The City Lord

"Welcome to the lord's manor." A servant dipped her head and led the way in.

'She doesn't look like she's treated well.'

Fearful and docile, battered with scars on her arms and legs while dressed in rags. Traces of burned skin crawled upon her left arm and I could tell a finger was missing from her right hand. Quite a sight. Truly a ruthless world.

I will never allow that to happen to Fiona.

I gripped her hand even tighter, my desire to get stronger flaring up again. That's right. Experience is helpful, but strength is everything. I can catch enemies by surprise, and use techniques and attack patterns they've never seen before, but that won't work on people with ridiculously high cultivation bases.

Plus, right now. They forced us into unfamiliar territory. Who knows what ambush they've set up here, and Fiona and I just arrived at the city. I better be wary.

I glanced around the manor. It was huge, as expected of the city lord. He decorated the entire building in red, with expensive-looking curtains that draped in front of the windows. The tables, the torch, the carpet... everything just seemed so expensive. If this was the manor of the weakest city, then what would stronger ones look like?

The servant led us to the last room in the hall.

It was smaller than the ones I'd seen on the way. A painting of someone hung on the walls, accompanied by a saber and a sword. The city lord, I assumed, was sitting on a chair with his legs crossed. He looked cross.

I made a mental note. They can fill the closet with two people. The only exit is the entrance. No windows and no space to have a proper fight. Weapons on the wall, ready to grab and use. A darn awful situation, I summed it up.

Fiona did not remember the city lord's cultivation base either. They always say, that if you know your enemies and know yourself, you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles; if you do not know your enemies but know yourself, you will win one and lose one; if you do not know your enemies nor yourself, they will imperil you in every single battle.

So if there's a fight for Fiona, he's coming down with me.

I stared right back at him. Younger than I expected. A sly smile, with mischievous eyes. He's no pushover like the guards, I sized up. A cunning fox.

"So, what's your purpose for calling us over today, city lord?"

There's no reason to greet him with formality. I should just keep acting up the facade of a 'master', and if a fight breaks out, I'm sure Fiona can get out safely.

"My, my. How rude. I still haven't forgotten how you refused my orders."

I narrowed my eyes. He's not worried at all. "I still haven't forgotten about how you people ruined my sleep."

He raised his eyebrows. "Oh? I thought the guards would let you finish your rest and even wait until later in the morning."

"What about my daughter? She needs her rest, else she won't grow properly."

He burst out laughing, before squinting his eyes into slits, staring at Fiona. "Do you even know who she is?"

So Fiona's identity is special. But how much do that she doesn't want to tell me about it yet?

I replied nonchalantly, "Of course I know her, she's my daughter."

"Don't pull tricks on me, else the bounty will come to your head."

Bounty? Is someone out on the hunt for Fiona? I turned to her, only to see a face full of puzzlement.

"Does... does that mean somebody is hunting me?" She whispered with a meek voice.

"Yes, and quite a hefty sum. I heard that even Glendora's Queen sent out the notice. So..." He narrowed his eyes. "Come forth and admit your identities, so I can claim the gold and the pills."

Glendora, as in the kingdom of Glendora? The ones the people on the streets were talking about? How does that relate to Fiona?

Just as I turned to her, she did the same. I caught her eye. "Daddy, was it time we ran from the restaurant, and didn't pay? Well, the food there tasted amazing, especially the snowdelia white truffle."

"Oh, who knew that restaurant was the property of Glendora's Queen. Bwahaha, I can't believe we dined and dashed there. You were starving that night, right Daisy?"

I glared my eyes, forcing the atmosphere in the room to drop. Huh? Wasn't my cultivation supposed to be weak? This dense layer of spiritual essence... it seems familiar. Is this Fiona's? Why is it so cold?

"Oh, so now you know. I guess you can't go around blabbering our secrets now, huh?"

The city lord was visibly shocked, as sweat trickled down his face. "You... weren't you supposed to be a cripple?"

I laughed out loud. "No. Never. Were you mistaken? I'm just a father, trying to take my daughter around the continent for an adventure. Don't mistake us for somebody else."

Thump. I drew my dagger and flicked it with all my might in the closet. "Next time, don't bring outsiders to a meeting."

Grabbing Fiona's hand, we walked out.

The city lord opened the cabinet. "Could he sense you guys in there? Not a fluke?"

A scrawny man paled and wiped his face. "His dagger... was about to pierce my eye..."

"Did we really mistake them for the princess and her father? The princess looks exactly the same as per the wanted posters... And the princess's father. Wasn't he crippled after suffering injuries at the Battle of Marseilles?" The city lord mumbled and shivered at the thought of something.

"The aura exerted by him... domineering and icy cold. There's no way a cripple can..."

He sighed. "I needed those pills for my breakthrough, but it's better not to offend him any further... maybe they are just wandering father-daughter duo."

_______________

Outside, on the outskirts of Windholt Mountain.

"Fiona, you said there might be some treasures up there?"

"Yes! But daddy, why do you want to go?"

I patted her head. "Daddy needs to get stronger to protect you, you silly girl."

Glancing at the tall and menacing mountain, I cracked my knuckles. "It's time for some training!"