On the other side of the gates outside the village, a group of people were waiting.
Just as the the sled was approaching the three girls called out to their dogs. "Whoa!"
The dogs came to abrupt stop before they reached the group and then Ki got off the sled and approached the leader of the group.
The leader approached Ki who had already stepped off the sled and introduced himself. "I am Alf the leader of the snowflake mercenary and trading group, I greet the Bombyx family heir. The snowflake group has made a living trading through the borders between the north and central lands for generations. We have deep ties with various forces in the north but also some connection with those in the central lands including your grandmother."
Although he had not met the young heir who he was tasked to he was able to recognise those who carried a demeanour of a leader.
Within the group of three people, Ki was the most recognisable as someone who held a high position from the way she carried herself and her body language.
Ki shook his outstretched hand and then spoke. "I see. As someone from the north you must know quite a lot about the influences and places that are there so while we are here could you tell me the basics."
Alf smiled as he saw that Ki was quite straightforward and talked to him directly without any barriers created by their differences in birth place and status.
It was so easy to be badly influenced by the fact that someone was below you in status or was from a different race of people and not hold prejudices against them or talk down to them.
Alf began to talk in a more comfortable manner after seeing Ki was someone without prejudice and did not act haughtily in front of him. "There are three main cities. There is the city that is closest to the border and the previous divine ice sects fortress. They have benefitted a lot for their cooperation with those in charge of the fortress for centuries and have become the second strongest and prosperous city within the north and is known as the merchant city or Slate city. The capital city is further in the northern lands and benefits a lot from the merchant city. They are mostly made up of those loyal to the northern imperial family and the king, the northern imperial army and the northern nobility and the other rich families. Then in the barren or danger zone further into the north is the city without laws and is a place where strength is everything to survive there. I would not recommend you get involved with them or travel there unless you have the strength to defend yourself because it is a ruthless and unforgiving place to be in. The rest of the influences that either live around the cities or within the mountains are the various northern tribes or villages."
Ki nodded and then asked. "Then what about the other influences?"
Alf continued. "There is the ice Phoenix sect that is closely connected to the capital but are mainly a secluded sect that lives within the mountains. The warlord sect used to be mainly situated in the mountains close to the borders and the divine ice sect but now they have taken over the abandoned sect grounds. While they do not have any affiliation with anyone they can be considered a lawless sect that loves carnage and warfare. Then there is the netherworld fire sect that is located close to the deeper parts of the northern lands. They are a sect of devil worshippers who perform sacrificial rituals in order to gain strength, their characteristics are that they use a kind of flame that is ice cold and although they are not physically strong they are able to manipulate that fire better the more practice they have gained with it and it becomes more dangerous the more people are sacrificed."
He took a breath and then continued. "Of all of the sects and influences the most powerful are the ice Phoenix sect and those within the capital who each have a bright realm martial artist as a leader or grand elder. The other sects have around five or so people that are within the unrestrained realm or at the peak of the unrestrained realm."
Ki nodded and then spoke. "Okay so let's go. Our first challenge would be to pass through the border and then make it to the city."
Ki understood a lot from her previous life but also many things about the north and the conflicts that took place.
One of the biggest reasons that the central lands and the north had not escalated into a full blown war was because most of the influences had not been a part of the invasion.
Even the northern warlord sect who was the main group behind the invasion only sent their weaker forces along with several tribes while trying their best to maintain their strongest forces.
In the previous life because of their success in raiding the central lands, the main forces behind the northern warlord sect, netherworld fire sect and those within the lawless areas began to partner up in order to gain more resources and power.
While the capital and slate city tried their best to make peace and negotiate with the central lands in order to broker a deal or peace the other forces did not wish to stop.
Eventually the negotiations broke down and in between the war and the infighting the north lost and most of the influences were not able to survive in the end.
However in this life as the northern warlord sect sent their weaker forces through the border they suffered heavy casualties after trying to attack or plunder the Bombyx village, Wolfden city or the nearby cities and they continued to suffer losses so had no choice but to preserve their strongest forces and they did not achieve many successes so were unable to get the support of other forces that had a similar outlook or views.
If the situation did not look good and there weren't many benefits to be had then starting a war with the central lands would only end up with many losses.
If Ki entered the northern lands then perhaps many things would begin to change for the better or worse depending on one's perspective.