The Ice Fortress.
That was the name of this little town. Covering only a few thousand square meters, it was less a town than a bridgehead the Sun Moon Empire had established in the northern reaches, marking its territory there.
The town's population was tiny, too. The few pedestrians scattered along its streets all wore thick coats without exception.
The Men Sen Tavern.
In the center of town, lively banter and cheers spilled out of a small tavern. But the next moment, the arrival of a boy and a breathtakingly beautiful girl brought the entire tavern to an abrupt silence.
"A... a fairy?" a drunken burly man blurted out in a daze. More than a dozen pairs of eyes stared unblinkingly at the girl's face. Although Xue Linglong currently looked only eleven or twelve, she was still stunning beyond compare, and her faint fragrance and ethereal bearing were unlike anything they had ever encountered.
Inside the tavern, the fire burned fiercely. A heating Soul Tool made the temperature worlds apart from the cold outside, causing Jiang Hai to instinctively narrow his eyes as he entered. The air was thick with the smell of alcohol.
Jiang Hai walked to the counter, slapped down a few gold coins, and said evenly, "Owner, bring us something to eat, and a few bottles of good liquor!"
"Ah... yes... of course!" Only then did the drowsy owner behind the counter react. He immediately scrambled up, hurried to a table in the middle of the tavern, and shooed away its occupant. "Go on, go on, Old Ghost! Hurry up and make room for our guests. Your drinks today are on me!"
The scruffy old man called Old Ghost was still somewhat displeased, but once he heard he would not have to pay for his drinks, he