Wizard: I Have a Cultivation System

Black Wood Forest Outpost.

The Guard on the watchtower suddenly narrowed his eyes, peering warily into the distance.

A plume of dust was slowly rising.

As the army drew nearer, the banners of Rosenia became clear.

The outpost commander made a swift decision and shouted, "Light the beacon!"

Thick black smoke rose straight into the air, scarring the clear spring sky with a jarring streak of black.

One after another, the beacon towers responded in succession. The columns of black smoke, like torches passing an urgent message, spread rapidly toward the heartland of the Duval Territory.

In less than half an hour, the alarm signal had reached every corner of the territory.

In New Wood Town, Lawrence saw the beacons and immediately began organizing the evacuation with the town mayor.

To his surprise, the entire process was remarkably orderly.

When the people were told to evacuate with only light packs, most of the peasants truly did set off with nothing but the simplest of bundles on their backs. It was a far cry from the chaotic scenes he remembered of nobles’ relatives, laden with bags and dragging their families along.

Lawrence stopped a middle-aged peasant who was evacuating and pointed to the man’s light bundle. "Why not bring more valuables?" he asked.

The peasant gave Lawrence a slightly surprised look but still answered respectfully, "Sir, aside from our grain, we don’t really have anything valuable at home."

"Then why not bring more grain?" Lawrence pressed.

"Didn’t the Lord Baron warn us long ago? Those Rosenia People are coming to kill." A hint of confusion crossed the peasant’s simple face. "You can’t run fast carrying grain."

Lawrence frowned slightly. "But grain is so precious. What if they don’t intend to massacre everyone?"

The peasant scratched his head, revealing a simple, honest smile. "I don’t understand all that complicated stuff. But the Lord Baron has never lied to us. He said he’d cut taxes, and he cut taxes. He said he’d make sure we all had enough to eat, and we all have enough to eat. Listening to him can’t be wrong."

He pointed to the modest pack on his back. "I just brought a few days’ worth of rations, enough to get to the shelter. The Lord Baron said they’ve prepared a month’s supply of food there."

Lawrence watched the orderly column of evacuees, his heart filled with emotion.

Border wars only happened once every few decades. Most people had never experienced one in their lifetime and lacked a direct sense of caution, making it easy for them to cling to wishful thinking.

Normally, even if they were short on food, the peasants would have desperately clung to the farming tools and seeds they depended on for survival, refusing to let go.

But now, the peasants’ trust in their Lord had reached a deeply moving level.

They would rather abandon the only property they had than fail to strictly follow the established evacuation plan.

"Go on, now," Lawrence said, patting the peasant’s shoulder. "Be careful on the road."

"Thank you for your concern, sir." The peasant grinned and hurried to rejoin the stream of evacuees.

Lawrence stood his ground, watching until the last group of evacuees disappeared at the end of the forest path.

The spring sunlight filtered through the fresh green leaves, casting dappled shadows across his wrinkled face.

He was suddenly reminded of the Duval Territory from twenty years ago.

’If that incident hadn’t happened twenty years ago,’ he thought, ’Lord Kelvin, who would be in power now, would probably just repeat the old ways of raising taxes, just like the Former Lady Baron did when she was in charge.’

’But Lord Sylvan chose a completely different path.’

’He was willing to bear accusations of cowardice to preserve the last embers of hope for the territory.’

’The tax reduction policies implemented over the years now seemed to be a crucial reason why today’s evacuation could proceed so smoothly.’

Lawrence gazed toward the castle, a complex look in his eyes.

’That young Lord, the one they had once privately questioned and criticized, might just be the most enlightened ruler the Duval Clan has seen in a century.’

’In the darkest hour after the Northern Trade Route was cut off, the foresight and responsibility he displayed were truly moving.’

’Even if the castle falls today, as long as these subjects are saved, Lady Aurora will surely be able to lead the Duval Clan back to glory in the future.’

...

Baron Duval’s Castle.

Inside the study, Murphy was unhurriedly wrapping the Wizard’s Scripture in cowhide. The faint, fresh scent of wood pulp filled the air.

The smoke from the beacons was faintly visible outside the window, but his movements remained calm and deliberate.

BANG!

The door was thrown open, and Aurora strode in.

She was dressed in a simple linen outfit, her long golden hair held up by a single wooden pin, and on her feet were a pair of deerskin boots suitable for travel.

Her once-manicured nails were now free of any dye, showing their natural, healthy pink hue.

But even in plain clothes, she was so beautiful one couldn’t look away. Her fair skin glowed with a pearlescent sheen in the sunlight, and her azure eyes were like the clearest sky.

"Brother, why haven’t you left yet?" Aurora’s voice was filled with obvious anxiety.

Murphy continued his work without looking up. "Weren’t you supposed to evacuate with Kaiden?"

"I changed my mind," Aurora said, walking to the desk and planting her hands on its surface. "I’m staying with you."

Murphy finally looked up, his brow furrowed. "That’s not very rational. Do you remember those Knight stories I used to tell you when we were little? The hero tells his family to retreat first, but they insist on returning, only to become a burden in the end."

Aurora immediately shot back, "But you also told another story where the hero chose to stay behind and let his family retreat alone, only for them to get ambushed on the road, leaving the hero consumed by regret."

She leaned forward, her gaze firm. "Don’t worry, brother. I’m just one final breakthrough away from becoming an Official Knight. Without Kaiden around, I’ll be much more agile. The Rosenia People’s cavalry can only travel on the main roads; they can’t possibly go deep into the mountains. Besides..." She glanced out the window. "Didn’t you already sabotage the main roads to slow their advance?"

It was true. Over the past few months, under the pretext of repairing the roads, Murphy had secretly sabotaged several key routes into the territory and set up various obstacles in the forests.

"I’m staying here because a Lord cannot be the first to flee in a time of crisis. If I did, morale would collapse," Murphy explained calmly.

"Then I have all the more reason to stay," Aurora said without hesitation. "As the Lord’s heir, I share that responsibility."

"It is precisely because you are the heir that you must ensure your own safety," Murphy said, his tone firm.

Aurora walked around the desk and moved closer to Murphy, saying softly, "But more than that, I’m your sister. How could a sister abandon her brother and run for her life alone?"

Murphy was silent for a moment.

’He knew that with his and Aurora’s skills, if they really wanted to retreat, they could easily travel through the forest and head south to the safety of another territory.’

"Since you’re so insistent on staying," Murphy finally relented, "then do as you wish."

A brilliant smile instantly bloomed on Aurora’s face. She rushed forward to hug Murphy tightly, burying her face in his shoulder. "I knew you were the best, brother!" 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Murphy’s gaze went past Aurora’s shoulder, fixing on the thickening beacon smoke outside the window.

The young woman’s warmth seeped through his clothes, bringing him a flicker of comfort.

However, the description of the system’s second option still lingered in his mind.

’Hold fast within Lingyun Pavilion.’

’What exactly does "hold fast" mean?’

’Does it mean I have to defend this castle to the death, or is a strategic retreat allowed?’

’And how should the scope of "Lingyun Pavilion" be defined?’

’Is it the entire Duval Territory, or just this Baron’s Castle?’

’What unsettled him more was the danger implied by the second option.’

’What form would this danger take?’

’Would it target him directly, or would it use Aurora to hold him back?’

’What if something happened to Aurora while he was gone...?’

Aurora shifted slightly in his arms, her golden hair brushing against his chin.

Murphy’s arms tightened around her unconsciously.

’Perhaps keeping Aurora within his line of sight was the safest choice after all.’

’At least here, he could protect her at a moment’s notice.’

’As for that ambiguous mission requirement... he could only play it by ear.’

"Brother?" Aurora felt Murphy’s grip tighten and looked up, her azure eyes full of question.

Murphy released her and casually straightened her collar as if nothing had happened. "Go prepare some necessities. We may have to leave at any moment."

Aurora’s face lit up with a sweet smile. "Okay, I’ll go get ready right now."