After the artificial gravity system stabilized again, Hao Ren and the others once more set out for Hearth City. Willy now knew why they had not seen any soldiers from the Iron City-State or Free City along the road—they had received word from their respective families and hidden in safe places long ago. Perhaps that was a good thing. He no longer had to worry about being captured by the enemy and having his head turned into some lord's collectible.
"Can you predict when the gravity... Ascension Phenomenon will occur?" Nangong Sanba asked Willy.
"The scholars know how to predict it," Willy explained with animated gestures. "They observe the flashes deep within the caves and listen for sounds coming from far away. They can issue warnings before the Ascension Phenomenon occurs. But sometimes things still go wrong. Mother Earth may suddenly lose her power, and when that happens, the scholars whose predictions failed have to endure a whipping to make up for their mistake."
By then, they had been traveling along Kingdom Main Road for a long time. Hao Ren suddenly saw that the road ahead was blocked by a "city wall" made from steel plates, plastic, tires, and various other kinds of garbage. The wall was several meters high, held together with wire and rivets. A row of light bulbs hung from its top, while the gate consisted of two metal grilles fitted with sharp spikes. Willy happily pointed ahead. "This is Hearth City!"
Hao Ren stared at the garbage wall and took a long while before forcing out a sentence. "Very... distinctive."
Soldiers stood watch atop a wooden tower on the city wall. When they saw strangers approaching, they immediately raised their javelins and bows and loudly demanded to know who they were. Willy promptly stepped forward, raised