Chapter 23: Tribes of the Wilderness
Boris was awakened by the pain in his shoulder, and he opened his tired eyes to a shabby picture of failure. It was a makeshift tent hut with nothing but a simple cot and a pile of hay. He wakes up in the daytime, otherwise, if it were night, it would be pitch black and nothing could be seen.
Boris touched the wound on the back of his neck, as if he had been coated with some kind of herb, it was cold, but the wound was still very painful when he touched it slightly.
He sorted his thoughts, and his last memory was in the Frozen Forest, when at least forty or fifty beastmen had laid siege to him. He was finally hit by a hammer and fell in the snow, waiting for the final blow from the beastman. However, it didn't.
Boris was under the impression of hearing a thick horn, like the horn of the long-lost cavalry of the Ugor cavalry. So, you are saved by them?
With doubts, Boris got up with difficulty and came outside the tent. He was shocked by what he saw. The setting sun dyed the distant mountains blood-red, and the cold wind blew up a fog that drifted between heaven and earth. Hundreds of sheepskin tents stood on the empty snowfield, and countless "wild men" in ragged clothes were walking around this unfenced camp. Most of them wore no armor, at most leather armor, and many more wore thick cotton coats or coats made of animal skins. Black-haired, red-haired, yellow-haired, all kinds of people, they were busy with their own business, and no one seemed to notice them.
Boris looked up and the camp was almost endless, and it was clear that it was a huge human tribe. But there was such a large human tribe beyond the Wall? Boris didn't know, he just heard that a nomadic cavalry unit had helped Rhodes and defeated the invading Norscans. But for many years, these tribes have disappeared from view. Ever since the Black Orc Grimgo Ironhide traveled north, the whereabouts of the Ugol tribe have been a mystery.
So, did he meet the legendary Ugor tribe? Boris didn't know.
Just as he looked around curiously, a group of nomadic riders came to him on their foalsβ
"You, come with us. β
The leading man whispered. It's almost imperative.
Boris has long been accustomed to it, he is no longer the great nobleman of Kislev, he is just a squad leader of a border fortress. He has done too much to obey orders. Although the riders in front of him are not his superiors. But, at the very least, they are their own saviors. Boris has long since put away the arrogance and disdain of the past. He followed the group of "wild men" on foot to the big tent in the center of the camp.
Some of the women turned to look at him, pointing and talking, and Boris could see some friendly smiles on their faces, but the topic of their conversation really gave him a little creepy...... In general, the strong physique of this foreigner aroused the interest of the women......
Walking into the big tent, there was a rush of heat. It was the temperature of the flames, and the four charcoal basins were placed under the four large pillars of the tent, emitting gusts of heat. This temperature made Boris feel the warmth he had not felt in a long time. He had forgotten the warmth of the sun, so let him replace it with this flame.
"You're the kid who tore the beastmen with your bare hands?"
The man's deep, deep voice stopped Boris. It was an old man with scars all over his face. Like himself, the man looked like a battle-hardened warrior. One of the deepest scars stretched from the forehead to the chin and through the eyes. It is conceivable that the person responsible for this scar must have been a crazy fellow, perhaps a Gnoscan Marauder, or perhaps a Beastman.
"There were no bare hands, and at that time, I had weapons in my hands. β
Boris modestly replied. He has changed his previous arrogant temper and is realistic.
The old man laughed......
"I thought you brought a warrior, but I didn't expect it to be an ordinary man. β
"You and I are mortal. No one can do it with their bare hands to fight the beastmen, and if he could, he would be an absolute fool. β
Boris replied without humility or arrogance.
The field suddenly fell silent, and you could see the sinister expression on the face of the man who was laughing at him just now, if it weren't for a few riders behind him, it was estimated that he would be fighting with this rough man at this time.
"Tell me, young man, what are you doing alone in the frozen woods?"
A tall figure slowly rose from the darkness, and following the direction of the sound, Boris saw a burly middle-aged man. The man's face was weathered, but it was not a sword wound, but wind marks and frostbite. Compared to others, the middle-aged man's voice is more intense, and his face is broad and flat, not at all like a Western human.
Boris didn't ask much, and even if it was just by feeling, he could guess that this person was the leader of the tribe.
"Perform the task. β
Boris replied briefly β
"My commander has ordered me to destroy the Ten Thousand Demon Rocks and stop the beastmen from invading the Great Wall. β
"Send you alone?"
As the man approached, Boris realized that the man was a head taller than himself, and with his burly build, Boris was sure that he had never seen such a tall human in his limited experience. He was almost as strong as the Beastman, and the muscles of his arms and arms were like rocks, and perhaps, such a man could really tear the Beastman with his bare hands......
"Send a squad. β
"So, the team is wiped out, and you're the only one left?"
The man continued to ask. He seems to be interested in Boris.
"To be exact, it was me who saved the whole team. In the end, I volunteered to go into the forest alone and carry out the mission. β
Boris cleared his cloudy throat and went on to explainβ
"We were ambushed and besieged by the Beastmen in the forest. My companion was mortally wounded, and I risked my life to find the leader of the beastmen, kill him, and repel the beastmen forces besieging us. Afterwards, I asked them to go back first, and I carried out the mission by myself. β
"You want to die. β
The man could see Boris's mind at a glance.
Boris did not answer, and remained silent.
"Know when a man is most vulnerable?"
The man asked in a deep voice.
Boris shook his head. He stared into the man's black eyes, searching for answers.
"When you're stuck in emotion. β
After listening, Boris was even more silent. He seemed to have seen through his own mind a long time ago. But they are going around in circles intentionally or unintentionally.
"Know when a man is the bravest?"
Boris still shook his head.
"When he has nothing and doesn't even care about death. β
With that, the man laughed to himself.
"You are brave, young man. I admire your courage and fighting prowess. Stay, and you can fight alongside my tribe and slay more beastmen. You don't have to do the bullshit mission you commander gave me anymore. β
The man spoke. This also confirms Boris's suspicion that he is indeed the leader of the tribe. It's just that he doesn't plan to stay here, although it's not a Norscan tribe, it's about the same as a barbarian. I don't want to be in the company of such a group of "wild people".
"Thank you for your respect and appreciation of me, Great Chief. However, I am not prepared to stay. I'm also on a mission to destroy the Ten Thousand Demon Rocks. Then return to the Great Wall. β
Boris replied earnestly.
"Hahaha......"
As soon as he finished speaking, the men's laughter sounded all around.
The Great Chief's expression suddenly became seriousβ
"You can't go back. The Beastmen besieging you are only a small group, and now, thousands of Beastmen have gathered outside the Wall, and you cannot break through their blockade and return to the Wall. The Beastmen who attacked you are only in the vanguard, and more Beastmen have gathered. There is more than one Ten Thousand Demon Rock. Wake up, young man, the Great Wall doesn't need you to defend it, and you can only survive in this wild land if you follow us. β