The torches lit up the surroundings, and the further you went, the nightingale's cry gradually faded into a faint and distant howl. Pen "Fun" Pavilion www.biquge.info

Horn tightened his velvet-trimmed cape, and the smell of dirt and leaves filled the air. I've never been here at night, he thought to himself. Ever since the last time he had discovered the ancient artifact with Sonny and Sura, he had always felt that there was something awe-inspiring about this forest, and even though he and his father had set foot here a thousand times, at night, this ancient forest could still feel some kind of eerie horror.

He began to regret his decision, but he involuntarily walked forward, towards the owner of the letter, towards the huge nanshu, towards the ancient and mysterious depths.

He walked among the trees, feeling the rough bark with his hands, the leaves brushing his cheeks. Did he come too late? That guy wouldn't leave so soon, would he? Or did he not come at all? Was it just a malicious joke?

The largest Nan tree was in front of it, and Horn could see it clearly. But it's so quiet, so calm.....

"I thought you weren't going to come. ”

Horn spun around sharply, the torch in his hand whistling. A man stepped out of the shadow of a large tree, with a thick neck, a burly physique, a staggering gait, wearing a black robe with a hood pulled forward to cover his cheeks. But the light of the torch gradually illuminated the man, and Horn recognized it at the sight of the red, swollen skin on his face. "Sir Neo," he said, a little bewildered, "the letter..... You wrote it?"

"Yes, sir. Neo leaned over, and Horn could smell the rancidity in his breath. "It's me. With that, he pulled down the hood that covered his cheeks, leaned against the trunk of the tree, and looked at the young city lord in the firelight. "Come here, I can't see your face clearly. ”

"Damn, what are you doing?" Horn was annoyed, "why did you write that letter? Who asked you to write it? What purpose?Why did you ask me here? You could have asked me to the tavern, why here?"

"First of all, it's just the two of us here," Neo held up a finger in his left hand holding the bottle, "I mean, if you didn't bring someone else. He tilted his head and took a sip of his wine, then hiccuped, "Second, no one asked me to write that letter." Third, I want to help you answer your questions. He burped again, "In the end, the tavern is not safe here. He took another sip and stared at Horn with trance-like brown eyes, "Do you have any questions?"

"Sir, you're drunk. Horn sighed, "Let's go back early, the North City has already made me worry enough in the past two days." ”

"You know how much I drink, it's not the wine that gets me drunk, it's the damn thing!" Neo sat down staggering against the trunk of a tree, looking sad. "Come, boy, come here, and since you're here, drink with me, for the sake of how many times I've invited you to drink. ”

"Sir, stop making trouble. "I've got to go back, and if you want me to take you back, throw the bottle and come after me." ”

"I've long since stopped being a knight. Horn had just turned around when Neo spoke.

"You are to blame for this. Horn turned around helplessly. Sir Neo's demotion had just been mentioned by Uncle Sercy. It was a year ago, when Neo got drunk during a night shift, and as a result, a fire broke out in the west of the city, and the artificial city river was led from south to north from Lake Mochizuki, and the street west of the city happened to have no tributaries. Because of his negligence, nearly 60 people died in the fire, and more than 10 houses were burned to ashes. When his father learned of this, he was furious and stripped him of his title and position. After that, Neo became a complete drunkard, but his father, remembering his hard work and sincerity for nearly twenty years, cut off his title and position, but still paid him money, so that he could always have money to buy alcohol and drink.

"That's right, I did it all myself. Can..... I know it sounds strange, but in all my years as a Guard, I've been conscientious and never negligent. Horn, I didn't light that fire, even if I wasn't drunk at the time, I would still burn a lot of people, but the lord still ..... Hey, forget it, let's talk about something else. Neo's voice lowered, "Recently, I know that you and your wife have been deeply troubled by rumors, and this afternoon there was another riot of the city's citizens, and there was blood, right?"

"yes, it sucks. Horn said softly.

"Good sir, it's not your fault, I know your heart hurts more than anyone else. Neo humbly said and fell on his knees before the tree.

"That's what you're talking about?" Horn was about to lose his patience.

"No, no, of course not, it's not worth my writing to bother you. Neo looked up, "What I'm going to say is about that rumor, the one that bothers you..... Actually, that's not a rumor at all. He shook his head, trying to clear himself up. "My lord, with all due respect, you were not born of a lord at all. ”

Horn guessed he would say that. "Proof," he said, looking at a drunken Neo, "I need proof." ”

"Do you remember the last time you were injured?" Neo sat crooked on the ground, leaning his head against the trunk and looking at Horn.

".....Remember," Horn paused, "I don't remember." ”

"Of course you won't remember, because they won't let you remember. Neo gasped, "You're going to ask me why I know." Because, the person who was on duty at the lord's tower at that time happened to be my former subordinate, and he witnessed the whole process. ”

"He—who?, the man who attacked me?" Horn frowned.

"Let's leave that question ..... for now Let's put it aside for a moment, let's talk about individual stories first. Neo stretched out his hand and wiped his face, "I'm an old man of the Guard, you should know that I've followed your father since the First Continent, but before that, I was Lord Lawrence's man. In the First Continent, there is an Angolan steppe, and you should know that, because your mother came from there, and of course, these are not the main points of the story. ”

"Long before your mother knew Lord Kenny, she was the most beautiful girl on the grasslands, and even I, the wastelander, had heard that there was a beautiful and delicate princess named Nina in the Angolan steppes. A beautiful girl naturally attracts the courtship of the young man, but she never agrees to anyone until that person appears. He was the strongest man in the Angolan steppe, and he led the army to repel the halflings several times for the lord of the time, until one time, when the herdsmen were forced to the south by the halflings, he led a death squad to lure away the aliens, buying precious time for the herders to evacuate, and after that, his people revered him as the 'eagle of the Angolan steppe'. ”

"Uncle Mike?" Horn asked, frowning.