Just as Aurelian Dragon was about to get up and leave, a chaotic sound of horses' hooves suddenly came from the direction of the alley entrance, and soon a group of people appeared in front of "Lakeside Residence".
Lucian Swiftfire frowned and said with disgust, "A bunch of blind fools again, they're as annoying as flies!"
Aurelian Dragon glanced at them and, seeing that they were all dressed smartly, looked sharp and imposing, and carried swords, asked curiously, "Who are they?"
Lucian Swiftfire watched as these people dismounted and walked into the shop, casually replying, "Who else is there besides the warriors from the Left Prime Minister's Mansion? The one leading them is the Left Prime Minister's Mansion's top fighter, named Silofiha, who is said to be a swordsman from the Heavenly Sword Garden."
"That's not right. If this guy is the top swordsman of the Left Prime Minister's Mansion, why would he have time to come here?" Aurelian Dragon said in confusion.
At this moment, Lucian Swiftfire perked up, stood up and said, "These guys are here to see me. I just chased them away the day before yesterday. Now they've brought this so-called number one swordsman of the Left Prime Minister's Mansion, Sirofiha, to test my mettle."
After Aurelian Dragon pressed him for details, Lucian Swiftfire finally told him that a few days ago, some guys had eaten the food here and, while praising it highly, started plotting to have Serena Vale cook for them. Lucian Swiftfire chased them away. They later came back a few more times to cause trouble, but each time Lucian Swiftfire chased them away.
"Lucian Swiftfire, our boss is looking for you!" A swordsman with a pointed chin walked over and said in a harsh voice.
Lucian Swiftfire stared at the swordsman and said coldly, "I warned you guys long ago not to bother Serena Vale again..."
The swordsman interrupted Lucian Swiftfire, grinning maliciously, "Our boss is here not only to teach you a lesson, you playboy, but also to invite Serena Vale to be his cook!"
"What?!" Lucian Swiftfire roared, standing up and exclaiming, "How dare you!"
The swordsman in front of him took a step back in fright and said, his bravado masking his fear, "Don't be so arrogant. Once our leader has finished talking with Serena Vale, he'll come and show you what's what!"
"What a barking dog!" Aurelian Dragon said coldly from the side. "I find it disgusting!"
Obsidia Shade, standing behind Aurelian Dragon, understood his intention perfectly. With a slight flick of her slender hand, a powerful burst of energy pierced the air, the ripples clearly visible. The swordsman, who was fully focused on defense, was startled and quickly made a dodging motion.
Unfortunately, he didn't realize that his opponent was far too much stronger than him. He had barely begun a complete evasive maneuver, his body twisting at a tiny angle, when a relentless, immense force arrived before him, making it difficult for him to breathe. His face felt like it was being pricked by needles.
With a splash, water sprayed everywhere. The swaying swordsman finally lost his footing and plunged headfirst into the lake beside him.
Lucian Swiftfire glanced at Obsidia Shade with considerable surprise. He hadn't expected such a petite and charming girl to possess such strength. Although he had already discerned that the two women behind Aurelian Dragon were highly skilled, Obsidia Shade's performance made him realize that his assessment needed to be revised.
As Aurelian Dragon and his companions entered the shop, Serena Vale once again refused Silopiha's invitation.
"I am so sorry! Apart from making some simple pastries, I have no other skills. I am really unable to live up to your expectations, sir. Please forgive me!"
Sirofiha's face darkened, and he said unhappily, "So, you're refusing my invitation?"
Before Serena Vale could speak, Lucian Swiftfire, who had just stepped into the shop, laughed loudly and said, "Miss Serena Vale has made herself perfectly clear. Are you deaf? Can't you even hear that?"
Serena Vale sighed inwardly. This handsome young man was about to make a scene again, and things were only going to escalate. But he meant well, and she couldn't very well refuse him, could she?
If a single sentence can start a war, then Lucian Swiftfire's single sentence is enough to ignite a conflict.
Feeling utterly humiliated, Sirofihar turned to Lucian Swiftfire and said coldly, "You've got guts. I haven't even asked you, and you've already delivered yourself to me." He then glanced at Aurelian Dragon and his two companions before turning to Lucian Swiftfire and saying, "So, where did you find these helpers? They're quite impressive, but I wonder if they'll be of any use?"
At that moment, one of his swordsmen suddenly shouted, "Brother, Tudo has been knocked into the water!"
Lucian Swiftfire laughed and said, "Don't worry, I alone am more than enough to handle all of you guys."
Seeing that Silofiah was about to erupt, Aurelian Dragon shouted, "Don't fight here, or you'll damage the things here. There's plenty of space outside!" Serena Vale looked at Aurelian Dragon gratefully, thinking that this man was quite considerate.
A group of people poured out of the shop, and even the customers inside came out to watch the spectacle. Although no one knew the background of Aurelian Dragon and his two companions, Lucian Swiftfire and Cyrofihar were both well-known figures in Esnia, so this fight was quite a spectacle.
Shedding his cloak to reveal a bright and stylish outfit, Silofah walked up to Lucian Swiftfire and shouted, "Boy, what weapon are you using? Hurry up and show it to me, or you'll be upset if you lose."
Aurelian Dragon waved his hand, and Cynthia grabbed a lightning javelin from behind her and said to Lucian Swiftfire, "Catch it!" With that, a streak of silver light, like a dragon, flashed past them, and the javelin was thrown right in front of Lucian Swiftfire.
Lucian Swiftfire thought to himself, "Wow, they really know me well!" But then he remembered the effort Aurelian Dragon and the others had put into him, which showed how much they valued him.
When Lucian Swiftfire caught Cynthia's lightning javelin, he was greatly surprised. Cynthia's throw fully demonstrated her strength. The javelin flew at an extremely fast speed and seemed to be full of internal energy. However, when it landed in Lucian Swiftfire's hand, the internal energy had completely dissipated. The entire javelin became light and airy, as if it had been handed to him right there and had not flown that distance at all.
Lucian Swiftfire had already gathered all his inner strength, ready to properly receive this probing attack full of inner force, but unexpectedly, he was caught off guard. Fortunately, he was quite skilled, and when he realized something was wrong, he immediately adjusted his center of gravity, thus avoiding embarrassing himself by exerting too much force and missing his target.
Looking at the javelin in his hand, he found it heavy yet resilient, made of a material he didn't recognize. It shimmered with a strange silver light, and the shaft was engraved with fine threads, making it very comfortable to hold and easy to apply internal force. The slender tip was prismatic, with radiating lines engraved on each side, varying in length and thickness, yet forming a perfectly harmonious pattern.
Lucian Swiftfire knew that the javelin in his hand was no ordinary weapon. He couldn't help but feel even more curious about Cynthia. What was the background of this beautiful woman with such a great figure? A woman with such strength and looks should be very famous. Why was there no such person in his memory?
But his opponent left him no time to think. Sirofihar grinned maliciously, drew a longsword crackling with cold light from his waist with a flick of his wrist, and said arrogantly, "Let me show you what the Raging Wave Sword Technique is all about!"
"Stop bragging and come on!"
Lucian Swiftfire swung his lightning javelin, and the javelin emitted a faint sound of wind and thunder. This was a characteristic of the lightning javelin, but Lucian Swiftfire's ability to do so demonstrated that his strength was indeed extraordinary.
Sirofiha's expression turned serious. Seeing is believing, and he knew that his opponent was definitely more powerful than his swordsmen had described. As a true master, he immediately became fully alert and no longer underestimated his opponent.
Standing before Silopiha, Lucian Swiftfire immediately felt a surge of killing intent wash over him. The surrounding air grew cold and stagnant, a far cry from its previous state. The swordsmen from the Heavenly Sword Garden indeed possessed formidable strength! He knew that if he didn't retaliate, Silopiha's momentum would only grow stronger, eventually overwhelming him.
Lucian Swiftfire flicked his lightning spear, creating a beautiful silver flash in front of him. Its sharp momentum was like an arrow piercing through the true energy in front of Silofiha, causing the air currents in the space to twist irregularly.
"Kill!" A deep shout resounded.
With lightning speed, Silopiha leaped off the ground, hurtling straight at Lucian Swiftfire. The sword in his hand shone brightly, its blade disappearing in the sunlight, aimed at Lucian Swiftfire's vitals. The speed of his attack was terrifying.
"Amazing!" Lucian Swiftfire was secretly surprised, and dared not slack off even more.
The lightning javelin danced in the space in front of him, streaks of silver light filling the sky and earth, while the javelin itself formed an impenetrable wall of copper and iron in front of him.
"when!"
Silofiha's sword struck the shaft of the wielding lightning spear with remarkable accuracy. With a metallic clang, both men were jolted and forced to take a half-step back, their strength now evenly matched.
"You're pretty good!" Lucian Swiftfire couldn't help but say during a pause for breath. "But now it's my turn to attack!"
The word "了" was still ringing in the air when the lightning javelin had already created five brilliant silver flowers. The sharp, piercing force emitted a mind-blowing whistle, and due to its speed, the sound of a sonic boom could even be heard.
Silofah's sword conjured a web of blades as he calmly parried Lucian Swiftfire's attacks. Simultaneously, his swift and unpredictable footwork allowed him to close the distance, forcing Lucian Swiftfire to reduce the range of his lightning javelins. This significantly reduced the javelins' power.
Finally, he saw an opportunity. He raised his sword and strode towards Lucian Swiftfire's center, launching three fierce attacks while shouting, "Boy, let me show you real swordsmanship!"
Lucian Swiftfire roared and unleashed five consecutive spear thrusts to block the three sword strikes, simultaneously breaking free from Cyril's entanglement and gaining the optimal position to strike with his spear. Because the two wielded weapons of different lengths, their attack methods and characteristics were also drastically different. Cyril needed to close the distance with Lucian Swiftfire, while Lucian Swiftfire needed to maintain a certain distance to truly unleash the power of his spear.
Silofah was not about to let Lucian Swiftfire have his way. He stepped forward, his sword flashing in a huge arc, and charged fiercely at Lucian Swiftfire, shouting, "Take my Raging Wave Sword Technique!"
A terrifying sword aura filled the sky, its chill penetrating to the bone. Lucian Swiftfire unleashed a ferocious barrage of eighteen sword strikes in the blink of an eye. Each of the eighteen sword shadows was deadly, surging towards Lucian Swiftfire from all directions like a raging torrent, or like mercury spilling onto the ground, leaving no escape.
The Heavenly Sword Garden's Raging Wave Sword Technique was indeed terrifying, leaving everyone watching in awe. Silofah's swordsmen cheered frantically for their leader, wishing Silofah would pierce Lucian Swiftfire's heart with a single strike.
Lucian Swiftfire mustered all his strength, using his lightning javelins to form layers upon layers of barriers in front of him, like a dam built in front of the tide, becoming a solid defensive line in front of the storm of sword shadows.
Lucian Swiftfire calmly and collectedly deflected each of Silopho's frenzied sword attacks. Silopho, enraged, unleashed a furious assault, channeling all his power into his attack.
A series of dazzling sword shadows burst and dissipated in front of the silver dam, but new cold lightning immediately followed, relentlessly impacting it.
Lucian Swiftfire was no pushover either. While parrying, he would frequently dodge, pounce, counterattack, and retaliate. His lightning javelins often appeared unexpectedly and miraculously, forcing Lucian to retreat and sheathe his sword to defend.
The figures moved with lightning speed, and the two engaged in an unprecedentedly fierce battle. In a short while, they had exchanged eighteen moves, remaining evenly matched and unable to gain the upper hand.
Lucian Swiftfire and Silofihar's fierce battle reached a point of complete absorption, both unleashing devastating attacks due to their inability to land a decisive blow. Dangerous moves were constantly being unleashed, and every exchange carried the lurking threat of mortal danger. The onlookers quickly retreated, and no one dared approach the circle of these two masters within a five-zhang radius.
The swordsman, soaking wet after being knocked into the lake by Obsidia Shade, ran over and shouted at Aurelian Dragon and the other two, "Everyone, charge! Catch those three bastards! They attacked first!"
A bored man on the side laughed loudly, pointed at the swordsmen of the Left Prime Minister's Mansion, and shouted: "You guys have some nerve, daring to gather a crowd and cause trouble on the streets of Esnia!"
A fellow who appeared to be a swordsman leader shouted angrily, "You scoundrel, how dare you provoke someone from our Left Prime Minister's Mansion!... Ah..."
Before he could finish speaking, Cynthia had already raised her hand and delivered a chop to his palm, shouting at the same time, "How dare you speak so disrespectfully to the young master! You're courting death!"
A powerful gust of wind, like a raging torrent, swept towards the swordsman who had spoken. The air currents cut through the air at high speed, producing a sharp whistling sound. This palm strike, with the force of a thunderbolt, startled all the swordsmen of the Left Prime Minister's Mansion. The swordsman who was directly hit by it changed his expression drastically. He flipped his palms over and, with a wild cry, unleashed all the internal energy in his body in an attempt to block Cynthia's palm strike.
With a deafening crash, a figure was sent flying backward. The swordsman, pale-faced, stumbled several steps before falling to the ground, panting heavily. The poor fellow had first been humiliated by Obsidia Shade, and now he'd been knocked down by Cynthia with a single blow, making him wonder if all his years of martial arts training had been for nothing.
The swordsmen of the Left Prime Minister's Mansion knew they had met their match, but their arrogance, honed over the years, still drew their longswords and charged menacingly at Aurelian Dragon and his two companions, attempting to use their numerical advantage to defeat them.
"Good timing!"
Aurelian Dragon roared and charged forward, slightly dodging the sword strike aimed at her head. Then, with a flick of her right wrist, her right fist struck her enemy's chest with lightning speed and overwhelming force. The swordsman had no chance to retaliate; he could only barely dodge, and the powerful iron fist struck his shoulder, sending him staggering back four or five steps, where he lay on the ground, unable to get up for a long time.
Meanwhile, with Cynthia and Obsidia Shade, two top experts, guarding him on either side, Aurelian Dragon was truly awe-inspiring, sweeping across all directions. He didn't even need to dodge, because all the attacks aimed at him were completely blocked by the two experts behind him. He could only unleash his skills to defeat one swordsman after another. This battle was truly the most open and exhilarating battle he had ever fought in his life.
"It seems that bringing Cynthia and Obsidia Shade along was indeed a wise choice!" Looking at the enemies lying on the ground, Aurelian Dragon put his hands behind his back with great style, looking arrogant and domineering, with the aura of a top master.
Sweating profusely, Silofah thrust three swords at Lucian Swiftfire, then leaped away. Just as he was about to speak, he was astonished to discover that all the swordsmen he had brought had been defeated by Aurelian Dragon and his companions. To defeat all the swordsmen in such a short time, his skill was undoubtedly top-tier.
Lucian Swiftfire was also secretly surprised. His assessment of Aurelian Dragon was getting higher and higher. Putting everything else aside, Obsidia Shade and Cynthia by Aurelian Dragon's side were enough to cause a stir in Esnia.
Sirofiha roared angrily, "Good heavens, they actually dare to provoke the Left Chancellor's Mansion..."
Aurelian Dragon casually remarked, "Does your Left Prime Minister's Mansion think you're untouchable tigers?" Then, her expression darkened, and she said to Lucian Swiftfire, "According to the Empire's laws, how should public disturbances and brawls be handled?"
Lucian Swiftfire was taken aback, then suddenly understood, and said respectfully, "Your Excellency, it should be either being paraded in shackles or receiving forty strokes of the cane."
Sirofiha shouted angrily, "You..."
Aurelian Dragon shouted, "General Lucian Swiftfire, I hereby order you to arrest all these prisoners and bring them to the Eastern Governor's Mansion for severe punishment!"
Sylfiah suddenly realized that the man before him was actually the newly appointed Eastern Governor, Aurelian Dragon. Knowing that a wise man doesn't fight a losing battle, and seeing Obsidia Shade and Cynthia closing in on him from the left and right, he knew that even if he used all his strength, he wouldn't be a match for them. Moreover, he had already fought a fierce battle with Lucian Swiftfire. He immediately retreated eight steps, grabbed a fine horse, mounted it, and threw down the words, "The Left Prime Minister's Mansion will not let you get away with this!" before fleeing in disarray.
Aurelian Dragon stopped Cynthia, who was trying to give chase, and said with a smile, "It's good that he goes back and reports to Zuo Zai!"
The onlookers dispersed, spreading the news of the new Eastern Governor's first act of office. This gave the people of Esnia a glimmer of hope, because for many years, no one had ever touched those privileged nobles and officials. They now only hoped that the Eastern Governor could maintain this status quo.
Serena Vale ushered Aurelian Dragon and his companions into the shop, served them tea, and said to Aurelian Dragon, "I am so sorry that I did not know that Your Excellency had graced us with your presence!"
Aurelian Dragon waved his hand and said, "Miss Serena Vale, I, the one with the authority to maintain order in Esnia, should be the one apologizing. These bullying lackeys have caused you a lot of trouble, haven't they? They should have been taught a lesson long ago, but unfortunately..."
Hearing Aurelian Dragon's sigh, Serena Vale smiled and said, "If that's truly how Lord Ye thinks, then it's a blessing for the citizens of Esnia. Serena Vale wishes you all the best!" Aurelian Dragon was overjoyed, knowing he had taken a step closer to Serena Vale, and that she had truly taken him to heart.
Lucian Swiftfire thought to himself, "Wow, that's impressive!" He was also genuinely excited; working with a man like that would surely make life interesting.
As expected, Aurelian Dragon turned to Lucian Swiftfire and said, "Starting tomorrow, you will be in charge of organizing the security patrols in Esnia and dealing with anyone who dares to cause trouble!"
He then explained his idea in detail to Lucian Swiftfire, leaving Lucian Swiftfire and Serena Vale speechless, yet they couldn't help but admire his ingenious ideas.
※ ※ ※
In the afternoon, a spirited and pretty young girl came to Zuo Lanxin's room. Her long ponytail swayed energetically behind her, and her crescent-shaped eyes sparkled with a cleverness that delighted anyone who saw her.
Watching the serene hostess sitting comfortably on the couch, leaning against the soft cushions, flipping through a book in her hands, Lyra Draconis greeted her with a cheerful smile, "Hello, Sister Zuo!"
Zuo Lanxin put down the book in her hand, raised her head and looked tenderly at the spirited dragon girl.
"Little Sister Long, is there something you need?"
"Can't you come see your lovely sister Zuo if you don't have anything to do?" Lyra Draconis tilted her cute head and blinked her beautiful eyes as she spoke.
"Of course!" Zuo Lanxin smiled sweetly and said softly, "Little Sister Long, please sit down first!"
Lyra Draconis moved a stool and sat down in front of Zuo Lanxin, resting her chin on her hands and staring intently at the beautiful woman before her.
Zuo Lanxin touched her rosy cheek somewhat awkwardly, then asked, "Why do you have time to come see me today? Aren't you going to see Sister Yu and the others?"
Lyra Draconis pouted her small, alluring lips and said sullenly, "Don't even mention it, Sister Feng is very busy right now!"
"Oh, what is she busy with?" Zuo Lanxin asked with great interest.
Lyra Draconis sighed softly before replying, "It's all because of her wedding with Aurelian Dragon. Sister Qin is also very busy, the two of them are preparing this and arranging that, they're having a great time!"
Zuo Lanxin was puzzled by the jealousy in Lyra Draconis's tone. Could it be that this dragon girl also liked Aurelian Dragon? But judging from her usual words and actions, there wasn't a single clue. What was going on? Moreover, the meticulous Zuo Lanxin also noticed the way Lyra Draconis addressed Aurelian Dragon. Something was strange about that. Why didn't Lyra Draconis address Brother Ye as she did in front of others, but instead called Aurelian Dragon by his name directly?
Suppressing her doubts, Zuo Lanxin said, "This is something to be happy about. If word gets out, it will definitely cause a sensation throughout Esnia."
Lyra Draconis suddenly said, "Sister Zuo seems to like Aurelian Dragon too, right?"
Zuo Lanxin's face flushed slightly, and a hint of panic flashed in her beautiful eyes, but she quickly calmed down and said in a gentle tone, "Little Sister Long, don't talk nonsense, or I'll get angry."
Lyra Draconis stuck out her little tongue and then laughed, "Ha, Sister Zuo, I'm so sorry!"
A faint smile appeared on Zuo Lanxin's lips as she said, "Little Sister Long, tell me honestly, what do you want from me?"
Lyra Draconis clapped her hands and said happily, "If it's Sister Zuo with her superhuman intuition, I knew I couldn't hide it from her!"
Zuo Lanxin was secretly surprised, but she looked puzzled and said, "Little Sister Long, what are you talking about? What superhuman spiritual sense? I don't understand at all."
Lyra Draconis shook her head and said, "Sister Zuo, you know that you possess a spiritual sense that only temple saintesses have."
Zuo Lanxin's delicate body trembled slightly as she stared in astonishment at the petite and exquisite dragon girl before her.
Lyra Draconis smiled slyly and continued, "To tell you the truth, Sister Zuo, I have half the blood of the Heart Clan. Apart from those with spiritual senses in the temple, very few people can remain unseen by me. Yet, I just can't see through your heart, Sister Zuo."
A look of sudden realization flashed across Zuo Lanxin's eyes, but she still argued, "Does that mean other people don't possess skills that the Heart Clan can't see through?"
Lyra Draconis said with a grin, "Sister Zuo is right, but you forgot, when you saved Rou Niang, you showed off your superb Holy Light, which is the highest level healing spell in the temple."
Zuo Lanxin sighed slightly, not expecting that her slight carelessness would allow this clever and quirky dragon girl to see through her disguise. However, she still had a question.
"Little Sister Long, how did you know I used the Holy Light? I used it before everyone arrived, for a very short time, and only to a very slight degree. You shouldn't have noticed."
"It's not us, it's me!" Lyra Draconis said proudly. "The reason is simple: we dragons are very sensitive to the Holy Light of the temple. Wherever the Holy Light has been used, some Holy Spirit energy will remain in the space. It was based on this that I concluded that my sister is a Holy Maiden of the temple."
Zuo Lanxin no longer concealed anything and nodded, saying, "Little Sister Long, you're right, I am indeed one of the Holy Maidens of the Temple. Have you told anyone about this?"
Lyra Draconis shook her head and said, "No, and I won't tell anyone this secret. Sister Zuo, please don't tell anyone about my Heart Clan bloodline either!"
Zuo Lanxin smiled gently, like a spring flower in bloom, a captivating light flashing in her bright eyes, and said, "Is this a secret between the two of us?"
"Exactly, exactly!" Lyra Draconis nodded vigorously, her ponytail bouncing playfully behind her head. "Sister Zuo is so smart!"
Zuo Lanxin was amused by the dragon girl's expression and finally burst out laughing. She sat up straight as she laughed and said, "Since you've praised me so much, let me guess your purpose."
The dragon girl's crescent-shaped eyes were fixed on Zuo Lanxin's delicate and pretty face. She seemed somewhat disbelieving of what the woman in front of her was saying.
"Do you want me to help you heal the injuries on Rou Niang's face?"
It felt as if her heart had been seen through by someone else. The dragon girl, who had always been the one to read other people's minds, finally experienced this feeling of being completely exposed.
"Sister Zuo is so amazing! How did you know? Do you also know what other people are thinking?" Lyra Draconis asked after a long pause.
Zuo Lan smiled with satisfaction and said, "Sister's spiritual perception hasn't reached that level yet. This is actually a very simple deduction. Think about it yourself!"
Lyra Draconis tilted her head and thought for a moment, then suddenly clapped her hands and said, "I understand! When I mentioned the Temple Saintess and the Holy Light, you knew why I came, right?"
Zuo Lanxin looked at Lyra Draconis approvingly, nodded her head, and then stood up.
As she was leaving, Zuo Lanxin suddenly said to Lyra Draconis, "You'd better let your sister know about your affairs. I've discovered that she actually has a spiritual sense that is in no way inferior to mine, even though she's not a saintess from the temple."
"I understand. I won't hide anything from my sister, because she's my favorite person!"
Lyra Draconis nodded in agreement, thinking to herself, "How come I didn't know about Sister Yu's superhuman intuition? She's the person whose soul resonates with mine the most!"
Upon hearing this, Zuo Lanxin glanced at the dragon girl beside her in surprise. Suddenly, she seemed to understand something, her lips slightly parted, but she hesitated to speak.