The blazing heat scorched gold and melted stone.
At the mountain pass of Two Realms Mountain stood a solid fortress. It was flanked by gates and walls, with a narrow corridor leading inside to a bustling town. Nearby, fifty thousand elite troops of Qiyuan Country were stationed.
Under the blistering sun, a caravan approached slowly from the distance. Camel beasts pulled large carts, accompanied by nearly a hundred sturdy men—a merchant convoy traveling between the grasslands and Qiyuan Country.
The distorted air blurred their figures, but as they drew near, the gate commander squinted and shouted: "Halt!"
"Ah, Commander Wang…"
The caravan leader rushed forward with a flattering smile and said, "So it's your turn on duty again today? Such a hot day—it must be exhausting."
"Is this the Li's Trading Company? Looks like you've made quite the haul this trip!"
