Chương 168: The Gaze Behind

Xia En glanced down at the black scabbard at his waist.

That was a gift from Lord Alden to him when he left Friedrich.

"This scabbard is indeed the [Black Sword], but I am not a member of the Alden family, but merely their friend."

Even after hearing this explanation, the old man remained impeccably polite.

He maintained a humble demeanor and continued, "I am a descendant of the Valhart family, one of the three great knights of the North, along with the Alden family, and we are also known as the Azure Bow Knights."

As he spoke, his gaze returned to the black sword, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.

"I never thought I would see this sword again in my lifetime."

Xia En invited him to sit down and talk in detail.

The old man did not refuse and sat down at the table, his tone full of nostalgia.

"About sixty years ago, I accompanied my father to Frisch to visit Lord Alden, and my father even had a martial arts contest with the lord."

"pity----" He paused, his voice lowering.

"Unfortunately, later, when my father was fighting against one of the Seven Sages of Collapse, Mahat, he was turned into gold and sacrificed."

"The Azure Bow, which symbolizes our family, was also lost at that time."

The old man shook his head with a wry smile.

"The Valhart family is now practically defunct."

Seeing this sword again gives me a sense of disorientation—I apologize for making you laugh.

The old man greeted Xia En once again.

Xia En remained silent for a moment before offering a few words of comfort.

The old man was quite magnanimous, smiling and waving his hand.

"Life is unpredictable; in the North, the rise and fall of families has always been like this. I am already very gratified to see that the sword of the Alden family is still alive."

after that.

The old man asked a few more questions about Lord Alden's recent situation.

Shane briefly recounted their experiences in Frisch, mentioning the changes the city has undergone. The old man listened attentively, a satisfied smile spreading across his face.

During the conversation.

The little boy started yawning, rubbed his eyes, and snuggled into his grandfather's arms.

Seeing this, the old man bowed to Xia En again, then rose to take his leave.

Frillie watched the old man's departing figure with deep emotion.

"I never imagined that of the three great knightly families of the North, only two remain today. I still remember the scene when the Emperor bestowed honors upon them not long ago; they were so full of vigor back then."

Xia En asked in confusion, "When did that happen?"

"About two hundred years ago."

Xia En pursed his lips.

What a recent event!

He asked unnecessary questions.

After having eaten and drunk their fill, the group left the barbecue restaurant.

The cool autumn breeze caressed my face.

The streetlights on both sides of the street have been turned on, and the number of pedestrians is beginning to increase.

Nightlife in Oisassin has begun.

Xia En was about to suggest that everyone take a walk before returning to the hot spring inn when she bumped into someone walking towards her.

He was an old man.

His dark brown hair was meticulously combed, and he wore a single round-framed pair of glasses and a deep purple magic robe. His steps were steady, his gaze unwavering, and he exuded a calm and refined air.

Xia En stopped in his tracks.

He recognized the man.

[The Court Magician] Duncan He is a highly influential figure in the magical world.

Unlike magicians in peacetime who focus on theoretical learning, Duncan was born in a time of war and experienced real combat. He is said to even possess the formidable physical ability to "beat up soldiers with his bare hands".

Moreover, he spent many years in the palace, possessed exceptional intelligence, and was ruthless in his methods.

He's a very shrewd guy.

Not to be underestimated.

In the original story, he will also participate in this [Level 1 Magician] exam.

Unexpectedly— He arrived so early too.

In the instant that Shane was pondering, Duncan had already walked past them expressionlessly and went straight into the barbecue restaurant.

He didn't look at Shane, nor at anyone else in the group.

Even the enormous Frilian didn't attract his attention at all.

Xia En couldn't help but sigh.

That's Duncan for you, he's got style!

Frillie yawned.

The elf's biological clock was starting to urge her to sleep again.

"You guys go explore, I'm going to soak in the hot springs."

Seeing her like this, Xia En couldn't help but worry.

Stop falling asleep while soaking in the water.

Clearly, Philon thought so too.

"Lady Frilian, this won't do. Let me accompany you back."

Upon hearing that Philon was going to soak in the hot springs, Yubel blinked and decided to go back with her.

The girl's gaze blatantly drifted towards a certain spot. She seemed unable to forget the topic of "half the sky" that had been discussed during their carriage ride earlier that day.

The three girls went to soak in the hot springs, so the three guys, Xia En and his companion, went along with it and decided to go back together.

"Perfect, let's go to a mixed-gender bathhouse."

Shutark made the suggestion with a happy expression.

Unsurprisingly, this attracted unfriendly glances from Philon and Yubel.

"satyr."

Philon refused without hesitation.

Shutark was bewildered.

"what?"

Why do you say that?

Zain walked past him and patted him on the shoulder sympathetically.

Xia En also walked around him and patted him on the shoulder sympathetically.

Shutark was even more confused.

"What's going on?! What do you mean by this?!"

Inside a barbecue restaurant.

Duncan sat down in the spot where Shane and the others had just left.

I took the menu from the waiter and ordered a signature grilled steak.

"Don't overcook the steak."

Duncan stroked his beard and said self-deprecatingly, "I'm getting old, my teeth aren't what they used to be."

The waiter agreed and left.

He adjusted his monocle, his gaze passing through the lens as he looked out the shop window at the group of people walking further and further away.

His expression remained calm, but his eyes were sharp as knives.

Xia En thought he hadn't seen anything, but in fact he had seen everything.

"Two very good young mages."

"A very good soldier."

"There was also a seasoned monk."

"That is—" His gaze fell on Xia En's retreating figure.

"The Black Sword Sheath and the Granat Ruby—when did these two great city-states of the Northern Kingdoms form an alliance through marriage? Is that young man a descendant of either of them?"

The old man frowned.

As a [Court Magician], he has always been keen on this kind of political intelligence, and he is especially vigilant at this moment.

However, after searching my memory for a while, it seemed that both families had only had boys in recent generations, so there was no reason for them to marry.

"That's strange. Why would the heirlooms of two families end up in one person?"

Duncan didn't understand.

of course.

His gaze didn't linger for long before finally settling on the white-haired elf in the group.

"Frilian".

"A living legend."

He kept rubbing the name in his mind, his fingers unconsciously stroking the ruby on the front of his shirt.

A glint of light flashed across the monocle.

Just then.

The door to the barbecue restaurant was pushed open again.

An old man wearing a white cloak, with a thin build and shoulder-length short hair, walked into the shop.

He glanced around before his gaze settled on Duncan.

They walked slowly.