The cold pre-dawn wind howling through the abandoned forge alleys carried the sharp, metal scent of drawn steel.
Inside the vaulted drainage water tank beneath the foundry, Lin Tao strapped his test tool roll securely against his left ribs. His four-inch land-mapper metal pen was tucked into his sleeve, its star-white-gold micro-needle ready for immediate deployment. His brass measuring tongs and spirit chalk rested in his outer leather belt pouch. Beside the workbench, the padded rosewood box containing the second Grade-Nine Golden Marrow Pill was wrapped in oilcloth and stowed deep within his travel satchel.
Beside him, Tie Shan stood motionless in the center of the chamber.
The giant wore his heavy leather smock, his newly healed left shoulder rolling smoothly beneath the ox-hide harness. Resting across his broad right shoulder was his fourteen-pound star-iron pry-bar. Its star-white-gold reinforcement bands shone faintly in the dim amber candlelight. His cracked ribs were healed. His joint was whole. His Diamond-Bone frame was locked into total physical permanence.
“They’re outside,” Tie Shan rumbled softly, his voice shaking through the stone floor. “Surrounding the block.”
“Twenty-four Shadow Guards at street level,” Lin Tao confirmed, his left eye scanning through the ceiling stonework in high-hum test mode. “Armed with heavy repeating crossbows and spirit-iron nets. But they’re not the main threat.”
