Chapter 3, Huo Bao (Part 2)
Guo Shier said decisively: "Alright! I need to observe for a year. If it works out, I will accept him." He did not believe in the notion of instant rapport. Huo Bao following him was not a temporary matter; it was a lifelong commitment. If their temperaments and personalities did not match, it would be quite uncomfortable.
Guo Shier had no choice; he also did not know whether Chen Chunzai was deliberately teasing him. This fellow just wouldn't say where they were going. He turned his eyes and gently nudged Huo Bao with his arm, whispering, "Baozi, do you know where we are going..."
Guo Twelve stood up and said, "My name is Guo Twelve, it is a pleasure to meet you"
Chen Chunzai said: "Enter the mountain!"
Mayor Huo was overjoyed and said, "Mr. Chen, really? Haha, great! Wonderful!"
Chen Chunzai asked lightly: "Is it an adult bear?"
Guo Shier finally managed to poke his head out from Aunt Lan's embrace and asked, "How many days will it take to travel?"
In the early morning, everyone boarded the dog sled. The dogs here are very robust, with long fur, and when they run, they resemble a swirling cloud. These dogs are a local specialty—Siberian Huskies
The warriors stood loosely, some holding weapons while others had their hands empty. Chen Chunzai's voice rang out: "Get ready! The Blood Ice Wolf is about to launch an attack! The hide of the Blood Ice Wolf is quite good; after this battle, leave me a few good pelts! Let's kill that damned wolf!"
Both individuals felt satisfied. Although it was not a case of a turtle looking at a green bean—where they are perfectly matched—they both acknowledged each other.
Chen Chunzai stated: "The Beifu Gate is situated in the mountainous region, which is unavoidable, as only the Beifu Gate can fend off the invasions of the wild beasts and savages from the extreme north. The Beifu Gate must be stationed in this mountainous area."
Mayor Huo laughed heartily and said, "Little Leopard, go prepare your luggage. You will accompany Twelve tomorrow. Remember, Twelve is young; you must protect him"
Chen Chunzai stated: "The Guo family is one of the peripheral families affiliated with the Northern Fumen."
There are more than 200 people in their group, and with the luggage and supplies from mhetushucomcom, there are over 40 sleds lined up in a long queue
Chen Chunzai suppressed a smile and said, "It will take seven or eight days to travel, and the roads in the mountains are quite difficult. You can rest assured and sit comfortably in the sled, without any worries."
A dog sled can accommodate eight people and is pulled by twenty-one sled dogs
The fur robe worn by Huo Bao is not particularly thick, far inferior to the one worn by Guo Twelve, yet he is completely unconcerned, entirely ignoring the cold wind that blows in. He has long since grown accustomed to the cold
With only one day's journey remaining, just as they were about to reach the last supply station, they finally encountered a pack of beasts. It was a group of blood ice wolves. The sled team immediately formed a circular defensive formation, and all the sled dogs were unshackled to protect the people on the sled.
Chen Chunzai said: "12, you have the potential for talismans, advancing to a talisman master is not a problem. Every talisman master has followers, and the same goes for talismans and spells. You must understand that although talisman masters are powerful, in the wild, they must also have talisman warriors standing in front of them. Every talisman master requires the assistance of talisman warriors"
Guo Shier asked: "Grandpa Chen, where are we going"
North Fumen
The sled moved swiftly along the snow path, with the biting cold wind blowing directly at them. Even with a thick fur coat, Guo Twelve could not help but shiver. Aunt Lan said, "Twelve is still not used to it." She held Guo Twelve in her arms, picked up another fur coat to shield them from the outside, and said, "This way, it won't be cold."
Guo Shier awkwardly shifted his body; in his previous life, no one cared for him in this way, so he felt a bit uncomfortable. However, Aunt Lan's actions made him feel warmth for the first time.
Guo Shier and fourteen other children were arranged in the innermost layer, next to another twenty-six children. A pack of sled dogs, under the control of their handler, tightly surrounded the children. Then there were the sleds, positioned upright on their sides, forming a small enclosure. Standing on the outermost layer, as depicted in the illustrations, were the rune warriors, who faced the blood ice wolves directly.
The meaning of Mayor Huo is to have his son, Huo Bao, become your follower, and in the future, he will ensure your safety, as well as collect materials and handle various miscellaneous tasks, all of which are the duties of a martial artist.
Even Guo Shier and Huo Bao felt their blood boil with excitement
The mayor chuckled awkwardly and said: "Huo Bao is not young anymore; he is quite skilled at hunting. This spring, he hunted a Di Bao bear, which is a fearsome creature. You know... how fierce the Di Bao bears can be in spring."
I can finally see clearly
Standing on the luggage, Guo Twelve is a head taller than Aunt Lan, allowing him to clearly see the surrounding situation
In Chen Chunzai's eyes, a glimmer of appreciation flashed again as he said: "Of course, his future sustenance and transportation will all depend on you, especially the most important body-refining talismans for the warrior Fu, which will all need to be crafted by you. His strength enhancement relies entirely on you"
The young man was very robust; although he had not yet reached adult stature, he gave the impression of a leopard, fierce and formidable. He stepped forward to pay his respects and said, "Huo Bao pays his respects to Grandfather Chen"
The appearance of the Blood Ice Wolf is similar to that of an ordinary wolf, but it is somewhat larger in size. Guo Twelve has seen it during the beast examination and knows that this type of wolf is not particularly formidable; however, when they gather in packs, they can be quite troublesome.
Mayor Huo was beaming with joy; he did not care about the one-year assessment period. It is rare for a talisman master to suddenly decide to take on a follower. Generally, those who are most compatible with talisman masters, the talisman warriors, are cultivated from a young age, and most of the time, they are trained by the talisman masters themselves. The relationship between the two is not one of employer and employee; once they are in harmony, their bond is even closer than that of biological brothers.
Chen Chunzai laughed and scolded, "You old fox, you are truly cunning"
Chen Chunzai cast a sidelong glance at Guo Shier, saying: "The North Talismans Gate was originally called the North Talismans Alliance. Later, it established a major sect and is now known as the North Talismans Gate. From now on, you will be a disciple of the North Talismans Gate, and you will definitely be a direct disciple of the inner sect"
Guo Shier gasped in shock, saying: "Is it just the peripheral families?"
Guo Shier said irritably: "If I had known, I wouldn't have come to ask you!"
Chen Chunzai nodded and said, "The place I will take you to is where you can become a talisman master"
The warriors burst into a loud laugh, exclaiming in unison: "Damn that... wolf!"
Guo Twelve said, "Aunt Lan, support me." He was wearing too many clothes, making it very inconvenient for him to move. He struggled to steady himself on the luggage. Aunt Lan supported him and said, "Be careful not to fall!" During this time together, Guo Twelve had become quite close to her. He was very clear about whether it was good or bad for himself, knowing that Aunt Lan truly cared for him.
What is a body refining talisman
Chen Chunzai commanded with assurance, asking, "Has the distress signal been sent out?"
There are numerous settlements along the way, which also serve as supply stations for Beifumen. Those entering the mountains must rest here. Due to the large size of the sled team, no wild animals dare to provoke them, and the journey has been relatively smooth.
Huo Bao was taken aback, quickly standing up and saying, "Huo Bao, my nickname is Leopard. I hope we can get along well, hehe." The way he smiled softened his fierce demeanor, revealing a hint of sunshine.
Guo Shier pondered for a moment and said, "Where there is obligation, there is power. What do I need to contribute?"
Chen Chunzai said: "Congratulations, Old Huo, you fellow... this time you are truly fortunate! Do you remember the child I brought last time? Twelve times stronger than him!"
The Blood Ice Wolves typically form packs of around one hundred, but the pack before us is a large one, consisting of over four hundred individuals, and is led by a wolf king.
The mayor chuckled and said, "How could that be... It is a one-year-old Di Bao bear. Sigh, Huo Bao is only twelve years old; being able to kill a Di Bao bear is quite impressive."
Guo Twelve was also observing Huo Bao. This child has an excellent physique, with a shaved head, very light eyebrows that are almost imperceptible, and small eyes that he often squints. His head is quite distinctive, almost triangular in shape, with a pointed crown, wide nostrils, a large chin, and a thick neck, giving him a robust and powerful appearance, exuding a fierce aura. While an ordinary child might not appreciate his looks, Guo Twelve knows that this child is a born warrior. His head is quite distinctive, almost triangular in shape, with a pointed crown, wide nostrils, a large chin, and a thick neck, giving him a robust and powerful appearance, exuding a fierce aura. While an ordinary child might not appreciate his looks, Guo Twelve knows that this child is a born warrior
Chen Chunzai's expression was serious as he said, "Old Huo, Mayor Huo, what do you mean? Kid, get up!"
Huo Bao adjusted the large leather hat on his head and said, "Let us go to the North Fu Gate"
Chen Chunzai said: "The leopard, at the age of twelve, is only eight years old, and this is its first time in the cold mountainous region; there is nothing amusing about it"
The mayor smiled and said, "Master Chen, you promised me last time!" In his heart, he was actually anxious and cautiously said, "Huo Bao is already twelve years old, haha, I know... The children you keep by your side all possess the potential for talismans. I... I would like Huo Bao to follow you."
Chen Chunzai said, "Alright, Changfeng, you are responsible for the safety of the children. I will take my men to slay this pack of Blood Ice Wolves!" His words conveyed a strong sense of confidence
Huo Baoqi said: "You don't know?"
He felt extremely fortunate to witness the battle between the talisman warriors and the talisman masters before arriving at Beifumen, as it was an excellent opportunity for him to understand this world
Guo Shier recalled the patterns on Uncle Piao'er, realizing that they were not merely patterns but talismans. He asked, "Those tattoo talismans... can I learn them in the future?"
Guo Shier curiously asked: "What is the relationship between the Guo family and the Beifu Gate?"
Huo Bao's attention was entirely focused on Guo Twelve. The child before him was half a head shorter, with delicate features and no hint of menace, appearing gentle and harmless. However, when his gaze swept over, Huo Bao suddenly felt his heart race and a chill run down his spine, reminiscent of the feeling he had when encountering that Di Bao bear in spring
Guo Shier shook his head in disbelief, wondering how powerful the Beifu Sect must be. Was it not more formidable than an entire nation? He then asked, "Why is the Beifu Sect located in the mountains? Wouldn't it be better on the plains?"
Huo Bao caught sight of Guo Twelve's head peeking out and couldn't help but burst into laughter, while Chen Chunzhai turned around to take a look and also couldn't help but smile faintly
Guo Shier simply tucked his head into his fur robe, which made Huo Bao laugh continuously. He was not mocking; rather, he found it very amusing
Mayor Huo couldn't help but widen his eyes; it was the first time he had encountered a child with such clear and calm reasoning, akin to that of an adult. The only thought in his mind was: this child has an unlimited future
Chen Chunzai smiled and said, "This is commonly known as a tattoo symbol"
Chen Chunzai nodded and said, "The Guo family can only be considered a second-tier family among the peripheral families."
Huo Bao stood beside Guo Twelve, holding a steel knife in his hand. His task was to protect Guo Twelve. He said, "This group of Blood Ice Wolves is unusual; it is rare to see so many Blood Ice Wolves gathered together in the mountains. There must be a Wolf King among them."
A talisman warrior said: "The talisman has been activated!"
... ...
Chen Chunzai said: "Indeed, it is not easy. Hmm, twelve, do you want him to follow?"
After finishing the meal, the town mayor called over a half-grown boy and, smiling, said to Chen Chunzhai: "Master Chen, hehe, this little fellow... come here and pay your respects to Master Chen! Bow down!"
Huo Bao quickly stifled his laughter, but his face turned completely red from the effort
Guo Shier sighed inwardly; he truly did not like being a child. In his previous life, he awakened at the age of seventeen, so he did not experience the feeling of being a child.
The mayor immediately became tense; even Chen Chunzhai could not decide for the master of the followers. Guo Twelve asked with a smile, "Grandpa Chen, what is following?"
Guo Shier's image was completely ruined; he resembled a matchstick poking out from a cotton ball. Aunt Lan, fearing that he might catch a chill, layered a fur cloak over him.
Guo Twelve was seated on one of the sleds. This sled was occupied by a dog handler, three talisman warriors, Chen Chunzhai, Guo Twelve, and Huo Bao, along with Aunt Lan, who was responsible for Guo Twelve's daily needs.