Chapter 45: Long Time No See

Although the native universe’s lock prevented Lin Yu’s consciousness and magic from extending beyond ten li, his summoned beasts faced no such restriction.

Especially Lu Longyan—now it had grown to an absurdly immense scale.

Using the residual magic traces, it could sense disturbances even a hundred li away.

Thus, adhering to the principle of never wasting anything, Lin Yu ordered Lu Longyan to leave its nest and use its road-roller-like feet to widen the roads for the people of Spine Peak Domain.

In fact, every broad avenue in Spine Peak Domain had been stamped into existence by its footsteps.

Magic residue clung to these roads; any living being with magic—whether demon or human—that passed over them could not escape Lu Longyan’s magical perception.

With this ability, Lin Yu extended his vision beyond ten li.

Long before Vlamé and his disciples stepped onto the road, he had learned of their arrival through Lu Longyan and waited in advance at the northern ten-li boundary.

Unfortunately, Vlamé did not come this way—she first followed the road toward Spine Peak City…

Spine Peak City was no longer the small village it had been.

Under the morning sun, the damp scent of pine resin drifted through the morning mist.

More than a dozen masons were laying crushed stone along the town’s roads, while wagonloads of ground dragons, driven by stone merchants, roared past the already-paved central avenue, testing the workers’ labor.

Shops and houses had already risen along both sides of the road.

The sweet, toasted aroma from Old Hock’s bakery drew the attention of a young man shaping an oak beam in the carpenter’s workshop.

Amid the roar of the blacksmith’s bellows, the young smith swung his hammer rhythmically under his father’s guidance, gradually shaping a red-hot steel bar into a blade.

All manner of sounds converged above this newly built town, weaving together its quiet daily rhythm.

In an era of fierce conflict between humans and demons, and among humans themselves, nothing was more important than this!

Soon, the ground dragon wagon train halted beneath the half-built wall, where the bearded merchant stepped down and smiled as he shook hands with Old Village Chief Vol Stone, who had come to oversee construction.

The old village chief had now been promoted to Governor of Spine Peak Domain.

He held immense prestige within the domain and had a son serving as Captain of the City Guard—among these outside merchants, he was practically second only to the lord himself!

But family knew family best—Wol knew exactly how the lord felt.

He remained in this position only because he had proven his worth.

Should he ever commit a foolish act, the lord would replace him without hesitation.

Thus, no matter how much others praised him, Wol maintained his approachable demeanor, treating the domain’s people no differently than when he was still village chief.

Wol chatted merrily with the stone merchant, while the strong young men behind him were already busy.

They leapt onto the dragon wagons and began unloading the precisely cut massive stone slabs.

When Vlamé and Fllien arrived at the northern gate, they saw this bustling scene.

“It’s become like this already…?”

Vlamé stared in astonishment at the towering city wall.

Behind her, the elf girl remained expressionless, but her gaze constantly drifted across the faces of the laborers.

From their journey northward, they had grown accustomed to lifeless towns and emotionless residents—but for the first time, they saw genuine smiles on the faces of workers.

This town seemed different…

The elf girl’s lips curled slightly—she clearly liked this thriving atmosphere.

Soon, the patrolling guards noticed the two women and approached solemnly.

Fllien silently observed the guards, astonished to find that their armor and spears were engraved with complex, arcane magical inscriptions—clearly a set of extremely expensive magical equipment.

Such gear, on the northern frontlines, was reserved only for the strongest warriors.

Yet here, in this obscure southern town, every guard was issued a full set!

Does the lord here have so much money he doesn’t know what to do with it?!

Fllien was deeply puzzled, but her teacher Vlamé found it perfectly normal.

To that alien god beyond comprehension, mere magical equipment meant nothing.

More interesting to Vlamé was the badge on the guards’ chests—a miniature bas-relief of a unicorn’s head, unmistakably modeled after Lu Longyan.

“Outsiders, state your origins and purpose.”

The steady, cautious voice spoke again.

Fllien snapped back to attention; seeing her teacher make no move, she spoke softly: “We are adventurers from the north, here to pay our respects to the lord.”

“...”

The patrolling guards frowned, exchanged glances, then the lead guard shook his head: “Governor Wol has ordered that Spine Peak City welcomes every adventurer who has fought demons—but the lord is not someone you can simply request to meet.”

“If that is your only purpose, then I’m sorry—please turn back.”

So it won’t work after all…

Fllien sighed and turned to Vlamé: “Stop watching the show—I know you have a way.”

Vlamé smiled: “Why rush? I was just testing if I could get in by name—but apparently, that guy didn’t list me as a guest of Spine Peak City…”

As she complained, she pulled a holy scripture from her pack.

“Do you recognize this?”

Vlamé held up the scripture and smiled.

The guards stared at the scripture in confusion.

When they saw the familiar unicorn beast relief on the cover, their faces turned pale.

“It’s Lord Vlamé!”

The lead guard bowed hastily, apologizing for failing to recognize her.

…So did that guy ever mention me at all?

Seeing the stark contrast in the guards’ behavior, Vlamé asked this question curiously.

The lead guard replied respectfully: “The lord rarely leaves his residence; none of us have been fortunate enough to hear his teachings. But Captain Dai Meng once instructed us: any human woman carrying this scripture is unquestionably Lord Vlamé!”

So it was Dai Meng…

Then everything’s fine!

Vlamé nodded, tucked the scripture away, and smiled: “Can we go in now?”

The guards quickly stepped aside, bowing: “My lord, please enter!”

“You’re excellent—a proper guard!”

Vlamé patted the stunned guard, then walked cheerfully through the gate, looking pleased.

Fllien sighed and followed.

After two steps, the two women stopped again—Old Wol, drawn by the commotion, had recognized Vlamé and hurried forward to greet her.

“Lord Vlamé!”

“Old Wol?”

Vlamé regarded the sturdy old man uncertainly.

Old Wol straightened his chest proudly: “It’s Wol Stone—the name the lord granted my family!”

“Is that so?”

Vlamé exclaimed: “Congratulations!”

Wol beamed and said: “Lord Vlamé, when do you plan to pay your respects to the lord?”

“No rush… Where’s Dai Meng?”

“Still patrolling the east—the wall there has only just been foundationed, no defensive value yet.”

“I see.”

Vlamé nodded, walking along the central avenue while observing the surroundings.

Watching the bustling residents and shops, she praised: “In just ten years, such achievement—I clearly underestimated you back then!”

Wol hurried to reply: “All thanks to the lord’s grace—nothing to do with me…”

Vlamé doubted: “Really?”

“Of course not!”

A familiar voice came from behind.

Vlamé froze slightly, turned—and there stood a black-haired boy with a smile.

“Long time no see… Vlamé!”

(End of Chapter)