Chapter 8 Rogue Knight
As we go further north, the original broad-leaved forests around the road are gradually replaced by spruce and pine trees.

The temperature also changed from the sultry heat of Jianling to cooler temperatures.

"Ahead is our last stop before entering the Northern Frost Principality, the Pine Cone Village at the entrance of the Cold Wind Corridor."

While leading the troops forward, Rhodes opened the map to determine the location, "After resting and replenishing supplies there, we will try to enter the principality before dark."

Because of the time spent on suppressing bandits and training along the way, the delay was much longer than Rhodes had calculated.

The original plan was to leave the Golden Sword Territory within ten days, but in reality, fifteen days had passed since they arrived at Songguo Village on the border.

But the time spent is not important; what matters is the effect after spending it.

Rhodes looked at the soldiers behind him. The repeated bloody combat and military formation exercises had transformed them. They walked with their heads held high and their chests puffed out, looking somewhat elite.

Based on this training efficiency, by the time they arrive in the northern border, this team will be able to stand on its own and deal with the threat from the barbarians.

The wisps of smoke rising in the distance provided them with clear guidance, and the team approached the village.

But Noah and Holmes, who were walking in front, soon noticed something was wrong and their expressions turned grim.

There were many dark red stains on the dirt road leading into the village, which were blood that had not yet coagulated.

Many arrows and wooden spears were stuck in the soil and wooden walls, and broken fence wood was scattered all over the ground.
A conflict broke out here not long ago, and judging from the scattered weapons, it was not a small scale.

"Sir, there is something going on ahead!"

The two of them sped up to Rhodes' side and kept alert all around.

Twelve knight attendants were distributed in a fan shape, guarding around them.

"We'll know if we go in and take a look. The other party hasn't gone far." Rhodes drove his horse into the village and continued inward along the main road.

The houses outside were very quiet, and looking inside through several smashed doors, there was no one inside.

Following the direction of the smoke, Rhodes and his companions came to an open space in the center of the village, with the local lord's small castle behind them.

This open space was originally the place where the lord gathered villagers to discuss matters.

But at this moment it is occupied by a group of uninvited guests.

The villagers in the village are now gathered here, squatting in the corner in panic.

Many villagers set up hanging stoves to cook food, and cautiously carried the cooked large pieces of meat to the center of the open space.

There, there was an armed group of nearly a hundred people with various equipment.

Rhodes took a quick look and saw armor ranging from leather to chain mail, and weapons were also not uniform, including swords, sticks, etc.

They don't look like an army, but more like a group of mercenaries or thieves put together from the get-go.

The approaching footsteps of Rhodes and others quickly attracted the attention of everyone present.

When the villagers on the road ahead saw their fully armed troops, they became even more frightened and quickly made way.

Rhodes stopped and looked towards the core of the group.

He was the only man wearing plate armor, sitting on the ground with a lazy expression, pouring wine into his mouth.

The most eye-catching thing was a giant white-haired wolf more than three meters long crawling behind him.

The two jaws protruding forward kept biting something, making a terrifying chewing sound.

"Look, the real knights have arrived." The man looked at them and laughed, "It's a pity that our baron can't come out to greet him. I feel sorry for him."

His words made the surrounding thieves look up and burst into laughter as if they had heard a joke.

Rhodes looked up following their gaze and found a corpse hanging on the wooden frame above, still dripping with fresh blood.

Judging from his noble dress, he is most likely the lord or baron here.

It seems that the baron failed to defend his territory and the village was breached by this gang of thieves.

"Sir, that's 'rogue knight' Peggy. We'd better not get into a conflict with him." At this time, Holmes came to Rhode's side and whispered a warning in a tense tone. While suppressing bandits along the way, Rhode also noticed many high-level wanted notices issued by nobles.

Those who are on the wanted list and still live happily outside are all strong knights, and the "rogue knight" Peggy in front of him is one of them.

He was originally a minor noble in the north of the kingdom, but later he killed his feudal lord, looted his property, and fled to become a wandering knight.

The most notable feature is the giant white wolf he carries with him, which he raised since childhood.

A first-level magic wolf evolved from an ordinary winter wolf - the Ice Blade Wolf.

Just as humans can become knights by constantly eating and training, Rhodes knows that other creatures can also accumulate magic power and step into the first level of transcendence.

This process is somewhat similar to biological enrichment. The higher the ecological niche of an organism, the greater the possibility of accumulating magic power, and thus the easier it is to evolve.

"Great, we can totally get along in harmony right? Do you want to have some together?"

Peggy looked at the invading army and suppressed the greed in her eyes.

He waved his hand, and the men around him quickly retreated, making half of the space available.

Holmes breathed a sigh of relief when he saw this. They were not at an advantage in terms of either the number of knights or the size of their team. It would be best if they could avoid conflict.

"Was it your people who did it?" Rhodes said without moving.

Peggy followed his gaze and saw the baron's body above her head, then she spread her hands out indifferently.

"Don't get me wrong. Our Baron Morton has not only imposed heavy taxes for years, but also smuggled grain to the barbarians in the north. The villagers here have long been dissatisfied with him. I am just executing this traitor on behalf of the king."

"They should thank me. If you don't believe me, you can ask the villagers here."

Among the villagers in the corner, the village chief, a middle-aged man who used to manage the village for the baron, walked out tremblingly.

Under Peggy's cold gaze, the village chief nodded repeatedly and denounced the baron's atrocities through gritted teeth.

Until a familiar woman's scream interrupted his words.

"Lily!"

The village chief stopped immediately and looked towards the direction where the voice came from with a panicked expression. It was his daughter's voice!

At this moment, his daughter Lily, who was supposed to be hiding at home, was roughly dragged out of the house.

The thief dragged her to an open space and tore off her clothes with a hideous grin, exposing most of her skin as she screamed helplessly.

Just as he was pulling at his belt, an arrow pierced his throat.

"This is not quite what you said." Rhodes put down the bow and raised his palm.

The knights and attendants behind him all drew their swords.

The village chief hurriedly ran towards his daughter, while in the open space, the "rogue knight" Peggy's face turned fierce.

With this arrow, the stalemate was broken.

The boiling hanging stove was kicked over, and the thieves, waving long knives, rushed over with bared fangs and claws, roaring and colliding with the oncoming soldiers.

Roars, curses, the crisp sound of weapons, the dull sound of shields, along with splattering blood and swinging severed limbs, all set the battlefield on fire!
The collision of cold weapons is primitive and brutal, yet carries an indescribable bloody appeal.

Rhodes' attention was not here. The knights and followers would command the shield and spear formation for him, so he didn't need to worry about it.

The biggest threat is not these insignificant thieves.

At the moment the battle broke out, Knight Holmes' body was tense and his eyes were fixed on Peggy and the Ice Blade Wolf behind him.

Just when he was estimating how long he could hold off the two knight-level fighters.

He suddenly noticed something was wrong as a figure passed by.

Knight Holmes was horrified to find that the delicate Duke's son beside him actually rushed forward first!

(End of this chapter)