madnovel Chapter 37: The Spark in Blackrock Town
Chapter 37: The Spark in Blackrock Town
The morning light completely washed away the darkness and bloodstains, illuminating Blackstone Town from the inside out. The madness of last night, the tragedy of dawn, the despair and reversal at daybreak, all were frozen on the wet, dark red ground as the wolf pack collapsed and Lin Yan broke through his cultivation level, becoming patches of mess that needed cleaning and wounds that needed healing.
Under the old locust tree, crowds gathered, but the fervor of the public trial and the panic of the wolf attack were gone; only a heavy, painful busyness and silence remained.
The dead were carried out one by one from the gaps in the walls, from under the collapsed earthen walls, and from the corners of the streets. They were wrapped in straw mats or rags found in their homes and neatly laid out in the open space under the shade of trees. A rough count revealed as many as forty or fifty bodies. Some were mutilated, some still had expressions of terror on their faces. Most were young adults, but there were also two teenagers who had been hit by flying pebbles, and an old woman who had tried to throw boiling water at a wolf but was dragged down the steps of the stone house.
Even more were injured, almost everyone bearing wounds. Minor injuries included lacerations and torn flesh, while more serious injuries involved broken bones and tendons. Cries of pain echoed throughout the town, mingled with the low sobs of relatives and friends. Su Qingyao was the busiest person; her medicine kit was long gone, and she was directing several nimble women to use the herbs confiscated from the town mayor's mansion and the homes of Chen Fuhai and Zhao Mang, along with the town's already meager stock, to set up several large pots in front of the stone house and boil medicine for the wounds. The pungent smell of medicine mixed with the stench of blood became the dominant odor in Blackstone Town at that moment.
"Hot water, clean cloths!" Su Qingyao's voice was a little hoarse, but still clear and steady. She squatted beside a severely wounded man whose abdomen had been ripped open by wolf claws, his intestines barely visible. A faint, pale green light flickered at her fingertips—the last trace of healing true energy within her body, carefully protecting the wounded man's heart meridian, while she directed those around her to clean the wounds and apply crushed hemostatic herbs. Fine beads of sweat glistened on her forehead, and the original color of her moon-white short dress was no longer visible, but her expression was as focused as if she were performing a delicate embroidery.
On the other side, Uncle Zhang and several old men with some woodworking skills were leading a group of less seriously injured men to clean up the mess at the breach. The wolf carcass was dragged to a distance outside the town and buried deep in a pit to prevent the spread of disease and the attraction of other predators. The collapsed earthen walls were reinforced with whatever wood, stones, and even door panels and beams salvaged from the town hall could be found. The clanging and shouting of hammering brought a touch of life to the sorrowful town, a sign of reconstruction.
Shi Hu, along with his twenty-odd wounded but determined brothers and a few relatively reliable remnants of the Demon Suppression Division who had voluntarily surrendered after the battle, began to patrol the entire town, take stock of the losses, maintain order, and collect the scattered weapons. He also gathered all usable weapons, armor, provisions, and silver from the town mayor's mansion, the Demon Suppression Division, and the private residences of Chen Fuhai and Zhao Mang into the open space under the old locust tree, where Zhang Bo assigned two literate old men to register and catalog them.
Lin Yan did not participate in these specific matters. He sat cross-legged on a relatively clean stone stool under the old locust tree, closing his eyes to regulate his breathing.
Contrary to his outward calm, a dramatic and subtle process of reshaping and consolidation was underway within his body. Newly generated liquid true essence, like rivers flowing into the sea, surged and circulated through his widened and strengthened meridians, cleansing every hidden injury and nourishing his broken bones and damaged internal organs. The mark on his chest radiated a warm heat, seemingly resonating with the flowing true essence, allowing the pure demonic power he had obtained from devouring the Wolf King to be refined and absorbed more thoroughly. This not only solidified his foundation at the initial stage of the Profound Realm but also subtly propelled his cultivation towards the peak of the early Profound Realm in a short period.
His spiritual senses also became more acute. Even with his eyes closed, he could clearly perceive the slightest movement within dozens of feet around him: the faint fluctuations of Su Qingyao's true energy at her fingertips, the heavy and painful breathing of the wounded, the rhythm of the wooden mallet striking the wall in the distance, and even the smells of medicine, blood, and earth in the air... all of these were reflected in the lake of his mind in great detail.
More importantly, it was the clear understanding of his own lifespan and the essence of life. Two hundred years of profound experience had unconsciously made his mind more composed and expansive; the life-or-death struggle of last night and this morning seemed like a long-forgotten dream. This was a natural sense of transcendence brought about by an increase in strength and vision.
When he opened his eyes again, the sun was nearly at its zenith. His wounds, aided by his true energy and powerful life force, had stopped bleeding and scabbed over; some of the shallower ones were even beginning to heal and itch. The broken bone in his left arm had also been enveloped and repositioned by his true energy. Although it would take time for it to fully heal, it no longer affected his slight movements. Only his tattered, blood-stained clothes served as a reminder of the horrific ordeal he had recently endured.
He stood up, his movements steady and focused, devoid of the vacancy of a seriously injured person. His gaze swept across the open space, over the silent figures toiling away, over the women who gritted their teeth and bandaged their wounds with tears in their eyes, over the boys who held onto the door panels with trembling hands, and over the elderly and infirm who were sweating under the scorching sun repairing the walls.
The fierce battle at the breach last night, the crisp sound of bamboo spears breaking, the steam from the boiling water being poured down, the dull thud of Li the butcher's chipped pig-slaughtering knife finally piercing the wolf's neck, the gleam in Zhang Bo's cloudy eyes as he used his gleaming iron poker to pierce the throat of the last wolf that rushed into the breach... these images flashed through his mind frame by frame.
He was the one who killed the wolf king and broke through to the Profound Realm; the greatest credit and deterrent effect undoubtedly fell upon him. He could feel the awe-inspiring gazes from the crowd.
But Blackrock Town was able to hold on, and it wasn't just because of him alone.
It was the first line of defense built by Shi Hu and his twenty-three men with their blood and flesh at the breach; it was the hoes and kitchen knives raised by the usually timid townspeople in despair; it was the boiling water and bricks thrown down from the windows of the stone houses by the women and children; it was Uncle Zhang's hoarse cry of "We cannot retreat"; it was the medicine powder that Su Qingyao painstakingly prepared and the composure she maintained...
This is the awakening of the people of Blackstone Town themselves. It is the unyielding soul of humanity, buried beneath numbness and fear, forcibly brought forth by blood and fire. They may still be humble, and they may still tremble with fear, but when there is no way to retreat and their homes are about to be destroyed, they will also burst forth with the fierceness and bloodlust to "fight against heaven, fight against earth, and fight against demons."
Lin Yan saw in these figures, covered in dust and blood, their eyes red, yet still gritting their teeth and persevering, a silent yet resilient awakening of their bloodline. What they needed was perhaps not a lofty god, but someone who could lead them, unite this awakening power, and truly protect this land.
He walked to the center of the open space, where a space had been spontaneously reserved for him.
"Fellow villagers," his voice was not loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears, carrying a calming power unique to cultivators of the Profound Realm, "the demonic wolves have retreated, the ringleader has been executed, and the calamity of Blackstone Town has temporarily passed."
The crowd quieted down, and all eyes were on him.
"The villagers who died fought to protect their homes; they are heroes." His gaze swept over the straw mats. "Without their lives to hold off the first wave at the breach, without everyone gritting their teeth and persevering behind, Blackstone Town wouldn't have been able to hold out until I returned. Their families will be properly compensated with silver and grain from the confiscated property, ensuring their future livelihood."
These words were truly sincere; he didn't take all the credit for himself. Many of the victims' families looked up at Lin Yan with tearful eyes, their gratitude filled with genuine emotion.
"Those who are injured, rest assured and recover. Miss Su will do her best to treat them, and the necessary medicines will be provided on a priority basis." Lin Yan's gaze met Su Qingyao's, who was bandaging an injured person not far away, for a moment, and Su Qingyao nodded slightly.
"The town wall must be repaired as soon as possible, not just the breach on the east side, but all the weak points must be reinforced. Uncle Zhang will take the lead in this matter, and every household should contribute what they can. Just like how everyone defended the town last night, we should rebuild it today!" Upon hearing this, Uncle Zhang straightened his slightly hunched back and nodded heavily. The men who had fought alongside him last night also gripped their tools tightly.
"But most importantly," Lin Yan's tone shifted, his gaze sharpening as he swept over Shi Hu and his brothers, over the remnants of the Demon Suppression Division, over all the able-bodied men present, and over the ordinary townspeople whose eyes had regained a glimmer of light, "is the future. Although Chen Fuhai and Zhao Mang are dead, their backer, Commander Liu, is still in Qingzhou Prefecture. Although the Wolf King is gone, it's still unknown whether there are other threats deep within Canglang Mountain. Black Stone Town can no longer be like it was before, a disorganized mess, at the mercy of others! Last night, everyone held out, relying on their desperate efforts. But we can't keep risking our lives every time!"
He paused, his voice growing even more somber, before uttering the long-awaited declaration: "From this day forward, we shall form 'Blackstone Guard'!"
"Blackstone Guard?" A murmur arose from the crowd.
"That's right," Lin Yan said loudly. "The Black Stone Guards are not only protecting this town, but also the right of every person on this land to live and live like a human being! We must protect our hard-earned food, our wives and children, and our future, so that we will no longer be arbitrarily bullied and deprived!"
These words were like a boulder thrown into a still, lifeless pool. Many people were initially stunned, their eyes blank, as if they had never heard such words before. Rights? Just surviving was difficult enough; how could they dare to think about rights? But gradually, something was gently stirred in the depths of that blankness. They looked at each other's tattered, blood-stained clothes, remembered how they themselves had picked up hoes and poured boiling water the night before, remembered the dead neighbors and fellow villagers, remembered the years of swallowing their anger and the desperate struggle of yesterday... A strange emotion, yet tinged with a slightly burning heat, struggled to seep out from the depths of their numb hearts.
They might not be able to articulate exactly what it was, but Lin Yan's words were like a seed that quietly fell into their parched hearts. In many people's eyes, the light, long eroded and nearly extinguished by suffering and fear, flickered again, extremely faintly. Though it was only a fleeting spark, it was undeniably real. The seed of fire was thus sown silently.
Lin Yan's gaze swept over every face: "With Shi Hu and his original brothers as the backbone, we will recruit able-bodied young men from the town who are willing to join, have clean backgrounds, and are brave and capable in battle—those who shed blood and contributed their strength at the breach last night will be given priority! At the same time, soldiers from the original Demon Suppression Division who have not participated in Chen Zhao's evil deeds, are willing to repent and protect their hometown, can also join after screening. The initial staff will be set at eighty people."
"The duties of the Blackstone Guard are to guard Blackstone Town, patrol the borders, eliminate scattered monsters in the vicinity, and maintain the town's security. The weapons, armor, food, and other necessities required will be allocated by the town's public treasury. Those who join will have priority in receiving compensation and resettlement for their families."
The conditions are clear, the responsibilities are well-defined, and it is emphasized that "those who shed blood and exerted effort in the breach last night will be given priority." This is not only a recognition of those who bravely fought last night, but also a formal bestowal of the responsibility and honor of "protecting our homeland" upon them.
Shi Hu was the first to stride forward, his one arm clasped in a fist salute, his voice hoarse from the injury yet resounding like iron: "Shi Hu is willing to lead his brothers to join the Black Stone Guard, swearing to follow Lord Lin to the death and protect Black Stone Town! The brothers who died before the breach last night cannot die in vain!" The twenty-odd men behind him also stepped forward, clasped their fists in salute, their eyes as firm as ever.
Immediately afterwards, a dozen or so young men emerged from the crowd. Some had blood seeping from their bandages, but their eyes were filled with longing and a hint of pride—they were all survivors of the breach in the defense line last night. Lin Yan saw the man who had smashed the wolf's head with a carrying pole last night, the boy whose thigh had been scratched by a wolf but who still insisted on throwing stones, and several other unfamiliar faces with resolute eyes.
Even among the dozens of remnants of the original Demon Suppression Division, seven or eight men with honest faces who hadn't participated in the evil deeds before, and who now looked ashamed, hesitated for a moment before stepping forward and kneeling on one knee: "We were foolish in the past, aiding and abetting evil. We beg Lord Lin to give us a chance to atone for our sins! We are willing to join the Black Stone Guard and protect the town!"
Lin Yan's gaze swept across the people who had stepped forward, sharp as lightning. His keen intuition allowed him to discern who was truly sincere and who still harbored hesitation or ulterior motives. However, he didn't immediately expose them. In times of chaos and the need for capable people, as long as their fundamental principles remained intact, some minor thoughts could be gradually guided. More importantly, he wanted to formally integrate the power he had awakened the previous night into the established order, transforming it into the cornerstone of protection.
"Alright." Lin Yan nodded. "Shi Hu, you will temporarily serve as the deputy commander of the Black Stone Guard, responsible for personnel training and daily patrols. Uncle Zhang, you will assist Shi Hu in managing the guard's finances, provisions, and equipment. The two of you will conduct the initial screening of the selected personnel, and then report to me for final approval."
"Yes!" Shi Hu and Zhang Bo replied simultaneously.
"The Black Stone Guard is newly established. Its primary task is to assist in repairing the town walls, eliminating potential threats within and around the town, and simultaneously begin basic drills." Lin Yan continued to give instructions. "Miss Su," he said, looking at Su Qingyao.
Su Qingyao raised her head, her face showing fatigue, but her eyes remained clear.
"Prepare a batch of general medicinal decoctions to strengthen the body and aid recovery for Blackstone Guard's daily use. The necessary medicinal materials will be drawn from the public treasury."
"Understood." Su Qingyao nodded in agreement.
After arranging these things, Lin Yan looked at the supplies piled up in the center of the open space and the townspeople who still wore expressions of grief or bewilderment, and slowly said, "The dead need to rest in peace; the living need to live on, and live better. Blackstone Town has suffered such a great calamity, and everything needs to be rebuilt. But as long as people are united and willing to work hard, this wall can be repaired, and life can continue."
He didn't utter any grand pronouncements, but his simple yet firm words were more reassuring than any promise. The confusion in many people's eyes gradually faded, replaced by a sense of security from finding a pillar of support, and a faint confidence ignited after the previous night—a determination to no longer be at the mercy of others.
Yes, the demonic wolves have retreated, the corrupt official is dead, and there is still a powerful and just person like Lin Yan. More importantly, they themselves took up arms last night and defended their homeland. The world of Blackstone Town has truly changed. Although the road ahead is still difficult and full of unknown threats, at least they have hope, a direction to follow, and, more importantly, that proven strength that belongs to them.
Watching people begin to get busy again, though still silent, they possessed a quieter, more energetic spirit than yesterday; watching Shi Hu begin to organize the troops, and Uncle Zhang begin to count the supplies; watching Su Qingyao distribute the medicinal soup she had brewed… Lin Yan knew that the soul of Black Stone Town had not dissipated, but rather, after being tempered by blood and fire, it had condensed into a resilient edge.
Human hearts, amidst this bloodshed and ruins, are slowly but surely regrouping and returning to their former selves, attempting to transform the bloodlust that erupted passively last night into a force for active protection.
He turned and looked towards the direction of Canglang Mountain again. His profound spiritual sense allowed him to perceive further afield, where the lingering demonic energy was slowly dissipating, but a deep unease also lingered in the depths of the mountains.