At the end of April, a Flying Boat shaped like a screw snail slowly descended into the Air Harbor of Broad Cloud Ward, settling with unerring precision onto the open ground reserved for it.
Lin Qinghe and the others led a group from the branch helm to welcome the arrivals. Before long, they spotted Mei Tang emerging from the VIP Passage amid the stream of passengers.
His guard, Leader Gu, followed in his usual silence, a scar across his face and a broadsword strapped to his back. Behind him came several Merchants' Association stewards and personal servants, including a pretty maid.
Lin Qinghe cupped his hands in greeting. "Welcome to the Guangyun Branch Helm, Inspector Mei."
Mei Tang looked at Lin Qinghe with the ghost of a smile. "Helm Master Lin, it really has been a long time."
The two sides exchanged official documents. Soon, Lin Qinghe personally led the way, escorting Mei Tang to the Chariot parked outside.
Mei Tang summoned his own Mechanism Beast and said with a smile, "Helm Master Lin, there's no need to hurry back. Let's take a look around as we go. I visited this place ten years ago, but it seems to have changed considerably. Why not take this opportunity to have a proper look?"
Lin Qinghe paused briefly, then smiled. "That would be fine."
Thus, everyone rode their Mechanism Beasts along the service lanes on either side of the main road at a leisurely pace.
Broad Cloud Ward was now a modern city filled with towering buildings. Over a million people lived within an area spanning dozens of li.
The number of traveling merchants had also visibly increased. As the place gained a measure of fame, Demon Hunters and Ruins Seekers eager to make their way in the wider world arrived in