Chapter 61: Seeking Guidance

  The old soldier's surname was Lei, his name was Bruny, he was kind and talkative, liked to teach the younger generation, his martial arts skills were outstanding but he didn't like to show off... This was Joanie's basic understanding of that old man.

  As usual, it was a late-night study of prayer. After finishing the pre-war prayer, post-war prayer, and victory prayer, Johnny left Udi's house. He saw Odara.

  To be honest, since arriving at Vichy Village, except for at the dinner table, he had hardly spoken to Odala and Astrid. Jony felt a bit neglected by these familiar people. So he stepped forward and greeted them: "Odala Master, may Odin forever protect you."

  Audrey was taken aback by Johnny's solemnity. He looked at this polite and courteous disciple with some surprise and asked, "Why are you talking like that? Do you want to be a pastor?"

  "No." Johnny returned to normal, "It's just that I think it's quite interesting this way."

  It's quite interesting...... Odala really can't find any flaws, no matter what, Joanie is a sincere expression, although this sentence is a bit awkward: "Is there anything?"

  "No, just saying hello," Johnny said, "What have you been up to for the past two days, Master?"

  Odarla replied irritably when Joanie mentioned this, "What else can I do? The old man took all the money away. In a couple of days, the gold coins sent by Heinrich's family will have nothing to do with me either. I'm born to be a laborer, and as soon as I came back, the old man arranged for me to join the army. Tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, I'll set off towards the north."

  It's really miserable, Joanie thought. Two days ago was still affectionate, it turns out that Othello doesn't keep idle people: "You can go with peace of mind, I will miss you."

  "How am I supposed to talk, am I going to die?" Odala rolled her eyes, "You little brat, practice well and maybe one day you'll be on the same team as me. Let me tell you, that old man..."

  "Alright Odara, that's enough, I can hear you!" came a hoarse yet thick voice from the next room, which was Stefan.

  "Yes, Father!" Odara shouted back over his shoulder, then lowered his voice. "That old... My father said that if you can defeat Lancelot, he will personally instruct you, and at that time your future will be boundless. Do a good job, don't embarrass me, did you hear?"

  Defeat Lancelot?

  "Is there no Lancelot without the blessing of brute force?" Johnny looked at Odara with some expectation.

  "No, you'd better give up on that." Odara shook her head. "My... my father spoiled her the most, every morning was a brutal training session, and by bedtime the effects were still lingering. The other day when I chatted with him, it seemed like he's planning to solidify the brutal training in Xiao Yu's body in the future. You'd better train diligently, if you can really defeat Lancelot, at least on the battlefield you'll be able to protect yourself... not like that trashy battle in Tabri City, the wars in the north and west aren't something those useless people can compare to."

  "Alright, I get it." Johnny nodded reluctantly, "Then can I use brute force when I challenge?"

  "Don't dream on, they'll reject you in the name of warriors relying on their own strength. Alright, I'm going to sleep, you should too." They bid each other goodnight and parted ways, returning to their respective rooms.

  Defeating Lancelot, who possessed the Berserk skill, without using Berserk himself... Jyoni didn't know just how heaven-defying this skill's effects were, but from the results on Lancelot's body alone, it was clear that even if that girl used her sword as a club, she could still easily defeat him. The phrase "one strength subdues ten wills" couldn't be more apt than this.

  It seems that there's no need to think about it for the time being. I also don't know how Astrid has been doing recently, not having seen her for several days... Not often seeing her makes me miss her even more! Johnny gradually fell asleep with such thoughts.

  These days, Aisley is quite comfortable. With Lancelot as a good sister, the young men in the village who are half-grown naturally also smile and don't dare to be slow. Perhaps some of these attentions are due to Aisley's beauty, but under Lancelot's angry gaze and warning, the potential suitors quietly strangle their own infatuation deep within their hearts.

  Lancelot and they would never be able to get out of it for one day.

  Astrid is also quite demanding of herself. In addition to constant archery practice, she will often dash about in open spaces as if dodging a hail of arrows. Sometimes she'll even ask Lancelot to take her to the nearby forest. Although there's no game to hunt in winter, Astrid feels at home among the trees. She and Lancelot play hide-and-seek, with her hiding and him seeking, to hone her ability to conceal herself in the woods.

  Everyone is struggling desperately for their own reasons.

  That night, lying beside Astrid, Lance felt very stifled. Originally, he already had some guilt for kicking Wales into the river, and when he got to Astrid's side, he was scolded again by this ideal girl in his eyes. Back home, not only his father but also his beloved grandfather were lecturing him with a stern face. Can't you see that I'm already feeling guilty? Why are you still blaming me like this? Lance felt very depressed.

  But thinking of his father, grandfather, and even Astrid's somewhat disappointed eyes, he recalled the Odinist teachings that his grandfather had explained to him. Had he already strayed from Odin's teachings about freedom?

  "For our own freedom and for the freedom of others." Lancelot still remembered what his grandfather had said, "Think about it, if you compare yourself to the Empire of Vilsa, and consider Wales as the northern territories at that time. Don't you think they are quite similar?"

  How annoying! So I've been wrong all along?

  On this vast land, who has no worries?

  The next day, after breakfast, Lancelot came before Johnny with a cold face: "Yesterday's matter, I was wrong."

  "Huh? What's wrong with this little girl?" Johnny looked at her in confusion.

  "Just do what my father said, run twenty laps every day." Lancelot said, seeming a bit embarrassed. "And you, if you want to challenge me anytime, just come find me, the boys in the village know where I am."

  Huh? Challenging me? Johnny was even more puzzled. What's going on here, why does everything seem so inexplicably strange today?

  "I shouldn't have looked down on you, and I shouldn't have made it so difficult for you." Lancelot's face grew increasingly darker as he apologized, and finally he said viciously, "But I still believe you're not worthy of Aethereia, so don't go bothering her during training!"

  Does this have anything to do with you?

  "Alright then, you can go and do what you need to." With that, Lancelot turned around and left without looking back, leaving Johnny standing there.

  Joni gazed at the fleeting back, his mind full of question marks: She seemed to be apologizing for yesterday's events, probably because Udis had scolded her. She said she shouldn't have made it so hard for me, what was going on? Was she also challenging me? Did she know my next target too? I thought Odara was telling me a secret.

  Anyway, looking at the result, it seems quite pleasant. This little witch won't come to trouble herself again, and she'll have a veteran teacher for herself. Although that old guy is very nagging, but, should be no problem, right?

  Maybe... Let's run first and talk later.

  A young man carrying a wooden shoulder pole walked from the east end of the village to the west, and then back again, facing the morning sun, the scorching sun, the curious gaze of the villagers, and the mocking words of the farmers.

  Indeed, these men have seen people carrying huge logs in groups back and forth, but they've never seen anyone running back and forth with a log on their shoulders.

  "What's he doing? Is he going to be a porter at Orvieto?"

  "Looks like it's new, came back with Odala that kid."

  "Oh, Welsar people, no wonder they still practice this."

  Jiang did not pay attention to these rumors at all. Originally, others didn't say anything wrong, and even if he wanted to get angry, he couldn't beat them. It's okay to try a one-on-one challenge, but as an outsider who had just arrived, what benefits would he have?

  Run, when can you defeat Lancelot, it's considered outstanding.

  He ran and rested alternately. By the time the sun was in the west, Johnny finally completed today's quota. When he carried that seemingly heavier wooden beam back to the church and put it down on the ground, Johnny felt as if he had suddenly returned from hell to the world of men.

  "Will my spine deform if I continue like this?" Clapping his back and rubbing his shoulders, Joanie muttered to himself, "Or should I go see Udis for treatment?"

  Udinese refused.

  "Osadin's warriors aren't so delicate. Only real scars can forge strong fighters. If you really can't take it, go rest in your own room."

  Isn't it just that you don't want to? The pastor of the Sun God is so refreshing, saying he'll cure it and then curing it. However, unfortunately, it's the Sun God...

  "Can I take a bath?"

  "No way, it's impossible to boil a whole pot of hot water just for you alone."

  "Alright, alright," Johnny thought helplessly. "You win."

  Defeated Johnny walked sullenly towards the lumber warehouse. It was also a rest, and being able to hear people talk was not bad either.

  "Mr. Bruni!" Johnny felt a bit awkward, not just because of the formal address, "I'm back."

  An old man came out of the wooden house, it was Brunie Ray. He took a glance at Johnny and thought for a moment: "Oh, it's that kid from Velsa yesterday, huh? What, did you think the one I gave you yesterday was too heavy? Young people need to have perseverance, like when I was young... back then..."

  He sighed and said, "Sir, it's quite cold outside. Let's go inside the house to talk."

  "Cold? You come to Osaetin, don't be afraid of the cold! I'll tell you......" The old man's mouth didn't stop, and his feet weren't idle either. He strode towards the warm wooden house with big steps.

  "...you must have a strong heart, I hope you can remember that too." The old man finished his story after a long time.

  "Yes, I remember." Johnny hastily picked up the conversation, "I didn't come here today to exchange firewood. I heard you were once a great warrior and I'd like to learn martial skills from you."

  "Haha, not great at all." The old man's face was filled with a smile, apparently enjoying the word "great" very much. "You want to learn from me? Do you think you have the qualifications for that? You're still training in basic physical strength, and on top of that, you're just a rookie from Velsa?"

  This old guy is too straightforward...

  "I'm not entirely unskilled in combat," Jony protested. "Mr. Odara taught me for six months."

  "Who is Odara?" The old man furrowed his brow, as if recalling, "Oh, the second son of Mr. Ludwig's household, I've heard he's a clever kid. I've heard he's back? Unfortunately, I never got to see him, the church doesn't seem to welcome an old codger like me."

  Yes, yes, have you ever thought about the reason? Johnny smiled at Bruni.

  "That kid Udis looks so steady, how come he doesn't know how to show some respect for his elders?"

  Alright, it seems like you've never reflected on yourself before.

  "In short, Mr. Lei..."

  "Just call me Bruni, don't be so formal." The old man interrupted Johnny's words, "In the past, those old brothers all called me that, I still remember..."

  Qiao Ni remembered that dirty joke about thirty years of savings. How many years has this old guy been saving? As soon as he opens his mouth, why doesn't he know how to retract it?

  "Brunei." Johnny thought he should do something.

  "Hmm?" The old man was clearly displeased.

  "This time I've come to ask for your guidance on my martial skills." Jonyi stood up and bowed. He didn't know if the gesture was applicable here, but showing humility should be understandable, right?

  Bruni was somewhat moved by Joni's words and his bowing gesture. However, he had seen the world and wasn't easily swayed: "Alright, alright, get up. You? Follow me? And then go out and let people bully you, saying that I, Bruni, Lord Rai, taught a good apprentice? Don't be ridiculous! You just honestly carry your wooden sword and maybe one day you can help the soldiers defending the city. Young man, the battlefield isn't as simple as you think it is...

  Alas. Johnny let out a deep sigh in his heart.

  "So, it's not that simple on the battlefield, got it? Kid?"

  One story finished, Johnny was almost suffocated.

  "Old... sir, I am a warrior! Warrior!"

  "Hmm, I know, Welsa's warriors, haha, I know, haha."

  "I... alright, I won't say I'm proficient with the giant sword, but, hey, you come out with me for a bit, and I'll show you my true strength!"

  Bruni suddenly became excited: "Alright, let's go! Let me show you that this old bone hasn't become brittle yet!" As he spoke, the old man stood up and took down a giant sword with its blade wrapped in cloth from the wall.

  "Not, not." Johnny was sweating bullets, "I mean, let me demonstrate some of my basic moves."

  "Oh." The old man was somewhat disappointed, his face suddenly changing from sunny to cloudy and then to overcast, "Let's go then."

  In front of the gate, on a small open space, Joanie made various basic movements, including chopping, slashing, stabbing and thrusting.

  "Hmm, not bad." Bruni nodded rarely, "How long have you practiced?"

  "Mr. Odala taught me for half a year, but there were some problems with the movements, and I corrected them in these five days." Johnny replied somewhat proudly.

  "Half a year? Doesn't seem like it, what weapon were you using before practicing this?"

  "I've been practicing longsword on my own for over a decade."

  "Very good." Bruni nodded again, "It seems that you have a good understanding, and when practicing, you also think about how to kill the enemy?"

  Jony thought for a moment: "Yes, just practicing movements is meaningless, so I always think about how to apply this movement in actual combat."

  Bruni praised: "You have this idea, it's not bad. Although everyone should have this idea, but in the village, many fools only know how to stiffly swing according to my teachings, and after more than a decade, they've made it a habit. But those kids are just like that."

  Jony felt a little dizzy.

  "But." Cold water came, "You still only know these basic moves until now?"

  "There is also defense and counterattack..."

  "Is that all?"

  Joni hesitated for a moment before nodding his head.

  "That's enough."

  Geez, old man, you scared me! Joey felt a little better.

  "Alright, that's settled then." Bruny clapped his hands. "I get quite lonely here by myself, so you come over every day to keep me company and chat with me. When I'm in a good mood, I'll teach you something. For now, let's just go inside and talk some more."

  Okay. Johnny reluctantly followed him in.

  Fortunately, this cheap master has agreed.