Finding the Way Is Hard

The good weather continued for several days after that rainy spell, but it didn't help Ryman and the others. Harry hadn't even fully recovered from his injuries, yet every day he was up at dawn and out late, following Old Mor and Ryman as they searched for a way out.

Day after day passed, and reality slowly chipped away at Harry's and the others' enthusiasm and confidence. What started as full confidence had, in just a few days, turned into quiet resignation. Ryman, on the other hand, wasn't bothered; not finding a way out didn't mean much to him personally, though he felt a pang of guilt towards Nord and Old Mor.

But for Old Mor, the blow was significant. From giving up hope to finding it, then from hope to despair—Old Mor, who was already a man of few words, became even more silent. The furrows of wrinkles on his face seemed to deepen. Ryman didn't know how to comfort him.

Initially, Harry wasn't as disheartened. For one, he was gradually getting used to the place. He had always been curious about the outside world, and after overcoming the initial panic, he started asking about news from outside. He wasn't as desperate to find his way back as he had been at first.

However, the situation over the past few days had gradually affected his mood. Every day, Harry used to pester Ryman and Marco to tell him about the outside world, admiring their sharp One-Handed Swords. He was especially stunned when he saw Nord's Heraldic Armor—the magnificent emblems and impeccable craftsmanship gave Harry a visual shock. Harry had never seen such fine armor in his life. Forget Nord's Heraldic Armor; Harry even envied the standard leather armor and linen clothes worn by Marco and the others. Looking at the animal hides he wore, Harry felt inferiority and loneliness for the first time in his life.

If I can't find my way back, Uncle Mor in front of me will be me in a dozen years. I can't let that happen. Now, Harry's heart yearned to find his way back, more intensely than in the previous days. He wanted to return to Distant Mountain Stronghold, tell his friends about what he had seen outside, talk about Lord Nord's magnificent Heraldic Armor, and about meeting Uncle Mor, who had been missing for twenty years.

But now, it was all useless. Over the past few days, they had found the place where Ryman rescued Benny, but Ryman didn't know which direction Benny had gone from there. They could only slowly search the area around that spot, letting Harry and Old Mor look for any findings or clues. Yet, after several days, they found nothing. Old Mor had covered all the surrounding hills; once, Old Mor and the others walked for a day and a night, nearly getting lost, but all they saw were vast, endless mountains and boundless, lush forests, with no sign of Distant Mountain Stronghold.

Returning to Wild Boar Cave, everyone was physically and mentally exhausted. This search, in particular, filled them with despair. Nord felt they couldn't continue searching aimlessly like headless chickens. They had to make a plan, prepare for a long battle, and no matter how long it took, they had to find Distant Mountain Stronghold.

Previously, Nord hadn't joined them in the search. Firstly, Nord had to deal with the yam cultivation issue, and secondly, Nord's presence wouldn't have been much help anyway; the main pathfinders were Harry and Old Mor.

However, given the current situation, Nord had to come up with a solution. So, Nord had to pull out the hidden skill of a science and engineering student: drawing maps. Although Nord had never drawn a map before, he was reasonably confident he could sketch one on animal hide, thanks to the System's precise templates.

He first meticulously drew the already explored terrain around Tami Village and Wild Boar Cave onto the animal hide, scale for scale, leaving the unknown areas shrouded in mist blank. After finishing, Nord felt a bit smug. My skill hasn't declined after all; the map is still so precise and elegant.

Nord brought the animal hide map to Wild Boar Cave. The atmosphere inside was somewhat subdued. They hadn't gone out searching today; the hunters were training outside. Only Ryman, Old Mor, and Harry were inside, all having their heads bowed in silence until Nord arrived.

It was the same four people as last time in the cave. Last time, everyone was full of confidence, but this time they were silent. Ryman saw Nord enter and showed a look of shame.

"Lord Nord, I… we failed to find Distant Mountain Stronghold these past few days. We've disappointed you."

"Don't worry, Ryman, I'm here to help you this time."

Hearing Nord's words, Harry's and Old Mor's eyes gradually brightened, and they watched Nord intently.

"This is the map I drew over the past two days. Take a look. From now on, I'll join you, searching one direction at a time. Every time we pass a hilltop, we'll mark it down. If one day isn't enough, we'll take ten days; if ten days isn't enough, we'll take a month. When we've searched all the surrounding mountains, we're bound to find traces of Distant Mountain Stronghold. It can't escape!"

Old Mor excitedly ran his hands over the map. Although he couldn't quite understand it, this was his last hope. Before he died, he had to return to Distant Mountain Stronghold for one last look, even if his relatives were no longer there. Just as Lord Nord said, even if it took another year, even if it cost him his old life, he had to find the way back to Distant Mountain Stronghold.

Nord pointed to the north of Wild Boar Cave on the map, gesturing as he explained his plan to the three.

"I plan to start from the north of Wild Boar Cave, first marking the locations where I met Benny and Harry, then slowly expanding the search area around these two points. This way, we won't get lost. It will take a long time, but it's a safe approach, and eventually, we will find Distant Mountain Stronghold."

Nord's eyes were full of confidence; he hoped to convey his conviction to Harry and Old Mor.

"Lord Nord, we're not afraid of labor, but you'll have it tough, climbing mountains and traversing rivers with us every day, eating and sleeping rough."

"It's no big deal. As long as we can find Distant Mountain Stronghold, what does a little hardship matter? For now, take me to where you met Benny and Harry, so I can formulate a detailed search plan."

Seeing Nord's dedication, Old Mor suppressed his gratitude and said no more. He nodded to Ryman and Harry, then led Nord to those two locations.

Nord walked a bit slowly, stopping frequently. Especially at each hilltop, Nord would stand at the summit, gazing behind him, carefully observing the terrain, and sketching the paths and topography he had covered onto the animal hide in his hand.

That night, Nord stayed in Wild Boar Cave. Ryman and the others also stayed behind to protect Nord. Wild Boar Cave was large enough to accommodate over a dozen people with plenty of room.

By the dim firelight, Nord carefully examined the map he had drawn today. The spot where he met Benny was about six or seven kilometers directly north of Wild Boar Cave, while the spot where he met Harry was about thirteen kilometers northwest of Wild Boar Cave.

Pondering these two locations, there was no common ground. First, it was certain that Distant Mountain Stronghold was north of Tami Village, though the exact direction and distance were unknown. However, based on these two locations, Nord could boldly infer: Could Distant Mountain Stronghold be located northwest of Wild Boar Cave?

The more Nord thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. Regardless of Benny's situation, Harry had stumbled in, disoriented and injured, which suggested the direction he came from was very likely the direction of Distant Mountain Stronghold. This could significantly reduce the workload; they would only need to explore the northern and northwestern directions from the two points, temporarily setting aside other areas.

This deduction somewhat invigorated Nord and boosted his confidence. He looked at the sleeping group, a smile playing on his lips.