Castle of Black Iron

Iron-Dragon Airboat slowly parked in a huge berth. The moment the hatch door was opened, Zhang Tie and Bai Suxian had seen a kind and shrewd old man in a fine long gown and grey beard welcoming them on one side of the gangway outside the airboat, followed by 8 steady bodyguards in uniforms.

Zhang Tie immediately identified that this old man was a black iron knight while the 8 bodyguards were all brave LV 13 battle generals who had rich battle experience.

Bai Suxian got off the airboat while naturally linking Zhang Tie’s arm. The old man threw a glance at Bai Suxian’s movements stealthily while a shrewd light flashed across his face. Closely after that, he revealed a genial smile as he hurriedly walked forward.

”Thank God, Miss, you’ve finally arrived...”

”Uncle Zhong, why are you here? You could have just dispatched someone here...” At the sight of this old man, Bai Suxian also revealed a genial smile as she hurriedly pulled Zhang Tie two steps forward.

”I’ve long been told that Miss is going to visit Xuanyuan Hill these days. When I saw you last time, it was the birthday of the grand madam of Lord Guangnan’s Mansion. As I’ve not seen Miss for a few years, I’m afraid that if I don’t come here this time, I will have fewer chances to meet Miss...” Uncle Zhong blushed suddenly as he took out a piece of the white handkerchief and covered his mouth with it before forcefully coughing a few times. Closely after that, he silently crushed it up and put it into his sleeve.

Even though Zhang Tie didn’t use his lotus-flower eyes, he could still see the dark red color that diffused on the white handkerchief. Additionally, the coughs of Uncle Zhong sounded like breaking alveoli as if throwing a handful of iron sands into an air leaking bellows.

”Uncle Zhong, are you all right?” Bai Suxian hurriedly moved a few steps forward and supported Uncle Zhong with her hands. At the same time, she patted his back for a short while, ”You’ve suffered this disease for so many years. Haven’t you recovered yet?”

”Thanks for your concern, Miss, I’m afraid that my disease would not recover anymore...” Uncle Zhong replied in a relaxed tone with a faint smile like talking about someone else, ”This disease was caused when I followed Lord Guangnan to a punitive expedition for the 18 mountain caves on Dragon Mountain in the south border of Taixia Country. These years, Lord Guangnan had me stay in Xuanyuan Hill to seek better medicament treatment so that I could survive a few more years. I’ve not imagined that the witchcraft of those barbarians in the south border is really something. After staying in Xuanyuan Hill for so many years, I’ve not met anyone who could cure my disease yet!” Uncle Zhong waved his hand as he continued, ”Aww, I’m too old and flippant; I almost forgot about greeting this noble guest. This must be Fire Dragon Hermit, the very one Miss got acquainted in the Earth-elements Realm and made Miss leave the Lord Guangnan’s Mansion for Youzhou Province...”

Uncle Zhong’s eyes immediately fell onto Zhang Tie’s body.

”Hoho, I’m Cui Li, only outsiders call me Fire Dragon Hermit. If Uncle Zhong likes, you could call me Cui Li!” Zhang Tie didn’t put on his airs at all.

”You’re too modest; you’re too modest. I was told that Fire Dragon Hermit had made remarkable military exploits in the Earth-elements Realm. You’ve killed more than one earth-level demon knight. This old man is just a myrmidon of Lord Guangnan’s Mansion, I dare not be that presumptuous in front of you!” Uncle Zhong hurriedly waved his hand.

”Uncle Zhong, take his advice, just call him Cui Li. If you continued to call him Fire Dragon Hermit, it would sound too strange...” Bai Suxian suggested in a bit bashful way.

Uncle Zhong looked around Zhang Tie with an exaggerated expression on purpose as if he was looking at his son-in-law. Closely after that, he patted his head forcefully as he burst out into laughter, ”I see, I see, Miss, Fire Dragon Hermit indeed sounds too strange, too strange. Look at me, I’m too muddle-headed. Miss, please forgive me...”

”Uncle Zhong!” Bai Suxian raised her voice unconsciously.

”Okay, okay, that’s all, that’s all; let’s get on the vehicle. We can talk about it later in the manor. After knowing that Miss is coming today, I’ve already had the cooks prepare your favorite Yunluo Banquet for Miss and Childe Cui...”

Uncle Zhong then led Bai Suxian and Zhang Tie to the fleet on one side of the airboat.

In the fleet, three lengthened ”Faerie-Dragon-Elder” limos with two small exclusive banners of Lord Guangnan’s Mansion on the head of each vehicle were followed by two deluxe buses. The buses were used to carry Zhang Tie’s disciples. There were also small banners of Lord Guangnan’s Mansion on the heads of the buses.

Zhang Tie, Bai Suxian and Uncle Zhong got on the same vehicle in the middle of the three limos. Previously, Uncle Zhong wanted to get on the front vehicle; however, he was called in the same vehicle by Bai Suxian. Whatever, it was spacious enough for even a few more people inside the limo.

Zhang Tie’s disciples then got on the two deluxe buses at the end of the fleet.

This was the private berth of Lord Guangnan’s Mansion. There were exclusive, integrated replenishment facilities beside this private berth, which could provide various supply services for the airboat. Besides, there was an exclusive underground driveway beneath this private berth, through which they could directly leave the airport of Xuanyuan Hill.

Both walls of the underground driveway were mounted with senior longlasting fluorite lamps, which made the exclusive underground driveway as bright as day.

Zhang Tie was sure that this was the most advanced airport that he had ever seen. Undoubtedly, it was one symbol of a major clan in Taixia Country to have a private berth in this airport.

Of course, Lord Guangnan’s Mansion was the top clan in Taixia Country. Besides private berth in the airport of Xuanyuan Hill, they also had a private mansion and manor over there.

When they left the airport, they entered the 16-driveway highway. Watching those vehicles on the highway, Zhang Tie suddenly felt entering a time tunnel.

As he had seen too many steam vehicles with black smoke, when Zhang Tie saw those vehicles burning alcohol on the highway of Xuanyuan Hill, he felt being on the driveway of a prosperous city before the Catastrophe.

The fleet of Lord Guangnan’s Mansion moved very fast. There were not too many vehicles on the road. Only after a short while, they had entered the territory of Xuanyuan Hill.

When he entered Xuanyuan Hill, Zhang Tie felt a bizarre strength and wave blowing over his chakras. He attempted it and found that his chakras could run as normally as before. However, the ability granted by his chakras which could enable him to float up and balance the force of gravity disappeared at once. Besides losing his flight ability, his battle strength as an earth knight was not weakened at all.

After confirming this effect, Zhang Tie became more strong-willed.

Only sage-level knights could fly in the air territory of Xuanyuan Hill. Of course, the 9 ministers in Taixia Country were not sages. After losing his flight ability, a knight would lose half of his moving space, which indicated that he could probably kill that finance minister in Xuanyuan Hill if he made a proper plan.

When Bai Suxian and Uncle Zhong were talking in the limo, they could not imagine that Zhang Tie on their side was thinking about how to kill a dignified minister in Taixia Country, an influential figure who could shock many subcontinents only by stomping on the ground in Xuanyuan Hill.

From the talk between Bai Suxian and Uncle Zhong, Zhang Tie gradually knew the identity of Uncle Zhong and some affairs in Xuanyuan Hill.

Uncle Zhong was Lord Guangnan’s trusted subordinate and the myrmidon of Lord Guangnan’s Mansion. In the early days, he followed Lord Guangnan to guard the south border of Taixia Country and was injured. Bai Suxian’s dad then let him live out his life in retirement in Xuanyuan Hill and seek for medical treatment by the way.

Uncle Zhong suffered from a bizarre witchcraft in the south border, which was called Gold Broken Witchcraft . Over these years, he had sought for medical treatment from many famous doctors; however, none of them could cure his disease. Even if his disease could be cured for the time being, it would soon have a relapse in a few days. The toxicity of Gold Broken Witchcraft was hardly cast off like worms attaching to his bones.

Only after a short while since the vehicle started, Uncle Zhong had started to cough once again.

Therefore, Bai Suxian was concerned about the disease of Uncle Zhong.

”My disease could not be cured. Miss, don’t worry about me. It was said that the witchcraft in the 18 mountain caves of the Dragon Mountain in the south border of Taixia Country originated from the Great Wilderness Sect. Since the Great Wilderness Sect was exterminated, the 18 mountain caves of the Dragon Mountain terrorized one region and gradually showed their ambition to overthrow the regime of Taixia Country. Finally, Lord Guangnan dispatched troops to encircle and annihilate them. In that battle, the heads of all the masters of the 18 mountain caves were chopped off by Lord Guangnan and buried on both sides of the road in the form of a pyramid. I discovered that I was poisoned with the Broken Gold Witchcraft in a few months after the battle. However, as the Great Wilderness Sect and the 18 mountain caves of Dragon Mountain had been exterminated one after another, there would be no solution to cure my disease anymore. In recent years, the toxicity of Broken Gold Witchcraft gradually entered my lungs, causing my health to deteriorate. Miss, I was not kidding with you just now. If Miss came here a few years later, you might not be able to see me any longer...”

Uncle Zhong talked about his life or death situation with a smile. Bai Suxian kept dropping off her tears as she comforted him, ”No, even if there’s no solution in Xuanyuan Hill, there must be a solution somewhere else!”

”I’ve been over 100 years old. Although it’s a short lifespan among knights, it’s much better than commoners. I’ve forgotten that how many people have I killed with Lord Guangnan; I’ve enjoyed almost all the privileges in the world. I’ve seen through everything. Before death, I’m already satisfied to know that Miss has a good husband!” Uncle Zhong said as he threw a deep glance at Zhang Tie.

Hearing Uncle Zhong’s words, Bai Suxian became more upset. She suddenly thought about the unusual man on her side who grasped various secret skills. Therefore, she asked Zhang Tie with a hopeful look, ”Can you help Uncle Zhong?”

...