Chapter 13: The Knight Arrives

Occupation is a summary of one’s past life.

On the way back to the village, Xia Mingyu kept pondering this question in his mind.

Most of his past life seemed spent in school—every day he woke at six, got ready, attended classes, and didn’t get to bed until ten at night, even more Spartan than Sparta.

He finally got into a decent university, only to be crushed by grade competition, exhausting himself with online courses until dawn.

His past life could almost be summed up in four words: academic ox-horse—but how could such an abstract occupation exist?

Xia Mingyu sighed; before he realized it, he and Boge had returned to the village.

The fading sunlight spilled across the village’s dirt paths; the orchards in the distance rippled like emerald waves in the evening breeze, and a faint aroma of food drifted through the air.

“Your Highness, you’re back!”

Anliya stood at the village entrance, her face filled with delight; she had changed back into her patched, fitted tunic, yet it did nothing to diminish her beauty.

Her golden hair shimmered softly in the sunlight, her deep blue eyes like reflections of the sky.

In her left hand, she carried a wicker basket; when she lifted the linen cloth covering it, four neatly arranged, steaming white breads were revealed.

The three of them entered the village together, heading toward home.

“Your Highness, you must be exhausted from hunting—these are freshly baked white breads, please try one.”

The girl took a loaf from the basket, spread it with jam made from red berries, and offered it to him with hopeful eyes.

“Thank you.”

Xia Mingyu took the bread and took a small bite.

A simple, pure wheat fragrance burst instantly in his mouth, mingled with the faint, clean sweetness of the jam—slightly sweet, yet with just the right hint of tartness; the warmth of the bread intensified the jam’s aroma, each berry bursting between his teeth, leaving an unforgettable aftertaste.

“Delicious!” Xia Mingyu praised, then took another big bite.

“I’m glad you like it,” the girl said, her eyes crinkling into crescents with joy, her lips lifting involuntarily to reveal her white teeth.

“Anliya-sister, I hunted with Your Highness all day—can I have a white bread too?”

Boge sniffed the air, his gaze locked hungrily on the three remaining loaves in the basket like a starving wolf.

Though as a skilled hunter he never lacked meat, he had never dared to eat such sweet, fragrant white bread.

“No, little Boge—I only baked them, but the flour was specially given to Your Highness by the villagers.”

Anliya refused without hesitation.

Hearing this, Boge turned his head, gazing pleadingly at Xia Mingyu.

Clearly, he realized begging Anliya was useless—he had to appeal to the prince.

“I’ll eat one more. The other two, you two split them.” Xia Mingyu smiled slightly.

“Thank you, Your Highness!”

Before Anliya could react, Boge snatched a loaf with lightning speed and devoured it in a few bites like a tiger pouncing on prey.

“Foolish Boge.”

Anliya kicked him lightly in annoyance, then picked up a loaf and began eating it slowly.

“Thank you, Your Highness,” the girl’s steps grew unexpectedly light; her gaze toward the young man beside her softened with tenderness.

“Your Highness, the cellar we dug as you instructed is finished—would you like to see it?”

“Yes.”

Inside the dim cellar, baskets filled with red berries were neatly arranged on the ground covered with dry straw.

A faint, clean fragrance floated in the air; fine droplets of moisture glistened on the walls.

“Your Highness, storing the red berries in the cellar has greatly extended their shelf life—enough time for my adoptive father to find new traveling merchants to buy them. And the jam made according to your method—everyone who tasted it said it was delicious and will fetch a high price.”

Anliya reported softly, her eyes filled with reverence as she gazed at the young man.

Your Highness truly is a noble prince—learned and wise, even knowing how to store fruit and make jam.

“Hmm, good.”

Xia Mingyu nodded, then casually picked up a translucent red berry from a basket and bit into it.

He had merely tried to recall the random short videos he’d once scrolled through, offering guidance on a whim—and somehow, it had actually worked.

Tap-tap-tap.

At that moment, Boge—who had been reaching for a berry but had his hand sharply tapped by Anliya—suddenly grew serious, his expression shifting from resentment to alertness.

“Your Highness, someone has ridden into the village—and not just one horse.” Boge reported swiftly.

As a hunter, his senses were keener than ordinary people’s—he had heard the distant hoofbeats.

Multiple horses. Xia Mingyu frowned slightly.

One horse might be a traveling merchant—but multiple horses could only mean…

“I am Solin Brook, squire-knight of the great Lord Hughes! All villagers of Berrybasket Village, assemble at the center immediately!”

At that moment, a powerful voice rang out like a bronze bell, echoing across the entire village.

Immediately, a flurry of hurried footsteps followed as villagers rushed toward the village center.

“Your Highness, will you come with us?” Anliya asked.

Everyone in the village must go, so naturally she would accompany Boge.

“Has the straw hat been woven yet?” Xia Mingyu asked after a moment.

“Aunt Han has finished it,” Anliya replied.

Knowing it was requested by the savior of the village, Aunt Han had worked day and night without rest to complete it in such a short time.

“Let’s go.”

The fading sunlight fell upon the ancient oak tree at the village center, dappled shadows swaying on the ground.

The area was now packed with people, surrounding the tree completely.

Beneath the oak’s shade, a knight sat calmly atop a towering steed.

His face bore the marks of hardship, his gaze cold, his beard thick; he stood about one meter seventy tall, likely around forty years old.

The knight wore a suit of chainmail that gleamed brilliantly in the sunlight, woven from hundreds of steel rings, its surface smooth as a mirror, unyieldingly hard; at its center, a ferocious wolf’s head was carved, fangs rendered with lifelike precision, sending a chill through anyone who saw it.

Most striking of all, above his head floated two lines of green text: Squire and Knight.

Behind the knight stood several mounted attendants and a cart clearly meant for carrying tax gold.

“Green text—status buff and occupation buff… This is what Boge meant by the transcendent rank?”

Hidden among the crowd, Xia Mingyu watched, deep in thought.

(End of Chapter)