191: Chapter 191 Guerrilla Maneuvering (Part 9)

Northwest, the Rift Zone, at dusk.

Lu Mingyuan stood on a hilltop, looking down at the earth below. The setting sun cast its final rays upon The Rift, ruins, and withered trees, turning them a blood-red that also held a glimmer of hope. Behind him stood eighty-one people. There were Loose Cultivators, hunters, villagers, and those who had been corrupted by Devilish Qi and then saved. Their eyes held a light—a faint light, as weak as a firefly's. Yet, that light would not go out; no matter how strong the wind or how deep the darkness, it remained.

"Bai Ze, open the map."

Bai Ze flew up from his shoulder, and the bai ze map unfurled with a flash of golden light. A massive topographical map materialized in the air, marking every mountain, river, village, Rift, mine, and passage. Green dots represented areas already secured, red dots indicated those still in danger, and yellow dots showed shifting conditions. Three main passages, nine villages, one Small City, a plain, an Official Road, and dozens of large and small hazards were all displayed.

"We have secured three passages, sealed two mines, purified one, and saved nine people. But it's not enough." Lu Mingyuan pointed to the red dots on the map. "These red dots are the directions in which the Devilish Qi might spread. The Rift is in the Northwest, but the Devilish Qi won't stay there; it will follow the wind, the water, and the terrain to spread south, east, and west. We need to know where it's going before it spreads. Once we know, we can set up defenses in advance. Only then can we block it. And only by blocking it can people survive."

"How do we know?" Zhou Zheng asked.

"By building an Early Warning System. Beacon towers, tokens, secret signals, and messengers. As soon as the Devilish Qi moves, we'll know. Once we know, we can prepare. And with preparation, many fewer people will die."

Shi Hu leaned in. "Beacon towers? We hunters use smoke and fire to send signals in the mountains sometimes. But Devilish Qi isn't a wild beast; it doesn't move on its own. It follows the wind, the water, and the terrain. We need to set up sentries at wind gaps, river mouths, and mountain passes. The sentries will keep watch, and as soon as the Devilish Qi approaches, they'll send a signal."

"Exactly. Not just wind gaps, river mouths, and mountain passes. Villages, roads, and bridges too. Sentries must be placed at every location the Devilish Qi might pass through. We don't need many—just one person per post. They don't need to be strong, just able to run, shout, and send signals."

Liu Laogen also stepped forward. "What can we villagers do? We can't fight, we can't run fast, and we don't know how to send signals."

"You can watch. Watch the sky, the earth, and the wind. You've farmed all your lives; you know which way the wind blows and when the rain or fog will come. When Devilish Qi arrives, the sky, the earth, and the wind will change. When you notice it, tell us. Once we know, we'll go to block it."

Liu Laogen nodded. "We can do that. Farmers are the best at reading the sky."

Zhao Sanniang, carrying an oil lamp and leading Gousheng, also approached. "What about me? What can I do?"

"You will deliver messages. You're well-liked, and people in every village trust you. Take Gousheng and move between the villages. If there's movement anywhere, go and notify the other side. Your oil lamp will be the signal. If the lamp is lit, it means it's safe. If the lamp is out, it means danger. If the lamp is flickering, it means the Devilish Qi is coming."

Zhao Sanniang looked at the oil lamp in her hand. It was very old, the copper casing blackened, but the wick was still lit, flickering like a beating heart. "This lamp can send messages?"

"It can. Light that the human heart can see is a signal. When your lamp is lit, others will know you're still alive. When it's out, they'll know you're in danger. When it flickers, they'll know the demons have come. Simple, but effective."

Gousheng looked up at Lu Mingyuan. "And me? What can I do?"

"Stay with your grandmother. When she can't walk anymore, support her. When she can't see the path clearly, show her the way. When she's tired, carry the lamp for her."

Gousheng nodded vigorously. "I can carry it. My hands are strong."

Lu Mingyuan looked at these people—eighty-one individuals gathered from all over. Their cultivation wasn't high, and their skills weren't great, but they were willing. Willing to learn, willing to act, and willing to stand guard. They were willing to wait for the moment the sky would brighten.

"Good. Starting today, we will build the Early Warning System. It won't be finished in a day; we'll build it day by day. There's no rush."

---

Bai Ze unfurled the map, golden light shimmering. Lu Mingyuan pointed to the dots on the map, assigning roles one by one.

"The eastern river valley is the main path for the Devilish Qi to spread. We'll set up three sentry posts along the banks—one upstream, one midstream, and one downstream. The sentries will watch the water; if they see it turn black, they'll send a signal."

"Two sentry posts at the wind gap—one on the north side and one on the south side. The sentries will watch the wind direction; if the wind suddenly changes or carries a foul stench, they'll send a signal."

"Four sentry posts in the western mountain gully—one for each village. The sentries will watch the paths in the gully. If they see black mist coming from the north, they'll send a signal."

"As for the mines, even though they've been sealed and purified, we still need to keep an eye on them. We'll set up one sentry post at each mine to watch the entrance. If they see Devilish Qi emerging again, they'll send a signal."

"Between the villages, we'll have messengers. Two people for each village—one responsible for heading south and one for heading north. Use tokens for messaging, not words. Words can be misheard, but tokens won't be. If the demons come, pass a black stone. If it's safe, pass a white stone. If you're unsure, pass a grey stone."

Zhou Zheng frowned. "Black, white, and grey stones... can they really tell them apart?"

"They can. Black for demons, white for safety, and grey for doubt. It's simple and foolproof."

Shi Hu also asked, "How should we send signals? Smoke and fire? Sound?"

"Both. Use smoke during the day and fire at night. For smoke, use damp wood to create thick plumes that can be seen from ten miles away. For fire, use dry wood to create soaring flames that can be seen from twenty miles away. For sound, use horns. One long blast followed by two short ones means the demons are coming. Two long blasts followed by one short one means it's safe. One long, one short, and one long means unsure."

"Horns?" Shi Hu touched his waist. "We hunters have horns; we use them to call out to our companions while hunting. They'll work."

"Then use your horns. The signals must be unified; there can be no confusion. One long and two short: the demons are coming. Two long and one short: it's safe. One long, one short, one long: unsure. Did you get that?"

"We got it!" everyone replied in unison.

"Good. Tomorrow, we'll head out to set up the posts. Tonight, we'll decide who goes where. No rush, one by one."

---

Night, by the campfire.

The eighty-one people sat in a circle, the firelight illuminating their faces. Those faces bore the marks of hardship, exhaustion, and scars. But there was also light—a faint light, as weak as a firefly's. Yet, that light would not go out; no matter how strong the wind or how deep the darkness, it remained.

Lu Mingyuan sat by the fire, asking each person in turn.

"What is your name?"

"Wang Ergou."

"What did you do before?"

"I was a hunter."

"Where do you want to go?"

"The wind gap. I'm familiar with the winds there; I've felt them for thirty years. As soon as the wind changes, I'll know."

"Good. You'll take the northern sentry post at the wind gap."

"What is your name?"

"Li Cuihua."

"What did you do before?"

"Farmed. I also sold tofu."

"Where do you want to go?"

"The eastern river valley. My family's home is over there; I know the roads well."

"Good. You'll take the upstream sentry post in the river valley."

"What is your name?"

"Zhang Tiezhu."

"What did you do before?"

"I was a blacksmith."

"Where do you want to go?"

"The western mountain gully. I can forge iron and repair tools. If a sentry's tools break, I can fix them."

"Good. You'll go to the second village in the gully. You'll act as a sentry while also helping the villagers repair their farm tools."

One after another—eighty-one people, eighty-one names, eighty-one stories. Lu Mingyuan remembered them all. He didn't just memorize them with his mind; he committed them to his heart. These weren't chess pieces; they were people. People with names, stories, homes, parents, and children. They had come to help him not because they owed him, but because they believed in him. They believed him when he said the sky would brighten, when he said the demons would retreat, and when he said they could go home.

The last one was Zhao Sanniang. She sat holding her oil lamp, with Gousheng asleep against her leg.

"Zhao Sanniang, you will deliver messages. From Willow Creek to Tudi Temple Village, from Tudi Temple Village to Shihezi, and from Shihezi to the Small City. You know this route well. You know many people, and everyone in the villages trusts you. You making one trip is more effective than us making ten."

"But I'm old; I can't walk fast."

"You don't need to be fast. Just be steady. Walk one stretch a day, and rest when you arrive. Once you've rested, move on. There's no rush."

"What about Gousheng?"

"Gousheng will go with you. He's young and nimble. When you can't walk anymore, he'll carry you. When you can't see clearly, he'll show you the way. When you're tired, he'll carry the lamp for you."

Zhao Sanniang looked down at her grandson. Gousheng was sleeping soundly, with a bit of drool at the corner of his mouth. She reached out and gently wiped it away. Her hands were rough, like old tree bark, but they were warm—as warm as the earth in spring.

"Alright," Zhao Sanniang said. "I'll go."

---

The next morning, at dawn.

Before the sun had risen, there was a streak of red on the horizon. The eighty-one people stood on the hilltop, carrying their bundles, tools, and rations. They were leaving for their respective sentry posts and stations, to the places they would guard.

Lu Mingyuan stood before them, looking at each of them.

"From today on, you are no longer just villagers, hunters, or Loose Cultivators. You are sentries, messengers, and a part of the Early Warning System. You are not just guarding yourselves; you are guarding those behind you—your villages, your homes, your parents, and your children. If you hold your ground, they live. If you fail, they die."

No one spoke. The wind blew, ruffling their hair, their clothes, and the flags in their hands.

"I won't give you a salary, military honors, or official titles. I will only give you one thing: hope. Hope that if you hold your ground, your families will live. Hope that when the sky brightens, you can go home. Hope that when you return, the great willow tree will still be there, the small temple will still be there, and the river will still be there."

Liu Laogen stepped forward. "Mister Lu, we don't want a salary, honors, or titles. We just want an answer to one question: Will the sky brighten?"

"It will."

"When?"

"I don't know. But I will keep Mending the Heavens, keep guarding, and keep purifying. I'll mend until it brightens, guard until it brightens, and purify until it brightens. As long as I don't stop, you don't need to fear. As long as I don't die, you don't need to despair. As long as I don't retreat, you don't need to flee."

Liu Laogen looked at him, at this young man. There was a light in his eyes—a light as bright as the sun. That light shone on his face, his body, and into his heart.

"Good. We'll go and stand guard."

Liu Laogen turned and walked toward the eastern river valley. Shi Hu turned and walked toward the wind gap. Zhou Zheng turned and walked toward the mines. Zhao Sanniang, carrying her oil lamp and leading Gousheng, walked toward the villages. One by one, eighty-one people headed in eighty-one directions. They left to guard the wind gaps, river mouths, and mountain passes; to guard the villages, roads, and bridges; and to guard those who were still waiting for the sky to brighten.

Lu Mingyuan stood on the hilltop, watching them walk into the distance. Only Bai Ze remained behind him.

"Bai Ze."

"I'm here."

"How many red dots are left on the map?"

"Thirty-seven. Thirty-seven people corrupted by Devilish Qi who haven't been saved yet. Sixteen villages that haven't been evacuated. Four mines that haven't been sealed. And two great Rifts that haven't been mended."

"Is it a lot?"

"Yes."

"But now we have people. Eighty-one people, eighty-one sentry posts. Now that the posts are established, we have an Early Warning System. With that, we can know in advance where the Devilish Qi is going. Once we know, we can set up defenses. Once we set up defenses, we can block it. Once we block it, people can live. And once people live, more will come to help us. More people can do more things. By doing them bit by bit, we will accomplish more and more. Once we have done enough, it will become effective. When it's effective, the demons will weaken. And when the demons weaken, the sky can brighten."

"You speak with great strength today."

"Because I have confidence now. Not in myself, but in them. I believe they will hold their ground, that they will deliver the messages, and that they will wait. Wait for the moment the sky brightens."

Bai Ze perched on his shoulder, watching the receding figures. Their silhouettes were tiny, like ants. But they were moving, walking step by step. By walking, they would arrive. By arriving, they would hold their ground. By holding their ground, people would live. If people lived, hope would remain. And with hope, the sky would brighten.

The sky over the Northwest was still grey and overcast; The Rifts, the Devilish Qi, and the hatred remained. But Lu Mingyuan was no longer afraid. Because behind him were eighty-one people. Eighty-one people, eighty-one sentry posts, and eighty-one hearts. Those hearts were beating, guarding, and waiting. Waiting for him to mend the heavens, to purify the demons, and to bring the dawn.

Inside him, that small tree was still growing. Twenty-seven feet, twenty-eight feet, twenty-nine feet. It was very slow, crawling like a snail. But it was growing—growing in the darkness, growing in the resentment, growing in the despair. It was growing, and so it would eventually become great. And once it grew large, it could support a larger sky, block more demons, and save more people.