Chapter 904
Panic is Useless
Old Zhang chimed in, swallowing hard. "That's right. The night before last, Old Li from the east end of our village went out to pee and saw a dark shadow floating on the river. It had thorns on its back, and the tips of the thorns were sparking. He was so scared that he ran back before he even finished peeing, and the next day he fell ill. He was delirious with fever, saying that the river god was angry and wanted to eat people."
Zhao Sanhuai stood aside, his brows furrowed: "Sir, this is not a normal fish migration. Last night, I sent two guards who can swim to secretly dive ten miles upstream. They came back and reported that the river water temperature is two degrees higher than in previous years, and there are dead fish floating in the water with their scales charred."
Zheng Yi tapped his finger on the map: "What kind of fish is the dead fish?"
Xiao Liuzi eagerly answered, "Most of them are blue-backed carp and flower-tailed catfish, and there are a few that we've never seen before, with red fins, floating belly up, and black smoke coming out of their gills."
Zheng Yi hummed in agreement, then turned to Zhao Sanhuai and said, "Have Master Kulian go to the alchemy room to see if there are any talismans that can probe underwater. Preferably the kind that can bring back images."
Zhao Sanhuai nodded: "I'll go right away. The Master is currently refining a batch of 'Water Mirror Talismans,' saying they can reveal underwater activity within a three-mile radius."
The two fishermen wanted to say something, but Zheng Yi waved his hand and said, "You go back first. Everyone in the village who can move should move to the dormitory building in the east of the city. The houses are empty. Get firewood and rice from the welfare home first. Don't live by the river anymore."
Old Zhang and Xiao Liu thanked him repeatedly and retreated out the door. Zhao Sanhuai also went out to make arrangements. Only Zheng Yi remained in the side room. He rolled up the map, tucked it into his sleeve, got up, put on his gray cotton robe, and pushed open the door to go out.
The sun was high in the sky, casting shimmering golden light on the glazed tiles of the dormitory building in the east of the city. In the square below, several women were airing out their quilts with their children; the sheets rustled in the wind like the flapping of white birds' wings. Zheng Yi walked along the cobblestone path towards the city wall. As he passed the side gate of the orphanage, he heard a child reciting inside. A tender voice was reciting the Thousand Character Classic: "Heaven and earth were dark and yellow, the universe was vast and boundless..."
He didn't go inside, but walked straight to the foot of the city wall. Guo Tianyou was directing a group of craftsmen to stack black stone blocks on the battlements. The stones were heavy, and the craftsmen were bent over like shrimp as they lifted them. Seeing Zheng Yi, Guo Tianyou quickly ran over and wiped his sweat:
“Sir, we have enough stone, but the mine on the North Mountain has collapsed twice, so we need to add more people to dig. I have already sent Iron One-Eye with twenty strong laborers to help.”
Zheng Yi looked up at the city wall. The wall had been raised by two feet, and the gaps were filled with glutinous rice mortar. "Reinforce it to 18 feet. Dig a catapult pit every ten feet on the top of the wall, and wrap the arms with black iron."
Guo Tianyou nodded and noted it down, then asked, "Sir, if the beast tide really comes, what should we do with the city gates? Should we close them all or leave a side gate open?"
“Keep the side gate open,” Zheng Yi said, “but only for exiting, not for entering. Take in as many refugees as possible from outside the city, and close them once the gate is full. Also, make room for two more shared dorm rooms at the welfare home for women with children.”
As the two were talking, someone on the city wall suddenly shouted, "Sir! Zhao Sanhuai has returned, and he's brought with him Master Kulian!"
Zheng Yi looked up and saw Zhao Sanhuai and Master Kulian walking down the horse path. Master Kulian leaned on a green bamboo staff, his steps steady, the end of the staff tapping a crisp "tap-tap" sound on the stone steps. Zhao Sanhuai carried a palm-sized jade plate, its surface engraved with intricate runes.
"Sir, the Water Mirror Talisman is ready." Master Ku Lian's voice was slightly out of breath. "I personally added a strand of spiritual power to it, which can illuminate the bottom of water five miles away. However, the spirit stones are consumed quickly, and it can only be used for half an incense stick at a time."
Zheng Yi took the jade plate: "Alright. Let's go try it on the upper reaches of the Blackwater River now. Zhao Sanhuai, take ten guards who can swim and prepare small boats. Guo Tianyou, continue to keep an eye on the city wall."
The group quickly exited the north gate. Here, a tributary of the Cold Abyss River merged into the Blackwater River, its wide expanse shimmering coldly in the sunlight. Reeds on both banks were beginning to turn green, rustling softly in the wind. Zhao Sanhuai directed the guards to launch the small boats; the boats were made of light wood and had a shallow draft. Zheng Yi and Master Kulian boarded the main boat, while the remaining guards took two escort boats.
Ten miles upstream, the current suddenly became swift, causing the boat to rock violently. Master Kulian pressed the Water Mirror Talisman against the gunwale and infused it with spiritual power. The jade plate glowed with a pale blue light, its surface reflecting the underwater scene like a mirror: the riverbed was covered with pebbles, and several frightened fish swam among the crevices, their scales reflecting the blue light. Further on, a crack appeared in the water, from which purplish-red bubbles rose. These bubbles burst with a "pop" upon touching the surface, releasing a foul stench.
Zhao Sanhuai leaned over the side of the boat and looked down: "Sir, do you see that? It looks like something is moving in that crack!"
Zheng Yi stared at the jade plate, his gaze serious: "Let's zoom in and take a look."
Master Kulian formed hand seals, zooming in on the image on the jade disc. Deep within the crevice, a gigantic black shadow slowly swam by, its back covered in sharp spikes, the tips of which still sparked tiny fireflies. The shadow flashed by, leaving only a long trail that churned up the mud and sand of the riverbed.
"A fourth-tier Thornback Dragon." Master Kulian gasped. "It's at least an adult. In previous years, the highest tier in the beast tides was only third-tier, but this time..."
Zheng Yi remained silent, simply urging the boat to continue forward. As the boat approached directly above the crevice, a large bulge suddenly appeared on the surface of the water, bursting open with a deafening roar as a column of water shot skyward, nearly capsizing the small boat. The guards quickly steadied the vessel, and someone shouted, "Sir! Something is coming up from underwater!"
Zheng Yi stood up, his right hand hovering over the hilt of his sword, but he didn't draw it. A flash of purple light appeared on the purple-gold scabbard, and a thin strand of sword intent probed into the water, like an invisible thread. The dark shadow underwater seemed to sense a threat and quickly retreated into the depths of the crevice, leaving only a string of bubbles behind.
"Don't chase." Zheng Yi withdrew his hand. "Today we're just conducting reconnaissance, not taking action. Let's go back to the city."
On the return journey, the wind picked up, making the sails flutter loudly. Zhao Sanhuai, sitting opposite Zheng Yi, was pale-faced: "Sir, if that Thornbacked Dragon leads its pack down, can the city walls stop it?"
Zheng Yi watched the reeds receding into the distance along the riverbank: "If we can't stop them, we have to fight. Have Master Ku Lian refine a few more 'Water Stabilizing Talismans' and stick them at the base of the city wall; they can slow the river's rise by half."
Master Kulian stroked his beard and nodded: "I will do my best. But we need to prepare enough spirit stones, as it takes fifty medium-grade spirit stones to refine one water-stabilizing talisman."
As the boat docked, dusk was approaching. Lanterns had been lit at the city gate, their orange glow shimmering in the wind. Guo Tianyou, along with several foremen, were waiting at the gate. Upon seeing Zheng Yi, they immediately came to greet him.
"Sir, the city wall has been raised by one foot today, and six catapult pits have been dug. News has come from the alchemy department that five thousand Rejuvenation Pills and three thousand Antidote Pills have been refined."
Zheng Yi disembarked, his boots making a squelching sound as they stepped on the wet mud: "Keep adding. Tomorrow I'll personally go to Broken Sword Valley to check out the fog."
Early the next morning, before the fog had fully dissipated, Zheng Yi, along with Zhao Sanhuai and ten elite guards, rode out of the city. The horses' hooves pounded dully on the still-snowy dirt road. Bare poplar trees lined both sides of the road, their bark whitened by the wind, resembling aged faces. Broken Sword Valley lay on the southern slopes of the Qingyun Mountains, its entrance narrow, its sides sheer and steep, as if cleaved by a giant sword.
When the group reached the valley entrance, the fog was so thick it resembled porridge; visibility was reduced to almost nothing beyond ten paces. Zhao Sanhuai lit a torch, but its light illuminated only a three-foot radius through the fog, making the fog appear yellowish. Zheng Yi raised his hand, and a golden flame seeped from his fingertips, like a small lamp, lighting the way ahead.
“Sir, there’s poison in this fog.” A guard suddenly covered his nose. “It smells like burnt bones.”
Zheng Yi nodded: "Hold your breath. Zhao Sanhuai, you take some men and guard the valley entrance. I'll go in and take a look." Zhao Sanhuai became anxious: "Sir, I'll go with you!"
Zheng Yi shook his head: "Your leg is just healed, don't run around. Guard the escape route."
He walked forward alone, the golden flames forcing a narrow path through the mist. The valley floor was covered with pebbles, and a few pieces of charred cloth remained on the pebbles, their edges still emitting wisps of smoke. Zheng Yi squatted down, picked up a piece of cloth, and rubbed it between his fingertips; the cloth instantly turned to ash.
"A fire-attribute monster," he muttered to himself, continuing forward.
After walking about half a mile, the fog suddenly thinned, revealing a shallow pit ahead. Three mutilated corpses lay in the pit, each only half remaining, the broken ends charred black, bones exposed as if roasted by high temperatures. Zheng Yi approached, placing his hand lightly above the corpses. Golden threads seeped into the remains, bringing back a surge of violent fire elemental energy.
“Fifth-tier Flame Lions.” He withdrew his hand. “At least two.”
Just as he was about to turn around, a low roar suddenly came from the edge of the pit. A lion-shaped monster, entirely crimson red, emerged from the mist. It was nearly ten feet tall at the shoulders, its mane like burning flames, and its eyes were like two leaping fireballs. It stared at Zheng Yi, making a "gurgling" sound in its throat, and its claws dug deep trenches in the ground.
Zheng Yi didn't draw his sword, he just looked at it: "I won't kill you today. Go back and tell your companions that Hongyun City is not to be trifled with."
The Flame Lion seemed to understand, its roar subsiding but not retreating. Zheng Yi raised his hand, golden flames condensing into a small fire lotus in his palm, its petals slowly rotating. Sensing the threat, the Flame Lion finally let out a low growl, turned, and disappeared back into the mist, its footsteps fading into the distance.
Zheng Yi exited the valley entrance, where Zhao Sanhuai and the others were anxiously waiting. Seeing him emerge, Zhao Sanhuai breathed a sigh of relief: "Sir, are you alright? I just heard a roar."
"It's alright." Zheng Yi mounted his horse. "There are at least two fifth-tier Flame Lions in the valley. Go back and tell True Person Ku Lian to refine a batch of 'Fire Extinguishing Talismans' and 'Ice Sealing Pills'."
On the way back to the city, the caravan slowed down. Zhao Sanhuai rode beside Zheng Yi and asked in a low voice, "Sir, if the beast tide is really coming, what will happen to the children at the orphanage? I'm afraid they'll be frightened."
Zheng Yi looked at the outline of the city wall ahead: "Move them to the dormitory building in the city center. Dig deeper in the basement and leave ventilation openings. Tell the children that this is a drill and not to panic."
Upon returning to the City Lord's Mansion in the afternoon, Han Wuhen was already waiting in the council hall. He was dressed in a brocade robe, his face beaming, but he couldn't hide the worry in his eyes. Seeing Zheng Yi enter, he quickly stood up:
"Sir, I heard you went to Broken Sword Valley? How is the situation there?"
Zheng Yi sat down and accepted the tea offered by the maid: "There are fifth-tier Flame Lions. There are also Thornback Dragons in the Blackwater River. The beast tide is larger than in previous years."
Han Wuhen's expression changed: "Then... can we take out all the spirit stones and grains from the Han family's warehouse? I'll have someone count them right away."
Zheng Yi nodded: "Okay. First, transport the grain to the welfare home and the dormitory in the east of the city, and distribute it to the refugees. Keep the spirit stones to buy arrows and talismans."
As the two were talking, Iron One-Eyed suddenly pushed open the door and came in, a blade of grass dangling from his mouth: "Sir, I just came back from the Black Pine Forest. There are more wolves now. Last night I saw with my own eyes a fourth-tier silverback wolf leading more than twenty third-tier wolves, wandering around the edge of the forest. They didn't attack anyone, they just stared at the city wall, as if they were waiting for something."
Zheng Yi put down his teacup: "Have the scouts report every two hours. If the wolf pack gets any closer, use rockets to drive them away; don't fight them head-on."
Iron One-Eyed nodded and asked, "Sir, I heard you're going to expand the city guard to three thousand men? My brothers all want to sign up, could you give us a hundred more spots?"
Zhao Sanhuai chimed in from the side: "Boss Tie, your guys are all seasoned veterans, so training them is easy. But they have to follow the master's instructions and not do things on their own."
Iron One-Eyed chuckled: "I know. What do you say, sir?"
Zheng Yi looked at him and said, "Okay. But the new recruits will first practice the basics: running, carrying stones, and standing in a stance. They will be tested after a month, and only those who pass will be allowed to take weapons."
Iron One-Eyed clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Alright! I'll go pick someone right away."
The doors to the council chamber opened and closed, and the sky outside gradually darkened. Lanterns were lit, their orange-yellow light casting long shadows on everyone's faces. Zheng Yi rose, walked outside, and leaned against a pillar, gazing at the sky. The sky still bore the lingering glow of sunset, like a pale red wound. From the direction of the orphanage came the sound of children's lullabies, intermittent yet carrying a warm feeling.
Guo Tianyou came over from the drill ground, still smelling of sweat: "Sir, the new recruits trained for two hours today, and three of them fainted. I made them drink ginger soup and rest."
Zheng Yi nodded: "Don't force yourself if you faint. Tomorrow we'll practice shield formation coordination more. When the beast tide comes, the shields need to block the first wave of impact."
Guo Tianyou agreed and then said, "Sir, I've had the villagers harvest the winter wheat ahead of schedule in the farmland south of the city, and the warehouse is already 80% full. I'm just worried about the vegetable fields being trampled, so I'm thinking of digging a few trenches outside the city walls and burying sharp wooden stakes in them."
“Good idea,” Zheng Yi said. “The trench will be ten feet deep and twenty feet wide. The stakes will be coated with poison, which will be drawn from the alchemy room.”
Night fell on the top floor of the dormitory building in the east of the city, where the wind was still biting. Zheng Yi, draped in a fox fur coat, stood by the railing, looking down at the dark, towering rooftops below. Lanterns swayed in the wind, their candlelight struggling to cast its beam into the distance. Zhao Sanhuai approached and handed him a pot of hot wine.
"Sir, have a drink to warm yourself up. I just came back from the Blackwater River outpost. The cracks over there have widened again, and the purple light in the water is brighter than yesterday."
Zheng Yi took the wine pot, took a sip, and let the wine burn down his throat: "If the crack gets any bigger, have Master Ku Lian lead people to seal it. Don't let anything get out."
Zhao Sanhuai leaned against the fence and sighed, "Sir, I'm a little panicked. In previous years, we could withstand the beast tides, but this year... I'm afraid the children and the elderly won't be able to hold on."
Zheng Yi looked towards the Blackwater River in the distance, where a faint purple light flickered: "Panic won't help. Take it one step at a time. First, hold the city walls, then protect the people. Move the children and the elderly to the inner city first." (End of Chapter)