novelraw Chapter 52: An Unknown Nobody
Chapter 52: An Unknown Nobody
Chapter 52: An Unknown Nobody
The flames sprayed from the fire oil cabinets, and the instantaneous damage caused by the high temperature could completely incapacitate those facing them head-on.
Covered in flames, they crashed onto the city walls and smashed against the large shields, falling to the ground and carrying the flames to more evil creatures below, igniting many of the prepared fire pots.
The flames they carried would not extinguish.
Yet, the charging evil creatures still rushed forward like moths flying into a flame in the dead of night.
Even though they had transformed into monsters, their essence was still that of mortal flesh. How could they possibly withstand such a devastating blow?!
It was as if the screams and wails of countless beasts gathered together, forming a strange hum that reached the city from outside.
The people inside the city couldn't see the situation unfolding below the outer wall.
But the fiery line that lit up the city wall and the monstrous screams that echoed were a beacon of hope, a silent promise.
Was the Ren Clan powerful?See for yourself!
The shocking scene before them caused many who harbored a deep hatred for the evil creatures to suppress their fear and feel a surge of passion, wishing they could grab a divine weapon and leap onto the city wall to soar like a roc!
It also deeply solidified the desire of all those who had pledged allegiance to the Ren Clan, whether they were from noble families or common people, to remain here.
From a certain viewing platform, someone wailed loudly, then looked up to the sky and laughed, "Heaven's will is here!!"
The front line continued to burn.
Burning debris and smoke were swept by the wind into the city.
These scorched fragments carried no evil energy, but they gradually turned the sky a hazy gray, with smoke suspended in the air.
Some evil creatures managed to cross this fiery defense line, but the heavily armed guards on the city wall were waiting, their sharp blades slicing through the invading monsters.
A small number of evil creatures also broke through the city wall guards and scaled into the inner city.
But the city defense army was waiting there as well.
Not only that, but many ruffians and thugs from the outer city area, armed with long-handled farm tools and sharp weapons, rushed forward with laughter to seize military merits.
Alcohol was expensive, and they wanted to kill some evil creatures to pay for drinks!
On the ramparts of the inner city.
Young Master Ren Qi watched the battle unfold.
He calculated the time, and his slightly stern expression gradually relaxed.
Victory was assured.
A hint of a smile appeared on his face, and he murmured, "Like flying, like soaring, like thunder, like fury."
After two years of continuous combat, they understood these evil creatures better and better.
They had no human consciousness, no understanding of military formations or strategies, no knowledge of human relationships. They acted purely on primal instinct, charging forward under the influence of swarm behavior, all of them moving targets.
What demons, ghosts, or fiends?
In the end...
"Just a bunch of fools!"
The true threat was the evil Gu that created these monsters.
Seeing the burning debris drifting over, he turned to enter the room.
The battle no longer needed his attention.
After the battle, cleaning up the battlefield and the city walls would be someone else's responsibility, no need for him to oversee it. If they couldn't handle such matters, they would be replaced.
However, before entering, he suddenly glanced at the high platforms on the city wall, his gaze sweeping from the closer platforms one by one.
Some people on the platforms noticed him and bowed in greeting. Others were engrossed in the battle and paid no attention to anything else.
And some...
On one high platform, someone noticed him, and he could feel the gaze directed his way. The distance was a bit far, so he couldn't make out the person's appearance, but it seemed to be a scholar.
The other person simply looked in his direction, not bowing.
Young Master Ren Qi frowned.
The attendant beside him grew nervous. "Young Master? Is something wrong?"
"Nothing. Just an unknown nobody."
Young Master Ren Qi didn't pay it much mind.
As for that gaze, it was probably the admiration from below.
The attendant beside him breathed a sigh of relief and cautiously glanced at his young master's expression as he looked outside.
Yes, yes, that's the look of condescension, like looking down at a dog! This is good! It means he isn't interested!
Not just anyone could be the Young Master's attendant; each position was vital. Recently, wealthy families from the southern lands had been recommending their young men and women, all of them competitors!
Over here.
Wen Gu withdrew his gaze.
Xiao Liu, who was beside him, was about to ask more about the fire oil cabinets. Seeing that Wen Gu wasn't watching the battle, he asked, "What's wrong, Second Brother Wen?"
Wen Gu said, "Nothing. I just saw that among the monks chanting scriptures, someone's face was covered in sweat."
The sun had briefly appeared earlier, and a small glint of light reflected off the faces of the monks.
He didn't know if it was from the exertion of chanting or from nervousness.
He sighed softly, "Faced with the onslaught of those monsters, would even Buddha be afraid?"
Xiao Liu looked over but couldn't discern anything. He then looked at the young man beside him and asked, "Would Buddha also fear evil creatures?"
The young man, who had been muttering about the fire oil cabinets, nearly jumped when he heard this. "How could Buddha be afraid? Don't spout nonsense! Those who are afraid are certainly those without Buddha in their hearts!"
"Then you certainly have no Buddha in your heart," Xiao Liu retorted.
"You're talking nonsense! My family goes to the temple to offer incense every year, and we have devoutly worshipped Buddha!"
"You're sweating."
"I'm wearing too many clothes today, and the divine artifacts in front are hot. I'm just hot!"
Xiao Liu didn't know whether to believe him. He had actually been quite scared just now. Did that mean he had no Buddha in his heart? Was he destined to be without Buddha?
Listening to the conversation beside him, Wen Gu delivered another jab to Daoist Master Qingyi, "There are many wealthy families here who believe in Buddhism."
Daoist Master Qingyi: "..." Shut up, you!
Wen Gu looked forward.
The fiery line on the outer city wall was shrinking, indicating that the offensive of the evil creatures outside had significantly weakened.
The commotion that had occurred earlier in the outer city was also gradually subsiding.
The afternoon sky was growing darker. Jin Wu City, due to the battle on the front lines, maintained a scorching temperature, with the pervasive smoke and dust being carried into the air by the warm breeze.
But outside Jin Wu City, night was falling, and the temperature was dropping.
After the evil creature swarm outside the city was weakened, the collective influence diminished, and many of the individuals on the periphery had voluntarily retreated.
The heat from the flames and the smoke from their burning comrades made them fearful, and their primal survival instincts drove them away from this place.
Those who did not retreat gradually became sluggish with the dropping temperatures.
For Jin Wu City, they were no longer a threat. Those who were close were shot down with arrows, and those who were farther away posed no concern.
The soldiers inside the city did not rush to open the gates to pursue; now was not the time for such a chase. Only when the temperature dropped would it be the optimal time for an outdoor hunt.
More precisely, when the cold wave arrived and the weather changed, the entire northern region would usher in this year's Autumn Hunt!
They would go out to clear the threats from their territory and, more importantly, to clear a path for the noble families migrating north from the southern lands, absorbing fresh blood and resources.
After the battle, the outer city wall was even more mottled. Even though the fire oil cabinets were no longer spraying flames, the wall was still scalding hot. Blood and sweat dripped onto it, hissing and scorching distinct marks.
The guards still alive on the city wall mostly suffered burns, possibly with lifelong sequelae, making them unable to serve as city guards again.
However, there was no shortage of people here.
Another autumn and winter season, and refugee streams, large groups of families migrating north from the south, would fill those vacancies.
Wen Gu and the others descended from the viewing platform on the inner city wall. Xiao Liu said goodbye to the young man.
He had heard a great deal about the dangers in the southern lands from this person who had come from the south.
"Being eaten by these monsters is even more terrifying than being eaten by wild beasts in the mountains! No wonder so many people are eager to head north!"
As he spoke, Xiao Liu thought of something and asked Wen Gu, "Will there be swarms of evil creatures in our village?"
Wen Gu said frankly, "I'm not sure, but as a large number of people from the southern lands migrate north, the evil creatures from the south may follow later. If your village is on their migration route..."
Xiao Liu's face drained of color.
Even if his village were built like a fortress, how would it fare against such an attack?
Would it have tall city walls like Jin Wu City?
Would it have so many armored soldiers and divine artifacts?!
Recalling the dark tide he had seen from the viewing platform, Xiao Liu took a deep breath.
Undoubtedly, there was no room for luck. If such a situation were to occur, his village would be overwhelmed in an instant.
Wen Gu comforted him, "If you can settle down in the northern lands, then find an opportunity to bring them over. You are the hope of your village, the entire village!"
Xiao Liu nodded heavily.
His desire to achieve something greater became even stronger.
On their way back, they saw the monks again.
The monks had heavy responsibilities. People nowadays valued rituals and ceremonies, needing psychological and spiritual support.
The prayers for mercy and salvation before the battle, the incantations for eradicating evil and subduing demons during the battle, and after the battle, they had to perform purification rituals for the dead on the outer city wall.
Passersby showed great respect to the monks they met, imitating their Buddhist salutations.
From the discussions of the passersby, it was heard that after finishing on the outer city wall, the monks would continue to perform purification rituals outside.
Chanting for several hours straight was no easy feat.
Their business capabilities were too strong; ordinary peers couldn't compete!
Seeing Daoist Master Qingyi still staring at the monks, Wen Gu advised him:
"Alright, stop looking. This isn't your area of expertise."
Honestly follow me to the Zhao Clan to refine pills!
For the first time, Daoist Master Qingyi did not retort, or rather, he was in no mood to quibble at this moment. His expression was grim.
The Ren family revered Buddhism, while Taoism was in decline. The opportunities were too few.
Back at the courtyard where the team rested, the team members were also intensely discussing the battle.
Although they hadn't accompanied Wen Gu to watch the battle on the city wall, they had sent people out to gather information, and someone was always on guard at the entrance. They knew the general situation.
Wen Gu also thought about the fire oil cabinets.
Recalling carefully, he realized that the fire oil cabinets might have been improved over the past year or two specifically for dealing with evil creatures.
The fact that they could be improved to this extent was astonishing!
At the same time, it also meant that there were many talented individuals here! Perhaps they were formerly from the Ministry of Armaments!
When the world was peaceful and the emperor was still alive, the Ren family had kept their secret techniques and resources hidden.
The accumulated resources of noble and famous families were extraordinary, and some things were not easily revealed during times of peace.
Now that the times had changed, they no longer concealed their strength but brazenly displayed it, even using it to attract other families to join them.
Fire oil, petroleum, war reserve supplies.
To be able to hold their ground in such chaotic times, the Ren family indeed had the power to be arrogant.
Wen Gu pondered the situation, instructing people to monitor the movements in the outer city and watch for when the city gates would open and when they could go out.
Night fell.
The inner city of Jin Wu City was brightly lit in many places, and the newly arrived noble families from the southern lands were too excited to sleep.
In the outer city area, not much light could be seen, but that was because they couldn't afford candles, and firewood was used sparingly. Naturally, no fires were lit at night. Similarly, people were sleepless everywhere.
The next day, after dawn, more people in the city discussed the battle of yesterday.
There was no need to deliberately inquire; such conversations could be heard from the courtyard.
Generally speaking:
"Jin Wu City is protected by a divine bird, and the heavenly mandate rests here!"
"A certain esteemed sir in the inner city exclaimed that he had backed the right horse!"
"The defender who performed meritorious service this time has been promoted and enriched, and has moved his family into the inner city!"
"I'm not going to the X Clan anymore; I want to forge a future here!"
"They're building a temple in the outer city area too. I'll definitely go and add some incense money then!"
...
Similar words.
Wen Gu suspected that someone in the city was orchestrating public opinion.
"This Ren Clan truly has many talented individuals!"
Beside him, the Daoist priest, with a displeased face, grumbled inwardly:
My Taoist temple doesn't have one, but those monks have several temples!
(End of this chapter)