Chapter 2: Two Letters
However, Linley's failed first love left a shadow in his heart regarding emotions. Delia's every action and deed, especially since he had known her since childhood, made Linley have to admit—he enjoyed the warm, comforting feeling of being with Delia.
While at the academy, Linley was well aware of Delia's feelings for him.
He knew that Delia was waiting for him to speak, but the failure of his first love left a knot in Linley's heart, and he couldn't bring himself to say it.
******
In the distant imperial capital of the Yulan Empire, although the sun hung high in the sky, the air was still filled with chill. Delia, dressed in an expensive thick robe, sat leisurely in the courtyard basking in the sun. In her hand, she held a letter sent by Linley. This letter had been delivered through the Dawson Chamber of Commerce's communication system.
As she read the letter in her hand, Delia couldn't help but smile, her expression extremely joyful.
"Delia, what are you reading?" a deep voice sounded. It was the Earth Bear 'Hutton.' Hutton's cute little bear eyes were fixed on the letter in Delia's hand. "Come on, Delia, let me see it. Let Ah Huang be happy too."
The Earth Bear 'Hutton' had an extremely close bond with Delia.
Seeing Hutton, Delia immediately hid the letter in her bosom, wrinkled her nose, and said coquettishly, "Ah Huang, are you causing trouble again? Where's Master? Why aren't you by Master's side?"
The Earth Bear shook his head and said, "Master has gone into seclusion to meditate. He won't be out for at least ten days or half a month. He doesn't need me by his side right now, so Ah Huang came to find Delia." The Earth Bear grinned at Delia.
Delia was in a very good mood today and played around with the Earth Bear for a while.
"Delia, was that letter from that Linley?" the Earth Bear asked in a low voice.
Delia shot him a displeased glance but still nodded. Her eyes held an unmistakable joy. Linley's letter simply recounted what had happened these past days and also told Delia that he was now in Blacksoil City in the Chaos Territory, giving her the specific geographical route.
Although Linley hadn't explicitly said for Delia to come, the fact that he described the route so clearly made his intention obvious.
"This fool, always hiding things. If he wants me to come, just say it outright," Delia scolded in her heart with a laugh.
In a good mood, Delia could laugh to herself just sitting in the chair. The Earth Bear also stayed by her side, chatting with her intermittently.
"Delia, tomorrow is Yulan Festival. You'll be going back tonight, right?" the Earth Bear 'Hutton' asked in a low voice.
Hearing this, Delia couldn't help but frown and let out a soft sigh: "Yeah, there's a family dinner tonight. Sigh... I really don't want to go back." During this period, Delia had gone back twice, and her family urged her to give up on Linley.
But...
Was that possible?
Delia had once thought Linley was dead and had even decided never to marry anyone, holding on for nearly ten years. Now that she knew Linley was alive and would soon establish his own territory, how could she give up now?
That evening.
The important members of the Ryan family gathered in the hall. Nearly a hundred key family members raised their glasses and chatted warmly with each other. The most dazzling figure was naturally the current family patriarch, Dya Ryan. Dya Ryan was not only extremely capable himself, but his two children were also outstanding.
Dixie was now an eighth-level mage and a personal disciple of the High Priest.
Delia had been a seventh-level mage for many years and was also a disciple of the Wind Saint Magus 'Rollins' Master.
This pair of children was exceptionally excellent.
Today, Delia hadn't dressed up much, but her noble aura and naturally beautiful features made her outshine any noble lady present. However, Delia simply took her wine glass and walked to a corner of the hall to sit down.
One middle-aged man, holding a wine glass, glanced at Delia in the distance and walked over to Dya Ryan, smiling, "Big brother, Delia is getting more and more beautiful. I don't know how many noble youths in the imperial capital have lost their hearts to her."
Dya Ryan smiled faintly.
"Big brother, Prince Reid's son has always admired Delia. What do you think about the two of them..."
Dya Ryan shook his head and said, "Third brother, if Delia had any intention of marrying some noble in the imperial capital, she would have married out years ago. Now... you'd better not bring it up. I'll have my wife talk to her later."
At this banquet, many people wanted to discuss marriage matters with Dya Ryan.
Because it was obvious: young Delia was not only beautiful and capable, but she was also a disciple of a Saint Magus. Backed by the powerful Ryan family... such a perfect and outstanding woman was pursued by countless noble youths.
In the corner, Delia sat quietly alone.
"Sister." A handsome young man, nearly 1.8 meters tall with shoulder-length golden hair, walked over. Every strand of his hair was straight.
Delia looked up and revealed a smile: "Brother." The newcomer was Delia's biological brother, 'Dixie.' Now, Dixie was just as cold as he had been back at Ernst Magic Academy. But he was still very doting toward his sister.
Dixie sat down across from Delia.
"What's wrong? You seem unhappy?" Dixie asked with a smile.
Delia shook her head helplessly and said, "Brother, you've been training with the High Priest all this time, so you don't know much about my affairs."
"Is it about Linley?" Dixie inquired.
Delia shot her brother a playful glare and said, "Brother, you're really sharp. But Father and Mother are quite opposed to me being with Linley. I've been troubled about it... after all, I don't want to fall out with the family."
Dixie nodded. He understood his sister's thoughts. Having watched Delia grow up, Dixie knew well—although Delia was a decisive girl, deep down, she was very attached to her family and relatives.
"I'm guessing tonight, Mother will talk to me again about which young man is good and which young man is good," Delia said with a bitter smile.
Every time she came back, her parents would talk to her about these matters.
Dixie frowned and said, "Those playboys still want to marry you? That Linley is also in the wrong. He should have come to the imperial capital openly and directly proposed to you long ago! If he did that, I would definitely support him." Deep down, Dixie still admired Linley.
After all, he was a genius even greater than himself.
"Him propose?" Delia was stunned, then laughed.
Delia thought back to that night in Wushan Town, when she kissed Linley, and he was flustered and panicked. Even when she hinted at it, Linley didn't dare to say he loved her directly. And she expected Linley to come to the imperial capital to propose on his own?
"Brother, Linley is different from what you imagine," Delia said with a smile.
...
During the banquet, Delia stayed with her brother and was in a fairly good mood. But unfortunately, after the banquet ended and she talked with her parents for a while, Delia's mood soured again. Her parents tirelessly urged her, time and again.
She was tired of it all.
On Yulan Festival day, Delia went to the Dawson Chamber of Commerce's station in the Yulan Empire's imperial capital.
"Miss Delia." The person in charge here recognized her.
"Please, sir, help me send this letter to Linley," Delia said, handing over a letter.
The person in charge immediately nodded: "Rest assured, I will have this letter delivered to Master Linley." The Dawson Chamber of Commerce was always highly efficient when it came to Linley's matters. That very day, someone used a flying magical beast to leave the imperial capital with the letter.
******
Last night, a heavy snow suddenly struck. By the time Linley came out of the wooden cabin this morning, he found that the entire Blackwushan Mountain was covered in a layer of silver. Some snow was still floating on the surrounding lake water. The warm morning sun hung in the east, shining on the snow on the trees and boulders along the lake shore, reflecting dazzling colors.
"Whoosh." Taking a deep breath, feeling the fresh air after the snow, a smile appeared on Linley's face.
Bebe also came out of the wooden cabin, rubbing his sleepy little eyes. Bebe's four little paws left marks in the snow on the ground.
"Boss! Boss!" The loud voice sounded from far away, even shaking the snow off the branches of distant trees, causing it to fall with a 'rustling' sound. Linley turned to look. A tall figure rushed over at extreme speed, each step covering over ten meters. He leaped from the lake shore, crossing a distance of seventy or eighty meters, and landed on the flat boulder in the middle of the lake.
"Gates, why are you running so fast?" Linley said with a smile.
Gates grinned and said, "Of course it's about your business, Boss. Otherwise, would I run this fast?"
"My business?" Linley looked puzzled.
"Here!" Gates took a letter from his bosom. "This is a letter from Miss Delia. Someone from the Dawson Chamber of Commerce just delivered it to our Blacksoil City. Haha, those Dawson Chamber of Commerce people have even decided to set up a branch directly in Blacksoil City."
"Delia's?"
Linley immediately took the letter, opened the envelope, and began reading it directly. At this moment, Bebe growled at Gates, "Gates, you big guy, get over there. Don't peek at Delia's correspondence with my boss."
"I know, I know." Gates was both amused and exasperated.
But Gates didn't dare to provoke Bebe, that terrifying creature. Even the Saint-level magical beast 'Blacklu' admitted he was no match for Bebe, so how could Gates dare to mess with Bebe?
Linley, however, was reading carefully.
"Respected Master Linley:
Hello, I hope this letter finds you happy!
You've been doing quite well lately, having already taken over Blacksoil City. But Blacksoil City is just a small town. You, the esteemed Master Linley, what kind of status do you have? Wouldn't it be beneath you to just occupy Blacksoil City and then ask me to come? Isn't that a bit embarrassing for you?
Well, I've decided: at the very least, wait until you've built a duchy in the Chaos Territory before I come. Otherwise... hmph, I won't see you.
As for how I'm doing now? Pretty well. I'm quietly training at my master's place. My grandmother's health is much better too. Don't worry about my affairs. Focus your energy on the Chaos Territory and on your training.
Remember, I'm waiting for your duchy.
When your duchy is established, that's when I'll leave the Yulan Empire. That's our agreement!
But you also need to be careful. Don't overwork yourself. I have time to wait. I'm waiting for your duchy to be built! Waiting to see you!
Yours... Delia"
Reading this letter, Linley felt warmth in his heart, and a smile involuntarily appeared on his face. He flipped his hand and stored the letter in his space ring. The nearby Gates teased, "Boss seems really happy. Your face is all smiles. What did Miss Delia write?"
"Yeah, Boss, what did she write?" Bebe also pressed his little face close and asked Linley.
Linley smiled and turned to Gates, saying, "Alright, let me ask you: when are you planning to start attacking the other cities?"
"We're ready anytime, but Yulan Festival just passed..." Gates said. Yulan Festival was the most festive holiday across the entire Yulan Continent. Many soldiers went home to reunite with their families. Of course, some still remained at their posts.
Linley shook his head and said, "Catch them off guard, and the losses will be minimal."
"Then give the order, Boss." Gates' eyes lit up.
Linley nodded slightly: "Go back and prepare today. Launch attacks on the surrounding cities starting tomorrow morning. We must conquer the neighboring cities as quickly as possible... Our current plan is to first occupy a territory the size of a duchy."
"Yes, Boss!" Gates replied loudly.
"You may go." Linley said with a faint smile.
Gates immediately nodded and quickly left Blackwushan Mountain. Blacksoil City, which had been on standby, finally began to operate intensely with the order brought by Gates from Linley. After lying dormant for so long, Blacksoil City finally extended its claws toward the surrounding cities.