The strong mountain wind was blocked by the shield of the platform, leaving only the deafening roar of water.

After a short stop, the train started back.

When the iconic chimney forest of Ironforge reappeared on the horizon, the setting sun was trying to penetrate the thick clouds, dyeing the sky a rusty orange-yellow color, projecting it onto the gray city buildings below.

The train slid smoothly into the towering steel tower on the edge of Ironforge.

The elevator brought us back to the surface, filled with pungent smells and loud noises.

Walking out of the archway of the giant tower and being surrounded by the turbid and vibrant atmosphere of Ironforge again, I looked up at the sky and said, "I kind of understand what you mean when you say this is a city with rolling heat waves."

"Compared to the cool and clear elements of nature, these chaotic and fiery atmospheres are miracles created by humans. This city is like a heart."

Xing just smiled and said, "In the early stages of development, you have to sacrifice something. After it matures, the city will begin to seek to coexist with nature."

"Oh? That sounds great."

Night soon fell completely over Ironforge, but the city was not asleep.

Countless factory windows glowed with blinding magic lights or blazing furnace fires, and huge searchlight poles pierced the night sky, scanning important factory areas and rail hubs.

On the streets, gas street lamps lit up, casting a dim and swaying light, illuminating the still endless stream of people.

Although the noise is slightly less than during the day, the roar of the steam engines, the hum of the factories in the distance, and the shouts of the night shift workers keep the city bustling.

It is very difficult to get used to life here.

I thought to myself.

Xing found a B&B located in a relatively quiet neighborhood.

Its style was very different from the warm wood and stone huts of Rendria.

The exterior walls are made of exposed, whitewashed red bricks, rough and heavy, with exquisite brass reliefs inlaid on the window frames and door lintels.

The sign hanging on the door was a rose forged from dark red metal, wrapped with a few glowing blue crystals, flickering faintly in the night.

The owner of the B&B is a short and stocky middle-aged man with a thick beard and a steam pipe pattern tattooed on his arm. His name is Patton.

With a loud voice and a broad smile, he handed us two heavy brass keys engraved with gear patterns.

The room is on the top floor and has a small terrace with a glass dome.

The interior tones of the room are also cold and full of industrial style, with wrought iron bed frames and dark leather sofas, but the details are exquisite.

The bedside tables are polished walnut with brass trim, and the curtains are a heavy dark green velvet.

What caught the eye was the light fixture in the center of the room, a crystal sphere with several tiny glowing magic crystals suspended inside it, slowly spinning with some invisible force field, emitting a tranquil light.

Xing Guo studied it for a while and said, "This lamp looks good."

I shrugged and said, "You may ask the boss to buy it. I don't think he will refuse you."

Xing waved his hand and said, "Forget it. This thing is quite complicated to make, and it is only limited to the interesting level."

"Come on, let's try the food in this city."

Xing took me to a small restaurant called The Heart of the Furnace.

The main course was the signature anvil grilled ribs, and I also ordered a portion of mushroom sauce, and the last portion was a special drink that could relieve fatigue.

After eating, Xing asked, "How do you feel?"

"Not bad." I thought for a moment and said, "It's the mushroom puree. It looks like it's made of blue potatoes. As for the special drink, it tastes very similar to happy water, but the flavor is different."

Xing smiled and said, "Because blue potatoes are originally produced in this country, in addition to blue potatoes, some new spices, blue corn, also come from here."

I nodded in realization. I didn't expect that the blue potatoes and blue corn that are popular in Rendria are from here.

No words were spoken that night.

The night in Ironforge is not silent. A low industrial pulse can be heard through the floor, like the heavy breathing of a sleeping city.

Fortunately, the soundproofing of the room was good. Although I was disturbed by noise during the day, I slept soundly.

The next morning.

Xing and I continued to experience the wonders of this city.

Xing led me into an alley that was completely different from the main road.

The buildings here are lower and more crowded, with thick coal dust covering the walls, and most of the windows are covered with greasy dirt, and some are even nailed shut with wooden boards.

The narrow road was full of potholes and filled with black water of unknown composition. The air was filled with industrial exhaust fumes as well as a mixture of low-quality alcohol, cheap food, and the sour smell of human bodies.

Men and women in greasy work clothes, with tired and numb expressions, walked hurriedly, or squatted in groups of three or four in the corners, smoking cheap cigarettes in silence.

The children's faces were less clever and more solemn and vigilant, which was inconsistent with their age.

Xing and I said, "This is the workers' residential area of Ironforge. Of course, you can also say it is a slum. Most of the heavy and dirty work is done by these people, and their daily wages may only be enough to buy a few loaves of bread."

This is not surprising to me. There are underdeveloped areas everywhere, even in this seemingly vibrant industrial city.

Xing said earlier that development always requires sacrifice of something, so these people’s lives will probably be sacrificed here as well.

In order to survive, they had no other choice.

When Xing and I passed by here, a child saw that we were dressed cleanly and wanted to come closer to steal my purse. Unfortunately, before he succeeded, a flower disk fell from the sky.

When the flower disk was about to hit him, Xing caught it and looked at the boy with a warning look. The boy ran away in panic without even a word of thank you to Xing.

I pondered for a moment and asked, "What a young thief. Should we help him?"

Xing shook her head and said, "Xingxing told me that only poverty and remoteness without any ties can allow him to grow up safely in this place. Our existence and gifts will only become the source of storms for him."

Xing's words made me understand that there were many people in this place secretly watching us.

In this case, Xing and I have no choice but to leave this area quickly.