Time passed day by day.
Dudian's scatter shooting technique became more and more proficient. He was already able to draw arrows rapidly and accurately shoot at four target positions simultaneously. It had only taken him half a month from the first time he learned the scatter shooting technique until now.
The young instructor was very pleased to see Dudian's astonishing progress. Then he successively taught Dudian other hunter skills, namely "Stealth," "Tracking," and "Crossbow Archery."
"Stealth" involved how to eliminate the sound of one's movements, cover up one's scent, and quickly change positions.
To cover up one's scent outside the Wall, besides using zombie powder, one also needed to rely on oneself. After all, some monsters liked to hunt zombies. If one blindly applied zombie powder, it would be courting death. In such cases, one needed to use other things to cover up the scent. These things included plant juices, rotten mud, and a mixture of crushed insect corpses with soil or vines, etc., all of which could effectively cover up the scent.
"Tracking" was about judging the direction a monster had gone based on footprints, the traces of the monster's movements, and so on. This was a knowledge-based lesson. After all, not all hunters had the ability of perception-type demonic marks.
"Crossbow Archery" was only used when hunting large monsters or when destroying monster nests. According to the young instructor, a junior hunter only needed to master either "Archery" or "Crossbow Archery." When one became an intermediate hunter, one would learn "Heavy Crossbow Archery." Once one mastered the heavy crossbow archery technique, the lethality would increase several times, and one would also have the ability for close combat.
Once an enemy got close, one could use the heavy crossbow to repel them and gain more time for attacks.
After all, the essence of a hunter lay in the control of distance!
"With enough distance, there will be enough opportunities for attack!" This was what the young instructor repeatedly emphasized to Dudian and made him remember firmly.
Dudian studied earnestly and also realized that over the past three hundred years of development, the hunter profession inside the Wall had long been perfected and was extremely finely divided.
During his hunter training, Dudian took the time to visit Jula and her husband. He saw that they had already moved into the new house in the commercial area and had found their respective jobs in the small town. Jula worked in a medical clinic for eight hours a day, and her job was stable. The same was true for Gray, who worked in a tailor shop in the small town. His income was stable, and his work was also very easy. He was much happier than before when he worked in the factory. He didn't need to work overtime every day, and he occasionally had vacations. Moreover, his salary was at least double what it used to be.
Dudian no longer worried when he saw that their lives had stabilized.
A month later, he took the time to return to the slum area and found Barton, Kroen, and the others. After not seeing them for such a long time, they had found a remote abandoned factory. Since it was too remote and desolate, they didn't need to spend money to buy it. Instead, they bought a batch of building materials, cleaned up the inside of the abandoned factory, and repaired the walls and many broken workbenches.
Dudian had thought that after such a long time, they had gone their separate ways. He didn't expect that they were still busy with the things he had entrusted to them. Besides feeling touched, he also trusted them even more.
"Here are a hundred gold coins." The main purpose of Dudian's return this time was to ask them to collect materials. He said, "This is the material list. You purchase the materials and stack them here. The quantities are written on it."
Barton and the others looked at the large bag of gold coins Dudian was holding. Their eyes shone with a strong light, and they swallowed their saliva. Barton said, "Di, Dian, where did you get this money? Why is there so much?"
"I earned it by risking my life. Otherwise, how else could I have gotten it?" Dudian smiled slightly.
Barton and the others looked at each other and thought it made sense. Kroen looked at the list, his face turned red, and he said, "Dian, Dian, there are some characters on this list that we don't know."
Dudian realized this. After thinking for a while, he said, "Well, you should go to school first. When you know more characters, you can drop out and come work for me."
"But the tuition fees..." Barton hesitated.
Kroen immediately nudged him.
Dudian smiled and said, "Of course, I'll cover the tuition fees. I'll leave this money with you, and you can allocate it yourselves."
Although a hundred gold coins was a large sum of money, it was nothing to him now. Moreover, he also wanted to cultivate Barton and the others quickly. First of all, it was their ability to manage money and their ability to control their desire for money.
If they ran away with the hundred gold coins, Dudian could withdraw his support early.
Hearing Dudian's words, the eyes of several people sparkled with excitement.
Barton had just shown his joy when he suddenly hesitated again and said, "With so much money, if we lose it, then..."
"That depends on your ability." Dudian smiled.
The several people looked at each other, and their expressions became solemn.
After having lunch with the several people, Dudian took a carriage and returned to the commercial area. In his heart, he was still a little worried. Although Barton and the others were alert and clever, they were still too young after all and needed to be cultivated well. At the same time, he also needed to prepare a way out for himself.
Next, in addition to the daily boring hunter training, Dudian would report to the Tribunal once a month to avoid having his apprentice cleric qualification cancelled.
Every time he went there, Dudian would meet Jenny. Every time he chatted with this girl, Dudian would feel in a very good mood, as if he had found another self. He found that Jenny was completely different from other noble girls. She was not snobbish at all and had a very easy-going personality. The two of them talked about almost everything, from their hobbies to their respective ideals, and they got along very well.
Later, Dudian gradually came to the Tribunal more often. Sometimes he came three to four times a month, or even more.
In the blink of an eye, more than half a year passed.
In front of the Tribunal on Puss Avenue, Dudian came out and looked at the gray sky. It was now the Black Snow Season, and the air was extremely cold. The particulate matter in the thick radiation clouds blocked the sunlight tightly. Even during the daytime, the weather was gray, and black snowflakes would fall from time to time, landing on the houses and streets, making passers-by quickly dodge in surprise.
Black snow, like disaster rain, was something that people tried to avoid.
"The wind outside is so strong!" Jenny, who came out together from behind, tightened her woolen coat. Her originally ruddy face suddenly lost some color.
Seeing her pale face, Dudian felt a bit of pity in his heart. He took off his coat and draped it over her shoulders, asking, "Are you still cold?"
Jenny was a bit anxious and quickly said, "Put it on quickly. You'll catch a cold."
"I'm not cold." Dudian felt warm in his heart and smiled.
"You're just lying!" Jenny bit her lower lip, and there was suddenly a layer of mist in her eyes. She said, "It was the same when it rained last time. You shielded me from the rain, but you got wet yourself, and you got sick the next day."
Dudian was taken aback. He didn't expect that she still remembered this incident. It had been three months ago. At that time, it was the Black Death Season, and the temperature was extremely high. It rarely rained. That day happened to be Jenny's day off, and the two of them had made an appointment to go out and play. But it suddenly rained halfway through. He didn't expect that with his physical constitution, he would catch a cold just from getting wet in the rain. It showed that even a hunter's physique had to give way in the face of this disaster rain.
"Why are you so good to me?" Jenny grabbed Dudian's clothes and looked up at him.
Looking at her shining eyes, Dudian felt warm in his heart. He couldn't help but say, "Because I like you!" After saying that, he felt his heart skip a beat, and the whole world seemed to quiet down instantly. A trace of regret welled up in his heart, but there was more nervousness and anticipation.
Jenny didn't expect Dudian to confess suddenly. She was taken aback, and her cheeks immediately turned red. She lowered her head and said in a voice as soft as a mosquito, "I like you too."
With Dudian's extraordinary hearing, he felt as if his brain had exploded. An endless sense of joy welled up in his mind, and his blood seemed to boil. He felt that the cold wind outside was as warm as the spring breeze. He said in surprise, "Really?"
Seeing Dudian's excited and happy appearance, Jenny's cheeks became even redder, but she didn't avoid his gaze. She softly replied with an "Mmm".
Dudian suddenly felt an unprecedented sense of happiness, as if he was surrounded by the whole world. He hugged this girl tightly in his arms, smelling the faint fragrance of her hair, and his heart was filled with emotion.
After a long time, the two of them separated.
"Let me send you back." Dudian said happily.
Jenny's face was still flushed, and she nodded gently.
Dudian looked at the carriage and the knight waiting for Jenny on the street in the distance. A smile appeared in his eyes, and he said, "But we have to take a detour." After saying that, he took Jenny's hand, went around to the side, and secretly left.
Jenny's face became even redder, and she followed him closely.
That night, Dudian sent Jenny to the front of the ancient castle. After she entered the castle, he returned to his residence. He was so excited all the way that he couldn't wait to wave his fists in the carriage or immediately find a bow and arrow and shoot thousands of arrows.
Half a month later.
In the library of the Tribunal on Puss Avenue, Jenny was organizing the books, which was part of her work as an apprentice cleric. Dudian was also there. Standing on a ladder, he helped her pass the sorted books to the bookshelf.
After finishing organizing this category of books, Dudian got off the ladder and whispered to Jenny, "I have a surprise for you. Close your eyes first."
"Hmm?" Jenny was puzzled, but seeing Dudian's smiling face, she slowly closed her eyes. Her eyelashes trembled slightly, and under the faint light beams overhead, she looked extremely beautiful.
Dudian was moved. He took something out of his pocket and placed it in front of her, saying, "You can open your eyes now."
Jenny opened her eyes and suddenly saw a string of jade bracelets. She said in surprise, "How did you know I like jade?"
"You mentioned it two months ago." Dudian smiled.
Jenny took the jade bracelet. Hearing Dudian's words, her body trembled slightly. Suddenly, she stood on tiptoe and quickly kissed Dudian's cheek.
Dudian was stunned. He covered his face, and then his heart began to beat wildly, and his blood flowed faster.
Jenny's face was completely red, and she lowered her head.
Dudian looked at her excitedly. Just as he was about to hug her, his face suddenly changed, and he said in a hurry, "Someone is coming."
Jenny was also startled. She quickly put away the bracelet and turned around to organize the books rapidly.
Dudian picked up the ladder and pretended to adjust its angle.
After a while, a young cleric came over. He glanced at Dudian and Jenny and said, "Do you know where the History of the Rule of Law for Slave Status is?"
Dudian pointed with his hand and said, "It's on that bookshelf."
"Oh, thanks." The young man turned to look and said casually, then left.
Dudian and Jenny looked at each other and smiled secretly.
...
...
In the ancient castle of the Blom family.
In a very spacious and luxurious room, there were two rows of tall bookshelves filled with books. Beside them were some antique porcelain and carvings. On the wall were rare oil paintings that were priceless. At the moment, a tall and imposing middle-aged figure was sitting on the sofa, holding a book and reading. He said to the middle-aged butler in front of him, "I heard that the young lady has been getting very close to an apprentice cleric recently?"
Hearing his calm tone, the middle-aged butler was a bit frightened and said, "Yes, sir."
"Go and investigate the background of the other party for me." The middle-aged figure said indifferently.
"Yes." The middle-aged butler quickly agreed.
...
...
In the blink of an eye, one year passed.
On Moss Street, Dudian stood on the street and waited patiently. Suddenly, a familiar scent wafted into his nose, making his eyes light up.
After a while, a delicate carriage came galloping from the end of the street and stopped in front of Dudian.
Jenny jumped out of the carriage and threw herself into Dudian's arms. She said happily, "I have some great news for you. Do you want to hear it?"
Dudian steadied her body and smiled, saying, "What's the good news?"
"Great news!" Jenny blinked her eyes, and her face was filled with uncontrollable excitement. She said, "My father has agreed to us being together."
"Agreed?" Dudian said in surprise. Previously, when Jenny's father knew that he and Jenny were together, he sent people to ask him to leave. There were both threats and heavy financial inducements, but he didn't give in to either the tough or the soft approaches and didn't agree.
Because of his identity as an apprentice cleric, the other party didn't use brute force. Later, this matter was left unresolved.
Now, after such a long time, the other party had agreed?
Seeing Dudian's skeptical expression, Jenny nodded vigorously and said, "My father said that he refused you before not because he looked down on you as a commoner, but because he was worried that you were good for nothing, that you couldn't be a cleric and couldn't do well as a hunter. So, he said that this time he would personally arrange a hunting mission for you. If you can complete it, he will agree to us being together!"
"Personally arrange a hunting mission for me?" Dudian frowned slightly. He felt a bit uneasy in his heart. His identity as a hunter had already been known to the other party. If it weren't for his protection as an apprentice cleric, he probably would have been forcefully separated from Jenny long ago.
Seeing Dudian's worried expression, Jenny smiled and said, "Don't worry. My father said that he definitely won't arrange a too difficult mission for you. However, I don't know exactly what the mission is. If you think it's too difficult, you can tell me. If my father is deliberately making things difficult, humph, just watch me go and settle the score with him!"
"Okay." Dudian nodded. He hoped that would be the case.