Dragonblood: Book 2 of the Coiling Dragon Saga

by Wo Chi Xi Hong Shi

  “What a massive panther.” One of the knights sighed, staring at the black panther Linley was riding.

  “Stop staring. Let’s move,” the other knight said.

  Just at this time, another stallion trotted past them. This stallion was ridden by a kindly looking old hunchback with pure white hair. The speed of the old man’s horse was fairly slow, and it clip-clopped its way forward.

  “Haha, look at him. He’s so old, but still rides a horse. Haha…” One of the knights laughed loudly.

  “Let’s go. We have business to attend to.”

  The three knights laughed calmly, continuing on their way. Right at this time, that hunchbacked old man raised his head to glance at Linley’s group. This hunchback immediately understood.

  Per their pre-arranged agreement, if they encountered the targets, the knights would say, “Haha, look at him. He’s so old, but still rides a horse.” What’s more, Holmer also knew that the mysterious expert had a black panther as a pet.

  “Those three knights don’t have any knightly chivalry at all,” Keane, who had seen all this through the window, said unhappily once the three knights left.

  But Linley frowned as he stared at the hunchback.

  The hunchback rode the horse in a manner that did indeed inspire concern. Just from the look of him, one could tell that he was extremely old. Although the horse wasn’t moving too fast, the hunchback continued to sway back and forth on the horse’s back, as though he could fall off at any moment. His legs didn’t seem to be too firmly clamped on the horse’s back either.

  Right at this moment, a carriage appeared from behind the old hunchback as well.

  “F*ck off, you old fart,” one of the knights cursed loudly. The hunchback immediately whipped his horse, moving it to the side of the road.

  “Ahhh!”

  When the horse was roughly ten or so meters away from Linley’s group, the old hunchback swayed again and fell off his horse.

  “The old grandpa fell off!” Keane, seeing this from through the window, immediately pushed open the door to come out and help.

  But just as the old man fell off, a light blue wave of gas emanated from his body. That light blue gas was extremely thin and light, so much so that if someone wasn’t specifically looking for it, it would be quite hard to discern.

  The wind just so happened to be blowing from the east, and it blew the gas directly towards Linley. But of course, the first people to be impacted by the poison gas was the people in the carriage that had just passed by.

  “Crumple.”

  One knight after another collapsed from their horses to the ground, fresh blood leaking out of their noses.

  “Hrm?” Linley also felt that something in his body seemed off, and his head felt a little dizzy.

  “Not good. Poison.” Attuned to the wind, Linley could clearly sense that a light blue poisonous gas was wafting in his direction. By now, Linley had already taken two breaths of it.

  The Dragonblood battle-qi in Linley’s body immediately rose up, absorbing all of the poisonous gas in Linley’s body, with none of it harming him at all.

  This poisonous gas was a poison that Holmer had specifically designed to be used against humans, based on human biology.

  But Holmer could never have imagined that Linley was very different, biologically speaking, from ordinary people. Within his veins was the bloodline of the Dragonblood Warriors, an ancestral bloodline that was many times more exalted than even the bloodlines of magical beasts. In the past, even the magicite core of the Armored Razorback Wyrm had been absorbed and consumed by just the small amount of dragonblood that was in Linley’s veins at that time.

  Normal people simply couldn’t imagine or understand the special abilities and attributes of each of the Four Supreme Warriors.

  This sort of poison gas couldn’t hurt a Dragonblood Warrior at all.

  “Wind.”

  Based on his mastery of wind elemental essence granted to him by being a wind-style magus, Linley immediately controlled the air around him to blow the wind backwards. The poisonous gas immediately blew back towards the east. By now, the squad of knights that were between the ‘hunchback’ Holmer and Linley had all died.

  The poisonous gas blew back towards Holmer, but he didn’t dodge. He was not afraid of his own poisons. But what he was afraid of… was Linley.

  “Giddyup, giddyup!” Holmer suddenly became quite agile, leaping back onto his horse and then sending it galloping east as fast as he could.

  “Haeru,” Linley said in a cold voice.

  “Swoooosh.”

  The Blackcloud Panther’s speed was terrifyingly fast, many times faster than an ordinary stallion.

  In the blink of an eye, he traversed several hundred meters, and actually passed by Holmer, landing in front of him. All that had been visible during this motion was a black blur.

  Seeing Linley suddenly appear in front of him, Holmer immediately grew frantic.

  “My friend, I was paid by others to do this. If you are willing to spare me, I will give you as much gold as you wish.” Although Holmer was more than three hundred years old, he didn’t want to die yet.

  Thinking back to what just happened, Linley still felt afraid.

  Fortunately, he had managed to react in time and blow the poison gas back before it had entered the carriage.

  “Poison gas? Are you a necromancer?” Linley looked at Holmer.

  “Necromancer?” Holmer was startled, then shook his head. “No. I’m an apothecary. My friend, I am quite wealthy. Ten thousand gold coins? Twenty thousand? Or perhaps, a hundred thousand?” At a time like this, Holmer was still trying to save money.

  But Linley couldn’t even be bothered to speak to him.

  “Haeru, deal with it.”

  Linley hopped off the black panther, heading back towards the carriage. As for the Blackcloud Panther, he revealed his sharp fangs, and then pounced directly towards Holmer.

  “Ah! A million! Ten million! Ah!!!!” Before Holmer had even finished calling out, he had been flattened by a single blow from the Blackcloud Panther’s massive paw.

  107

  The Prefectural City of Cerre

  The desolate wilderness.

  The tens of people escorting the carriage were all dead. The black blood oozing from their bodies made the scene all the more sinister. Holmer, in turn, had been smashed to death by a single blow from Haeru. Jenne and Keane, who had watched this all from the carriage, were totally stunned.

  “Big brother Ley.” Keane called out in alarm. Jenne’s face was rather pale as well.

  Just as Linley was about to respond, that old servant, Lambert, who was driving the carriage suddenly called out in surprise as he stared at the corpse of Holmer. “Him! He’s the deadliest killer in Cerre City, Holmer. That old freak who styled himself an apothecary.”

  “Holmer? Grandpa Lambert, who are you talking about?” Keane looked at Lambert.

  Lambert took a deep breath. “Young master, young miss, this Holmer was an extremely dangerous individual within Cerre City. In the past, when I was serving your mother in the city, I encountered him a few times. At the time, Count Wade had mentioned this Holmer to your mother as well. This Holmer is an extremely skilled user of poisons. Although he is only a warrior of the sixth rank, he once killed a combatant of the ninth rank.”

  Only now did Jenne and Keane understand.

  Linley, listening to the side, nodded as well.

  “This Holmer is extremely greedy. Most likely, his actions this time were at the direction of the senior madame as well.” Lambert’s face was extremely solemn. “The senior madame really has her mind set on killing you!”

  “With big brother Ley, we have nothing to fear!” Keane was very confident. Jenne also looked confidently at Linley.

  “Enough. Let’s head out immediately so we can arrive sooner at Cerre City,” Linley said directly. Linley’s group immediately made haste towards the prefectural city of Cerre, leaving behind a clo
ud of dust on the desolate road.

  The prefectural city of Cerre. This was a city with around two to three hundred thousand people. Its red walls stretched off into the distance. In terms of architecture, the buildings of Cerre City tended towards the ornate.

  Keane pushed open the door to the carriage. Seeing the beautiful, majestic city in front of them, Keane’s heart was filled with boundless ambition. His eyes lit up, and he said, “From this day forth, I shall be the master of this prefectural city.”

  Outside the city gates.

  “Black panther?” When the gate guards saw Linley’s mount from the distance, they had immediately called out to the other guards nearby, “Quick, someone go speak with the madame. The person she spoke of is arriving.”

  “Okay.”

  A gate guard immediately ran towards the hotel located nearest to the city gates, rushing up to the second floor. At this moment, there was a warrior stationed outside the stairway. Seeing that it was a gate guard who was running this way, the warrior allowed him passage.

  “Madame Countess.” The guard fell respectfully to one knee.

  “Madame Countess, the expert riding a black panther which you spoke of has arrived. There is a carriage behind him.”

  “What?” Before Madame Wade had reacted, her two brothers who were standing behind her called out in alarm.

  Madame Wade frowned. “Leave for now.”

  “Yes.” The guard respectfully withdrew.

  Right now, both of Madame Wade’s brothers were growing frantic. Her eldest brother hurriedly said, “Sis, they actually survived their journey to Cerre. Can it be that Holmer, that old freak, failed?”

  “Hard to say.”

  Madame Wade was frowning. “Perhaps that expert with the black panther who was escorting those two countryside-raised siblings didn’t come on the main road from Redsand City. Perhaps they intentionally took a detour and caused Holmer and the others to miss them.”

  Hearing her words, her two brothers couldn’t help but nod.

  Indeed, it was very possible that their opponents had craftily taken a roundabout path en route to Cerre City.

  “Then what should we now do?” Madame Wade’s two brothers looked at her.

  “Go down and welcome them.” A hint of a smile was on Madame Wade’s face. “My two darling children have returned, after suffering for so many years. They are finally back. As their loving aunt, how can I not go welcome them?”

  And as she spoke, Madame Wade headed down the stairs.

  Right as they walked out of the main door of the hotel, Madame Wade saw the tall and sturdy man with a heavy sword on his back who was riding a handsome black panther, as well as the familiar face of Lambert.

  “Oh, Lambert, long time no see,” Madame Wade immediately called out in a high-pitched voice.

  Linley, Jenne, Keane, and Lambert all swung their heads to look at her. Lambert started, then respectfully said, “Senior madame.”

  Madame Wade laughed warmly. “These two children should be Jenne and Keane. Jenne is even more beautiful than before, and she looks more like her mother now as well. Keane isn’t the child that he used to be either. He’s even more handsome now.”

  Jenne and Keane could both recognize Madame Wade.

  Although nearly eight years had passed, Madame Wade’s appearance hadn’t changed much, with the exception of a slight wrinkle at the corner of her eyes.

  “Senior madame.” Jenne and Keane both paid their respects.

  “Wonderful, wonderful. And there’s no need to stand on courtesy.” Madame Wade chortled, then looked at Linley. “And this is?”

  “This is big brother Ley,” Keane hurriedly answered.

  “Ley?” Madame Wade’s eyelids flickered, then she laughed. “Oh, Mr. Ley. I imagine it must have been you who protected and escorted them to Cerre City. I absolutely must thank you on behalf of Jenne and Keane. Come, let’s all go to the castle. Tonight, I am going to arrange a magnificent banquet for my two poor little children.”

  The castle of the city governor was a square block, and was quite an imposing sight.

  “What a useless fellow.” After hearing the news that the messenger knights had delivered, Madame Wade was even more furious.

  Holmer had been a chess piece that she had trusted.

  But now that Holmer had failed, Madame Wade felt extremely frustrated.

  “With that Mr. Ley present, it will be very hard for me to kill Keane.” Madame Wade was extremely angry. “Poison? The poison used by ordinary poison experts won’t be able to escape detection. Assassins? How many can deal with this Ley?”

  Madame Wade’s eyes slowly sharpened.

  “Looks like there’s only that one method left.” The worry disappeared from Madame Wade’s eyes. The only thing left was confidence and callousness.

  Within the enormous dining room of the castle, the giant glass chandelier had been lit, casting its resplendent, bewitching light upon the room. All of the nobles of Cerre City were present today.

  “I’ve heard that Count Wade’s son has returned. I wonder how Madame Wade will deal with this.”

  “Who knows? But Madame Wade definitely will not give up her authority.”

  “Madame Wade is extremely vicious. Sadly for her, her baby boy died in the arms of a woman. What a joke.” The various nobles chatted in soft tones.

  Whom amongst them did not know that Madame Wade was a tyrannical, domineering woman? But since they lived in Cerre City, at most they would mock her in private. They didn’t dare to publicly offend her.

  “Madame Wade has arrived.”

  Instantly, all of the gossiping nobles ceased their discourse. They all turned to look towards Madame Wade, who had just descended from the stairway. Madame Wade still looked as stately and arrogant as she ever had.

  Madame Wade enjoyed the attention of the people present. She tilted her head up slightly as she descended.

  “Everyone,” Madame Wade laughed. “Today is a joyous occasion. Those two poor children of mine, who have suffered outside for eight years, have finally returned today.”

  At this time, two more people suddenly appeared at the stairway.

  One was a young man wearing a black gentleman’s suit, while the other was a golden-haired young lady wearing a white, full-bodied dress. They came out together, and the eyes of many nobles lit up.

  Although Jenne was dressed very simply, when matched with her appearance, her figure, and her kind, innocent demeanor, she was a soul-stirring sight. Many young nobles present made up their minds to go over later and ask who that girl was.

  “Jenne, Keane, come,” Madame Wade called out to them warmly.

  Jenne and Keane walked down the stairway together, standing on each side of Madame Wade. Madame Wade called out warmly, “This is Jenne. Look, what a beautiful girl she is. And this handsome young man is Keane.” Madame Wade sighed emotionally. “Jenne and Keane have finally escaped their bitter lives. But their mother, my dear sister…” Madame Wade’s eyes grew red, as though she were about to cry.

  “Senior madame, if the second madame knew how much you cared about her, she would undoubtedly be very moved,” n ancient voice rang out, and Lambert walked in with Linley by his side.

  Madame Wade glanced at Lambert.

  Lambert was previously the second madame’s most faithful servant. Even after the second madame had fallen into dire straits, he continued to follow her without complaint.

  Jenne and Keane felt extremely unhappy as well.

  They knew that the reason for their mother’s deaths and those eight bitter years they had suffered were all caused by this senior madame in front of them. Jenne knew how to hide her thoughts, but the fourteen-year-old Keane ridiculed angrily, “Senior madame, why didn’t you ever come visit us during these eight years? We’ve missed you so terribly.”

  Madame Wade’s facial expression didn’t change at all. She sighed, “All these years, I’ve been working on behalf of Cerre City, and I’ve never had ti
me. Every time I think about this, I feel I’ve mistreated the two of you.”

  Linley suddenly laughed and said directly, “Madame Wade, Count Wade has now passed away, and Keane is his successor. The reason he has returned this time is to assume the position of city governor. Madame Wade, I wonder if you have already decided on a date for Keane to assume the city governor’s position?”

  Everyone in the dining room fell silent upon hearing these words.

  All of the nobles present knew that the main act of the play was starting.

  At the same time, all of the nobles stared at Linley in puzzlement. They didn’t know where this youngster had come from, for him to dare to so boldly and directly say these words.

  “Mr. Ley,” Madame Wade’s face grew hard, and she said coldly, “As their aunt, I must thank you for escorting Jenne and Keane to Cerre City. But the question of Keane taking over the governorship is an internal affair of our clans. It isn’t very appropriate for you, an outsider, to get involved, is it?”

  Keane immediately refuted, “And who says big brother Ley is an outsider?”

  “If he isn’t an outsider, what is he?” Madame Wade’s face was very cold.

  Keane was startled, then he looked up at Linley and said, “Big brother Ley is, is, is my sister’s fiancé. How could he be an outsider?”

  “Fiancé?” Madame Wade was flabbergasted.

  Jenne was flabbergasted.

  Linley was flabbergasted.

  “Fiancé?” Linley immediately looked at Keane. Keane only winked at Linley. Linley immediately understood what Keane meant.

  Right at this moment, Jenne’s face turned red.

  “How about that?” Keane arrogantly tilted his head up. “My brother-in-law to be is qualified to discuss this, isn’t he? Aunt, my father is dead, as is my elder brother. I am now the primary successor.”

  Madame Wade was silent.

  All of the people present looked at Madame Wade. Keane’s position as primary successor to the governorship was indisputable and protected by imperial law. They wanted to see how Madame Wade would handle it.