Chapter 342 The Devil Opened His Scarlet Eyes

The wind blows from the mountains toward the land.

Puffs of clouds drifted across the sun and hovered over the jagged forest.

The big griffin flew across the sky, and the strong wind it brought with it tore the clouds into pieces, turning them into a huge shadow that covered the earth.

The dark green jagged edges cut through the towering mountains.

The witcher reined in his horse.

In front of us is a wide river that divides the endless forest into two.

“A tributary of the Alba River.” Vesemir pulled a map from his saddle bag and compared his index finger with the lines on the yellowed leather map.

"It looks like we can only chase it here today." Ailin squinted his eyes and looked at the back of the giant griffin, but after stopping for more than ten seconds, the huge body had turned into a small black dot, hidden by the oak tree.

It was the summer flood season, and in front of the oak tree, the tributary of the Alba River was turbulent and rapid, with surging water.

In the game, Geralt can jump into a stream, a river or the sea, and he can swim anywhere as long as he is not afraid of wasting time.

But the reality is different.

Although the armor worn by the two demon hunters was not heavy, being medium armor with a mixture of leather and metal for defense, they had no choice but to sink after jumping into the river.

But the turbulent current would certainly not allow them to sink safely to the bottom, so the killer whales had to cross the riverbed underwater and reach the other side.

With such a fast-flowing water, there's no telling where the witcher might be washed away.

Even if you accidentally hit your head against a rock and faint, you will find yourself lying in Sintra when you wake up...

Do not!
Depending on the course of the Alba River, it might even lie in the port of Niuburg.

"It seems so." The Demon Hunter Master held the charcoal pencil tied to the map with a black line and drew a cross on the map. "Let's go. Ride along the river. Today we will find the place to cross the river. Tomorrow we will wait for the big griffin on the other side."

“This way we can avoid the crowds.”

Ailin nodded slightly and pulled the reins.

Radish lowered his head to drink the river water, twitched his ears, snorted reluctantly a few times, then raised his head and paced along the river.

"Witchers hunt monsters, that's it..." Vesemir looked out at the direction of the Alba River tributary. "It takes a long time to kill a few water ghosts that ran into farmers' homes and stole chickens, ducks and livestock."

"Large monsters usually build their nests in deep mountains and forests. It's very rare to find their location within a week."

"Master Vesemir, I am patient." Ailin knew that Vesemir was worried that he was impatient and didn't have the patience to hunt monsters in the traditional way.

"That's good." Vesemir curled the corners of his mouth in relief.

I don’t know why, but the monsters that were rarely seen in the past few years are like crazy this year. They appear one after another without me having to actively look for them.

The Ice King, the Giant Swamp Fairy, the Demon Spirit, the Great Griffin, the White Widow, the Giant Ghoul...

Since coming down the mountain at the beginning of the year, the two demon hunters have killed many monsters at an unusual frequency, and most of them are very powerful.

I heard that Ailin also dealt with a lot when he was alone.

It was as if a wizard had cast a spellbinding ritual on the two of them.

They earned a lot of bounties from these monsters, and Aelin became a noble of Elland as soon as he became a demon hunter by using these monsters.

Therefore, Vesemir was indeed a little worried that he would treat the exception as the norm and lose the calmness of a witcher who patiently hunted monsters.

This is very dangerous for the demon hunter.

He had noticed this problem since returning to Kaer Morhen from Elland.

If his traveling apprentices in the past had shown such signs, he would have directly reprimanded them, or even beaten them up, and they would have definitely changed.

But Aelin...

how to say……

His strength increased so quickly that even Vesemir couldn't understand it.

In the past, it could be said that it was because of the Demon Hunter's Eye, but just a few days ago, Ailin easily killed a giant ghoul relying only on Axi and that strange roar.

Vesemir was sure that if it were a month ago, without the various magical potions, he could still fight with Arryn.

just now.

He should... should be no match for Ailin at all.

How to persuade this?

fortunately……

"Fortunately, Arryn is still the same mature and reliable as before." Vesemir breathed a sigh of relief.

We chatted as we rode upstream along the river bank, but we found no shallows or bridge.

The river splits into two at the end.

After some effort, the witcher successfully crossed the obstacle of the forest on the opposite side and turned one river into two rivers.

“Let’s go back and walk downstream.” Vesemir reluctantly marked the bifurcated nameless river on the map. “Horton is right. The Wolf School has come to Aedirn too seldom.”

"If we were in Kaedwen, Redania, or Temeria, we could at least follow the atlas and walk all the way to the foot of Mount Adria..."

When Ailin heard this, he looked up.

The perennially frozen peaks of Adria seemed further away.

“By the way,” Vesemir lightly kicked the horse’s belly with his feet to make the horse go faster, “When the witchers go to Kaer Morhen to spend the winter at the end of the year, don’t forget to copy a copy of the atlas.”

"Next year, you'll have to rely on the atlas to find your way."

Arryn was stunned for a moment when he heard this, and then realized the hidden meaning in Vesemir's words.

"Isn't the Tour Trial five years?"

“Maybe for ordinary witchers,” Vesemir smiled warmly, “but I don’t think I have anything left to teach you.”

"How to meditate, how to hunt monsters, how to find a suitable place to rest..."

"There isn't much that can be taught through traveling trials."

"The reason why it takes five years is mainly because the demon hunters who have just passed the mountain trial are still too weak. It takes five years for the mutant blood transformed by the decoction to improve the demon hunter's strength, agility, physique, perception and magic power..."

"On the premise of learning how to survive in the city and in the wild, improve your swordsmanship and magic seals, as well as your understanding of different monsters."

"Furthermore, in five years, even if the traveling mentor is very stingy, the young demon hunter can make some connections and gain some fame, so as not to starve to death after leaving Kaer Morhen alone."

"But you, Aelin..."

Vesemir looked at Arryn with a softer and more proud look:

"You have already learned everything you need to learn."

"You are now even better than me in swordsmanship, magic seals, and physical fitness."

"I know this very well," he raised his hand to stop Ailin from speaking, "and it's not just me. You might even be able to surpass the chief soon."

"As for connections..."

Vesemir thought about it for a few seconds, smiled bitterly and shook his head.

"Ms. Vera and High Priest Ianna like you. Duke Mason of Elland has granted you the title of knight. The founders of Redania, the Kuhn family, have even given you the sword of the legendary hero Zatret Volta..."

"To be honest, Ailin, there are not many people I know who have such a high status."

"As for your reputation, I just heard a bard praising your deeds in the tavern yesterday..." The witcher master subconsciously glanced at Elsa behind Arryn, "I believe that by the end of the year, Kaer Morhen will have received so many invitations from you that they will fill up the entire pigeon box."

"Perhaps you haven't realized it yet, Ailin, but you are already a qualified Demon Hunter Master, even surpassing most Demon Hunter Masters of the Wolf School in all aspects."

"It would do you no good to travel with me next year. It would only allow me to take advantage of you." Vesemir said sincerely, as if he was trying desperately to get Arryn to leave.

But Ailin's heart was deeply moved.

Although half a year is not a long time, and we were not even together most of the time.

But Vesemir was truly selfless and taught him everything he knew without reservation, even doing things that went against his own principles many times, like hunting the great griffin this time.

Looking at Vesemir's soft dark golden cat eyes, Ailin had countless words he wanted to say.

But when he opened his mouth, he only said:
"Thank you, Master Vesemir."

Ailin leaned sideways and looked directly into Vesemir's dark golden cat eyes, his tone very sincere.

“Master Arryn,” Vesemir laughed, adjusting his black wide-brimmed hat. “From now on, just call me Vesemir.”

The birds resting in the woods were startled by the hearty laughter and flew away in all directions.

"Da da da~"

The horse's hooves trotted across the ground.

The weather gradually changed from hot and humid to cool.

The golden-green tributary of the Alba River flows between the piers of the Broken Bridge, and the river water sparkles in the setting sun.

“Can’t you find a way to cross the river downstream?”

Vesemir looked helplessly at the rotting wood and rusted rivets on the rushing river and sighed.

Often a bridge is built only at the location on a river that is most suitable for building a bridge.

Since there is a broken bridge here, based on Vesemir's past experience, even if he goes further downstream, it would probably be difficult to find a way to cross the river in a short time.

The damp wind blew across his cheeks, and Ailin looked up to the other side of the sparkling river.

Although he had just told Vesemir "I have patience", the half-day's useless efforts made the witcher, who was looking at the broken bridge, still feel a little annoyed.

He greatly hoped that a flying mount would suddenly appear and carry him to the other side.

"I have to cross the river to catch the flying mount, but I can't cross the river without the flying mount..."

"This is really fucked up."

Ailin sighed helplessly in his heart.

"This is how demon hunters hunt demons," Vesemir took a deep breath, both to comfort Arlin and to convince himself, "You'll get used to it."

"But places with bridges are usually close to villages or human settlements."

"When we get back to the main road, let's ask if there are any villages near this tributary of the Alba River."

"Hmm." Ailin sniffed the moist air with a faint fishy smell and let out a long breath.

Walk back and get on the horse.

"It would be great if we could deal with that big griffin in Vengerburg. It can swoop down into the narrow and cramped city, and with the help of the city guards, it will be dealt with quickly."

Vesemir jumped onto the brown horse, put on his black wide-brimmed hat, looked back at the distant mountains in the direction where the griffin flew, and sighed.

"Unfortunately, no." Ailin said regretfully.

Attacking a city is indeed the easiest state for the griffin to deal with.

In just a few moments, many images even appeared in his mind.

Climb up the tall buildings, jump, roll, and dodge between the buildings, and then jump onto the back of the big griffin that attacks the ground soldiers.

Then, when the monster was unhappy and turned around to attack, he threw the One-Eyed Clan's giant beast-catching rope, lassoed the eagle's head, and successfully subdued the giant griffin.

All in one go.

Unfortunately, even without talking about the neutrality principle of the Wolf School, he didn't want others to see the scene of using the giant beast of the One-Eyed Clan to capture the giant griffin.

"Yeah, it's a pity." Vesemir also sighed.

Just look at his tightly furrowed brows.

Obviously.

What Vesemir feels sorry for may be different from what Arryn feels sorry for.

The sun sets in the west and the sky becomes dark.

They didn't notice it when they were riding after the griffin, but when they returned, they found that they had strayed far from the main road.

And perhaps because the pressure from the great griffin was gone during the day, Vesemir and Arryn encountered several more waves of water ghosts, ghouls, and wild wolves.

The two things combined, until dusk completely enveloped the earth and the stars filled the sky, they returned to the main road of Aedirn from which they came.

It would be inappropriate to ask whether there were any villages near the tributaries of the Alba River at this time.

Besides, Erni, Klar and the others were still waiting for them at the inn.

then.

After the two witchers rode on the main road, they tacitly did not mention this point. They squeezed their hips against the horses' bellies and galloped quickly towards the direction of the inn.

……

Holding torches, the two witchers disguised themselves outside the village before leading their horses into the village.

The inn where the witchers are staying now is no longer the same one they stayed in when they left Vergen.

This hotel is close to Vengerberg, but also remote enough.

“I wonder if those brats got into any trouble today?” Vesemir muttered as he tied the black horse to the stable.

Since they were not allowed to reveal their identities as witchers to accept commissions, several young witchers were forced to stay in the inn these days, not leaving their rooms.

Out of boredom, they got into some serious trouble in the past two days and almost exposed their identities.

"He was punished yesterday, and with Erni and Klar in charge, there shouldn't be any big problems...right?" Ailin was also a little unconfident.

"hope so."

The two witchers walked to the inn.

There was a tavern on the first floor of the inn, with a few farmers sitting sparsely there and only a few glasses of ale on the table.

And the witcher knew that these glasses of beer might have been drunk by them all day.

The innkeeper was an elderly woman standing behind the bar, wiping cups idly. When she saw Arryn and Vesemir come in, she immediately came over to greet them.

after all.

They are big customers that this small hotel rarely has throughout the year.

"You two are back, I want to eat something..."

The woman was soliciting business with a flattering smile, but was suddenly interrupted by Vesemir's wave of his hand.

"Wait!" he said hurriedly.

A slight feeling of palpitations came over me, as if the lair of a sleeping dragon suddenly appeared behind me.

The two demon hunters turned around almost at the same time and rushed out of the inn.

north.

The low night sky flickered with red aurora, as if a demon had opened its scarlet eyes.

(End of this chapter)