Chapter 23: The Hidden Ones Within the Body

Previously, when Valentina encountered Thures’ migration group in the Valley of Falling Leaves, she had met Div and also Melian. Some people’s kindness is evident on their faces and in their eyes, and Melian was undoubtedly such a person. Coupled with her pitifully delicate appearance, even Valentina felt pity for her.

“Melian, would you mind giving a hand?” Valentina asked generously, without revealing her true intentions.

Of course, Melian had no objection. Nio was hers. Even though she knew the possibility of Valentina liking Nio was as unrealistic as the idea of time traveling, she still didn’t want Valentina to get close to him. Naturally, Valentina quickly became an assistant, finding a good excuse to leave the empty tent for the couple.

The atmosphere was somber. Melian silently and carefully treated Nio’s wounds, her eyes growing moist as tears fell on him. She cried not because of her own suffering, but because she thought of the times Nio had risked his life again and again, proving the steadfastness of his love. All she could offer him, aside from burden and drag, was this delayed comfort. Even a stranger could see sooner than she did that her lover needed care and healing.

Nio wasn’t good at saying sweet words. Though he had thoughts like “Suffering exists to highlight our happiness,” he just couldn’t bring himself to say them. All he did was take Melian’s hand, wipe away her tears, and say, “We’re together.”

Being together—that was happiness. It was all the more precious after disaster.

The tent was quiet. Someone must have added wood to the single fire pit; it was half-dry, and although it was already crackling, it still emitted blue smoke. But this didn’t stop the couple from enjoying a brief moment of peace and warmth.

Nio said, “I’m tired. Let me rest for a while!”

Melian stood there, holding Nio’s shoulders, allowing him to lean on her. The noise and wind outside seemed to fade away at that moment, and both could clearly feel that they had each other. When people are together, their hearts are too…

“Nio!” Div rushed in, looking flustered. Seeing the situation inside the tent, he just grinned to ease the awkwardness. “Nio, Miss Srod agreed to sell us some grain at a fair price. That’s truly great!”

Nio sat up, helped by Melian, and got dressed. “Then, Lord, what do you plan to offer in return for Miss Srod’s kindness?”

“Money? We do have some gold coins, but it seems a bit vulgar,” Div said, scratching his head. “We can’t give them land. It sounds terrible to have tenants from Mathuya’s knightdom farming land that belongs to them in Thures!”

“Warhorses! I believe Mathuya’s cavalry can make better use of them,” Nio suggested.

“Mm-hm, that’s a good idea,” Div said, his eyes lighting up.

Div had seen with his own eyes how those Mathuya cavalrymen and Valentina herself cared for their horses. His simple assessment: they cared for them even more than people.

Breeding a warhorse requires not only money but also time, along with proper facilities and long-term support. Mathuya isn’t as wealthy as Tures; a few years ago, there was even a ridiculous incident where Saif couldn’t afford a skilled stablehand to care for his beloved warhorse, resulting in the horse falling seriously ill. With this incident, it became a plausible excuse to give the horse away.

“Your injury isn’t a problem, is it?” Dave noticed that Neo was having some difficulty dressing and went over to take a look. All he saw was a bandage wrapped around Neo’s neck. There was a scent of medicine, and no blood seepage was visible.

“It’s fine. At least I’m the one standing by the operating table.”

Dave smirked. “Your sense of humor is really poor!” To be honest, he was in a good mood. It was only because he had just lost a group of militia members that he relaxed his guard in front of Neo and Milien and showed his true thoughts.

Neo didn’t intend to give any lectures at this moment. “Once we go into battle firsthand, some issues will naturally come to the forefront…”

“Oh, look at me—I forgot about the important matter.” Dave said, “The cleanup of the battlefield is complete. By rule, you have the right to choose the spoils first. Everyone is waiting for you.”

Those who contributed the most are given priority in selecting spoils. This rule originally existed among mercenaries and later became an unwritten convention in this country, not only on the battlefield.

A large table had been set up temporarily on the snow, covered with a finely stitched animal skin to hide its roughness. On the table, along with money bags, there were dozens of items—mostly trinkets, some intricate, some simple. Their origin didn’t matter; what mattered was taste and mood.

By the time Neo arrived, there were already many people at the table, including Tures’ militia and Mathuya’s cavalry. The bond between men can sometimes be forged over a few drinks, sharing life and death together—a very strong form of connection. Neo saw many people chatting warmly. As the era was not one of peace, these men who had experienced battle were clearly more carefree about life and death than ordinary people.

When they saw Neo arrive, everyone stood up and greeted him according to their own customs. Though it was a bit chaotic, there was still an atmosphere. Recognition and respect—these are the honors that warriors and the strong deserve. Revering the strong is almost an instinct of every intelligent being in this world, a simple custom shaped by the environment.

As Neo made his way through the path cleared for him, he nodded to everyone. In the arena, he had once spread his arms wide, accepting the cheers and respect of tens of thousands of spectators. In such situations, there was no need to be restrained.

Ebut was also there. His left upper arm was in a cast, his shoulder suspended by bandages, and there was a plaster on his forehead. He smiled as he watched Neo approach from beside the table.

“Tired and hungry. I want to have a big meal and snuggle under a warm blanket!” Neo said with a laugh.

“That’s why everyone’s waiting for you! Quick division of loot, quick shirking of responsibility!” Ebut exaggeratedly shrunk his neck and stamped his feet, making the snow creak.

“Fair point!” Neo nodded seriously, drawing laughs from those around him.

Neo added, “Come with me to see Rijef in a bit. That guy is probably already gossiping behind my back that I’m boasting.”
Ebut’s eyes lit up. He knew Neo was referring to treating Rijef’s injuries. In his opinion, this was far more satisfying than splitting loot here.
About ten meters away, by a snowboat, Valentina, who had just asked a Tures citizen some details about the migration group, watched this side with great interest. As a quasi-Grade 7 knight, she had excellent hearing and vision, allowing her to clearly see and hear everything happening there and the conversation between Neo and Ebut.
“A key figure. An interesting guy…” With Valentina’s insight and awareness, she could detect certain ‘clues’ without much curiosity. It wouldn’t be easy for Neo to pretend to be ordinary in her eyes.
Neo didn’t realize that he had already become, in Valentina’s view, the most noteworthy Turesian besides Dev. His attention was on the table. Initially, he just wanted to pick something unobtrusive and not too useful as a memento from the campaign. But when his focus shifted to the table, something strange happened.
A sense of longing—not quite hunger, but rather a restlessness seemingly coming from deep within his soul—made Neo eager to obtain what he needed, even though he had no idea what it was!
Fortunately, Neo wasn’t stupid. He immediately realized it must be on the table.
To those around him, it seemed as though Neo suddenly suffered from asthma or a heart attack. One moment he was fine, the next he was leaning on the table, frantically searching for something. Soon, he picked up an ordinary-looking crystal strip, looked relieved, seemed rejuvenated, and then collapsed on the spot.
“Neo! Neo!” Ebut leaned in to help Neo, ignoring his own arm injury.
Valentina rushed over in a few leaps. “Everyone, make way…”
People stepped aside. A proper knight, even in terms of first aid, was undoubtedly a professional compared to them. At the very least, knights had systematically studied human anatomy, energy flow, and wound pathology.
Valentina found nothing abnormal. Unconvinced, she ordered Neo to be carried into the tent for a closer inspection, but still found nothing. Just as she considered using her combat senses to check Neo’s internal condition, a casual glance caught her attention—the crystal strip in Neo’s hand.
Neo was gripping it tightly, and it took Valentina some effort to pull it free.
“Huh…” Valentina stared at the crystal strip, gasping in astonishment. What had been an utterly ordinary strip had now become extremely clear and luminous, almost dazzling. In all her life, she had never seen a crystal that gave off a diamond-like glow, its purity utterly mesmerizing. Of course, with her keen insight, she saw more than just the surface appearance. She sensed a power she had never experienced before—though weakened, its purity still made her heart race. Moreover, the crystal strip seemed empty!

Watching Neo, whose breathing was even and face calm, Valentina thought to herself, “What lies hidden within your body?”…
Neo woke up again, feeling refreshed, just as he had after being rescued by the mysterious man in the Valley of Hidden Soldiers.
“Neo!” Melian, with red eyes, threw herself into Neo’s arms, crying with joy.
Neo felt both heartache and compassion. Lately, fear and sorrow had been all too frequent for Melian, causing severe emotional fluctuations. Worried about her health, Neo comforted her, helped her lie down, and covered her with a blanket before pulling on his cloak and leaving the tent.
That afternoon while Neo was unconscious, the migration group, under Div’s orders, followed the route Neo had planned earlier, heading southeast. They had now arrived at Winter Green Valley, adjacent to the South Sandleaf Forest.
Winter Green Valley belonged to the Mathuya Knightdom, but the Srod family lacked the means to develop it and used it only as a jungle training ground. Hunting or gathering there was purely by chance.
A north-south mountain ridge served as an invisible watershed, dividing the continuous mountains into two climate zones. Winter Green Valley was much colder than the South Sandleaf Forest in Tures. It was a mixed forest of cold-temperate coniferous and deciduous trees, with evergreen species like spruces, firs, pines, and cypresses everywhere. Near the forest, there was a damp chill absent in the plains, making it especially refreshing.
Many townspeople didn’t understand why their lord had taken the group to such a place, but Valentina immediately approved of Div’s decision.
In her view, the purpose of this migration should be stability over speed. In the open wilderness, both dark forces and barbaric tribes could detect them from afar, not to mention the well-defined paths of right and wrong. Taking a route eastward through the forest might seem like a detour, but in reality, it offered far more advantages than disadvantages. Just the convenience of camping there was incomparable to that in the open plains.
Of course, choosing such a route had certain prerequisites: snow and sleds, which greatly reduced the difficulties of the terrain. Knowing how to make flexible use of environmental conditions and one’s own strengths was what made Valentina look up to Div.
When the tent flap was lifted, cold wind rushed in wildly. Neo blocked it with his body and quickly sealed the flap again after coming out.
It was dusk, and Neo noticed that the light was unusually bright. In the wind that stung his face, there was a faint, fishy smell. “The sooner it gets light, the more the river rises.” Judging by the weather, Neo estimated that heavy snow would fall before midnight.
Not long after setting up camp, everyone was busy. It wasn’t just Neo who could predict the weather—the clerks had already informed everyone about the expected snowstorm at night, and corresponding measures had been taken.
The camp was built against the forest, with dozens of bonfires holding large pots of water, which were used not only for washing but also for repairing ice walls.

Unlike the ice houses and walls on the northern tundras, the ice walls built here are not pure; they use tree branches and leaves as frameworks and snow as the outer layer, with water used to solidify them. Building these ice walls between trees can effectively shield against the cold wind. Setting up tents inside them, at the corners, also saves materials. At the same time, it is the simplest form of protective barrier.

“Now you understand what the lord intends! Although Young Master Dev is young, he is far from lacking in insight and has learned many useful things from books. We are in the plains, where we’re easily spotted by the dark forces and barbarian tribes. Not to mention, the upcoming snowstorm will freeze people solid!” An official spoke loudly while working, waving at Neo as well.

Neo nodded in greeting. These officials were doing well. He had repeatedly emphasized to Dev the importance of “interpreting policies.” From a certain perspective, the people were like ignorant children; explaining and making them understand the meaning of policies was essential, especially during times when unity was urgently needed.

While searching for Ebute, Neo also saw Zhanza. This approachable people’s hero was cutting and transporting wood with some men, sweating profusely but still chatting and laughing.

“Did I mishear something on the battlefield?” Seeing Zhanza, Neo easily recalled the scene from the morning’s battle, when the demon-transformed creature he had beheaded was speaking to Zhanza on its deathbed. But under those circumstances, he couldn’t guarantee he hadn’t misheard anything. “Should I lift the alert?” Neo pondered silently. After thinking for a while, he decided it couldn’t be rushed. “I’ll keep watching for a while longer!”

“I still need to discuss this properly with Ebute.” Monitoring Zhanza secretly was mainly Ebute’s responsibility. His position allowed him easier access to Zhanza, and Neo wouldn’t trust it to anyone else.

Zhanza had actually seen Neo as well. With ulterior motives, he showed off his hearty laughter, his tireless energy, and his harmonious relationship with everyone—a tactic that had always worked for him, and it didn’t fail this time either. He could tell from Neo’s expression that Neo wasn’t really suspicious of him.

“Damn it, why didn’t you die a little longer?” Zhanza cursed inwardly. He had planned to play a “capturing the enemy in a snowy night” trick, but it seemed it would fail again. He guessed Neo would most likely meet up with that worthless Swift Wind Squad again. “Kid, even jaguars take naps. I don’t believe you can stay strong all the time. Don’t give me a chance…”

Neo found Ebute in a forest clearing, where Ebute was directing the construction of temporary stables. Everyone knew the importance of taking good care of these beasts for carrying loads, but no one really knew exactly how to do it. Ebute was one of the more knowledgeable people. He had just finished handling matters related to the militia and hadn’t been here long.

Upon seeing Neo, Ebute sized him up and then smiled. “It seems Miss Srod really knows quite a lot about you.”

“Hm?”

“Miss Srod said you’re just overworked and will be fine after resting for a while.”

Nio frowned slightly. Those words sounded like a clichéd excuse; even he himself didn’t understand the situation, yet Valentina was so certain. “Has she discovered something?” Nio wondered.
“Miss Srod said before leaving that she wanted to talk to you when she had time. She said she’s interested in the trophies you chose.”
“As I thought…” Hearing Ebut say this, Nio became even more convinced that Valentina must have discovered something and had covered it up for him. As for her motives, he still couldn’t figure them out.
“Let’s go see Rajef,” Nio changed the subject. “By the way, how is Lord Lord?”
Hearing the latter part, Ebut’s expression darkened. Shaking his head, he said gravely, “Not well. He’s still unconscious. Norlund says the weather also has a great impact on people. The snowstorm tonight could very well…”
“It’s come to this!” Nio let out a long sigh. “Well, Lord Lord, one direct admission from you: I’ll give you your freedom. In exchange for a life, you surely won’t consider this a loss, right?”
He had thought long and hard about whether to save Xavier or not. Eventually, he realized it was not only for Milien but also a wish in his own heart—he wanted to earn the right to freedom through his own efforts, a right that would become even more meaningful with Xavier’s direct return. He wasn’t a rebel; he owed nothing to anyone. This complete sense of righteousness was invaluable to him.