Chapter 31 : Aberration! A Knight’s Mercy
Chapter 31: Aberration! A Knight’s Mercy
Granny Gu tied up the pocket and casually tossed it to Leo, then continued smoking her pipe.
After buying the goods, this pound of Level 2 Beastkin Meat had cost him all his silver coins.
As before, he passed by the side of the Golden Knight Order’s formation.
Leo held the Bone Flute in his mouth, casually blowing it as if without intent.
Then he looked toward a warhorse not far away.
He directly read all the memories starting from last night.
However, this time, Leo saw many different memory fragments.
He slowed his pace.
This time, Leo not only saw that the Golden Knight Order had changed personnel,
but also saw the scene of their nighttime encampment.
There was even a segment where the Golden Knights were collectively training.
These warhorses had witnessed everything from the side.
In the memory fragments, Leo saw the Golden Knights seated in a square formation, seemingly cultivating a Breathing Technique.
Moreover, when the captain of the knight order at the front cultivated, bursts of golden light radiated from his body.
The other knights also had silvery radiance flowing around them.
In comparison, when he practiced the Breathing Technique, it was only a thin layer of gray mist, whereas theirs was a tangible brilliance.
This was the special effect when Great Knights and High-tier Knights operated their Breathing Technique.
Just in appearance alone, it was far more imposing.
Not only that, Leo observed that when they practiced the Breathing Technique, they were not training individually—there seemed to be some kind of connection between them.
The feeling looked as though, through some kind of resonance, they had formed a unified whole.
Since Leo had now just entered the basics of the Breathing Technique, he could vaguely discern some of its intricacies.
After the Breathing Technique training ended, Leo saw some Golden Knights sparring with sword techniques.
Their swordsmanship was completely different from what Eve Sova had taught him.
Each move was filled with the killing intent of battlefield formations, and there seemed to be coordination between them.
This group of Golden Knight Order members was drilling their sword techniques.
Although Leo did not fully understand, it still felt profoundly impressive.
‘If I could imitate these high-combat-power NPCs’ Breathing Technique or moves from the memory fragments, that would be great. Perhaps I can try it when I go back.’
Leo continued watching, only to notice that the scene ahead felt somewhat off.
The horses kept moving toward Blackstone City, and along the ground began to appear frozen dead field mice, snakes broken into two and frozen into icy sticks, and rabbits.
And it wasn’t just a few appearing suddenly—along the way, Leo saw dozens, even hundreds.
‘Very abnormal. These animals hide underground in winter, some even hibernate. Why would so many corpses suddenly appear on the surface?’
Leo felt that something was wrong, yet the Golden Knight Order showed no reaction.
Just as he was thinking, Leo suddenly noticed a streak of golden light flash before him.
When he opened his eyes again, a figure clad in golden armor was already standing in front of him.
In an instant, he felt an incomparably immense pressure looming before him.
“I’ve been watching you for a while. You keep staring at us—are you plotting something crooked?”
The tall figure stood like a mountain, blocking Leo’s path.
The silver breastplate on his chest was directly facing Leo’s eyes, dazzling, with a lifelike griffin engraving.
At this moment, Leo and the knight captain were only an arm’s length apart.
He could clearly feel a chilling killing aura.
It felt as if one wrong word would get him executed on the spot.
However, Leo remained extremely calm, as if he had been prepared.
The next moment, Leo raised his head, revealing a sincere smile. “Great Golden Knight, I have admired your renown since childhood, so I looked a few more times. But actually, I wanted to help you.”
At this moment, quite a few people around had their attention drawn to Leo and the knight captain.
The captain lowered his head and looked down at Leo, his eyes beneath the helmet cold and imposing as they examined him. “Admire? That’s only natural. But you say you want to help us—hmph, what a joke.”
Leo did not mind the attitude. He remained unhurried, maintaining respect.
He glanced at the warhorse beneath a Golden Knight not far away. “Great knight, I am skilled in Horsemanship. I observed just now that your horses seem to have encountered some problems.”
“Hmm?” The captain paused for a few seconds. He had indeed noticed that this boy had been staring at their horses.
Leo continued explaining, “Your horses have been traveling long distances in the snow. I noticed that quite a few have already suffered frostbite, and a few are rather severe.”
“Hmph. These horses are also warriors of the royal family, serving the kingdom. What of it?” The knight captain spoke firmly and turned to leave.
Every winter, they encountered such issues. It only meant replacing a few horses—normal attrition.
“If possible, I am willing to help treat and tend to these poor horses. That way, great knights and your warhorses will have a smoother journey ahead.” Leo’s face remained sincere.
The knight captain continued walking, ignoring Leo.
However, when he reached his horse and glanced at its leg, he slowly turned back. “So, you want to gain something from this?”
“No, I do not want anything. It is simply out of… mercy. My teacher taught me that as a knight, true strength lies in restraint and compassion.” Leo remained neither servile nor overbearing.
“Mercy?” The killing aura around the knight captain seemed to weaken slightly.
He paused for a few seconds. “You’ve studied the Knight’s Code well.”
“So you agree to let me help these horses.”
“Do as you wish. But boy, we only have two hours.”
“That’s enough.” The corner of Leo’s mouth lifted slightly.
His plan had succeeded.
In truth, before he even spoke, he had already observed from the horse that this knight captain was someone who cherished his mount.
The horse’s coat was meticulously groomed, and antifreeze oil had been carefully applied to its hooves.
And after reading the horse’s memories, he was certain that his plan would work.
As long as there was a beginning, he could justifiably approach these horses in the future.
At this moment, Leo took out a herb called Warmblood Grass that he had gotten from Granny Gu.
He then took out a hoof-trimming knife he carried with him.
Leo quickly walked to the knight captain’s horse.
He crouched down and first performed some simple trimming on the hoof.
Then he applied the herb to the frostbitten areas.
After his Mount Control skill had reached max level, all knowledge and skills related to caring for horses came naturally to him.
The knight captain stood to the side, silently watching the young man.
Just from the hoof-trimming movements alone, it was clear he was experienced.
A few minutes later, Leo stood up and patted the horse’s neck.
The horse stamped its hooves and snorted happily.
Then Leo moved on to treat the other knights’ horses.
At this time, Leo gently blew the Bone Flute, as if soothing the horses, while working efficiently.
Trimming hooves, applying medicine, oiling.
Throughout the process, nearly all of Leo’s actions relied on muscle memory, requiring little thought.
His attention, meanwhile, was focused on observing the memory fragments of these horses.
That was his true objective.
Only in this way could he justifiably approach these horses.
However, during this process, almost all the Golden Knights paid him little attention, simply allowing Leo to work below, demonstrating extremely strong discipline.
Only the knight captain in the distance kept his eyes fixed tightly on Leo, not relaxing for even a second.