Chapter 177: Sanctuary

Chapter 177: Sanctuary

Ruoti and Baixian followed the caravan heading for Northland City and arrived before Twofold Mountain. A giant stone stood there, carved with three large characters—Northland City—and an arrow above the characters pointed towards the mountain path. Not far away, there was a small outpost, with two Knights standing at its entrance.

After conflicts and expansions, Northland City had completely taken control of this place. Then, under everyone’s watchful eyes, it stopped its advance and erected the stone as a boundary. Many people breathed a sigh of relief. No matter how long this halt could last, they had gained a chance to catch their breath.

Upon reaching here, the people in the caravan visibly relaxed their guard, because from this point onward, their safety was guaranteed.

With the influx of Wizards, some Attendants and servants also came to Northland City. Along with the population, various demands continuously increased, and with them came business opportunities.

So merchants began to appear, and caravans went from none to many, busily traveling back and forth on this road. As the flow of people increased, Inns appeared along both sides of the road. Following that, an even older profession—thieves—also emerged.

From petty theft to highway robbery, the inevitable event eventually happened—the caravans of Northland City were completely looted.

“My caravan was actually looted within my own Territory?”

After hearing this news, Bran’s whisper echoed through the heavens and earth, and the entire city trembled at his voice.

This time, Bran didn’t need to take action himself. The people who had been bored and restless within the City Manor poured out in full force, with the White-robed Ones following closely behind. Earl led the Knights in pursuit of both sides who had long since disappeared, sighing and lamenting incessantly.

A massacre and collective punishment severed all ties to the Darkness. A huge signpost stone appeared at the crossroads, and an outpost was established accordingly. A contingent of Knights from Northland City was stationed here, gradually attracting many gazes. They might not be the most powerful, but their demeanor was dignified and their discipline was strict.

The Inns within Twofold Mountain were confiscated and rebuilt. New planning rapidly improved the environment here. The Wizards also extended their patrol range to this area. No one wanted to see an out-of-control Bran again. Just the residual waves of his anger made everyone’s hearts tremble with fear. The reason everyone poured out was actually to escape from him. Then, they vented their fury onto the perpetrators.

The effect was immediate, and it also made more people understand Bran clearly.

So far, Bran’s behavior had been like a watchdog. As long as you didn’t provoke him, he wouldn’t bite indiscriminately. After realizing this, people actually felt more at ease. If you couldn’t afford to provoke him, you could always afford to avoid him.

This Wizard didn’t care about black or white. As long as you didn’t cause trouble within his Territory, everything was guaranteed. This made some people consider moving their businesses. But when they tried to implement it, they found it extremely difficult. Northland City was no longer selling land, and it even prohibited private land transactions.

Northland City’s explanation was—what makes you qualified to receive the protection of the Great Wizard?

Only then did people realize that although Bran had caused much turmoil, as long as you were within this city, your life and property would not be threatened.

Bran had once hoped that some people would come to take a look, to visit, but the situation was unclear at that time, so people had refused. And when the situation gradually became clear, even more people began to hold out for a better price. Now, what qualifies you to receive my sanctuary?

Not many dared to claim they were qualified, but there were some. For example, Zoya’s father—Niels. Recently, more and more people were coming to him with requests, which troubled him greatly. He had some self-awareness. His daughter was essentially cut off from the family. His daughter had become a Wizard, gained the Facial Markings, and transformed into a Northlander.

This should have been the guarantee for the family’s future! Yet he had handed it over with both hands.

It probably wouldn’t be too difficult to ask Zoya to arrange some businesses for the family. But more than that, she likely wouldn’t agree. He understood his daughter—gentle on the outside but strong-willed inside. Once she decided on something, it was hard for her to turn back. Every extra thing she did for this family would lessen the ties binding her to it. Therefore, he couldn’t bother Zoya with these small matters.

He didn’t believe Bran could be so generous, to selflessly cultivate a group of Wizards. So he had to preserve this final trump card for himself and for his family.

…

After Ruoti and Baixian understood the general situation, they left the caravan. When the two of them, urging their horses forward from the other end of the road, emerged, they encountered an unexpected person—Shajia!

Shajia had changed a lot. She had tied her hair into many small braids and was busy working on the land right next to the road. The slightly urgent sound of their horses’ hooves startled her, so she looked up at the two of them.

Their eyes met, and everyone’s expressions grew complicated. Shajia’s small braids slowly loosened, her hair falling down her shoulders and back, her wariness clear without words.

Baixian waved both hands, “We’re just passing by, a chance meeting.”

Ruoti, however, kept a cold face and said with a tone that was neither warm nor biting, “Aren’t you going to invite your friends to sit in your home?”

Shajia remained silent for a moment, then turned and walked towards the house not far away. She didn’t want to see old acquaintances, including these friends. Including the faint scent of blood on them.

After entering the room, Baixian looked around enviously, chattering nonstop, “Your house? Who else lives here?”

“Just me.”

“Wow!” Baixian’s eyes unconsciously darted around, her gaze wandering.

Ruoti, however, stood at the doorway for a long time without moving. She carefully observed everything inside the room. When she saw a man’s clothing neatly folded in a basket next to the door, she couldn’t help but humph softly.

She released the dagger hidden in her sleeve and slowly walked to the table to sit down.

“How did you get such a house?” Baixian continued her curious probing.

“Every family that fled here from Sandstone City gets one.”

“Every one?”

“Yes, every one.”

This time, Baixian was genuinely envious. “I should have fled here sooner.”

“How is Kkel?” Shajia suddenly asked.

Baixian answered reflexively, “We didn’t see him.”

Shajia smiled, seeming a bit sad, but didn’t say anything more.

“I killed Kkel,” Ruoti, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up.

“No…” Baixian still instinctively wanted to lie.

“Fool! You’re carrying his Single Blade. Shajia probably recognized it the moment she saw you. Otherwise, why would she show wariness towards us?” At this point, Ruoti raised her chin towards Shajia. “Am I right, Shajia?”

Shajia let out a breath. She neither admitted nor denied it.

The three of them fell into silence, not speaking for a long time.

“He deserved it!” Perhaps unable to bear this oppressive atmosphere, or perhaps to solidify some belief, Ruoti ground out a few words through her teeth.

“We—deserve—it—more—than—him!” Shajia said, enunciating each word clearly.

“He started it!” Ruoti growled lowly.

“We deserve it more!” Shajia repeated once more. “Kkel didn’t deserve to die.”

Shajia’s hair slowly writhed. “It’s true he started it, but he just wanted that caravan to lose face, to become a laughingstock. It was more like a prank. Then we joined in. We kept thinking of various ideas, coming up with various schemes, gradually changing the nature of the whole thing.

Kkel was actually scared long ago, but his pride wouldn’t let him admit it. Back then, he stood guard at the city gate every day. If he wasn’t afraid, why would he act like that?

It was you who stole the valuable things and stuffed them into the caravan’s bags. Then, I used my father’s Authority to bring people and detain the caravan.

It was your idea to have Northland City come to redeem them. Isn’t that right, Baixian?

Kkel was already scared. He had long wanted to let the people go.

But we wouldn’t have it. We were having too much fun, losing ourselves in the game. We wouldn’t let Kkel off. We wanted to see him humiliated, to see him afraid.

Back then, we thought no matter how big the trouble, with the Knight Camp in the city, the swordsmen camp in the city, even the Dragon Riders dared not come charging directly to our doors. What could the Northlanders do?

You laughed very happily back then too. So did I. We were all mocking the cowardly Kkel…

We pushed Kkel step by step, making it so he couldn’t turn back, until he also threw caution to the wind.

He must have hated us, right? If it weren’t for us, things wouldn’t have turned out this way.”

Shajia wiped her eyes and continued, “The Northlanders really came. A Wizard came, a Warrior came, plus a few wolves…”

“We made them come! We finally managed to provoke them into action!

His caravan entered Sandstone City and endured humiliation all along, kept giving ground, kept warning us—they were Wizard Bran’s caravan, they belonged to the Great Wizard.”

“And us? We had no idea what a Great Wizard was…”

“Just like now, you still don’t understand the terror of the Great Wizard, walking in here reeking of blood.”

The last sentence made Ruoti alert. When she wanted to conceal herself, she realized nothing responded.