The great Lord Louis, who is thanked by thousands, is currently playing with wolves.
Leng Feng crouched on the grass, his ears quivering lightly, eyes focused, ready for Louis’s command at any moment.
Leng Feng silently slid into the grass, his figure resembling a silver-gray shadow, weaving to the rear flank.
He suddenly lunged out, biting the suspended cloth target fiercely, swinging it vigorously several times.
He swiftly released it, deftly turned and rushed back to Louis’s side, his movements clean and agile, without a single extraneous gesture.
After several months of training, Leng Feng could now expertly understand almost all of Louis’s commands.
Whether it’s lurking, attacking, or guarding, he executes flawlessly.
Sometimes he doesn’t even need verbal cues, just a glance, and he can gauge his master’s intention.
Of course, in these past two months, it wasn’t Louis who trained Leng Feng, but Egger.
Yet the ice wolf naturally possesses a strong sense of hierarchy.
Egger was responsible for drills, feeding, and discipline, but Leng Feng never truly obeyed him.
Until Louis returned, and he immediately wagged his tail and greeted him, following closely and shadowing him.
Because he clearly knew who was the real boss.
"Good dog." Louis squatted down to stroke his forehead.
Leng Feng let out a low whimper and, as if showing off, nuzzled his head against Louis’s palm before tilting his neck and confidently resting his large head on Louis’s leg as if being playful.
"Here it goes again."
Louis chuckled wryly, half his body immobilized by Leng Feng’s weight: "You’re a Wolf King, not a dog... Hey, don’t lick!"
Leng Feng’s tail wagged like a windmill; tongue out, he seemed like a Husky.
Of course, this behavior only appeared in front of Louis, in front of other wolf pups, he embodied a leader’s demeanor.
"Tsk...this guy, you’ve completely accepted me as your master now."
Louis’s fingers gently combed through the hair on Leng Feng’s neck, savoring the smooth yet wild texture.
"If you could grow a bit taller, a bit stronger, that would be better."
Leng Feng was approximately six months old now, just having passed the puppy stage; his limbs were starting to extend, and his muscles gradually firming up.
But to fully mature, it would take more than a year.
"Which means, my dream of Wolf Riders will have to wait a while longer..."
Louis’s gaze drifted afar, seemingly envisioning himself riding a wolf, galloping through thousands, leaving everyone in a trail of dust.
Just then, light footsteps echoed from behind.
It was Sif; she held a stack of reports in her arms, softly speaking as she approached: "The intelligence from various territories has arrived. Shall I read them out to you?"
Louis nodded, indicating for her to begin, while on the other hand, continuing to play with Leng Feng.
Sif unfolded the parchment and began reading each part:
"The Snowfield Territory successfully tamed a herd of snow mountain goats suitable for breeding, with increased milk production in winter."
"The Cold Fir Territory’s grain station and tent outposts are established, with over seven hundred registered residents."
"In Ice Ridge Territory, knights successfully rescued hundreds of trapped civilians from the mountain paths, now all settled properly."
"As for Canglu Territory, the third bandit eradication concluded, three bandit leaders executed publicly, and remaining fugitives fled upon hearing the news."
After listening, Louis nodded lightly.
"Not bad, the preliminary plan results are starting to show." His gaze was calm, with a hint of self-talk, "I wonder how many can be saved...
Though food consumption is too fast, but the first batch should arrive soon, we can last a few more days."
He smiled wryly: "Is this the price of being the sun?"
Sif didn’t quite understand why Louis often likened himself to the "sun."
Probably due to some special meaning, like "illuminating others" sort of thing.
Then Sif proceeded with some routine territorial reports.
Louis listened sporadically, until Sif mentioned something he had longed to hear.
"Oh, one more thing," Sif leafed through her report, "Mike says the castle in Red Tide Territory is almost finished, asking you to take a look."
"Oh?" Louis’s eyes lit up, sitting up straight.
He certainly remembered this matter.
Back then, he personally designed the blueprint inspired by earth towers, incorporating geothermal heating plans from hot springs—all his planning.
"Wasn’t there an issue with the hot spring clay before?" Louis inquired.
"Yes, there was a slight delay," Sif nodded, "but later a new team of craftsmen was introduced, and progress greatly increased. Now the main structure is complete, only some decorations and defenses are yet to be finished." Thᴇ link to the origɪn of this information rᴇsts ɪn 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭·𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦·𝘯𝘦𝘵
"Really almost done, I thought I’d have to wait till next year." Louis marveled.
He frequently walked past the construction site, only seeing the outer walls completed, but hadn’t specifically checked the inside.
Louis chuckled, "Let’s go take a look around noon today."
After lunch, the sunlight was just right.
Louis donned a cloak, accompanied by Sif and several guardian knights, and strolled over.
Walking past the freshly paved dirt road, Louis spotted it immediately.
The outline was rugged; the heavy rammed earth walls seemed to emerge from the ground, carrying an indescribable pressure.
At the bottom was a whole circle of deep gray stone bricks tightly hugging the base.
The stone extended up to mid-waist, seamlessly connecting with the arrow tower’s stone walls, simple yet not rigid lines.
Further up was the wooden structure of protruding eaves, beams carved with the Red Tide sun totem and wave patterns, rough yet intricately detailed.
The entire castle resembled an armored beast, steady, cold, pragmatism above all, yet hiding a stubborn craftsmanship.
It struck right at Louis’s straightforward aesthetic.
It’s not the luxurious beauty of Southern Nobility; it’s the Northern Territory’s rough, utilitarian beauty.
Though the exterior differs greatly from the castle of Frost Halberd City, in spirit they’re very similar.
Louis looked for a while, unable to resist sighing: "Old Mike actually produced such a styled castle... He’s certainly skilled. Though primarily it’s my credit."
He also recalled sketching on the blueprint, seemingly it was just a bare column.
"The design concept was mine," he added quietly, shamelessly.
Meanwhile, Sif tilted her head looking at the newly finished earth tower.
It didn’t quite match her imagination.
She expected the castle to be gleaming stone bricks, ornate beams, yet it appeared plain and rough.
Just then, the large gates creaked open.
A dust-covered Mike stepped out boldly.
"Lord! You’ve arrived?" He beamed with pride, "Successfully completed, despite challenges."