Fairy tale: Little Red Riding Hood's wolf mentor

In the mountains and forests, there are always many small paths.

Most of these paths lead to remote places, or are rarely used because they are narrow and unsuitable for vehicles—they are far less comfortable than wide roads.

Therefore, these small paths rarely appear on maps sold in towns.

But they can be useful in certain special times.

For example—now.

"Cross this valley, and you'll be in Nifo Town, you can rest there for the night."

Hans's thin face still looked listless. Most of the time, he seemed taciturn, just acting as a guide.

"Uncle, what did you do before? Do you often walk this road?"

The plants on both sides were very dense, with many thorns extending to the center of the road.

But all the bushes mysteriously and gently parted to both sides when Leake passed by, so Leake's red cloak was never caught by branches or leaves along the way.

And the Poro, squeezed beside Leake's feet, rubbed against the aura of the Forest Heart, and didn't get any grass or leaves on its body.

"Ah, no, I've only walked this road once, after all, most people go directly on the main road, but recently... there's a disaster on the main road."

Hans said weakly, using the jungle knife in his hand to cut down a patch of thorns in front of him.

Then, he added,

"It's just that this road left a deep impression on me, so deep... that I'll never forget it in my life."

"Why?"

Leake asked curiously, "Is the scenery here good? Or is there any adventure?"

"Neither."

Hans's eyelids drooped a little more weakly, his eyes looking a little dim, "It's just because this road led me to the lowest point in my life, as for the lowest point... that was yesterday."

Leake was stunned, thought of the new graves in front of the two simple wooden houses, blinked her eyes, and stopped asking.

Walking out of the valley, there were far fewer weeds and bushes.

Close to Nifo Town, several small paths from various places gathered together, becoming a... slightly wider dirt road.

At this time, Poro's ears perked up slightly.

He heard some strange noises, like... something was grinding harshly.

After a while, Leake also suddenly turned her head. She saw by the river, under the cover of the flowing water, a burly man was sharpening a knife on a stone.

"Poro, what is that person doing?"

Leake asked softly.

"Looks like a knife grinder..."

Poro replied quietly, but just as they saw him, the knife grinder by the stream also looked up at them.

And Poro always felt that there was a hint of fear in the eyes of the knife grinder when he looked at him.

Was that an illusion?

Poro didn't know, but since the knife grinder didn't have any further actions, there was nothing to worry about.

After all, although this world is fantastic, there wouldn't be too many guys like witch hunters.

But... at this moment, the guide Hans stepped forward.

"Are you a knife grinder?"

Hans's spiritless eyes under his disheveled hair looked at the knife-sharpening man and asked directly.

"Yes, it's none of your business."

The man lowered his head to sharpen the knife, without raising his head, his words full of alienation.

"How's business sharpening knives?"

Hans asked again.

"Small business, not as good as a few of you hunters' good jobs!"

The man impatiently looked up, glanced at Poro, and at the bow and arrows behind Leake.

Hans looked at the stones of various sizes beside the man and next to the river, and was silent for a few seconds.

Then, he turned around, walked to the small road, and said to Leake and Poro:

"Let's go."

"Uncle, do you know that knife grinder?"

"Heh, sort of."

Hans snorted without any emotion, and stopped speaking.

After walking for a while, Nifo Town arrived. Because of its remote location, it looked more like a large village.

"Uncle, two rooms, um... and some dinner."

Leake walked to the counter and put down a few silver coins.

Following Hans's suggestion, Leake didn't directly use gold coins, but used a price that was higher than the normal price.

"Okay, number seven and number eight."

The tavern owner's eyes lit up when he saw the silver coins, quickly pocketing them, and took a key from the wall behind him.

Most people who come to stay give copper coins.

And silver coins are actually not often seen in ordinary business.

"Alright, guests, the food will be ready in a while."

Without waiting long, the food for dinner was ready at mealtime.

Poro and Leake chose a hidden location near the corner of the wall, after all... it would be too eye-catching for a wolf to eat at the table, and eat so elegantly.

As for the food, it wasn't very plentiful, just bread and some vegetables, but it was enough to fill their stomachs.

Just then, the door of the tavern was kicked open with a bang!

"Old man, give me a pot of wine, damn it! And a serving of meat!"

A voice that Poro had just heard rang out. It was the "knife grinder", with a bright broadsword hanging on his waist, coupled with his face full of flesh, bringing a great sense of oppression!

For a moment, the voices of everyone in the tavern fell silent.

The old tavern owner sighed, didn't say anything, just listened to the man and brought a serving of wine and meat.

Poro keenly noticed that the others in the tavern had a look of suppressed anger.

"Old man, this wine of yours is really damn hard to drink—next time, have your daughter keep me company!"

"Sir, my daughter is still young..."

The tavern owner's face turned pale, and he said tremblingly.

"What? Looking down on me—want to die?!"

The man sneered, drew his sword and stuck it in the center of the wooden table. The bright knife made the tavern owner's face pale!

He stared at the tavern owner, whose face was ashen, snorted coldly, kicked over the wooden table, and strode away.

After he left, the tavern began to discuss.

"What's wrong with this thug lately?"

"Alas... isn't it because he has taken a fancy to old Tote's daughter? Old Tote is old and frail, and this bastard is bullying him!"

"That's right, who would dare to marry their daughter to such a villain? Who doesn't know that he goes crazy when he drinks?"

"Is there no one who can cure him?!"

"This kind of rogue without parents, but he is so strong, who can cure him in our small place?"

"Yes, this villain always runs outside the village to rob passers-by."

"Passers-by? There must be capable people among those people, can't they cure him?"

"Heh, this villain also has some brains, pretending to be a knife grinder squatting by the road. If the person is tough, he pretends to be a real knife grinder. If the person is soft, he threatens with a knife, and also finds an excuse—"

"What excuse?"

"Get a few stones from the stream, saying they are whetstones, and exchange them for some money—"

"You say, if you are a passer-by, with the bright tip of the knife pointing at you, would you dare not exchange with him?"

"Heh, our town is really unlucky to have such a villain!"

"..."

Night fell, in a guest room.

Leake hugged Poro, leaning on the bed, with a faint light shining from the candle beside her.

The girl's bright eyelashes swept, carefully reading a book in her hand, which was "Theoretical Potionology."

Suddenly, she closed the book, buried her face in the fur on the back of Poro's neck, and said:

"Poro, I can't read anymore tonight!"

"What's wrong?"

"I remembered the villain at dinner."

"Uh, this kind of thing... many remote towns have such villains."

Poro thought for a while, and then said, "It's actually okay. In places with even worse security, there will be robbers and bandits."

"But he wants to take over the tavern owner's daughter. I heard before that the owner's daughter seems to be only six or seven years old. If he really succeeds..."

Leake was silent for a moment, and then said softly, "I want... to teach that kind of villain a lesson!"