Chapter 24: Karen Hughes, Reporting to Your Highness

The next day. On the outskirts of the Howling Wolf Forest.

The thin mist began to dissipate, and the morning light was sliced into fine golden foil by layers of leaves, scattering across the damp moss and fallen foliage. The air carried the faint, raw scent of earth. A grey hare squatted silently on the grass, nibbling on the tender green shoots. Its ears twitched left and right, its damp nose quivering in the air—only after confirming that there was nothing but the rustling of wind through the treetops did it lower its head once more. Clearly, it would flee at the slightest sign of danger.

*Swish!*

With the sharp vibration of a bowstring, an arrow shot from the bushes like a venomous snake. The keen arrowhead cut through the air, producing a faint, whistling sound. Upon hearing it, the hare sensed the danger; its ears snapped upright, and its body tilted backward, preparing to bolt. However, the arrow was far too swift. Before its hind legs could even push off, the shaft pierced the center of its brow, exiting through the back of its skull and carrying a spray of crystalline blood droplets with it.

*Thud.*

The hare collapsed, convulsed for a moment, and then went still. Two figures emerged from the bushes: one, a tall and handsome young man with black hair; the other, a stern-faced, slender youth with brown hair. Upon seeing the hare with its head pierced by a single shot, the cold expression on the brown-haired youth’s face was instantly replaced by profound astonishment.

"My Lord, have you... have you been blessed by the God of Storms and the Hunt?" Berg asked, stunned. As a hunter, he naturally understood how difficult it was to train an archer. It required not only extraordinary eyesight and mental fortitude but also countless hours of repetitive, tedious practice. Even for him, without the foundation his father had laid since childhood, it would have been difficult to possess such precision. And that was not to mention his Lord, who had performed such a "divine shot"—the change that had occurred in just one day was so earth-shattering, as if he were an entirely different person.

"I was merely being a little more focused," Xia Mingyu said, his gaze gradually clearing as he held the bow. Although Berg was his attendant, he had no intention of revealing the nature of his abilities; he understood well that one can easily err by saying too much.

*Step, step, step.*

Just then, another hare emerged from the tall grass and darted toward the bushes ahead.

*Transcendent Focus, activate!*

Xia Mingyu took an arrow from the quiver on Berg’s back, nocked it with practiced ease, and drew the bow, his arm suddenly surging with strength as he released the shot. The movement was fluid, devoid of any unnecessary stiffness.

*Swish!*

The arrow embedded itself precisely into the right eye of the running hare, exiting through the left to draw a spray of blood. A perfect kill!

"Often, the conscious mind is merely a burden to the body..." Xia Mingyu thought to himself as he looked at the hare’s carcass, a silent realization dawning upon him.

Berg, having witnessed the entire process, was left completely dumbfounded. The archery he had spent over a decade honing, day and night, his Lord had caught up to in a mere single day! Berg suddenly felt utterly useless.

"My Lord, am I... am I quite useless?" Berg asked gloomily on the way back to the village, carrying the two dead hares.

"You are my loyal attendant and my most precious treasure. Believe in yourself." Xia Mingyu smiled faintly and patted the youth on the back in encouragement. He was only putting on a small show; he certainly didn't want his primary combat asset to lose his fighting spirit.

"Yes, my Lord! I will never fail to live up to the surname you have bestowed upon me. One day, I will become a dragon hunter just like that Lord Chu from your hometown!" The boy, having never been "gaslit" before, immediately regained his fighting spirit.

"Heh, I believe in you..."

The two figures gradually vanished into the morning mist of the forest.

...

At the entrance of Fruit Basket Village.

"Lord Mingyu, I bring you greetings on behalf of my master, Viscount Karon Hughes."

As soon as they arrived, Xia Mingyu saw the knight named Solin, who had come to collect taxes earlier, kneeling respectfully on one knee before him. This scene made Xia Mingyu feel slightly nervous, but outwardly, he maintained an air of detachment, asking in an indifferent tone:

"What brings you here?"

"My master has heard of your arrival, and he considers it a great honor. Therefore, he intends to bring a modest gift and pay his respects to you at the hour of the midday sun. I hope you will consent."

Knight Solin spoke with great reverence, his weathered face filled with anticipation. At these words, Xia Mingyu’s heart began to race. He knew that the nobility, the ruling class of the kingdom, were not as easily fooled as the villagers or knights of Fruit Basket Village. A single misstep could lead to his identity being exposed and his blood being spilled on the spot.

"Very well. I, too, look forward to meeting your master."

Despite his inner turmoil, Xia Mingyu agreed calmly. Through the experiences of these past few days since his arrival, he understood that blind avoidance would not improve his situation; only bold advancement could provide a way to break the deadlock. Of course, the primary reason was that he knew full well that while the Lord sounded polite through Knight Solin’s words, it was ultimately just a matter of "courtesy before force." To come and pay respects was to give him face. If he refused, the next person to arrive would not be Knight Solin alone, but a squad of fierce and battle-hardened soldiers ready to slaughter.

"My Lord, thank you for your grace. My master shall not be a moment late!"

Upon hearing this, Knight Solin was overjoyed. He stood up slowly, bowed deeply, and then swiftly leaped onto his tall steed, galloping toward the location where Viscount Hughes was temporarily staying. He could not wait to share the good news with his master.

"My Lord, you are truly extraordinary. Even Viscount Hughes must come to pay his respects to you," Berg could not help but praise. To everyone in the village, Viscount Hughes was a legendary figure, rarely seen by commoners. Throughout the Black Wolf Territory and its surrounding lands, the heroism and benevolence of Viscount Hughes were widely praised. Some said he cherished his people and had set the lowest taxes in the entire Kingdom of Sosia. Others said he was a fierce warrior who had once defeated multiple foes in battle, single-handedly slaying several enemy knights and earning the reputation of the "Howling Wolf." Yet, even such a prominent figure had to personally bring gifts to visit his Lord. What an honor! Berg felt that becoming the Lord's attendant was the greatest stroke of fortune in his life, enough to offset all the hardships he had ever endured. He gazed at his Lord with unfaltering loyalty.

"Sigh, if I had known this would happen, I should have studied acting instead of psychology," Xia Mingyu thought with a bitter smile, feeling the "intense" gaze of the youth beside him.