Chapter 138 Pre-battle Preparations

"Fellow Daoists, the details of this place have just been explained to everyone. To successfully pass through here, we must unite as one. Otherwise, with our mortal bodies, I fear we will all be buried in the jaws of the blood wolves."

Emboldened by his recent feat of thoroughly beating the Holy Son, Zhou Qi swept his gaze across the cultivators.

The cultivators all nodded in agreement. Even Daofan and Shui Bing did not utter a word of dissent. If a brutal clash with Zhou Qi were to break out here, it would undoubtedly turn into a massive social disaster scene.

"I have some ideas and hope for everyone's cooperation. If there are any shortcomings, please feel free to point them out, fellow Daoists," Zhou Qi said, cupping his fists.

"We look forward to hearing your high见, Daoist Friend," the cultivators replied in unison, returning the gesture.

Seeing no objections, Zhou Qi laid out his plan.

Among the fifty-six cultivators, twenty-four were body-refining practitioners who would serve as the main force in resisting the blood wolves. Another twenty cultivators would form the secondary defense force, and twelve female cultivators would comprise the logistics team, responsible for medical aid and logistical support.

Among the body-refining practitioners, Dao Hui would take charge, leading the frontal confrontation against the blood wolves as the village's first line of defense.

The secondary defense force would be led by Huangfu Xiu, responsible for reinforcement and operating primarily as a mobile unit to form the second line of defense.

The logistics team would be headed by Jiang Yiyi, tasked with promptly treating the wounded. Because the village's herbs were limited, they could at best treat superficial wounds; if someone had their throat torn out or heart pierced, even immortals would be powerless to save them.

Thirty able-bodied young villagers would be responsible for gathering the village's elderly and weak, forming a circle with sickles and hoes in hand to protect them in the center as the village's final line of defense.

After listening to Zhou Qi's arrangements, the cultivators all nodded. Only Daofan was somewhat dissatisfied. As a Daoist Child, his body-refining prowess was only slightly inferior to Zhou Qi's, yet he had not managed to secure a squad leader position. Appointing Dao Hui as a squad leader wouldn't that undermine his prestige within the Daoist sect? However, upon catching Zhou Qi's icy glare, he swallowed his objections. Circumstances compelled submission.

Wuyang Village only had one location that needed defending: the entrance to the rear mountain. Since the blood wolves inhabited the rear mountain, they had to pass through this path to enter the village.

To prevent the blood wolves from flanking them, Zhou Qi also stationed a few people at the village entrance. If any blood wolves attacked from that direction, personnel would be dispatched from the various groups as the situation demanded.

***

Having assigned everyone their tasks, Zhou Qi recalled Liu Chengfeng's impassioned speeches. At this moment, a rousing speech was needed to boost morale. Moreover, cultivators were exceptionally shrewd; they were faster than anyone else at fleeing from danger. If the stakes and severity of the situation weren't made clear, the defense line would collapse at the slightest touch, turning all efforts to dust.

"Fellow Daoists, we are all here to seek fortune. Now, the blood wolf clan stands as an obstacle to our pursuit of destiny. Only by defeating them and protecting the villagers can we have any possibility of going further," Zhou Qi cleared his throat and began.

Everyone nodded in unison. This made complete sense; the Sword Immortal must have had a profound purpose in arranging this trial. If they failed to defeat the blood wolves, any subsequent inheritance would likely remain out of reach.

"Let's make our ugly words clear beforehand. If anyone allows fear of death to make them abandon their posts without authorization, thus sabotaging everyone's chances at fortune, Lixing shall serve as your cautionary example."

Lixing, who had just regained consciousness, fainted once more upon hearing these words. Remembering Zhou Qi's violence, the crowd couldn't help but shudder.

"We are all cultivators who fought our way in through various entrances. Although we have now been reduced to mortals, as long as we unite as one, what is there to fear from mere blood wolves? Think of the Sword Immortal's inheritance; what reason do we have not to fight, not to kill?"

"Well said!" Huangfu Xiu took the lead in applauding. Sparse applause gradually rang out, growing increasingly enthusiastic.

Zhou Qi thought to himself that Xiu truly was his good brother. If no one had played the straight man to his lead here, the atmosphere would have been terribly awkward.

Zhou Qi then turned to the able-bodied villagers, saying, "Fellow villagers, we are your first line of defense. If we cannot hold, I hope you will raise the sickles and hoes in your hands and smash them bravely at the blood wolves. Behind you are your elders, wives, and children. You are their reliance and their hope."

"Rest assured, Young Master, we are not afraid," said a villager with an honest and simple appearance. "From the moment you entered, we have already prepared to risk our lives against the blood wolves."

Hearing this, many of the married women also wanted to join the ranks of protecting the elderly and children, but Zhou Qi stopped them. Having passion was one thing, but having the ability to protect others was quite another.

Zhou Qi's words sent ripples through Jiang Yiyi's beautiful eyes. She had not expected that he not only had a silver tongue but also such capability, able to suppress her senior brother in physical combat to the point where he couldn't muster a shred of temper. Could this still be the same Zhou Qi who used to run for his life in desperation back then?

Gao Shiyu also looked at Zhou Qi as if seeing him for the first time. Winning over so many cultivators couldn't possibly rely on fists alone. Yet, she harbored quite a bit of resentment that Zhou Qi hadn't chosen her as the logistics team leader. "Hmph, Jiang Yiyi is nothing more than gentle-spoken and slightly taller than me. What's there to be so smug about? Just a mere squad leader, I couldn't care less," she muttered inwardly.

Having persuaded the cultivators, Zhou Qi breathed a sigh of relief. Given the arrogant temperaments of these cultivators, it was impossible to beat them into submission one by one. Not only would a unified front fail to be established that way, but the villagers would also inevitably suffer heavy casualties. Making these arrangements could minimize the villagers' losses—he only wondered how many blood wolves there actually were.

***

The cultivators busily went to work. Huangfu Xiu, Dao Hui, and Jiang Yiyi quickly adapted to their roles as squad leaders, understanding each person's abilities and organizing their respective team members.

Zhou Qi, on the other hand, acted as though he had nothing to do and began questioning the village chief instead: During past blood wolf attacks, had their numbers and strength changed? Were the village casualties roughly the same each time? Did the attacks last for one night or several, and to what extent of resistance was considered successful?

The village chief was vague and lacked detailed information, claiming he had only witnessed an attack once and had since forgotten the specifics. Past legends also contained no concrete details; they only knew that when outsiders arrived, the blood wolves would invariably attack.

Zhou Qi abandoned the idea of probing further. They would only know the true situation once the blood wolves attacked.

As the sky grew increasingly dark, everyone grew inevitably tense. Although the snow wolves were ordinary demonic beasts, they themselves had become mortals; dying here would be far too worthless.

Bonfires were lit within the village, and the multitude of elderly, weak, women, and children sat huddled together, shivering. On the outer perimeter, the able-bodied young men gripped sickles, hoes, and steel pitchforks, their palms already slick with sweat.

The cultivators had already taken up their assigned positions according to their earlier groupings. Jiang Yiyi and the other female cultivators were already bustling about; hemostatic herbs, bandages, and wooden boards for carrying the injured were all in place. Delicate fairy-like maidens lugging wooden boards to carry the wounded was quite a jarring sight to behold.

Everyone silently gazed toward the rear mountain. When the moon in the sky reached its zenith, a howling cry of "Awooo" drifted over, followed immediately by a chorus of more wolf howls. Everyone knew the blood wolves' attack had begun.

The running blood wolves shattered the tranquility of the rear mountain, snapping numerous trees and kicking up billowing clouds of dust.

Judging by the sound of their running, there were surely no fewer than a hundred of them.

Zhou Qi stood at the front of the main force group, his expression cold as he calmly awaited the arrival of the blood wolves.