The light of the teleportation array slowly extinguished in the Court of Space of the Royal Capital.
Jiang Lin opened his eyes, feeling the slight spatial tremors still lingering on the stone array plate beneath his feet.
Little Black, perched on his shoulder, looked much better than the previous times; it didn't start vomiting the moment they arrived.
It seemed Little Black's resistance had been trained up as well.
Its feline eyes reflected a scene in the Royal Capital's teleportation hall that was grander and busier than the one in Clearwater City.
The towering dome was embedded with massive magic crystals, emitting a soft and constant light.
Adventurers in various robes or armor, caravan members, and officials hurried about, the air thick with dust from different regions and the lingering resonance of magic.
Jiang Lin did not linger. He immediately passed through the exit hall and returned to the entrance hall to queue for the teleportation array to the northern city of Linfeng City.
The queue wasn't too long—after all, Linfeng City was not a popular destination, so those heading there were mostly caravans, border soldiers, and a few adventurers who had taken on tasks.
Jiang Lin continued to operate his breathing technique while waiting in line.
Soon, it was his turn.
The light of the teleportation array turned from brilliant to dim, eventually returning to tranquility.
The brief feeling of weightlessness and dizziness from the spatial transfer had just faded when a chill far more biting than Clearwater City's, with a metallic texture, pierced through Jiang Lin's thin clothing, making him take a sharp breath involuntarily.
Since Clearwater City was located further south, the temperature there was much warmer than here, so the clothes Jiang Lin was currently wearing were quite thin.
Linfeng City.
The northernmost military fortress and trade hub of the Saintas Kingdom, it was a literal gateway to the north.
It was evening, but the sky was already as dark as ink, with the only light coming from sparse magic streetlights in the city and searchlight beams on the high distant walls.
The air was dry and cold; every breath felt like inhaling tiny ice needles, carrying the unique scent of the north—a mix of cold air and a certain mineral aroma.
Little Black on Jiang Lin's shoulder didn't adapt immediately and shivered as well.
"Phew, the temperature up north is indeed lower, huh," Little Black commented.
Jiang Lin nodded in agreement.
"True. However, our Saintas Kingdom is considered one of the more southern kingdoms. There are still two other kingdoms between us and the far north. I can't imagine what kind of extreme cold the people of those two kingdoms live in daily."
The Court of Space in Linfeng City was located in the inner city square. Compared to the prosperity of Clearwater City and the orderliness of the academy district, this place appeared rugged and cold.
The buildings were mostly made of large gray-white stone blocks with rigid lines and sharp eaves, clearly designed to withstand year-round blizzards and potential military conflicts.
There were few pedestrians in the square, and most walked hurriedly, wearing heavy furs or enchanted leather, their faces bearing a mix of vigilance and determination unique to those living in harsh environments for long periods.
Jiang Lin did not linger too long. He took out the constant-temperature suit from his spatial ring and changed into it.
Even without activating its runes, Jiang Lin felt the chill vanish.
He walked toward the area in the city where adventurers gathered.
There were small caravans heading further north, a branch of the Adventurer's Guild, and taverns that might provide the latest intelligence on the north.
The cold wind howled, whistling between the buildings.
If it were winter, it would definitely be snowing here.
But it was currently early autumn; except for some high-altitude areas, the Saintas Kingdom had not yet reached the snowing season.
Most of the shop lights on both sides were dim, and signs swayed in the cold wind, making a wailing sound.
Occasionally, well-equipped adventurer teams or thick-clad merchants could be seen entering and exiting, their conversations short and low, quickly swept away by the cold wind.
Stepping out of the inner city area of Linfeng City, the cold wind grew even more biting, yet it could not disperse the bustle and heat of the area near the North Gate.
This was the North Wind Market—the heart where adventurers and caravans of Linfeng City converged.
Completely different from the cold, rigid order of the inner city, the North Wind Market was more like a vast and cluttered spontaneous camp.
Rugged log buildings stood in rows, hanging signs painted with swords, beast heads, or caravan emblems.
The air was a mix of the charred aroma of roasted meat, the sourness of low-quality ale, the stench of livestock, and the smell of sweat and leather from the crowd.
Bonfires crackled in open spaces, illuminating faces etched with the marks of northern wind and frost.
Shouts, bargaining, the coarse laughter and curses of adventurers, the impatient braying of pack animals... intertwined into a chaotic symphony of life belonging to the frontier.
Jiang Lin pulled up the high collar of his constant-temperature suit, his golden eyes calmly scanning the area.
Little Black had already burrowed into his constant-temperature suit, clinging to his chest.
Jiang Lin's goal was clear: find a caravan about to depart for the north, crossing the border into the northern kingdoms.
According to library records and information from the teleportation array administrators, such caravans usually recruited temporary guards or took on paying passengers to subsidize their expenses. They were also the best way to obtain the latest road conditions and border dynamics in the north.
He avoided the small stalls that clearly only did short-distance freight or mercenary business, his gaze roaming over several larger camps with unified emblems and orderly convoys.
Soon, a deep blue flag fluttering in the wind caught his attention—a silver frost wolf howling at the moon was embroidered on the flag, with the words "Frost Wolf Caravan" embroidered in the common tongue below.
This camp occupied a wide area, with over twenty large freight wagons covered in heavy waterproof tarps, pulled by a type of sturdy, thick-furred Northland yak.
Caravan members were performing final loading checks and bundling, their movements agile and disciplined.
By the bonfire in the center of the camp, several figures who looked like leaders were eating dry rations and talking in low voices.
Jiang Lin stepped forward and stopped a few paces from the bonfire, raising his voice slightly.
"Sorry to disturb you. May I ask if your caravan is heading north? Do you have any space for passengers?"
The conversation among the group by the bonfire stopped.
An elderly man with graying hair and a dark, weathered face covered in deep lines looked up. He wore a black patch over his left eye, and his remaining sharp eye sized up Jiang Lin.
His gaze lingered for a moment on Jiang Lin's young face, striking golden hair and eyes, and the high-quality, clearly expensive constant-temperature suit. His brow twitched imperceptibly when he saw the glossy-furred black cat in Jiang Lin's arms.
"North?" the one-eyed old man asked in a raspy voice with a heavy northern accent.
"Kid, we are going to the Frost Kingdom, not a place for a picnic."
"On the way, we will pass through Ash Pass, cross Howling Wind Canyon, and might even run into frost wolf packs or even more troublesome things. Are you sure?"
"Sure," Jiang Lin replied calmly.
"I need to head to the Frost Kingdom. As for the fee, we can discuss it."
"Pops," a brawny man beside him, built like a bear and with a scarred face, muttered while chewing on dried meat. "Look at this kid’s tender skin. He’s probably some young master who snuck out of a noble house. He might wet his pants halfway and expect us to wait on him."
The one-eyed old man ignored his subordinate's words and continued to stare at Jiang Lin.
"Name, profession, rank, and why are you going to the Frost Kingdom?"
"Matthew, paladin, 2nd-rank. I am looking for someone."
Jiang Lin was concise, revealing no more than necessary.
The status of a paladin was respected everywhere. Being 2nd-rank wasn't high, but considering his age, it wasn't too outrageous.
"A paladin?" An unexpected glint flashed in the old man's eye, but he didn't pry further.
He pondered for a moment and held up three fingers.
"Three gold coins. It covers food on the road—dry rations and meat soup until you are full, but don't expect anything fancy."
"Handle your own lodging. Sit in a wagon if there's space; if not, find your own spot to curl up."
"Follow orders on the road. If we hit trouble, help if you can; if not, stay out of the way and don't cause trouble."
"If you agree, pay now. We leave at dawn tomorrow."
"If not, be on your way."
The price of three gold coins was somewhat high for a week-long journey through dangerous territory.
However, Jiang Lin did not haggle. He took three gold coins directly from his spatial ring and handed them over.
The one-eyed old man took the coins, weighed them, and after confirming they were real, said to someone nearby:
"Old Buck, take this young brother Matthew to the spare wagon with less cargo and find him a spot."
"Before we leave tomorrow, give him a basic set of warm blankets and a water skin."
A lean middle-aged man with sharp eyes stood up and nodded to Jiang Lin.
"Follow me, young brother. Just call me Old Buck."
Old Buck led Jiang Lin to a wagon toward the rear of the convoy.
The wagon seemed to be loaded with some light but bulky goods, leaving several gaps under the tarp.
"Set yourself up next to the wagon cover. The wind is strong at night, so it will at least block a bit of it."
"I will bring you the blankets and water skin in a bit. The caravan has rules: don't wander around at night, especially near the area where the boss and the core guards rest."
"Wake up when you hear the horn tomorrow morning. Help pack up and get ready to leave."
Jiang Lin nodded and thanked Old Buck.
He found a relatively dry and flat spot, observed his surroundings for a while, then calmly took out a thick damp-proof mat from his spatial ring, spread it out, sat cross-legged, and continued his breathing technique.
The noisy environment didn't affect him much, and he soon entered a semi-meditative state.
Little Black jumped off his shoulder, sniffed around, and was clearly disgusted by the surrounding smells, making a gagging face.
Then, covering its nose, it curled up next to Jiang Lin.
During the night, the temperature in Linfeng City plummeted. If not for the constant-temperature suit, Jiang Lin would have likely experienced the full brunt of the northern night wind.
The bonfires in the camp gradually went out, leaving only a few faint flickers near the watchmen and the howling of the north wind whipping against flagpoles and tents.
Occasionally, the sound of guard-changing commands came from the direction of the distant city walls, adding a touch of frontier grimness.
Just as dawn broke the next day, a low, long blast of a yak horn echoed through the camp.
The Frost Wolf Caravan woke up and swung into action like a precision machine.
People shouted, checking ropes, cargo, and the condition of the livestock. Yaks snorted and stood up under the drivers' urging. Wheels creaked as they rolled over the frozen ground.
Jiang Lin had already packed his gear, rolling up the coarse but thick wool blanket Old Buck had delivered last night and tying it to his pack.
He took the initiative to help some caravan members tidy up the ropes on the wagon tarps. His swift movements improved the expressions of the men who had initially looked down on him as a "hitchhiking young master."
The one-eyed old man from yesterday was the caravan leader, known as "Old Man Rekton."
Currently, he was riding on the back of an exceptionally sturdy yak. After a quick headcount and cargo check, he gave a large wave of his hand.
"Out! Maintain formation! Scouts ahead! Destination: Iron Rock Town, Frost Kingdom!"
The massive convoy slowly rolled out of the North Wind Market and passed through the towering North Gate of Linfeng City.
The gate guards were clearly familiar with the Frost Wolf Caravan. They checked the documents Old Man Rekton handed over and waved them through.
Beyond the gate, the true northern wilderness unfolded.
As far as the eye could see was a vast and desolate gray-brown plain. The ground was covered with cold-resistant moss and low shrubs that had long since withered.
In the distance were rolling, barren hills, and further away, the faint, towering shadows of majestic mountains could be seen on the horizon.
The sky was a heavy lead-gray, with low-hanging clouds that barely let any sunlight through, leaving only a cold, pale light.
The wind blew unimpeded across the wilderness with a piercing shriek, kicking up dust and grit from the ground and lashing against the wagon covers and people's faces.
The road was a packed dirt path, relatively level, but clearly worn with deep ruts from frequent travel.
The caravan maintained a steady pace. The heavy wheels pressing into the ground, the heavy breathing of the yaks, and the jingling of bells were the primary sounds in this wilderness.
Jiang Lin spent most of his time sitting on the edge of his assigned wagon, legs dangling, silently operating his breathing technique while keeping a portion of his mind focused on the surroundings and the caravan.
The Frost Wolf Caravan was clearly experienced. Scouts on northern ponies patrolled and kept watch at the front and rear, while guards followed on foot on both sides, their eyes scanning the wilderness vigilantly.
Old Man Rekton rode at the front like a silent statue.
At noon, the convoy stopped for a rest behind a small, wind-sheltered hill.
People chewed on hard rye bread and salted meat with cold water, while the caravan's large pot boiled a simple vegetable and meat soup, the heat dissipating quickly in the cold wind.
Jiang Lin was also given a bowl of soup and a portion of dry rations. The taste was coarse, but it was enough to replenish his energy.
"First time on this route, young brother?" Old Buck approached with a bowl and sat down next to Jiang Lin.
"Yeah," Jiang Lin nodded.
"You seem quite calm. Better than many who come for the first time."
Old Buck took a large gulp of soup.
"But this is just the beginning, the easy flatlands."
"Two more days north and we will hit the mountains. That is when it gets tough. Ash Pass has constant turbulence, and I have heard Howling Wind Canyon hasn't been peaceful lately..."
"Old Man Rekton’s expression hasn’t been great. He probably heard some rumors."
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