Chapter Sixteen: Setting Sail

In the end, Sun Li’s hopes shattered across the ground. Su Yun Yun merely relinquished her intention to keep him, urging him to hurry on his way to the wood elf assembly point. Along the journey, seeing Sun Li’s face full of disappointment, Su Yun Yun couldn’t help but ask curiously, “What’s wrong with you? If you’re reluctant to leave my sister, I can let her go with you. But you must treat her well—she’s a very innocent child, you mustn’t bully her!”

Upon hearing this, Su Lu Lu’s cheeks instantly flushed as she lowered her head, her voice barely audible as she whispered, “I’ll always do as you say, Sister.”

Sun Li’s hearing was remarkably sharp, and he caught every word. He was deeply moved by Su Lu Lu’s obedient and gentle demeanor. But—couldn’t her elder sister at least show some affection? His demands weren’t extravagant; even a farewell kiss would suffice! Of course, Sun Li would never utter such thoughts aloud. Though he adored this sweet, docile girl, he was fully aware of what lay ahead. He was about to stir up storms in the bustling, chaotic lands of Europa! Taking a beautiful wood elf maiden on a pleasure outing? The episode in the Mexican town had been a lesson enough! Who knew how many depraved nobles lurked there! His Song Dynasty looks wouldn’t serve him well in such a place. Europa was no relaxed territory like Jinzhou; bringing along a burden and confronting armies would be utter folly.

“I plan to go to Europa first, so I can’t take Su Lu Lu with me for now. You know, that place isn’t safe for wood elves. Let her stay here for the time being—I promise to return for you both within three years! If anything comes up, you can contact my associates in the merchant guild, the ones I mentioned before. Believe me, I’ll be back soon.” Sun Li spoke solemnly to Su Yun Yun.

Su Lu Lu felt a pang of sadness at not being able to accompany Sun Li, but upon hearing he would return for her, she immediately brightened. Su Yun Yun secretly watched her sister’s face shift with Sun Li’s words, sighing inwardly and feeling a hint of envy. Perhaps she was destined to be lonely. Unless the wood elves reclaimed their homeland, Su Yun Yun had no heart for anything else, nor would she allow herself to desire otherwise.

“Very well, you always seem mysterious, I never know what you’re busy with,” Su Yun Yun agreed without protest, thinking to herself: Could it be that the Song Dynasty intends to meddle in Europa’s affairs? Their ambitions are enormous—can they really handle it?

Over the next two weeks, Sun Li demonstrated his prowess before the leaders of the wood elf factions, and naturally took command of the Mexican wood elf resistance, elevating Su Yun Yun to the alliance leader position. Yet Sun Li did not aid the wood elves in waging war against the colonizers; he only directed them to build their strength. This disappointed many of the leaders who had initially harbored lofty hopes, but under Sun Li’s forceful restraint, no unpleasant incidents occurred.

The day after Sun Li and his companions reached the assembly point, the Mexican governor received news of his emissaries’ humiliating defeat while searching for beauties. Scanning the intelligence report, the governor’s face darkened as he addressed the returned captain, “So, what this says is: That idiot Lu An tried to show off before a Grand Knight, thoroughly offending him. The Grand Knight became enraged and clashed with the governor’s guard, is that right?”

Hearing the governor refer only to Lu An’s arrogance rather than his status as an emissary, the captain immediately understood what to say and do next.

Thus, the surviving guards all changed their tune: the incident became a tale of the noble youth Lu An provoking a Grand Knight with his overbearing behavior, leading to a fierce conflict. The Imperial Governor’s Guard of the English Empire had fought to protect the safety of the empire’s subjects, and after the battle, the Grand Knight escaped wounded while the guards, being outnumbered, were unable to pursue. That was the gist.

The Mexican governor then sent a summary of the incident to the imperial homeland in Europa. The emergence of a Grand Knight from the Song Dynasty was major news! He subsequently issued a proclamation in his jurisdiction: The honor of the empire was inviolable, but since both sides misunderstood each other, as long as Sun Li, this distinguished Grand Knight, openly declared his identity and promised never to set foot in Jinzhou again, the matter would be put to rest. That was essentially the message. For anyone possessing Grand Knight power, the governor had no desire to make an enemy without cause—it would benefit no one. Since the rift couldn’t be mended, a polite farewell and removal from this unstable colony would suffice. If the Grand Knight refused to leave, then other issues would arise, and precautions would have to be taken; the stability of Jinzhou always came first!

Sun Li saw through the governor’s intentions, just as he had expected. After bidding reluctant farewells to his wood elf friends and the twin sisters, with regret at not receiving a farewell kiss from Su Yun Yun, he made open contact with the English Empire’s official agencies in Mexico. The Song Dynasty he established was so remote that Europa’s nations paid it no heed—let alone sending envoys. It was, much like the old Orc Empire, outside the human world of Europa, so naturally no one had ever met Sun Li, the bumpkin emperor.

Upon confirming his identity as a young Song Dynasty noble and ensuring he bore no malice, the governor personally received the Grand Knight. His strength truly warranted the governor’s presence.

The governor merely marveled at Sun Li’s youth, then explained the various reasons and helplessness behind not letting him stay in Jinzhou. Since lives had been lost, the empire compelled him to act; it wasn’t personal animosity. Any grievances should be directed at the English Empire, not at him, a humble governor.

After meeting the governor, Sun Li honestly couldn’t reconcile the man’s refined manners and sharp appearance with the reputation of a depraved pervert. It was true what they said—never judge by appearances. Who would guess such a dignified, shrewd figure was actually that kind of person?

After their pleasant conversation, Sun Li cooperated fully and boarded a ship bound for Europa, ostensibly for travel and business. The result was that the world swiftly learned of the peculiar Grand Knight from the Song Dynasty—his fame far surpassed that of his homeland. As his reputation spread, so did news of his youth, igniting a frenzy among Europa’s noble ladies, each vying to outshine the other, seeking information, desperate to present themselves as flawless candidates for Sun Li’s wife. To have a young Grand Knight for a husband, everyone believed, would bring immense satisfaction both physically and emotionally!