The first rays of dawn bathed Ironhollow City in hues of crimson and gold, casting long shadows over the towering stone buildings. The city, once an unfamiliar place to Jiang Chen, now felt strangely familiar.
But familiarity was not what he sought.
Jiang Chen stood on the rooftop of a tall pagoda, looking down at the city streets below. The chaos he had caused had settled into an uneasy silence, but beneath that silence, he could feel the undercurrents of tension.
The Crimson Blade Sect had backed off—for now. But their grudge against him was far from over.
More importantly, Ironhollow had become too small for him.
His time here was done. It was time to leave.
With a final glance, Jiang Chen turned and disappeared into the city streets, heading toward his first destination—the City Lord's Estate.
Jiang Chen walked through the towering gates of the City Lord's Estate, his presence drawing wary glances from the guards. He could see it in their eyes—the hesitation, the fear.
He had changed.
Once, he was a nameless rogue from the wilderness. Now, he was a force that had shaken Ironhollow's underworld to its core.
As he stepped into the grand hall, City Lord Feng Tianlan awaited him, seated upon his throne of dark jade. His golden eyes held their usual sharpness, but today, there was something else in them—curiosity.
"So," Feng Tianlan said, his voice as smooth as ever, "you've finally decided to leave Ironhollow."
Jiang Chen nodded. "It's time."
The City Lord exhaled, fingers tapping lightly against the throne's armrest. "You've made quite the name for yourself in my city. More than a few eyes are watching you now."
Jiang Chen smirked. "Let them watch. I'll just keep moving forward."
Feng Tianlan studied him, then chuckled softly. "You remind me of someone I once knew," he said before tossing a jade medallion toward Jiang Chen.
Jiang Chen caught it, examining the intricate carvings etched onto its surface.
"A favor," Feng Tianlan said simply. "If you ever return to Ironhollow and need something, show this. But be warned—a favor from me is worth more than most lives."
Jiang Chen weighed the medallion in his palm, then tucked it away.
"I'll keep that in mind."
As he turned to leave, Feng Tianlan's voice echoed once more.
"Survive, Jiang Chen. The world is watching now."
Jiang Chen didn't look back. He simply walked forward.
Jiang Chen's next stop was a small shop in the marketplace, tucked between towering buildings. Inside, an elderly merchant and his young son stood behind a counter, their eyes widening when Jiang Chen stepped through the door.
"Y-you're back?" the merchant stammered.
The boy, no longer afraid, grinned brightly. "Big brother Jiang! Are you here to fight more bad guys?"
Jiang Chen chuckled, ruffling the kid's hair. "Not this time."
The merchant quickly recovered, his eyes filled with gratitude. "We never got to repay you for saving us. Please, take this."
He pulled out a worn, yellowed scroll.
"This is a relic from my past," the merchant explained. "A guide to the wilderness beyond Ironhollow. Many paths have been lost to time, but this—this will lead you through the Beastborne Forest."
Jiang Chen accepted the guide, nodding in appreciation.
"Stay alive," the merchant said. "The world needs men like you."
Jiang Chen gave the old man a final glance, then turned to leave.
Yan Zhi, the Rogue Assassin
Jiang Chen entered a dimly lit tavern, where a familiar figure sat in the shadows—Yan Zhi.
The former Crimson Blade assassin didn't even look up from his drink as Jiang Chen approached.
"So," Yan Zhi murmured, "you're leaving Ironhollow."
Jiang Chen pulled out a chair and sat across from him. "That obvious?"
Yan Zhi smirked. "The entire city's been whispering about it." He took another sip. "Most people who leave this city don't return. And if they do, they're not the same."
Jiang Chen's gaze darkened. "I don't intend to return the same."
Yan Zhi chuckled, but then his expression grew serious. "Before you go, take this warning: You've made enemies beyond the Crimson Blade Sect. Some have been watching you closely. But for now, they are waiting."
Jiang Chen frowned. "Waiting for what?"
Yan Zhi shrugged. "To see whether you rise or fall." He met Jiang Chen's gaze. "Make sure you rise."
Jiang Chen smirked. "I don't plan on doing anything else."
With that, he stood and turned toward the wilderness beyond Ironhollow.
Jiang Chen once again stood atop a rooftop, looking over the city that had been his battlefield.
This was where he had forged his name, where he had humiliated the Crimson Blade Sect, where he had grown into something greater than a mere rogue.
But now?
Ironhollow was too small for him.
His real trial lay ahead.
He turned, leaving the city behind as the first rays of dawn stretched across the land.
His next step?
The Beastborne Forest.
A land untouched by sects. A land where the laws of nature ruled.
A land where only the strong survived.
Jiang Chen grinned.
This was where he belonged.