Distant Mountain Stronghold's architecture blended closely with nature. Its houses and streets had been built around towering trees. If not for the mountain folk passing by, each barely clothed and starving, Nord might have thought he had arrived in an elven city in the trees.
But the mountain folk of Distant Mountain Stronghold were nothing like the elegant elves Nord had known in his previous life. Natural and beautiful—those were Nord's first impressions of the stronghold's construction style. Harsh and impoverished—those were his second impressions after seeing its people. People living in such a beautiful stronghold shouldn't be enduring such a barren life.
After Nord entered the stronghold, the mountain folk passing by cast curious looks his way. But once they saw Benny and Harry leading the group, they had no intention of stopping to watch. Though everyone looked especially weak, they still hurried out of the stronghold.
Nord observed Distant Mountain Stronghold all along the way. It was somewhat different from what he had imagined. The place seemed steeped in despair, and everyone looked lifeless. Even the liveliest children merely sat blankly at their doorsteps, their thin frames and malnourished appearances heartbreaking to see.
"Harry, has anything major happened in your stronghold recently? Why does everyone look so hurried?"
A bitter smile appeared on Harry's face. Looking at the sallow, emaciated mountain folk around him, his voice carried a note of sorrow.
"Nord, at this time every year, the village's stored food is no longer enough. Every household has to enter the forest every day to search for food. Otherwise, there will be no guarantee of rations for the day."
Confusion appeared on Nord's face. They suffered famine at this time every year, so why had they not found a way to solve the problem?
"I remember you saying that the stronghold had always survived by gathering wild fruit. Why not try growing crops to get through this hardship?"
An embarrassed expression appeared on Harry's face, and his voice grew much quieter. Faced with Nord's question, Harry did not know how to answer.
"We... we never thought there was food like yam. There used to be more wild fruit than we could eat in the forest, but once the Frost and Cold seasons came, most of it rotted away. There was nothing we could do... We could only try our luck hunting in the forest..."
Harry's voice grew softer and softer until it finally faded away. From his recent conversations with the hunters of Tami Village, Nord had learned that Tami Village's situation had not been much better than Distant Mountain Stronghold's in the past. Though it had a hundred or so mu of farmland, people still starved to death during the Frost and Cold seasons. But ever since Nord had arrived and discovered yam, the villagers had been filled with hope of surviving this year's hardship.
Although Nord's questioning made Harry somewhat ashamed, the thought that Distant Mountain Stronghold could also survive the cold season this year through yams buried underground, just like Tami Village, filled Harry with renewed joy.
Seeing Harry left speechless, Nord did not know what to say. He understood that this was not a question Harry alone could answer. It was the shared responsibility of every mountain folk in the stronghold. Without the awareness to prepare for danger in times of peace, without the courage to make bold attempts, it was no wonder they suffered such hardship every year. Nord recalled something Lu Xun had said in his previous life: "Mourn their misfortune, yet resent their refusal to strive."
As Harry fell silent, everyone gradually quickened their pace. Before long, they arrived at Benny's home.
Only after Harry introduced him did Nord learn that not only was Benny's grandfather the wisest elder in Distant Mountain Stronghold, but Benny's father was also the leader of the stronghold's hunters. Distant Mountain Stronghold did not have a position like Tami Village's village chief. Whenever something happened, everyone discussed it together. Benny's father and grandfather were essentially the most respected people in Distant Mountain Stronghold.
There were two large trees in Benny's home, each so thick that two people could barely wrap their arms around it. They looked quite spectacular. A wooden house had been built between the two trees, divided into upper and lower levels. The second floor connected to the trees' thick branches, and it looked as though people could walk along them.
When they reached Benny's doorstep, Nord and the others did not enter. Instead, they had Benny invite his grandfather out, since it was inconvenient for so many people to enter Benny's home.
Nord did not wait long before an old man with graying hair emerged from the house. His face was covered in wrinkles, yet a wise light shone from his clouded eyes. Leaning on a pitch-black wooden staff, he slowly surveyed Nord and the others standing outside.
Nord was also studying the old man. For a moment, neither spoke. When the old man saw the Heraldic Armor Nord wore, he was the first to break the silence.
"Lord from beyond the mountains, I am Harlen of Distant Mountain Stronghold. Please state your purpose."
Nord was somewhat surprised. Seeing Distant Mountain Stronghold's condition, he had assumed that even its wisest elder was merely older and more experienced than most. But the moment Harlen spoke, Nord knew the old man before him was far from simple.
"Greetings. I am Nord Isaac, a viscount of the Besser Duchy. My fief lies on the outskirts of the Amon Mountains. I came to Distant Mountain Stronghold to understand the situation within Isaac Territory."
"The Besser Duchy..." Confusion flashed through Harlen's eyes, as though he had never heard the name of the Besser Duchy.
"Honorable viscount Nord, do you mean that Distant Mountain Stronghold is part of your territory?"
A sharp glint flashed in Harry's eyes as he stared directly at Nord, as though trying to see through Nord's true intentions.
"No, I do not know whether Distant Mountain Stronghold lies within my territory. But that does not affect the changes I can bring to it."
Nord did not back down. He met Harlen's gaze directly, his eyes filled with confidence.
"What kind of changes?"
Harlen saw the confidence in Nord's eyes, but he did not completely lower his guard. He tapped his black staff against the ground and questioned Nord again, his gaze growing even sharper.
"I came with goodwill. I wish to establish a friendly relationship with Distant Mountain Stronghold. Earlier, I discovered a kind of food that can solve the stronghold's food crisis. You may have heard of it. It is called Mountain Lump. It can be eaten after roasting, and its yield is extremely high."
Nord went straight to the point and told Harlen why he had come to Distant Mountain Stronghold, briefly explaining the concept of yam. A trace of doubt appeared in Harlen's eyes.
"Mountain Lump? Isn't that poisonous?"
"Of course it can be eaten. Your grandson Benny can testify to that. He ate this food last night. And I have now renamed it yam—the mountain's miraculous medicine!"
Harry looked at his grandson Benny. Benny nodded to Harlen and quietly described how delicious the yam from the previous night had been.
After hearing Benny's confirmation, Harlen's gaze toward Nord became complicated. At last, he stared at the emblem on Nord's chest and slowly spoke.
"Do you know what animal the emblem on your chest depicts?"
Nord lowered his head and looked at the eagle with spread wings. To be honest, he had never carefully studied it before. His nominal father had never told him about their family's history either. He had only heard that they were a branch of an ancient family that had now fallen into decline.
"Isn't it an eagle?"
Harlen raised his head toward the sky, an indescribable expression in his eyes.
"This is no ordinary eagle. It is the eagle of the Amon Mountains, an untamed divine eagle."
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