345: Chapter 345 A Hundred Years of War

Ling Shuanghan took three days.

Three days to walk every inch of the Shelter, Outer City, and Military Zone.

Every inch.

Not an exaggeration.

She really walked it step by step.

From the frost crystal stone walls of the Core Zone to the alloy panels of the Outer City, from the ammunition depot of the Military Zone to the drainage ditches of the refugee area.

She even lay on the ground to inspect a crack on the south side of the Outer City—that crack was two centimeters wide, depth unknown.

The two veterans following her were used to it.

It had been a hundred years; their commander was just that kind of person.

Before a battle, she would engrave the terrain into her mind.

On the evening of the third day, Ling Shuanghan spread a defense map on the command room table.

Hand-drawn.

Not because she couldn't use electronic devices.

Because hand-drawn was more precise.

At least, that's what she believed.

The map featured three concentric rings.

"Three-ring defense." Ling Shuanghan pointed at the map.

Those present: Lin Yuan, Ye Qingxue, Qin Ziyan, Luo Qinghan.

"Outer ring, early warning zone. Five-kilometer radius."

Her finger traced the outermost circle.

"Use system supplies to set up sensor nodes within a five-kilometer range. Anything that enters will trigger an alarm. Whether it's a person, an Evolved Beast, or a lunatic from the Ice Coffin Society."

"Middle ring, delay zone. Two-kilometer radius."

Her finger moved to the second circle.

"Set up trap belts within a two-kilometer range. Not pits—digging pits on an ice field at minus 170 degrees would freeze people to death before they were finished."

Qin Ziyan nodded. That was the truth.

"Use frost crystal stones to create 'hot zones'."

Ling Shuanghan said.

"The characteristic of frost crystal stones is to absorb cold and release heat. Burying fragments under the ice, once activated, can create a 10-degree Celsius environment in local areas."

She paused.

"The people from the Ice Coffin Society fear heat. 10 degrees Celsius is like fire to them. Hot zones are natural barriers. They will either detour or force their way through—if they force their way through, their ice crystal carapace will start to melt, and their combat effectiveness will drop by at least half."

"Inner ring, core defense zone. Shelter walls."

Her finger tapped the innermost circle.

"Reinforce the walls with everwinter alloy. Deploy annihilation cannons and plasma penetration guns at key positions."

She finished.

Concise.

Crisp.

Not a single wasted word.

A hundred years of war experience condensed into three circles and a few sentences.

Lin Yuan picked up the map and looked at it for five minutes.

During those five minutes, no one in the command room spoke.

Then Lin Yuan spoke.

"Page seven."

Ling Shuanghan frowned slightly.

"The spacing of the hot zones in the northwest corner of the middle ring is too large."

Ling Shuanghan's brow furrowed tighter.

"If the Ice Coffin Society concentrates on breaking through that point, the delay effect will be reduced by 40%."

Ling Shuanghan took the map and flipped to page seven.

She looked for ten seconds.

Then her expression changed.

Not because she wasn't convinced.

It was surprise.

He was right.

The spacing of the hot zones in the northwest corner was indeed nearly twice as large as in other areas.

When she surveyed the site, the northwest corner happened to be hit by a storm.

She had sped up, leading to imprecise measurements.

She hadn't noticed this oversight herself.

Lin Yuan had found it after looking for five minutes.

Ling Shuanghan was silent for three seconds.

Then she picked up a pen and corrected the spacing data on page seven.

Resubmitted.

Lin Yuan looked at it again.

"It's fine now. Execute."

Ling Shuanghan put away the map and turned to leave.

When she reached the door, she paused.

Without looking back, she said,

"If you were born in the Everwinter World, my father would have fought to take you as his advisor."

Lin Yuan: "Your father is SSS-rank. Serving as an advisor to an SSS-rank is a loss for me."

Ling Shuanghan didn't respond.

But as she walked out, the corners of her mouth moved.

A very slight movement.

But Qin Ziyan saw it.

Qin Ziyan made a note in her mind: Ling Shuanghan can smile.

This discovery shocked her more than the Ice Coffin Society's attack.

Defense construction required a large amount of manpower.

Ling Shuanghan's sixty veterans were responsible for technical guidance.

Zhao Tieshan's Military Zone provided the labor.

This was the first collaboration between two completely different teams.

Zhao Tieshan came in person.

He thought that as a former deputy commander of the military district, he had some say in military matters.

He brought his defense plan to find Ling Shuanghan.

The plan was professional.

Firepower configuration, personnel rotation, communication frequencies, logistics—everything was covered.

When Zhao Tieshan handed over the plan, he was even a bit confident.

Ling Shuanghan took it and read it for three minutes.

Then she put it down.

"Have you fought a hundred-year war?"

Zhao Tieshan was silent.

He had fought for thirty years.

Thirty years was already a long time.

But a hundred years—he looked at this woman who looked like she was in her twenties.

A hundred years?

He thought she was joking.

But Ling Shuanghan's eyes told him she wasn't.

There was something in those eyes.

Not arrogance.

It was depth.

The kind of depth only someone who had truly experienced long years would have.

Zhao Tieshan took back his plan.

But Ling Shuanghan called him back.

"There is one point in your plan—using armored vehicles as mobile firepower points."

Zhao Tieshan paused.

"This can be used."

Ling Shuanghan said.

"The Everwinter World doesn't have this kind of mechanized equipment. Some things from your Blue Star are indeed good."

Zhao Tieshan opened his mouth.

He didn't know whether to be happy or complicated.

His entire plan was rejected, but one point was adopted.

And the reason for adoption was "the Everwinter World doesn't have this stuff."

Was this a compliment or an insult?

He thought about it and decided to take it as a compliment.

After all, for someone who had fought a hundred-year war to say "not bad" was an acknowledgment in itself.

After Zhao Tieshan returned to the Military Zone, his adjutant asked him:

"Commander Zhao, how is that Miss Ling?"

Zhao Tieshan sat down and was silent for a long time.

"Don't call her Miss Ling."

Adjutant: "Then what should I call her?"

Zhao Tieshan: "Call her Commander Ling."

The adjutant was stunned.

Zhao Tieshan never easily gave others military titles.

"She is the best military commander I have ever seen." Zhao Tieshan said.

Adjutant: "Better than you—"

"Better than me." Zhao Tieshan interrupted him. "Much better."

He didn't tell the adjutant Ling Shuanghan's real age.

One hundred and twenty-two years old.

If he said it, the adjutant would probably think he was crazy.

While defense construction was underway, the inside of the Shelter wasn't idle.

Murong Xueer organized combat training at the training ground.

The training objects: female combat personnel in the core area of the Shelter.

Including original members and newly joined female soldiers of the Northern Border Army.

The female soldiers of the Northern Border Army came with Zhao Tieshan.

They were all from the regular army, had received systematic training, and had rich combat experience.

They thought they were strong.

Until they met Murong Xueer.

First day of training.

Murong Xueer stood in the center of the training ground, wearing a black training uniform, her long hair tied in a ponytail.

She looked like a college student.

A beautiful college student.

The female soldiers of the Northern Border Army exchanged glances.

This was the legendary combat instructor of the Shelter?

Shen Qing stepped out.

She was the strongest female B-rank Esper in the Northern Border Army.

In the Northern Border Army, B-rank was already the elite of the elite.

"I want to spar with the instructor." Shen Qing said.

The tone was very polite.

But there was a sense of defiance in her eyes.

Murong Xueer smiled: "Come on."

Shen Qing made a move.

Her Superpower was metal manipulation—she could control surrounding metal objects to attack.

The metal equipment on the training ground flew up instantly, turning into a dozen metal flying blades, cutting at Murong Xueer from different angles.

The speed was fast.

The angle was tricky.

If it were an ordinary B-rank Esper, they would at least have to deal with it seriously.

Murong Xueer didn't dodge.

She stood where she was.

The dozen metal flying blades flew in front of her—then turned around.

Flew back.

Shen Qing's eyes widened.

Her own metal flying blades had turned around and flown back.

Not deflected.

They were "returned."

Stars Shifting.

Shen Qing barely dodged her own attack.

Before she could stand firm, Murong Xueer was already in front of her.

One palm.

Shen Qing flew out three meters and fell to the ground.

From the start to the end.

Three moves.

Less than five seconds.

Shen Qing lay on the ground, panting.

The light on the ceiling made her eyes ache.

"What kind of monsters are you?"

Murong Xueer walked over and reached out to pull her up.

"Not monsters."

Murong Xueer said with a smile. "Just followed the right person."

Shen Qing patted the dust off her body.

She was silent for a long time.

Followed the right person.

This sentence was very simple.

But it explained a lot of things.

Why the female combat personnel of the Shelter were stronger than each other.

Why their equipment, training, and coordination were far superior to outside forces.

Not because they were gifted.

Because they had a leader who could provide top-tier resources, top-tier training, and top-tier equipment.

And that leader—Shen Qing thought of the man she had never met.

Lin Yuan.

She began to understand.

Not just supplies.

Not just safety.

This place could make people stronger.

In the Apocalypse, the word "stronger" was more attractive than any promise.

Deep in the ice.

The mining team, led by Ling Shuanghan's veterans, continued to extract frost crystal stones.

After the labor from the Outer City and Military Zone joined, efficiency increased by nearly three times.

But problems also arose.

Frost Heartbeat.

More and more frequent.

From once every hour initially, to once every half hour.

Every time it beat, the ice layer would tremble slightly.

As if something deep underground was turning over.

Ling Shuanghan gave a death order: mining depth must not exceed 250 meters.

All personnel must stay away from the area below 300 meters.

No one dared to disobey.

Not because of Ling Shuanghan's authority.

It was because every time there was a Frost Heartbeat, the miners at 250 meters could feel the ice under their feet getting hot.

The ice was getting hot.

These four words together were a horror in themselves.

Xia Muqing analyzed the frequency changes of the Frost Heartbeat.

She stared at the data in the laboratory for two days.

Didn't sleep for two days.

On the third day, she handed the analysis report to Lin Yuan.

"Increased frequency means energy is accumulating inside the Icebound Body."

Lin Yuan looked at the graph on the report.

"If there is no intervention, the energy will reach a critical point in about 30 days."

Lin Yuan: "What happens after the critical point?"

Xia Muqing pushed her glasses.

"Two possibilities."

"First, energy releases naturally, triggering a local earthquake. The ice collapses. The foundation of the Shelter will be affected, but not devastatingly."

"Second—"

She hesitated.

Lin Yuan: "Speak."

"The Icebound Body wakes up."

There was silence in the command room.

Lin Yuan: "Probability of waking up?"

Xia Muqing: "According to the data model... 17%."

Lin Yuan: "Not low."

Xia Muqing nodded.

17%.

Sounds low.

But if you know what "waking up" means—an unknown existence sleeping deep in the ice opens its eyes—17% is not low at all.

Lin Yuan: "Continue monitoring. Notify me immediately when the frequency change exceeds once every fifteen minutes."

Xia Muqing: "Understood."

She turned to leave.

When she reached the door, she turned back and asked:

"Lin Yuan, if it really wakes up... what do we do?"

Lin Yuan thought for a moment.

"We'll see when the time comes."

Xia Muqing: "...That's not a reassuring answer."

Lin Yuan: "But it's an honest answer."

Xia Muqing left.

She thought Lin Yuan was right.

Honesty is more important than reassurance.

At least in the Apocalypse.

Fifth day.

The blizzard came.

The temperature dropped to minus 195 degrees.

The newly built walls of the Outer City had problems.

The everwinter alloy hadn't arrived yet—Ling Shuanghan's collection hadn't triggered, so they used ordinary alloy.

Ordinary alloy became extremely brittle at minus 195 degrees.

Cracks appeared.

Not one.

Seven.

The largest crack was half a meter wide.

The cold air poured in from the crack, and the temperature in the Outer City dropped from minus 5 degrees to minus 40 degrees within half an hour.

If not repaired, people in the Outer City would start freezing to death in two hours.

After receiving the news, Ling Shuanghan arrived at the Outer City within three minutes.

Lin Yuan went too.

He brought the Origin Ember heating device.

Created a temporary warm zone in the repair area.

But the range of the warm zone was limited.

Outside the wall was still a minus 195-degree blizzard.

Repair work had to be done outside the wall.

Ling Shuanghan's Frost Emperor Domain unfolded.

Ice-blue light spread from her, covering the entire repair area.

Inside the domain, the temperature rose from minus 195 degrees to minus 30 degrees.

Minus 30 degrees.

Still very cold.

But at least people wouldn't freeze to death.

The repair team started working under the protection of the domain.

Welding.

Reinforcing.

Filling.

Four hours.

Ling Shuanghan's Frost Emperor Domain was maintained for four hours.

During the four hours, she didn't move an inch.

Standing in the blizzard.

Like a pillar.

Ice-blue light continued to radiate from her.

Her face became whiter and whiter.

Her lips turned from red to light pink, then from light pink to almost transparent.

Spiritual Power was consuming rapidly.

But her expression didn't change.

From beginning to end.

Calm.

The repair was completed.

Everyone withdrew to the Shelter.

Ling Shuanghan and Lin Yuan were the last to leave.

The two leaned against the foot of the wall to Shelter from the wind, waiting for the last batch of people to enter.

Ling Shuanghan's breathing was a bit rapid.

Maintaining the domain for four hours brought her to her limit.

But she stood very straight.

Lin Yuan took out a bottle of something from his arms.

c-grade energy mineral water.

Heated version.

The bottle was still steaming.

Ling Shuanghan took it.

She didn't ask "When did you prepare this."

She didn't ask "How did you know I needed it."

She just unscrewed the cap and took a sip.

Warm liquid flowed from her throat to her stomach.

It felt like something was melting inside her body.

"It's been a hundred years."

Ling Shuanghan suddenly said.

Lin Yuan looked at her.

"The first time I felt that repairing a wall wasn't too bad."

Her voice was very soft.

Half blown away by the wind.

But Lin Yuan heard it.

Ling Shuanghan continued:

"In the Everwinter World, repairing a wall means more people will die. Every time a wall is repaired, someone will freeze to death outside the wall."

She looked at the Shelter behind her.

The light shone from the window.

Warm yellow.

Like another world in the blizzard.

"But this time—"

She took her gaze back from the Shelter.

"No one died."

Lin Yuan didn't speak.

The wind whistled between the two.

Then he spoke.

"There won't be in the future either."

Four words.

The tone was flat.

Like saying "The weather is good tomorrow."

But Ling Shuanghan turned her head and looked at him.

In the cold wind, this man's expression was the same as usual.

No high ambition.

No oaths.

No patting his chest and saying "I promise."

Just very flatly saying four words.

There won't be in the future either.

But it was this flatness that caused something frozen for a hundred years in Ling Shuanghan's heart—to crack a seam.

A very small seam.

Small enough that she wasn't sure if it was an illusion.

But in that seam, something warm was seeping out.

Not the heat of frost crystal stones.

Not the temperature of the Origin Ember.

It was something else.

She couldn't say clearly.

And didn't want to explain clearly.

She finished the mineral water.

Handed the empty bottle back to Lin Yuan.

"Let's go." She said. "It's cold outside."

Lin Yuan took the empty bottle.

"You stood in a minus 195-degree blizzard for four hours just now."

Ling Shuanghan: "That's different."

Lin Yuan: "How is it different?"

Ling Shuanghan didn't answer.

She turned and walked toward the entrance of the Shelter.

Her back was very straight.

Her pace was steady.

No fatigue could be seen.

But Lin Yuan noticed—when she walked, her left hand clenched slightly.

Then let go.

As if confirming something.

Or remembering something.

Lin Yuan followed behind, threw the empty bottle into the recycling bin at the door.

He didn't look back at the blizzard.

The blizzard wasn't worth looking at.

Everything worth looking at was inside the Shelter.