Cornflower Witch

Chapter 220 Winter Heads South
The Fourth Continent, the Gale Season, Spring Wind Antelope Festival.

Horse-riding herdsmen gallop across the grassland, bows in hand, chasing and driving antelopes across the plains, then drawing their bows and shooting arrows, hitting their running prey one by one.

The Gazelle Festival is a harvest festival, not only because of the alternating winds and abundant rainfall, but also because of the abundance of gazelles during this season, making hunting more rewarding.

The herdsmen rode up to the dead antelope, threw it onto their wagon, and took it away.

About a week later, these antelopes will be transformed into dried meat, skinned hides, and cleaned horn materials.

The herders, having reaped a bountiful harvest, hummed songs as they walked across the grasslands under the setting sun, feeling the strong wind blowing in their faces, and strolled toward the white tent camp.

Back home, his wife brought him hot water for a bath and then talked about their recent life.

"Next month, caravans from the north will come and haul away the furs and horns to sell."

"Are sheep horns valuable?" his wife asked curiously, remembering that sheep horns used to be very difficult to sell.

“They used to be worthless, but now they are valuable. It is said that caravans will transport them to very, very far places where people want them.”

"Oh, where is it? It's so far away, the shipping cost must be quite high."

“That’s right, shipping costs have always been high. For example, a large piece of mutton that sells for 10 copper coins here will cost 100 copper coins to be transported to a big city,” he said with a sigh.

"Those ram horns are said to be used as materials for spellcasting. Only those mages are so wealthy that they can afford the high shipping costs."

"A mage? I've only heard of them, never seen one. Are they very powerful?"

"Of course they are powerful. It is said that they can summon ferocious beasts, piercing lances, and destructive lightning out of thin air. Even the knights are somewhat afraid of them."

"The main problem is that mages have too many tricks up their sleeves. Nobody knows what cards they're hiding. If you're unaware and fall into their trap, you're finished," the herdsman shook his head.

"The knight is the most straightforward. A gun is a gun, and a sword is a sword. He doesn't bother with any fancy tricks."

"Okay, I'll lie down for a bit. Remember to add some hot water to my basin so I can soak for a while longer."

……

The arrival of the Stormy Season did not reduce the wars in the southern part of the continent. On the contrary, the refreshing climate spurred many ambitious forces to set out on expeditions and conquer territories.

Further north in the Kingdom of Antioch, amidst the howling winds of the mountains, a cavalry unit wound its way along a mountain path. They were all clad in silver armor, and their straight lances were adorned with fluttering blue swallowtail banners.

Walking in the biting wind, they remained silent. The frost and snow could not touch their faces, which were kept hidden by their cold, hard helmets, revealing only their gray-blue eyes.

This cavalry was highly disciplined, and the accompanying knights were as composed as unyielding icebergs. They traversed the vast mountains in the cold wind, gradually reaching the northern mountainous border of the Kingdom of Antioch. They then stopped, stood on their horses, and looked down at the still oblivious kingdom castle.

Soon, a flag with a deep blue background was raised high, with snow-white mountain peaks and the relentless winter winds printed on it.

"Winter Knights, attack!" The voice wasn't loud, but rather calmly deep. After the order was given, the team charged down the hillside, initially just a few small black dots, then spreading into a massive avalanche.

As a former model for the Kingdom of Regas and a sacred place in the hearts of many knights, the 'Winter Knights' has always been a legend circulating across the continent.

This time, they finally emerged from the frozen mountains and began their exemplary charge. Rows of lances stood like a forest, then fell straight down, stretching into a straight line on the steep slope, carrying the force of the blizzard as they entered the battlefield.

In just a few weeks, numerous towns in the northern part of the Kingdom of Antiy were captured, and the forces that fought against the Winter Knights were defeated one after another. The knights were like horns in the cold wind, and wherever they went, everyone was terrified.

Months ago, the Antian nobles, who were still basking in the joy of conquering the Kingdom of Regas, had to immediately dispatch their southern expeditionary army back to defend the country. They marched day and night, and during this process, the nobles within the Kingdom of Antian were defeated and eliminated one by one, and many territories began to fall and be taken over by the army of the Kingdom of Winter.

Under these circumstances, the Kingdom of Anti had no choice but to seek help from the Eagle and Scorpion Kingdom, which was its ally.

Although Eagle Scorpion gloated over Antiy's misfortune, after sending people to observe the military strength of the Winter Kingdom, it also sent troops to enter Antiy's territory to fight together against the Winter Kingdom's onslaught.

At this time, the Kingdom of Regas, which had only recently been conquered, became vulnerable once again.

The old nobles who survived and surrendered in the previous war began to find ways to regroup their strength and reclaim the lands and castles that had been seized by the Kingdom of Antioch.

Just as these old nobles were struggling to decide whose name to unite in and gather troops, a piece of delightful news arrived.

Prince Gabriel, who had once disappeared, is not dead. He and Princess Musa are still alive and well, and have begun to secretly gather resistance forces in the Southern Valley City within the Kingdom of Regas.

"Hahahaha." A wild laugh echoed through the banquet. Jobs, dressed in a magnificent gold and red military uniform, stood before the banquet table, a smug look on his face.

“I told you, these guys wouldn’t last long. Look, isn’t this the opportunity?” Standing in front of him were five former nobles of the Kingdom of Legas, but their current attire was indeed much more shabby than before.

"Of course, Lord Jobs is a prophet; he predicted long ago that Antioch's pack of wild dogs would eventually be defeated," a portly nobleman flattered.

"These guys have robbed so many of Regas's resources and wealth, they're truly despicable."

"As long as Lord Jobs issues a summons, the nobles who still exist in Regas will surely respond in droves."

"When the time comes, rebuilding the Kingdom of Regas will be a piece of cake." The nobleman described this wonderful prospect, and many people present were filled with fantasies, hoping to gain glory and territory in this process of 'rebuilding the kingdom'.

If the territory can be larger than before, then this revival may be a better era than the stagnant and corrupt Kingdom of Regas.

The clinking of glasses filled the air as the group, their faces flushed, discussed their ideas. One inspiring idea after another emerged, as if they could defeat the remaining Antioch Kingdom army and reclaim their sovereignty in an instant.

Objectively speaking, their idea is indeed correct, but after the previous surrender and suppression, the power these people can muster now is by no means strong.

“So…” On the second floor of the banquet hall, several figures in dark red robes silently looked down.

“This time it’s our turn, the Hundred-Eyed Cult.” Under the hood, a dark and sinister smile appeared on his exposed chin in the light and shadow of the chandelier.

(End of this chapter)