The Cornflower Witch

Book 2: Chapter 90: The Proclamation of the Holy White Knights

Vol 2 Chapter 90 The Proclamation of the Holy White Knights

The sound of hooves grew louder from the distance.

The soldiers at Scorchstone City’s gate were still wondering who would come at dusk, when a white horse galloped through the gate and into the city.

“Who is that?” a few of them wanted to ask each other, but the white horse carrying a rider rushed straight to the castle gate in the northern part of Scorchstone City before the rider finally pulled the reins to stop the horse.

“I want to see the lord of Scorchstone City, Viscount Xuefeng.” The rider loudly announced his purpose.

“The lord of Scorchstone City?” The Ante Kingdom soldiers guarding the castle exchanged glances and sneered.

“Where did you come from? Don’t you know this land is already under the Ante Kingdom?”

“General Bett is in charge here now. I suggest you dismount and calmly wait for orders.” The soldier at the gate stepped forward, ready to stop him.

Unfortunately, the white knight merely lifted the horse’s front hoof and stomped down, shattering the soldier’s breastplate, sending the man flying backward into the thick wooden door.

If the rider had not held back some force on purpose, the soldier would likely have died on the spot.Seeing this, a group of soldiers immediately surrounded him, and someone ran to inform the important people inside the castle.

Before long, three knights wearing silver-white armor with dark-red inner linings charged out on horseback and directly surrounded the white rider.

They drew their swords, and the Castle Aspect power spread, forming a pale white curtain of light that extended underfoot, sealing off the white rider.

“Who are you? This is the Ante Kingdom, not Regas.” They issued a stern warning, cold silver edges appearing on their blades.

The eyes beneath the helmet scanned the surroundings, and the white rider spoke again.

“I come from the Hidden Grove. I am a member of the Holy White Knight Hall, here to deliver notice regarding Viscount Xuefeng.”

“Hidden Grove, Holy White Knight Hall?” They glanced at each other.

Of course they knew what the Hidden Grove was and had heard of the Holy White Knight Hall’s reputation. It was the royal knight order of the Blazing Sun Empire during the Eighth Epoch, and after that empire fell, this knight order alone continued the tradition.

“What do you want with Viscount Xuefeng? This place is under Ante Kingdom control now.” Their tone softened a little.

“I carry the Holy White Knight Hall’s notice. I request assurances for the safety of Viscount Xuefeng, the city’s gardener Lady Franne, Scholar Heide, and several others. If necessary, we will escort them from this place.” The rider explained his purpose in detail.

“Take Viscount Xuefeng away?” The lead knight snorted coldly, displeased by the white rider’s words.

“This place is occupied by the Ante Kingdom forces. Do you think you can just take whoever you please?”

“This isn’t the Hidden Grove’s garrison. And even if this is an order from the Hidden Grove association, you, representing only the Holy White Knight Hall, have no authority to command us.”

The Hidden Grove association was the extraordinary organization alliance behind the southern states, with complex internal power structures. The Ante Kingdom had some standing and connections within the association, so unless the association headquarters ordered it, they would not be subject to such directives.

“The Holy White Knight Hall does indeed lack the authority to order you around.” The white rider’s voice remained steady, as if he had expected this reaction.

“However, I am here solely to carry out the organization’s mission, not to persuade you.”

“If you block me, you will face the Holy White Knight Hall’s punishment. Are you prepared for that?” He did not draw his sword. At this moment, his mere gaze swept across them, imposing an immense pressure.

Even though both sides were Third Tier, their combat power was not balanced; this rider was probably not someone any one of them could defeat alone.

“Heh, so are you telling me to go inform General Bett, then you can come with orders and take people?” The lead knight’s voice was arrogant. He did not care about the name “Holy White Knight Hall.” This was the Ante Kingdom’s garrison. A single knight wanting to take someone away would humiliate Ante’s face and make the local residents laugh.

When reason failed to sway them, the white rider slightly shook his head and placed his hand on the hilt at his waist.

“I know you’re resentful. It seems necessary to let you understand how important the Holy White Knight Hall’s notice is.”

He drew his sword. Brilliant light burst from the blade like a small sun. As the three knights blinked, dazzled, the white rider rode through their circle. The dazzling blade swept across them, and the Castle Aspect-enhanced armor on the three shattered, the force driving them back so hard they nearly fell from their horses.

By the time they regained their footing, the white rider had already charged into the castle and begun fighting the knights who had heard the commotion inside.

A spectral white armor shimmered on him, and one rider, one horse, one sword toppled knights along the way. Wherever he passed, men and horses were thrown into chaos. The soldiers nearby trembled with fear and, under the Castle Aspect’s suppression, could not move. They could only watch as this knight strode into the castle’s inner halls.

In the castle’s banquet hall, General Bett was still drinking. Hearing the noise outside and sensing something amiss, he immediately stood.

He grabbed the helmet overturned on the torn table, hurriedly put it on, then drew his treasured sword at his waist, calling the knights and company captains together to guard the door.

Soon, the white rider burst into the hall. His long sword swept and the door shattered, yet his armor remained immaculate.

“Who are you?” Bett frowned, staring at the knight who seemed wreathed in white flames, a tremor of fear rising in his chest.

“I carry the Holy White Knight Hall’s notice.” The knight planted his sword upright. Above his head appeared a pale white phantom of a knight’s chess piece. An invisible field spread, like a storm sweeping the hall.

Pale gold patterns appeared on his white armor, resembling a burning solar sun.

Faced with this provocation, Bett felt a naked humiliation. He raised his hand. Seven knights beside him manifested white chess pieces, coordinating with him to form an invisible field in opposition, but no matter how it looked, seven people trying to resist the other party felt embarrassing.

The white rider repeated his mission and demands, then produced a pale-gold badge and placed it on his chest.

The badge, engraved with a human-faced sun, burst with brilliant light and heat, causing the hall’s tables and chairs to smoke and catch fire. A suffocating heat wave pressed down on everyone there.

“That badge…” Bett did not know what kind of badge it was, but he could tell it was a creation of at least Fifth Tier, representing the Holy White Knight Hall’s authority.

Although he resented it, within the wavering force field he had no choice but to soften his tone and ask the rider to temporarily set the badge down so he could report up the chain of command.

“I understand. Please give us some time to report and explain to our superiors.” In truth, reporting was unnecessary, but it was the only excuse he had to cover his current impotence.

Seeing this, the white rider slowly covered the badge with his palm, and the high temperature and light in the hall gradually subsided.

Over the next two days, General Bett followed the Holy White Knight Hall’s instructions, releasing several people from Scorchstone City peacefully and returning some of Viscount Xuefeng’s possessions.

On the road, Viscount Xuefeng sat in the carriage and conversed with the elderly Scholar Heide across from him.

“I didn’t expect the Hidden Grove to send people to free us from Scorchstone City.” His voice carried a tone of grateful relief.

“Nor did I.” Scholar Heide had grown even older. He wore a thick padded coat and leaned back in his seat, his late-day gaze staring at the passing scenery.

“Tia—she grew up so fast and even gained the friendship of the Holy White Knight Hall, making them willing to act on something that seemed unrelated.”

“This favor is probably beyond our ability to repay, cough.” He coughed a few times. Winnie, sitting beside him, handed him a cup of hot water.

“Teacher, drink a little.” Yero was not present now; he had gone elsewhere to study. Winnie, once a student of Heide and included among those notified, had accompanied the group leaving the city and helped care for the old man during the journey.

Viscount Xuefeng saw Heide’s cough and worriedly reached forward to pat the elderly man’s back, carefully supporting him.

“You must take care of yourself. If Miss Tia returns someday, I won’t know how to explain if you’re not well.” He understood that they had relied heavily on Scholar Heide this time. The viscount rarely interacted with the young lady; it was the old scholar who had earned her gratitude.

“Heh, I know.” The old man smiled and waved his hand, telling the viscount not to worry.

The carriage then rattled along the winding mountain road, slowly making its way toward the distant end of the path.