Evil dragon has a warm heart
Chapter 179 - 179 178 Im Back

Chapter 179: Chapter 178 I’m Back Chapter 179: Chapter 178 I’m Back After a fierce battle, the knights returned to a warm welcome, with caravan bosses bringing out food and wine to entertain both squads of knights.

“How were the spoils, Knight Commander Karis?” Russell asked with a smile.

“Two Ice Soul Pearls!” Knight Commander Karis laughed broadly, “My luck was quite a bit better than Lord Stephen’s.”

Russell smiled and said, “Congratulations!”

In reality, he felt a twinge of sourness in his heart. Initially, when three Snow Demons were before him, he chose the most formidable one, allowing the Little Dream Dragon to devour it, but all it gave was one Ice Soul Pearl. Surprisingly, it was the least impressive short Snow Demon that produced two Ice Soul Pearls.

What a loss!

However, this was the hard-earned bounty of Karis’s blood battle, and Russell did not harbor a shred of greed, but sincerely congratulated him.

“Thank you!” Knight Commander Karis responded. He was not yet a lord, and indeed needed the Ice Soul Pearls to count as his battle achievements.

He then said, “The caravan has already prepared a late-night banquet, Lord Russell, come and have a drink with us.”

“No, thank you. They are hosting the knights who fought the Snow Demon, I observed the whole thing without contributing a bit of effort,” Russell politely declined.

And went to sleep in his tent.

But before sleeping, he couldn’t help but mutter, “Actually, I was the one who exerted the most as a guardian, joining forces with the Little Dream Dragon to eliminate a couple of hundred green-skins, and even a blue-skin… Forget it, stay humble, stay humble.”

The motto of the Fluorescent Fungi Family was to remain low-key.

Russell might not have inherited that trait in appearance, but in action, he was indeed blue yet excelled the blue.

…

October 15th, the sun was shining bright.

On the Snowfield, one still couldn’t feel the sun’s warmth, but stepping from the Snowfield into an underground cave, and from the cave onto the soil of Glowing Valley,

the sun’s warmth could be distinctly felt through every pore—this was the hottest period of cool summer in the year.

“Must be over twenty degrees.”

Russell took off his dark gold ceramic armor and put on a set of light clothes; he hadn’t even ridden into Great Wind Manor when he started to sweat profusely on his head.

Someone had already informed Roson Fluorescent Spore, the lord of Great Wind Manor and Russell’s uncle, about his arrival.

So, soon enough, Uncle Roson came with his family to greet Russell at the gate of the small castle.

Lady Ingrid, Russell’s grandmother who lived in Great Wind Manor, also stood together with Uncle Roson’s family, smiling at Russell’s arrival.

“Grandmother!”

“Little will-o’-the-wisp, you’ve finally decided to come back!” Lady Ingrid gently embraced Russell, “I heard it all from your father, you little rascal went to Tributary River Mouth, making the old Earl dig deep into his coffers.”

“It was Grandfather’s generosity,” Russell said with a smile.

He then hugged Uncle Roson and Mrs. Clara in turn, and then turned toward two children, one tall and the other short.

The taller one was Roson’s eldest son, also Russell’s older cousin Royal, while the shorter one was Roson’s younger son, Royer.

“I’ve brought gifts for you both,” Russell called out, “Ram, bring the gifts to Royal and Royer.”

Then he introduced, “This is Knight Commander Karis who escorted me all the way back.”

After giving the gifts and making the introductions, Russell didn’t intend to linger at Great Wind Manor because he had to hurry to Fluorescent Castle for lunch.

“Knight Commander Karis, let’s go to Fluorescent Castle together.”

“No need, Lord Russell, I and the knights will rest a bit in Great Wind Manor before returning to Tributary River Mouth,” Knight Commander Karis graciously refused.

Uncle Roson also said, “I will take good care of Knight Commander Karis. We’ve been friends for over a decade, Russell, go ahead to Fluorescent Castle without worries.”

Seeing this, Russell did not insist.

After saying goodbye to his grandmother and uncle’s family, he took Ram and two coachmen, and headed alone to Fluorescent Castle.

He arrived at the place where he had grown up, just before noon.

“Mr. Russel, welcome home!” The castle gate guard bowed and let Russel pass when he saw him.

Soon after, Russel saw his parents and his sister Lola in front of the castle gate.

“It’s good that you’ve come back safely.” Lady Meryl sighed in relief after seeing Russel.

“Where’s elder brother?”

“Your elder brother has set off for Red Castle to serve the Grand Duke.”

“I see.” After embracing his mother, Russel smiled and turned to Baron Roman, “Father, I have returned.”

“It’s good that you didn’t decide to linger and forget to return from Tributary River Mouth.” Baron Roman teased casually, “I really worried you might stay and become a vassal to your grandfather, causing mischief in the territory with Mel.”

“How could I?” Russel laughed.

Then he ruffled Lola’s hair as a greeting.

Lola shouted in annoyance, “You pest, Russel, don’t mess up my hair anymore, I’m already angry!”

“What if I give you a gift?”

Lola’s anger faded instantly, “What gift?”

“Open it and see.” Russel signaled to his personal servant to hand the gift to Lola. It wasn’t anything expensive, just a set of hand-sewn dolls.

Though not expensive, girls of her age didn’t really care about money.

And sure enough, upon opening the gift and seeing the pretty dolls, Lola revealed a radiant smile, which made her ordinary face appear much livelier.

A moment later.

In the dining room, the family joyfully had lunch together.

Russel ate his meal with no concern for manners, his few days in the Snowfield had left him craving home cooking.

Seeing her son eating heartily, Lady Meryl’s mood grew even brighter, but she couldn’t help asking, “You haven’t picked up any bad habits from Mel during your time at grandfather’s house, have you? Tell me everything.”

“Mother, if you can’t trust Mel, surely you can trust me,” Russel looked up, “I haven’t done anything!”

“Really?”

“Cross my heart.”

“Alright, mother believes you,” Lady Meryl laughed.

Baron Roman then inquired, “So what have you and Mel been up to this past month? Don’t tell me it was just sightseeing… Although Mel is quite good-natured, his behavior isn’t much better than your elder brother’s.”

It had to be said, Baron Roman’s understanding of Roland and Mel was indeed accurate.

Russel casually said, “Cousin Mel introduced me to quite a number of debutantes and ladies. They were very enthusiastic, but I didn’t want to be ensnared by marriage so soon, so I kept a certain distance from them.”

“Hm.” Baron Roman was noncommittal.

Lady Meryl naturally said, “If you don’t even have regard for Malena, your standards are indeed high. I observed closely at your grandfather’s birthday banquet, and indeed, none of the debutantes were more impressive than Malena.”

Seeing his mother bring up the old conversation about pursuing Malena again, Russel quickly changed the subject: “Father, mother, during my time in Tributary River Mouth, I’ve had a great opportunity and my strength has advanced by leaps and bounds!”

“Oh? What opportunity?” Baron Roman’s curiosity was piqued by Russel.

Lady Meryl also put Malena aside and looked concernedly at Russel. No mother would take their son’s strength lightly.

“A dose of Origin Dragon’s Breath,” Russel laughed.

Upon hearing this, Baron Romand and his wife were both startled: “What?”

“A dose of Origin Dragon’s Breath, a gift Lord Medikalun gave me.” In truth, Russel had received this fortune before Baron Roman and his wife had left Bluebird Castle, but Russel hadn’t reported it to his parents.

He saved the surprise for today.