William got up before dawn, rousing his still-groggy little brother and starting to get dressed. Layer after layer of fur was wrapped around his body, making him look bulky and slightly awkward to move in. But these layers of hide were indispensable—they were the best weapons against the cold.
He tossed more firewood onto the campfire that hadn't yet burned out, then went outside to add water and feed the cattle and sheep in the pen. While there was still time before full daylight, he practiced a half-baked set of taijiquan he had learned in his previous life from an old man who used to hang around the neighborhood.
Mm—he was doing it fairly decently, at least in form. Everything was slow and deliberate. After that, he began some simple morning exercises.
William didn't really understand how to fight, but he did know a few basic fitness training methods. He believed that if he kept at it long enough, he would eventually see results.
What had happened yesterday had clearly shaken him. At this moment, William had begun to realize how necessary personal strength really was. At this point in time, his father didn't yet know of a man called Mance Rayder. Presumably, the future King-Beyond-the-Wall was still wearing black.
That meant William still had time to grow.
In the past, William had always wanted to rely on his own exploration to figure out how to become a shapeshifter, but now it seemed unrealistic. Now that he was a bit older, it was time to seriously consider learning how to fight.
One hundred push-ups! One hundred sit-ups! One hundred squats! Then a ten-kilometer run—every single day!
That was the training plan William had designed for himself. As for the inspiration—well, it came from a bald, shiny-headed guy in an anime from his previous life. William didn't expect to become some kind of One-Punch Baldy-level superhero, but as long as he persisted, he would at least grow stronger.
Even so, for someone who had always neglected exercise, completing this routine for the first time was extremely taxing. Still, there was nothing to do but endure it. With unbroken persistence, combined with his father's and mother's training, he believed he would definitely become an outstanding warrior. William was firmly convinced of this.
Reynard and Sophia woke up as well. When they came outside, they saw William drenched in sweat from his training. This discovery made both parents very happy. His father was pleased that William was finally starting to become a man like himself, while his mother was glad that her eldest son had the initiative to train on his own.
Reynard looked at William and said,"William, what are you doing? Are those strange movements some kind of training?"
William was in the middle of doing push-ups. When he heard his father's question, he accidentally relaxed his strength as he opened his mouth and collapsed onto the ground.
After catching his breath for a few moments, he finally had the strength to reply,"Yes, Father. This is a training method I came up with myself. It seems quite effective, but since it's my first time trying it, I'm not used to it yet."
Reynard's rough, calloused hand affectionately ruffled William's head, messing up his already damp hair even more."This kind of training does seem interesting. But today, your old man is taking you to see how the Free Folk train. Climbing mountains isn't easy—don't waste too much of your strength here!"
Sophia also reminded him,"William, it's good that you want to train, but don't hurt yourself. Go wake up your little brother first. After breakfast, you'll be heading into the mountains."
William had no choice but to go wake his brother. This lazy fellow still wanted to stay in bed—there was no way William would let him get his wish.
"Henry, get up! Weren't you shouting last night about wanting to go hunting?"
Henry replied groggily,"William, let me sleep a little longer~ I was too excited last night and went to bed late."
"Yesterday I told you to sleep earlier and you didn't listen. Now you want to slack off again?" William said. "Hurry up. After breakfast we're leaving. Don't even think about making us wait for you."
Henry could only get up reluctantly, dressing himself in a daze.
After hastily eating some dried meat and boiled soup, Reynard set off with William and Henry.
There was a reason the Free Folk beyond the Wall were called wildlings. Letting things grow wild seemed to be their philosophy of life. Their training methods were just as rough and direct. For their father, chasing prey across mountains and plains and hunting itself was the best form of training.
Reynard had said more than once,"When you can move swiftly through these snow-covered mountains and forests without stopping, and come and go as freely as if you were walking back home, then you can be considered a qualified hunter. If you also master hunting techniques and understand the habits of every kind of prey, then you can be called an excellent hunter."
Henry kept trying to walk faster along the rugged mountain path. With one careless step, his foot slipped. Just as panic set in, Reynard's large hand grabbed the back of his collar and placed him safely aside. Only then did Reynard scold him,"Mountain paths are dangerous. Don't show off. One careless mistake and you'll get injured—if it's serious, you might even lose your life here."
Compared to Henry's recklessness, William was extremely cautious. He already knew that patience was indispensable if one wanted to become an outstanding hunter.
The mountain paths were treacherous. Any Free Folk who wanted to live freely beyond the Wall had to master the art of climbing. William was still constantly adapting. Clearly, his younger brother had more talent in this area—before long, Henry had already figured out the knack of it. Perhaps it was thanks to the powerful genes he had inherited from their father.
Learning to walk across these snow-covered rocky slopes was only the first step.
Though it was a world of ice and snow, countless dangers lurked beneath the endless white. Under his father's guidance and instruction, William began to learn many things—secrets passed down among seasoned hunters and never taught lightly. Reynard's ability to move through these mountains and forests like a fish in water depended heavily on such knowledge.
Reynard said,"The place where we spotted the shadow mountain lynx last time usually doesn't have many beasts, which is why Sophia agreed to let you two little ones come along. That point of Sophia's—you'd better learn it well. Being brave isn't wrong, but bravery isn't recklessness…
Speaking of which, Sophia is the smartest woman I've ever met. Being able to meet your mother—my luck was truly incredible! Hahaha!"
William chimed in,"That's also because Father is strong and brave. Otherwise, Mother wouldn't have liked you."
Reynard laughed."Of course I had to be strong and brave to be with your mother. When I first took part in a raid, we sacked a village and killed quite a few southern folk. I grabbed plenty of food and iron tools. That time, we captured five women—your mother was among them.
Who knows how many people dueled over Sophia's beauty, and how many Free Folk kept trying to steal her because of that noble-lady-like dignity she carried. But something happened later that made them completely give up."
Among the Free Folk, marriage customs were harsh. A man had to show great dominance toward a woman, even going so far as to steal her from her home or clan, while the woman was expected to resist fiercely and never yield easily. They believed that a true man would seize a woman from afar to strengthen his clan. A man could only steal a daughter, never another man's wife. If a woman married her own brother, father, or clan relatives, it would offend the gods, and she would be cursed to give birth to sickly children.
With Reynard's story drawing them in, even Henry couldn't help asking,"What happened?"
Reynard glanced around furtively at Henry and William, then said solemnly,"When we get back, don't secretly tell Sophia about this, or I'll be in trouble. If she finds out I told you these things, she'll definitely get angry."
William laughed."Go on, Father. Henry and I definitely won't let it slip."
Henry echoed him,"Yeah, yeah."
Only after getting their promise did Reynard continue,"Sophia wasn't like those village women who only knew how to cry. She must have already known about the Free Folk custom of stealing women, so she secretly hid a dagger. The first unlucky bastard thought she was just some noble young lady who could be bullied at will. Who would've thought that after struggling for a bit, Sophia cut off that thing of his? Hahaha!
After that, no one dared to look down on her again. Among the Free Folk, even death is more dignified than suffering such humiliation. That unlucky fellow eventually bled to death… You should know, even among the Free Folk, there are very few women as wild as her. Sophia earned everyone's recognition."
Listening to Reynard, Henry couldn't help but cheer for his mother. William, too, looked at his mother in a new light. So she had such a past. Thinking about it again, William felt it wasn't strange at all—his mother had always yearned for freedom. Doing something like that fit her nature perfectly.
Even if it couldn't compare to the legendary deeds of the famous Kings-Beyond-the-Wall known among the Free Folk, it was still a story filled with heroic color. A noble girl who had fallen into the lands beyond the Wall seemed to awaken the blood of a running wolf, becoming strong and independent, gradually gaining the ability to protect herself.
Chatting all the way, William learned more about his parents' past. His father was a pure Free Folk, with generation after generation living beyond the Wall. His mother, however, was different. Even Reynard didn't know which noble house she came from—his father's thick-headedness left William rather speechless.
Eventually, the conversation returned to hunting. Reynard continued,"Relying on the wild beasts in this snowfield to fill a family's belly isn't easy. Even old hands who've spent years in the mountains can't always manage it. Maybe that's why the Free Folk are so eager to cross the Wall and raid!"
In this icy world, the environment was harsh and food was scarce. Some Free Folk who couldn't survive were forced by circumstances to risk their lives. Even when they encountered merchants who came beyond the Wall to trade supplies, those black-hearted traders could easily fleece wildlings who couldn't even read a single word.
Sigh… all that could be said was that the backwardness of the wildlings existed in every possible aspect.