The next day.
On the outskirts of Wolf Howl Forest.
The thin mist gradually dispersed, and the morning light was cut into flecks of gold by layer upon layer of branches and leaves, scattering across the damp moss and fallen leaves. The air carried the earthy smell of soil.
A gray wild rabbit quietly crouched in the grass, nibbling on the tender blades at its feet. Its ears turned left, then right, while its damp nose trembled lightly in the air—only after confirming that there was nothing around but the rustle of wind brushing through the treetops did it lower its head again.
Clearly, at the slightest disturbance, it would flee at once.
Whoosh! Accompanied by the twang of a bowstring, an arrow shot out of the bushes like a venomous snake.
Its sharp arrowhead tore through the air with a faint whistle.
Hearing the sound, the rabbit clearly sensed danger. Its ears snapped upright, and it leaned back slightly, preparing to leap away.
However, the arrow was simply too fast. Its hind legs had only just pushed off when the arrow pierced precisely through its brow, passing through the back of its skull and carrying out a string of glistening blood droplets.
Thud.
The rabbit fell to the ground, twitched for a moment, and then stopped moving.
At that moment, two figures emerged from the bushes. One was a tall, handsome Black-Haired Youth.
The other was a brown-haired boy with a cold expression and a lean face.
Soon, upon seeing the rabbit's corpse on the grass, its head blown apart by a single arrow, the brown-haired boy's stern expression was instantly replaced by profound astonishment.
"My lord, have you perhaps received the blessing of the God of Storms and Hunting?" Berg asked in shock.
As a Hunter, he naturally understood just how difficult it was to train an archer.
It required not only eyesight beyond that of ordinary people and exceptional mental fortitude, but also countless repetitions of tedious practice.
Even he would have found it difficult to possess such precise archery without the foundation his father had laid for him since childhood.
Yet his lord, who had just fired such a miraculous arrow, had undergone such earth-shaking changes in merely a single day. It was as if he had become a completely different person.
"I was just a little more serious, that's all." Xian, bow in hand, gradually regained clarity in his eyes and replied calmly.
Although Berg was already his attendant, he had no intention of revealing his ability to him. After all, he understood that the more one said, the more likely one was to slip up.
Tap, tap, tap.
Just then, another wild rabbit emerged from the grass and darted toward the bushes ahead.
Absent-mindedness, activate! "Xian" took an arrow from the quiver on Berg's back, smoothly nocked it, drew the bow, and abruptly released it.
His movements flowed like running water, without the slightest hint of excess or stiffness.
Whoosh! The arrow embedded itself precisely in the rabbit's right eye as it ran, then burst out through its left eye in a spray of blood.
A perfect kill!
"Many times, perhaps consciousness is what weighs the body down."
Having come back to himself, Xian looked at the rabbit's corpse on the ground and silently sighed to himself.
Berg, who had watched the entire process, was already so stunned that he stood there blankly.
He had trained his archery day and night for more than ten years, yet his lord had caught up to him in just one day! Berg suddenly felt utterly useless. "My lord, am I useless?"
On the way back to the village, Berg asked gloomily as he carried the two rabbit carcasses.
"You are my loyal attendant, and you are also my most precious asset. Believe in yourself."
Xian smiled slightly and patted the boy's back encouragingly.
He had merely shown off a little. He certainly did not want the strongest fighter on his side to lose his fighting spirit.
"Yes, my lord. I definitely won't disappoint the surname you bestowed upon me. One day, I will become a Dragon Hunter like Lord Chu from your homeland!" Having never been sweet-talked like that before, the boy immediately regained his fighting spirit.
"Heh, I believe in you."
The two gradually disappeared into the forest's thin mist.
At the entrance to Fruit Basket Village.
"Your Highness Mingyu, on behalf of my lord, Viscount Karen Hughes, I offer you greetings."
As soon as he arrived, Xian saw Sauron Knight, the man who had come to collect taxes before, respectfully kneeling on one knee before him.
The sight made Xian feel somewhat nervous, but outwardly, he still maintained an unconcerned expression and asked in an indifferent voice:
"What brings you here?"
"My lord has heard of your arrival and feels deeply honored by it. Therefore, he intends to come and pay his respects to you today at mid-afternoon, bearing humble gifts. He hopes you will grant your consent."
Sauron Knight spoke with utmost respect, his weathered face filled with expectation.
The moment Xian heard this, his heart began pounding wildly.
He knew that a nobleman from the kingdom's ruling class would not be as easy to fool as the villagers and knights of Fruit Basket Village.
With even the slightest misstep, he might be exposed and end up bleeding out on the spot.
"Very well. I also look forward to meeting your lord."
Despite the overwhelming tension in his heart, Xian calmly agreed.
Through the experiences he had undergone in the days since crossing over, he had come to understand that blindly hiding would not improve his situation. Only by boldly pressing forward could he find a way to break the deadlock.
Of course, the main reason was that he understood perfectly well that although the lord sounded polite through Sauron Knight's message, it was ultimately nothing more than courtesy before force.
Coming to pay his respects was already giving him face.
If he refused, then the next time it would not be Sauron Knight alone who came, but a squad of battle-hardened guards ready to start killing.
"Your Highness, thank you for your grace. My lord will certainly not be late by even a moment!"
Upon hearing this, Sauron Knight was overjoyed. After slowly rising to his feet and bowing, he swiftly mounted the tall horse beside him and galloped toward the place where Viscount Hughes was temporarily staying.
He could not wait to deliver this good news to his lord.
"My lord, you truly are incredible. Even Viscount Hughes is coming to pay his respects to you," Berg could not help praising him.
To everyone in the village, Viscount Hughes was an elusive and immensely important figure.
Throughout Black Wolf Territory and several neighboring territories, tales of Viscount Hughes's valor and kindness were widely told.
Some said that he cherished his subjects and had established the lowest taxes in the entire Sossia Kingdom.
Others said that he was brave and skilled in battle, that he had fought one against many in war and personally slain several enemy knights, earning the illustrious title of the Wailing Wolf.
Yet even such a great figure was personally bringing gifts to visit his lord.
What an honor! Berg felt that becoming His Highness's attendant was the happiest thing that had ever happened in his life. It was enough to offset every hardship he had suffered in the past, and he gazed at his lord with incomparably loyal eyes.
If I'd known, I should've studied acting instead of psychology back then.
Feeling the "burning" gaze of the boy beside him, Xian thought bitterly to himself.
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