In the frigid lands, after my exile, I began to slay demons and monsters.

Chapter 79 Tianwei Garrison

Chang Qing led the Ning family of four through the south gate of Bingyuan Prefecture. Ning Xiaoxi remained seated on the carriage, looking up at the magnificent city gate of Bingyuan Prefecture, which was no less impressive than the city walls of the royal city.

A guard was waiting at the city gate. When he saw Chang Qing, he whispered a few words to him and then left.

"Xiao Xi, Lord Tianwei is busy today and will not have time to see you until tomorrow morning." Chang Qing said to Ning Xiao Xi with some surprise, "You two should find an inn in the city to rest for the night, and we will go to pay our respects to the lord tomorrow morning."

Ning Xiaoxi nodded, "Adult matters are more important. Well then, Brother Chang, see you tomorrow."

Chang Qing smiled and led his two guards away.

"Father, let's find an inn first and wash up properly!" Ning Xiaoxi said, then turned and climbed into the carriage.

Ning Shi looked at her daughter's smiling face and said, "Okay, have a good rest today."

Ming Luoying took her daughter's hand, always feeling that being on the road was better than going into the city!

They found a clean inn on a side street near the city gate. After washing up and having a simple meal with the family, Ning Shi pulled Ming Luoying, whose face was full of worry, back to their room. Ning Ziqing sat with his sister in the lobby of the inn.

Ning Xiaoxi looked at the flow of people coming and going outside the door. Night had fallen, and there was no curfew in Bingyuan Prefecture.

[Tuanzi, let me see the Bingyuan Prefecture where Lord Tianwei is stationed!]

The drone hovered over Bingyuanfu from the courtyard of the inn.

This inn is a large roadside inn located two streets east of the South Gate, facing the city wall. It mainly caters to merchants traveling with goods. The backyard is quite large, with many carts loaded with goods parked inside. Although the inn is somewhat remote, it does very good business.

Under the cover of night, Bingyuan Prefecture was brightly lit. The entire prefecture was laid out in a square pattern, with the market and wards arranged as meticulously as a chessboard. Wide, straight streets crisscrossed the city like its veins, connecting all the different areas. A main cross street divided the city into four sections, wide enough to accommodate nearly ten horses riding abreast. It was clear that even during peak hours, the flow of people and vehicles was unimpeded.

Bingyuan Prefecture, a major city on the grasslands, ingeniously blends the essence of grassland culture with the traditional architecture of royal cities, showcasing a unique style. Domed buildings are scattered throughout, resembling white tents rising from the grasslands, their rounded, full domes possessing graceful yet grand curves. Adjacent to them are Chinese-style pavilions with flying eaves, carved beams, and painted rafters; exquisite wood carvings and vibrant paintings reveal the refinement and elegance of the royal city's culture. The two architectural styles stand side by side, coexisting harmoniously.

Shops lining the main street hung colorful lanterns and displayed their goods in front of their stores, bustling with activity and shoulder to shoulder even at this hour. Herdsmen from the depths of the grasslands brought top-quality wool, leather, and dairy products; these grassland specialties exuded a unique aroma, were of superior quality, and were highly sought after. Caravans from the south carried exquisite silks, fragrant teas, and delicate porcelain—a dazzling array that overwhelmed the eye. Under the cover of night, street performers attracted the flow of people, who gathered in a circle, occasionally erupting in cheers and applause.

People, whether they had eaten dinner or not, came out of their homes and strolled along the streets, buying some inconspicuous little trinkets, or buying their children a piece of milk cake, a sugar figurine, or a small lotus lantern, which made the children smile.

Inside the trading area, the sounds of bargaining rose and fell, and merchants of different skin colors and clothing smiled broadly as deals were struck amidst laughter and chatter. The clinking of gold and silver coins and the sounds of goods being loaded and unloaded mingled together, creating a symphony of prosperity.

This is the great grassland city of the Great Xia Dynasty. A dynasty that has stood for nine hundred years must have had something extraordinary about it.

Unlike the main road, the surrounding residential areas were quiet. Although occasionally a red or yellow lantern was hanging at the door of a house, the faint light could not illuminate all the darkness.

In the distance, a magnificent building could be seen to the northwest. Patrolling soldiers occasionally circled the courtyard. Ning Xiaoxi guessed that it must be the city lord's mansion, and it seemed that a banquet was being held there. There were various lanterns in the courtyard, and the faint sound of string and wind instruments could be heard. Because it was too far away, she could not see the people in the courtyard.

Correspondingly, in the northeast corner, there is another five-courtyard-style building. In the deep of night, apart from the runic lines that flow from time to time on the courtyard wall, only the clock tower in the southeast corner is brightly lit.

The view was suspended in mid-air, unable to get close to the city lord's mansion and Tianwei's residence. It seemed that even within the city, Bingyuan Prefecture's area exceeded ten miles in circumference.

Unfortunately, I didn't utilize the live-streaming capability when I first left the capital, so I couldn't properly see what the capital was like. The Panhou Mountain City and Muyun Mountain City that I saw later were only medium-sized cities within the prefecture, not particularly large in scale. Only Bingyuan Prefecture looked like it had a prosperous atmosphere.

This is a large city that only humans could build. No matter how strong a demon is individually, its belief in its race cannot compare with that of humans, so it is conceivable that it would be suppressed by humans.

Ning Xiaoxi smiled and took sips of tea every now and then as the scenery changed. Although it was just coarse tea, she tasted it as if it were fine wine.

Ning Ziqing smiled slightly as she looked at her sister's contented expression.

At this moment, a group of people stopped at the entrance of the inn. The leader, accompanied by two attendants carrying boxes, entered the hall, while the rest remained in the courtyard.

Upon seeing the newcomer, the innkeeper immediately stepped out from behind the counter and bowed respectfully to him, saying, "Manager Fei."

Ignoring the shopkeeper, Manager Fei waved his hand and walked up to Ning Xiaoxi with his entourage. He bowed slightly and said, "Greetings, Miss Ning. I am Fei Nan, the foreign affairs manager of the City Lord's Mansion. The City Lord knows that Miss Ning has arrived in Bingyuan Prefecture and has specially ordered me to deliver some daily necessities to you for your journey ahead."

Ning Xiaoxi quickly stood up to return the greeting, looking at the seemingly kind and respectful but not obsequious Steward Fei with a face full of surprise. "Steward Fei is too kind. What merit do I have to receive such a generous treatment from the City Lord? However, I have no connection with the City Lord and dare not accept his kindness."

Steward Fei's smile remained unchanged. "Young lady, there's no need to refuse. Our city lord is on good terms with City Lord Wu of Muyun Mountain City. City Lord Wu was helped by you last time when he encountered a problem, and we are simply expressing our gratitude on your behalf."

Ning Xiaoxi quickly waved her hand, "No, no, no, I didn't do much, I dare not accept the kindness of the city lord and city lord Wu."

Before Steward Fei could say anything more, a voice came, "Steward Fei, Xiao Xi is too young to need so many things, so there's no need for the city lord to trouble himself."

Upon hearing the voice, Ning Xiaoxi and Steward Fei turned to look at the newcomer at the same time.

"Strategist?" Ning Xiaoxi's face was full of disbelief and surprise.