Chapter 120: Enzo's Hometown

Setting out from Dunkirk Port and sailing upstream along the Zong'en River for less than a day, one would arrive at Light, a small town nestled ten miles from the riverbank.

The passenger ship carrying Lin Qi and his companions pulled over at the confluence of a small tributary. Following a habitual professional caution, Bal, who was traveling with them, directed the sailors and family retainers to cut down a large quantity of branches, creating a perfect camouflage layer over the vessel. From a distance, or even up close, one could hardly discern that a seventy-meter-long passenger ship was docked there.

"Alright, let's head ashore!" Lin Qi heaved a large crate filled with ham, sausages, and strong spirits off the deck, where it landed with a heavy thud in a deep snowdrift. He and Enzo nimbly climbed down a mooring rope to the bank and waved back at the ship.

Perched on the ship's railing, Bal waved back at Lin Qi. "Young Master, it's fine to spend a couple of days out, but remember: if you run into any trouble, handle it yourself if you can. If you can't, send a signal, and I'll come resolve it for you!"

The sturdy-looking Leo stood beside Bal, grinning sheepishly at Lin Qi. "Young Master, shouldn't I just go with you?"

Lin Qi waved him off, laughing heartily. "I'm just going to visit Enzo's hometown, not seizing territory. We don't need that many people! It's only a few miles; if any trouble arises, you'll be able to reach us. Don't worry!"

With a cheerful clap, Lin Qi hoisted the heavy crate onto his shoulder. Enzo picked up a similar crate, and the two set off with long strides, trudging through the thick snow toward a nearby grove of trees. Once they crossed this small woods and a patch of farmland, they would be at Light, Enzo's hometown.

Bal puffed on his pipe, watching them disappear into the distance. With a subtle flick of his hand, six small, agile men emerged from the cabin. Dressed in tight black suits, their faces masked by thin black veils and their eyes shielded by translucent black crystal lenses, they moved with eerie grace. Bal whispered a few instructions, and the six figures gradually blurred into the air. With a gentle stir of the breeze, they vanished from the ship and reappeared on the bank. Using the thickets and tall grass for cover, they left not a single footprint in the snow, shadowing Lin Qi and Enzo with effortless stealth.

"Hmm, one can never be too sure if a place is safe," Bal muttered, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "Leo, tell the boys to get their gear ready. The Master gave orders—we must protect the Young Master's safety at all costs. That 'Fat Bird' Kirk is not a man to be trifled with; if the Young Master loses even a single hair, it's a price we cannot afford to pay."

Leo's expression turned grave. He acknowledged the order and quickly ducked into the cabin to relay the command to the rest of the family's retainers.

Lin Qi and Enzo walked slowly along the country path, their shoulders burdened with the heavy crates of food and drink. Enzo gestured to the scenery, describing his childhood. Lin Qi listened intently, fascinated by a life so starkly different from his own.

"My parents died young," Enzo said, his teeth clenched. "They were killed by invading Orcs. A Tauren, specifically. I remember his face. One day, I will find him and kill him and his entire family with my own hands to avenge them."

Orphaned early, Enzo was raised by kindly neighbors who shared their meager meals with him. He spent his youth herding sheep and cattle in exchange. The life of an orphan is never easy, and this forged Enzo’s character: bold yet sensitive, resilient yet vulnerable, sometimes stubborn and rigid, yet at other times warm and kind.

Without parents to protect him, even with the neighbors' kindness, the village children often bullied him. From the age of seven, Enzo was constantly embroiled in fights. As luck would have it, a retired veteran lived in Light, and he taught Enzo and the other children some crude military battle-aura techniques.

Relying on those rudimentary skills, Enzo went from being beaten and bullied to growing stronger and stronger. By the age of thirteen, he could chase a whole group of his peers across the hills, thrashing them. His talent for battle-aura became apparent, and the veteran used his old military connections to recommend Enzo for the Yasen Province local military academy.

After three years of training, Enzo graduated at the top of his class and was immediately recommended for the Imperial Army Academy.

Originally, Enzo was destined to become a standard, outstanding Imperial soldier, but then he met Lin Qi. His fate took a turn; he joined the Iron Fist Brotherhood and became Lin Qi’s top enforcer. Looking at the current trajectory, Enzo was likely to become the premier fighter of the Black Tiger family, potentially even succeeding Hammer.

Chatting and laughing, they walked for nearly an hour along the snow-covered path until they finally reached the outskirts of Light.

A small church stood at the entrance to the town. An elderly priest in black robes sat in front of the gate, laughing as he scattered handfuls of wheat. A flock of thin sparrows chirped and fluttered their wings as they scrambled for the grain.

Enzo bowed respectfully to the old priest. "Father Wheat, good day!"

The old priest looked up, smiled at Enzo, and stood up in pleasant surprise. "Oh my, is it the little troublemaker back for a visit? Haha, it’s been two years since you were last here! Enzo, you little rascal, do you have any idea how peaceful our lives have been without you around?"

Enzo blushed slightly. He set down his crate and pulled out six bottles of fine rum, pressing them into the priest's arms. The old priest’s eyes crinkled into thin lines with delight. He clapped Enzo firmly on the shoulder and laughed, "Little one, you've done well for yourself! Hmm, fifty-year-old rum—this isn't the sort of thing one finds easily!"

Lin Qi watched Father Wheat in astonishment. The bottles had no labels, and the corks were sealed tightly with green wax. For the priest to discern the vintage with a single sniff spoke of a lifetime of drinking experience.

Father Wheat embraced Enzo warmly, then glanced at Lin Qi. His eyes widened in surprise, a sharp glint flickering as he scanned Lin Qi’s expensive black bear-fur coat. He laughed out loud, "Are you a friend of Enzo's? Aha, a wealthy young nobleman! Look at my church—it's so dilapidated. Won't you donate a little to help with the repairs?"

Lin Qi froze, looked at the embarrassed Enzo, and then laughed, pulling a one-thousand-gold-coin note from his sleeve.

An interesting priest, an interesting town. Lin Qi suddenly found that he quite liked this place.