Chapter 637: Family motto

Westeros continent, the North,

A remote small mountain village, connected by rolling mountains and forests, as if near the Dreadfort.

Stepping into the deep snow that was enough to sink half a calf, Zhang Cheng couldn't help but tilt his head, because the surroundings seemed to have no traces of prey.

Just when Zhang Cheng thought he would return empty-handed today, a low roar came from afar.

Turning around, Zhang Cheng looked at a huge shadow cat, and couldn't help but lean down.

Because he and the other party were old acquaintances. The scar on the other party's left eye was exactly what he had cut last year. However, he didn't kill the other party at the time, but let it go in order to protect the wild boar he was hunting.

But didn't expect that everyone would meet again this year. Truly enemies meet, eyes are red!

"Roar!"

Letting out an angry roar, the Shadow Lynx seemed to be warning Zhang Cheng that he had stepped into its territory.

Yet, facing the Shadow Lynx's reprimand, Zhang Cheng silently gripped Zixing tighter and assumed a combat stance.

Just as the two sides were glaring at each other with hostility, heavy snow began to fall from the sky.

Launching the first attack, the Shadow Lynx pounced toward Zhang Cheng at lightning speed, but at that moment, Zhang Cheng gripped Zixing in his hand and slashed upward.

"Puchi!"

Fresh blood splattered onto the ground; the once-ferocious Shadow Lynx instantly collapsed onto the snowy earth.

Walking forward, Zhang Cheng wiped the bloodstains from his cheeks and slowly raised his sword.

But just as he was about to strike, he heard a roar.

Looking down, he saw a small, beast-like Shadow Lynx desperately biting his trouser leg.

Watching this scene, Zhang Cheng fell silent for a moment and raised the Zixing in his hand.

"Awoo... awoo..."

Emitting a sorrowful howl, the Shadow Lynx looked at Zhang Cheng as if it were begging for mercy.

Facing this scene, Zhang Cheng hesitated for an instant, but the long sword in his hand thrust down fiercely!

In the afternoon, amidst the vast, heavy snow,

Zhang Cheng, carrying a massive wild boar, appeared step by step from the snow.

Seeing Zhang Cheng before him, Andrew hurried forward and said, "Young Master, are you alright?"

"I'm fine, these are all from the hunt!"

As he spoke, Zhang Cheng handed over the Shadow Lynx from his arms and said, "Prepare some food for this little guy!"

"Ah, a Shadow Lynx? Young Master, this..."

Staring at Zhang Cheng in astonishment, Andrew couldn't help but be shocked, because Shadow Lynxes were extremely ferocious creatures; after losing their young, their parents would search for the scent like madmen.

"Its mother has already been killed by me! This one is too small and has no meat; I plan to raise it a bit before dealing with it!"

After handing it to Andrew, Zhang Cheng thought for a long time before coming up with this excuse.

After all, when he was about to strike, he had actually seen the pleading in the Shadow Lynx's eyes; for Zhang Cheng, this was simply more detestable than losing half of one's bet after surrendering!

Hearing Zhang Cheng's words, Andrew also knew that the Young Master had decided to raise the little creature, so he immediately said, "I understand, Young Master!"

Throwing the four-hundred-plus-pound wild boar onto the ground with a thud that caused a tremor, Zhang Cheng picked up a knife from the side and began to butcher it.

Carefully wiping Zixing, Andrew treated it as if it were his own child,

because back when Count Count Count Celingen was alive, he was the one who served this sword.

Before long, when a pot of decent meat soup appeared, Andrew said shamefully, "I'm sorry, Young Master, my cooking is truly the worst among the housekeepers!"

"It doesn't matter, Uncle Andrew, your cooking isn't what's important!"

Patting Andrew on the shoulder, Zhang Cheng spoke quite relaxedly,

because he had been with Andrew for so many years and had always regarded him as family.

After finishing the meal, Zhang Cheng went to the empty courtyard to practice sword techniques; after all, the danger level of this world was still very high.

However, Zhang Cheng was particularly suspicious of one thing: according to the history of Westeros, dragons should have already gone extinct, so why did they still exist now? This was simply too incredible. Could it be that there were other existences in this world?

Just as Zhang Cheng was puzzled, he suddenly heard the sound of rapid hoofbeats.

Standing at the entrance, Zhang Cheng held an axe in his hand, watching the front with a cold face.

At this moment, he saw a young man leading knights appearing outside.

Looking at Zhang Cheng before him, the person riding the horse asked, "Luo Sai von Count Count Celingen?"

"It is I!"

Raising his head, Zhang Cheng looked at the young man and vaguely saw the shadow of Eddard Stark on his face.

"I never imagined that a descendant of the Count Count Celingen family could actually hide in such a small place for so many years!"

Looking at Zhang Cheng with a smile, Eddard, who leaped off his horse, walked forward and said, "I am Eddard! Eddard Stark!"

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Stark!"

Performing the appropriate etiquette, Zhang Cheng couldn't help but smile, though he gripped the axe in his hand tighter,

because if Eddard wanted to make a move, he would probably have to run to the other side of the sea to play!

After all, he had brought fewer than five knights; Zhang Cheng could completely slaughter them and then leave!

"My father is very sorry about what happened back then; because of his mistake, the Count Count Celingen family was destroyed. Now, we need your loyalty!"

Looking at Zhang Cheng, Eddard spoke of the events of that year very lightly.

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However, Zhang Cheng suppressed his anger and said, "The Count Count Celingen family has always been loyal to the Stark family; this is our honor!"

"Do you still remember your family motto?"

Looking at Zhang Cheng, Eddard couldn't help but become serious.

"I am honor!"

Speaking to Eddard, Zhang Cheng couldn't help but become earnest.

"Very good, give him a horse! I will wait for you at Winterfell!"

Looking at Zhang Cheng with a smile, Eddard turned and left haughtily.

And the Eddard of today was not the humble and scholarly noble who would later have his father and brother burned to death by the Mad King; he was quite arrogant!

Watching Eddard leave with his knights, the corners of Zhang Cheng's mouth curled up into a cruel smile: "I am truly grateful to you for what happened back then, Duke Stark!"

He hadn't been sure before whether the events of that year were a conspiracy, but now Zhang Cheng knew that the Count Count Celingen family had definitely been schemed against.

As for why they had only found him now, it was because even after losing the Count Count Celingen family, they couldn't manage the former territory.

After all, although other families had tacitly approved of the matter, they would not allow the Stark family to annex the lands of the Count Count Celingen family.

Because once such a thing happened once, it would certainly happen a second time.

Moreover, the Count Count Celingen family hadn't openly rebelled, so the remaining Zhang Cheng was the rightful candidate!

Seeing that neither side could obtain the territory, wouldn't it be better to bring back the Count Count Celingen family to annoy people?

As for how Zhang Cheng was found, that was too simple; after all, population mobility in the Middle Ages was very strict.

Sometimes, lords would even duel over the commoners beneath them!

But this wasn't for the sake of face, but for tax revenue; because if there were fewer people, how could you exploit them?

And if Zhang Cheng became a count, the first thing he would do was restore the "Right of the First Night"!

Zhang Cheng: As a count who cares about the people, I have an obligation to check your health for free!

Eddard Stark: He is truly not a thing!

Robert Baratheon: My god, this idea is simply too brilliant!

Pushing open the door, Andrew held Zixing and said, "Young Master, this is..."

"They cannot take away everything from Count Count Celingen, even with conspiracies!"

Speaking coldly, Zhang Cheng returned to the house against the wind and snow, because the constraints of the kingdom were too strong; even a Warden like Stark couldn't do whatever he pleased.

For Zhang Cheng, this was a good thing, but also a bad thing! After all, if he were to take power, he wouldn't allow a group of people to chatter in his ear and teach him how to do things!

(End of chapter)