That night, Lord Zhao Yun and his companions found an Inn to rest in Leeds City. The next morning, as the first ray of dawn light pierced the window and spilled into the room, Lord Zhao Yun rose early and went to the adjacent room to wake up Aleia and Nia.
After getting ready, the three arrived at the City Gate. The area before the City Gate was bustling with activity, people coming and going, various shouts and conversations intertwining. Lord Zhao Yun surveyed the surroundings, looking for transportation to Emerald City.
Just then, a burly Coachman caught his attention. The Coachman stood next to two strong Swift Wind Horses, holding the reins in his hand, actively soliciting customers.
Those two Swift Wind Horses were tall and imposing, their coats gleaming brightly. Their hooves restlessly pawed the ground, seemingly eager to embark on the journey.
Lord Zhao Yun walked forward and began conversing with the Coachman. The Coachman enthusiastically introduced his Carriage, claiming it was sturdy and durable, and that the Swift Wind Horses were incredibly fast, capable of delivering them safely and comfortably to Emerald City within ten days.
Lord Zhao Yun found the arrangement quite suitable and settled on a price with the Coachman.
Aleia and Nia also came over at this point, looking curiously at the Carriage.
Nia excitedly circled the Carriage once, constantly exclaiming, "Wow, this Carriage looks amazing!"
Aleia, however, slightly furrowed her brow, cautiously observing the Coachman. Only after confirming he had nothing suspicious did she nod.
With everything prepared, the three boarded the Carriage and set off. Nia excitedly stuck half her body out of the window, her Cat Ears blown back like airplane wings by the wind, yet she was still thrilled, pointing at the flocks of eagles streaking across the sky, constantly uttering sounds of amazement.
"Sister, look! Those eagles are huge!"
Aleia, wrapped in a newly purchased fox fur cloak, lazily propped her chin in her hand while watching Lord Zhao Yun who was deep in thought, a flicker of curiosity and concern flashing in her eyes.
"The Crushed Stones Gorge is ahead!"
The Coachman cracked his Thorns whip, the crisp sound echoing in the air. Greenish Qi Vortexes rose from the manes of the Swift Wind Horses, resembling agile little dragons, carrying everyone speeding toward the Gorge.
The crimson rock walls on either side of the Gorge towered into the clouds, resembling a massive barrier sculpted by nature. Ten Iron-Armored Giant Lizards were slowly moving, each carrying cargo boxes the size of houses. The Scales on their bodies scraped against the Chains, emitting Sparks that shimmered with an eerie light under the sun's rays.
The Merchant Guild leader's emerald thumb ring flashed faintly, and the giant lizards immediately spewed white mist to clear a path for the Carriage. The Merchant Guild's golden insignia shone brightly on the cargo boxes, proclaiming the extraordinary status of this Merchant Caravan.
Aleia's nostrils suddenly twitched; her keen sense of smell had caught an unusual scent carried on the wind, "There's a Scent of Blood mixed with a Sulfur Smell!" Her Claws unconsciously extended, digging into the carriage frame, her eyes filled with vigilance.
Lord Zhao Yun reacted instantly, throwing open the curtain and leaping out of the Carriage with agile and decisive movements. His figure shot forward like a black lightning bolt toward the direction from which the scent originated.
Three miles away at the Pass, the Silver Card Mercenary Group was locked in a fierce battle with a mountain-sized, ferocious Rock Bear. The Rock Bear was enormous; every swing of its Bear Paw stirred up a gust of strong wind, causing the ground to tremble.
The attacks from the five squad members struck the Rock Armor, spitting out a series of Sparks, but they couldn't penetrate the defense at all. Under the Rock Bear's frenzied assault, the Mercenary Group's formation was on the verge of collapse.
Leah, the Female Swordsman acting as the squad Captain, stood at the forefront. Her Mithril breastplate was already split by three deep Claw Marks, and her Ice-blue Long Hair was dusted with rock dust, yet she still shouted fiercely and unleashed Frost Sword Qi.
"Hold its right paw!"
However, the shield-bearing Dwarf Warrior was slammed into the rock wall by a Bear Paw, his body embedded in the stone, with only his legs struggling outside. The Priest's Holy Light barrier had long shattered like an eggshell, unable to offer any further protection to his teammates.
The Rock Bear reared up, letting out a deafening roar that made everyone's eardrums ache. The Crushed Stones erupting from its body transformed into an Arrow Rain, scattering in all directions.
Leah blocked with her Sword Guard, attempting to fend off the incoming Crushed Stones, but quite a few still struck her, leaving marks on her Armor.
Just as Leah was lamenting her misfortune, she glimpsed an ink-green afterimage leaping into mid-air atop the flying debris of rock. The youth's black hair streamed behind him, and the silver spear in his hand trailed a light resembling a Star River.
"Phoenix Nods Head!"
Lord Zhao Yun's voice rang out across the battlefield like a great bell. The tip of the Star Shattering Spear struck the Rock Bear's Brow Center, and the colossal beast, five zhang tall, immediately fell to its knees, spider web-like cracks spreading from its Brow Center across its entire body.
Lord Zhao Yun spun and pulled the spearhead out; the Rock Bear collapsed like a sand tower into a pile of crystals on the ground.
"Th-Thank you for your assistance, sir!"
The Dwarf shield-bearer struggled mightily to pry himself out of the rock wall. He gazed with awe at the earth-elemental Magic Core rolling among the crystal pile, his eyes shining with delighted surprise.
The Priest trembled as he held up his holy scripture, his voice laced with a slight tremor, "Shattering armor with one spear strike—is that an Earth Knight?"
The Female Swordsman Leah returned her sword to its sheath. She removed her damaged gauntlet, revealing her left hand wrapped in bandages inscribed with Incantations.
"The Silver Card Mercenary Group thanks you for your help. May I ask if you are heading to Emerald City? We happen to be traveling the same way."
"It's on the way."
Lord Zhao Yun shook off the rock debris from his spear tip, his peripheral vision catching Aleia's bristled tail.
The Cat Ears girl was using her Claws to shave off pieces of rock, sending Crushed Stones precisely splashing in front of Leah's battle boots.
As Twilight descended, Leah used the pretext of discussing the route to squeeze into Lord Zhao Yun's Carriage compartment. Her gilded ear-rings lightly brushed against his Shoulder Armor with the jolting motion.
Aleia's tail suddenly thrust itself between the two of them, and Nia, holding a Honey Cake, "coincidentally" splashed syrup all over the Female Swordsman's tactical map.
Nia looked innocently at Leah, but Aleia was secretly chuckling to herself, feeling smug.
"Lord Zhao Yun seems very good at taking care of small animals?"
Leah wiped the map, her fingertip seemingly brushing across the Dragon Mark on Lord Zhao Yun's hand.
Aleia's Beast Ears instantly flattened against her scalp, and a low growl rumbled in her throat.
"The first rule of our Orc Tribe's hunting code: stay away from thieving foxes!"
Lord Zhao Yun silently rested the Star Shattering Spear across his knees. The cry of a Night Owl swept past the carriage window, overlapping with the sounds of weeping from Changban Slope in his memory. His thoughts drifted back to that battlefield ravaged by war, and a wave of longing for his homeland surged in his heart.
A patrolling Mercenary suddenly blew a warning whistle, its sharp sound piercing the silence of the night sky. A low, dull roar, as if the earth itself was trembling, came from the distant mountains—the sound of a Dragon migration.
Leah took the opportunity to lean in and whisper, "I heard you are very interested in the Black Moon Altar. There is relevant intelligence available at the Black Market in Emerald City."
Before the words were even finished, Aleia had already grabbed a blanket and shoved Leah out of the Carriage: "Lord needs to rest!"
The Star Shattering Spear shimmered faintly under the moonlight. The outline of Emerald City emerged at the end of the Gorge, the firelight from the City Gate appearing particularly conspicuous against the night sky.
Lord Zhao Yun gazed at the Dragon Mark on his palm, which brightened and dimmed with his breath, his heart filled with emotion. He knew that the journey home would be more chaotic and unpredictable than the beacon fires of Changban Slope.