[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-hogwarts-john-wick":3,"chapter-hogwarts-john-wick-hogwarts-john-wick-chapter-401":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Hogwarts’ John Wick",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1646185,2109,"Chapter 401 401: 401: The Blue Mountains","hogwarts-john-wick-chapter-401",401,"\u003Cp>The journey to the Blue Mountains required crossing the Eastern Kingdom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>John treated it as a bit of sightseeing. Two days after leaving the capital, he stopped at a small inn to rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stuffed a carrot into Boro's mouth—the horse's favorite treat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Boro munched lazily on the carrot, John swung his silver sword and cleaved a bat that swooped at him out of the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was currently in a mountain cave, a shortcut that led toward the Blue Mountains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once again, he found himself wondering if there was some secret network behind these inns—since even such routes were recorded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beyond the cave lay the territory of the Eastern Kingdom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wiping the blood from his sword, John glanced at the runes engraved along the blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Four of them still glowed steadily. Yesterday, he had run into a strange, pheasant-like magical creature; slaying it had caused the fifth rune to faintly light up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed that even without seeking out formal trials, hunting magical beasts could gradually complete the set of runes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stepping out of the tunnel, John felt the chill in the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boro snorted, his hooves crunching against the frozen layer of ice-covered soil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sharp cracking sound echoed through the forest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before long, he came across a village.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The villagers were wary of strangers. When they saw John, their expressions turned guarded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A middle-aged man stepped forward, first glancing at John's ears, then smiling as he asked, \"Hello there. Is there something I can help you with?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>John nodded. \"My horse and I have been traveling for a day and a night. I was hoping for a place to rest. Of course, I can pay a fair price.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A smile often put people at ease, and John's calm expression helped the villagers lower their guard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man's smile grew more genuine. As he happened to be heading for a drink himself, he led John toward a tavern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We don't have an inn here, but Old Dan will be happy to offer you a room.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man introduced himself as Sandy, the head of the village guard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The so-called \"guard\" consisted of barely ten men. The \"Old Dan\" he mentioned was a balding man whose clothes were stained with oil from frying fish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing that John wanted a room for the night, Old Dan greeted him warmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sandy leaned toward John and muttered under his breath, \"Whatever you do, don't try Old Dan's fried fish. The taste is… well…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pulled a face and shook his head, clearly unimpressed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the village's guard captain, Sandy seemed well liked by the locals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The village's guard force, as it turned out, had been organized by the villagers themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since the village was still in the wilderness, there was little trace of human civilization nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sandy poured John a cup of hot wine. After taking a sip himself to drive out the chill, he said, \"Once winter sets in, those bastards get more active.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Monsters?\" John asked, assuming he meant magical creatures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Sandy replied, \"Elves.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elves?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was something new.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>John hadn't yet encountered any elves in person. During his time in the royal library, he'd come across many records about them—tall, elegant beings with sharp ears, well-defined features, and a natural affinity for magic and wisdom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah, those bastards aren't extinct yet,\" Sandy muttered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He downed a few more cups, the smell of alcohol on his breath as he said, \"Sometimes they ruin our crops. Thieving little brats, too.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His dislike for elves was clear—enough that the village's guard force mainly existed to keep them at bay.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Human hostility toward elves wasn't unusual; much of the human world had been built on the ruins of elven civilization.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>John took a sip of the hot wine and thought to himself, When the enemy becomes something entirely different, the power of sorcerers suddenly seems far less important.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wizards had once been humanity's weapon against the elves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elves, being the enemy of humankind, had ironically eased the tensions among humans themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From what he'd learned of this world's history, it had already diverged far from the one John knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pushed down his questions for now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sandy was dead drunk by the end of the night, and Old Dan had to help him back home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>John went to the stable, where Boro turned his head to look at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We'll be leaving tomorrow. Get some rest first.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He placed a hand on the horse's head, letting his mind reach out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mental magic was truly convenient.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the reassurance, Boro quickly settled and adjusted to the unfamiliar surroundings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>John returned to his room at the tavern to rest as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Dan closed up the tavern, and the village soon fell into silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the next morning, the gloomy weather made it seem less than ideal for traveling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>John stood outside as Sandy approached, dressed in a fresh set of clothes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The smell of alcohol still clung faintly to him, and the oak shield he carried looked to John more like a pot lid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You're leaving?\" Sandy asked in surprise. \"You might not know this, but it could snow heavily in the next few days.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I know. But I still need to make it to the next town,\" John replied as he led Boro, ready to depart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sandy looked a little regretful. He thought this man was quite decent, but he didn't try to keep him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching John's figure recede into the distance, Sandy sighed. \"A life like that is something to envy…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn't help but feel a pang of longing for a life of travel and freedom, though with a family to care for, it was a dream he would never realize.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>About half a day after John's departure, the village received new visitors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound of hooves shook frost from the trees as a mounted group rode in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Have you seen this man?\" asked the scar-nosed leader as he unfurled a sketch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sandy's wary eyes swept over the group.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were seventeen of them in total, all armed with swords.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On their saddles was a sigil—an emblem marked with a wolf's head being struck down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sandy, having been to larger cities, recognized the symbol.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It belonged to a faction that called themselves the Bane of Witchers—dedicated to hunting down and killing every last one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They called themselves the Hunting Band.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, they were little more than a band of brigands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their reputation for savagery preceded them—stories of massacres had spread far and wide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sandy didn't dare provoke them. He glanced at the sketch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A black-haired man with a sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a careful look, he shook his head. \"No. I haven't seen him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmm?\" The scar-nosed leader frowned. \"Has anyone new passed through here recently?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sandy answered honestly, \"Just one man. But he wasn't carrying any weapons, and he had brown hair.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now it was the scarred man's turn to look puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They questioned a few more villagers, but everyone gave the same answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just when Sandy thought it was over, the scarred man said, \"We'll be staying here for a while. Show us the way.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sandy's heart sank. Faced with these men, all he could do was hope they wouldn't cause trouble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He led them to the tavern, then immediately ordered the village guards to arm themselves and stay alert.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the tavern came the sound of drinking and rough, menacing laughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sandy had thought that as long as they stayed prepared, everything would be fine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first, there was no conflict.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he forgot what a gang of fugitives, drunk on liquor, was capable of doing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When one of them, reeking of alcohol, tore the clothes off a village girl, it signaled the beginning of disaster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Night fell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Flames rose from the village.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Men screamed, women's cries and wails pierced the night, mingling with the sounds of slaughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sandy's oak shield lay abandoned in the burning tavern. Old Dan lay there, belly torn open, still clutching his cooking pot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The flames spread outward from the tavern. Horses rampaged through the streets as the Hunting Band violated the women, slaughtered the men, and set the village ablaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sandy fell inside his own home. He had tried to get his family to safety but was run through by a sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his fading vision, he saw, near a pile of hay, a boy with pointed ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy stared in terror at the horrific scene, clutching in his hands a stolen sack of grain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The village's guards, once meant to protect against elves, had perished at the hands of humans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A grim and bitter irony.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sandy weakly lifted his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Startled, the elven boy bolted from the haystack, vanishing into the dark forest under the glow of the flames.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sandy remained in that final gesture as death claimed him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three more days passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The horse's hooves left one sakura-shaped print after another on the snow-dusted ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>John gazed into the distance, where the blue mountain range stretched endlessly across the horizon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The snow lent the landscape a pale, glimmering brightness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had finally reached the Blue Mountains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The brown hair he had assumed with All-Forms Change slowly shifted back to its natural black.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The runes on his sword shimmered faintly, as though guiding his way forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Buzz—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An arrow whistled toward John's head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as it was about to strike,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>he raised his hand and caught it in midair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>John slowly turned his head to the side, meeting the greedy, bloodthirsty gazes of a group of men watching him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Finally found you… Black Witcher.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man at the front had a scar running straight across the bridge of his nose, making it look as if the nose had once been cut clean off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Kill him! Collect the bounty!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At his command, the hunters spurred their horses forward, charging straight at John.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>John slowly drew his sword. The runes on the blade flickered for a moment—then suddenly went dark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, a massive black shadow swept across the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its enormous shape cast a looming darkness over the snow-covered ground, as though dusk had fallen in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"ROAR—!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thunderous roar of a lion sent up a flurry of snow. The charging horses reared in terror, neighing wildly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hunters' faces, once twisted with savage glee, froze in horror.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shadow descended. With a single bite, it tore half the body off one of the men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ground shook as the beast landed, and the tremor shattered what little courage the hunters had left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's a manticore!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one knew who shouted it first, but the cry alone was enough to break the morale of the so-called Witcher-Slayers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The manticore had the vast, powerful wings of an eagle, and its body was even larger than that of a leshen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Devouring one man was nowhere near enough to sate its hunger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another victim was snatched up and torn apart. Those who tried to fight back only met the same fate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The band of hunters who had once slaughtered an entire village now found themselves reduced to prey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The irony was almost laughable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scar-nosed leader, his face twisted in panic, actually shouted at John:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Witcher! Kill it! Isn't it your duty to protect humans?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>John let out a short, dry laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn't move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man screamed again, his voice cracking in desperation, \"Do something! You're a Witcher!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sorry,\" John said lazily, his tone almost bored. \"Witchers don't protect beasts.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scarred man tried to retort, but before he could utter another word, the manticore's massive jaws closed around him and swallowed him whole.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The remaining horses screamed in terror, bolting in every direction as John stood and watched the slaughter unfold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From a distant rise, another pair of eyes observed the scene.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A white-haired man, his gaze steady yet thoughtful, studied John in silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>---\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Check out the Patreon for advance chapters!\u003C\u002Fp>",1985,"2026-06-06T11:45:53.362Z",1,"novelbin.me","45c251b1da71a5509cf68a1a5286a0d4bf01d40a626c88bc8aeca35419f3d0eb","hogwarts-john-wick-chapter-402","hogwarts-john-wick-chapter-500",577,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fhogwarts-john-wick-cover.jpg"]