Translator: Legge
The Li and Liu clans controlled the local salt and cotton trades, respectively. In terms of status, the Li clan, who controlled the salt trade, was more influential. Ren Xiaosu could also tell that Liu Ting’s father was actually more like the subordinate among the two and that these two families should be
closely related.
These two clans had suddenly approached Melgor to suggest moving up their departure date to Ghent City. The change of plans was probably not just motivated by their haste to train a sorcerer in the clan.
After Li Chengguo and Liu Ting went back home, they must have talked to their clans about the ambush they encountered on the way back, as well as the personal feud between Melgor and the Tudor family.
Now that a small fire had broken out in Yorktown, it was reported by many people that someone in a white mask was responsible for the fire. Melgor felt that “Old Xu” was here to kill him, and Li Chengguo and Liu Ting definitely thought so as well.
Therefore, the Li and Liu clans hurriedly came over to urge Melgor to set off for Ghent City. This was because they were worried that Melgor, the tool they engaged to assist their sons in getting the Eye of True Sight, would get killed before they could buy it.
At this moment, Li Chengguo’s father said to Melgor, “Lord Melgor, I also know you encountered some trouble and might be worried for your safety during the journey, but you don’t have to worry about that. We’ll send people to protect you during the trip.”
After hearing this, Ren Xiaosu was sure his judgment was correct.
But were the Li and Liu clans that determined? They knew the Tudor family wanted Melgor killed, so why did they send their people to protect him?
Melgor was also a little puzzled. “How will I be protected?”
“The York County Chamber of Commerce has just organized an expedition for a trade caravan to travel north to Ghent City to procure gold and silver wares.” Liu Ting’s father said, “The caravan is very large, with several hundred people traveling together. The guards we’ve arranged for have already
infiltrated the group and will be protecting Lord Melgor in secret.”
The Tudor family was way too influential in the Kingdom of Sorcerers. Therefore, if local gentry like the Li and Liu clans wanted to protect Melgor, they would have to do so discreetly.
Melgor thought for a moment and said, “When would you like me to leave?”
“Why not now?” Li Chengguo’s father suggested. “The trade caravan has already assembled north of York County. They were supposed to leave this morning, but I got them to wait for you, Lord Melgor.”
Melgor felt helpless. From the look of things, Li Chengguo’s father was truly worried that something bad would happen. He was actually hoping Melgor would set off immediately.
He thought for a moment and said, “Alright, let me get packed, then we can set off.”
After that, Li Chengguo and Liu Ting’s father bade farewell in satisfaction.
The sheeple stayed behind and were immediately ordered by Ren Xiaosu to do the packing. He did not want them to overhear his conversation with Melgor.
Ren Xiaosu wondered, “You agreed to their request just like that? Where’s your dignity as a sorcerer? They’re obviously using you.”
“It’s a little different when it comes to the local aristocrats. Although they might appear very respectful, that respect is to the magus order backing me, not me,” Melgor said helplessly. “Although York County has been conferred to me as my fief, the true lords of the six counties in the south are… the
House of Berkeley.”
“Is that also a sorcerer clan?” Ren Xiaosu asked.
“That’s right.” Melgor nodded and said, “The Berkeley family is also a certain archmage’s basis of power in the secular world. It’s just that their authority isn’t as extensive as the Tudors since they only possess a gold Eye of True Sight. In fact, the Li and Liu clans are both under the command of Duke
Berkeley. It’s just that they aren’t of high standing.”
“Oh.” Ren Xiaosu understood now. So the Li and Liu clans were just considered fringe figures of the Berkeley family’s influence and were now seeking to be recognized by the system. As such, they were trying to raise sorcerers in their families to raise their statuses. As long as their families produced
sorcerers, Duke Berkeley would view them in a different light and give them more benefits.
‘The Kingdom of Sorcerers was a place where only sorcerers were qualified to become the true upper class.
‘The Li and Liu clans were trying to earn this status so they could boost the standing of their own clans.
Ren Xiaosu thought for a moment and said, “I don’t think we need to leave right away. It’s too hasty.”
“Forget it, there’s no need to harp on this.” Melgor said with a bitter smile, “Since I’ve already accepted their money, let’s just do it for them.”
“Alright then.” Ren Xiaosu felt a little helpless. He was planning to stay around and wait for that young sorceress’s accomplices to show up.
But on second thought, with the capabilities of those bounty hunters, it would not be difficult for them to find him even if he had already set off for Ghent City.
“Do you have anything to pack?” Melgor asked. “I don’t really have much to bring, so I’ll just take a few books and read them along the way.”
“I don’t have much to bring either.” Ren Xiaosu said, “I’ll also pick a few books.”
“By the way, is the Introduction to Sorcery still with you?” Melgor suddenly asked. “Don’t read that for now. It’s quite heavy to bring along.”
Ren Xiaosu froze at the mention. Wait, could the book the sorceress was trying to steal be the Introduction to Sorcery he was holding?
Ren Xiaosu had scoffed at the idea the intruder had come here to steal a book. After all, Melgor had been away from his Sorcerer’s Tower for over two years, so of all times, why did they choose to steal it when Melgor came back? Who were they fooling?
However, if the other party were trying to steal the Introduction to Sorcery, it would make sense. Because Melgor had taken that book with him to the Central Plains, they could only retrieve it after Melgor returned.
Ren Xiaosu told Melgor, “I think I’ll bring the Introduction to Sorcery with me. find it quite an interesting read.”
Melgor gave Ren Xiaosu a strange look. “There’s no need to put on that strong front. Everyone knows the Introduction to Sorcery has no practical content in it. Even if you don’t read it, no one will make fun of you.”
“But I really find it quite interesting,” Ren Xiaosu said.
“Well, whatever makes you happy…”
The sheeple brought Melgor’s clothes down and joined up with Ren Xiaosu. “Lord Melgor, the maids have packed your belongings. We can set off now.”
Melgor looked at them. “It’s been tough on you two so far. Don’t worry, I’ll take you both to the black market once we get to Ghent City.”
“Thank you for helping us, Lord Melgor.” Li Chengguo chuckled and said, “By the way, can you teach us the language of the Magi along the way? That way, if we get our hands on an Eye of True Sight in Ghent City, we can start practicing sorcery immediately.”
“No problem.” Melgor nodded. Then he said to Ren Xiaosu, “You can also learn together with them.”
“Me?” Ren Xiaosu chuckled and said, “Forget about me. You can just teach them.”
Melgor was stunned. “You don’t want to learn? Weren’t you quite eager to learn it?”
“It’s too difficult, so I don’t want to learn it anymore,” Ren Xiaosu said. He had carefully considered the higher level spells would still have to be paired with meditative visualization diagrams if he chose to cast them in the language of the Magi. However, the meditative visualization diagrams were firmly
controlled by the sorcerer clans and were too troublesome to obtain.
Now that he could cast spells in Chinese, which did not even require meditative visualization diagrams to do so, why would he put in so much effort to learn a new language? Although it was a little troublesome to compile the Chinese spell incantations, he would only need to rely on himself and wouldn’t
be constrained by external factors.
Next to them, Liu Ting muttered, “So it turns out he was just pretending to be enthusiastic. No wonder he used to be a lowly servant in the Central Plains..”