Iron Wall City's Splendor

Iron Wall City's streets were wide and sturdy, paved with enormous slabs of bluestone.

Though it was still morning, the streets were already bustling. Besides the patrolling soldiers, most people were rough-skinned border folk hurrying about, merchants leading camel caravans or horse trains, and vendors in plain clothes hawking furs, medicinal herbs, and ore.

The city's palette was gray-black and ocher, giving it a rugged, austere look. Yet every now and then, vivid silks or porcelain brought from the Central Plains added a splash of color.

Yan Yunxi walked ahead, eagerly leading the way. She glanced back now and then to explain, "Brother Chen, look over there. That's the public market. They sell all kinds of herbs and furs unique to the north. I heard they even have little trinkets brought down from the barbarian tribes farther north!"

She led Chen Qing and A Ning through the market district.

A Ning walked quietly, holding Chen Qing's hand. Her black-and-white eyes were clearly drawn to everything around them: piles of furs heaped like mountains, giving off strange scents; brightly colored, cooing birds of unknown species in cages; oddly shaped ores glinting with a metallic sheen on the vendors' tables; and foreign merchants in thick fur coats, shouting their wares.

The Wolf King's arrival still caused quite a stir. Wherever they went, passersby hurried away in fear, and horses whinnied uneasily. But once people saw that the Wolf King's companions seemed connected to the general's residence, and that the giant wolf quietly followed at their side, their panic gradually gave way to wary curiosity, staring, and whispers.

Yan Yunxi stopped at a stall selling trinkets. She picked up a little bone whistle made from some kind of white beast bone, polished smooth and threaded with a red cord. "A Ning, do you like this? It makes a lovely, clear sound." As she spoke, she gave it a gentle blow. Sure enough, it rang out with a clear, bright note.

A Ning's gaze was drawn to the whistle for a moment.

Seeing this, Chen Qing took out his money and bought it. Yan Yunxi tried to pay first, but Chen Qing gently stopped her with a smile and a shake of his head.

He handed the whistle to A Ning. She accepted it and examined it in her hand, then looked up at Chen Qing and at Yan Yunxi, who was watching expectantly. After a moment's hesitation, she carefully tucked the whistle into her clothes without blowing it.

She showed no obvious joy, but that small gesture was enough to make Yan Yunxi very happy.

The strange sight of three people and a wolf drew attention wherever they went. Yan Yunxi seemed to have completely forgotten her status and worries, immersing herself in the role of guide. Now she cried out in surprise at some local delicacy, now praised an exotic ornament.

For the most part, Chen Qing simply walked along in silence, his gaze calmly taking in the bustle of the streets. Yet with his spiritual sense, he could feel the undercurrents roiling beneath the city's prosperous surface.

Some seemingly ordinary passersby moved with steady steps, kept their auras restrained, and had sharp eyes. They were clearly skilled soldiers in disguise, patrolling in secret. From the direction of the city walls came faint horn blasts and the sounds of drills, reminders that this was still a frontline on war footing.

At noon, Yan Yunxi led them into a fairly clean-looking eatery and ordered northern specialties: roast lamb chops, milk tofu, and oat noodles.

As they ate, Yan Yunxi's cheeks flushed and her eyes shone as she looked at Chen Qing. Her voice was much lighter than before. "Brother Chen, thank you. Thank you for saving us, and thank you... for being willing to stay and see this city." She paused, and her voice softened. "I know you'll be leaving soon... but I'm happy today."

Chen Qing looked out at the faint dust rising over the street and the imposing black crenellations of the distant city wall, then nodded. "This city certainly has a character all its own. Thank you for showing me around, Miss Yan."

A Ning ate the lamb chop Chen Qing had cut up for her in small bites, quietly listening to their conversation.

That afternoon, as they passed a modest but tidy clothing shop, Yan Yunxi's eyes lit up. Without a word, she took A Ning by the hand and led her inside. Chen Qing followed at an unhurried pace.

The shop was hung with plenty of northern-style clothing, thick and hard-wearing, as well as some finer fabrics and ready-made garments from the Central Plains.

Yan Yunxi eagerly browsed a row of dresses. She picked up a padded coat and skirt in goose yellow, embroidered with little daisies around the collar, and held it against A Ning. "A Ning, do you like this one? The color suits you."

A Ning seemed a little unused to it. Her small hand lightly clutched Chen Qing's clothes as she stared at the bright color with her wide, black-and-white eyes, then looked up at him.

Chen Qing smiled faintly and gently patted her head. "If you like it, try it on."

The shopkeeper was a kind-looking woman. Seeing them, she smiled and brought out a few outfits suitable for a little girl. In the end, Yan Yunxi chose a set: a soft, pale lavender cross-collar jacket, trimmed at the cuffs and collar with a ring of fluffy white fur, paired with a pleated skirt in a slightly darker shade. The fabric was thick, both warm and very cute.

She urged A Ning to go change in the back. When A Ning came out, looking a little awkward, even a glimmer of light passed through Chen Qing's usually cool eyes.

In her new clothes, A Ning looked like a different person.

The pale lavender brought out the porcelain fairness and delicate features of her small face. The fluffy collar framed her dainty chin, and her expression seemed softer, touched with the shy sweetness of a girl her age.

Though her expression barely changed, standing quietly there, she looked like a porcelain doll dressed with care—so adorable it made one's heart melt.

"Wow! You look wonderful!" Yan Yunxi exclaimed, circling her with delight, brimming with a sense of accomplishment.

A faint smile touched Chen Qing's lips, and he nodded. "It looks lovely." He paid at once, not letting Yan Yunxi try to pay again.

A Ning looked down and tugged at the soft hem, then looked up at Chen Qing. Seeing his approval, she showed a trace of delight.

Even the Wolf King, lying outside, came over when its little mistress appeared in her new clothes. It gently sniffed the fluffy trim with its enormous nose, then gave a low rumbling sound of approval.

Yan Yunxi turned her gaze to Chen Qing and smiled, lips pursed. "Brother Chen, you're always in that blue robe. It looks nice, but you ought to get a new one. This shop sells men's clothes, too. What do you think of that one?"

She pointed to an indigo linen robe hanging a little farther away. It had a simple style and clean lines, with a subtle pattern woven into the fabric.

Chen Qing glanced down at his blue robe, worn and faded from the road, and shook his head. His tone was casual but warm. "No need. I'm used to it. Blue suits me."

He wasn't particular about what he wore. A blue robe was enough to cover him and let him move freely. Fine clothes mattered far less to him than the slightest increase in the Starforce within him.

Seeing how unconcerned he was, Yan Yunxi didn't press him. She simply looked at the tall man in his worn blue robe, with his clear, composed bearing, standing beside the little girl in her new lavender clothes, looking sweet and tiny. The sight was oddly harmonious, warming her heart.

Yan Yunxi then led them up to a stretch of the city wall where civilians were allowed.

From the heights, the bitter wind cut through them and the view opened wide. Beyond the city lay an endless, undulating wilderness of yellow-brown earth; farther off, dark mountain ranges stretched into the distance. The land was steeped in a desolate, sweeping beauty.

Yan Yunxi pointed into the distance, her voice touched with a weight and pride she could barely conceal. "That's the direction the Northern Barbarians might come from. Iron Wall City has stood guard here for generations. My grandfather, General Li, and so many others... they've all been here..."

Chen Qing gazed into the distance as the wind snapped his robes. He could feel the heavy history and murderous aura this land had borne.

As they descended from the wall, Yan Yunxi slowed her steps. She watched Chen Qing's back as he walked ahead, carefully helping A Ning down the steps. A tangled emotion flashed through her eyes: gratitude, admiration, and the faint melancholy of facing a farewell just as a new feeling had begun to sprout. In the end, it all became a sigh so quiet it could barely be heard.

The sun sank toward the horizon, stretching the three figures' shadows long across the ancient street. Their outing was nearing its end, and the city's clamor gradually settled.

Yet just as they were about to return to the general's residence, Chen Qing's steps paused almost imperceptibly. His gaze swept casually over a figure disappearing quickly around a street corner.

His spiritual sense caught a trace of chill that clashed sharply with the bustle of everyday life, then vanished in an instant.

People from Shadow Kill Tower have already slipped into the city, after all? he thought. His expression remained calm, as though he hadn't noticed a thing, and he continued on.

Because Yan Yunxi had invited them, they had stayed an extra day in the city. Chen Qing had no choice but to put off his departure.