Chapter 18 (1/2)
Although the children from the village does not have much knowledge and does not understand any great logic, their independent working capabilities are very strong. More than 20 children working together, distributing the work, a batch digging the foundation at the spot, even if it is building a thatch house, a basic foundation is still required or the built thatch house cannot be used for more than a few days. A few girls go and pick straw and branches, another older batch, children with some strength, prepares to carry the tools to cut some bigger solid wood to be used as foothold for the thatch house.
Seeing the children being busy, Liang Li Dong feels that there is nothing for him here anymore. He says to Kyle who is preparing to help at the side: “Don’t be in a hurry to go over, I need your help with something. You said yesterday that there is many ferocious beasts on the mountains north of the village. Can you bring me over there for a look, I have something I want to do.”
Kyle’s face shows happiness: “Sure, no problem.”
Young people are impulsive by nature, the newborn calves are not afraid of tigers. If an adult heard this request of Liang Li Dong, there are many ferocious beasts on northern mountains, for their own safety, they will most probably think twice but Kyle is not afraid, he ran back home to fetch his iron sword first and then excitedly brings Liang Li Dong to the mountains at the north. After walking past 2 hills, there is an even taller and bigger mountain range before them, numerous peaks stretch out to the distance, lush forest covers the whole mountain range, because the terrain is quite high, it is possible to see clouds shrouding the peak.
“That is the largest group of mountains in the northern side in front, many ferocious beasts live here, big snake that is a few meters long, big tigers and forest wolves.” Kyle looks a bit angry: “It’s summer now, they have things to eat in the forest so they rarely come near our village but when it comes to winter, snow seals the mountains, there will occasionally be ferocious beasts charging into the village, running off with cows or sheep is nothing, last year, the Nicholas’ little daughter was taken away by tiger.”
Cries of ferocious beasts can be heard faintly from the peak, Liang Li Dong nods to show understanding, he has seen too much of things like this in the game and has partic.i.p.ated in quest to hunt wild beasts near villages himself too.
“Teacher, what do you intend to do coming here?” Kyle asks curiously.
“I intend to contract a magical pet.” Spellcaster having magical pet is not anything strange, there is no need to hide: “I have many things I want to do now, magical pet is akin to spellcaster’s a.s.sistant, with it, the things I want to do will be more convenient.”
“Magical pet?” It is the first time Kyle heard of this term, he continues to ask curiously: “What does that mean?”
“It is using magic to embed a small piece of your own soul into the consciousness of natural creatures and fuse with it.” Liang Li Dong tries to use easy to understand words to introduce it to him: “As for the natural creature that obtained spellcaster’s soul shard and knowledge, it will evolve into magic beast and possess special ability, under the premise of preserving its independent consciousness, connect with the spellcaster in mind and soul. It can be said to be spellcaster’s special doppelganger and it has the ability to learn, the learnt knowledge will gradually feedback to spellcaster’s soul.”
Kyle is shocked: “That powerful? Then contract 8 or 10 magical pets, let them read books, won’t that mean there is no need to study anymore? And more than 10 fighting against one is very advantageous.”
“It’s not that simple!” Liang Li Dong smiles: “Only 1 magical pet can only be contracted. Maybe there is someone who can contract 2 or more magical pets but I have never heard of it. The spellcaster that can fight one with 8 or 10, that is the Summoner Cla.s.s. Summoned creature is different from magical pet. Firstly, summoned creature belongs to fantasy creature, they normally come from Heaven Realm or Devil Realm. They have limited projection time in the main world. They will vanish once time’s up and Heaven Realm and Devil Realm’s creature are harder to control. Times when they do not listen to orders are common. If there is no specialized skill, there is a chance of being killed by summoned creature. Other than Heaven Realm and Devil Realm’s creature, the other 2 relatively special Summoners are Necromancer and Undead Warlock. These 2 types of spellcaster play with corpses for fun, is hunted by everyone, you don’t need to know too much. If you have the chance to meet these 2 types of people, cut them up if you can beat them, run if you cannot, understand?”
Kyle was listening with interest, he scratches his head and says: “Teacher, can you tell me more about spellcaster and Cla.s.s-ers?”
“If there is a chance in the future, I will tell you in detail.” Liang Li Dong pats lightly on Kyle’s head, although his looks is not much older than young man, this action was done like it is very natural, the latter does not feel it is strange too. He says slowly: “I need to contract a magical pet to increase my strength now so I have to find a powerful ferocious beast. You can come along too, it is good to broaden your horizons too.”
Kyle nods vigorously, he naturally cannot ask for more of things like this.
With a snap of finger, Driving Fog skill activates once again, Kyle stands within it and feels very safe. He follows behind Liang Li Dong, walks a few steps and then exclaims: “Teacher, the range of the thick fog seems to be larger.”
“Yup, 50 meters more in radius.” Liang Li Dong smiles: “Because my strength is a bit stronger now.”
“If a magical pet is contracted, Teacher will become stronger, right.” Kyle says enviously: “If I have the strength of Teacher, I think Grandfather will not stop me from becoming a mercenary.”
“I’m actually not that strong.” Liang Li Dong advises: “Your grandfather is doing it for your own good, after all you’re the only child of the Reeds and your parents are not around anymore, if something were to happen to you too, it will be the end of the Reeds. Maybe you feel that becoming a mercenary, travelling around is very carefree but in actual fact, a mercenary’s life is very harsh and your abilities now is not sufficient to become a mercenary.”
Kyle is slightly not convinced: “I feel I can already, at least in the villager, other than Teacher, no one is a match for me. And, I have sparred with some mercenaries in the city, other than a small portion that I cannot defeat, the rest are not my match.”
“Mercenaries in the city?” Liang Li Dong laughs happily: “Mercenaries that cannot even defeat you can be called a mercenary? Kyle, you’re obviously deceived, once a real mercenary made a move, even if you do not die, you will lose half of your life because of perpetually living in danger, once they made a move, it is on fatal points, this is already an instinct. With my strength now, it is already the lowest among mercenaries, if I were to deal with you now, there is no need for weapons or spell casting, one hand is sufficient.”
Kyle says unconvinced: “Teacher is stronger than me, I naturally believe but you not using spells and defeating me with just a hand, I don’t believe. No matter what, I have practiced swordsmans.h.i.+p after all.”
“Strength is one thing and then mercenary’s common knowledge is another thing.” Liang Li Dong snaps a thorn vine with a step, ignores the little fellow’s provocation and continues walking up the mountain. Now the roars from the peak are getting more and more obvious: “Strength is only a stepping stone to becoming a mercenary. To become a reliable mercenary, one has to learn many skills. If you’re not a spellcaster, you have to learn how to fight with many kinds of weapons, maintaining weapons and armors because most of the time, you have no way of using your specialized weapon to fight. You have to learn to differentiate the weather changes, know basic botany, zoology, study of magical beasts; You have to know how to start a fire in a damp environment without flint or help from spellcaster. You have to know how to swim, how to not make any sound on trees, how to track preys, how to anti-track……”
Kyle almost cannot open his eyes just by listening: “Mercenary have to learn so many things, then why is that many mercenaries that I saw does not look very knowledgeable.”
“Mercenaries that do not even possess these basic knowledge normally do not live long.”
Kyle suddenly feels like a bucket of cold water splashed onto his head, all his hot blood immediately cools down: “Teacher is also not a mercenary, how do you know what a mercenary must learn!”
“Who said I was not a mercenary before, I at least have 6 years of mercenary’s experience.” Liang Li Dong supplements in his mind: It’s just that it’s in the game.
Kyle’s mouth opens very wide.
“Seeing my fair skin and tender flesh, a look of a n.o.ble young master, doesn’t look like it, right.” Liang Li Dong turns his head, smiles and asks instead.
Kyle nods vigorously, he swallows a breath: “Teacher’s age is not that older than me, you said you have 6 years of mercenary’s experience, could it be you’re a qualified mercenary when you were 12 or 13 years old?”
“Who told you I’m only around 20 years old! Cla.s.s-ers are different from ordinary people, the stronger they are, the longer their lives are. You cannot judge a Cla.s.s-er’s age from their looks.” Liang Li Dong explains: “I met a young girl that looks like 12 years old once. She is ridiculously strong and in actual fact, she was already 174 years old. And at that time, she was still considered a child. She told me herself once that her adulthood is around 536 years old.”
Kyle’s mouth opens even wider, it can already contain his own fist: “What is this girl’s name, how can she live so long?”
“Human-dragon mixed blood, Fire Dragon King Margaret, the strongest humanoid.” Liang Li Dong continues explaining: “Typically, human Cla.s.s-ers’ lifespan can reach 140 years. Cla.s.s-ers that are stronger may live up to around 200 years. If there is special bloodline, their lifespans will be even longer. And those that have special bloodline have slightly different looks from ordinary people, it is very conspicuous.”
“For example, like Teacher?” Kyle points to Liang Li Dong’s bright gold hair.
Typically, ordinary people’s blond hair is dark tone but Liang Li Dong’s bright gold hair is different, it seems to have a weak light source itself. It is very dazzling even in the dark and the l.u.s.ter is very clean, just like strands of gold crystal thread, have to say it is very pretty.
Liang Li Dong touches his hair. In the game, his hair color is not so conspicuous and is just like ordinary people but now, it is way too ‘pretty’ and is kind of like Margaret’s hair nature. The difference is Margaret’s hair is a pa.s.sionate fiery red and very long, almost reaching the heel.
Maybe it is because of Cloud Dragon bloodline, Liang Li Dong guesses.
Seeing that Liang Li Dong did not answer, Kyle takes it as silent consent from the former, he continues to ask: “Teacher, how old are you exactly?”
“Make a guess!” Liang Li Dong keeps it in suspense.
“How can I guess this.” Kyle is slightly helpless.