Castle of Black Iron

When Zhang Tie fed birds in the garden, a lot of servants and guards in the manor of Lord Guangnan clicked their tongues in wonder and praised that an earth knight could be so kind and nice, a black limo with the license plate of Xuanyuan Hill had already entered the auxiliary road that led to the manor from the main road in the early morning.

An elder and a shrewd middle-aged man at his 30s were sitting at the back seats of the limo.

”Elder, does that Fire Dragon Hermit live here?” The middle-aged man couldn’t stand to ask the old man when he watched the grand manor and the luxuriant garden, ”Haven’t our clan investigated his background? He was born in Yongzhou Province and has no foundation. Even if an earth knight has made some military exploits in the Earth-elements Realm, how could he have such a magnificent manor in Xuanyuan Hill? This one is even a bit larger than our Guan Clan’s manor in Xuanyuan Hill.”

It was not amazing for a knight to have even 10,000 grand manors like this one outside Xuanyuan Hill; however, in Xuanyuan Hill, such a grand manor was really amazing.

Watching the high snow-white courtyard wall and those special rune alert copper bells that were secretly arranged on the courtyard walls, the old man revealed a smile, ”As you’ve just been in Xuanyuan Hill for a few days, you might not know about the forces layout in Xuanyuan Hill. This manor belongs to Lord Guangnan’s Mansion in Xuanyuan Hill; instead of Fire Dragon Hermit. It’s not that easy for a new earth knight to have such a grand private manor in Xuanyuan Hill.”

The middle-aged man responded at once, ”Did Fire Dragon Hermit seek a refuge with Lord Guangnan?”

”No, Fire Dragon Hermit might really be the son-in-law of Lord Guangnan!” The old man shook his head.

”I’ve not imagined that Fire Dragon Hermit could be so lucky!” The middle-aged man revealed an admiring look.

”If one doesn’t have the corresponding overall strength, it’s useless even if he has a pretty good luck. If Fire Dragon Hermit doesn’t have a great overall strength, how could he win the bet with our forefather of Guan Clan? Even our forefather told us to do this job well!”

After hearing the elder’s words, the middle-aged man felt his heart aching once again, ”It’s over 600 square miles’ bounty land and 10 cities. How much would it cost? Our Guan Clan doesn’t make money easily. We’ve got hundreds of thousands of people surnamed Guan to live; plus their relatives and family dependants. I’m afraid that only our forefather dares to make such a bet with such a high wager. I was told that some branch elders had already quarreled in the clan’s Elders’ Association...”

The old man replied with a heavy harrumph out of discontent, ”They were kicking up a row for such a trifle. Short-sighted. Our forefather’s face could never be matched by 10 cities and over 600 square miles’ land. Didn’t our forefather see that more clearly than them? Even though our forefather had admitted that he had lost the bet; did he need to listen to their opinions? Additionally, now that our forefather could award Fire Dragon Hermit with such things, it indicated that Fire Dragon Hermit must have special abilities that our forefather praised. This man must be unusual if he could promote to an earth knight only after entering the Earth-elements Realm for a few years. That’s why our forefather told us to do this job very solemnly!”

”You’re right, elder. Without forefather, our Guan Clan would never be so prosperous. We have to save our forefather’s face even if we have to give up the last shot in the locker, not to mention that it was just a bit wager. As long as our forefather is on our back, our Guan Clan will be safe and prosperous. If our forefather could promote to a heavenly knight, our Guan Clan will be much more prosperous. They just bargained with the other elders in the Elders’ Association when the grand elder was not there. In the final analysis, they did that only for the benefit of their clansmen. If forefather were at present, they dared not even break wind!”

When they talked, the vehicle had arrived at the gate of the manor of Lord Guangnan. When a guard approached to ask about their identity, the driver passed out an invitation card. After a short while, the gate of the manor had been opened while this vehicle drove inside...

...

Uncle Zhong arrived at Zhang Tie’s side and stood aside quietly, watching Zhang Tie feeding those sparrows and pigeons surrounding him.

Previously, Uncle Zhong thought that Zhang Tie might get hang of some animal controlling skill; therefore, he was interested in feeding these little animals. It was also a special cultivation method about controlling animals. However, after observing Zhang Tie’s movements for a while, he didn’t find any trace that Zhang Tie could control animals. As Uncle Zhong came from the south border of Taixia Country, where there was a long history about controlling animals, he had seen many powerhouses controlling animals; therefore, Uncle Zhong knew something about controlling animals. However, after knowing that Zhang Tie directly took the basin of wheat out of the kitchen without adding any secret medicine into it and didn’t utter any strange incantations or animal language without making any strange movements, Uncle Zhong found that Zhang Tie was purely playing with the birds.

It seemed that Zhang Tie was purely interested in feeding birds.

After watching it for a while, Uncle Zhong finally pretended to cough twice.

Coughs in sickness were different than that of reminding someone.

Of course, Zhang Tie could identify it.

After scattering another handful of wheat over the grass, Zhang Tie turned around.

”Uncle Zhong, what’s up?”

”Childe Cui, two men are waiting for you in the parlor!”

Zhang Tie revealed a smile, ”Did Heavens Holding Pavilion dare find trouble here?”

”They’re not from Heavens Holding Pavilion, but from the Guan Clan of Lord Mingwu. They came here to fulfill the bet between Childe Cui and Lord Mingwu!”

’Guan Clan of Lord Mingwu? Bet?’

After thinking about it for a second, Zhang Tie remembered that they must come from the clan of Guan Qianchong, the commander of the Black Armor Army. Previously, he bet with Guan Qianchong with the Fire Dragon Bounty Territory in the Earth-elements Realm and won Guan Qianchong’s over 600 miles’ bounty land and 10 cities. He thought that Guang Clan might find him after a long while or even repudiate the debt by finding him trouble. It was really out of his imagination that Guan Clan could fulfill their bet so fast.

Zhang Tie became thrilled as he directly scattered the rest wheat over the grass like pouring water. Closely after that, he directly threw the basin to a guard dozens of meters away and patted his hands before saying, ”Please show me the way!”

Uncle Zhong then led Zhang Tie to the parlor.

”Oh, by the way Uncle Zhong, have you sent my torn clothes to the courtyard of Heavens Holding Pavilion in Xuanyuan Hill?”

”Yes, I have!”

”What did Heavens Holding Pavilion say?”

”I’ll tell you about it. According to the people who sent the clothes over there last night, when an elder of Heavens Holding Pavilion saw the big hole on the back of the clothes, he looked pretty bad, but he didn’t say anything!”

”Haha, he’s right to be silent. Whatever, he could not appreciate me for giving a less to the good-for-nothing knight of Heavens Holding Pavilion!” Zhang Tie burst out into laughter.

”Although Heavens Holding Pavilion won’t dare to harm you in Xuanyuan Hill, Child Cui has to be alert after leaving Xuanyuan Hill. Like Lord Guangnan said, sometimes these major sects would do bad things for fame and fortune. They seek revenge for the smallest grievance yet pretend to be fair and reasonable!”

Uncle Zhong mentioned the major sects in Taixia Country not out of full respect; instead, he sounded experienced. Zhang Tie realized that Lord Guangnan’s Mansion might have conflicts with the major sects in Taixia Country. Even if there wasn’t, like major clans, major sects would always have some losers or disgusting guys who behaved like a donkey in a lion’s hide.

”Haha, thanks, Uncle Zhong. If they really want to do bad things for fame and fortune in front of me, I will let them know that someone in the world could be both whoremasters and demolition team!”

After hearing Zhang Tie, Uncle Zhong burst out into laughter too.

”Childe Cui, the parlor is in front of you...” After leading Zhang Tie to the front of the parlor, Uncle Zhong directly left. After all, he was the steward of Lord Guangnan’s Mansion in Xuanyuan Hill, not Zhang Tie’s private steward. As Zhang Tie was not the son-in-law of Lord Guangnan yet, he had to be meticulous in case of incurring a laughingstock due to excessive passion.

After extending his gratitude to Uncle Zhong, Zhang Tie directly entered the parlor.

At the sight of Zhang Tie coming in, the two visitors in the parlor threw a glance at his bald head before standing up and nodding towards Zhang Tie respectfully, ”Fire Dragon Hermit!”

As an earth knight, Zhang Tie’s position could match the grand elders in Guan Clan and was just a bit lower than Guan Qianchong. Of course, the two people from Guan Clan dared not upstage Zhang Tie.

”Take a seat please!” Zhang Tie came to a chair beside the two people leisurely with a teapot in between. In this way, they could tilt heads and talk with each other more conveniently.

Seeing Zhang Tie sitting down, the two people from Guan Clan sat down too. At this moment, the maids served them tea before leaving politely.

Zhang Tie knew that the two people from Guan Clan were glancing at him stealthily. After taking the cup of tea and having a sip, he uttered, ”It’s said that you’re here to fulfill the bet between me and Commander Guan?”

”Yes, at the order of our forefather, we treasure this thing very much. The moment we received the order of our forefather, we had started to prepare it for you. As it took us some time to prepare over 600 square miles’ land and 10 cities and had to mobilize a great amount of fund, we’re a bit late. Please do not blame us for that, Fire Dragon Hermit!” When the old man from Guan Clan replied, he slightly lowered his body towards Zhang Tie.

”You’re too polite, Commander Guan!” Zhang Tie cupped his hands towards the old man with a solemn look, ”When I made a bet with Commander Guan, I was just a bit impulsive, Commander Guan must know the reason. After returning to the earth’ surface, I almost forgot about this thing. Actually, you could just take it as a joke between me and Commander Guan. It’s just some cities and over 600 square miles’ bounty land. Just forget about it...”

’It’s over 600 square miles’ land and 10 cities. How could he give it up so generously? The elders of Guan Clan have quarreled more than once in the Elders’ Association for this wager. There’re many more annoyances. How could he directly decline it? What a great favor it is!’ The two representatives of Guan Clan were both moved...

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