When the Saint comes, she does not collect food

#493 - Attack Lujiao Township!

Northmund County, Coldspring Keep.

On the training grounds paved with green flagstones, three knights weaved and dodged, their longswords sparking countless showers of light. Any blow that landed on the ground could shatter a paving stone.

The tall female knight, though clearly the youngest, was almost completely overwhelming the two middle-aged male knights.

Although the two knights were the ones attacking, the tall female knight seemed to be handling them with ease.

Each time, she seemed to predict the future, blocking their attacks with her longsword in advance.

"Clang!" With a crisp sound, the black horse knight Herman looked in astonishment at his hand, only to find that his sword was now only half a blade.

"I concede." He casually tossed the sword on the ground, turned around, and sat down on a small stool. "You could practically be called a champion titled knight."

The other knight, Moruo, dejectedly sheathed his longsword. He simply couldn't suppress Melia alone.

Despite the fact that their breathing technique cultivation far surpassed Melia's, they were still no match for her.

The purpose of breathing techniques is actually to increase stamina and recovery.

Friends who have killed people in close combat know that killing is a very physically demanding job.

Each time the two sides go all out in a brawl, they might be exhausted after only five minutes.

The function of breathing techniques, in addition to recruiting muscles, is to add a void artificial lung and a void artificial heart to the human body.

With breathing techniques, one might only be exhausted after an hour, extending the peak state of combat effectiveness.

But this means that some people with natural strength, natural height, or good athletic ability can unleash even more powerful combat effectiveness, even with the same breathing technique.

The same percentage of gain yields greater benefits with a larger base.

This is why the Empire does not rank knights by breathing techniques but instead opens arenas to classify knights based on actual combat performance.

Although purely physical-oriented witches are almost unable to practice breathing techniques, which the church calls "Messiah's Punishment."

But Melia is a mind-oriented witch. Although she has the body of a half-physical-oriented witch, her powerful physique is not maintained by magic.

Therefore, with the blessing of breathing techniques, Melia, although not reaching the level of a purely physical-oriented witch, can suppress most titled knights in one-on-one combat.

"I have to say, I'm getting old." The black horse knight Herman poured a cup of potato root wine into his mouth. "I can't even complete a double kill on you."

The so-called double kill is when both sides are of similar strength and simultaneously severely injure or kill each other, which is a desperate tactic in a duel.

"You're not old, not only not old but even very healthy." Melia wiped the sweat from her neck with a towel. "So healthy that I had to redeem you from the brothel yesterday."

"Oh, no wonder some people can't even hold their swords steady."

Herman grabbed a small round shield and threw it at Moruo, who casually caught the round shield in his hand and started spinning it on his finger.

"Move faster, strike more suddenly, and you might even be able to kill that damn silver-tongued knight before a cup of wine cools down." Spirot sat on the edge of the training ground, legs crossed, holding a cup of warm rice wine in his hand.

"Yes." Wiping sweat, Herman echoed, "We clearly wiped out one and a half Edict Legions. Half were wiped out in Rapid Current City, and only two were defeated by the Salvation Army.

Now it's all good. Everyone is saying that the Salvation Army wiped out three, and our half and Rapid Current City's half are all attributed to the Salvation Army."

Intelligence Director Feli said with a smile: "People are always curious. A group of knights defeating the Edict Legion is not a rare thing, but a group of farmers defeating the Edict Legion is a rare thing.

The news from Thousand River Valley has now spread to Fran and Norn. They are all discussing the peasant army that defeated three Edict Legions.

According to the passing caravans, the gambling houses in the Kingdom of Fran have gone crazy recently. The outcome of the Laya Civil War, when the Thousand River Valley uprising will be suppressed, even the wedding of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of Fran is not attracting much attention."

Melia did not speak. The Kingdom of Fran has been peaceful and prosperous for decades, and its national strength is growing, right at its most powerful.

They never worry about the Fran Civil War affecting them because they are confident that Fran is strong enough.

Perhaps, they are even thinking of taking this opportunity to recapture Windmill Land.

The local noble forces in the Kingdom of Laya are too powerful, and several reforms have all failed, coupled with the internal division of the church after the death of the old Pope.

Anyone with eyes can see that the Kingdom of Laya has gradually turned from a chess player into fish on the chessboard.

Prince Kondé hiding in Thousand River Valley to protect himself is probably suspected of avoiding this storm of division.

Since Prince Kondé withdrew his troops last time, the entire Upper Riverford County, except for Honey River Township in the southeast, has returned to Melia's hands.

Taking the opportunity to rotate troops and return home, Melia returned to her hometown of Coldspring Keep to recuperate and recover from her injuries.

Gray Horse Knight Wayne walked in from outside, looking up and down at the training ground as he walked: "Why did you run here to train?"

"There are too many knights in the training ground, so I decided to come here to reminisce." Arms crossed, Melia practiced breathing techniques with ease.

Since Melia repelled Prince Kondé, the knights who had previously disobeyed Melia in various places have offered their loyalty one after another, scrambling to show their faces in Melia's territory.

She can see young and handsome knights in the training ground almost every day, trying to become the future Prince or Duke's husband of Thousand River Valley.

She really doesn't want to see flowers on the training dummies anymore, or be chased after by poems, or have various coincidental encounters with those greasy-haired knights.

After being annoyed, she had to move the training ground to this old training ground.

"I miss this place a bit." Tying the horse to the hitching post, Wayne leaned against the wall, looking at the building in front of him with nostalgia. "Do you remember? When we were little, we always practiced swordsmanship here."

"Are you referring to when I wanted to stay and train, and you always dragged me to the circus?"

"It's to cultivate your sentiments. Besides, shouldn't you like to watch the circus at that age?"

"I have more important things to do." Melia hummed in dissatisfaction.

"I promised your father to let you become an ordinary girl, growing up carefree. I already regret that you turned out like this."

Father-figure knight Wayne walked to Melia's side, saying with a bitter face: "But at least I hope you can get married and have children like an ordinary girl..."

"I will get married and have children, but not like an ordinary girl." Melia practiced two more hammer swings, adding, "And not with those knights. Don't try to randomly stuff people at me anymore."

Wayne didn't continue to move, just leaned against the wall, watching Melia complete a whole section of breathing techniques before speaking: "Your mother wrote a letter saying that you have already chosen a duchess?"

"What?" The other three titled knights jumped up from their chairs.

Melia expressionlessly picked up a sledgehammer and began to practice single-handed left and right hammer swings: "My Grand Duchy of Thousand River Valley needs an heir."

"I want to be a godfather, I said it first." Moruo raised his right hand high.

Herman stared: "Why is it you?"

"I said it first!"

Spirot rolled his eyes at him: "It's not about who says it first, it has nothing to do with who says it first."

"I said it first, hey, I said it first, is there no value in saying I said it first now?"

The harsh sound of the sledgehammer falling to the ground hit people's ears. Melia turned her head and said coldly: "I'm not even married yet, and you've all arranged who will be the godfather of my child?"

Although Melia's words didn't have any anger, the hidden anger under that cold tone still made the four knights shiver together and they didn't speak.

Ignoring them, Melia continued to practice single-handed hammer swings, and the several titled knights looked at each other, carrying wine and ham, and gradually withdrew from the training ground.

"Boom!"

The sledgehammer hit the ground again, making a crisp sound.

Sweating profusely and panting, Melia looked at the sledgehammer stained with blood.

Marriage? It should be called a political marriage, right? If you want to say who might be successful in Thousand River Valley in the future, besides her, it's only Hohn.

It's just for an heir, she hasn't moved a single true emotion.

Of course, if Hohn needs it, she doesn't mind playing Carrie to exchange for benefits and resources.

As long as the road is opened and the territories of both sides are connected, the two can be connected together.

Once the north and south converge, Melia's elite cavalry will be matched with Hohn's elite infantry, and both sides have proven their combat effectiveness on the battlefield.

After driving Prince Kondé out of Thousand River Valley, she will take office as Grand Duke of Thousand River Valley, and Hohn will take office as Grand Archbishop or Patriarch of Thousand River Valley.

Their offspring can unite politics and religion.

With the support of Norn, Fran, and Black Serpent Bay, maybe Thousand River Valley can get a share when the former two take the opportunity to divide the Kingdom of Laya.

The last step, only the last step, and the general trend will be achieved.

Thousand River Valley, her father's hometown, the place he misses the most, will eventually get rid of the five-hundred-year shackles like in his dreams.

"Uncle Wayne." Melia raised her head and said to the empty training ground, "I have written to the Salvation Army, asking them to cooperate. I hope you will attack Honey River Township and Deer Horn Township in October."

"Yes, Your Highness Princess!" Wayne poked his head out from behind the wall.

As Melia expected, Wayne was still waiting at the door like when he was a child, not leaving.

Melia frowned: "Don't mention that title, I don't like it."

Wayne grinned: "Before the attack, can I make a request?"

"What request?"

"After I win, can you tell me in person who that person is?"

Melia looked at his smiling eyes, and her face actually felt a little hot: "Damn it, that old woman has already told you... why do you have to ask me again?"

Melia didn't need to listen to his heart, she could guess that he had guessed it from Wayne's expression.

As soon as Lourdes' information came over, a little thought would reveal who it was.

"I want to hear you say it in person."

"Don't bother me, I need to train." Melia turned her head away and picked up the sledgehammer again. "When you come back, I will tell you."