Wizard: I Have a Cultivation System-Chapter 59: To Exist Eternally

The team for this mission to the Black Wood Forest Outpost was surprisingly small, with only Arthur and Luca as followers.

Accordingly, only two Grooms were brought along: Murphy and Allen.

Murphy and Allen followed their usual routine. After carefully preparing the warhorses, they brought three packhorses from the common stables. Two were for the followers to ride, and the other was to carry supplies.

Along the way, the group maintained its usual traveling formation.

The two followers rode ahead, talking from time to time.

Murphy and Allen followed silently behind, keeping to their duties as Grooms and never interrupting the followers’ conversation.

On the night of their first day camping in the wild, Murphy and Allen were sitting around a campfire, talking in low voices.

Allen was enthusiastically chattering about the figures and faces of several young Maids in the castle, but Murphy just gave noncommittal replies.

Allen winked. "You’re not worried about what Lord Arthur would think, are you? He wants to marry his daughter to you, so you don’t dare think about other girls, right?"

Murphy quickly replied, "Don’t be ridiculous. There’s nothing of the sort."

Just then, Arthur suddenly walked over.

Murphy and Allen immediately stood up and bowed.

Arthur’s tone was calm. "Murphy, come with me for a moment. There’s something I need to discuss with you."

Murphy said, "Yes, Lord Arthur."

After responding, he suddenly sensed something and glanced over to see Allen giving him an envious look.

Murphy was a bit speechless at this.

Afterward, he followed Arthur to the edge of a patch of woods by the road.

It was midsummer, a season when plants should have been lush, but the trees here looked somewhat strange. The bark of several birch trees was covered in fine, insect-bored marks, and the leaves on their branches were sparse and scattered. They had clearly just suffered an infestation.

A night breeze passed through the afflicted woods, carrying a summer chill. Even the sound of the cicadas seemed sparse.

Arthur glanced at the blighted patch of forest and spoke slowly, "Murphy, what are your thoughts on the future of the domain?"

Murphy lowered his head. "My lord, I am just a Groom. I wouldn’t dare presume to discuss the great affairs of the domain."

Arthur’s tone was gentle. "No need to be so formal. It’s just the two of us here. Speak freely."

Murphy discreetly circulated his Spiritual Power, keenly sensing Arthur’s emotional fluctuations while carefully observing his expression out of the corner of his eye.

From Arthur’s natural expression and steady emotions, Murphy judged that this was truly what he was thinking, unmixed with other complex motives.

Murphy answered cautiously, "In my opinion, the stability of the domain is what’s most important."

A look of approval flashed in Arthur’s eyes. "Well said. Stability is indeed the most crucial thing."

He changed the subject. "During the border war nine years ago, I was just an ordinary soldier. I became a follower through my military achievements, gaining the status and honor I have today."

"I used to be completely engrossed in it all, recklessly enjoying these things. But lately, I’ve come to realize this kind of honor is difficult to pass down. My descendants can’t inherit my power; they can’t ensure our line continues the way the Baron’s Domain does."

He looked at Murphy. "Do you know why, even with Lord Kelvin and Lord Sylvan fighting each other, the Baron’s Domain remains the Baron’s Domain?"

Murphy, of course, understood perfectly well.

It was simply because the Baron possessed absolute military power and the noble class had formed a community of shared interests. Together, they maintained the existing power structure and would not easily allow the commoner class to shake the foundations of their rule.

But he would only entertain these ideas in his mind, never daring to say them aloud.

Murphy said, "I suppose it is as you said, Lord Arthur. The Baron is the Baron’s Domain, and that makes it very stable."

Arthur’s look of approval deepened. "Then in your opinion, where does this stability come from?"

Murphy said, "My knowledge is limited, so I can’t say for sure. I only know that the title of Baron is passed down from generation to generation."

Arthur nodded slightly. "You are already quite perceptive. In my view, the reason noble families can last for so long is that they have many descendants. No matter what happens to the domain, they can always cultivate suitable talent through marriage alliances."

Murphy started to speak, but hesitated. "Lord Arthur..."

Arthur continued, "I also long for that kind of stability. I want my family to prosper and endure. This has become especially clear to me after witnessing the changes of the last few years."

"Even if Lord Sylvan fails, there is still Lord Kelvin. And even if Lord Kelvin is defeated, there is still Lord Sylvan."

Arthur stared into Murphy’s eyes. "I mentioned marrying my daughter to you last time. Have you thought about it? If you agree, I will support your bid for the position of Stable Master. I ran into Yor a few days ago. He said your grandfather George’s greatest wish was to become Stable Master, and you have the ability to fulfill his dying wish."

His voice grew more earnest. "Furthermore, if you marry my daughter, I will fight to get a spot for your descendants in the selection for followers. I will share my honor with you, so that we may endure for a long, long time, just like the Baron’s Domain—endure for eternity."

’Arthur’s getting carried away,’ Murphy thought to himself.

’Is anything in this world truly eternal?’

Still, in this day and age, it was rare for even a follower, let alone a minor noble, to have such foresight.

After all, the Baron’s Domain was said to have been passed down for two hundred years. In an era where the average lifespan was barely thirty, that was an unimaginably long time.

’Besides, he’s just making grand promises.’

’A little exaggeration is only natural.’

Murphy had already decided he would not agree to this marriage.

First, Arthur’s daughter was only eleven years old—far too young. Second, Murphy had made inquiries about the girl, and her looks were indeed plain. This wasn’t surprising, as Arthur himself came from common stock and had married a commoner’s daughter.

Most importantly, Murphy couldn’t bring himself to marry a girl so young.

He carefully sensed Arthur’s emotional fluctuations and perceived that the consequences of refusal would likely not be too severe.

So, choosing his words carefully, he said tactfully, "I am overwhelmed by your generosity, Lord Arthur. But this is a matter of great importance. I must return to the castle to consider it at length."

Arthur clearly misunderstood Murphy’s meaning and nodded in satisfaction. "You’re right. It is best to consider it back at the castle. Go get some rest for now. We’ll discuss everything after the patrol is finished."

When Murphy returned to the campfire, Allen immediately sidled up to him, wiggling his eyebrows. "What good news did Lord Arthur have for you? Don’t tell me he really wants to make you his son-in-law?"

Murphy frowned and cut him off. "Don’t talk nonsense."

But Allen just chuckled knowingly. "Future Lord Stable Master, I get it, I get it." Unconcealable envy once again filled his eyes. "You’ll be in charge of the entire stable area, allocating all the fodder and supplies. Even the mounts of the followers and Knights will be under your command..."

Murphy: "..."

The next day, the group arrived smoothly at the Black Wood Forest Outpost.

Just as Murphy was leading the horses toward the stables, he saw Lawson in the distance, patrolling on a packhorse.

As Lawson passed by him, Murphy, whose Spiritual Power had greatly increased this time, finally got a clear sense of the source of the strangeness he had noticed before.

On Lawson’s body, there was a distinct aura similar to Black Light, yet it seemed slightly different.