Pioneer Lord: I Have Conquering System

A biting wind swept across the Wilderness, and the boundless, barren plains added to the sense of desolation.

But the arrival of a group of people at this moment added a touch of life to the scene.

If one were to look down from the sky, they would discover a Black Armor Guard Team of no more than fifty men. Their formation was impeccable, without a single flaw, and even their movements were so synchronized it was as if a single person was controlling them all.

This visual spectacle sent a shock through everyone present.

Lost in thought, Knight Si Kai was startled. He truly hadn’t expected the High Cliff Castle Guard Team to display such discipline.

Especially since they were a group of Beastman Barbarians.

After all, a Beastman’s individual combat prowess was unquestionable, but getting them to form an orderly line was harder than making a nun break her vows.

"Levi, you really gave me a start," came Liya’s voice. But the way her sparkling eyes were fixed on the High Cliff Castle Guard Team made it clear there was no blame in her words.

Liya had always heard tales from High Cliff Castle about victories won with inferior numbers against enemies ten times their size, but such word-of-mouth reports were often prone to exaggeration.

However, now that she had seen High Cliff Castle’s elite and formidable soldiers with her own eyes, she knew the stories that had reached Bailiu City were entirely true.

She extended a small, jade-white hand to Levi, and the Lord, understanding completely, raised his own hand to support hers, helping her down from the carriage.

"Even as far away as Bailiu City, I’ve heard endless stories about High Cliff Castle. Levi, you’re the hottest topic of conversation in the taverns now," Liya said, her face lit with a bright smile, unable to hide her excitement.

"ACHOO!"

But as soon as she finished speaking, the young lady in her noble’s long dress let out a sneeze.

Liya had anticipated it would be colder in the Wilderness than in Bailiu City and had worn a thicker long dress, but she had still underestimated the biting wind here. It was like being targeted by the Undead, sending a chill that seeped straight into your bones.

Just as she was wondering what to do, a warm Lord’s robe was draped over her shoulders. Its fluffy collar, made of some unknown animal’s fur, warmed her cheeks.

The sudden robe made her heart flutter, and her little face flushed red, though it was hard to say if it was from the cold.

"The Northern Lands are much colder than Bailiu City. The wind here is like a Steel Blade scraping bone, and it worms its way right into your collar." After taking off his own robe and draping it over Liya, Levi smiled faintly. "Miss Liya, please don’t mind that I’ve worn this robe before."

"Levi, what will you wear then?"

Seeing Levi left in only a white linen shirt, Liya was both touched and worried, and she quickly tried to take off the robe to give it back.

It wasn’t that she was being overly sentimental; if she could feel the chill even in her thick dress, how much worse must it be for Levi in just a thin shirt?

If her one and only Vassal got sick, it would be unacceptable from any perspective.

"You know me. With my constitution, forget this little cold wind—I could jump into a frozen lake in the Far North Icefield for a swim to warm up."

Levi proudly flexed his biceps.

He wasn’t lying. His constitution had long since become superhuman, immune to both heat and cold. He had only worn the robe out because, being dirt-poor, he had no other presentable clothes. He could only wear this one, which Baisitina had specially embroidered for him as a return gift.

Seeing Levi suddenly lose all semblance of a nobleman and act more like a commoner, Liya couldn’t help the corners of her mouth from turning up. "This version of you is much more familiar."

After carefully sizing up Levi’s graceful yet powerful, leopard-like physique, Liya didn’t mention returning the robe again. She simply tightened the collar around her neck.

"I’m a Lord now, after all. I have to maintain some kind of image."

Levi stretched lazily. He had wanted to put on airs and maintain the image of a proper, noble Lord.

But it was too exhausting, so he couldn’t be bothered to pretend anymore.

"Miss Liya, let’s head back to High Cliff Castle. It’s getting pretty cold out here."

Although Levi wasn’t afraid of the cold, he had to consider the men of High Cliff Castle. For the Beastman Barbarians in their Iron Armor, it was almost like wearing blocks of ice.

Only their powerful constitutions allowed them to endure it, but Levi had no intention of letting these precious treasures of his freeze.

He had already sunk at least three or four thousand Gold Coins into this unit; each man was worth his weight in gold.

"Alright." Liya nodded. They had been traveling for seven or eight days, braving the wind and sleeping in the open. The soldiers, unlike her, had no carriage to shield them from the elements. They were long since exhausted and desperately needed a place to rest properly.

Levi took her slightly cool hand, preparing to help her back into the carriage.

Unexpectedly, Miss Liya shook her head. "Levi, I’ll ride with you. It gets stuffy staying in the carriage all the time. Besides, I can take in the scenery of the Wilderness."

The Lord naturally had no objections. For the next few days, Liya was High Cliff Castle’s most honored guest. As long as she was happy, she could do as she pleased. The main goal was to keep his Feudal Lord in high spirits.

"Miss Liya, this is unbecoming of your station."

At this, the personal Knight who had been accompanying her couldn’t help but offer a tactful reminder.

Levi glanced at the Knight. He was about 1.8 ’ren’ tall, a bit shorter than him, with a sturdy build, red hair, and a face that was still a little boyish—he looked to be in his early twenties.

The calluses on his hands were thick, a clear sign that he was a Swordsman who diligently practiced his Swordsmanship.

’Isn’t he just worried that if Liya is with me, her safety will be in my hands?’