Chapter 59: The Adventurer's Fate

The camp of the Snow Wolf Mercenary Group is of a very high standard. It can be seen that this is a group of people who are accustomed to sleeping in the open and camping in the wild.

This low-lying terrain effectively plays a certain role in preventing wind, and the two high slopes next to it are very defensive, if you encounter an accident, as long as you can effectively hold the gap in the middle, you can ensure the safety of the camp.

Dewey and Dardanelles walked into the camp with Head Beinrich, so he was greeted by the surprised looks of many mercenaries.

This camp is not less, and under Du Wei's eyesight, there are about 100 people. It was different from the private armies of the nobles or the local garrisons of the empire that Du Wei had seen. These mercenaries do not have a uniform standard of armor or equipment. Most of them are dressed in a very personal way. Some wore leather jackets, some wore leather robes, and some wore leather armor.

It's just that, in the role of covering in the snow forest, most people choose white sè.

As for the weapons they used, it was even stranger, there were those with swords, those with scimitars, and those with axes, and those with short spears...... Du Wei even saw a guy with a mace-like weapon.

Moreover, these people are without exception, and everyone has a strong and unruly atmosphere on their faces. When Du Wei walked into the camp, some of the guys who were grinding their weapons looked coldly at Du Wei and Dardanelle, two outsiders.

Someone even shouted: "Hey, Commander, why did you bring a child in! Hahahaha, is this guy a newcomer you recruited? He doesn't look like he's broken yet!"

As soon as these words came out, they immediately caused laughter from the people around them.

Beinrich's face sank, and he shouted: "Don't talk nonsense! Do your own thing! Be polite to me, this is our honored guest!"

It seems that this regiment leader is very prestigious, and as soon as these words came out, although some people were a little disapproving, everyone kept their mouths shut.

"Well, Your Excellency the Magician, these are rude men who don't know how to be polite. Beinrich then wanted to invite Du Wei to live in his tent, but Du Wei politely declined, so the regimental commander had a vacant space in the middle of the camp for them, and Du Wei and Dardanelle set up a small tent themselves.

After a while, the regimental commander asked his subordinates to bring two thick blankets.

"These guys don't seem to be very friendly to us. Du Wei watched the mercenary who delivered the tent leave with a cold expression, and turned back to Dardanelle and smiled.

"It's normal. Dardanelle pouted: "In this kind of team, it is generally difficult for newcomers to be accepted immediately. They prefer to trust their old companions who have been born and died together...... This is true even in the regular army. ”

In the evening, the mercenaries made several large fires in the middle of the camp, and the mercenaries sat around the fires waiting for dinner.

Beinrich personally invited Dewey to dine with him, and huddled with him in front of a fire.

The mercenaries' attitude towards Du Wei was much better, and the head of the regiment had already announced Du Wei's identity as a magician. However, there were still some people who looked at Du Wei with suspicion...... After all, he looked too young.

Not only the mercenaries, but even Beinrich was a little confused.

Sitting in front of the fire and taking off the thick fur hat that obscured a third of his face, Du Wei looked even smaller...... Beinrich couldn't help but be a little suspicious: is such a small child really a magician?

Or...... Even if he was a magician, at such a young age...... I'm afraid he's just an apprentice magician, right? Or, just a first-class magician?

Although a magician is rare, if it is only a magic apprentice or a first-level magician...... Then there is no value in soliciting yet.

The mercenaries in front of the campfire next to them were doing their thing as if no one was around: they used a few large iron pots, melted the snow and boiled it into hot water, and then two sturdy men carried out some strange-looking corpses of animals of all sizes and large from the tent...... Du Wei looked at it carefully, but he couldn't tell whether it was a cow or a sheep. Dardanelle recognized it, and he frowned and whispered, "This is...... Oh my God, a snow camel monster...... Oh, it's a burrowing cow...... Oh, there's an ice wolf! God, are you going to eat this at night?"

Beinrich laughed and said, "No, it's us! We, and you, eat these at night." ”

"The corpse of a monster. Dardanelle sighed.

"Yes, Warcraft. Beinrich pursed his lips and smiled, "In my opinion, these things are not much different from ordinary beasts...... At least it doesn't taste much the same in the mouth, except that they use some magic when they're alive, and when they're dead, they become our food. ”

Du Wei didn't say anything, he watched the two men pull out their sharp knives, and quickly dismantle the corpses of several demonic beasts into pieces, and then threw them all into the big iron pot to cook.

The skins of these demonic beasts have long been stripped off, Du Wei watched the two big men go back and move out more demonic beasts from the tent, and couldn't help but whistle, he looked at Beinrich: "Your Excellency, Commander, it seems that you have gained a lot from this trip." ”

Beinrich said lightly: "It's not easy to make a living. This kind of rì is also fighting with his life. But you're right, this harvest is okay, we have been walking around this forest for five days, and we have hunted more than twenty demonic beasts in total, but I have also lost seven or eight of my men. Three died, and three were permanently disabled. The mercenary leader sighed: "The skins of these magical beasts can be sold for a good price in the south, and their magic cores ...... You magicians are willing to pay a premium for it. ”

Du Wei couldn't help but look at the corpses of those demonic beasts......

The ice and snow demon wolf that these mercenaries moved out, Du Wei recognized, and the last time he was played by that terror demon in Halfhorn City, he had seen the ice and snow demon wolf in the illusion.

However, the corpse of the demon wolf brought out by these mercenaries was obviously a little smaller than the one that was conjured up in the last illusion.

The water in the pot gradually boiled, and the aroma of meat overflowed, and many mercenaries couldn't help but sniff their noses fiercely.

The regimental commander had a few large leather bags of wine taken out of his tent, and the mercenaries immediately cheered, and then several leather bags were passed down, and each mercenary took a sip of wine. In this kind of ghost weather that can cool people's noses, it is really the best enjoyment to warm up with a sip of wine.

Beinrich did not forget to entertain Du Wei, he took out a silver bottle from his bosom and said with a smile: "This is my personal treasure, the best wine in the north...... Your Excellency the Magician, would you like to try it?"

Du Wei smiled and took the bottle and took a sip, but he almost didn't choke to death!

"Ahem, what kind of wine is this......" Du Wei coughed uncomfortably, his voice was hoarse, and he only felt like a flame was burning in his mouth!

In a hurry, Du Wei could only grab the snow from the ground and stuff it into his mouth desperately! After swallowing three handfuls of snow in one go, he felt the burning sensation in his throat eased a little.

Beinrich laughed and said, "Your Excellency, this is a good thing! I have soaked this wine in the core of a flaming rhinoceros! When I drink it, it is like stuffing a fire into my throat! Absolutely strong! Especially in this kind of ghost weather, a small sip can make your whole body hot! Your body will be hot all night!"

Du Wei pinched his nose: "Thank you! I can't stand this kind of thing." ”

Beinrich laughed, took a sip of his own, and then immediately showed a painful and happy expression on his face, shivered violently a few times, and then gasped for breath, and at the same time exclaimed: "Cool!"

He handed the bottle to Dardanelle again: "Friend, take a sip!"

Dardanelle hesitated and tasted it, but his endurance was much stronger than that of Du Wei, and after taking a sip, his whole body trembled a few times, just like Beinrich, but he showed a happy expression, and exclaimed: "Good thing! Sure enough, my body is much warmer! Damn, it's like there's an extra fire in my stomach!"

Next, Du Wei tasted some cooked monster meat, the meat of the ice and snow demon wolf was a little old, and there was a hint of sour taste, Du Wei was not used to eating it. However, in this kind of place, it is already a good pleasure to have a mouthful of hot meat in the cold and snow.

At least last night, when he followed the old magician, Du Wei was a dry food.

Well, I wonder if that old guy is looking around at me right now...... Young master, I sit and drink wine and eat meat, and the old guy drinks the wind, which feels very good.

Du Wei ate a little something, Jīng God was much better, and tried to drink two sips of Beinrich's special wine, this time he was fully prepared, it was not as uncomfortable as last time, and this wine was really a good thing, after drinking it, it seemed that a flame immediately burned all over the internal organs, and the whole body was hot in an instant, and the cold all over the body was completely expelled!

"Your Excellency the Magician, you must have come to this forest in search of some magical beast, right?" Beinrich smiled, "The magicians who came here are here for these purposes. If that's the case, maybe we can help each other, and maybe, I have the monster you need. ”

Dardanelles and Du Wei glanced at each other, Du Wei nodded, and Dardanelle replied, "Mr. Commander, have you ever heard of the Golden-Eyed Python?"

Beinrich had a hint of surprise on his face: "Golden-eyed python, that's a very powerful guy, I saw a magician catch it here when I was younger, but we ourselves have never caught that kind of thing...... And ......"

He hesitated for a moment, and said slowly: "This is only the periphery of the frozen forest, and the high-level magical beasts of the Golden-eyed Python have to go deeper into the forest." Powerful monsters are active in the heart of the forest, and there is no such thing on the periphery. However, the further you go inside, the more dangerous it becomes. ”

"Heartland?" Du Wei smiled, "I beg your pardon. I'm coming to the Frozen Forest for the first time, you see, I'm a young magician, and I'm not familiar with this place. You say the heartland...... We've been walking in the woods for two days now. Is this just the outskirts?"

"Of course. Beinrich shook his head: "The Frozen Forest is too big...... It can even be said that no one has ever been able to measure the size of this forest in person. I've heard that twenty years ago, a powerful magician with a few knights of the temple walked deep into the forest for a month, but he couldn't get to the other side of the forest, and he knows where the other side of the forest was, maybe the end of the world. Moreover, the only recorded one is the one twenty years ago. That time, a Grand Mage of the Magic Guild had entered with several of the Temple's High Holy Knights. It's a pity that I heard about ...... In the end, only the magician came out alive. In the heart of the Frozen Forest, I heard that there are many high-level demonic beasts there, and even a powerful magician cannot deal with the siege of several high-level demonic beasts at the same time. As for us mercenaries, we, the Snow Wolf Mercenary Regiment, have always only operated in the outer areas, and the farthest distance we have traveled is nine days...... And that was a few years ago. ”

Du Wei was a little surprised......

A mage and a few high-ranking holy knights walked for a month and didn't come to the end?

Is this forest that big?

Dardanelle's face was also a little ugly...... In this case, where can the golden-eyed python be found?

"I would like to advise both of you. Beinrich's expression was very serious: "Our Snow Wolf Mercenary Regiment has been hunting demonic beasts in this forest for many years, and I have also met some magicians who came in to find demonic beasts. But even some magicians don't dare to go too far...... At most, when you go to the vicinity of the 'Great Round Lake', absolutely no one dares to go any further. Two ...... I know that you are a magician, and I also respect the abilities of magicians. But I would like to advise you to give up your plans if you don't have to......"

Dardanelle's face was ugly, he thought for a moment, and suddenly said: "Your Excellency, Commander, thank you for your kindness, but I must find the golden-eyed python." Well...... And ......" He suddenly showed a strange expression on his face: "I know that the people of your group are specialized in hunting demonic beasts, if I can, I am willing to pay a high price to hire you to help me find ......"

"Sorry, no. Beinrich replied simply: "We make money from this, and I know that the greater the risk, the greater the profit." However, if you know that you are going to die and still do it, then it is not a risk, but an idiot's behavior. Our Snow Wolf Mercenary Regiment does not have the ability to enter the heart of the Frozen Forest. No matter how high the price you offer, I'm afraid we can't do anything about it. ”

Dardanelle sighed, knowing that Beinrich was telling the truth, and said no more, and took a sullen sip of his wine.

Beinrich's attention returned to Du Wei's, he thought for a moment, and said, "Your Excellency the Magician, I am very curious about you, I have the impression that there are very few people who can qualify as a magician at your age. I lived to be forty years old, twenty of which were adventurous years, and I have met many magicians, but I have never seen a genius like you. ”

Du Wei smiled bitterly......

Genius? That's something you haven't seen.

Du Wei's current strength is only about a third-level magician. It's a genius compared to ordinary people...... But...... Compared with the other two female geniuses that Du Wei met, Du Wei really had nothing to be proud of.

At the age of fifteen or sixteen, he obtained the qualification of an eighth-level magician! That's what a genius is! And Du Wei even met two at a time.

Seeing that Du Wei did not speak, Beinrich was silent for a while, and slowly took out a scroll of paper from his arms.

"Your Excellency the Magician, I want to make a deal with you, I wonder if you are interested?"

Du Wei's eyes lit up: "What deal?"

"That's right, I know that magicians are very rich, so if I give you any treasure or something, you won't take it seriously...... So......" Beinrich smiled, "my men and I will continue to walk north for about four or five days, and we will come to the Great Round Lake, and then we will turn around and go back." I suppose you and your companions are heading north anyway, so you might as well follow us on your way for the next few days. My men and I can act as your guide and take you all the way to the Great Round Lake, such a large forest, without a guide, I am afraid it is easy to get lost. What do you see?"

Beinrich unfolded the scroll of paper in his hand: "This is a map of the Frozen Forest! Such a map is absolutely nowhere to be found in the market! Even if you spend 10,000 gold coins, you will never be able to buy it! Because this is what I have drawn from my memory in the experience of nearly twenty years and more than forty times in this forest! I guarantee that the entire empire will probably not find a second map of such detail." ”

Du Wei's heart moved!

He took the map and unfolded it......

The blueprint depicts a large forest with several entrances to the forest at the southern end, several towns to the south of the Frozen Forest, and some checkpoints set up by the Northern Storm Legion patrol.

After a few glances, Du Wei found the way he had entered the forest with the old magician the night before.

On the drawing, the area of the entire forest is not known, but Beinrich pointed slightly, and Du Wei had a rough idea.

"Here, this is about where we are now. Beinrich's finger poked at a point on the map.

Judging from the map, this location was very, very close to the entrance to the southern edge of the forest, and Du Wei couldn't help but be a little discouraged when he saw it...... After two days of hard walking, I got out of such a small place on the map.

Beinrich smiled, and then pointed to the inner part of the forest on the map: "This is the destination of my trip with my people, the Great Round Lake." ”

A lake is marked on the map with a slightly flattened circle.

Beinrich roughly introduced that this lake is located in the middle of the forest, and it is a lake in the forest. However, the area is quite large.

"The lake is about five or six miles wide...... At least it's that wide, I've been there a few times, but I haven't measured it specifically. In fact, I haven't been to the other side of the lake. The Great Round Lake is the dividing line between the progress of some adventurous teams in the Frozen Forest. ”

"How?" Du Wei was curious about everything about this frozen forest.

"The dividing line of strength. Beinrich smiled: "Basically, in the southern part of the lake, everything is not too dangerous, and mercenary groups like ours can still operate." But...... In the northern part of the lake, very few people dare to go. Those who dare to cross the lake and continue to the north, according to what I know, are those strong people who have names and surnames all over the continent...... At least I, Beinrich, am not that kind of person. I've been to the Great Round Lake with my people a few times, but never once have I dared to go around the lake and continue north. ”

After a pause, he had a strange smile on his face: "By the way, if it was summer, I wouldn't take anyone to Dayuan Lake." You know, wherever there's a water source, there's usually a dangerous beast infesting you...... Warcraft is the same, Warcraft also has to drink water, and Warcraft also likes to take a bath. In the summer, the weather was cold, but it wasn't as freezing as it is now. It's just the beginning of the chūn, the lake has not yet thawed, the lake is icy, and no monsters will move around the lake. But summer is different, and it's a gathering place for monsters! hell...... I once heard that there were several mercenary groups, hundreds of them were attacked by monsters on the edge of that lake! The whole team died there! So, because of the current season, I dared to go there, and if it was summer, I would definitely stay away from there. ”

After Beinrich had said all this, he glanced at Du Wei: "How is it?Your Excellency the Magician?, my deal is simple: I and my men will take you to the lake, and I will give you this map...... Although I have never been to the north side of the lake, I have collected a lot of information over the years, all of which are news from some powerful people who have been to the north side of the lake, but it has cost me a lot of money to collect information! The marks on the map, even if you cross the Dayuan Lake and continue to the north, at least the map also indicates the terrain for the next two or three days. ”

Du Wei glanced at Beinrich: "Dear Mr. Commander...... I'm curious, since you don't plan to go to the north side of that lake, why do you want to collect information about the north side of the lake?"

Beinrich's eyes showed a hint of emotion, and the expression on his face was very sincere and serious: "Your Excellency the Magician, please remember that I am an adventurer!"

When he said this, his expression even had a hint of piety.

"I'm an adventurer......! I'm working as a mercenary now, and I'm profiting from venturing into the frozen forest...... But I'm not a copper-smelling merchant!I've got the blood of an adventurer in my bones!" Beinrich mused, "I've been adventuring this place for half my life, and since I was young, listening to those legends, I've always longed for what the frozen forest on the north side of the lake would look like...... Although I know that my strength is far from being the top powerhouse in the continent. And now I have a whole bunch of people with me, and I have to shoulder their responsibilities! But I also have my own dreams! My dreams are...... In the future, when I am old and retire, I will no longer be the head of this regiment, and my people will be handed over to their new leader, then, when I am alone and have no responsibility, I will be ready to cross the lake and go to the north to see! I will go around this place all my life! In the future, if I have never seen what the north is like when I die of old age! I have collected this information just to make plans for the future! I plan to go on the road alone when I'm ready, and I'm even ready to die on the north side of the Great Round Lake in the future! Even if I die, at least I can see what the legendary north shore looks like before I die...... If I die there, I can be regarded as fulfilling the fate of an adventurer!"

Speaking of this, Beinrich uttered something that made Du Wei awe-inspired:

"As an adventurer, it would be a shame to die in bed! As a true adventurer, you should choose to let yourself die in the most exciting journey!"

Du Wei took a deep breath, and his tone couldn't help but become a little more respectful: "Your Excellency, Honorable Regiment Commander, you promised to be our guide and give us this map...... So what do you need me to do for you?"

"It's simple. Beinrich smiled: "I only have two conditions. First, if we encounter any trouble, such as being attacked by someone else or a demonic beast, you, Lord Magician, please be on our side, and when the time is right, we need the help of the Magician. ”

"No problem. Du Wei immediately replied: "Since we are on the road together, we are companions, which is a matter of course." ”

"Thank you. My second condition is...... What if you can go back after this adventure...... Please apologize for using such an unlucky word. But I still advise you for the last time, the north is very dangerous!" Seeing that Du Wei did not accept his suggestion, the regiment commander sighed: "Then...... If you could come back, I think you would be the only powerful magician I've ever seen in my life...... You are so young! I have no other words to describe you than genius. I believe that in the future, you will definitely become a well-known powerhouse in the mainland. If there is a day, I hope you will remember the name of our Snow Wolf Mercenary Regiment...... I take the liberty of asking you to remember that once in the Frozen Forest, the Snow Wolf Mercenary Group helped you. As for this favor, it is enough to help us people at the right time, when it is convenient for you. ”

Very jīng Ming's regimental leader!

Du Wei has a little more respect for this regiment leader!

If the words of "the fate of the adventurer" just now made him look like an idealist...... Then the latter trading conditions show that this head has a long-term vision!

For them, there is actually no price to pay for this matter...... They originally planned to go to Dayuan Lake, and a team of more than 100 people, it didn't cost anything to bring two more people. On the contrary, there is an extra magician companion on the way.

Also, as for that map...... The map was made by the regiment commander himself, and although he gave it to Du Wei, he could draw another one himself at any time. For him, there is nothing to lose.

And these, in exchange for the favor of a magician!

In the Roland Continent, magicians are more precious than gold, especially those powerful magicians. The calculation of this regiment leader is very smart, Du Wei has become a magician at such a young age, and his future must be bright...... As long as he can go back alive, it means that the Snow Wolf Mercenary Group has formed a friendship with a future great magician at no cost!

You can count on getting the help of a great magician at some point in the future!

An idealist, but without a realistic cunning.

This is Du Wei's assessment of Head Beinrich.

•；

There was nothing to say that night.

Early the next morning, when Du Wei got out of the tent, the Snow Wolf mercenary group was ready to set off. Some warriors who were not afraid of the cold scrubbed their bodies with snow, while others carefully shaved with daggers. These guys, who are accustomed to adventurous lives, all have a strong temperament, and finally summon their companions to the road with a hearty shout.

Dardanelle's mood was a little low.

After Captain Beinrich introduced the situation in the Frozen Forest last night, Dardanelle knew very well that the possibility of finding the golden-eyed python by himself was probably very small. Even if you add that Mr. Harry Potter Little Wizard, I'm afraid it won't be enough.

Du Wei comforted the loyal warrior of the Liszt family with a few words, and then set out on the road with the snow wolf mercenary group.

The Snow Wolf Mercenary Group was very full, and two squads scattered around it opened the way to search. That afternoon, Du Wei witnessed the mercenary group's people hunting for magical beasts.

The search team found a hole in the beast**, where the roots of a towering tree had been hollowed out, and a giant bear with a snow-white body hibernating inside.

This is a "Roaring Snow Bear", this monster is almost twice the size of a normal bear, and its appearance is very similar to the kind of polar bear that Du Wei knew in his previous life, but this roaring snow bear can send out a magical attack: its roar can roll up a small tornado!

The Snow Wolf Mercenaries seemed to have a very good way of dealing with this magical beast, and a dozen sturdy warriors tied themselves and their companions together with ropes, first throwing burning pine branches into the bear hole, forcing the bear out, and then attacking it with bows and arrows from a distance.

The roar of the giant bear startled a small whirlwind, which blew the two big men into the air on the spot! But fortunately they were tied to their companions, and although they fell a little badly, the snow was very thick, and they were not seriously injured. It's just an unlucky guy who fell on a snow-covered rock and sprained his waist.

The mercenaries used a huge banner to envelop the bear, and then divided it into four directions, with more than a dozen big men pulling on each side.

Finally, the head of Beinrich stood about fifteen paces away from the bear with a giant axe in his hand, his fighting spirit shining brightly, and he threw the axe quickly!

In the midst of that piece of silver sè, the regiment leader cut the giant bear's head in half with an axe!

Du Wei couldn't help but be secretly surprised when he saw it.

The martial arts of this head of Beinrich are really quite powerful! The name of one of the three heroes of the northern mercenaries really has real skills!

In his heart, Du Wei secretly compared him with the martial arts masters he had seen, and found that neither Robert Knight nor his father's chief of the guard, the Alpha Swordsman, was probably inferior to this Beinrich.

The only thing that can be compared is probably only Joanna's martial arts.

Amid the cheers of the soldiers of the mercenary group, everyone went up to collect the body of the giant bear, and a captain skillfully cut the bear's stomach with a dagger, first took out the bear bile, and then cut out the magic core from the bear's head and put it away.

For the rest, the three soldiers quickly peeled off a whole bear skin, and as for the bear meat, it was divided into several pieces for the soldiers to carry on their backs, and then continued on the road.

At the end of the day, Du Wei saw a similar scene four or five times. The Snow Wolf Mercenary Group hunted two more Ice Demon Wolves, but unfortunately, when hunting the second Demon Wolf, one of the mercenaries was tragically scratched by the Demon Wolf's claws and broke his stomach, and even his intestines flowed out on the spot!

"This is the life of an adventurer. Every day of adventure, someone may be sacrificed. Dardanelle whispered to Du Wei: "I also had this kind of rì back then, but later, I chose to quit. ”

The mercenaries only expressed their condolences to their dead companions for a moment, and then buried their companions' bodies and continued on their roads......

In the evening, everyone had a full meal of demon wolf meat, but when they took turns drinking to warm up, Du Wei carefully noticed a detail.

A dozen mercenaries sitting outside the campfire never touched the wine bag that was passed around.

"Those are the ones who will keep vigil tonight. The head of the regiment looked at Du Wei's puzzled eyes, and said lightly: "The night watchmen, I ask them to maintain 100% jǐng consciousness and calm sanity all night long! Because in this kind of place, if the night watchman is the slightest negligent, it may even kill the entire team! Therefore, the night watchman is absolutely not allowed to drink a drop of wine! However, as a reward, these night watchmen, after the next night change, they can get double portions of wine. The loot they caught the next day, they can also get an extra share when they go back. ”

When the regimental commander said this, he added in a low voice: "Of course, if at that time, they can go back alive." ”

Hearing this, Du Wei looked at the night watch soldiers who were cheering and drinking as their companions cheered and drank with a calm face...... There was a hint of respect in his eyes.