At Last

Benny wolfed down roasted yams and bread by the campfire. Even when he choked, he refused to spit out the food. Harry hurriedly poured him some water. He looked like a starving ghost reborn. Nord wondered whether he might choke to death, so he did not let him eat too much at once.

Seeing that Benny was still not satisfied, Nord asked whether he knew the way to Distant Mountain Stronghold. Benny hesitated and glanced at Harry.

"It's all right, Benny. Lord Nord is a good man, a kind noble from outside. You can tell him without worry."

Seeing the hesitation on Benny's face, Harry could not help reminding him. Harry also knew that Lord Nord could save the impoverished Distant Mountain Stronghold. If he had known the road there, he would have led Lord Nord to the stronghold long ago. Seeing Benny like this, Harry, who had not lacked food or clothing these past days, began worrying about his wife and children in Distant Mountain Stronghold. He wished he could crack open Benny's blockhead and quickly find the road to the stronghold.

"You really w-won't capture all of us and make us slaves?"

Benny looked at Nord cautiously. A smile appeared on Nord's face, and he gestured for Benny to rest assured. Slavery had been abolished when the Aresian Empire unified the continent. Eight hundred years had passed since then, yet such rumors still circulated in the mountains and forests. Nord did not know whether it was more pitiful or laughable.

"No. I will bring news of food to your stronghold, so that you will no longer suffer hunger."

"Really? You can stop us from going hungry? If what you say is true, I'll take you there."

Light flickered in Benny's small eyes, filled with anticipation and hope. Hearing the word "food" was like cracked earth hearing the rumble of thunder.

Before Nord could answer, Harry hurriedly testified from the side.

"It's true. Lord Nord isn't lying to you. Lord Nord discovered a food called yam. It grows in abundance in the mountains and forests and can completely sustain the stronghold. Uncle Mor can testify too. Do you still recognize him? Uncle Mor, who disappeared from the stronghold before, is living well outside."

Benny looked at Old Mor and found him somewhat familiar. He should have been someone from the stronghold. Since Benny had not been close to Old Mor back then, he had not recognized him at first. The worries in Benny's heart faded, and he slowly revealed the information to everyone.

"The road is... Distant Mountain Stronghold is only a day away. We can... can get there tomorrow. And Harry, you... you know this mountain too. This is South... South Boundary Mountain, the forbidden ground of the stronghold. The stronghold's ru... rules forbid us from crossing South Boundary Mountain to hunt, so you... you aren't familiar with this place."

Harry and Old Mor exchanged a glance, suddenly understanding.

"So it's South Boundary Mountain. No wonder I couldn't remember it. No one in the stronghold was even allowed to mention this mountain. No wonder I didn't know. Then how did you get here?"

Benny blushed, as if his secret had been exposed, and stammered an explanation to Harry.

"I... I didn't come here on purpose. I... I got lost before and came... came here once. Now... there isn't much food in the stronghold, so I... I came here to try my luck. I... I didn't expect to run into you."

"Then why were you so afraid of us?"

Nord was somewhat curious. If Benny had returned to the stronghold with Ryman back then, perhaps finding Distant Mountain Stronghold would not have been so difficult now.

Benny glanced at Nord and found that he was not as frightening as he had imagined. Harry and Old Mor were also alive and well, so Benny finally relaxed.

"My... my grandfather told me when I was little that people from out... outside are all bad people. They'll capture us all and turn us into slaves, and they won't... won't let us eat."

"How come I never heard anyone in the stronghold say anything like that? I used to always want to run out of the mountains. Why didn't they ever tell me about this? Your grandfather wasn't lying to you, was he?"

Harry was confused. He had never heard such news in the stronghold. He interrupted Benny and questioned him.

"My... my grandfather wouldn't lie to me. He... he is the wisest person in the stronghold. It was... it was after the time I secretly went with you to look for a way out... outside that he... he told me himself after we came back."

Hearing Harry's doubts, Benny became a little angry. He did not know where he found the courage, but he glared at Harry as if he would fight him if Harry said one more word.

Seeing Benny like this, Harry felt somewhat guilty. Benny's grandfather really was the wisest person in the stronghold. Whenever the mountain folk had something they did not understand, they would seek Benny's grandfather's advice. Harry was also afraid of Benny's grandfather. Although the old man usually looked kind and benevolent, he was terrifying when angry. The mountain folk of the stronghold all held him in great awe.

After hearing Benny, Nord felt that Benny's grandfather seemed somewhat hostile toward outsiders. Yet Distant Mountain Stronghold had no contact with the outside world, so where had such prejudice come from? Nord could not figure it out, so he simply stopped thinking about it. Once they reached Distant Mountain Stronghold tomorrow, everything would become clear.

Nord greeted everyone, then carried Cindy off to rest. He also told Ryman and the others to conserve their strength. Once they found Distant Mountain Stronghold tomorrow, the mission would be complete.

Benny looked curiously at the Little Mountain Cat in Nord's arms. Cindy noticed Benny's gaze, turned to look at him, and waved a paw as though greeting him.

But Benny was frightened pale. His impression of Nord gained a few more degrees of reverence. Lord Nord could even tame such a terrifying beast as the Black Mountain Cat. He truly was incredible!

Early the next morning, Nord and the others hurriedly set out with Benny on the road to Distant Mountain Stronghold. After searching the mountains and forests for so long, they had finally found it. No one wanted to delay for even a moment. If it had not already been dark yesterday, and if traveling at night had not been inconvenient, they would probably have rushed to Distant Mountain Stronghold already. But it was not too late now. After walking for another half day, they finally arrived at the long-awaited Distant Mountain Stronghold.

Distant Mountain Stronghold was built halfway up a mountain, on the northern side. From the direction Nord and the others had come, there was no trace of the stronghold at all. If Benny and the others had not introduced it to Nord, he might not have discovered any sign of Distant Mountain Stronghold even standing right beneath it.

The buildings of Distant Mountain Stronghold were all wooden structures, built among the forest. They were extremely well concealed. From afar, there were scarcely any signs of human habitation.

But upon drawing closer, they discovered that a wall had been built around the great trees. The wall was roughly five or six meters high, with plants resembling ivy growing over it like a layer of camouflage, hidden within the dense mountain forest.

As they approached, tears welled in Old Mor's eyes. His face held excitement, nostalgia, and a hint of fear. He feared that everything before him was only a dream that would shatter at a touch. The others walked faster and faster, but Old Mor slowed down. His heart was filled with mixed emotions, and he did not know how to express them. If Nord had to describe it, it would be that the closer one came to home, the more timid one became.

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