Watching Bill die, Ryman let out a long breath as well. Bill had put enormous pressure on him—not only was he well-equipped, but he was also experienced, advancing and retreating with discipline in battle. He was vastly different from the wild beasts Ryman had encountered in the mountains or the bandits he had met on the road. One careless mistake, and Ryman might have been the one to fall.
Ryman glanced around and found that the enemies here had all been dealt with. Still, Nord's blood-covered appearance gave him a fright. He hurried to Nord's side and nervously asked about his condition.
"Lord Nord, are you all right? Marco, didn't I tell you to protect the Lord?"
Ryman was somewhat angry, glaring at Marco as if he wanted to swallow him whole. Knowing he was in the wrong, Marco lowered his head and did not dare look at Ryman. Reed also looked exceedingly cautious, afraid Ryman would notice him.
Nord waved a hand at Ryman, indicating that he was fine, then said with a smile, "It has nothing to do with Marco. I chose to join the battle myself. Besides, it's not as though I have no fighting ability. As your lord, I should fight alongside you, not stand idly by."
"The battle here is settled. Let's go see whether Old Mor's side has any problems."
Ryman knew the battle was not over yet. There were still bandits in the woods who had not been dealt with, so now was not the time to argue about this. He turned and called the others toward Old Mor's position.
The battle in the woods was even easier. Although the bandits outnumbered them, they found it difficult to reach the hunters. Especially after leaving the protection of the forest, the bandits' casualties rose sharply. Most of them wore no armor, and once they reached the buffer zone between the road and the woods, the low shrubs could not conceal them at all. They were practically targets for the hunters. At such close range, every arrow from Old Mor took an enemy away. Thus, the bandits were suppressed in the forest, unable to move.
When Ryman arrived and saw this, he immediately relaxed. He then directed everyone to press closer toward the mountains.
The bandits in the forest had already been frightened out of their wits by the casualties. Seeing Bill and the others dead, and Ryman advancing with his men, they scattered like birds and beasts, turning to flee in panic, wishing their parents had given them two more legs.
Ryman stopped everyone at the edge of the forest. Once he saw the bandits fleeing in all directions, he ordered his men to collect the bandits' belongings and finish off the wounded, then returned to Nord's side.
"Lord Nord, the battle is over. We'll tidy up, and then we can set off. There's no need to chase the bandits who fled into the mountains."
Nord nodded. He understood the principles of not entering a forest and not pursuing a desperate enemy. Besides, this was not a game. Everyone here was a living, breathing person. If they insisted on entering the mountains to chase the bandits and fell into an ambush, casualties would be unavoidable. Though the bandits had been scared out of their wits, even a desperate rabbit would bite, much less a group of men.
Seeing that Ryman's hands were still bleeding, Nord signaled for him to bandage his wounds first.
Nord was extremely satisfied with Ryman. His performance in this battle had been outstanding. Not only was his martial prowess breathtaking—one had to admit that he was a fierce man—but he had also remained calm at the crucial moment and chosen not to pursue the fleeing bandits. That pleased Nord even more. Compared to individual strength, a level head was more important, let alone possessing both. This was truly a talent bestowed upon him by heaven. Nord could ask for nothing more.
As he watched Ryman bandage his wounds, Nord realized that finding a doctor needed to be put on the agenda. Such scarce talent would probably be difficult to find in reality, so he could only think of a solution through the system. For now, they could only rely on the hunters' experience to handle injuries. Nord could merely remind them to keep their wounds clean; when it came to specific bandaging methods, he might not know more than these hunters who walked the line between life and death.
Before long, the hunters from outside the woods returned, grumbling as though their haul had not been as plentiful as they had imagined.
"Those bandits were really paupers. They didn't even have a single Copper Be in their pockets. They were poorer than us."
"It would be one thing if they were weak fighters, but their clothes were also tattered. They didn't have anything useful at all."
Nord did not know whether to laugh or cry. Those bandits lived in the mountains, so there was certainly not much profit to be had from them. What good things did these hunters expect to find on bandits? He therefore instructed them to gather up the belongings from Bill and the others.
When the hunters heard Nord tell them to search the cavalrymen, each of them went off delightedly.
After bandaging his wounds, Ryman went to direct everyone in gathering the items and counting the casualties.
Leaning against the carriage, Nord watched the slowly setting sun in the distance. The air around them was still thick with the scent of blood, both human and horse. The nearby forest looked brilliantly colored beneath the sunset, yet its depths remained dark and unfathomable. Seeing the roadside wildflowers soaked in blood, Nord finally understood what it meant for battlefield flowers to be especially fragrant.
The hunters were still busy after the battle. Some were preparing horse meat, while others were moving corpses. Nord ordered several hunters to dig a large pit in the brush, then bury all the bodies inside. Though they did not understand, they still followed Nord's instructions.
The hunters picked up iron picks and struck the ground again and again.
The hunters had wanted to leave the bodies by the roadside, where the wild beasts would naturally take care of them. But Nord still insisted on burying them. They had been enemies in life, and Nord would not show mercy then, but after death, they should not be left exposed in the wilderness.
Perhaps it was an obsession in Nord's heart. Chinese people believed in resting in peace after burial, just as the Amon Mountain Dwellers slept with the mountains after death. As a descendant of Yan and Huang, raised in five thousand years of Chinese culture, some things had seeped into his soul. Even alone in the world, he would still hold to them.
Before long, Ryman came to Nord's side and reported the situation.
"Our casualties weren't serious. Only three people suffered light injuries, and none of them were severe."
"The spoils are considerable: five Longswords, three Wooden Shields, one iron shield, four sets of Leather Armor. The Leather Armor has some holes, but it can still be worn after repairs. There's also one undamaged set of Chainmail, along with some clothing."
"Four Warhorses died. The remaining one was uninjured and ran to the edge of the distant forest, but Marco found it and brought it back. The hunters have divided up the meat from the dead Warhorses. Each person will carry a portion back to the village."
"I understand. It's getting late, so finish packing and prepare to head back. Also, if you plan to wear those clothes, soak them in boiling water for a while first to prevent illness."
"Understood, Lord Nord. If there's nothing else, I'll arrange for them to depart."
"Go."
Ryman nodded and called for the delighted hunters to set off. Nord also checked his equipment, glanced at the patch of reddish-brown ground in the distance, drew a deep breath, and followed the carriage onward.
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