Chapter 006: The Old Knight

Your Excellency Hugo, could you take me to the lair of that dragon? The cave you mentioned.

Um... I must admit that I have indeed seen your princess. She is trapped in a cave by a dragon, wearing a tattered pink gown, and her spirits are relatively good. As for this short sword? ... It was given to me by her, to seek help.

The old knight looked at the accessory at his collar that was emitting a green glow, and after considering the validity of Zhou Qingfeng's words, he could only nod in agreement. He then inquired about the surroundings of the Dragon's Nest, and Zhou Qingfeng's description was...

The money bag was directly placed into Zhou Qingfeng's hand. He weighed it for a moment, then pondered before asking in return: "Before I answer, can you tell me the origin of this sword? Why are you interested in it?"

Zhou Qingfeng was still in a fog regarding his current situation and the world at large. Although he had escaped from the clutches of the ugly old man's gang and had freed himself from the wrath of the furious dragon, he knew too little about the circumstances following his crossing over.

The white-haired old knight walked up to Zhou Qingfeng, his face serious as he fixed his gaze on the sharp short sword. He extended his hand and said: "Young man, I am Knight Nasser from the Duchy of Os, and behind me are my subordinates"

Zhou Qingfeng has died countless times, questioning whether he has the ability to deal with so many opponents in one breath. He laments that he has to pay tuition again to read the archives, and thus generously extends his sword, wanting to see how the subsequent events unfold

The knife-like peaks rise sharply into the sky, while fierce winds howl between the mountains. At the foot of the peaks lies a steep cliff, beyond which stretches an unbroken expanse of forest. I set out from the cliff, spending half a day traversing the woods, and arrived at the campsite before nightfall

The campfire crackled and popped, while the goblins hid at a distance, whispering among themselves. The tall, thin bandit chief appeared indifferent, yet he observed intently. Even the ugly brute locked in the cage was watching closely

It was that ugly brute in the cage again, who hurriedly asked, "Is it Princess Inessa von Auguste Friedrich of the Principality of Auster? I have heard that she was blessed by angels at birth, and even the goddess of love is envious of her beauty and wisdom"

"It doesn't matter, as long as you can lead the way." The old knight was very persistent. He did not inquire about Zhou Qingfeng's background, nor did he ask how Zhou Qingfeng came to be outside the Dragon's Nest Cave. He reiterated the subsequent rewards and hoped to set off that very night

The young cavalrymen shouted joyfully: "It is Princess Inisa's sword, we have finally found her"

The old knight's hand paused between the two men, and behind him, a group of cavalrymen wore stern expressions, seemingly filled with anger. Zhou Qingfeng glanced at the opponent's hand and slowly released the hilt of his sword to shake hands with him. He recalled the name that the ugly old man had called him and responded, "I am Victor Hugo"

The old knight's expression was dim as he spoke softly: "I hail from the Duchy of Os, and this sword is the personal sidearm of Princess Inessa of the Duchy. A year ago, she was taken away by a red dragon named Alathis during her eighteenth birthday celebration.

Zhou Qingfeng described the general situation, and the old knight quickly retrieved a parchment map resembling an abstract painting to locate the specific place

Zhou Qingfeng can empathize with the anxiety of the old knight, but it is pitiful that he wanders aimlessly in the forest for half a day. When he turns back, he finds he no longer recognizes the way. This is especially difficult when traveling in the pitch darkness of night

The goblins outside were originally making a ruckus with their "Ogre Ogre" cries, but with a flash of sword light, all the little creatures stood on tiptoe, craning their necks, silencing themselves and staring wide-eyed. The tall, thin bandit leader's eyes sparkled, yet he remained silent.

The goblins were whispering to each other, sounding like a chaotic "Ogre Ogre". The ugly brute in the cage mumbled something, but no one could hear it clearly. As for the tall, thin bandit... he had disappeared at some unknown time.

Zhou Qingfeng was feeling distressed, unable to help but glance at the ugly brute locked in the cage, who could only sit with his legs curled up, his waist and head bent and constricted. He couldn't help but mutter to himself: "Big brother, in your condition, do you still have the energy to listen to gossip?"

The old knight considered bringing Zhou Qingfeng into the fold, specifically assigning two subordinates to take care of him, providing him with food and drink while requiring him to do no work, yet keeping a close watch to prevent him from leaving. Meanwhile, he quietly created a new save file for himself, hoping that he would not perish so easily.

The old knight's gaze was focused, and his tone was sincere. The camp was quiet, with everyone staring at Zhou Qingfeng. He scratched his head, unsure of how to respond

Zhou Qingfeng's statement was half true and half false, and the latter part was simply nonsense. The old knight listened patiently. However, upon hearing a couple of absurd remarks, a brooch-like accessory at his collar emitted a faint red light. Yet, he remained composed and continued to smile

If the princess cannot be found, as her guardian knight, I can only take my own life. So please tell me, where did this sword come from? Have you seen Her Highness the princess? Is she well?

"May I take a look at the sword in your hand?" the old knight inquired. A dozen or so knights surrounded him, their expressions grim, each appearing far more formidable than the group of ugly old men.

According to the vow made upon its departure, we must find it within one year and pay a ransom to retrieve the princess; otherwise, the princess will become its wife. In order to locate it, we have exhausted all means, and now only a few days remain until the deadline.

I apologize, but I was unable to discern the direction when I escaped from that broken cave. It is impossible for me to return at night; let us try again after dawn tomorrow.

Uh... that dragon probably won't be too happy to see me again. This will affect your negotiations with it

Compensation? This struck a nerve with Old Zhou. He was now both tired and hungry, and he had no money in his pocket. If answering questions could earn him some food and drink, that would be good.

The sound of clinking coins in the pouch is indeed loud, and the subsequent rewards are certainly more enticing. The goblins are shouting towards Qiao Qingfeng with "Oke Oke," while the ugly brute remains silent. The tall, thin bandit leader has indeed turned his gaze towards the cart being escorted by the old knight.

You may ask

The old knight smiled, seemingly pleased with Zhou Qingfeng's calm demeanor. "Your Excellency Hugo, it is a pleasure to encounter you in such a remote wilderness. Would you mind if I asked a few questions? As long as the information you provide is valuable, I will offer a generous reward."

The one locked in the cage called out in a muffled voice, "This sword is quite good"

The old knight sheathed his short sword and let out a long sigh. He asked one of his subordinates for a coin pouch, which made a jingling sound as he lightly shook it, and said: "Young man, can you tell me where you obtained this sword?"

The short sword fell into the hands of the old knight, who gently caressed the exquisite patterns on the hilt and scabbard, letting out a long sigh as he confirmed the sword's origin. When he drew the blade, revealing its cold gleam, it elicited a small gasp of admiration.

The old knight continued to gaze at Zhou Qingfeng and said in a deep voice: "Young man, please help me. As long as you can find the princess, I am willing to pay you another reward."

As the night grew deep and quiet, Zhou Qingfeng was sleeping soundly beside the fire pit. Suddenly, a cacophony of noise erupted around him, jolting him awake. He opened his eyes to see that everyone in the riding team had risen, their expressions alert and vigilant

The prisoner cart driven by the goblins is still there, but the goblins have vanished. The ugly brute curled up inside the cage continues to snicker coldly, staring at Zhou Qingfeng and saying: "Those goblins have gone to summon their companions; they must be planning to come back at night to rob us"