Chapter 709: Ineffective Discussion, Re-entering the Shadow Secret Realm

Jier sighed as he said this, while the others began to discuss in low voices the current situation in Borisfa City.

They were not very familiar with one another; everyone was just a group of strangers gathered around Knight Jier and Priest Bata'er. Thus, they were quite reserved in their discussion.

The most recent news everyone had was what the old Merchant had heard while passing through the area before being captured by the Bandits, as well as occasional news heard by young Villagers who had fled their homes as a whole village some time ago.

It could not be fake, but the true situation was also very limited.

Moreover, times had changed; no one knew what the situation from back then was like now. Perhaps the situation had stabilized, or perhaps it had become even more chaotic.

After listening for a while, Jier discovered that most of the others did not have high expectations for this place.

Originally, the armies and security forces throughout the Southern Province had been taken by the various Nobles to gather at the Province Capital, preparing to head south to launch a new war. This had led to chaotic security everywhere, and with the deserters and defeated soldiers from last year joining the various Bandit Groups, the situation was this insecure.

If there were only Bandits causing trouble near Borisfa City, the remaining local Soldiers could still find a way to pacify them and ensure the safety of the region.

But now, the rural populace from the areas ruled by Borisfa City itself had gathered and surrounded the entire city. Tsk tsk, no one could guess in what direction the current situation would deteriorate.

"In that case, regarding the situation in this place, let's wait until we leave here and reach Duoen Town to find someone to ask for information. Consider it a location kept as a temporary option for now."

Jier scratched his head and found a small wood chip to place on the map at the location of Borisfa City.

"Everyone, take another look to see where else in the surroundings might be safer. At the very least, there must be houses for hundreds of people to settle and land for farming. This is a prerequisite; this is not a place for a short stay, but a place to avoid war and chaotic security where we might need to settle and defend for a year or two."

Jier stated the conditions required for the place he needed first, so as not to let some people choose some particularly outrageous locations.

Everyone gathered around the map, carefully examining this relatively complex map. They repeatedly asked Jier about some markings on it that they could not understand, and Jier answered them one by one.

Nine people huddled in a small circle, causing the illumination from the campfire to be insufficient, so Jier drew the Hunting Sword at his waist and stuck it into the ground next to the map with the tip pointing downward.

Subsequently, the blade of the Hunting Sword, in accordance with Jier's request, constantly emitted a uniform, non-glaring white light, illuminating the map and everyone in the circle.

The two Merchants and the four young men under Jier all looked at this weapon in astonishment. Meanwhile, Priest Bata'er slightly closed his eyes, expressing no opinion on the fact that Jier, a warrior chosen by the Agricultural God, was using a blessed weapon of the Sun God Church.

Especially since Jier had already been wearing this weapon when he received the ritual blessing from the Agricultural God earlier.

Since the Agricultural God had said nothing, he simply acted as if he had not seen it.

Especially since everyone knew that, compared to other churches, the Agricultural God Church itself did not have many blessings and Divine Arts that could be directly used for combat.

"How about this place?"

A young man had a sudden inspiration and pointed to a marking with a skull on the map.

Jier had just explained this place; it was an abandoned ruin of the Dwarf, and although it was located on a relatively good small river valley plain, there were no Human-settled villages within a certain distance around it.

"There's no one around, so naturally there won't be any Bandits coming to attack! No matter how chaotic it is outside, it should be quite safe there."

Jier shrugged: "An abandoned ruin of the Dwarf; the reason it has a skull marking is because the village elder who provided the information said that the early migrants who went there in the past never returned and disappeared. That is why even the Bandits do not go there. If we want to settle there, we have to figure out how the people who migrated there died. Moreover, as for the abandoned ruin of the Dwarf, it is hard to say whether it was abandoned because the Saint Hors Kingdom was established, or if it was abandoned even earlier."

"If it was because of the establishment of the Human Kingdom, then it is easy to explain the migration of the Dwarf, but if it is something that even some stubborn Dwarf could not deal with, then I suggest we had better not go there."

The young man scratched his head and gave a silly smile.

The middle-aged Merchant, Long-Bafute, then made a special proposal: "Sir Knight, with you in the team, our combat power should be higher than that of ordinary Bandit Groups, right?"

Jier waved his hand: "That should be the case, but Bataer and I still have to go to rescue the people of Changmai Cunzi, and after that, we still have to return to the army. It is impossible to stay here for a long time."

"That is so, but it does not matter. I have a proposal; please listen, everyone."

Everyone looked at this middle-aged Merchant, who was mentally different from the other rescued Merchants, to see what kind of good location this person could suggest.

Unexpectedly, this person's words were very bold.

"I am thinking this: since we can defeat many Bandit Groups during the days Sir Knight is with us, why not just find a Bandit lair with a good geographical location, attack it directly, and just occupy it? We will not go around attacking others like the Bandits; we will just occupy one place and reclaim new farmland. At the same time, by completely eliminating a large Bandit Group, we can deter Bandit Groups in other places from setting their sights on us?"

"I wonder if this method is feasible?"

He stood up, humbly placed his hand on his chest, made a gesture, and finally asked.

This seemingly sudden inspiration of a plan immediately made the four young men leading the teams open their eyes wide. They became excited and whispered to each other, appearing very excited.

Priest Bata'er, however, frowned, appearing slightly worried, because unlike Jier the warrior who would leave, he would remain here permanently after returning with the rescued people of Changmai Cunzi to the settlement everyone chose.

Attacking a Bandit lair and then using the momentum to deter other Bandit Groups seemed to look quite good; it was a simple and violent plan, but precisely because of this, he vaguely felt it was not quite appropriate.

It was just that he could not say what was wrong for a moment.

However, the next two people would help him clarify these doubts.

"Deter Bandit Groups? I think this will not work." The first to refute was Xueya Site. Unlike most people present, he belonged to those who would follow Jier later, so he spoke much more directly and casually, not caring much about the faces and concerns of others.

Merchant Bafute frowned, but then spread his hands, asking this caravan guard, who was about the same age as him, to explain in detail.

Xueya Site carried a Crossbow on his back, a bag of crossbow bolts at his waist behind him, a Steel Longsword he had just captured and replaced on his left side, and a high-quality Short Knife also captured on his right side. He wore thick Leather Clothing, and outside the leather clothing, he also wore some scattered pieces of leather armor.

"The reason I say it won't work is a problem of the rise and fall of power. As the chaos in the Southern Province intensifies, the strength of the Bandit Groups will certainly enter a stage of rapid growth as they absorb a large number of young men who have lost their homes. The more chaotic the situation, the further their numbers and combat power will be strengthened."

"You think that attacking one Bandit Group today can deter the surrounding enemies, but what about tomorrow? When their numbers increase twofold, will they still think they cannot deal with you? This will not work; it is too dangerous, and it is even an active announcement of the existence of these young Refugees who want to settle down in reverse. They did not know before, but now it is good; by attacking a Bandit lair, they all know."

Merchant Bafute was unable to speak after being rebutted by these words, because the situation on the side of the Bandits was really hard to say; at least as time passed, the growth in the strength of some Bandit Groups was a fact that everyone acknowledged.

If they did not solve this matter, they would be like a piece of fatty meat, attracting a group of hungry, murderous, and plundering hyenas to chase and gnaw on them wherever they went.

Just like those Bandits they encountered last night.

Or even more ferocious.

At the same time, the old Merchant Fentijia also slowly gave his rebuttal. It was not that he specifically wanted to undermine his companion who was also a Merchant, but mainly because he saw the dilemma they would have to face after so many people settled in a Bandit lair, which was very difficult to solve, so he had to speak up to refute.

"Ahem, it is like this. I also have some immature views."

The old Merchant shook his head at the middle-aged Merchant, signaling that what he was about to say was not to speak for him.

"Not to mention the external security situation, but just after settling down internally, I see that the problems are not small."

He pointed to several locations on the map marked with some old-fashioned, relatively large-scale Bandit Groups with a certain family heritage: "Not to mention some Bandit Groups that are still relatively small now, and their lairs; after all, those places can barely accommodate a few dozen people, but for hundreds of people, many places simply cannot accommodate them no matter what. There is not enough place for people to live, let alone reclaim land."

"I am only talking about these Bandit Groups that have been around for some time. These places can barely accommodate so many of us now, and even more people later. Hmm, they generally occupy some places that can be developed into villages, and the terrain is relatively open. As far as I know, oh, all heard from exchanges with some Merchants who were caught by Bandits and then ransomed back, Bandit lairs that can be maintained for a long time generally have a model of half-plundering and half-farming. Around the lair, they will even send people who were kidnapped to farm like family members who do not kill or rob. And if the land crops have a good harvest that year, and they do not send people to plunder, it is about the same as some smaller villages."

He looked at the faces around him that were all looking at him, and then said: "So, this is the good side, but."

Sure enough, whenever the word "but" appeared at the end of a statement, the benefits mentioned earlier would turn into unfavorable aspects later.

"But, precisely because of this, these Bandit lairs—nests, whatever you call them—that have appeared for a certain period of time, they all have a larger number of other personnel who do not go out to rob."

His old, turbid eyes looked at Jier, and the white light emitted by the Hunting Sword cast a bright reflection on these eyes.

"If the Bandit's lair is attacked, how should these family members and relatives of the Bandits, who are more numerous than the Bandits themselves, be dealt with? Sir Knight?"

Jier originally wanted to say that he would handle them all just as Knight Kela handled the Thieves of Luodai Cave within Kendall County. But he knew that it was fine for Knight Kela to say this, because at that time, Knight Kela was leading the entire combat Militia, and those people already hated the bandits on the Shanglu, and furthermore, because the families of the Thieves of Luodai Cave were hiding in the Shandong, the Militia had not seen the enemy's women and children with their own eyes during the battle.

So in the end, they used smoke and fire to either suffocate or burn those hundreds of people to death. Except for the few Militia members who were disgusted by the task of collecting the bodies, most people did not care.

But that would not work now. Jier's identity and the composition of his team could not allow him to answer that way.

Jier frowned, thought for a moment, and said: "They cannot be killed, and they are not easy to deal with. Can we only keep them under guard and have them live together?"

The old Merchant nodded: "Here is the problem: can two groups of people who have harmed each other live under the same roof?"

At this, Jier shook his head as soon as he finished speaking: "Impossible. Our few people cannot handle that. If it were a Noble with a territory, they could scatter the families of these bandits and arrange them into various villages within the territory. That way, they would be a minority group wherever they went and could not gather, so it would not be a problem, and the managers of the villages could handle it themselves."

"That is how it is. Besides this, there are other problems. For example, after settling down and occupying the bandits' lair, the necessities for survival, such as salt and tools, must be obtained through external exchange. Large towns can of course organize armed Caravans to protect the last remaining trade, but for a small place like ours, how can we obtain these survival necessities?"

"Bandits can of course rely on plundering to solve this—robbing villages, robbing Caravans, or even robbing other bandits. After all, in a chaotic situation, their scale will only continue to grow, and the more they attack each other, the faster and larger their scale will grow. But what about us? Do we rely on robbing too? Robbing whom? Bandits? After Knight Jier leaves, most of the people who settle down will barely be able to survive, so how could they defeat increasingly formidable bandits? Then, other villages? Wouldn't that be the same as the bandits?"

"I fear that when the border war ends and the Nobles from various places lead their troops back home, we will just be wiped out by the armies along with the bandits everywhere."

Once the old Merchant finished speaking, everyone present fell silent, especially the four young people who had previously thought this plan was quite good. They wilted like frost-bitten eggplants, sitting on the ground with their heads lowered, not knowing what to do.

They subsequently looked at Knight Jier, but could only see a forced smile on Jier's face, which then turned into a look of worry as he stared at the messy and complicated map marked with various signs.

"Bataer, you speak."

Jier finally asked Priest Bataer, who had not said much the whole time.

Priest Bataer certainly did not like the bandit lair plan, but he could not come up with other schemes either, so he had to say: "I still want to know the recent situation in Borisfa City. If it is safe there, I am confident that I can beg for some help from the Agricultural God Church diocese in Borisfa City. After all, there is no one left in the villages everywhere now, and I think most of the Cunzi Priests of the villages would not follow the masses to flee, but should instead lead their believers to gather at the diocese."

"That is a force not to be underestimated; if we get help, or even gather there, perhaps everything can be solved smoothly."

"Even if it is not solved, we can still get some help; that is what I think."

But after Jier heard his words, he shook his head in silence: "Priest Luosa-Bata'er, think carefully."

"Hmm?"

Knight Jier's words left everyone around confused, not knowing what he meant, but the Knight did not seem to have any intention of explaining.

The old Merchant was thoughtful but did not say anything more.

Priest Bataer was a bit puzzled at first, but after looking at Jier pointing at himself, the Priest understood.

Priest Bataer fell silent.

If the Agricultural God Church diocese in Borisfa City still had any spare capacity, or rather, if the situation were still good, the Agricultural God would not have guided him to Montoka City to wait for an outsider, the warrior Jier.

Although this warrior arranged for him by the Agricultural God had surprised him many times, the fact that he had not sought any power from the Borisfa City diocese at all already explained many problems.

The Agricultural God Church's diocese in Borisfa City had run into a major problem.

At the very least, it was in a state where it could not move and could not provide support.

This night discussion ultimately failed to reach a clear destination; everyone only proposed a few constructive plans, as well as a few seemingly 'safe' settlements where the situation was like Mist.

Jier finally ended the discussion, indicating that everyone should first walk out of this Shanglu and head to Duoen Town, which was chaotic but surely had much better access to news, as a short-term destination.

There were many things they could not conclude by guessing blindly in this remote place; only by obtaining the latest news could they make accurate judgments.

Therefore, the target—Duoen Town.

When sleeping at night, Jier wore a suit of armor, and except for not wearing his Helmet, he lay on his Dog Fur Sleeping Bag and fell into a hasty sleep.

He had not slept for two days and one night, although Knight Kela had told him that after becoming a Knight, in the tense state of impending battle, not sleeping for a week would not cause major problems.

But last night was, after all, too long, and there was much slaughter.

Jier only felt that as soon as he closed his eyes, those Humans he had killed appeared repeatedly in his mind, and even before his eyes.

The screams, wails, pain, and crying of those people before they died appeared so clearly in his ears and before his eyes.

'How many people did I kill last night?'

Jier could not remember.

In the darkness of closed eyes, accompanied by the screams that rang clearly in his ears due to deep sleep, Jier's consciousness sank into the darkness.

Opening his eyes, what came into view were the familiar shadow trees.

Jier was stunned, looked left and right; everything around had become a bit wider, but it was still pitch-black and monotonously repetitive.

His consciousness became clear, and he understood where this was.

Yinying Mijing, a consciousness space that he did not know if it was created by the Wooden Carving hanging on his chest.

"Great Bird Deity? Are you looking for me? If you have something to say, just come out; don't act mysterious. I don't buy that."

Jier climbed up, and with the help of the dim light around, he saw the dark red, foul-smelling vengeful spirit aura covering his body, and at the same time, some tenacious 'surviving' purifying small Mushrooms.

He first confirmed that he was in the final small territory of the deity named Buduolibuduolobuyika, and then he confirmed that the many enemies he killed last night were indeed entangling and harming him in the consciousness world he could not see.

And these Mushrooms, which definitely originated from the little fairy, were silently treating him.

As soon as Jier finished speaking, the sound of many wings flapping rang out all around. In the shadows, many small bird-shaped shadows flapped their wings and flew around, finally landing on the various branches of the Shulin.

The birds, composed entirely of black shadows of different depths, landed quietly on the branches, all staring at Jier, this one Human.

What he got in return was not shock and worship, but a muffled grunt from Jier, who was folding his arms.

"Hmph, who are you trying to scare."

Seemingly annoyed by the attitude of this tiny Human, Jier, after a loud "Caw!" sound, a giant black bird the size of a person landed on the top of a wooden stick that had appeared abruptly and was stuck in the ground in front of Jier.

"Rude Human! A miserable situation is coming, it seems you are not yet aware? Caw!"

The deity said so.