Old Friend on Wind Arising Path

There was, of course, more than one mountain road crossing Sikar Mountain from Delarion into Kasonlik, but Wind Arising Path was the smoothest route passable by carriage, and the easiest road to travel.

Even in this modern age, when Steam Trains already ran through the mountain pass of Sikar Mountain, this ancient road remained the most important trade route in the surrounding region.

Wind Arising Path wound and twisted through Sikar Mountain, eventually crossing the border and leading to foreign cities on the other side of the range. Red Water Camp was the largest sentry post and military camp established by the Delarion Royal Army along the border. On one hand, it was responsible for defense and reconnaissance; on the other, it worked with the Sentry Posts and tax officers to manage goods entering and leaving the country.

Of course, there were other military camps in Sikar Mountain besides Red Water Camp, but ordinary people had no way of knowing about them.

Red Water Camp itself did not permit anyone unrelated to the military to enter, but travelers needed somewhere to rest and prepare their goods in the mountains. After all, it still took time to descend from Red Water Camp and enter the city.

Thus, travelers had spontaneously gathered outside the camp and formed a small settlement. Then, merchants who saw a business opportunity somehow persuaded the commander of Red Water Camp to allow construction, and the Traveler Camp came to have small inns, warehouses, and taverns.

Though the buildings were crude, they were better than nothing.

As Shade climbed the mountain, he happened to encounter a farmer from Middlesburg who planned to travel along Wind Arising Path, hauling a donkey cart full of grain to sell in the Southern Kingdom. So he paid two pennies for a ride,