"They got back just a day before you, riding through the night yesterday," Vesemir said with a chuckle, but then sighed, his face clouding with worry.

"But they're not in the castle right now, they went hunting. Said they had a rough year out there, sometimes couldn't even get a proper meal, so they wanted to really feast."

Lynn nodded silently.

Truth be told, witchers like him, who lived like the wuxia heroes in Jin Yong's novels—not engaging in production but generous with their coin—were an extreme rarity.

Real witchers, even top ones like Vesemir and Geralt, could only just scrape by.

Two or three centuries ago, that was when witchers had it best.

With the departure of their "fathers," Alzur and Cosimo, the Old Order fragmented into several new witcher schools.

Apart from the School of the Griffin, which still adhered to the noble motive of protecting the continent's populace as established by the Old Order, all other schools transitioned to a more pragmatic way of survival.

That is, they began to view slaying monsters as a job, no longer an unreachable, lofty ideal.

Back then, monsters were everywhere, contracts for hunts were countless, and any witcher who could kill a monster could earn money.

Vesemir came from that era, and now in his old age, he often reminisced about those times.

But as the number of monsters decreased, the witchers who once protected humanity and worked for coin were instead treated as monsters by humans.

Not only that, but modern human society also embraced a concept of "cost reduction and efficiency increase."

This meant lowering costs and improving efficiency.

Applied to witchers, it meant not only expecting a witcher to complete multiple monster hunting contracts for a single payment but also hoping that multiple witchers seeking contracts would engage in internal competition, actively lowering their fees.

Given this, Lynn could easily understand why Eskel and Lambert had a tough year, as Vesemir had mentioned.

He sighed, about to tell Vesemir not to worry anymore, that he would protect everyone in the School of the Wolf, when Vesemir proactively changed the subject.

"Lynn, are all these your friends? Aren't you going to introduce me?"

Lynn saw Vesemir's gaze fall upon the group who had dismounted behind him and Geralt and were now gathered around.

So he nodded, first addressing those behind him.

"Everyone, this is my master, and the grandmaster of our School of the Wolf, Vesemir."

Everyone bowed in unison.

Vesemir returned the gesture.

Then, Lynn addressed Vesemir.

"Master, allow me to introduce you. First, these three are Letho, Auckes, and Serrit of the School of the Viper."

Vesemir's name was renowned in every school. As an elder from the Old Order, even the witchers of the School of the Viper, who usually eschewed formality, bowed again.

"Master Vesemir, forgive our presumptuous visit."

"Nonsense, Master Letho. This castle has been empty for centuries; it's too quiet with just a few of us. I, an old man, couldn't be happier to have more guests visit and bring some life to the place. How could I mind?"

Lynn introduced the next person to Vesemir.

"This is George of the School of the Griffin."

Vesemir spoke first: "I, an old man, have always admired your school's noble ideals and knightly spirit."

George respectfully replied, "And I, too, admire the unity of the School of the Wolf."

"And these two are…"

When it was the two sorceresses' turn, Vesemir smiled at the ladies.

"Lady Tissaia de Vries, Lady Yennefer of Vengerberg, welcome to Kaer Morhen."

Tissaia also politely said, "Vesemir, it's been years. You're still as hale and hearty as ever."

Even Yennefer finally managed to be polite.

She glanced around, a rare look of satisfaction on her face.

"Truly worthy of the School of the Wolf's fortress. It's quite grand and magnificent. But I heard that Kaer Morhen had already fallen into disrepair many years ago. Was the rumor mistaken?"

Geralt quickly stepped forward, muttering under his breath with dissatisfaction, "Yen!"

Vesemir laughed heartily.

The old man had eaten more meat than others had eaten bread.

Though Yennefer's words weren't entirely courteous, a man who had lived for centuries naturally wouldn't quibble with a "junior" like Yennefer.

"We can discuss these matters inside. This is no place to entertain guests, and it's quite cold out here. Everyone, please, come in."

The atmosphere eased considerably.

Just as Vesemir was greeting everyone, a sharp voice suddenly echoed from the direction of the castle gate.

"Why are there so many footprints on the ground? Did that brat Lynn bring more people back again?"

The air suddenly went silent.

Lynn saw the veins throbbing on Vesemir's forehead.

He silently walked towards the corridor connecting to the castle gate. A moment later, a quarrel erupted between two voices.

"Lambert, if you knew we had guests, couldn't you show some hospitality?"

"Old man, hospitality is for rich folk. Do we look rich to you?"

"Can't you speak to me more politely? I guess I didn't whip you hard enough during your apprenticeship, did I?"

"Alright, alright, you win the argument. I don't want to upset you too much. If I give you a stroke and you're paralyzed, and we have to take turns caring for you, I'd rather just die."

Lambert was the youngest witcher besides Lynn.

Despite his sharp tongue, he wasn't a bad person at heart.

At Eskel's urging, who was traveling with Lambert, Lambert apologized to "Old Man" Vesemir.

And that was the end of that.

Next, Lynn also met Yarpen and Zoltan within the castle.

Lynn unstintingly praised the dwarves for their contributions, and while delivering their final payment, he also gave them an extra reward as a bonus.

The dwarves were naturally delighted, their goodwill towards Lynn greatly deepening.

Lynn did this not only to acknowledge the dwarves' hard work but also to win their favor.

Yarpen and Zoltan were prominent figures in the original novels and games, even serving as commanders of the Mahakam Volunteer Army against the Nilfgaardian forces during the Northern Wars.

Therefore, fostering good relations with them could only bring benefits, never harm.

Networking, or connections, is useful in any era.

Especially for those who achieve great things, looking at history, both ancient and modern, East and West, who has ever conquered territory relying solely on individual effort?

As Dandelion said, a network of acquaintances is an inviolable law of nature.

.....

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