his chest puffed out,
"Everyone work hard! Anyone who slacks off won't get dinner tonight!"
"Sir Lawrence, the sun is about to set, it's almost time for the lord's designated rest time," a slave reminded softly beside him.
"The brave Dragon Slayer doesn't even have a decent estate. How can you rest?"
Lawrence widened his eyes, "You're the Dragon Slayer's slaves, you should be more industrious! Now get to work!
No one can slack off under the steward of the Dragon Slayer, the manor must be built in a week, no, three days!"
Having said that, Lawrence picked up a whip and lashed it hard on the post beside him as a warning.
Originally, Lawrence thought he could never surpass his brother in this life, especially in the amount of Gold Coin, always below his brother.
But he never expected his lord to have slain a dragon!
As the steward of the Dragon Slayer, no amount of Gold Coin his brother earns can compared to this title!
Lawrence was secretly pleased within his heart.
The slaves groaned in lament, while the guards beside them smiled silently.
As witnesses of the slaying of the Two-legged Flying Dragon, everyone felt proud.
But Lawrence was the most exaggerated.
Lawrence's voice was so loud that it could be heard clearly in the town below the manor.
"What's wrong with him? Has he gone mad?"
Durant frowned, unable to look directly.
Beside him, Lawrence smiled wryly, "The day before yesterday, after I transported the Two-legged Flying Dragon carcass back, Lawrence curiously inquired about the Two-legged Flying Dragon from me.
I just briefly told him what happened, and then informed him that you personally killed this Two-legged Flying Dragon.
And that's it."
"He's got an illness that needs curing."
Durant remarked with a smirk.
The incident of slaughtering the Two-legged Flying Dragon is certainly hard to conceal in the town, but Lawrence is truly exaggerating.
"Welcome back, brave Dragon Slayer, master of Black Pine Ridge, Lord Baron Rod."
Lawrence jogged all the way to Luo De, bowing ninety degrees in a solemn and standard manner.
Hiss—
Luo De breathed in sharply, hearing Lawrence call him Dragon Slayer with every other word, feeling it grated on his nerves.
"That's enough, you don't need to keep mentioning it."
"Lord, your bravery should be known to everyone!"
Lawrence added in his heart, especially some vulgar merchants who only love Gold Coins!
"Calm down, don't always think about those things."
Luo De pretended to be stern and put on a serious face.
Luo De's expression made Lawrence's heart tremble, and he hurriedly lowered his head and replied, "Okay, brave Lord."
Luo De didn't say much more, as he stepped towards the manor, he heard someone shouting,
"Lord, cakes!"
Luo De turned around and saw a militia carrying a wooden tub filled with cakes running towards him, followed by a slightly chubby woman.
"These are the cakes my mother made, what I promised you."
The militia delivered the cakes to Luo De.
The woman behind him bowed,
"Thank you for saving my child and bringing him home safely."
She stole a glance at Luo De and quickly lowered her head again.
"Thank you also for making cakes for me."
Luo De was somewhat surprised, not expecting the militia to take his casual words seriously.
Luo De gestured Durant to take the wooden tub, then picked up a cake and took a big bite.
The coarse black rye flour, mixed with a little wheat, was made into thin cakes, sometimes rolled with minced meat, leaves, or steamed dried fruits.
Of course, you can also eat them plain.
All the cakes were already rolled, and Luo De's first bite got him some jerky inside.
This mother must have stuffed all the family's meat into the cakes.
"It tastes good, thank you."
Luo De praised without reservation.
In fact, there wasn't anything particularly delicious about it, but Luo De, having been rushing about all day, was already famished.
Moreover, it was a mother's sincere intention.
"Having made such a large tub of cakes, your family's grain probably isn't enough, is it?"
After stuffing himself with cakes, Luo De instructed Lawrence, "Give them fifty pounds of black rye and twenty pounds of meat later."
"Okay, Lord."
Lawrence responded, unable to help but complain in his mind, this woman's family sure made a lucrative deal.
They earned just with the twenty pounds of meat.
"Thank you for your reward, you are truly a generous lord!"
The militia and the mother beamed with joy, immediately bowing to express thanks.
"Come on, everyone, have a taste."
Luo De didn't mind and let Durant distribute a cake to everyone.
One shouldn't calculate a mother's kind intentions like this.
Of course, if anyone deliberately offered a tub of cakes to trade with him, Luo De surely would slap them flying.
So, a group of people stood on the open ground in front of the manor, watching the sunset and munching on the cakes.
It's a bit dry.
But Luo De still ate happily.
"How about we eat cakes on this day every year from now on, all kinds of cakes."
Luo De suddenly said, "To celebrate our successful slaying of a ferocious Two-legged Flying Dragon, and it just so happens we need to store dry food for the spring sowing."
Many farmlands are more than ten miles from Frost Leaf Town, and farmers sowing cannot make it back home for lunch and will bring their own food and water.
During the busy farming season, women also have to work in the fields, and by the time they return home at dusk, they don't have time or energy to cook and will eat cakes made a few days in advance.
"Okay!" Lawrence was the first to raise his hand in agreement.
Others caught on and expressed that it was a good idea.
"The name 'cake' doesn't sound nice, it should be changed."
"What should it be called?" Everyone looked at Luo De curiously.
Luo De thought for a moment, "Let's call it Spring Cake."
...
...