Luo Li observed the group with a critical eye, her aura still radiating authority as Shang Lao stepped forward, flanked by his daughter Shang Li, who carried the sleeping Sheng Yin in her arms. "Who are they?" Luo Li asked, her tone sharp and inquisitive.
Shang Li, ever composed despite the circumstances, stepped forward to answer. "We met them after an attack by the thunder wolves. They saved my sister's life. Since they were heading north, we invited them to join our caravan. They're barbarians from a small village."
Luo Li narrowed her eyes, studying the duo in the distance, though they were now just silhouettes. "Barbarians, capable of killing this many wolves by themselves... I suspect they're no ordinary tribespeople. If they're heading north, we might encounter them again. If they truly amount to something, we'll know soon enough."
With a dismissive wave of her hand, Luo Li conjured a small ship from her storage ring. The sleek vessel hovered just above the ground, radiating a faint, mystical glow. The Sheng family and their entourage boarded quickly, the sense of urgency still palpable.
As the ship rose into the sky and departed toward the horizon, Luo Li cast one last glance back at the valley, where the aftermath of the battle lingered like a bad memory.
---
"Finally, she's gone," Yan Jin whispered as they watched the ship disappear from view. The moment Luo Li was out of reach, his posture straightened, and the feigned weakness fell away. "How's your wound?" he asked, his voice steady now.
Wei Xi, still pale but no longer grimacing in pain, gave a small reassuring nod. "It stings, but it's nothing I can't handle."
Yan Jin nodded in return. "Let's go back and grab the horses. We should be able to reach the border town by the end of the day."
The duo made their way back to the remnants of the caravan. The horses were waiting patiently amidst the scattered bodies of the slain lightning wolves. Yan Jin's mind replayed the image of the palm strike that had obliterated the Thunder Wolf King, the sheer power of it was a reminder of how far he still had to go.
---
Late at night, they finally arrived at the entrance to the border town. The size of the town surprised Wei Xi, who marveled at its expanse. "It's so big," he murmured, eyes wide as he took in the sprawling settlement and the colossal shadow of the Golden Wall that loomed behind it.
"If you don't know," General Zhang Li continued, "the Treasure Pavilion is one of the four organizations managed by the four Archdukes. Just as Archduke Golden Fists leads the Golden Warriors, Archduke Zhang is the predecessor of the Treasure Pavilion. You may be familiar with the Pavilion because we have representations in almost every town.
Though the heart of our organization is trade, we also specialize in resource and information gathering for the Coalition Army. Our Archdukes believe in fairness and opportunities."
She took another puff from her pipe, the smoke curling lazily into the frigid air. "The rule of the border town is that no unidentified individual can enter the city. Since that's the case, I'm here to offer you an opportunity. If you prove that you can be useful to me, I will cosign your entry into the border town. In exchange, you will work for the Pavilion."
One of the men in the group, his face worn from years of hardship, dared to ask, "What kind of work?"
General Zhang Li exhaled a stream of smoke, her eyes narrowing slightly as she regarded him. "One of the biggest weaknesses of the Treasure Pavilion is that its military power is relatively weak compared to the other three organisations. That is why we are actively recruiting members for the Babel Tower, which will be arriving very soon."
Wei Xi, his curiosity piqued, asked, "What is the Babel Tower?"
The General took another long draw from her pipe before answering, her voice steady and deliberate. "The Babel Tower is a ship created with the joint effort of the four Archduke organizations. It's a floating warrior exchange hub designed to raise powerful soldiers. The environment is brutal, but it produces the crème de la crème. Strong warriors are promoted and rewarded with incentives.
Survival there is not guaranteed, but those who thrive are forged into some of the most formidable fighters in the Coalition."
As her words hung in the air, she called out, "Come in, Zhang San."
The tent's entrance rustled as a young man, bearing a striking resemblance to General Zhang Li, stepped in. He was slightly older than Yan Jin, perhaps around sixteen, but his presence was just as imposing as the General's. Dressed in heavy armor that seemed to add even more bulk to his already muscular frame, he carried a giant hammer strapped to his back, its weight seeming inconsequential to him.
"This is Zhang San," General Zhang Li introduced him with a nod. "He is my little brother, If you manage to last five minutes against him. We can discuss our future cooperation."
Zhang San's expression was stoic, his gaze unwavering as he assessed the group before him.
General Zhang Li, noticing the silent exchange between the two, leaned forward slightly, her voice softer yet no less commanding. "Think carefully."