The scent of blood in the woods was somewhat dispersed by the biting cold wind.
The bonfire still crackled, its light illuminating faces that had survived a disaster.
The guards were clearing the battlefield, piling up the bandits' bodies and tending to their wounded comrades.
Horen rushed over with a medicine box.
He tore open the blood-soaked clothing on Lynn's left shoulder.
The wound was deep enough to expose bone, with flesh torn and twisted.
It looked particularly gruesome in the dim firelight.
Horen worked quickly, first rinsing the wound with strong spirits.
The piercing pain made Lynn's body tremble violently. He gritted his teeth, and fine cold sweat beaded on his forehead.
Theon Greyjoy approached, having shed his usual flippancy.
He looked at Lynn's pale face, then at the several brutally slain bandit corpses around him.
"I didn't expect a runaway crow to have such sharp claws."
The mockery in his tone had faded considerably, replaced by a scrutinizing gaze mixed with astonishment.
Lynn had no strength to respond.
His entire focus was on the Blue Panel that only he could see.
Host: Lynn
Strength: 3 (Injured and Weakened)
Agility: 3 (Injured and Weakened)
Constitution: 3 (Injured and Weakened)
Skills: One-handed sword (Proficient) 18/100, Horsemanship (Beginner) 9/10, Unarmed Combat (Proficient) 84/100
Experience Points: 7
The number '7' was the best reward for Lynn's life-and-death struggle just now.
But the three glaring red 'Weakened' statuses on the panel constantly reminded him of his current terrible physical condition.
The intense pain from his wound and his depleted stamina made Lynn's consciousness swim.
He had to return to Winterfell as soon as possible to receive treatment from Maester Luwin.
"Experience points must prioritize attribute points."
"Three points in Strength is the physical quality of an ordinary person. If I can directly increase it with experience points, I'll soon be invincible!"
"Put everything into Constitution!"
Please note: Attribute points cannot be increased through experience points. Experience points can only be used to improve learned skills!
There are various ways to increase attribute points. Please explore them yourself!
"Right, if I could directly add attributes with experience points, I'd become a superman in a few days."
Lynn thought he had found a loophole.
After some experimentation, it indeed didn't work!
"Since that's the case, I'll just honestly improve my skills."
Lynn's gaze fell on the 'Horsemanship (Beginner) 9/10' entry.
The journey back was still long.
In his current physical condition, merely being jostled on horseback was enough to worsen his injuries.
Without hesitation.
"System, add 1 experience point to Horsemanship."
Lynn silently thought.
Experience Points -1
Horsemanship 9/10 -> 10/10, Level Up
Congratulations, Host, Horsemanship has been increased to (Proficient) 0/100
A warm current suddenly flowed through Lynn's limbs and bones.
It wasn't the warmth of physical recovery, but a more profound sensation.
Fragments of memories about riding horses flooded his mind.
How to maintain balance on horseback, how to use subtle leg strength to control the horse's turning, how to sense the horse's mood...
This knowledge felt innate, as if he had practiced it a thousand times, etched into his very bones.
"Done."
Horen tied a clean linen cloth around Lynn's wound, his voice steady.
"No broken bones, you're lucky, otherwise you'd be in for it."
Lynn nodded, and with the guards' support, he shakily stood up.
Robb led over Lynn's pony.
"Can you still walk?"
The Young Wolf looked at Lynn.
In his blue eyes, there was no longer just scrutiny, but a hint of concern.
Lynn nodded.
He didn't speak, just took a deep breath, enduring the sharp pain, and swung himself onto the horse.
He performed the action much more smoothly than when they had set out.
As soon as he settled into the saddle, that wonderful feeling returned.
He could clearly feel every tremor of the horse's muscles beneath him, sensing its slight unease due to the surrounding smell of blood.
Lynn subconsciously squeezed the horse's flanks lightly with his legs, and the reins in his hand twitched slightly.
The pony, which had been somewhat agitated, miraculously quieted down, letting out a gentle snort.
A flicker of surprise passed through Robb's eyes.
He didn't ask further questions.
"We're going back."
The group reassembled and set off on the road back to Winterfell.
This time, Lynn's position was no longer at the rear of the column.
He rode beside Robb and Theon.
This was a silent signal.
Lynn had killed the most enemies this time, earning him the right to ride at the front of the group.
Westeros revered strength.
Lynn had earned their respect with his sword and blood.
The night wind of the North was icy and biting.
Hooves crunched on the snow.
Lynn's body rose and fell rhythmically with the horse's pace.
The improvement in his Horsemanship allowed him to adapt to the jostling in the most effortless way.
This eased his tense muscles somewhat and made the wound on his shoulder less painful.
"What did you do before?"
Robb suddenly spoke, breaking the silence.
His gaze fell on Lynn's longsword, which was still stained with blood.
Lynn's swordsmanship lacked the elegance of a knight or the discipline of a drillmaster.
But every move was simple, direct, and lethal.
It was a technique purely designed to kill enemies in the shortest possible time.
Indeed, it was a Night's Watch technique.
Very similar to the style of his father's brother, Uncle Benjen.
"Before I put on the Black (clothes), I was just an ordinary man trying to survive."
"I committed some offenses, which is why I joined the Night's Watch."
Lynn looked straight ahead, his voice somewhat muffled by the wind.
The Night's Watch no longer held its former glory, and most of its members were criminals. Going to The Wall was almost equivalent to exile.
"To survive, you have to learn something."
This answer was ambiguous, yet reasonable.
Robb did not press further.
He simply quickened his horse's pace.
On the distant horizon, the massive gray silhouette of Winterfell gradually became clear under the starlight.
When the group passed through the Castle gates, torches were already burning brightly in the Courtyard.
Eddard Stark stood on the steps of the main keep, with Maester Luwin holding a lantern behind him.
His expression, like the northern night sky, was calm and dignified.
His gaze swept over the group, over the bandit heads strapped to the horses, over the wounded guards.
Finally, his eyes rested on Lynn.
The deserter, his body half-stained with blood, now sat quietly on his horse, riding alongside his eldest son.
Robb dismounted and quickly walked to his father, kneeling on one knee.
"Father, the bandits have all been cleared."
Eddard nodded, helped his son up, and patted his shoulder.
Though his eldest son was young, he could already share his burdens, which brought him great comfort.
"You did well."
Eddard's gaze went past Robb and looked at Lynn again.
"He..."
"He fought bravely, Father."
Robb interjected quickly, his voice carrying a hint of youthful excitement.
"He killed six bandits and protected our flanks several times."
"He proved his loyalty through his actions."
The Courtyard was silent.
All the guards looked with complex expressions at the young man still on horseback.
Eddard Stark said nothing.
He just looked at Lynn, emotions swirling in his gray eyes.
Doubt, scrutiny, and a hint of imperceptible... approval.
Clearly, a runaway crow could not have fought so fearlessly.
He now believed Lynn's talk of white walkers to some extent.
After a long while.
"Maester Luwin."
Eddard finally spoke.
"Take him to be treated."
"Yes, my Lord."
Maester Luwin walked down the steps with his lantern, coming to Lynn's horse.
Lynn dismounted, staggering.
After a long period of tension, reaching a safe place, weakness and exhaustion instantly overwhelmed him.
Lynn handed his longsword back to a nearby guard.
Eddard stopped Lynn's action.
"No need to return it. Keep this sword; you've earned it."
As he followed Maester Luwin through the Courtyard, Lynn could feel the Warden of the North's gaze lingering on his back.
He knew that from this night on, he was no longer a prisoner who could be executed at any moment.
He had survived.
But the crisis was not yet over.
Lynn, Eddard, and Maester Luwin were all waiting for the raven.