Chapter 53 Arriving in Beili (1)

  The northern scenery is frozen for a thousand miles, and snowflakes are floating for ten thousand miles.

  Starting from the border, the further north they went, the more snow there was and the thicker it got. When they arrived at the first city south of Oseadin, everything around them had turned white.

  "This is Olvessa's Fort," Odara said, pointing at the high walls before them. "This is a pass between Ossetin and Velsa Second Empire."

  At the beginning of Oserdin and the Second Empire of Wirsa, there was a confrontation. The ambitious first emperor of the empire planned to recover the northern territories of the former empire, then marched westward, wiping out the various vassal states that had not yet formed an alliance, and finally forced the isolated kingdom of Zilises to surrender with its powerful military might, completing the great ideal of rebuilding the Wirsa Empire.

  In front of the majestic gate left by the First Empire, countless corpses of the imperial army that came to attack with chariots and horses were laid out. The Emperor and his ministers really didn't understand why the previous empire would build such a grandiose military fortress in this place.

  "A long, long time ago, we were free." Odara stopped speaking and let out a deep sigh. "The rest can wait until later, let's head back to the village for now."

  After verifying their identities and paying the head tax, the four of them passed through that famous fortress and continued northward.

  "Just ahead is my old home," Odara said, "Eral Heirnrich, know your own house? Go back and have the old man send me the money."

  Ailar said timidly: "Mr. Odara Ludwig, who am I giving it to? I don't even know who you are."

  "Ah, Odara slapped his forehead: "You see my memory. Just tell your old man to send the money to Stefan Ludwig's house. He knows."

  Ayla's face stiffened: "Stefan Ludwig?"

  Audrey nodded with an expression of "you're scared, aren't you?" on her face.

  "Yes, yes, I'll definitely send it over, definitely send it over." Elara responded with an unprecedented respectful attitude, took a few steps back before turning around and leaving.

  Stephen Ludwig? Joanie pondered the name, thinking about Ayla's reaction earlier. He thought his next life would be incredibly wonderful.

  Just like when you come to the Ming Dynasty, someone tells you that his name is Zhu, and you don't need to pay attention at all. But if he says "You heard the surname Zhu, didn't you think of anything?", then you have to think carefully, which member of the royal family he is.

  Of course, Ossetin royal family surname is Spencer, which is beyond doubt.

  Arriving at the village, there was no warm welcome as imagined, not even a reunion with "Ah, long time no see!". The village was bustling with activity, they were like intruders in an army camp. What should be farmland was now covered in white snow, everyone was gathered in small groups on the few cleared areas, swinging their large swords or giant axes.

  "Nothing has changed, nothing at all!" Odara sighed, her eyes seeming to flash with two glittering points.

  Some villagers curiously stopped their actions and stared, a few children followed behind with long swords that seemed to be miniature versions of the giant sword, skipping and jumping. More people didn't pay attention to these three uninvited guests and continued their training. Jony and Astry didn't seem to have made sufficient preparations for being surrounded by onlookers, they blushed, lowered their heads, and silently followed behind Odara. Jony glanced at Odara who was also being stared at while walking ahead, and suddenly remembered an ancient poem.

  "A short time away from home, and already an old man returns; the local accent remains unchanged, but grey hairs hasten on. Children meet without recognizing each other, laughing and asking what place the guest comes from?"

  I don't know if it's right or wrong. But this situation is really breathtaking!

  Under the gaze of the crowd, Odara led the two people straight to the largest wooden house. On top of the wooden house, a giant cross-shaped sword with its blade facing downwards was erected like a cross. The shape of the giant sword was ancient and simple, just like the one hanging on Joanie's chest.

  Is this Odin's church? Joni thought, was Odara's dad a pastor?

  Would a village pastor make Elara so afraid?

  As he walked up to the house, Odara stretched out his hand and placed it on the door, but hesitated. He lowered his hand, took a few steps back, and looked up at the giant sword on top of the church. After a long silence, Odara seemed to have made some major decision. He nodded heavily towards the empty space, took a deep breath, and walked back to the door, pushing it open with one hand.

  "Dad, who... who are you? ...Brother?"

  The middle-aged man with gray temples in the church walked quickly to Odara's side, examined him carefully, and hesitated: "Odara?"

  Odala's eyes were slightly moist: "It's me, Udis' brother."

  Then Johnny and Astrid saw the middle-aged man called Udis Brother punch Odara's face fiercely, causing Odara to stumble.

  "This punch is for leaving without saying goodbye." Udis swung his fist and then stepped forward to hug Odara, "But welcome back, my brother."

  It's really warm and harmonious... Just looking at Joanie makes me feel sore.

  "Let me introduce you." Odala was punched, but he seemed to be fine, wiping the blood from his mouth corner, turned around and pointed at Johnny and Astrid, "This is my apprentice, Johnny Smith, just started learning martial arts, progress is quite fast, and also a follower of Odin, I have high hopes for him. This is the daughter of a friend, Astrid Hug, who was entrusted to me before he died in battle. Please take good care of her from now on."

  Udis nodded at them and then said to Odara, "Come in with me, Father is resting in the backyard."

  In the backyard of the church, Jony saw an old man who seemed to be Odara's father. The old man had a head full of silver hair, but his spirit was still good, and at this time he was dancing in the yard with a pair of large swords in his hands, his moves were familiar, his actions were agile, and from time to time he would fiercely slash down on the wooden pillars standing nearby, leaving behind a neat cutting edge, sending flying a broken piece.

  "This old man's way of resting is really peculiar," Johnny thought.

  "Father, Odara has returned." Udis stood at the entrance of the courtyard, excited but still respectful in his announcement.

  The old man's face didn't change color, but a few seconds later his movements started to become somewhat distorted and his strength began to lose control. After accidentally splitting open two adjacent wooden pillars, he stared at the place where his giant sword had slashed, his breathing no longer as calm as before. For a long time, the old man slowly turned his head, fixing his gaze on Odara beside Udis.

  "Odala... Ludwig? My child?" he asked, hardly daring to believe it.

  "Yes, Father." Odara's voice was a little choked.

  Audra's father walked quickly towards Audra with the giant sword held upside down. Johnny retreated a step back quietly upon seeing this scene.

  My god, is this for real? Why are the welcoming methods getting more and more violent than each other?

  But the old man didn't come to cut anyone down. Walking up to Oudala, he threw the giant sword in his hand to the ground and hugged Oudala tightly, his voice also somewhat agitated: "As long as you're back, it's good, it's good, it's good."

  Similarly, Johnny introduced the two to the old man. Sure enough, as Johnny had speculated, the white-haired old man in front of him was Odara's father, the seemingly very famous Stefan Ludwig.

  Several people welcomed him into the house, and a warm atmosphere made Johnny feel as if he had arrived in heaven after traveling through ice and snow for so long. Udis gave everyone a bowl of hot water, sat down to listen to his father's questions about his brother.

  "You still haven't found Fedichill, have you?" The old man's first words went straight to the point, although this topic left Johnny bewildered.

  "Yes." Odara's expression turned somewhat gloomy. "I've searched the entire Velsa, but I haven't found any trace of that bastard."

  "Steven sighed: "No wonder you can't find him, this bastard betrayed Odin, and there's news that he's now serving in the army of Tanias, seems to have become an important mid-level officer."

  "Tanias!" Odara exclaimed, her eyes flashing with anger. "Has he gone mad? This is selling his own soul!"

  "The crimes he has committed, Odin's pardon is no longer available to him." Stefan shook his head and said, "He even killed his own teacher. His soul had long since fallen, perhaps from birth, his soul had already fallen into darkness."

  Joni recalled the clever and promising young man that Odara had once told him about, the one who killed villagers, the one who made his pursuer a corpse. Was it him? And was Odara's purpose for leaving to hunt him down?

  "Father, this child is my disciple from the south of Vilsa, and also a follower of Odin's glory. I think he will have a great future." Odala briefly talked about his own experiences over the years, and then pushed Jony to the forefront.

  "Hello, sir." Johnny bowed his head very politely and greeted Stephen.

  Stephen's brow furrowed slightly: "A Velsorian? And a Southern Velsorian at that?"

  "Yes." Odara spoke up for Jorny. "But he's different from the average Velsaan southerner, I think he has potential."

  "Steven pointed at the large sword behind Johnny: 'Let him draw his sword and try his hand.'"

  Everyone came to the previous yard, Joanie held a sword in her hand, following Odara's instructions, first a series of attacking moves, then several defensive postures. Finally, Joanie was not satisfied and took the initiative to use force to slash obliquely, cutting on the wooden stake erected in the yard.

  It's broken, but it's a sword.

  With a mighty blow, Johnny only left a shallow scratch on the wooden stake, but the double-handed great sword that caused this scratch, worth five gold coins, broke off with a loud crash at the point of the scratch. The front half of the sword flew out and fell to the ground not far away.

  Joni was stunned, Astrid was also stunned, only Odara shook her head and sighed, it was unknown whether for Joni or for those five gold coins.

  "Although the man was a bit rough, his physical quality was still good, much better than those weak and frail southerners." Stephfen didn't comment on that. He walked to the broken sword body, picked it up and took a look, "The quality of this sword is not good. It's just something from the south, only looks good but nothing more."

  "Let him stay for now, I'll see if I can teach him something." The old man concluded his words and then asked, "And who is this little girl?"

  "This is a daughter of a friend of mine who entrusted her to me before he died in battle. Her name is Astrid Hugues," Odara introduced.

  "Your friend's daughter?" The old man looked at Odara, "It seems you've grown up a lot outside and experienced a lot too."

  Jony still stared at the broken sword in his hand, ignoring the conversation between the two people beside him. How was this possible? Clearly under that old man's sword these stakes were as weak as a reed mat in the wind, clearly one sword would have sent them flying, clearly...

  I'm going, my money, my lovely gun, you're gone just like that!

  After being slapped awake by Odara, Johnny heard that he could stay and receive guidance from this great person, and finally recovered from the shock and a little sadness. Finally! Martial arts are secondary, with such a divine staff member here, can't I finally learn to recognize characters?

  Thinking back on his 16 years of illiteracy, Johnny's eyes were almost in tears.

  That night, Stefan and Uldis prepared a plump roasted whole lamb, which was meant to welcome Odara. At the dinner table, Johnny saw a little girl with a wild look, and the little girl also saw him. Needless to say, in such a small place, everyone could see each other.

  "Are you that little kid from the south?" The girl asked bluntly.

  "Yes, hello, I'm Johnny Smith..." Although he didn't like the girl's way of asking questions, Johnny still replied politely. But in the end, he was interrupted anyway.

  "I'm not interested in you." The girl waved her hand, as if driving away something annoying. "I just want to warn you, this is my territory, and you'd better be careful...Dad!"

  The newspaper came quickly, and the little girl's boastful words were slapped on her head by Udis, who immediately apologized to Joanie with a warm smile: "Sorry, this is Little Lancelot, she's been wild since childhood."

  Can't you see that's a man's name?! Joanie cursed inwardly, but her face wore a humble smile. After all, she was a guest in someone else's home, and besides, she was so weak.

  Weakness, Joanie hated this feeling, more and more hateful.

  "Lancelot? Brother, you have a child now, how old is he?" Ondara asked curiously.

  "Fifteen years old now, born shortly after you left. Lancelot, come and call him uncle."

  Lancelot glanced at Odala, nodded, and then put on a well-behaved expression to greet him: "Uncle Odala, hello~"

  This tone sent shivers down Johnny's spine. This unpredictable personality... seemed to be overly optimistic about the future.

  Then Lancelot noticed Astra. Black hair, ponytail, beside her delicate face, shallow dimples, smiling slightly at her... Lancelot felt a sense of familiarity, and with great fanfare, as if a robust man, patted his chest: "What's your name, little sister? From now on, your affairs are my affairs, we'll be good sisters!"

  "Sister? Is she older than you or what?" Johnny said sarcastically on the side.

  "What's it to you?" Lancelot glared at Johnny, then smiled slyly at Astrid, "What do I call sister?"

  "Hello, my name is Astrid Herg. You can call me Astrid, nice to meet you!" Astrid replied with a big smile, then remembered her friend, "Joanie is my good friend, don't bully him, he tells great stories!"

  "Tell stories?" Stefan looked at Odara and asked in a low voice, "The kind of person who is the second son of the Heinrich family?"

  "This, I'll tell you in detail after dinner." Odala replied in a low voice.

  Lancelot's tone was no longer polite: "Is listening to stories pleasant? That's just as useless as Heinrich's second son!"

  Jony sneered coldly and said: "When did ignorance become something to show off, while being knowledgeable became something to be despised?"

  These two people seem to be destined to be incompatible. (Check the voting results tomorrow and decide on the cover.)