Chapter 14

The wandering knight has long lived in the wild, relying mainly on his martial skills and familiarity with the wilderness. However, human strength has its limits, and even the most skilled wandering knight sometimes needs help. Therefore, they would tame some animals as their companions.

The old, bald dog named "Dog Meat" was Karl's animal companion, and they had weathered twenty years together. They hunted in the dense forests, tracked and drove away evil creatures that entered the forest, preventing goblins and dogmen from harassing the surrounding villages and establishing bases in this forest.

This bond and understanding were similar to that between a soldier and his military dog, a deep connection that bound their hearts. Karl was slowly aging, and "Dog Meat" was aging even faster. About five years ago, it could no longer keep up with the intense battles, so Karl gave it a new task: guarding the treehouse in the forest.

The new animal companion was a python named "Long Snake," which was in its prime. After long training, it had learned to fight alongside the wandering knight and take care of each other. Karl would take it on patrols in the dense forest but never to Nepo Town.

The reason was simple: a thick python would not be as well-received as a big dog, which wouldn't cause any panic.

The python knew that one day it would be able to go to town, especially as Karl aged and needed help carrying goods. It quietly waited for the old dog to die, the day it would officially take over. Until then, it coiled in its nest, constantly rubbing its body, hoping to become stronger and more robust.

Zhao Mai was not afraid of the python, but he didn't particularly like it either. All his attention was on the yellow fur ball in his arms. It was a small male puppy, about the size of a volleyball, with a thin body under its long, fluffy fur, weighing almost nothing, making it feel light and heart-wrenching to hold.

The puppy's dark brown nose sniffed Zhao Mai continuously, seemingly smelling something it liked. It raised its upper body, trying to climb higher, its hind legs straightening and its front paws scratching.

Zhao Mai picked up the puppy and looked at it curiously. The puppy was too excited to contain itself, its body and hind legs circling in the air, making anxious whining sounds. "What a cute but clumsy dog." Zhao Mai satisfied its desire and placed the fur ball on his shoulder.

The puppy immediately calmed down, comfortably lying on his shoulder, using its small paws to tightly grip Zhao Mai's T-shirt, closing its eyes and dozing off.

"Since you like me so much, I'll take good care of you." Zhao Mai reached out to scratch the puppy's tail, causing it to shake in protest.

The puppy loved the position on his shoulder and refused to come down. Even when Zhao Mai climbed to the second floor of the treehouse, the puppy wouldn't budge. Occasionally, it would extend its tongue to lick Zhao Mai's shoulder and neck, causing a cool, ticklish sensation that made Zhao Mai giggle. This was the puppy's way of showing affection.

The treehouse was very simple, with a pile of old furs that had been there for years serving as his bed, a piece of wood as a pillow, and a clean, hairless hide as a blanket. The treehouse had no door, and ventilation and lighting were provided by the entrance, which was about half a person's height. In one corner, there were many acorns, chestnuts, and walnuts, weighing about a hundred pounds. The treehouse was always filled with a woody, oily aroma.

Zhao Mai left the Chimera's hide outside, climbed into the treehouse, and tidied up for a while, placing the tire as a temporary door. He looked around the small room, touching the lack of elasticity in the fur bed. This was his first place to settle, a small house full of the scent of the wild. If he were on Earth, he would never have found such a unique place to be so close to nature without any reservations.

How could the concrete jungle compare to the primitive natural landscape? The genes imprinted over millions of years of evolution preferred the real smell of trees and soil. Zhao Mai found himself very adaptable to the current environment. Although occasional tension and worry still crept in, he felt more excited and at peace.

Excitement and peace seemed contradictory, but they could be harmoniously combined here. This feeling was like that of a returning traveler, stepping into the house and seeing his long-missed parents. Zhao Mai, who had just arrived at the treehouse, originally a strange place, felt a deep sense of absolute safety. He tried lying on the soft cushion, feeling comfortable all over, and his body immediately relaxed. The fatigue accumulated from carrying heavy objects through the forest rushed to his mind. It was a good time for a nap, so he closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep.

Two heads poked out, and it turned out that the old wandering knight and the half-orc apprentice had come to check on him, hearing his snoring. They saw Zhao Mai sleeping soundly, with the yellow-brown fur ball on his shoulder, its red tongue showing, also asleep. Soru wanted to go in and pull the puppy out, but the old wandering knight stopped him. He signaled the half-orc to come down to the tree.

"Let him rest today. Starting tomorrow, you two will train together. In the morning, I'll teach you language and natural knowledge. He needs to learn the common language, and you need to learn writing. It's a good match. In the afternoon, I'll teach you combat skills." Karl patted Soru's shoulder, his withered fingers pinching the half-orc's muscular body. "You've already learned the basics, so you need to teach Mike more. If you can teach him basic martial skills, I'll take you on adventures."

The half-orc nodded vigorously, his eyes shining with excitement. Staying near the big tree had long worn out his patience, and going on missions with the wandering knight was his long-held dream.

"I'm giving you seven days. If he can't pass the basics by then, it counts as a failure. After seven days, I'll go on patrol and won't take you with me." Karl said earnestly, "You have excellent physical strength, but your mind isn't sharp enough, which worries me. This is a test to see if you can solve problems you've never encountered. So, think more and find ways to teach Mike, and I'll be at ease."

"Yes, teacher, I'll think of a way." The half-orc smiled foolishly and climbed to the highest treehouse in a few steps. Soon, the sound of rummaging came from inside, and it was unclear what the half-orc was doing.

Karl sighed, walked into his treehouse, and the python followed closely, crawling in after him. After a while, the python looked around furtively, lowered its body, and silently slithered into the dense forest. A wax paper package was tied to the back of its neck, containing a letter Karl had just written.

The old dog lay at his feet, looking listlessly at its old master. It saw the worry on his face but had no strength to dispel it.

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