I can see experience bars after being transported to another world.

A massive stone city wall stretched across the view, its gray-white surface bathed in a warm yellow hue by the setting sun.

The city wall was tall, even thicker than the outer wall of the Bronze City, but there were no inscriptions on the wall, nor the texture of bronze with its intricate patterns; it was just solid stone.

There were city guards on duty at the city gate. When they saw this long procession of cars slowly approaching, several people stood up straight at the same time.

Lu Yuan's entourage was too conspicuous, with more than a dozen vehicles, the front and rear of which were guard vehicles, and the middle were all large horse-drawn carriages carrying residents. From a distance, it was clear that they were not ordinary merchants.

A city guard captain strode forward, first glancing at the Night's Watch insignia hanging on the front of the car, then looking at Lu Yuan's face in the driver's seat—black hair and black eyes, easily recognizable.

"The Night's Watch? From Bronze City?"

Lu Yuan took out the Night's Watch badge from his pocket and handed over the documents prepared by Klaus. The city guard captain took them, flipped through a couple of pages, checked the seals and the number of people on them, and nodded.

"We've been instructed to wait a few days."

The necessary procedures were followed, including registering and verifying the number of night watchmen and residents, and counting each vehicle.

The city guard then pulled out a palm-sized grayish-white stone from his waist and swept it around the convoy from a distance.

Lu Yuan recognized the thing.

It was similar to the Holy Light Stone that Margaret gave him, only rougher, with a less polished surface and more intricate stone patterns.

These simple stones barely react from a distance; they only change color when brought very close. When the city guards swept them from a distance, they couldn't get any detailed images out.

The light red mark on the left leg and the wounded insect of knowledge in the left eye were not within the scope of this rough screening.

Lu Yuan remained expressionless, standing naturally as the city guards completed the formalities.

The procedures went more smoothly than he had expected. It was clear that Klaus had already made arrangements for picking up the people. In the meantime, someone had already entered the city to report to the city lord's mansion.

The steward sent by the city authorities arrived at the city gate quickly. He was a middle-aged man who was efficient and didn't talk much.

He led the caravan through the city gate, across a wide stone-paved street lined with stone houses on both sides, much sturdier than the wooden houses outside the Bronze City.

After walking for about fifteen minutes, the foreman led the convoy to an open space. Next to the open space stood several rows of newly built temporary houses, with earthen walls and wooden roofs. They looked simple, but the houses were fully furnished, and in one corner there were several bundles of unopened quilts.

It was clearly built in advance and was waiting for it.

Residents got out of the car, and some looked at the rows of houses, finally showing a sense of relief for the first time in days.

Lu Yuan was arranging for the night watchmen to help the residents move their belongings when the steward came over and said something in a low voice.

"Captain, the city lord wishes to see you in person."

Lu Yuan was somewhat surprised.

He thought that at most a steward would be sent to make contact, but he didn't expect the city lord himself to come forward.

We followed the steward into the inner city for a while and stopped in front of a stone courtyard. The courtyard was not large, but it was clean and tidy, and two locust trees in front of the gate were lush and leafy.

A person walked out of the courtyard gate.

The blonde woman was about the same age as Lu Yuan, in her early twenties. She wore a neatly tailored dark green dress, with a small leather wallet with a copper clasp at her waist. Her hair was tied in a simple bun at the back of her head, without any extra jewelry.

Is he really such a young count?

Her eyes lit up when she saw Lu Yuan, and she quickly walked up to him and extended her hand.

"You must be the leader of the Night's Watch sent by Vice-Chief Klaus?" Her voice was clear and crisp. "I am Isabella, the lord of this city, and also an earl."

Lu Yuan shook hands with her and introduced himself.

Isabella released her grip, glanced behind him at Bor, then at the convoy of residents moving things in the distance, and nodded.

"We've been waiting for you. The deputy chief of staff had already given instructions; rooms and accommodations have been prepared, and I've also arranged for the residents to be taken care of. Please settle in here."

After she finished speaking, she turned around and waved to the courtyard, "Come with me, we'll talk as we walk."

Lu Yuan tilted his head at Bo'er, who followed. The other Night Watch brothers stayed behind to help settle the residents, unable to leave.

Isabella led the two through several streets.

She kept talking the whole way.

"We can't compare to your Bronze City; we're a small place. But we certainly don't lack food or medicinal herbs." She gestured with her chin towards the outside of the city. "You should have seen it on your way here; those tens of thousands of acres of fertile land outside the outer city were all reclaimed in recent years. The abundant water network makes it perfect for growing medicinal herbs."

When she mentioned the word "medicinal herbs," a hint of undisguised ease crept into her voice.

After crossing the mountain, the outer perimeter of the city wall is covered with large rice paddies, interspersed with patches of darker-colored fields planted with medicinal herbs.

The lush green medicinal herb field stretched out under the setting sun, much larger than he had expected.

This countess was refined and well-mannered, not the kind of noble who only knew how to enjoy life. She could talk about everything from how Oakwood City survived, how to cultivate the fields outside the city, and when to plant and harvest medicinal herbs, showing that she had truly put her heart and soul into it.

When they reached a spacious courtyard, Isabella stopped, turned around, and got down to business.

"The two hundred or so people you brought here will have their food rations provided by Lilin City for the year, and we will support them."

She spoke clearly and concisely, without any hesitation.

"We'll allocate a batch of grain first. You've seen the accommodations; they're a bit simple, but they have everything you need. Once they're settled, we welcome them to use any of their skills—anything is fine."

She paused, her tone becoming more sincere.

"Lilin City is in dire need of craftsmen."

When Lu Yuan heard the word "craftsman," he suddenly realized what it meant.

The last group of residents that Klaus sent out of the city were not randomly selected.

Carpenters, blacksmiths, and bricklayers—when people stop at the inn to rest, locals will crawl under the carts and tap on the axles; they're clearly experts.

Lu Yuan nodded to Isabella.

"Thank you, Your Excellency."

"Don't mention it." Isabella waved her hand. "I have to give Vice Chief of Staff Klaus face. Besides, having more craftsmen is a good thing for us, so it's not a loss."

As she spoke, she led the two of them a few steps forward.

Lu Yuan's gaze swept over several rows of rooftops along the way and landed on a building in the distance.

It was a huge, circular tower.

The tower is circular in shape, rising abruptly from the center of the inner city. Its gray-white stone walls appear calm and imposing in the twilight.

The tower isn't particularly tall, but the enclosed area is quite large, and it seems like there's something inside, though it's not clear from this angle.

Lu Yuan's gaze lingered on the tall tower for a moment, but he didn't ask any questions.

Isabella seemed oblivious to what he was looking at and continued leading the group forward.

Bor glanced at the tower a couple more times, his mouth moved as if to speak, but he ultimately said nothing.

After giving a brief introduction to the city and settling the general affairs, Lu Yuan spoke.

"Lady Isabella, there's something I'd like to ask you for a favor."

Isabella was handing a cup of hot tea to Bor when she heard this and turned around.

"explain."

"I'd like to borrow a communication crystal to contact Bronze City."

Lu Yuan's tone was calm, as if he were talking about something ordinary. But the tension in his heart had been building ever since the day he left the city.

He himself did not have a communication crystal, and the inscription array on the carriage only allowed for short-range communication between carriages, not reaching Bronze City.

Isabella readily agreed.

"Come with me."

She led Lu Yuan into a small hut next to the courtyard, took a thumb-sized crystal from a wooden box on the table, and handed it to him. The crystal had a pale blue sheen, and its quality was much better than that of the Night's Watch.

"There is a fixed connection between Oak Forest City and Bronze City. This crystal is already prepared and can be used directly."

Lu Yuan took it and held it in his palm.

He infused the crystal with extraordinary energy, causing the fine filaments inside to light up and the ripples to spread outwards, radiating towards the Bronze City.

no respond.

Lu Yuan waited a few breaths, then tried again, this time increasing the fluctuations.

The fine filaments within the crystal flickered twice, the ripples spread out, and then disappeared without a trace.

It was deathly silent, without a sound.

Lu Yuan tried a different method, reorganized the fluctuations, and sent it again.

It's still the same.

The light on the crystal surface shone quietly, and ripples spread outwards in concentric circles, with nothing returning to it.

Lu Yuan gripped the crystal, his fingers slowly tightening.

Isabella watched his expression from the side, her brows furrowing slightly.

Unable to contact them?

Lu Yuan did not answer immediately.

He was in Lilin City, and no matter how big the trouble was in the city, he couldn't reach it or help.

Lu Yuan put the crystal back on the table and nodded to Isabella.

"Can't get in touch," he said. "Thank you."

Isabella glanced at him but didn't ask any further questions.

Lu Yuan walked out of the small house.

It was already pitch black outside, and the lights of Oak Forest City lit up one by one. Unlike the night in Bronze City, the lights here were warm yellow, carrying a sense of peaceful everyday life.

In the distance, the outline of the circular tower stood heavily in the night, the surrounding area pitch black, making it impossible to see what was inside.

Lu Yuan glanced at the tower, then turned his gaze to the west.

You can't see anything in that direction; Bronze City is several days away, and not even a ray of light can get through.

He stood there for a while without saying a word.

Bor came up from behind and stood next to him.

Unable to contact them?

"Unable to contact."

Bohr was silent for a few moments, then looked towards the empty night sky to the west.

Lu Yuan withdrew his gaze and turned to walk towards his residence.