Evil dragon has a warm heart
Chapter 218 - 218 217 The Grace of Re-creation

Chapter 218: Chapter 217: The Grace of Re-creation Chapter 218: Chapter 217: The Grace of Re-creation Mounted on Unicorn Polly, Russell made a quite imposing return to his own Wuyao Snake Manor.

The pure white unicorn, with hooves that seemed to catch the wind, galloped through the sky, elevating Russell’s presence to an ultimate high. It was likely only a Flying Dragon Knight could overshadow the spectacle of Russell as a Phantom Beast Knight at this moment.

Of course.

While he certainly looked handsome, his imposing aura was slightly reduced.

It was mainly because Polly was too beautiful, and Russell too handsome, resulting in a duo that appeared too elegant, lacking the ferocity and domineering air expected of a knight.

This was an unavoidable matter, as one cannot easily have both fish and bear’s paws—unless one rides a dragon.

“Sir, congratulations on acquiring another fantasy beast. The Great Dragon of the Grand Duchy must be watching over you at all times!” Charles ran over eagerly, showering Russell with flattery that was seven parts sincere and three parts sycophantic.

Unicorn Polly was not so enthusiastic about her surroundings, instead quickly falling in love with the bamboo groves near Cigar Courtyard.

In the growth of these past half-months, the bamboo and caterpillar fungus had expanded more than threefold; the bamboo had become a forest unto itself.

Russell turned his head to look at Polly, who was leisurely wandering through the bamboo grove, and smiled slightly, “Praise the Great Dragon, thank the Great Dragon.”

Charles also followed with a prayer, “Praise the Great Dragon, thank the Great Dragon.”

“Mr. Charles, were the serfs who were brought over last night all properly settled?” Russell asked, for in this peasant trade, he had purchased a total of one thousand two hundred serfs.

Among them, there were five hundred male and five hundred female serfs, and among the remaining two hundred, were some children and a number of serf craftsmen.

There were also Halls and Big Dumb Bear Grof, who recruited over a hundred freemen from Grotto Village.

All together, this added up to nearly one thousand four hundred people. Wuyao Snake Manor, after several reorganizations, had just over four thousand residents. It could be said that this serf trade directly increased the manor’s population by one-third.

Charles composed himself and replied earnestly, “Sir, they are almost all settled. After the thunder beast cart convoy arrived last night, I first accommodated the serfs in the temporary shelter at Market Hamlet, and then summoned the hamlet chiefs and serf supervisors to come and claim their serfs.”

Presently, Wuyao Snake Manor has seven hamlets: Market Hamlet, Magic Medicine Hamlet, Grotto Village, Barley Hamlet, Wheat Hamlet, Alfalfa Hamlet, and Lentil Hamlet.

There was no plan to divide new hamlets, but rather to distribute these serfs among the existing hamlets, integrating them.

“Seven hamlets, sir. By adding two hundred serfs to each one, we can completely integrate the one thousand four hundred newcomers,” Charles said. “The temporary housing in the hamlets and the allocation of the uncultivated wasteland are also settled. After resting for a couple of days, the serfs will be ready to cultivate the land.”

“Can they still plant crops this year?” Russell frowned, since it was already the end of November.

“The warm season and the ice period have indeed been somewhat unstable in recent years, but I surmise that this year’s warm season may last until the end of December, leaving a little time to replant the wheat. The wheat won’t die when the ice period comes; once the ice period is over next year, the wheat will grow rapidly.”

Typically, from November to March of the following year is the ice period.

From April to October is the warm season.

However, this pattern differs from the four seasons of spring, summer, autumn, and winter, as it is not fixed. It is a standoff between the power of the Snow Demon and the power of the Great Dragon, causing the duration of the warm season and ice period to vary each year, sometimes with a longer warm season, sometimes a longer ice period, and fluctuating lengths of each period.

For example, this year, when Russell had just arrived in April, it was still the ice period, and the warm season had barely begun by May.

“If we can replant, that’s good enough,” Russell nodded affirmatively and then inquired, “We have enough food to eat, right?”

“We may need to continue purchasing some food to store.”

“Then buy it. While the warm season lasts, stock up on more food, and also quickly provide the necessities for the newcomers, helping them to integrate into life on the estate as soon as possible.”

“Your kindness, sir, will surely earn the serfs’ eternal gratitude,” Charles said and responded on the flatter side, “I will promptly purchase farming tools, as well as quilts and clothes to ward off the cold, to distribute among the serfs.”

“Hmm.”

Russell was quite satisfied with how Charles managed the domestic affairs, with most being carried out according to his will.

Suddenly remembering something else, he said, “I plan to appoint Grof as the Captain of my Manor Guards, while Eric will be promoted to Territory Patrol Knight Captain, of course, without altering the Chief of Public Security’s position.”

Charles asked, “Is Grof trustworthy?”

“Let’s see, and he has already sworn allegiance to me. Most importantly, he is not an Armed Knight, but a Great Knight.”

“Ah, so that big dumb bear actually is a Great Knight?”

“It shows he has talent, and he’s not that old, not even thirty-five yet. Perhaps he has a chance to become a Phantom Beast Knight,” said Russell.

Charles suddenly spoke in a somewhat jealous tone, “Sir, you must choose the contract partners for the Phantom Beasts with caution.”

“Don’t worry,” Russell said with a smile.

“I also have some good news to report to you, Sir. Katie has re-cultivated her Battle Qi and has completely unlocked the main meridian in her arm!” Charles’s tone lifted with excitement. “When she was training as a Ranger, she had already unlocked six groups of main meridians. Now that she has successfully re-cultivated her Battle Qi, becoming a Great Knight is hopeful!”

“Is that so? Call Katie over, I want to check on her condition,” Russell said happily.

Charles nodded repeatedly and then with a shy face asked, “Then, Sir, with your bountiful gains, are you planning to host a banquet at noon?”

“Haven’t you seen the constant clanging noise coming from Cigar Courtyard? Let’s skip the noon feast and hold a barbecue buffet on the lawn in the evening instead.”

“That works too. I’ll go call Katie over.”

After Charles left, Russell walked into the bamboo forest.

Unicorn Polly was lying on the ground, comfortably enjoying the leisure brought by the breeze blowing through the bamboo forest, especially when the wind rustled the bamboo leaves, which seemed to intoxicate her.

“This is much more comfortable than life on the snowfield, isn’t it?” Russell said as he plopped down and leaned against Polly’s belly.

“Humph.”

“However, you mustn’t eat the bamboo here, as this bamboo is a single complete fungus,” Russell said, and suddenly felt like doing something.

Earlier, he had strolled through Furious Wind City, hoping to buy some bamboo rice to plant but couldn’t find any.

Bamboo is quite rare in the Shadowflame Duchy; he had no idea where to buy bamboo rice, so for the time being, there was no way to cultivate a bamboo forest of Magic Potion.

However, considering the strong vitality of bamboo, he decided to try and see if he could work out something from the fungus itself.

No sooner said than done.

He went directly to the edge of the bamboo forest and instructed someone to come and cut off the bamboo shoots at the roots of a few bamboo plants.

Thus, these few bamboo plants were no longer connected to the entire fungus.

“Even though they’re disconnected, these few bamboo plants still have roots and should be able to continue growing,” Russell thought.

If they could grow, it meant that they could cultivate the bamboo forest Magic Potion in this way. These bamboo plants might be difficult to use in making magic potions, but in the future, they would all be very important magical materials.

Whether it’s for producing bamboo paper or for construction materials, they could play a crucial role.

Just then, Katie rode on horseback to Cigar Courtyard, quickly walked into the bamboo forest, and bowed to Russell, “Sir.”

“Katie, you’re here,” said Russell, observing the bamboo plants, which showed no signs of wilting, so he was in a good mood. “Charles said you’ve successfully re-cultivated your Battle Qi. That’s wonderful news. Extend your arm, let me check for you.”

“Yes,” Katie extended her arm.

Russell grabbed her wrist, released his Battle Qi swiftly, pierced into the meridians of Katie’s arm, and sensed around.

His eyes brightened, “Not bad, the main meridians you unlocked this time are quite solid. You need to open the remaining groups of main meridians in the same way; only then can you hope to become a Great Knight.”

Katie nodded earnestly, “If it were not for your high regard, Sir, I could never have succeeded. I will always remember the grace of your rebuilding me.”

Russell laughed, “I only helped a little bit; what really determines your future is your own determination.”