Doctor will never die in a hellish situation.

Ta-da! Daddy's All-Purpose Hot Sauce!

"Hala Xiu! It's delicious with Yan Kingdom's chili sauce!" As it turns out, no one can resist the invincible Daddy's Old Chili Sauce. The young guard only took a small bite before giving it a thumbs up and saying in broken Yan Kingdom's language.

Qin Duanyu smiled and nodded, gesturing for him to hand the items to the others.

Although they weren't particularly particular about the taste of the food, no one would refuse to add more flavor to their mouth. Even Oleg, who was initially unmoved, smeared a large amount of bright red chili sauce on the grilled meat after seeing his subordinates eating it with a much greater gusto than before.

After the incident involving the hot sauce, the Ursus men's gazes towards Qin Duanyu softened considerably, especially the two younger guards, who, because they were sitting next to Qin Duanyu, even introduced themselves in broken Yan dialect.

Just as the atmosphere was gradually becoming more harmonious, a strange noise disrupted everyone's conversation.

"Awoo!"

It seems the aroma of the grilled meat dipped in chili sauce attracted some uninvited guests.

I'm really sorry. I was planning to take advantage of the recommendations to do a big update (to pay off my debt), but I didn't expect this to happen. However, I will try to add more updates tomorrow.

Chapter 7, Section 183: The Ursus Shield Guards' Post-Meal Exercise

In the shadowy forest, countless eerie green lights flickered, making it impossible to tell how many wolves were lurking among them. If an ordinary traveler encountered this situation, they would probably panic.

Of the people present, apart from Qin Duanyu, who was a weakling, everyone else was capable of taking on a pack of wolves single-handedly. They acted as if they didn't see the wolves creeping closer and closer, and continued eating and drinking as usual.

Once the camp was completely surrounded, the alpha wolf howled again, its eerie cries echoing throughout the pack. This was a common tactic used by wolves: to apply pressure to disrupt the pack of prey, causing them to scatter in panic so that they could be picked off one by one.

“These puppies are a bit noisy, tell them to be quiet,” Vika said, putting down her knife and fork and frowning.

"Valentin!" Oleg shouted in a low voice at the young guard beside Qin Duanyu.

Upon hearing this, the latter immediately stood up, quickly stuffed the remaining roasted meat into his mouth, and then took a large shield resembling a door panel and a source stone energy halberd from the roof of the off-road vehicle.

Valentin was a typical Ursus giant, huge and muscular, but compared to the weapon in his hand, he still seemed somewhat disproportionately small.

Qin Duanyu finally understood why the car behind them, which only had three people, was packed full. If the other guards were equipped with the same type of gear, they would probably feel cramped sitting in the car.

“Ursus Shield Guard!” Nearl blurted out as he looked at Valentin’s equipment.

After returning to Rhodes Island yesterday, Nearl gave him a general overview of the Ursus army's structure, and the Shield Guards were to the army what elite operators were to Rhodes Island.

However, even calculated using the same proportions, given the sheer size of the Ursus army, the number of Shield Guards is still terrifyingly large, conservatively estimated to be in the four digits, dispersed among various legions as elite assault troops.

During the Battle of Smolensk, there was a glorious feat of five groups of shield guards slaughtering a squad of knights. These were all elite forces of Kazimierz, including many high-ranking knights with titles.

Although her grandfather, Pegasus, later retaliated brilliantly, killing a large number of Ursus troops and nearly eliminating several high-ranking officers in a subsequent fortress siege, the knight's glamorous attire inevitably began to fade.

Incidentally, it was the Shield Guards who prevented Pegasus from further expanding his gains and successfully covered the retreat of the remaining Ursus troops.

From then on, the knight gradually transformed from a title representing status and position into a simple profession. In addition to traditional knights like Nearl who were good at frontal charges and assaults, there were also bow knights who were good at bows and crossbows, and even assassin knights who were good at secret infiltration and assassination.

Fortunately, it was only for dealing with a pack of wolves. If it were for a real battle, in addition to the shield and halberd, the shield guards would have a set of armor that protected them to the teeth. Wearing it would make them look like a low-budget Iron Man. That's why Valentin's weapons looked a size too small in his hands.

According to Nearl, even though the Shield Guards are weaker than her in strength, once they put on the armor, she can only defend with all her might and wait for the support of the Caster Operators, because the hammer in her hand alone cannot cause any damage. The solidified rock protective layer embedded in the armor can effectively protect against blunt force impacts.

The Reunion Movement's heavy armor leaders, who merely wear thick iron plates to their bodies, will at least suffer internal injuries from the shock. In a one-on-one duel, Nearl would have a much higher chance of winning, making her utterly weak compared to the Shield Guard.

Despite his envy, Qin Duanyu couldn't even imagine recruiting such agents. Without the support and logistics of a country's industrial system, it would be impossible to support even a few such warriors. The daily maintenance of their armor alone would be exhausting; they were simply money-devouring monsters.

Seeing someone leave the campfire and offer him meat, the wolf pack naturally accepted it without hesitation. Several wolves the size of calves immediately circled around to the back, blocking his way back.

At this moment, Oleg said something loudly in Ursus, and Valentin immediately looked miserable, while the other guards gloated.

“Oleg just said there are thirty-two wolves in total, which is enough for some exercise after a meal. He wants Valentin to finish the fight within three minutes and not let a single one escape,” Vika explained considerately.

"Emmm, I think there are thirty-six. Mr. Oleg may be mistaken." Qin Duanyu opened the God's-eye view, carefully counted the red dots, and then said with certainty.

He was immediately met with a fierce glare from the burly man. Oleg seemed to feel insulted, his eyes widening like a bull's. If he hadn't been holding a piece of meat dipped in hot sauce, he probably would have used his fists to reason with him.

Meanwhile, Valentin had already launched an attack.

"Rua!!!" He first raised his head and let out an Ursus war roar, completely drowning out the howls of the wolf pack. Then, taking advantage of their intimidation, he charged forward aggressively.

The massive shield stood before him, and with its terrifying power from the continuous acceleration, it slammed the two giant horses that were in the lead, sending them flying. Before they could even get up, they were crushed into a bloody pulp, as if they had been run over by a dump truck loaded with cargo.

Upon seeing this, the alpha wolf howled, and the pack began to consciously disperse. Several giant wolves, under the cover of their companions, quietly circled around to Valentin's undefended rear and launched a silent attack.

Just as the fangs were about to reach the back of his neck, the giant wolf's body suddenly stopped, then drew a beautiful arc in the air and became still. It turned out that in mid-air, the energy halberd had pierced its soft belly and flung it away.

Valentin flicked the blood off his halberd and continued to slay the giant wolf.

The deaths of many of their companions fully unleashed the wolf pack's ferocity, and they charged forward fearlessly. However, the vast difference in strength between the two sides meant that the outcome of the battle was predetermined from the very beginning and would not be changed by this.

Finally, the battle ended with the alpha wolf being pinned to the ground by the halberd he had thrown, but more than ten seconds had already passed. He turned back and nervously looked at Oleg, expecting to be reprimanded.

To everyone's surprise, Oleg simply nodded dejectedly and said nothing more.

Although he didn't know why he had escaped punishment, it was still a good thing that he wouldn't be punished by Oleg. Under the astonished gazes of his companions, he returned to his seat and chatted with Qin Duanyu in broken Yan language.

……

“Miss, I’m sorry, it seems to have affected your hearing and eyesight. It was the same when I was hunting before. I originally wanted to kill an Ursus hamster to make you a coat, but I missed my javelin and scared it away... I only managed to hunt a deer.” Oleg gritted his teeth, looking guilty.

“It’s alright. According to Mr. Tyrell’s research notes, as long as we find that ancient site… He’s a leading figure in archaeology, and his records are absolutely accurate, so your illness will definitely be cured. I’m still waiting for you to help me command the army!” Vika waved the notebook in her hand and said excitedly.

“Miss, you don’t need to comfort me. The reason I’m willing to help you keep this a secret… is not for my own sake. Your ideals and vision are the reason we follow you. What does it matter if we give our lives as long as we can help you achieve them?” Oleg shook his head and said indifferently.

He touched his chest near his heart, feeling the hard texture, and couldn't help but smile bitterly.

Is Oripathy really curable?

Chapter 8, Section 184: Isn't a lap pillow part of a knight's job?

Bathed in the morning sunlight, Lin Guang practiced her morning exercises not far from the camp. Her movements were slow and steady, making her look like an old man or woman practicing Tai Chi in a park. However, considering the weight of the shield and warhammer in her hands, maintaining this posture was actually more tiring.

If the Shield Guards hadn't gone to take a cold bath in the stream over there, they would have noticed that her actions were exactly the opposite of the combat techniques Valentin had demonstrated the night before; she was actually rehearsing the confrontation in her mind.

"Still not working." Lin Guang silently estimated for a moment, then frowned.

Without considering Oleg, assuming the remaining Shield Guards are all of Valentin's caliber, Nearl is fearless in one-on-one combat. Even if she can't hurt her opponent, she can use Originium Arts to wear them down.

However, some of Valentin's subconscious actions last night were clearly habits ingrained from long-term combat with her comrades in the army. Therefore, if two of them attacked at once, she would have no choice but to retreat strategically. As for three or more...

Lin Guang shook his head, dismissing the unrealistic idea from his mind.

Rhodes Island would have to be crazy to go up against the Ursus army. The reason they chose to fight the Shield Guards was simply because they were itching to try their hand at Valentin's battle after watching it last night.

As expected of the elite who thwarted Grandpa's plan, although annoying, her strength should not be underestimated. The strands of black hair falling over her shoulders reminded her of Vika's pranks earlier.

Even though she's a staunchly straightforward woman, there are things she values, such as her close friends Shining and Nightingale, her meticulously maintained long hair, and the person she's loyal to who sleeps in the tent...

"Doctor, you don't seem to be in good spirits. Didn't you sleep last night?" Lin Guang asked with some concern when he saw Qin Duanyu walking out of the tent after finishing his morning exercise. Qin Duanyu looked shaky and as if he might fall at any moment.

"Don't even mention it. That kid Valentin made such a racket last night, I couldn't sleep a wink all night," Qin Duanyu said weakly, yawning.

If someone were to remove his mask, they would see his prominent dark circles and red eyes.

With only two tents available, it was natural for six grown men to squeeze into one tent and two girls to sleep in the other.

As elite soldiers of Ursus, these men knew the importance of conserving their energy. They fell asleep as soon as their heads hit the pillow, snoring loudly and making a rumbling noise. Valentin was particularly prominent among them, sleeping as if he were next to a concert sound system.

But what could he do in this situation? He couldn't exactly sneak into a girl's tent to sleep, could he? He didn't want to do anything that would endanger his life until the CD slot in suppression mode was ready.

If Valentin hadn't been called out to relieve the guard just before dawn, Qin Duanyu probably would have had a sleepless night.

“It’s alright, you can take a nap in the car later,” Lin Guang said without thinking.

Well, that's typical straight girl talk. If it were Lappland or the others, they would already be making coffee for Qin Duanyu. But that's part of what makes Nearl so adorable; it's surprisingly easy to be around her.

"That's all we can do." Qin Duanyu patted her head and started preparing coffee for herself.

As someone who drinks coffee regularly, Qin Duanyu had long since developed a resistance to it. At first, he could barely hold on, sitting on the bumpy car, looking at the unchanging scenery outside the window. But before long, he couldn't hold on any longer, and his head tilted to the side, resting on Lin Guang's shoulder, and he fell into a deep sleep.

Feeling the warmth on his neck, Lin Guang felt a little itchy, but considering that the Doctor hadn't slept well last night, she tried to adjust her position to help him sleep more soundly.

Huff!

The jeep just went over a small pothole and bounced slightly. Qin Duanyu immediately slipped down and landed on Lin Guang's lap in a side-lying position.

Such an intimate gesture immediately made Lin Guang's body stiffen.

Although Liz used to like sleeping with her head on her pillow like this, that was between women after all. In Lin Guang's mind, this was definitely not how a lord and his subject should behave. On the contrary, such scenes would appear in serious romance dramas produced in the Eastern Kingdom.

Even though Shining racked her brains to explain, she still didn't understand the connection between "the moon is beautiful" and "I like you." But the subsequent kisses, hugs, and other blatant actions made it clear to even the most clueless girl.

In the TV series, after the couple said "The moon is beautiful," they seemed to do it. But how could a lord and a knight develop such a relationship? Wouldn't that betray their loyalty?

Lin Guang's mind was in turmoil. She could handle complex battle situations and lead her troops out of encirclement, but she didn't know how to deal with the current situation.

"Doctor...Doctor..." After hesitating for a long time, she gently shook Qin Duanyu, trying to make him change back to his previous appearance.

"Amiya, stop rushing me, I'm working!" Qin Duanyu muttered impatiently, then reached under Amiya's knees and wrapped her arms tightly around her, seemingly using those shapely, long legs as a pillow.

After several attempts, Qin Duanyu hugged her even tighter.

Calm down. Since a knight has sworn allegiance to his lord, he should serve him with all his might unless the lord does something disgraceful. The Doctor is a brave, wise and kind lord. There is no reason for him to betray him. On the contrary, he should be willing to give his life for his ideals.

Well, so the lap pillow is just to make the doctor more comfortable to sleep, and there's no other meaning behind it.

Meeting Vika's teasing gaze, Nearl's face turned even redder.

……

Chernobog, in the core city command tower.

Talulah sat on the stone seat, her right hand supporting her chin as she leaned against the armrest, while her left hand flipped through the documents lying across her lap. Her cold face was expressionless, and the only sound in the large room was the rustling of pages.

"Leader, preparations complete, ready, proceed." The tall Sarkaz man bowed slightly and spoke haltingly.

"Thank you for your hard work, Frostnova. Your mission is crucial to the success of the plan, so please be sure to bring the key back." Talulah nodded, her face showing no sign of softening despite her encouraging words.

"Please rest assured." Patriot was already used to his leader's expressionless face, and seeing that she seemed to have nothing to say, he prepared to leave.

“Besides the important matter concerning the future of the infected, I have a personal request. Could you please go to this place and search it briefly? If you find anything unusual, please notify me immediately.” Talulah suddenly got up from her seat, walked to the map, and pointed to a place.

"No, it's on the way, but it's a mission, so I'll carry it out." Patriot stared at the map for a while before slowly saying.

“Go ahead, I’ll be waiting for your good news.” Talulah nodded slightly and returned to her seat.

Only after Patriot's tall figure disappeared from sight did she refocus her attention on the document.

"...Stone coffin...altar...ritual, perhaps this is the secret of the mentor?"