Heart of the Castle

Chapter 316 A blizzard strikes, stay overnight in Zabotin

The Sealand River runs through the former Viscount Lane's territory. The river water is clear and transparent, and the sand and rocks at the bottom of the river can be clearly seen.Bounded by this river, the southern territory is dotted with manors and farms, and villages are located on both sides of Glory Avenue, and rising smoke can be seen everywhere before sunset.However, looking to the north, there are few people in sight, only the endless dense forest that has never been cultivated, like a deep green ocean.

Li Wei stood on the stone bridge across the Xilan River, looking back at the road when he came back, his eyes flashed with thoughts.The last time he left that castle, the mist still shrouded the land, and he had only one underage pony by his side.But now there is a large group of people around him, including knights in heavy armor and gray woolen cloaks; there are also elite soldiers in leather armor and long coats holding stainless steel spears.They guarded dozens of carriages full of various supplies, lined up in two columns, winding forward like a long snake, with a distance of one kilometer between the head and the tail.

The team braved the fine snow to cross the stone bridge across the Xilan River, and continued northward into the forest.The road ahead suddenly narrowed, only allowing two horses to ride side by side, and the ground was full of tree roots and stones. It became more and more difficult for the carriage to travel here, and the pack horses pulling the cart neighed endlessly.

Fortunately, there were plenty of manpower to guard the carriage. Everyone carried people on their shoulders, and the carriage passed through many difficulties and obstacles, but the speed of travel became slower.

Li Wei rode Black Nightmare, walking at the forefront of the team, flying a Griffin flag above his head, followed by a strong flag bearer.The further you go, the deeper you go into the dense forest. The surrounding trees are getting taller and taller. The old oak trees are lush and lush, and the white oak trees are towering and independent. The shrubs on both sides of the road are mixed with thorns, which looks dark and gloomy.From time to time, the howling of wolves could be heard in the distance, one after another, suddenly far and near, causing the hearts of the soldiers guarding the carriage to rise to their throats, and the knights also showed vigilant expressions, holding the hilts of their swords, their eyes kept looking at Scanning all around.

Only Li Wei didn't feel nervous at all, because Mengmeng was leading the big bobcats running back and forth where he couldn't see, and the scent of jungle predators wafted in the middle of the dense forest.Wherever they went, the wolves immediately clamped their tails, their howling became low, and there was a faint sense of trembling.

The convoy moved forward slowly. If it wasn't for the snow falling more and more heavily and the sudden strong wind blowing in the afternoon, it would still be able to reach the goal of the first stop - the refugee camp - before the evening.The north wind blowing from the forest was bitingly cold, shaking the trees, rolling snowflakes and ice slag towards people without thinking, stirring up patches of snow and fog that covered the sky and the sun.

With their cloaks tightly wrapped and hoods pressed over their eyes, the men trudged on, and even the knights had to dismount and walk.It's not that they can't stand even a little wind and snow because of their fighting spirit, but that the snow has accumulated in many places to form white hills. In such an environment, except for knights, ordinary people simply cannot do the job of shoveling snow.

Li Wei also shoveled the snow with the other knights, and the sacrificial grudge that had reached the Sanhua stage helped a lot.Fortunately, there is only one road in the forest, and there are big bobcats chasing wild beasts around, otherwise there must be victims. Even so, when the road ahead is gradually widening and the village can be seen faintly, it is already nightfall. .

"Your Excellency the Baron, it seems that we can only camp here tonight." The panting Ryat knight came up from behind, his eyebrows and beard and hair were covered with white snowflakes and icicles, and he looked younger than his actual age. Aged a lot. "People can barely hold on, but the pack horses that pull the cart are exhausted, and they can't move."

Li Wei wiped his face, and the place where his fingers touched was icy cold. Although he was supported by fighting spirit, he still felt a little numb in his body. "You're right, Riat Knight." Levi replied loudly, barely suppressing the howling of the blizzard, "There's a village ahead, where are we?"

Riat Knight squinted his eyes and looked ahead, but the wind suddenly picked up and he saw nothing. "I can't see it," he admitted, "but guessing from the place the convoy passed along the way, it should be the town of Zabotin. It used to be the largest village north of the Zeilan River, but it was as early as the evil disaster came. When it was time, it was breached by the demon army, and except for a few refugees who escaped, the entire village was slaughtered."

"So, is this a deserted village without people?"

"Almost, at least the last time I led a team to inspect here, it was still a piece of scorched and broken walls..." Riat Knight's voice suddenly stopped, and at the same time, Li Wei raised his head and put his hands on his waist The hilt in the middle, looking into the depths of the snowstorm with piercing eyes.

"Where is that person!" After strengthening his fighting spirit, this shout pierced through the wind barrier and snow net like a sharp arrow.

"We are..." The voice that responded from the depths of the wind and snow was pitiful and intermittent, "Master Li Wei...leaders...help pedestrians, you are...who are you!"

"I am Li Wei? Ston." Li Wei replied, while trampling on the snow, Black Nightmare quickly overtook him, using his tall body to shield Li Wei from the wind and snow.

For the sake of safety, Li Wei ordered the convoy to temporarily stop moving forward. The Riat knights returned to the convoy and conveyed this order. Immediately afterwards, all the knights drew their swords one after another, and the soldiers also returned to the car to take out their weapons, and they were all ready at any time. Get ready for battle.

Fortunately, this was a false alarm caused by Li Wei's excessive caution. When Li Wei walked back from the snowstorm, there were two more burly young farmers beside him, holding a lamp that had been extinguished. torches.

Under the guidance of these farmers, the team continued to move forward.Due to the desire to camp, people squeezed out the last bit of strength in their bodies, and even the exhausted pack horses struggled to move forward. The speed of the convoy was much faster than before. Ten minutes later, Zabotin The town revealed its true face in the snow.

The fence of Zabotin Town was once destroyed when it was breached by the demons, and it has not been repaired much now. The place where the gate used to be was nailed with oak planks to form a movable fence, but now most of it is buried under the snow. I can't push it anymore.

"Master Li Wei, please wait a moment, let's call everyone out to clear the snow." A young farmer said loudly.

"Don't bother, we can do it from the outside." Li Wei also responded with a loud voice, and then he began to take the lead.

With the joint efforts of several knights and more than ten times the soldiers, the convoy quickly entered the town of Zabotin. The houses here are still intact, but they have obviously been looted by the war. There were scorched burn marks, and some doors were made of temporarily nailed oak boards.

The noise when the snow was clearing in front of the town gate has already attracted the attention of the residents living here. Some young and strong men walked out of the house with agricultural tools used as weapons, and some people even held high pine torches. The wind tore it out of the grease-laden firewood.

"Adam, where did so many people and carriages come from?" A somewhat old voice asked.

"Father Ruhr, it's Master Li Wei's convoy!" The young farmer leading the way answered excitedly.

"It's Alara the Great Merciful, it's Master Li Wei!" A sharp voice broke through the howling wind, and then a guy in a khaki robe ran over, because at first glance, this guy really looked like he had long legs The huge potato, the Riat knight who was following Li Wei couldn't help but drew out his long sword, and said sharply: "What is this rushing over, Your Excellency the Baron, be careful!"

Li Wei hurriedly stopped Liat who wanted to rush up, "Don't scare him, it's Babrupa." He explained with a wry smile, and then the strong wind lifted the hood of the robe from the short guy's head, What was revealed was indeed Babrupa's round, funny face.

Hearing that Babrupa and Adam both confirmed that it was Levi Ston himself, Papa Ruhr and other farmers in the town surrounded him excitedly, bowing deeply to Li Wei, their heads lowered below their belts.

With a look of fear and trepidation on his face, Father Ruhr said in one voice: "Mr. Merciful, may the gods of heaven bless you. Please come in quickly. Although the house is simple and there is nothing to entertain you, it is still Please come here, because it is very cold outside."

Papa Ruhr's residence is the largest house in Zabotin Town, and it also serves as a gathering place for these farmers, so it is quite wide enough to accommodate dozens of people to rest.In the middle of the floor of the room is a firepit, surrounded by compacted soil, in which there is always burning pine firewood rich in oil.The firepit is not only used for heating in winter, but also a smoker and oven. There are many iron hooks hanging on the beams under the ceiling, only a few of which are hung with goat ribs and smoked pork legs.

Father Ruhr let Li Wei and the others into the house, and he shouted and said, "Master Li Wei, this way please, don't be too shabby, we just moved here the day before yesterday, and we haven't tidied up everything. Hey, how many of you are here?" Damn, don't just stand there stupidly, quickly bring out all the food and drink, Adam, go to the wine cellar at the back, it seems that there is still a barrel of wine hidden in the innermost part, which has not been taken by the devout Babrupa Mr. found it."

This sentence made Babrupa show an embarrassed expression, and Li Wei, who had been with Babrupa for a long time and knew his appetite, almost laughed out loud. "Old man, it seems that our friend has caused a lot of damage to your wine cellar."

"Don't dare to use your honorific title, Master Li Wei, you can just call me Ruhr." Father Ruhr shook his hands quickly and said, "As for Mr. Babrupa, although he can eat and drink a little, but we I am still very grateful to him, because if he hadn’t pointed out a bright way, we, those of us, might not be lucky enough to follow Master Li Wei and live in such a spacious and strong house.”

(End of this chapter)