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墨書 Inktalez
The aroma of breakfast in the morning added a warm feeling to the Temple, and the once desolate hall gradually became peaceful. It is indeed strange; many things that can be felt exist in reality but cannot be described in words. It is a sensation as if finding a place to rely on, where the originally complicated heart is gently lifted by a pair of hands without hesitation.
On the offering table, the earthen incense burner showed a bluish hue after firing, still containing the remnants of incense from yesterday when Xingling Jun prayed for a child. Luzi saw the burnt-out incense stick and couldn't help but smile and shake his head.
It seemed quite ridiculous! I wonder if the true deity behind the offering table, watching over all beings, would think the same way! No matter who you are, since you enter the temple, it is fate. Moreover, staying here for a night means you must offer incense. Determined, he went out to wash his hands and face before returning to respectfully offer incense to the great deity.
As expected, no support arrived, but it seemed that everyone was completely unaware that there was supposed to be any support. They hadn't eaten much last night, and now it was clear they were starving. Fewer than twenty people scattered in the courtyard eating breakfast, silently with no one speaking.
Shisan was initially worried that there wouldn't be enough breakfast but relaxed upon realizing there was plenty left. He served himself a large bowl and proudly said to Li Xin, "Looks like we made enough for breakfast; lunch should be fine too!" Just then, he caught Li Xin glaring at him. His heart skipped a beat as he immediately understood that his choice of words was inappropriate.
Why was there so much food? Of course, it was because some people would no longer need to eat!
The battle yesterday had already claimed more than ten lives, and now with a few local elders added in, there were only about twenty left! Turning to see everyone with their heads down looking at their bowls made him want to explain that with war comes death! The words stuck in his throat, making him feel suffocated; sorrow and anger turned into silent tears streaming down his face.
Just yesterday everyone was fine! How could it be that in an instant someone could just be gone...
Crying in front of his brothers was clearly not appropriate; he quickly found an excuse to check on the guard and rushed out of the temple.
A few elders had originally planned to leave early, but after witnessing Shanxia's villains yesterday, they began to hesitate. They were unclear about what Lu Keeper and that Mountain King were up to; they had just been fighting fiercely and now seemed friendly again. Regardless of how complicated their relationship might be, one thing was certain: real weapons had been used and real killings had occurred. Given the unclear situation, recklessly descending the mountain could lead to being caught off guard by those who had lost their heads. But this was not the time for confusion; they hurried over to ask Luzi for shelter.
If they didn’t care before, they certainly wouldn’t now! Lu Zigang had been worried that the stubborn elders would insist on descending the mountain again; seeing them actively asking to stay naturally made him agree wholeheartedly.
From last night until now, all that could be seen were countless stars in the sky along with the beautiful morning breeze and sunshine. The autumn sky appeared much higher than in other seasons, hence the saying "the sky is high and clear in autumn." The bloodied figures from yesterday's fierce battle were nowhere to be seen now; everyone wore clothes washed and mended overnight by Chuchu and looked full of spirit. If at first they were covered in blood splattered from enemies, after washing up and checking again, it turned out that not many were actually injured.
Aside from the arrow wound on Thirteen's arm, everyone else was almost unscathed. This confirmed a key issue: the brothers who died on the battlefield were mostly struck by arrows. In one-on-one combat, there might not be a problem, but this was a battlefield. The complex environment combined with the chaotic noise made it difficult for even the most sensitive auditory systems to discern sudden dangers. After all, arrows are ranged weapons that can reach their target without any warning.
Close combat is different; lethal blades need to be wielded by a person before they hit their target. This means that before a stabbing weapon strikes, the target has already recognized the impending danger and has time to react accordingly. Of course, this theoretical foundation applies to skilled fighters.
When Li Xin returned from his patrol, he saw Luzi alone with his hands behind his back, studying the collapsed mud statue. He approached to ask about the whereabouts of several elders, not out of concern for them but simply to make conversation. The biggest question now was why Reinforcements had not yet arrived, but how could he even ask that? If they could come, they would have already done so.
Luzi casually informed Li Xin that several elders had gone up the mountain with Chuchu carrying baskets.
Up the mountain? What for? This question nearly slipped out, but Li Xin quickly swallowed it down. Clearing his throat, he suggested that going up the mountain would be good; with the clear skies and fresh air, it was a good time to get some exercise.
Upon hearing this, Luzi nodded in agreement, acknowledging that it made sense. It was unclear whether he was thinking of something else or just speaking offhandedly. "Our food supplies are running low; Chuchu plans to look for some wild vegetables and fruits. When the elders heard this, they volunteered to help. After all, they have lived in this mountainous area since childhood and know many edible plants that Chuchu is unfamiliar with."
Upon hearing about the food issue, Li Xin felt a bit overwhelmed but noticed that Luzi did not steer the conversation toward assigning blame. Looking back at the courtyard, a troubling thought suddenly arose. Just as Thirteen had casually mentioned in the morning, the food gathered yesterday afternoon would only last until lunch today.
If Chuchu and the elders were preparing for dinner, then it seemed they intended to hold out for a few more days.
Although this mountain was barren and wouldn’t yield much food, it should suffice for a few days. Water was not a concern either; there was a well full of sweet water in the courtyard. However, the current issue was not food but rather a lack of weapon supplies. Close-range weapons were manageable, but arrows for ranged weapons had been completely depleted since yesterday afternoon.
"Luzi, we can no longer use stones; that natural barrier outside has already been occupied by the Wei Army. There’s also bad news I need to report: we have run out of arrows as well. I just went out to survey the terrain and found there are no defenses left. The Wei Army is currently gathering forces; those stationed at Shanxia have also moved up the mountain. My concern now is that Wei Wujie will launch a full-scale attack by this afternoon at the latest."
Hearing one piece of bad news after another, Luzi did not turn around or express surprise. "Hmm! I understand. What should our next defensive strategy be?"
Li Xin had already prepared his response and immediately replied upon being asked: "I believe we can consider two plans..."
Luzi shook his head. "Forget the first plan, just go straight to the second one."
"Understood!" Li Xin took a deep breath and organized the second plan. Just now, his mind was filled with how to persuade Luzi to hide and then lead the charge against the Wei Army camp in an attempt to break through. Of course, everyone knew the outcome of such a desperate attempt. Soldiers fighting on the battlefield, what is there to fear in Martial Valor in Death!?
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