Chapter 37: Arrival At Crimson Vale City II
The heavy iron gates of Crimson Vale City loomed overhead, flanked by towering battlement walls carved from dark, weather-treated granite.
A long, slow-moving queue of merchants, mercenaries, and travelers had formed along the cobbled approach, creating an atmosphere of palpable impatience as the city garrison conducted their mandatory entry checks.
The interrogation process took up the vast majority of the afternoon.
Squads of heavily armored guards moved systematically from vehicle to vehicle, inspecting cargo manifests, cross-referencing identity tallies, and rummaging through travel packs with methodical indifference.
Inside their cramped carriage, the air grew increasingly stuffy as the minutes dragged on.
Outside, the muffled sounds of questioning drifted through the thick wooden panels.
"Open that crate on the left! What is inside?" an inspector barked sharply at a nearby merchant.
"Just dried herbs and salt grains, Captain! Nothing illegal, I swear!" the merchant stammered in response.
The process was excruciatingly slow, testing the nerves of everyone trapped in the convoy. Yet, they had no choice but to wait their turn under the watchful eyes of the city garrison.
Eventually, the footsteps drew closer to their own transport, and the heavy door of the carriage swung open to reveal a stern-faced city official clutching a leather ledger.
Before anyone else could speak or react, the loan shark did something astonishing.
Stepping forward into the open doorway with a smooth, practiced composure, the merchant executed probably the very first genuinely selfless act he had ever performed since their fateful meeting on the road.
He offered the garrison officer a polished, disarming smile.
"Greetings, official," Lin Laifu spoke up clearly, his tone dripping with practiced corporate confidence. "I am Lin Laifu. I am here on official business as an independent merchant and the proprietor of a recognized regional loan bank."
He gestured vaguely behind him, establishing a respectable hierarchy that immediately caught the inspector’s attention, as merchant banking and trade houses held considerable influence throughout the territories.
Lin Laifu then smoothly swept his arm toward the occupants inside the cabin.
"This lovely lady here is my esteemed fiancée," he continued, smoothly lying through his teeth as he pointed toward Ye Chenxue, whose face instantly darkened at the audacity of the claim. "And these young ones are trusted workers operating directly under my employment."
Lu Feng raised a single eyebrow in quiet amusement, while Ye Chenxue looked ready to summon a blade right through the man’s chest. But Lin Laifu didn’t miss a beat.
The official glanced over the documentation, noting the merchant credentials and the impressive financial backing implied by Lin Laifu’s prosperous attire.
Intrigued by the sudden display of influence, the official stepped directly inside the carriage to conduct the physical inspection. His eyes swept across the interior, checking the floorboards, the storage compartments, and the small travel bags for any restricted contraband, hidden weapons runes, or illicit alchemical contraband.
After a tense minute of probing, the official found nothing out of order. He stepped back out onto the cobblestone path, closing his ledger with a sharp snap and giving a respectful nod of approval.
"Very well. Your documentation is in order," the official conceded.
As the garrison officer turned on his heel to move along toward the final carriage in their convoy for the last inspection, Lin Laifu seized the opportunity.
"Hold on a moment, captain," Lin Laifu called out smoothly, raising his voice just enough to catch the man’s attention. "You have had a long, grueling shift under this harsh sun. We should probably share a drink and catch up after you are completely done with your business here."
The official paused, turning back with a surprised look that slowly melted into a greedy grin. A private drink with a wealthy regional banker usually meant networking opportunities and generous gifts.
"That sounds like a fine proposition," the official accepted, his posture relaxing considerably.
Without missing a beat, Lin Laifu reached into his embroidered inner pocket and tossed a small, heavy metal card through the air. The official caught it deftly with one hand.
It was a special guild emblem crafted from polished bronze and inlaid with jade runes—a VIP pass that granted any bearer absolute access to Lin Laifu’s financial establishments, and even better, direct personal access to the banker himself, a privilege traditionally reserved only for the most elite and valuable clients.
The official’s eyes widened as he read the engravings on the token, realizing the immense weight of the favor he had just been handed. He tucked it away swiftly, grinning broadly.
"I won’t forget this, Master Lin," the official promised in a hushed, grateful tone.
From his corner of the carriage, Lu Feng watched the entire exchange unfold. A slow, calculating nod of approval formed on his face.
The loan shark was undeniably greedy and self-serving, but his sharp social instincts and ability to grease the right palms made him far more useful than Lu Feng had initially calculated.
Right then and there, Lu Feng immediately started cooking up a long-term plan that heavily involved Lin Laifu’s financial network and resource connections.
After a few more agonizing minutes, the final inspection concluded, and the heavy iron gates swung fully inward.
The guard captain gave the signal, and their convoy was finally let into the grand city of Crimson Vale.
As the carriages rolled past the threshold, the bustling interior of the metropolis opened up before them.
Crimson Vale City was undeniably grand, constructed on a massive scale with towering stone architecture, wide stone-paved avenues, and bustling markets filled with the chatter of thousands of citizens, wandering cultivators, and foreign traders.
Banners fluttered from the balconies of multi-story trade pavilions, and the air hummed with a vibrant, energetic current of commerce and martial power.
It was impressive, sprawling, and heavily fortified—though it lacked the ethereal, cascading waterfalls, silver-plated spires, and legendary crystal architecture that defined the legendary beauty of Silver Jade City. It was a city built for raw trade and martial dominance rather than delicate aesthetic majesty.
Han Lin pressed her face gently against the carriage window, taking in the towering storefronts and the bustling crowds with wide eyes.
A soft breath escaped her lips as she muttered. "The city is actually better looking than I had pictured."