The next morning, Wang Yan and his companions left Gray Stone Village. The road stretched west, passing through rolling hills and forests, carrying them farther from home and closer to the wider world.
By midday, the walls of Green Pearl City appeared on the horizon. The streets were filled with people moving between shops and market stalls. Vendors called out, carts rumbled over cobblestones, and the hum of activity was constant. It was a busy, functional city where everyday life moved quickly, and opportunities for work and growth were abundant.
The group found a suitable building near the center of the city to serve as the base of Iron Guard. It was simple but functional, with enough space to store supplies and documents, and a few rooms for planning and rest. Over the next few weeks, they organized the base and began settling in.
Thanks to Instructor Qiu and the Green Pearl Junior Academy, word of Iron Guard spread quickly. The academy supported them by connecting them with families and clients who required protection. Soon, the group received their first small assignments: escorting caravans, hunting rogue soul beasts, and collecting soul rings for those who needed them.
As the weeks passed, the assignments continued. Some were routine, some required traveling between nearby towns, but each task helped them learn the rhythms of the wider world and build a working routine. Chen Yu's constant antics kept the mood light, even during long trips or boring stretches of work.
Nearly four months later, Iron Guard received a major assignment: escorting a heavily loaded caravan of a prominent family's valuable cargo to Eastville City, a large and busy city comparable in size to Green Pearl City. The caravan was important, carrying gold and other valuables, and the family trusted Iron Guard to ensure its safe arrival.
That evening, in their base, excitement and anticipation filled the air as the four friends prepared for the journey ahead.
Liu Ming stretched, letting out a small, relieved sigh. "So, Yan, tomorrow we finally head out. One day and one night… it's going to be a long journey."
"Finally, some proper traveling," Chen Yu said with a grin. "I was getting tired of running around nearby towns all the time."
Zhao Qing adjusted the maps on the table. "It will be a long journey, but we've handled enough assignments recently. We can manage this."
Wang Yan leaned forward slightly, a small smile on his face. "Exactly. And Zhao Qing and I have something for all of you."
Zhao Qing stepped forward and opened his hands. Four carefully crafted belts lay there, gleaming slightly under the lantern light.
"These are storage belts," Zhao Qing explained. "They'll make traveling easier—you can carry your things conveniently without heavy bags on your back. Just what you need, always at hand."
Chen Yu's eyes widened as he picked up his belt. "Finally! Something to make traveling easier. My back is already feeling better!"
Zhao Qing gave a small smile. "Practical and simple. Just what we needed."
Liu Ming fastened his belt around his waist and looked at Yan. "I suppose this is for all of us—a reward for four months of steady work, huh?"
Wang Yan nodded. "Exactly. We've completed our assignments, gained experience, and now we're ready for bigger tasks. These belts aren't just tools—they'll make traveling easier and help us stay organized."
Chen Yu swung his belt around dramatically. "I'm ready! Let's see how much I can fit in this!"
Zhao Qing shook his head, laughing softly. "Don't overfill it, Chen Yu. It's for convenience, not a storage warehouse."
The four friends shared a light laugh, the excitement for tomorrow's journey filling the base. The storage belts were small, but to them, they represented months of effort, teamwork, and preparation.
The next morning arrived quietly.
At first light, Wang Yan and the others departed from their base together with the caravan they were assigned to escort. Several wagons moved in a steady line, carrying valuable goods bound for Eastville City. The distance was long—long enough to require a full day and night of travel—but it was a route they had already studied and prepared for.
Once they left the city behind, the road opened into wide stretches of land broken by forests and low hills. The journey itself was mostly smooth. Along the way, a few minor spirit beasts appeared, drawn by the movement of the wagons, but none caused serious trouble. Each encounter was dealt with efficiently, allowing the caravan to continue without disruption.
As daylight faded, the caravan pressed on through the night. Lanterns lit the road ahead, their glow swaying gently with the movement of the wagons. No one complained, and no one slowed. Long journeys like this had become familiar.
By the following morning, the outline of Eastville City finally came into view.
The caravan entered the city safely, the escort mission completed without incident. After the goods were delivered and payment settled, Wang Yan and his companions began their return journey, reaching their base later that day—another task finished.
From then on, life settled into a routine that repeated itself again and again.
After that mission, the days began to blur together. One task ended, another followed soon after. Iron Guard moved out, completed their work, and returned—sometimes within a single day, sometimes after longer journeys that stretched across distant roads and unfamiliar regions. Along those routes, minor soul beasts occasionally emerged from forests or hills, and small bands of roadside bandits sometimes tried their luck. None of them posed real danger. The encounters were brief and resolved without disrupting the mission.
Time moved forward quietly.
A few months passed like this. Then more followed. Without anyone deliberately planning it, Iron Guard began to stabilize. Work became regular. Requests arrived steadily. Familiar faces returned with new commissions, while new clients appeared through word of mouth rather than any deliberate effort to expand.
As the first year passed, small changes took shape.
New members joined gradually—some staying on, others leaving after a short time. Responsibilities shifted naturally. Those with more experience took on heavier duties, while newer members handled simpler assignments. During this period, Instructor Qiu became directly involved. Remaining in the city, he took charge of organizing missions, maintaining order, and overseeing daily operations. His presence did not bring sudden change, but it added steadiness to the growing structure.
The second year passed in much the same way.
Missions continued. Routes became familiar. Encounters with minor beasts and poorly organized bandits still occurred from time to time, but they were no longer noteworthy. Tasks were completed efficiently, and Iron Guard moved on without delay.
By the end of the third year, Iron Guard had grown to more than eighty members.
End of chapter.