Chapter 22: Chapter 22: Hunting and Finding a Beautiful Maiden

Despite spring having descended upon the Northern Territory, the cold wind was still biting.Sif's hands tightly gripped the reins, her fingertips long since numb.The warhorse beneath her was panting heavily, its four hooves stumbling, and its sweat quickly frosting in the cold night.Faster. just a bit faster.Behind her was the burning fire of the Cold Moon Tribe, bought with her brother's life.No turning back, no stopping."Run south, never return!"Sigal's roar still echoed in her mind, like a nail driven deep into Sif's soul.Sigal was dead, as were her father, mother, brothers, and sisters.But she was still alive in disgrace, like an abandoned ghost, wandering this world with no place to call home.Not knowing where to go, she just kept fleeing south.The food had long been eaten up, and Sif could only quench her thirst with river water and barely stave off hunger with tree bark and some wild fruits.After several days, the warhorse finally exhausted its strength, letting out a long neigh before collapsing.Sif also tumbled down from the horse's back, heavily hitting the ground.She wanted to stand up, but couldn't even move a finger.Her consciousness gradually drifted, and Sigal's face appeared in her mind.I'm sorry, brother. I can't go on.Her vision gradually blurred, and Sif's consciousness sank into darkness.A mighty troop from the Red Tide was marching northward.The hunters were focused, and the knights looked around vigilantly, all wanting to perform well in the hunt.After all, this hunt was personally led by the Lord.And Louis, wrapped in a thick wolf fur cloak, swayed slightly as he rode his warhorse.A trail of chaotic animal tracks appeared on the wasteland.An experienced hunter immediately squatted down to examine them, speaking in a low voice: "Lord, there are signs of rabbit activity ahead, and not just one."Louis nodded gently, slowly drew the short bow from his waist, nocked an arrow, and squinted ahead.Sure enough, beside a clump of withered grass not far away, a gray-white rabbit cautiously poked its head out."Whoosh - "The arrow shot through the air, its speed nearly invisible, and instantly pierced through the rabbit's neck with precision!The rabbit rolled over, twitched twice, and then lost all signs of life."Great shot!""As expected of the Lord!"The hunters and knights immediately applauded and cheered, each trying to flatter."Indeed the Lord is skilled in both literature and martial arts, even hunting with such precision!""With such archery, even the Kingdom's Imperial Hunters may feel ashamed!""If our Northern Province had a hundred such sharpshooters, what would we fear of a Barbarian Race invasion?""Yes, yes!