Chapter 20 The Intrigue

A few days passed in the blink of an eye.

Frostwood Village wasn't large, and after a few days, all the villagers knew that the hunter team had a new member. They accepted "Jason Wood" as a new resident and would greet him with friendly nods when they occasionally met, showing a simple and honest atmosphere.

Along with that, Ross was also recognized by the villagers, but he never communicated with anyone, acting completely as Zhou Jing's follower, so his presence wasn't very noticeable.

Zhou Jing didn't let Ross stay idle, either. He kept this tool-man's schedule packed full, not only with combat training but also with learning forging from the village blacksmith.

At first, the blacksmith wasn't willing, but after interacting with him, he discovered that although Ross didn't communicate with people, he would silently carry out whatever he was told to do. Only then did the blacksmith reluctantly accept Ross as a blacksmith apprentice... of course, it was mainly for Zhou Jing's sake.

In general, integrating into the village was progressing even more smoothly than Zhou Jing had anticipated.

On this day, Zhou Jing went to visit the village chief again, expressing his desire to borrow the only map of Frostwood Village.

The interface's map overview mode could record the contents of physical maps, unlocking nearby areas. Recording a physical map for the first time would trigger an achievement.

There were many ways to obtain Star Realm Points, but daily collection required settlement after each return. During the descent, the main way to obtain Star Realm Points in real-time was by triggering achievements.

In addition to training with Barron, Zhou Jing had spent his time over the past few days searching for achievements that could be easily triggered based on the completion conditions revealed by the [Achievement List], trying to earn points.

However, although there were many achievements on the list, only a limited number could be easily completed at the moment.

After filtering them, he took the time to complete three daily point achievements: [Glutton], [Thug], and [Exhausted Driving].

One was eating and drinking to the point of almost exploding; another was pulling the hunters into sparring matches, accumulating ten knockdowns; and the last was borrowing a farm animal used for plowing from an old farmer after completing a day of exhaustive training, and riding the ox into the sunset... The three achievements rewarded a total of 250 Star Realm Points.

The village chief was deeply impressed with Zhou Jing, hoping that he would become a Monster Hunter and stay in the village, so he naturally agreed to the request to borrow the map.

The two came to the back room, and the village chief took out a yellowed animal skin scroll from the cabinet and spread it out on the table.

Zhou Jing glanced at the contents, and his face twitched slightly.

Wow, this drawing skill has the level of a preschooler!

But having something is better than nothing, at least they knew to make a map.

Shaking his head, Zhou Jing tried hard to identify the landmarks and roughly understood it.

This was a map of the surrounding area, with a town called White Plains City in the center, surrounded by several affiliated villages, including Frostwood Village, which was the most remote village.

According to the information he had gathered over the past few days, the Terra Empire was not large, and the administrative divisions were relatively simple. The highest level was a fortress city, followed by towns, and finally villages like Frostwood Village, radiating out in layers.

And White Plains City was equivalent to Frostwood Village's "main city" and the center of this area.

[Physical map discovered, record?]

[Recording complete, known area updated]

[Hint: Obtaining maps of the same area will supplement details and improve the area map]

[Achievement triggered: [First Time Recording a Physical Map]!]

[Gained 200 Star Realm Points! Gained [Auxiliary Function - Map Radar]!]

"New auxiliary function."

Zhou Jing's eyes lit up, and he carefully read the function.

This map radar function could display the map within a certain range and show individuals within the area in real-time, with unknown individuals appearing in red and familiar individuals in green.

"It feels similar to a mini-map, it should be useful for exploration."

Zhou Jing nodded secretly... But auxiliary functions could only be switched during the character creation stage, so he definitely couldn't use it now.

With a new reward in hand, plus the previous gains, he had 727 Star Realm Points, which was slightly less tight.

...

As Zhou Jing walked out of the village chief's longhouse, he heard a childish voice calling him.

"Jason! Jason!"

Zhou Jing turned his head to look.

He saw a boy of about ten years old running over, with a tiger-like head and a red face from the cold wind.

This child was Leiner, Griff's eldest son.

Zhou Jing had mainly interacted with Griff and Barron in the village for the past few days, so he also knew Griff's family.

As soon as he saw this kid running over, Zhou Jing sped up his pace without saying a word.

"Wait for me!" Leiner rushed up and stood in front of Zhou Jing.

Zhou Jing stopped helplessly: "What is it this time?"

"I want to hear stories from the outside!" Leiner said with an excited face.

"What a coincidence, so do I."

Zhou Jing was expressionless.

This kid had never left Frostwood Village and was full of longing for the outside world.

Because he was a newcomer from the outside, Leiner thought he knew a lot and often pestered him with questions, which made him feel a little helpless.

"If you want to know about the outside world, you should pester Barron."

"I don't dare... He beat me up badly when I ran into the forest alone before."

Leiner muttered in a low voice, his tone indignant.

With Barron's strength, if he really hit you, you would have fallen apart long ago...

Zhou Jing wondered if he should also give this kid a beating.

At this moment, Leiner grinned: "But you definitely won't hit me, Father said you're a great person, you definitely won't bully me!"

"Great person?" Zhou Jing was a little surprised.

Griff respected him quite a bit because of his "open-mindedness," but that didn't seem to have anything to do with being a good person, and he wondered how Griff really felt about him.

Leiner raised his chin: "Father has been saying these past few days that he quite admires your character, everyone in the village knows, you never abandon your friend with a mental issue, and you take care of him every day, you're a great person!"

What friend with a mental issue... oh.

Zhou Jing's expression stiffened, and he looked back.

In the shadows of the street corner, there was a familiar figure hiding and peeking.

Ross:

Zhou Jing: "..."

It seems that in the eyes of the villagers, I've been taking care of this stupid follower...

Zhou Jing was speechless and shook his head.

"Alright, get out of the way, I still have to train, I don't have time to deal with you today, let's talk about it later."

"Ah, okay then." Leiner hesitated for a moment, then stepped aside, asking expectantly, "Can you tell me stories from the outside next time?"

"Next time for sure, next time for sure."

Zhou Jing quickly slipped away.

He was about to go to the training ground, but as soon as he turned past a few houses, he saw a familiar figure.

It was an old man with a strange appearance, his face smeared with paint, two feathers stuck in his head, wearing a robe woven from black feathers, and leaning on a cane - it was the witch doctor he had seen in "Will Wood's" death playback.

Since coming to the village these past few days, Zhou Jing had not encountered the other party in the village, nor had he made a special trip to visit the apothecary hut outside the village.

Seeing Zhou Jing, the witch doctor froze for a moment, stopped, and hesitated in place.

What, is he afraid that I, as a "family member," will cause a medical disturbance?

Zhou Jing's eyes narrowed, and he walked straight up to him, saying in a deep voice: "I'm Jason Wood, the new hunter in the village, you should be the witch doctor of Frostwood Village."

The witch doctor was hunched over, looking old and frail, and spoke in a murmur: "That's me... I've heard of you too."

"I heard that you were treating my brother before he died."

"Yes..." The witch doctor seemed too old to nod, and only shook his head slightly.

"I haven't visited you these past few days, I'm new here and not familiar with the village yet, would you mind taking me to your apothecary hut to have a look?"

Although Zhou Jing was asking, his tone was firm.

The witch doctor tapped his cane twice, seeming hesitant, but finally nodded.

"Alright, follow me then."

After speaking, he turned around and slowly led the way.

...

The two walked out of the village, and after walking along a small dirt road made by people for a while, they came to a small slope overlooking the village.

Here, there was a sparse grove of small trees, and a small house was located among them, which was the witch doctor's apothecary hut.

Next to the hut was a patch of garden, planted with many herbs that he didn't recognize.

The witch doctor opened the door and walked in, Zhou Jing followed behind him, looking around the interior of the house.

The space inside the house was not small, but it seemed narrow because there were too many things placed inside. Rows of shelves lined the walls, filled with old books and some bottles and jars.

Further inside was a workbench, on which was a set of strange metal equipment, mostly tools for making potions.

"It's a bit messy, just sit anywhere..." The witch doctor slowly sat down.

Zhou Jing looked around, his eyes locked on the witch doctor's butt.

...If you weren't so old and frail, I would sit on your lap right now.

Zhou Jing shook his head and didn't mind, asking, "Speaking of which, I still don't know your name."

"...Gama."

Zhou Jing nodded and continued to ask, "I heard that you used to be a wandering apothecary, I'm a bit curious, how many years have you been in Frostwood Village?"

"I'm old, I can't remember clearly, six years or eight years?"

Gama shook his head, suddenly paused, changed the subject, and sighed:

"Maybe you heard some rumors from Griff. When I was treating your brother, I used up all my potions and could only do my best, but unfortunately, I couldn't save him in the end."

Zhou Jing's heart skipped a beat.

This guy took the initiative to bring this up... it seems that he thinks this is my purpose, and thinks that I am here to question him.

Zhou Jing didn't show any emotion and said slowly:

"I heard from Griff that you stayed in the village as a doctor, on the condition that the hunters collect herbs for you?"

"Yes, yes..."

"Then you've been in the village for so many years, you wouldn't even have the potions to save a person, would you?"

Hearing this, the wrinkles on Gama's face seemed to deepen, and he trembled:

"I know my level is not good, so I stayed in a small village, and I'm old, my hands and feet don't listen to me, and I always fail to make potions. Hunters often need to go into the forest to hunt, and they get injured occasionally, and the potions I made before were almost used up... I'm very sorry about Will's matter, but I can't help it."

Zhou Jing raised his eyebrows slightly.

The meaning in his words is that Gama knows that his level is poor, so he stayed in Frostwood Village, a remote place, to earn a living and retire.

It sounded quite sincere, but Zhou Jing always felt that it was a bit of an overstatement.

But without any evidence, he had to hide his suspicions in his heart.

"Alright, I understand, you don't have to apologize to me."

Zhou Jing didn't dwell on it, feeling that he couldn't get anything out of Gama himself.

"Thank you, thank you..." Gama nodded repeatedly, his voice murmuring.

Zhou Jing touched his chin and suddenly said, "Since you're old and not flexible, have you ever thought about finding an apprentice? I happen to have a candidate here."

He thought about whether he could pull Ross over to be an apothecary apprentice. Even if Gama claimed that his level was very poor, he should still be able to recognize herbs, so teaching people wouldn't be a problem.

Gama hesitated for a moment, but shook his head: "No, I don't have the energy to teach an apprentice..."

Zhou Jing narrowed his eyes.

Not recruiting an apprentice... is it because he doesn't have the energy, or doesn't want to?

Looking at his intention to retire, is he worried that if he teaches his skills to an apprentice, he will starve to death?

Or is there another hidden secret?

Several thoughts ran through Zhou Jing's mind.

Although Gama's performance was quite sincere, he always felt that he was a bit suspicious, but there was no clue at the moment.

There's still a long way to go, let's investigate slowly in the future... There's no need to create complications at the moment, the most important thing is to develop safely.

"Alright, I'm sorry to disturb you today, I'll leave first."

He couldn't force it if the other party was unwilling to teach herbalism.

Zhou Jing didn't stay any longer and said goodbye.

Gama sat silently in his seat for a while, then suddenly opened his eyes, his eyes were bright and piercing, where was the old and frail look just now?

He walked to the window, poked his head out and looked outside, confirming that Zhou Jing had left.

Only then did Gama withdraw his gaze, pacing in the room, his expression a little guilty and regretful.

"Tsk, I didn't expect that Will had an older brother, and he even stayed in the village! I knew I should have given him some medicine. Now it's troublesome, being targeted by his brother, I don't know if I fooled him.

At this critical moment, there's a stranger with unknown origins in the village, it's really a hidden danger... Alas, I hope there won't be any accidents next time I deliver the goods."

Gama's face was uncertain.