Chapter 905
Obeying the Order!
After a moment of silence, Zhao Sanhuai suddenly said, "Sir, that little sixth boy from the orphanage volunteered to help move bricks today. He said he wants to be like you and take care of people in the future. I saw that his eyes were bright, not as stubborn as before."
Zheng Yi's lips curved slightly: "It's good that the child is sensible. Tomorrow, take him to the training ground to watch the new recruits practice shield training, so he knows that protecting others isn't just about words."
The next morning, the drill ground was bustling again. The sun hadn't fully risen, and a thin layer of frost still clung to the ground. The recruits lined up in rows, practicing battering with wooden shields. The shields clashed with dull thuds, sending splinters flying. Zhao Sanhuai stood on the high platform, shouting commands: "Left shield forward! Right shield cover! Don't panic! Maintain formation!"
Xiao Liu was mixed in with the team. He was small, and the shield almost crushed him, but he gritted his teeth and pushed forward, sweat mixed with frost streaming down his forehead. Zheng Yi stood on the sidelines watching without saying a word.
Halfway through training, a new recruit suddenly shouted, "The teacher is here!"
Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at Zheng Yi. Zheng Yi walked over, picked up a wooden shield, and weighed it in his hand: "A shield isn't for blocking, it's for pushing. Pushing aside the enemy's teeth to protect the people behind you."
He demonstrated, pushing the shield forward with little force, yet causing several recruits nearby to stumble back three steps. Xiao Liu's eyes lit up: "Sir, can I do that too?"
Zheng Yi handed him the shield: "Try it."
Xiao Liu took the shield, took a deep breath, and pushed forward with all his might. The shield slammed into another recruit's shield with a "bang," and the recruit took a half step back. Xiao Liu laughed, revealing a toothless mouth: "I...I can do it!"
Zhao Sanhuai laughed loudly from the side: "Alright! Practice ten more times, and you'll get an extra chicken leg for lunch today!"
At lunchtime, the chimney of the orphanage kitchen puffed even louder. The children lined up for porridge, which contained a few pieces of green vegetables and bits of meat. Zheng Yi sat on the stone steps in the courtyard with a bowl in his hand. Little Stone and Little Six sat beside him. Little Stone blew on the porridge and asked, "..."
"Sir, I heard a huge monster is coming, is that true?"
Zheng Yi nodded: "It's true. But we have city walls, shields, and you little guys to help us move things."
Xiao Liu eagerly chimed in, "I pushed the shield today! The teacher said I did a good job!"
Little Stone looked at him enviously: "Can I go to the training ground too? I'm not very strong, but I can help wipe the shields."
Zheng Yi patted his head: "Yes. You can go together tomorrow. Only a clean shield can block the monster's teeth."
In the afternoon, Zheng Yi went to the alchemy room again. Master Ku Lian was directing several disciples to stir the medicine cauldron; the cauldron was boiling, emitting white smoke, and the air was filled with the bitter smell of herbs. Upon seeing Zheng Yi, the master wiped away his sweat:
"Sir, we have already made 10,000 Rejuvenation Pills. We have also made 500 Fire Extinguishing Talismans and 300 Ice Sealing Pills. We have also refined 10 more Water Mirror Talismans, which are ready to use at any time."
Zheng Yi walked to the medicine cauldron and looked at the color of the medicine: "Add three more qian of Purple Cloud Vine to enhance the water-stabilizing effect. When the beast tide comes, the river will rise first."
Master Kulian nodded: "I've noted it down. By the way, sir, Elder Liu sent over a batch of spirit stones today, saying they were cleared out from the Liu family's warehouse. I didn't dare accept them all, I only took half."
Zheng Yi nodded: "Keep it. Tell Elder Liu that the city has fallen, and no one can escape."
That evening, the council hall of the city lord's mansion was filled with people again. Han Wuhen, Elder Liu, Iron One-Eyed, Guo Tianyou, and Zhao Sanhuai were all present. A newly drawn map was spread out on the table, with the Blackwater River, Broken Sword Valley, and Black Pine Forest circled in red.
Han Wuhen pointed to the map: "Sir, I have had the Han family caravan transport three thousand shi of grain from the south, and it will arrive tomorrow. We have also prepared fifty thousand arrows, enough for three rounds of shooting."
Elder Liu said coldly, "My Liu family has contributed two hundred mid-grade talismans for refining defensive arrays. However, we are short-handed. My family can lend fifty guards to the city guards."
Iron One-Eyed spat out a blade of grass: "I have 120 men in place, all of them capable fighters. Sir, when do we begin night training?"
Zheng Yi looked at the map: "Let's start tonight. Zhao Sanhuai, you lead the team to patrol the Blackwater River at night. Guo Tianyou, double the guards on the city wall at night. Ku Lian Zhenren, keep refining pills in the alchemy room all night."
Everyone readily agreed. After the meeting, Zheng Yi walked alone to the city wall. The night wind blew, carrying the damp, fishy smell of the river. In the distance, towards the Blackwater River, a purple light shone again, like a pair of malevolent eyes opening in the darkness.
Zhao Sanhuai came up and handed him a cloak: "Sir, it's cold at night. I've taken some men with me, and we'll change every two hours."
Zheng Yi put on his cloak: "Be careful. Don't go near the crack."
Zhao Sanhuai nodded, led his men away on horseback, the sound of hooves particularly clear in the night.
Over the next few days, preparations continued without pause. The city walls were raised higher, black rocks were stacked like building blocks, and the craftsmen chanted work songs, sweat streaming down their backs. Catapults were assembled one after another, their arms wrapped with thick hemp ropes, and stone projectiles were piled up around the pits like rows of soldiers waiting to go to war.
The children from the orphanage were moved to the inner-city dormitory in batches. A deep pit was dug in the basement, the walls of which were reinforced with wooden planks, and thick layers of dry grass and quilts were laid inside. Little Stone and Little Six were in charge of moving the quilts. They were sweating profusely, but they couldn't stop laughing.
"The master said this is our fortress!" Xiao Liu shouted as he moved the equipment. "When the monster comes, we'll hide here, and I'll push my shield to protect you!"
Little Stone nodded: "I'll polish the shield until it's sparkling clean!"
On the drill ground, the recruits' shouts grew increasingly unified. Shield formation practice transitioned from impact to coordinated movements; someone yelled, "Left! Right! Forward!" and the formation moved back and forth across the field like a moving wall. Zheng Yi occasionally glanced over, corrected a few movements, and then continued with other tasks.
Back at Broken Sword Valley, Master Ku Lian led a group to place over a dozen Water Mirror Talismans and Fire Extinguishing Talismans. They returned to report that the fog had been temporarily suppressed, but the roar of the Flame Lion could still be heard from time to time.
The wolf pack in the black pine forest approached again. Iron Eyes and his men used rockets to drive them away, but the wolves retreated, leaving several rows of claw marks at the edge of the forest, so deep that the stones in the mud were visible. Zheng Yi checked the intelligence every day, and the red circles on the map were increasing. He sat in the side room until late at night, the flames in the charcoal brazier casting long shadows on his face. Outside the window, the wind was still fierce, blowing the red ribbons on the dormitory rooftops, making them flutter as if reminding him of something.
One night, Guo Tianyou rushed over: "Sir, the crack in the Blackwater River has widened again! Zhao Sanhuai and the others just came back and said that there are several more dark shadows underwater, and there is one with horns on its back, which looks like a fifth-order creature."
Zheng Yi stood up: "Let's go take a look."
When the two arrived at the riverbank, Zhao Sanhuai was directing the guards to affix water-stabilizing talismans to the stones on the bank. The talismans glowed with a blue light, and the river's rise did indeed slow down, but the surface of the water still tinged with a purplish-red hue.
Zhao Sanhuai wiped his sweat: "Sir, we almost got capsized by the water jets today. The shadowy figures are getting bolder and bolder; one of them even smashed a hole in the bottom of the boat."
Zheng Yi looked at the river: "Add ten more water-stabilizing talismans. Have Master Ku Lian come over tomorrow to try the Ice-Sealing Pill and see if it can temporarily freeze the cracks."
Preparations continued. The granaries were piled high, the arrows gleamed, and bottles of elixirs sat neatly on shelves, emitting a faint medicinal fragrance. In the basement, children played a game of "defense," using sticks as shields, pushing and shoving each other, their laughter filling the air.
Zheng Yi stood at the entrance to the newly dug basement of the welfare home, looking at the oil lamps that were lit inside. The flickering light cast the children's shadows on the wall, like a group of little soldiers.
Xiao Liu ran out and tugged at his sleeve: "Sir, we've practiced! If the monster comes, we can help too!"
Zheng Yi squatted down and patted his head: "Okay. But remember, protect yourself first, then protect others."
Zheng Yi squatted at the basement entrance. The night wind rushed in from the alley behind him, swirling up a few withered leaves on the ground in the lamplight. Xiao Liu's hand was still clutching his sleeve, which was slightly deformed and stained with the sweat from the child's palm. Inside the basement, the children were gathered around a few small oil lamps, the wicks crackling softly, casting long shadows on the mud walls. Some were imitating the posture of pushing shields, the wooden sticks clattering together with a dull thud.
"Sir, my shoulders are sore from pushing the shield." Xiao Liu grinned, the wind whistling through his missing teeth. "But I've decided that when the monster comes, I'll stand in front, and you can command from behind."
Zheng Yi patted his shoulder, his broad hand still carrying the scent of earth from the training ground: "You can block in front, but you have to follow commands. Remember Zhao Sanhuai's 'left shield forward, right shield cover'?"
Xiao Liu nodded vigorously, and Xiao Shitou next to him also came over, holding a piece of gleaming wooden shield fragment in his arms: "Sir, I've been polishing it all afternoon, and the shield is so shiny you can see your face reflected in it. I'm not very strong, so this is what I do."
Zheng Yi stood up, his gaze sweeping across the depths of the basement, where three rows of wooden shelves were already stacked, piled with quilts and bags of dry rations. The air was filled with the raw, earthy smell of freshly dug soil and a faint scent of mugwort—Master Ku Lian had had calming sachets lit in the corner to prevent the children from having nightmares at night. He turned and walked out, his boots creaking softly on the steps.
"Go to bed early, everyone." He turned around and said, "There's work to do tomorrow. We need to transport stones over the city wall. Anyone who's strong can help carry the cart."
The children responded in unison with "Yes!", their voices tender yet unified, like a nest of fledglings just learning to sing. Zheng Yi stepped out of the basement, the night wind immediately hitting his face, carrying the damp chill from across the river. He didn't put on an extra robe, simply walking along the cobblestone path towards the city wall. Scattered lights shone from the windows of the dormitory buildings along the road, and shadowy figures moved about; women were probably breastfeeding their babies, the faint scent of milk mingling with the smell of firewood wafting out.
At the foot of the city wall, a row of torches had been lit, their orange-red light illuminating the black rocks. Guo Tianyou stood on a makeshift wooden ladder, directing the craftsmen as they stacked the last few layers of stones atop the wall. The stones were heavy; with each one lifted, the craftsmen let out a low growl of "Heave-ho!" Sweat streamed down their backs, dripping into the cracks in the stones and instantly absorbed by the mortar. The ladder swayed precariously, the wood creaking softly.
"Slow down! Don't rush!" Guo Tianyou shouted, his voice slightly distorted by the wind. "These stones must be aligned with the array patterns; not even an inch off!"
Zheng Yi approached and looked up. The city wall had been raised to eighteen feet high, and in the catapult pits dug every ten feet along the top of the wall, the arms were half-assembled, the black iron rods gleaming coldly in the firelight. Suddenly, a craftsman slipped, the ladder wobbled violently, and the black rock in his hand almost slipped from his grasp, nearly crashing down on another man carrying stones below.
"Watch out!" the man below shouted, his voice filled with panic.
Guo Tianyou's expression changed, and he quickly climbed down, shouting, "Don't panic! Stay calm!"
But the craftsman had already lost his balance, his body leaning forward, and the stone was about to fall. Zheng Yi raised his hand, and golden flames seeped from his fingertips, like a thin golden thread wrapping around the stone. The stone paused in mid-air, hovering steadily half a foot, and then slowly fell, fitting perfectly into the gap in the wall. The craftsman, still in shock, almost fell off the ladder because his legs were so weak.
“Sir…” Guo Tianyou landed and wiped the sweat from his forehead. “There’s a problem with this stone. It was delivered from Beishan today. Some of the pieces have cracks inside. I’m afraid it won’t withstand the impact of the beast tide.”
Zheng Yi walked over and placed his hand on the newly stacked stones. A subtle fluctuation of spiritual energy emanated from his fingertips. He frowned slightly: "The cracks are natural, but there's some iron sand mixed in. Iron sand will explode when it comes into contact with fire. Who was responsible for inspecting the materials?"
Guo Tianyou lowered his head: "It was one of Iron One-Eye's men. He said the North Mountain mine was under construction and the inspection was rushed. I've already had people pick out the cracked ones, but 30% of them were mixed in with this batch."
Zheng Yi didn't speak, but turned and walked towards the quarry at the foot of the city wall. The quarry was piled high with small hills of black rocks, torches were stuck around it, and the wind made the flames flicker wildly. Iron One-Eyed was squatting there, a straw in his mouth, tapping the stones one by one, listening to the sound to identify the cracks. When he saw Zheng Yi, he quickly stood up, almost dropping the straw.
“Sir, I’m really worried about this.” Iron One-Eyed scratched his head, his voice rough like sandpaper. “This batch of stones was mined from the old mine in Beishan. They said that in order to meet the deadline, they dug a bit too deep, which mixed in the lower iron veins. I’ve been knocking on them for a long time, and the good and bad are all mixed together. I can’t sort them out.”
Zheng Yi squatted down, picked up a piece at random, and emitted a golden flame from his palm. The surface of the stone shone with a faint light, and the iron sand in the cracks seemed to come alive, trembling slightly. He drew two lines with his fingers, and golden threads seeped into the stone, drawing out the iron sand bit by bit, which fell to the ground and formed a small pile of black sand.
"Alright," he said calmly, "have Master Kulian bring two disciples over tomorrow to scan them with the 'Gold Identification Talisman.' Don't throw away the bad ones; melt them down to refine arrowheads."
Iron One-Eyed's eyes lit up: "Alright! I'll go and deliver the message right away. But sir, the workers at the North Mountain mine said that there was a collapse while they were digging today, and five people were injured. I'm afraid we won't be able to supply enough stone tomorrow."
Zheng Yi stood up and brushed the dust off his hands: "I'll go to the mine tomorrow. You go and complete the array patterns on this side of the city wall first, and embed a 'rock-solidifying nail' into each crack in the stone. Get the nails from the alchemy room."
Iron One-Eyed clasped his hands in a fist salute: "Understood!"
Night deepened, and the torches on the city wall burned down to half-burnt flames. Zheng Yi didn't return to his residence but went straight to the alchemy room. The alchemy room was in a secluded courtyard in the east of the city. Two glass lamps hung in front of the gate, their shades swaying gently in the wind, the candlelight casting a reddish glow on the character "丹" (alchemy). Inside, steam rose, and the cauldron bubbled and churned. Master Ku Lian and two disciples were tending to the fire, their faces glowing from the flames. (End of Chapter)