Chương 87: Sparks in the Western Wind

The same evening, the top 100 of us who survived the trial of Iron Will finally made it back to the agency. The moment we stepped through the giant gates, those who had lost cheered us on with loud applause and heartfelt words.

"You did it, guys!"

"Bring the flame of importance back!"

"The Golden Tooth still breathes!" Their voices carried real emotion, reigniting a currently shaky agency with fresh spirit. From the Elders down to the lowest stable boys, everyone looked rejuvenated. For the first time in a long while, hope burned visibly in their eyes. Zhuofing the Dirty Finger had achieved something special with that quick witted trial. With the little coin we had scraped together from their private pocket, he bought us a feast from one of the highest-end restaurants in the area.

The meat was perfectly seared in rich, fragrant oil, crispy on the outside and juicy within, paired with fresh vegetables that carried a deep, satisfying taste. I ate like a starving man, the flavors exploding on my tongue. It reminded me so much of the meals back in Aegyptus, which were rich, filling, and almost nostalgic. My stomach felt truly satisfied for the first time in months. After the meal, I finally spoke properly with Xhife for the first time since the trial began.

We sat together on the training grounds under the clouded stars, sharing a bottle of strong liquor. The warmth spread through my chest as we talked.

"You really carried your back-end place from the beginning all the way to the top 100 like a beast," Xhife said with a tired but genuine laugh, raising his cup.

"I thought my arms were going to fall off, but you… you made it look almost easy, when i watched you after I finished my trial" I countered with, "You were already from the beginning in top 100 and fought them off not to lose your place among them, truly crazy." He laughed and added, "Well, I had it easier than you, since my sister took most of the attention." I clinked my cup against his and replied, "Easy? My shoulders still hate me because they are still a bit sore. But you weren't bad yourself.

The work you are doing and the level you have already reached... your father should be proud." Xhife's smile faded a little. He stared into his cup.

"I hope so. I ran away from all this for so long, wanting to be a Vagabond, to be free to pursue Xhxe, the Passion Cannon. But seeing how bad things really got here… I guess for now I want to support him. But don't get me wrong, it's only for now, until the business is back on track, to help pull the agency back up and support my sister." He took a long drink, then looked at me.

"What about you? Why are you really here, Erumes? A Suren pushing himself this hard on a foreign earth on the Orbis Terrarum?" I took a slow sip, feeling the liquor burn pleasantly.

"I want to get stronger. Stronger than I ever thought possible. There's a shadow inside me… someone named Siegfried. His power haunts me every day. I need to reach that level, and beyond. This trial already made me better, but it's not enough. I'm obsessed with climbing higher until he is on the ground, just as I was beneath his feet." Xhife nodded slowly, understanding flashing in his eyes.

"Then we'll climb together for a while. Until I can leave again… and until you find that shadow you're chasing." We drank in comfortable silence after that, the weight of our different dreams hanging between us like shining stars through the clouds. The sweet morning of the 28th of February arrived at 08: 00. We stood ready in the central square, dressed in clean uniforms, the three carriages prepared with the strongest wall horses.

Zhuofing the Dirty Finger stepped forward in truly royal leader clothes made of the finest silk and leather. He looked every bit the head of a proud agency. He spoke with powerful conviction.

"Today we march to show the other agencies that the Golden Tooth still has teeth to tear flesh and coin! We will not go down without a fight. This Merchant Trial is our chance to bring real wind back to our home. Let them see that we still carry a strong spark that can ignite a reviving fire all over Zhenhai!" His words lit a fire in all of us. We marched out the gate with renewed spirit, Zhuofing at the front like an indestructible monster, ready to sweep away any foolish bandits.

Xhife and I took positions at the rear. As we walked, Xhife spoke quietly but with clear fire in his voice.

"Today I will prove myself in the trial. I'm going to beat every challenger they throw at us. And you… you better prepare yourself, Erumes." I looked at him and gave a fierce grin.

"I will show you my inner flame won't diminish quickly. I accept the challenge." We both reached out and shook hands hard, gripping with real strength, a silent pact passing between us. The handshake lingered for a moment, full of determination and brotherhood. Then I turned slightly, still walking, and spoke more seriously.

"I told you, my friend Xhife… I need more strength. More power. I yearn for it. Every day it burns inside me. This trial is just another step, but I won't stop until I reach heights I can barely imagine right now." Xhife nodded, his expression turning thoughtful.

"Then let's burn our spirits together for a while." We continued marching, the conversation flowing naturally between us. The weight of our different dreams hung in the air, but for now we were united in purpose. Zhuofing the Dirty Finger led from the very front like an indestructible monster. His royal silk and leather clothes billowed as he walked, radiating authority. The rest of us followed with raised spirits, rejuvenated by the feast and the hope of a better future for the agency.

We covered 32 kilometers when suddenly I clenched my fist, pulling on the obsession of Siegfried's shadow in my mind, who appeared laughing far in the sky. At that exact moment, Zhuofing roared, "STOP! BIG POWERFUL WAVE INCOMING!" We all prepared our weapons in an instant, hearts pounding. High above us, five-hundred kilometers in the sky, two young warriors from rival sects were fighting with terrifying power that shook the very heavens above us.

One wore radiant Ice Armor in pure white and blue, marking him as a warrior of the Beiduan Pai Sect (Northern Sword Sect). His armor gleamed like frozen starlight, with sharp crystalline edges forming around his body as he moved with cold, absolute precision. The other blazed in Flower Petal Armor of deep red and white, showing he was a fighter from the Taihua Sect (The Great Flower Sect). Delicate yet deadly petals of energy swirled around him like living blades, beautiful and lethal at the same time.

Both wielded thin, elegant swords that seemed to break more than just the foundational clouds, cutting deeper into the materium with every swing. Their blades left trails of ice and blooming petals in the air, cutting through the atmosphere with such force that visible shockwaves rippled outward, distorting the sky like glass cracking under pressure. The sound of their clashes reached us moments later as a distant, thunderous ringing that vibrated in our chests.

Their Animo was so immense that even our Leader, Zhuofing the Dirty Finger, struggled. He stared upward with narrowed eyes, sweat already beading on his forehead. After a few tense seconds he growled in frustration and shouted, " Giufu! Get over here!" A trusted general, Giufu, quickly air-walked to his side. The older man focused hard, veins bulging on his temples as he tried to read the distant clash. His face quickly twisted in strain.

"Leader… I can barely get a reading," Giufu said through gritted teeth, voice strained.

"They're both pushing close to 150, 000… maybe even higher. Their power is exceeding what I can comfortably measure. The interference is too strong. This isn't a simple duel. This is a war in the heavens." Zhuofing's jaw tightened. Sweat continued to roll down his face as he kept staring at the sky.

"Two monsters fighting like madmen… and we're down here like ants watching the storm." We could only stand in stunned silence as the two powerhouses clashed far above us. The Ice warrior moved with ruthless efficiency, his sword leaving trails of absolute zero that froze entire clouds solid before shattering them. The Flower warrior danced through the air, his petals exploding into countless razor-sharp blades that filled the sky like a blooming storm of death.

Every collision sent massive shockwaves rolling across the heavens, making the air itself tremble and vibrate in our chests. Lightning crackled where their energies met. The sky itself seemed to scream in protest. Xhife stood beside me, mouth slightly open in awe.

"They're… monsters. How can anyone fight like that?" I felt cold shudders running down my spine. It reminded me painfully of Master Hwan Songge's overwhelming presence. These two random fighters were already near his base level while using their Vestuto forms. This Orbis Terrarum was truly unpredictable and vast beyond imagination. One day… I would stand among them. I had to. The battle slowly drifted north-west, their maddening clash growing smaller in the distance but no less awe-inspiring.

For several long minutes none of us spoke. The sheer scale left us all speechless and humbled. Zhuofing finally broke the silence, wiping sweat from his brow.

"Enough staring. We still have a long road ahead. Move out." We continued marching. The memory of that heavenly battle lingered heavily in all our minds, making our own steps feel small yet strangely motivated. As we walked, Xhife spoke quietly but with an angry, competitive spark.

"Did you feel also inspired by those two up there? I think my father could keep up with them. Maybe even beat them… hmpf, do you agree with me, eh?" I shook my head.

"Maybe. But it's unlikely right now. They're dimensions above him from what you told me he did against the hardened Steel Sect and from what we saw they just did." Xhife's face flushed with irritation.

"What about your precious Siegfried then? Could he do it?" I shrugged, unconsciously touching the hidden branding of enslavement on my right upper arm.

"Maybe. I haven't seen him at full power in a long time. The only one I know who is truly at their level.... and far above at the same time is my Master Hwan Songge." Xhife gave me a skeptical look and scoffed.

"Yeah yeah… your master again. Sure. Keep telling yourself that." And so it went on, the two of us arguing lightly as we marched, the memory of the sky battle still fresh in our minds. We covered another 23 kilometers in a good measured tempo and finally reached the huge western city of Kailume, harboring 29, 000 souls. The competition was already waiting for us in the central square.

The first agency we saw carried a tall, imposing vertical banner with a dark brown-grey field and golden accents, centered on a sturdy antique wooden treasure chest reinforced with metal and marble." Treasure Seeker Agency (寻宝社)". Their leader, Woushal, was a 41-year-old thin man standing 1. 90 meters tall, with long purple hair flowing to his shoulder blades. He carried a thick iron-coal flute and wore an arrogant smirk, followed by 100 elites dressed in matching dark-brown uniforms with golden trim.

Next was a deep sapphire-blue banner with silver accents, featuring a sturdy glowing silver shield with a golden lock." Safety Delivery Agency (平安镖运)". Their leader was Shiqifan, a 31-year-old woman with middle-length dark hair and a striking rouge bang in the front. She was 1. 69 meters tall, somewhat muscular, carrying a small wide shield and a mag-halberd made of iron-coal and copper. Her team moved with disciplined precision.

The biggest and most intimidating was the black-crimson banner featuring a ferocious mythical giant panda in an aggressive roar." Mo the Giant Fierce Panda Agency (獏)". Their leader, Mo himself, was a 35-year-old monster of the western border. He had sideburns, no front beard, and wild short white hair with gelled Charleston green spikes. His presence alone made our Leader gulp. This was now a much higher level of challenge than expected. Zhuofing slowed our march as we approached the gathering square.

He looked at all of us determined soldiers intensively and his expression grew heavy with understanding.

This would not be an easy task that awaited us. The competition was on another level entirely. For a long moment he said nothing, simply scanning the proud banners and confident warriors of the rival agencies. Then, in a low but powerful voice that carried to every ear, he spoke:"Forget the coin of first place. We are here to reorganize our banners and beat the drums of comeback… to push our name to the front once more." His words hit like a spark on dry tinder. A wave of renewed fire swept through the group.

Shoulders straightened. Grips on weapons tightened. Even the most exhausted among us lifted their chins. I felt it deep in my chest, recognizing that same unyielding flame that had carried me through the Trial of Iron Will. We weren't just here to survive anymore. We were here to remind the world that the Golden Tooth still had fangs. Xhife walked beside me, gripping his staff tighter, eyes shining with determination.

"This is it," he muttered, voice thick with emotion.

"Time to show them the Golden Tooth still bites." I nodded, feeling the familiar fire rise hotter in my chest.

"Let's make them remember us." The air in Kailume was thick with tension and raw ambition. Banners fluttered proudly in the evening breeze, leaders sized each other up like predators, and hundreds of elite escorts from different agencies filled the streets with confident energy. The lanterns cast long shadows, making everything feel larger than life. Today the real Merchant Trial would soon begin.