Pillar of Yita

These things are always creepy. Though a Invoker, Sophie couldn’t help but ask, ”How should we deal with this thing?”

Fang Hong was about to answer, but then there was a knock on the door from outside.

Luo Yu’s voice came from outside the door: ”Captain, we’ve reached Tulip Fortress ahead, but there’s a bit of a problem. They won’t let us pass.”

Fang Hong was slightly stunned.

Tulip Fortress is merely a southern checkpoint in the Great Canyon region, and the Dulun City Guards stationed here aren’t defending against humans but against Winter Wolves and Undead from the northern Forest.

However, due to no major incidents occurring for years, the imagined Winter Wolves and Undead have never invaded southward, so the garrison here has gradually reduced, leaving only a small squad of about ten people and an elderly Knight Commander stationed here.

And since most Merchant Groups from the north pass through here, Fang Hong had inquired about this place earlier and hadn’t heard of the garrison troubling passing merchants. At most, they would demand a little bribe or toll.

This small amount of money when compared to their team shouldn’t be a problem, right?

Furthermore, such matters are typically handled by Tianlan and Miss Atira, both are highly reliable in negotiations, so there shouldn’t be any problem. He turned around, thinking that the people concerned were a branch of the Dulun City Guards, so he whispered to Hilveld beside him:

”Put the armor away first, let’s go out and see.”

Miss Ship’s Officer nodded lightly.

...

Back on deck, Fang Hong glanced below the platform, realizing the situation was more troublesome than he imagined.

He had heard that only a small squad of soldiers was stationed here, plus an elderly knight, but the initial impression of the old, weak, sickly disappeared; to block Mr. Greyrock there was indeed only a small squad, but not far from the castle there were far more than a dozen people patrolling.

And there were also cavalry—

He saw two armored heavy cavalrymen, carrying a long spear, watching their side cautiously from the mountain road—this heavy cavalry equipment in Magic Guided Helmet can be said to be the standard equipment of Colin Ishurian heavy cavalry.

This is evidently regular army.

What’s going on?

Fang Hong was slightly surprised upon seeing this scene.

The other information is true, not far away, Tulip Fortress is indeed only a small fortress, the battlements aren’t high, even rather low—far smaller than the Aimumu Fortress they’ve seen, inside is a barrack building, likely doubling as the residence and office for the elderly knight.

The castle stands on the mountainside, perfectly blocking the mountain road, below it is not a deep ravine, but passing through directly is not easy. Moreover, if they do break through, there’s no need to go to Dulun afterward.

However, so many soldiers, with a serious demeanor, has something happened in the northern Great Canyon?

But they’ve been traveling southward and haven’t found any anomalies?

Tianlan was complaining while climbing up from below the rope ladder. Fang Hong saw her and asked, ”What’s wrong?”

”Not sure,” Tianlan shook her head vigorously, ”They said the road is closed, prohibiting us from passing, but they don’t tell us the reason.”

”The road is closed?” Fang Hong thought, how could the road be closed for no reason? Even due to a snowstorm, it wouldn’t warrant dispatching so much military force to this little fortress suddenly.

”Those greedy folks,” Parker shouted aloud from the ship’s side, ”I bet it’s because the money wasn’t given properly.”

”Come on,” Tianlan glared at the Papalarian: ”They don’t want money at all—”

”And Miss Atira?” Fang Hong asked again.

”Down there,” Tianlan replied, ”She wants to try persuading them.”

Fang Hong looked down and saw the Elf Girl among the City Defense Force. She seemed to be negotiating something with them, but those soldiers were visibly impatient, pointing their long spears at Mr. Greyrock.

A look that insists they leave.

Fang Hong frowned a bit, clearly feeling strong hostility from these soldiers. That’s strange; it’s normal for hostility between warring parties, but why are these soldiers hostile towards them?

Down below, Atira seemed to feel this too, she sighed and climbed up the rope ladder.

”What’s going on?” Hilveld and Sophie came out from the back, and the latter saw this, asking softly.

Fang Hong reached out, pulling the Elf Miss up from below. Atira exhaled gently and said to the others, ”Not sure, but we’re not the only ones stopped here. Some Merchant Groups and Adventurers are also halted ahead.”

”They seem not to allow anyone from the north to pass.”

”How is that possible?”

”Then what should we do?” Xiangzi asked.

”Maybe we could take a detour,” Sophie thought for a bit, ”I know a small path that could go through the south side of the Great Canyon, but we’ll have to circle around to reach the Ash Woods.”

But Atira shook her head, ”If Miss Sophie knows about this path, the locals would be even more aware. What if there’s a garrison there too?”

Everyone looked at each other.

Tianlan glanced downward, frowned, ”How about we leave this place first?”

This suggestion was unanimously approved, although unaware of the source of hostility from the soldiers below, continuing to stay in such a place indeed doesn’t feel safe.

Just as Atira was about to go down again and have Mr. Greyrock turn back, the Big Catfolk behind the group suddenly uttered a soft sound of surprise.

He was the tallest, naturally seeing the clearest, but before the Big Catfolk could speak, Bakins responsible for keeping watch had turned around, saying to them, ”Someone’s coming.”

Fang Hong heard this, walked to the edge of the ship to have a look, and indeed saw a man in Clerk attire separating the soldiers and walking toward them.

This person walked below the platform, looking up and asked, ”Are you going to Dulun?”

The group was slightly stunned, subconsciously glancing at Fang Hong.

Fang Hong pondered for a moment, then nodded—thinking the only destination after passing through Tulip Fortress is Dulun, so those arriving here would naturally be heading to Dulun.

He didn’t know what the point of asking this was.

Unexpectedly, the Clerk shouted, ”If you want to pass this place, it’s not impossible, but our commander wants to meet you—”

...