Reading settings
overlord_ Welcome the Birth of the King_chapter_0121
Chapter 121
Chapter 121: Shocking Rumors, the Knight's Oath
Tang Zheng looked at Imina. The usually cold expression on her face was now replaced with one of anger, which was rather cute.
"There's no need to waste time on such schemes."
"When the sun shines, even the darkest corners will cease to exist."
Tang Zheng chuckled gently, his eyes glinting slightly. "Besides, this isn't necessarily a bad thing."
"Starting tomorrow, continue to release the regeneration potion, but this time, it won't be free."
"Set the price at—1 Gold Coin. Only five bottles a day, sold publicly at the Adventurer's Guild."
This price…
Imina's amber eyes blinked, and a rare, brilliant smile graced her cold face. "Understood."
In just three days.
The entire potion market in the Imperial Capital was thrown into chaos. The Adventurer's Guild was packed with people, all for the regeneration potion, limited to five bottles a day and valued at a mere one Gold Coin.
The price was immediately driven up to over one hundred Gold Coins on the black market, and the trend was still soaring.
Its excellent effect of healing disabilities, combined with scarcity marketing and a limited supply—and especially the fact that no one on the market could replicate this alchemy potion made by Tang Zheng—drove countless sharp-nosed merchants, Workers, and Adventurers into a frenzy.
Snatching a potion for one Gold Coin and flipping it for a hundred times the profit was no different from robbing a bank.
One had to know.
The price of a top-class healing potion was only eight Gold Coins or so.
No one would turn their back on money.
The title of "Genius Alchemist," which had originally only circulated in small circles, spread throughout the entire Empire. "Genius Alchemist" also evolved into the more specific title of "Black-Haired Genius Alchemist."
At the same time.
Another equally shocking piece of news began to circulate in the Imperial Capital.
The Lockburs Family and the Iminst Family, two major noble families, were completely annihilated overnight. It was said that all family members had been killed!
However, this news was too horrifying, and most people didn't believe it.
The spread of the news also seemed to be suppressed to some extent.
Coupled with the commotion Tang Zheng had stirred up these past few days, it didn't attract much attention from the populace.
Nightfall.
In the depths of the Noble District, inside a brand-new courtyard.
Tang Zheng had no intention of having his door blocked, so after selling the alchemy potions, he found a new address.
He had been staying here for the past few days.
Aside from casually concocting a few alchemy potions each day, he spent the rest of his time injecting most of his magic power into the Orb of Death.
[Orb of Death: 90/280]
The magic power stored within had already reached 90 points.
With a magic power capacity of "280," he wouldn't have to worry about a shortage of magic power for the time being.
"Was it Leinas?"
Tang Zheng stopped channeling magic power into the Orb of Death, fiddling with the magic item in his hand as he thought about the recent rumor.
The Lockburs Family.
That was the family Leinas belonged to. Tang Zheng wouldn't believe for a second that this matter had nothing to do with her.
He had never heard of the other one, the Iminst Family, but if Leinas was also responsible, it was more than likely the family of her former fiancé.
"Wiped out the whole family, huh? That woman."
Tang Zheng was somewhat tongue-tied.
She looked so cold and indifferent, yet she was this ruthless.
Imina's nimble figure vaulted into the courtyard. Seeing Tang Zheng, who liked to sit in the courtyard petting his lesser soulhound, she walked over quickly.
"Tang, do you know how much the regeneration potion is going for on the black market now?"
Imina's purple ponytail swung, her eyes filled with an indescribable excitement.
As the one who had indirectly orchestrated all of this, Imina had personally witnessed a regeneration potion, worth at most ten Gold Coins, soar from a price of one Gold Coin to its current five hundred Gold Coins.
It was simply incredible!
"500 Gold Coins? That's about right."
Tang Zheng wasn't particularly surprised. The principle of scarcity creating value was the same in any world.
Moreover, the regeneration potion now possessed not just a healing function, but also a financial attribute.
"Tomorrow, aside from the usual five regeneration potions for the Adventurer's Guild, I'll give you another five to sell on the black market," Tang Zheng said.
Huh?
Imina's excited expression froze. They could do that?
Suddenly.
"You were followed," Tang Zheng said, lifting his head to look into the dark depths of the courtyard.
"How could that be!"
Imina's expression changed. She had made several detours before coming here. With her agility, very few people could keep up with her.
Furthermore, she always wore a disguise when she was out and about. Few people should know she had any connection to Tang Zheng.
"Don't blame her."
A crisp yet weary voice sounded from the darkness in the corner.
Hearing the familiar voice, Imina's eyes widened, and a look of shock appeared on her face. "It's you!"
She was, of course, aware of the horrifying rumor that had been circulating in the Imperial Capital recently; she was the one who had told Tang Zheng about it.
Leinas, completely wrapped in a black robe, emerged from the darkness. A faint, bloody scent wafted from her.
Imina immediately became vigilant.
However.
Leinas ignored Imina, walking steadily and purposefully up to Tang Zheng. She took out a leather pouch from her robes.
"There are 5,000 Gold Coins in this magic leather pouch. This is the upper limit for what this magic item can hold."
"Unfortunately, many valuable things couldn't be brought along."
Leinas's fair, delicate face was a little pale. Then, a smile touched her thin lips.
"A price of two thousand Gold Coins was too low."
Tang Zheng looked at the Leinas before him. She hadn't changed much from before, but her entire being gave him the feeling that she had been reborn.
"Such a strong bloody scent. You've killed many people."
Tang Zheng did not reach for the magic leather pouch.
"Mm."
Leinas nodded lightly, admitting it without hesitation. "I needed their blood to wash away the humiliation I've endured."
"Do you hate killing?"
"No. I'm just surprised you managed to slaughter two families and not die yourself."
Tang Zheng shook his head.
In the original story, after Leinas joined the Imperial Four Knights, she used the Blood Emperor's power to annihilate her own family and her fiancé's family.
She was a woman who was difficult to describe.
Leinas paused, then a brilliant smile bloomed on her pale cheeks.
"I swore an oath long ago that if I could be freed from my Curse, I would pay any price."
At this, Leinas's expression turned solemn, her golden, silk-like hair swaying in the wind.
Suddenly, Leinas knelt on one knee, her right hand clenched into a fist and held before her chest. She bowed her head slightly toward Tang Zheng, and her clear, pleasant voice rang out:
"Under the Radiance of Honor and Loyalty."
"I, Leinas Rockbruise, make this declaration of allegiance, dedicating my heart, courage, and life to your eminence and Honor."
"I swear in the name of my heart, I will be steadfastly loyal to you, becoming your unbreakable Shield and your incomparably sharp Sword."
"I swear in the name of my heart, every one of your commands is my Mission, my Honor."
"I swear in the name of my heart, my heart shall forever remember this oath, and my actions shall forever practice this Loyalty, even if the light is devoured by darkness."
"If I should break this vow, may the knight's spear forsake my soul, and my body fall forever into Hell!"
Her resolute voice echoed in the courtyard.
Imina subconsciously took a step back, her face filled with shock and disbelief, her amber eyes wide.
This was… a Knight's Oath!
A declaration passed down only through ancient noble families, a sacred ritual to swear eternal fealty.
It was generally sworn by a lower-ranking noble to the direct lineage of a higher-ranking noble, or to the true master of the Empire, the Emperor.
Imina had never heard of a noble swearing an oath to an Adventurer. This was likely unprecedented in history.
Tang Zheng was equally stunned, but his expression was quickly replaced by seriousness.
Although he didn't know much about noble etiquette, he understood that such a solemn oath was not something he could casually refuse like her previous request to join his adventurer team.
Tang Zheng sighed inwardly. Things had suddenly gotten so serious.
He rose from his seat and walked over to Leinas, who was kneeling before him with her head bowed.
He raised his hand and gently placed it on her left shoulder.
He could feel Leinas's body visibly relax.
"I don't believe in any god, so I cannot give you a corresponding admonition."
Tang Zheng spoke softly, his tone equally serious. "But I will do everything in my power."
"To make the Lockburs name great once more, because of you."
A smile appeared on Leinas's fair cheeks. She looked up, took the left hand Tang Zheng had placed on her shoulder, and moved it in front of her.
"Leinas Rockbruise."
Leinas lowered her head again, kissed the back of Tang Zheng's hand, and spoke once more:
"At your service!"
(end of chapter)
Tang Zheng looked at Imina. The usually cold expression on her face was now replaced with one of anger, which was rather cute.
"There's no need to waste time on such schemes."
"When the sun shines, even the darkest corners will cease to exist."
Tang Zheng chuckled gently, his eyes glinting slightly. "Besides, this isn't necessarily a bad thing."
"Starting tomorrow, continue to release the regeneration potion, but this time, it won't be free."
"Set the price at—1 Gold Coin. Only five bottles a day, sold publicly at the Adventurer's Guild."
This price…
Imina's amber eyes blinked, and a rare, brilliant smile graced her cold face. "Understood."
In just three days.
The entire potion market in the Imperial Capital was thrown into chaos. The Adventurer's Guild was packed with people, all for the regeneration potion, limited to five bottles a day and valued at a mere one Gold Coin.
The price was immediately driven up to over one hundred Gold Coins on the black market, and the trend was still soaring.
Its excellent effect of healing disabilities, combined with scarcity marketing and a limited supply—and especially the fact that no one on the market could replicate this alchemy potion made by Tang Zheng—drove countless sharp-nosed merchants, Workers, and Adventurers into a frenzy.
Snatching a potion for one Gold Coin and flipping it for a hundred times the profit was no different from robbing a bank.
One had to know.
The price of a top-class healing potion was only eight Gold Coins or so.
No one would turn their back on money.
The title of "Genius Alchemist," which had originally only circulated in small circles, spread throughout the entire Empire. "Genius Alchemist" also evolved into the more specific title of "Black-Haired Genius Alchemist."
At the same time.
Another equally shocking piece of news began to circulate in the Imperial Capital.
The Lockburs Family and the Iminst Family, two major noble families, were completely annihilated overnight. It was said that all family members had been killed!
However, this news was too horrifying, and most people didn't believe it.
The spread of the news also seemed to be suppressed to some extent.
Coupled with the commotion Tang Zheng had stirred up these past few days, it didn't attract much attention from the populace.
Nightfall.
In the depths of the Noble District, inside a brand-new courtyard.
Tang Zheng had no intention of having his door blocked, so after selling the alchemy potions, he found a new address.
He had been staying here for the past few days.
Aside from casually concocting a few alchemy potions each day, he spent the rest of his time injecting most of his magic power into the Orb of Death.
[Orb of Death: 90/280]
The magic power stored within had already reached 90 points.
With a magic power capacity of "280," he wouldn't have to worry about a shortage of magic power for the time being.
"Was it Leinas?"
Tang Zheng stopped channeling magic power into the Orb of Death, fiddling with the magic item in his hand as he thought about the recent rumor.
The Lockburs Family.
That was the family Leinas belonged to. Tang Zheng wouldn't believe for a second that this matter had nothing to do with her.
He had never heard of the other one, the Iminst Family, but if Leinas was also responsible, it was more than likely the family of her former fiancé.
"Wiped out the whole family, huh? That woman."
Tang Zheng was somewhat tongue-tied.
She looked so cold and indifferent, yet she was this ruthless.
Imina's nimble figure vaulted into the courtyard. Seeing Tang Zheng, who liked to sit in the courtyard petting his lesser soulhound, she walked over quickly.
"Tang, do you know how much the regeneration potion is going for on the black market now?"
Imina's purple ponytail swung, her eyes filled with an indescribable excitement.
As the one who had indirectly orchestrated all of this, Imina had personally witnessed a regeneration potion, worth at most ten Gold Coins, soar from a price of one Gold Coin to its current five hundred Gold Coins.
It was simply incredible!
"500 Gold Coins? That's about right."
Tang Zheng wasn't particularly surprised. The principle of scarcity creating value was the same in any world.
Moreover, the regeneration potion now possessed not just a healing function, but also a financial attribute.
"Tomorrow, aside from the usual five regeneration potions for the Adventurer's Guild, I'll give you another five to sell on the black market," Tang Zheng said.
Huh?
Imina's excited expression froze. They could do that?
Suddenly.
"You were followed," Tang Zheng said, lifting his head to look into the dark depths of the courtyard.
"How could that be!"
Imina's expression changed. She had made several detours before coming here. With her agility, very few people could keep up with her.
Furthermore, she always wore a disguise when she was out and about. Few people should know she had any connection to Tang Zheng.
"Don't blame her."
A crisp yet weary voice sounded from the darkness in the corner.
Hearing the familiar voice, Imina's eyes widened, and a look of shock appeared on her face. "It's you!"
She was, of course, aware of the horrifying rumor that had been circulating in the Imperial Capital recently; she was the one who had told Tang Zheng about it.
Leinas, completely wrapped in a black robe, emerged from the darkness. A faint, bloody scent wafted from her.
Imina immediately became vigilant.
However.
Leinas ignored Imina, walking steadily and purposefully up to Tang Zheng. She took out a leather pouch from her robes.
"There are 5,000 Gold Coins in this magic leather pouch. This is the upper limit for what this magic item can hold."
"Unfortunately, many valuable things couldn't be brought along."
Leinas's fair, delicate face was a little pale. Then, a smile touched her thin lips.
"A price of two thousand Gold Coins was too low."
Tang Zheng looked at the Leinas before him. She hadn't changed much from before, but her entire being gave him the feeling that she had been reborn.
"Such a strong bloody scent. You've killed many people."
Tang Zheng did not reach for the magic leather pouch.
"Mm."
Leinas nodded lightly, admitting it without hesitation. "I needed their blood to wash away the humiliation I've endured."
"Do you hate killing?"
"No. I'm just surprised you managed to slaughter two families and not die yourself."
Tang Zheng shook his head.
In the original story, after Leinas joined the Imperial Four Knights, she used the Blood Emperor's power to annihilate her own family and her fiancé's family.
She was a woman who was difficult to describe.
Leinas paused, then a brilliant smile bloomed on her pale cheeks.
"I swore an oath long ago that if I could be freed from my Curse, I would pay any price."
At this, Leinas's expression turned solemn, her golden, silk-like hair swaying in the wind.
Suddenly, Leinas knelt on one knee, her right hand clenched into a fist and held before her chest. She bowed her head slightly toward Tang Zheng, and her clear, pleasant voice rang out:
"Under the Radiance of Honor and Loyalty."
"I, Leinas Rockbruise, make this declaration of allegiance, dedicating my heart, courage, and life to your eminence and Honor."
"I swear in the name of my heart, I will be steadfastly loyal to you, becoming your unbreakable Shield and your incomparably sharp Sword."
"I swear in the name of my heart, every one of your commands is my Mission, my Honor."
"I swear in the name of my heart, my heart shall forever remember this oath, and my actions shall forever practice this Loyalty, even if the light is devoured by darkness."
"If I should break this vow, may the knight's spear forsake my soul, and my body fall forever into Hell!"
Her resolute voice echoed in the courtyard.
Imina subconsciously took a step back, her face filled with shock and disbelief, her amber eyes wide.
This was… a Knight's Oath!
A declaration passed down only through ancient noble families, a sacred ritual to swear eternal fealty.
It was generally sworn by a lower-ranking noble to the direct lineage of a higher-ranking noble, or to the true master of the Empire, the Emperor.
Imina had never heard of a noble swearing an oath to an Adventurer. This was likely unprecedented in history.
Tang Zheng was equally stunned, but his expression was quickly replaced by seriousness.
Although he didn't know much about noble etiquette, he understood that such a solemn oath was not something he could casually refuse like her previous request to join his adventurer team.
Tang Zheng sighed inwardly. Things had suddenly gotten so serious.
He rose from his seat and walked over to Leinas, who was kneeling before him with her head bowed.
He raised his hand and gently placed it on her left shoulder.
He could feel Leinas's body visibly relax.
"I don't believe in any god, so I cannot give you a corresponding admonition."
Tang Zheng spoke softly, his tone equally serious. "But I will do everything in my power."
"To make the Lockburs name great once more, because of you."
A smile appeared on Leinas's fair cheeks. She looked up, took the left hand Tang Zheng had placed on her shoulder, and moved it in front of her.
"Leinas Rockbruise."
Leinas lowered her head again, kissed the back of Tang Zheng's hand, and spoke once more:
"At your service!"
(end of chapter)
