Evil dragon has a warm heart
Chapter 207 - 207 206 Touch My Horn

Chapter 207: Chapter 206 Touch My Horn Chapter 207: Chapter 206 Touch My Horn The only downside to the Thunder Beasts pulling carts was the slow speed, which couldn’t compare to the swiftness and convenience of horse-drawn carriages.

Essentially, horse-drawn carriages could pass three to four Cold Spring Points in a day, while the Thunder Beast-drawn carts could only manage two from dawn to dusk.

A journey along the Mountain River Trade Route that would take horse-drawn carriages only three to four days would take five to six days with Thunder Beast-drawn carts.

With the extended time, the variables increased as well.

Therefore, Thunder Beast-drawn carts only operated on the trade route for a brief period around the peak of the hot season; during the ice period and its adjacent times, Thunder Beasts seldom ran on the trade route, being used only within the territory for transporting goods.

But even just a few trips of the Thunder Beast-drawn carts could transport an amount of goods that rivaled the annual haul of horse-drawn carriages.

Especially for bulk resources like coal and food, nothing could replace the Thunder Beast-drawn carts.

The sky hadn’t yet dimmed, but it was insufficient to sustain travel to the third Cold Spring Point, so the caravan camped early at the second Cold Spring Point.

Russell, bored, stood in the icy snow watchtower above the courtyard, scanning the surrounding environment.

This Cold Spring Point was one he had only passed by without stopping before.

“Over there, to the west-norwest, is that Snow Forest?” He noticed a dim grey line around the snowline.

“Yes,” Eric responded dully.

“Snow Forest, hmm…” Russell glanced at the sky, wanting to stroll around Snow Forest, yet he thought it might be better to wait until nightfall to ride the Little Dream Dragon and explore.

Just at this moment.

A faint and odd whispering sound suddenly reached his ear, not from the Fantasy Beasts guarding the caravan, but a stranger Fantasy Beast whisper, “Humans, come and go in haste, I only need to hide in Snow Forest for one night and tomorrow, I can return.”

“Hmm?” Russell narrowed his eyes, focusing on the grey line at the horizon.

The whisper of this Fantasy Beast was soft, but the tone was very clear and the speech coherent.

It was much more pleasant than the nonsensical murmurings of the dim-witted creatures like the Quiet Light Scorpions.

Of course, what truly excited Russell was hearing the whisper of a wild Fantasy Beast, right there in the Snow Forest ahead.

“Eric.”

“Sir.”

“How about accompanying me for a walk in Snow Forest?”

Eric looked at the sky and said in a muffled voice, “Sir, we must make it quick.”

“Good, let’s take a stroll,” Russell replied without hesitation and, along with Eric, returned to the Cold Spring Point to mount their freshly fed warhorses, galloping towards the Snow Forest to the west-northwest.

Kevin the Gold and Silver Wolfhound and Jerry the Red-eyed Rat King accompanied them.

At this time, Baron Marcus was just coming up to inspect the sentries and saw Russell and Eric leaving, then he called out to the knight on watch, “Where are they going?”

“Lord Russell and Sir Eric are going to take a loop around Snow Forest.”

“Reckless!”

“Sir, should we call them back?” asked the knight.

Baron Marcus frowned, watching the two riders grow smaller in the distance, and said coldly, “No need, let them fool around!”

“Yes, Sir,” replied the knights, who didn’t ask any further.

Baron Marcus stayed at his post rather than returning to the Cold Spring Point. He was worried about Russell and wanted to be vigilant in case he needed to provide rapid support.

No matter how much he disliked Russell, Russell was still Baron Roman’s son, and if anything happened to him, it would be difficult to explain to Baron Roman.

…

Snow Forest drew near in a flash.

The glow of the setting sun pierced through the light snow, casting mottled shadows over the needle-leaf forest, which was not very large.

Even though it wasn’t expansive, a full loop would take at least half an hour, and Russell clearly didn’t have that much time.

Moreover, he didn’t have an Ice Pellet Pearl to activate the Quiet Dream Stare Skill in his hand, so he could only take a quick look while riding through.

Clearly, circling around yielded no results.

Neither the Fantasy Beast behind the whispers nor any signs of Fairies living in the tree could be found, so there was no choice but to head back.

Just as the warhorse took its first step, a curious whisper floated to his ears: “Pale golden hair, I like this man, if I can see him again, I hope he will touch my single horn, but the prerequisite is that he can find me.”

“Hmm?” Russell reined in his warhorse.

“Sir,” Eric rushed a few steps forward before realizing he needed to turn his mount around, “Is there something amiss?”

“No,” Russell narrowed his eyes.

He suspected that the Fantasy Beast’s whisper he’d just heard was a provocation, believing that he couldn’t find it with its single horn.

If it weren’t for the fact that the sun was about to sink beneath the snowline, he would have turned the Snow Forest upside down.

Gazing deeply into the Snow Forest.

Only then did Russell slowly urge his warhorse onward, continuing towards Cold Spring Point while saying, “Eric.”

“Sir, please give your instructions.”

“I always have the feeling that there’s a gaze in this Snow Forest, watching us. It’s a strong sensation, like needles in my back.”

“Hmm?” Eric didn’t understand, “I don’t feel it.”

“I do, and that’s enough. Wake me up early tomorrow morning, we’ll explore this Snow Forest again.”

Although he did not see the necessity, Eric would carry out Russell’s instructions without question: “Yes, Sir.”

At that moment, another strange whisper reached Russell’s ears: “The Snow Forest is so cold, although I’m not afraid of the cold, I hate it, as well as those ugly blue-green creatures… It would be nice to have a fire to warm up.”

This led Russell to ponder: “This single-horned Fantasy Beast, it’s actually afraid of the cold? Should I make a fire in the Snow Forest early tomorrow morning to lure it out?”

He pondered all the way back to Cold Spring Point.

Baron Marcus was standing atop the watchtower. Seeing the two return, he asked with a stern face, “Lord Russell, as a Knight guarding the caravan, leaving at will is not a good habit. You put both yourself and the caravan in danger!”

“With Baron Marcus guarding the caravan, I am very reassured,” Russell responded indifferently, “Moreover, I just took a quick stroll in the Snow Forest, I didn’t delay anything.”

“Nothing this time, but I can’t guarantee there won’t be a next time.”

“Isn’t there still you?”

“These are the rules for the caravan’s guards, Russell!”

“I am still learning, Lord Markus.” Russell looked at Marcus, his tone even, but his stance firm.

Marcus stared coldly at him for a moment and said, “I will report your conduct to Lord Baron exactly as it happened.”

“As you please,” Russell replied.

“Watch yourself!” Marcus turned and entered the courtyard.

It was originally a trivial matter, but he was clearly emotional.

Even though he had come to accept that Malena was not worthy of Russell, the fact that Russell looked down on his daughter had always irked him. So in every way he looked at Russell, he found him displeasing and took the opportunity to vent over a trifle.

Russell was well aware of this.

“Sir, shall we continue to explore the Snow Forest tomorrow morning?” asked Eric.

“Why not,” Russell smiled, “Lord Markus is all bark and no bite. He’ll take good care of the caravan. Besides learning, my father also means for me to broaden my horizons at Red Castle.”

As he spoke, he gestured towards a carriage nearby: “Moreover, I have to deliver the White Dew Dragon cigars to the Duke.”

“Yes,” Eric nodded.

“Enough about that. Let’s turn in early tonight, we’ll wake up early tomorrow for the Snow Forest. If we happen to find a Fantasy Beast, we’ll make a fortune!” After finishing his plain dinner, Russell crawled straight into his sleeping bag.

Going to bed early meant waking up early to venture into the Snow Forest at night, to determine what the Fantasy Beast was and where it was hiding.

Moreover, the Little Dream Dragon was still waiting for a feast.