Kai and his companions walked along Pillarforge's thronged streets, the rhythmic clang of hammer on steel ringing through the air like the town's pulse. The center of the town was an anthill of work, with massive forges burning and smelling the air with the acrid odor of seared metal. Shirtless smiths, bodies glistening with sweat in the glow of the fire, labored over bellows, working raw steel into fittings, weapons, and tools. The streets were lined with workshops, their open fronts revealing fiery coals and sparks showering with each blow. Laborers drew carts laden with stacks of iron bars, their futures the many forges where metal would be shaped into goods of all kinds—plows for agriculture, hinges for doors, and blades for warriors.

  After they ate lunch with Haldor, Kai saw his opportunity to replenish his exhausted supplies. On his journey north, he had managed to salvage only a handful of nails, and he had been forced to devise construction methods that required as few as possible. The homes he had planned for Titan's Reach would have required intricate joinery and wood pegs to assume their place, but now, with Pillarforge's abundance of skilled metalworkers, that was not a problem.

  Haldor, ever helpful, had taken him to meet a reliable blacksmith who produced construction materials like nails. Trade was straightforward here; northerners in general, prized thick leathers for coats and cloaks that would allow them to endure the harsh winters. Fortunately, Kai had amassed quite a stash of hides. The Beatkin, who hunted to live, would often bring him the hides of their kill, which he would carefully tan and prepare. Now, those same hides would serve as money, exchanged for nails and other metal tools his growing settlement so desperately needed.

  Kai and his companions moved through the crowded streets of Pillarforge, the weight of the newly acquired nails in his arms a reassuring promise of progress. The wooden box was heavy, packed tightly with iron nails—each one a small but vital piece in the foundation of Titan’s Reach.

  Lulu glanced at the box, her scholarly curiosity piqued. "Is that enough?" she asked, tilting her head.

  Kai adjusted his grip, shifting the load. "Probably not," he admitted, "but at least now we know where to get more in the future."

  Lulu nodded, her gaze drifting across the cityscape. The sight of the forges, the rhythmic pounding of hammers, the scent of coal and hot metal—it stirred something in her. The organized industry, the specialized craftsmen, the way knowledge was applied to raw materials—it reminded her of the structured academia of the Silver Quill University. Yet here, in this remote northern town, the pursuit wasn’t theoretical treatises or philosophical debates, but the tangible creation of tools and goods needed to survive.

  "I never imagined a place like this existed so far north," she mused aloud. "Chen Gong, have you ever heard of Pillarforge before?"

  The former magistrate shook his head. "No. Living near the southern border of Zan my whole life, I never concerned myself with the affairs of the northern parts. Truth be told, I wasn’t even sure if there were any real settlements this deep into Northend."

  Kai’s mind turned to the map he had taken from Sato. He remembered seeing names of settlements in Northend. Kai had asked Haldor about them, only to learn that those places had been overrun by monstrous beasts years ago. The revelation had been sobering.

  It struck him then—the same way the cultivator world of the south knew little of Zan, the southern reaches of Zan itself seemed blind to its northern parts. And that, Kai realized, was an advantage.They were as isolated as they could be now. The chances of encountering a wandering cultivator here, of all places, now seemed impossibly slim.

  A quiet satisfaction settled over Kai. He felt truly beyond its reach of the cultivation world.

  Lulu's eyes lingered on the glowing forges, her expression thoughtful as she let out a soft hum. "This place reminds me a lot of the Iron Cliff Society," she mused. "Well, if the Iron Cliff Society were run by mortals instead of cultivators."

  Chen Gong raised an eyebrow. "What's the Iron Cliff Society?"

  Kai, adjusting the weight of the nails in his arms again, chimed in. "They're one of the Great Eight—the eight major factions that dominate the cultivation world we told you about. The Iron Cliff Society is a collective of the most skilled craftsmen on the Xinghua continent, masters who forge everything from legendary spirit weapons to intricate talismans. I’ve heard most of them are blacksmiths, armorers, and artificers, though I’ve never set foot in their territory." He turned to Lulu with curiosity. "Since you’re saying Pillarforge reminds you of them, does that mean you’ve actually been to one of their cities?"

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  Lulu nodded, her gaze distant as she recalled the memory. "Yeah, I passed through Flame Peak City once while traveling. It was... impressive. Massive foundries built into the mountains, rivers of molten metal channeled through reinforced conduits, and forges that burned day and night with spiritual flames. The entire city thrived on craftsmanship—every street was lined with workshops, and the air rang with the sound of hammers shaping divine steel." She smirked slightly. "I would’ve stayed longer if it weren’t for the Faceless Judges patrolling the streets. Unnerving things, those enforcers—silent, masked, and utterly ruthless if you broke their laws."

  Chen Gong's brow furrowed as he repeated the unfamiliar name. "Faceless Judges?"

  Lulu tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her expression turning serious. "They're another one of the Great Eight sects—the iron fist of the cultivation world. Specifically, they serve as enforcers for the laws established by the Righteous Alliance." She glanced around instinctively before continuing in a lower voice. "In terms of sheer numbers, they're second only to the Burning Sun Legion. Their members are everywhere in the southern lands."

  Kai's grip tightened slightly on the box of nails, his knuckles whitening as memories surfaced. "If you ever travel south," he added, his voice uncharacteristically grim, "be extremely careful around them. They show no mercy to anyone who breaks their laws—no matter how minor the offense." He paused, realizing his warning didn't quite capture their true nature. "Actually, that's underselling it. Just avoid them if you can and don’t lie to them."

  Chen Gong's eyes widened slightly. Without a word, he quickly retrieved his ever-present notebook and began scribbling furiously, the charcoal pencil scratching across the parchment. The historian in him recognized vital intelligence when he heard it.

  After a moment of thoughtful silence, Kai shifted the conversation. "Anyway, we should head back for now. If we need more supplies for building our homes, we know where to get them."

  Chen Gong tucked away his notes and cleared his throat. "Master Kai, if I may... should we continue pretending not to be cultivators with these people?" He gestured to the bustling streets of Pillarforge. "It seems somewhat pointless since we'll be living nearby as neighbors. Surely they'll find out eventually."

  Kai paused mid-step, considering the question. Throughout their journey north, maintaining their cover had been second nature—a necessary precaution when passing through unfamiliar territories. But those had been brief encounters, fleeting stops where anonymity served as protection. Now they were putting down roots.

  "You're right," Kai admitted after a long moment. "They will figure it out, especially with Lu Bu's tendency to speak without thinking." He internally groaned as he thought about Lu Bu. "It's probably better they learn the truth on our terms rather than stumbling upon it. But..." He tightened his grip on the heavy box. "That's a conversation for another day. First, we need to establish ourselves properly. Let's head home."

  As they turned toward the road leading out of town and back to Titan's Reach, something unexpected bubbled up in Kai's chest—a warm, fluttering sensation that made his breath catch. Home. The word echoed in his mind with startling clarity. After months of constant movement, of sleeping under open skies or in temporary shelters, the concept of having a permanent place—a real home for himself and his makeshift family—sent a wave of emotion crashing over him.

  "Yes, let's head home," an unfamiliar voice chimed in.

  The sudden interjection sent a jolt through the group. In perfect unison, Kai, Lulu, and Chen Gong whirled toward the source of the voice - a man who seemed to have materialized from the very air beside them. How had none of them noticed his approach? The bustling street had been full of people, yet this stranger had slipped into their midst unnoticed.

  The man stood with effortless poise, his attire marking him as a scholar of some standing. He wore a yellow panling lanshan robe of fine silk, the garment's intricate embroidery catching the fading sunlight. A black futou hat sat perfectly straight atop his head, its long ribbons hanging undisturbed despite the evening breeze that had just moments ago been tugging at their own clothes. His hands were folded neatly within his wide sleeves, the picture of scholarly composure.

  But it was his smile that set Kai's nerves alight - a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes, as if the expression had been carefully practiced rather than naturally formed. The man's gaze lingered on each of them in turn, his eyes seeming to weigh and measure them in a single glance.

  Kai felt the hairs on his neck rise as he subtly shifted his stance, the box of nails in his arms suddenly feeling less like a burden and more like a potential weapon.

  The stranger's smile widened fractionally, as if he could read their tension and found it amusing. "My apologies for startling you," he said, his voice smooth as polished jade. "It seems my enthusiasm has overcome my manners."

  As the golden light of dusk painted the scene in long shadows, the stranger took a single, deliberate step forward. "Might I have the pleasure of introducing myself?"

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