Meanwhile, Cyk, who had narrowly escaped from Green, finally stopped in a dense forest after running for almost half an hour. He carefully looked around to make sure Green wasn't chasing him before slowly leaning against a thick tree, panting heavily.
"Huff...huff..." The prolonged all-out running made even a knight apprentice like Seke feel like his lungs were about to explode, and his throat was filled with the taste of blood. His heart was pounding, and every breath was accompanied by intense pain.
Despite his extreme exhaustion, Sek forced himself to look down at his left upper arm, pierced by Grimm's arrow. Recalling Grimm's relentless, death-like arrow, Sek felt a chill of fear. "If it weren't for the life shield the captain provided, I probably would have really been killed by that kid this time. His archery skills are truly astonishing."
Sek carefully released his right hand, which had been pressing tightly against the wound, and instantly, blood gushed out like a fountain. To prevent being pursued by Green, Sek had decisively used his right hand to stop the blood flow from his left arm the moment he was injured. At that moment, he quickly pulled a medicine packet from his pocket, opened it with his trembling right hand, and sprinkled the yellow powder evenly onto the wound.
"Hiss—" A sharp pain shot through the wound instantly, and the veins on Cyke's body bulged, as if he were enduring immense agony. The powder's effects were immediate; the bleeding from the wound was quickly brought under control, and the previously profusely bleeding wound began to congeal into a scab.
"The hemostatic powder is indeed quite effective. Those pharmacists really can concoct some useful things, but the price is too high." Sek looked at the wound that had stopped bleeding and sighed inwardly.
"Although the hemostatic powder is very effective, the wound is too big, and I must go back as soon as possible to have it stitched up." Sek thought to himself, and finally tore a strip of cloth from his clothes and simply bandaged his left arm.
After bandaging his arm, Seker clutched his injured right arm again and continued his arduous journey deeper into the Annapurna Mountains. He knew that only by returning to safety could he truly treat his wound and rest.
Meanwhile, Green was hurrying towards the castle. Inside, preparations were already underway to celebrate his becoming a knight's apprentice. As soon as old Green returned to the castle, he eagerly shared the news of Green's promotion with everyone, and the entire castle erupted in excitement.
Throughout Baron Crowe's entire territory, there are only two knight-level powerhouses on the surface: Baron Crowe and Captain Oss of the Guards. Old Grimm, due to damage to his Life Seed, has never been officially counted. Furthermore, Old Grimm is low-key and has never revealed his power to the outside world; the people in the castle are unaware that Old Grimm still possesses immense strength.
Baron Clow, a newly ennobled nobleman, currently has no knight apprentices under his command. Apart from Kahn and Okater, only Grin can learn the breathing technique.
In everyone's mind, compared to the other two, Green had neither a knight-level father to provide life energy to aid his growth, nor a naturally strong physique; he was the one with the worst acquired conditions among the three. However, to everyone's surprise, Green was the first to become a knight apprentice.
It's fair to say that Green's strength ranks among the top three in the entire baronial territory, a significance that cannot be overstated. Inside the castle, the maids are bustling about, and the banquet hall is adorned with numerous magnificent tapestries and carpets embroidered with the Crowe family crest—a soaring eagle. The chefs are also diligently preparing the dinner.
The castle guards, with their superior vantage point, quickly spotted Green rushing back to the castle. The guards at the castle gates immediately opened them to welcome the newly minted knightly apprentice.
However, Green, who had just been attacked, had no time to care about the festive atmosphere inside the castle. As soon as he returned to the castle, he declined all the congratulatory offers and went straight to old Green.
"What happened? Why are you in such a hurry to find me?" Old Green had been paying close attention to Green's behavior and was very concerned about Green's unusual attitude.
Without hesitation, Green immediately pulled out a dart wrapped in cloth from his pocket and told old Green about the attack he had suffered.
"Green, are you alright!" Old Green's expression changed drastically upon hearing that Green had been attacked by Saladin's scouts.
"It's alright, I reacted quickly and wasn't hurt. I must have hit the other guy with an arrow. By the way, old Green, do you know what this is?" Green said, taking out a green powder wrapped in cloth from his pocket, opening it, and handing it to old Green.
"Great Knight's Life Shield! Grin, it seems the person who attacked you holds a high position in the Saladin Kingdom." Old Grin carefully examined the powder and began to explain to Grin, "Great Knights can form shields using their life force. Legend has it that some special materials, after processing, can absorb the life force of Great Knights. Things made from these special materials, when activated through a special method, can temporarily form a Great Knight's shield around the user. The guy you met must have used one of these. This green powder is used to store the life force of Great Knights."
"I see, no wonder my three shots didn't hit him." After hearing Old Green's explanation, Green finally understood how his opponent had escaped from his attack.
"Green, the enemy has already begun their unbridled attacks. I'm afraid they won't wait until the year after next, at most this autumn, before they launch a large-scale attack. What are your plans?" Old Green looked intently at Green.
Green lowered his head and remained silent for a moment. He knew that old Green did not want him to stay in the baron's territory. The enemy scouts had already reached the edge of the baron's territory, and even if the baron's territory was not the main battlefield, it was very likely to be a stop on the enemy's path to conquest. Continuing to stay in the baron's territory was not a wise choice.
As a knight's apprentice, Green had the right to choose for himself. He was not a formal member of the castle and had no obligation to sacrifice himself for it.
"Old Green, will you come with me?" Green didn't answer Old Green's question directly, but asked in return.
Old Green didn't say anything, but his silence spoke volumes.
"If you don't leave, I won't leave either. But don't worry, if things get too difficult, I'll run away on my own," Green said firmly.
Old Green initially wanted to continue persuading Green, but after hearing Green's words, he ultimately gave up trying to persuade him.
As a knight's apprentice, if Green were determined to escape, it would be difficult for his opponent to stop him. Right now, Green was trapped in this place by his own actions. Old Green sighed deeply.
"Alright, in that case, you should prepare yourself well. You're the star of tonight's banquet." Old Green stood up, opened the cabinet next to him, and handed Green a tuxedo.
Green took the tuxedo, went to another room, and began to put it on.
Regarding abandoning the castle and leaving the baronial territory, Green himself was actually quite in favor. However, old Green was truly worried. Green's transformation was a fusion of souls, not a simple absorption; the memories and emotions of the two were mixed together, forming a new Green.
Even disregarding his past feelings for Green, Green's meticulous care and selfless teaching during this period were enough to make it impossible for him to abandon Green and run away alone.
Although Green has an inherent madness, he is not truly heartless.
Old Green was unwilling to leave the baron's lands, so Green had no choice but to stay with him. When the baron's lands were finally breached, Green would naturally find a way to escape.
Moreover, given enough time, he would gain new power. Green looked at his model.
[Green]
[Strength: 2.6]
[Speed: 2.8]
[Constitution: 3.1]
[Seed solidification: 1%]
Once the Life Seed solidifies, one can immediately activate it and advance to become a formal knight. According to the power distribution in this world, a Grand Knight is already the pinnacle of power in a nation, while Holy Knights have not appeared openly across the entire continent.
The Grand Knight will remain in command of the army and will not easily launch an attack. A regular knight of the same level is absolutely no match for him, who practices the Storm Breathing Technique.
Based on the chip analysis, the chances of survival are extremely high. However, it's necessary to start preparing now.
We'll begin surveying the surrounding area tomorrow and devise an escape route.
To further enrich his offensive repertoire, Green decided to use poison. If today's arrows were coated with poison, the chances of that sneak attacker named Seck escaping would be greatly reduced.