Chapter 1: Socks and Boots

Dinner was especially delicious due to its location nestled among mountains and forests—pine needles, root vegetables, and snow mushrooms, paired with a meat and bone broth simmered all afternoon, made it utterly mouthwatering and increasing one’s appetite. After a day of hard work, a good meal like this was just the norm for most people.

“Nio, why haven’t you gone to eat?”
Nio, who was using a large wooden comb to groom the fur of a white sock, turned and saw Liz wearing a gray cloak. The cloak was made of velvet, its edges fluttering in the wind, making Liz’s figure appear even slimmer.
“I need to hurry and join the Swift Wind Squad; we’ll eat there. And you? Have you eaten?”
“Mm, I have.” Liz stepped forward and handed Nio a wooden food box. “Here for you!”
“What is it?” Nio took it and lifted the lid. “Wow! Pickled root vegetables, with scallion oil—mmm… so fragrant!”
“Thank you, Sister Liz.” Nio smiled happily. Liz was indeed an excellent cook, especially with her tasty pickled dishes, which used to be one of the signature features of the Malfoy Inn. Nio and the guards often ate there and sometimes took some home. Seeing them again now, not only was the aroma of the delicious snacks tempting, but it also brought back memories of the past, like tasting his mother’s home-cooked meals after being away for a long time—feeling incredibly comforting.
“Why is your hair so messy?”
“Hehe!” Nio smiled sheepishly. As a werewolf, his hair grew longer. Usually, he would find a mirror afterward and trim it with a dagger. This time, after waking up in the evening, he had been busy with other things and hadn’t had time to fix it. He tried to tidy it himself with his hands, but Liz stopped him. “Your hands are full of fur. Let me do it.”
Saying that, Liz stepped closer, stood on tiptoes, and used her fingers as a comb to tidy Nio’s hair. Aside from his mother, Liz was the first woman to do this for him. Nio could clearly feel the coolness from her fingertips and the comfort of his hair being gently combed. It felt wonderful. Unconsciously, Nio bent over to make it easier for her.
After his light linen-colored hair was neatly combed, Liz naturally took a purple hairband from her wrist and tied it around Nio’s braid. She stepped back and looked at him. “Mm, looks much better.” She then ran her fingers along Nio’s cheek and chin. “You haven’t shaved your stubble. Trying to look aged?”
Nio realized, “That’s also a side effect of being a werewolf.”
Liz seemed to enjoy seeing Nio look a bit flustered. She smiled silently, her eyes half-closed. “Alright, I’m not teasing you anymore.” As she brushed away the wolf fur from his body, she added, “No matter where you go, take care of yourself, okay?”

“Mm!”Neo nodded firmly. “Lizsister, wait a moment.” He turned and walked a few steps quickly, then retrieved two items from the backpack on the snowplow not far away. Returning, he draped one of them—a fur shawl—over Liz’s shoulders. The shawl was made from the furs hunted over the past few days; though not as high-quality as the roe deer fur used for Millien’s shawl, it was still quite warm.

At first glance at its size, Liz realized it was meant forNeo himself. “How can I accept this? You spend your time outdoors in the wind and rain—how can you not keep warm?”

Neo tightened the shawl around Liz and said sincerely, “Please take it. Your cloak is too thin. We’re all out in the wind and rain, aren’t we?”

“And you…?”

“Take care of yourself. I can do that. I promise.” Smiling,Neo handed Liz another item—a delicate hand warmer, also used by him, mainly for keeping warm during cold weather when he needed to do delicate work. “I didn’t notice before, Lizsister, but your hands and feet are always cold, especially in winter.”

“Mm…” Liz nodded. She indeed had this problem, but it wasn’t innate—it was related to the battle spirit she raised.

Neo assumed Liz, like Millien, suffered from qi and blood deficiency, compounded by stress. He knelt down and quickly checked her feet with his fingers. “Mm, okay. I’ll make you a pair of special boots when I have time. I’ve learned a few things from Brother Edison.”

“Thank you.” Liz sniffled, her gaze towardNeo filled with warmth.

After seeing Liz off,Neo continued to groom White Sock. White Sock grumbled, “I don’t like the smell on that woman.”

After becoming a shaman,Neo’s ability to communicate with spirits improved dramatically, making it possible for him to have mental conversations with White Sock. Though they could only discuss simple topics for now, it delighted him greatly.

Neo thought White Sock was jealous again and laughed in surprise. “What smell? The scent of laurel?”

“No, it’s a deeper smell…”

That was as far asNeo could understand. Deeper descriptions and expressions were still beyond his comprehension.

“Deeper? A mixed smell?”

Normal scents are merely superficial for creatures with keen senses like wolves, dogs, and bears. They can also detect deeper scents—such as dark auras—or even very faint scents from within the body. There’s a dramatic line: “I can smell the stench of your filthy soul.” It somewhat captures that subtlety.

WhatNeo thought of was that Liz, being a married woman rather than a young girl, inevitably had the scent of Malfoy on her. It might also be due to consuming foods and drinks with spicy flavors like tea for a long time—these are all considered mixed scents, impure and blended.

Not long after this heartwarming little incident,Neo and White Sock left the camp and headed east.

While chatting casually with a group of resting militiamen, Zhanza saw Neo. After greeting him friendly, he turned back and said with a hint of regret, “It would have been great if the brothers from the Gale Squad were here this morning. They’re said to be as skilled in fighting as Neo…”

Neo didn’t head straight east but turned northwest after leaving the camp for a while to retrieve Cordim’s corpse. Shortly after winning the battle against the Dark Claws that morning, Neo discussed the use of this human-beast meat with Dave and Ebut. According to the plan, most of it would be disguised as food for trade with Mathuya and brought to the camp, stored among the provisions as a backup, to be used only in extreme necessity. The weather was cold, so there was no risk of the frozen meat spoiling quickly, and it could even be cured depending on the situation. Salt and spices weren’t lacking in the group.

What Neo mainly wanted to retrieve this time were animal skins. He also planned to cut up the corpse—such as splitting Cordim’s upper body apart—to make it harder to identify, thus reducing the risk of Ebut’s team being recognized when transporting it.

Chopping meat was hard work, but fortunately, the meat was frozen, making it easier to handle. Neo had brought a thick-back axe specifically for this purpose.

“White Socks, do you think I have potential as a butcher?” Neo asked while working, chatting with White Socks.

“Hmph, your behavior is incomprehensible. Your movements are clumsy and stupid. Hurry up! I agreed to eat frozen meat, but not to wait so long.” White Socks paced back and forth around the work area, sniffing here and there. The meat of these human-beasts was quite good, and more importantly, Neo’s freezing method was even better than hers—almost like fresh-frozen meat. She wasn’t averse to eating such meat; she just spoke that way out of a lady’s modesty.

It took about two hours before Neo finished his task.

Snow had started falling an hour earlier, and now it was blown by the wind like a summer thunderstorm, sweeping across the area in gusts.

“Whoa! Done!” Neo tensed all his muscles and made a muscular gesture at White Socks. Sweat steamed off his bare body, revealing well-defined, muscular contours without a trace of fat—truly a sight of strength.

White Socks walked over, squeezed Neo, and snapped, “Puffing up? Wait until my scabies are gone—then that’ll be true beauty.”

“Hehe.” Neo laughed as he went over to the snow plow and took a cloth from his bag to wipe the sweat. As a Level 4 warrior, he wasn’t too afraid of the cold once he started moving. However, once his clothes got wet from sweat and the cold wind hit him, it became very uncomfortable.

After putting on dry undergarments and a relatively loose leather jacket and pants, Neo let out a long sigh. He hadn’t brought armor this time—his armor had suffered heavy damage in the morning battle and had been sent to the team’s blacksmiths for repair. Naturally, Macken and Woodrow were in charge of that group.

As he got dressed, Neo thought about various matters.

Within the migration group, a hierarchical organizational structure had taken shape. At the core were him, Dave, Ebut, and Milien. The next tier included Jeff, who had just recovered from an injury, York and Edison, who served as deputy leaders of two militia teams, Macken and Woodrow, as well as Cropp, the village chief Ashborn, Priest Nolind of rank 2, hunter Light, and Nikkel, who excelled among the clerks.

In the second tier, almost everyone held multiple roles with heavy responsibilities. For example, butcher York also acted as the temporary guardian for the Manmores. Along with Edison, Macken, and Woodrow, they all had tasks related to their respective skills.Neo did not intend to limit these people’s responsibilities; instead, he wanted to quickly promote a group of outstanding individuals as deputies or key members to share the workload. This way, he could maintain control over the main functional departments while also giving these individuals opportunities to grow, gradually solidifying the team.

There were also several important functional areas lacking staff, forcing him to boldly bring in newcomers—such as in healthcare, propaganda, food preparation, and logistics, including clothing, transportation, and livestock farming—all of which required dedicated personnel.

Liz, Zhan Ga, Wendell from the cloth shop, clerk Rick, militia member Frank, and others were all under evaluation. In fact, most of them were already handling quite a bit of work. As long as they made no mistakes or continued to maintain their current performance, there would be no issue appointing them or promoting them to members of the second tier.

Below the outstanding individuals who were to be promoted were the ordinary clerks and militia members. This group was primarily meant for unity and education; they were like the roots of a tree, firmly holding onto the people who represented the “soil”—or, more accurately, influencing them. So far, the differentiated treatment had shown significant results, as evidenced by the increasing number of people eager to join this group…

With over a dozen furs and some fresh frozen meat,Neo and White Socks headed northeast, while the Fifth Thought continued to ponder matters related to the team. Gaining power and status was the path he had to take, so he paid great attention to acquiring knowledge and experience in this area.

This eastward migration could also be seen as a good opportunity for practice forNeo. Dave represented the group, and the four core members discussed managing the team together, but it was often he who made the final decisions. From the formation of the team to addressing daily issues, to adapting its operations, and even solving problems not mentioned in books, all of this benefitedNeo greatly. He took notes and made summaries for easy reference in the future.Neo believed that if given another similar opportunity, he could do at least 50% better than this time.

Leaving the dimly lit village of Quian behind,Neo continued northward. Eventually, through analysis, tracking, and scent, he found the second battlefield near a frozen stream about 5 kilometers north of the first battlefield.

This was the battlefield of the annihilation battle that the Matuthia cavalry had proudly mentioned earlier in the morning. Strictly speaking, it was also an ambush. After wiping out Cordim’s scouting party, although Nio was the first to suggest a second ambush, Valentina had already made up her mind, coincidentally aligning with Nio’s idea.

Under Valentina’s careful planning, Matuthia’s militia successfully ambushed the Cordim beast troops sent to search for them at dawn, killing over 100 beastmen. Valentina alone slew more than 40 of them.

With high morale, Valentina intended to confront the outstanding temporary lord of Tures in a dominant manner. By then, she had already thought of leading the people eastward together with the Tures. When cooperating with others, one must show off one’s strengths. Thus, the high-morale cavalry squad encountered the Tures who had already begun their migration in the Valley of Falling Leaves, leading to what happened next.

Interestingly, at this time and place, Nio discovered the esteemed acting lord of Matuthia engaged in the same activity he had done after his first encounter with the Cordim beastmen—skinning and dismembering them.

Seeing it was Nio, Valentina sheathed her sword. Without the embarrassment of a child caught stealing candy, she smiled boldly. “What, you haven’t skipped even this place? The residents of Matuthia aren’t as wealthy as the people of Tures, especially these furs, which are crucial for our eastward migration.”

“Ten whole furs. If I help you with the work, can I get 15 more beastman corpses in return?” Nio skipped over the sensitive topic. At this moment, he resembled a Frey merchant more than anything.

“It seems the Tures migration group is even more short of food than I thought. Well, I can promise 20.” Nio’s understanding attitude instantly made Valentina feel like a superior again.

The deal was struck, and the two got to work, engaging in butchery. Valentina could wield weapons sharpened by combat energy, and Nio was no slouch either. His control and use of strength left even Valentina in awe.

White Sock, meanwhile, was eyeing Valentina’s beloved horse, Black Boot, from the side. Black Boot looked down on White Sock, covered in scars and sores, while White Sock was annoyed by Black Boot’s arrogant attitude.

“What’s so great about you? Be careful—I might scratch your face!” White Sock fluffed its mane and showed off its sharp claws.

“Go ahead and try!” Black Boot snorted, its black mane fluttering as its strong hooves stamped on the ground, sending snow flying.

“You’d better take care of your mount. I won’t be responsible if Black Boot hurts me,” Valentina said with a hint of unoffensive pride.

“It’s fine. White Sock knows the difference between playing and fighting for its life,” Nio replied with humility yet firmness.

“Is your wolf named Sock?”

“It seems your mount’s name is also rather unusual.”

“Boot is sure to defeat Sock.”

“Boot seems like a servant when outside.”

“It’s easy to get hurt without boots.”

“You’ll get sweaty feet or even blisters without socks”……

As the two worked, they bickered, and time slipped by quietly.

Even though the two of them had strength and stamina far beyond ordinary people’s, they were utterly exhausted after dealing with over a hundred large creatures. If it weren’t for Nio’s help, Valentina would have had to work alone all night.

It wasn’t until they arrived in Quian via a sled pulled by draft animals that Nio learned Valentina simply didn’t want her people to know she was storing human and beast flesh for emergencies, but she hadn’t hidden the matter regarding the animal skins.

Mathuya’s people were preparing for the migration all night long—blacksmiths, leatherworkers, weavers—almost all the craftsmen were at work. When Valentina returned, someone quickly took over handling the animal skins. Nio saw dozens of people in a brightly lit open area working together to quickly stretch the skins over wooden forms made of tree stumps, scraping off oil and bitter substances. Nearby, even wood shavings for washing the skins were ready…

“It seems Mathuya’s people mainly lack materials for keeping warm and means of transportation,” Nio thought to himself, pondering the situation.

This time, Nio was received with much greater enthusiasm. Along the way, several cavalrymen greeted him, and he even got to take a hot bath—a rare experience. Nio remarked, “I almost forgot what this feeling was like!”

By the time Nio finally sat by the fireplace in the main hall of the Srod family’s stronghold, it was already 3 a.m.; he had just returned from outside with Valentina.

Mathuya lacked not only materials for keeping warm and means of transportation but also, overall, their entire economic system couldn’t compare to that of Tures. Even considering their craftsmen and artisans, Tures, despite being severely damaged, was still stronger than Mathuya. Mathuya’s best blacksmiths were only on par with Woodrow of Croop—far from McKen’s level, let alone that of Nio or the late old McKen. Moreover, due to their lack of knowledge, tasks like designing transportation vehicles were beyond the capabilities of the people of Mathuya.

By chance, Nio saw Mathuya’s blacksmiths crafting several iron parts for sleds. These parts were something Valentina had memorized by force from Tures; they resembled the original designs but had differences in detail, which would greatly reduce their effectiveness if used.

As a designer, Nio selflessly provided technical support and personal guidance, offering advice on the key considerations for making sleds of various uses. This act further won over the goodwill of Mathuya’s people. Many people knew of this handsome young man from Tures—not only good-looking and kind-hearted but also powerful and skilled. The sturdy yet lightweight sleds, combining wood and iron, were his invention based on the transportation tools used by the indigenous people of the northern ice fields.

“Have you noticed our enthusiastic and bold Mathuya girls? They’re already flirting with you,” Valentina said, her tone and expression full of charm, complemented by her striking appearance, giving her a unique allure.

“I’m really hungry! I hope no young man will challenge me to a duel over this before I’ve finished eating. Mathuya’s young men are all great!” Neo used a dagger to slice the lamb into thin pieces, placed them on a wire mesh, picked up some prepared seasoning from a jar nearby, and spread it evenly over the meat. Then he inserted the wire mesh into the fireplace, where the charcoal fire was just right for grilling. After flipping the meat pieces and sprinkling more seasoning, it soon filled the air with a delicious aroma.

Mathuya wasn’t as wealthy as Tures, but Valentina still brought out lamb, salted fish, cheese, white bread, pears, figs, and berry wine to entertain Neo. Even Valentina’s usual meals at home might not have been this lavish.

“I heard you’re only 19, but you speak as if you’re 39.” Valentina sat comfortably on a large wooden chair covered with bear fur not far from the fireplace, her legs crossed, holding a glass of berry wine in her hand, looking somewhat lazy.

“Maybe it’s because young people always unconsciously want to appear more mature.” Neo sat cross-legged on a cotton pad against the furnace wall, one leg stretched out and the other bent, equally at ease. “Do you know what’s the only thing I dislike about taking a hot bath? Shaving.” He picked up a piece of lamb with his dagger and put it in his mouth. “Mm, very delicious. Thank you for your hospitality.”

“You’re welcome. This is the proper thanks for your generosity.” Valentina took a sip of the sweet and sour berry wine, smiling at the young werewolf who seemed completely unreserved around her.

The Srod family had a hereditary skill related to presence—a controllable passive ability. Many nobles of his age who had seen much of the world would feel awkward and flustered in Valentina’s presence, but this servant from the Manmores family wasn’t affected at all.

Moreover, Valentina could clearly sense that this time, Neo’s unique trait had become even more pronounced. Being with him was like being in a field bathed in a gentle breeze—comforting and utterly relaxed. The bickering they had during their previous work together now seemed amusing, and it was funny how well their mounts’ names matched…

“This belongs to you.” Valentina took out the transparent crystal from her pouch and tossed it lightly.

The crystal traced a graceful arc through the air, emitting a particularly bright glow when reflected by the fire in the fireplace.

Neo reached out to catch it and flipped it between his fingers. To be honest, he didn’t remember much about it—only that it hadn’t been this pure and clear before, and that it was likely some kind of special energy container.

“You hide many secrets,” Valentina said slowly. Her seemingly lazy gaze was actually watching Neo carefully, observing his reactions and listening to his responses.

Ever since Eburt reminded Valentina to leave a message saying she wanted to talk to him, Neo had anticipated such a moment. After careful consideration, he decided to use limited truth to conceal his real secrets, rather than resisting outright by denying everything.

“For humans, some of the traditions of other races always seem mysterious. Of course, that’s when we hold positive views,” said Neo as he put away the crystal. He pressed his middle and index fingers together, gathering a small amount of new green energy the size of a thumb at the tip of his finger. Pointing it at Valentina, the cluster of light floated toward her like a tiny droplet, rippling as it moved.

Although Valentina was somewhat prepared, she was still surprised enough to sit up straight, nearly spilling the wine in her cup.

Valentina possessed combat abilities, which made her senses extremely sharp and allowed her to sense her surroundings within a one-meter radius. As the light cluster approached, she detected its nature.

“It’s a healing power!” Valentina let the light enter her body and carefully experienced it. Its permeability and solubility were excellent; she couldn’t even sense her own combat energy defense system resisting it. The lack of resistance meant her internal forces considered this new energy entirely beneficial—and indeed, as it spread throughout her body, she felt the soreness in her muscles disappear, replaced by comfort and vitality, along with a greater sense of relaxation.

“Is this… life force?”

Neo nodded and took a large gulp of berry wine. He had applied a similar treatment to himself during his bath earlier, and he could still feel its effects. This made him realize that this power might also have the ability to continuously regulate and optimize one’s physique. In simple terms, it was perfect for use on oneself. If this power could remain in the body constantly, it would likely greatly enhance strength.

“What a miraculous power!” Valentina’s gaze toward Neo grew intense. “I had guessed earlier just how important you are to Tures, but I still underestimated it.”

Neo, who was cutting white bread, stopped and smiled. “You flatter me, Miss Srod. Tures also has the respected Priest Norlund.”

“Mathuya doesn’t. It only has a physician named Watts and his son, who is also his apprentice. Yet Mathuya has just as many wounded as Tures,” Valentina sighed softly.

Neo chuckled inwardly. “Aristocratic pretense. Even a wise and heroic female knight’s request for help can only be so subtle.”

After thinking for a moment, Neo said, “Miss Srod, you might be interested in hearing a short story.”

Valentina paused briefly before patiently asking, “Go ahead.”

The story was short and recounted the origin of the ‘Swift Wind Squad.’ Naturally, Valentina wasn’t foolish. Hearing Neo’s words, she understood what he wanted. “I’ve already decided to discuss with Dave the possibility of moving east together. We indeed need a elite scouting team.”

“Miss Srod, I’d be honored to contribute my part to Mathuya’s warriors,” Neo said sincerely, returning the favor.

Nodding, Valentina leaned back again and took another sip of fruit wine. Watching Neo continue eating with such calmness, she felt more and more as though she had fallen into his plans at every step, yet there was no clear evidence to support this. From their encounter on the second battlefield to her attempts to uncover Neo’s secrets, it all seemed like coincidences coupled with her own probing.

“He’s quite arrogant…” The more composed Neo remained, the more Valentina’s competitive spirit made her uneasy.

She examined Neo from head to toe and found that beneath his seemingly casual eating manner lay an elegance that was quite pleasing to watch. Valentina could sense that it was a habit ingrained in him.

This accidental discovery made Valentina realize that the young werewolf before her likely did not come from an ordinary werewolf family. However, this information wasn’t very useful for her current situation until her gaze stopped on the dagger Neo was using…

“Neo, I have a little story too.”

Neo was slightly surprised but then smiled. After gently wiping the grease from his fingertips with a handkerchief, he said, “Please go ahead.”

The story was about insignias. Many mercenary groups and regular armies preferred to use subtle methods to imprint symbols on armor and weapons, especially on high-quality weapons, to prevent forgery and facilitate identification. Valentina concluded by saying, “Less than a hundred commemorative daggers of the West Wind Berserkers were issued, and there have been many incidents of theft or trouble arising from them.”

Neo knew he needed to replace the handle of his familiar dagger. “Your little story has broadened my knowledge,” he said sincerely.

Valentina smiled happily. Normally, she wasn’t so superficial and childish, but making this young man bow his head brought her genuine joy…