Pillar of Yita

Fang Hong saw Lady Kuisu hurriedly heading outside and asked, ”Lady Kuisu, is something the matter?”

”Don’t worry, little captain,” Lady Kuisu smiled slightly and shook her head. ”It’s just that the winter hunting season is approaching, and I plan to give the workers a day off to relax. By the way, there’s a celebration tonight, I heard there’s going to be a fireworks display. Aren’t you joining, Lord Captain?”

Despite having endured the pain of losing a child, time has been enough to heal all wounds, or at least bury the pain deep within her heart. As a team leader, this lady no longer shows any hesitation, handling sorrow with calmness.

It is the years of snow and wind that have formed a resolute look between her eyebrows, able to face everything with composure. This is the woman of the Northern Territory, shaped by harsh frost, just like the thick calluses on her rugged hands.

It is a hand that holds a logging axe.

In her early years, she was just a woodcutter.

Fang Hong had heard the workers talk about this lady’s experiences, and couldn’t help but feel some admiration. She liked to playfully call him little captain, to which he would simply smile, then show a hint of curiosity—the celebration before the hunting season in Dulun?

As for the fireworks display, that is an even more distant memory.

On Earth, his homeland came from an ancient civilization. After the Lunar New Year, there used to be fireworks celebrations, but that is already a thing of the older generation’s memories. Fireworks displays withdrew from history a century ago—

Replaced by more modern things, like projectors or drones. Young people are keen on chasing the times, but in this process inevitably losing some of what is more old or called ’traditional.’

Yet whenever the New Year’s bells ring, the solemn sense of ceremony in the bloodline would revive and pass down through generations.

It is an ancient memory rooted deep in the heart.

Therefore, Fang Hong is quite interested in the local celebration, and asked, ”Is the celebration after the day of rest to celebrate Colin Ishurian’s New Year?”

”Pretty much,” Lady Kuisu nodded. ”I heard you also celebrate New Year there, but the fireworks display should be a long time ago, right? So, little captain hasn’t seen a fireworks display?”

Fang Hong honestly nodded, he really hadn’t seen a fireworks display, feeling a bit of anticipation inside.

Though chaos of the Southern Region has just begun, and the new year may not start anew, and the blizzard will continue for another month, people always need reasons to comfort themselves.

”Then remember to come.”

”Right in this square, around eight or nine o’clock.”

Lady Kuisu said this while smiling, glancing at him and the nearby Hilveld, as if looking at a pair of young lovers. She was experienced, able to see the slight differences in their demeanor and actions even through a veil.

Her mischievous smile made both a little embarrassed, each lowering their heads.

After Lady Kuisu left, Fang Hong and Hilveld looked at each other, a silent subtlety enveloping them, after a while he nervously asked, ”Hi-Hilveld, Miss Hilveld, shall we also go out for a walk...?”

Hilveld’s eyes carried a light smile and she simply nodded gently.

They had asked Lady Kuisu earlier and learned that Luo Yu, Xiangzi, and the group had also gone out shopping, as for Mr. Greyrock’s side, except for Bakins, others had also entered the city. The old sailor seemed used to being alone, voluntarily stayed to watch the platform.

But at the moment everyone hadn’t gathered, the inn was actually empty.

The two had the servant help deliver a few boxes of books back to their room, then notified the innkeeper in advance that they might return the key tomorrow morning and leave Dulun, asking the innkeeper to notify Miss Feyos.

Also asking them to pass on their thanks.

The people with the Phoenix Family Crest in Dulun naturally weren’t concerned with their accommodation expenses, but under Miss Atira’s reminder, he still left some locally made goods from the Adventure Group, like forest elf dried fruits and honey wine, as a token of gratitude.

Winter in Dulun carries a silent air.

The streets are covered in snow, ice hangs from tree branches, and the arched roof of the Holy Sanctuary rises into the clouds, silently watching over this ancient city. The newly erected towers in the Magic Guided District, gigantic gears, and hammer pendulums, like sparks flying below an iron anvil, bringing a trace of vitality to this winter’s landscape.

Pedestrians are all dressed up, gentlemen wear black coats, women are heavily made up, styled like wealthy ladies. On a few luxurious main streets, bright cloth banners hang from the sides of buildings.

The buildings are only three or four stories high but show signs of entering industrial civilization.

As the evening celebration approaches, the street becomes more lively, long tables are moved out by workers and joined together, banners pulled up, forming a small venue—a tradition of competitions on the winter hunting day, continuing from the ancient knight era to now, one of Eteliria’s few entertainments.

However, today, these competitions have many categories.

Prizes are piled on the long tables, some stored fruits, covered by a layer of snow, the Northern Territory celebrations seem to be crystal clear white like this. Then, there are the popular beer barrels, layer upon layer, piled together to form a small mountain.