Chapter 180: The Smell of Gunpowder Rises

Under the night sky, Luochuan had not completely fallen silent despite the day's clamor.

On the city walls, torches swayed in the night wind, illuminating the vigilant faces and cold armor of the patrolling soldiers.

After the Defense Commissioner's Manor issued the order to raise the alert level,

The whole of Luochuan and its key points were like a wound-up mechanism.

It operated silently, exuding a tense feeling as if a mountain storm were imminent.

The Inspection Bureau's inconspicuous compound was now brightly lit, with figures moving back and forth.

The air was filled with a peculiar mixture of fatigue and excitement.

Qian Gui's eyes were bloodshot, and the long table before him was covered with various fragmented intelligence pieces

— several scraps of cloth bearing special markings.

A small amount of soil from a specific area, and a few hastily drawn papers with strange symbols.

Even a half piece of hardened rations bearing tooth marks.

These were all brought back at great risk by external scouts, appearing unrelated and even somewhat absurd clues.

"Chief, this is from Observation Point Three."

A young scout placed a piece of gray, rough-textured cloth on the table.

"It was found on the edge of the northern Black Pine Forest, caught on thorns."

"The fabric isn't common around here, the dye smells odd, carrying a kind of… indescribable chill."

Qian Gui picked up the cloth, brought it close to the lamp for inspection, then held it to his nose to smell.

Indeed, aside from the scent of plants and earth.

There was also a very faint trace, like… a cold smell of metal mixed with some mineral.

This immediately reminded him of the Nether Energy Crystal Ore seized from those two "fur merchants" earlier.

"Black Pine Forest…"

Qian Gui's finger traced the area on the map marked as a vast primeval forest.

"There, few people venture, miasma spreads, and even herb gatherers rarely go deep."

Almost simultaneously, another clerk responsible for compiling information looked up and said.

"Chief, the dark sentries at the city gates report that, in the past two days, among the refugees and merchants entering the city, several have behaved oddly."

"They don't show the usual astonishment at Luochuan's prosperity; their eyes are overly calm, even… empty."

"Although they quickly blend into the crowd and disappear, following your orders, all abnormalities have been recorded."

"Empty eyes…"

Qian Gui muttered to himself, recalling the interrogation of the two Iron Crow Army scouts, their lifeless eyes.

At that moment, the courtyard door was lightly knocked, and after verifying the secret signal,

A thin man covered in grass scraps and with scrapes on his face slipped inside.

He was a veteran responsible for scouting the outermost mountains and forests.

"Chief, we've found something!"

The man panted, not even stopping to drink water, and spoke urgently.

"I found some footprints near Eagle Beak Gully, twenty li west of the Black Pine Forest!"

"They're very faint, made with a special foot technique that hardly leaves traces, but there are many— at least a dozen!"

"The footprints generally point toward the hill region bordering Luochuan and Thus entries: Thus entries: Anping!"

"Eagle Beak Gully… leads to the border hills…"

Qian Gui's eyes locked onto the map, his finger moving along that hidden route.

That hill region has complex terrain, with gullies crisscrossing.

It happens to bypass several open sentry posts; if one is familiar with the terrain, an expert can infiltrate silently.

Beyond the hills, whether Luochuan's Artificers' Camp or Thus entries: Thus entries: Anping's large granary, the distance is not great!

"Special foot technique, a dozen people, empty eyes, cold cloth scent, pointing to the core area…"

Qian Gui swiftly pieced together these fragmented clues in his mind.

"This is certainly not the previous broad-net infiltration scouting; it is an elite squad with a clear objective!"

"Their actions are so covert they hardly leave footprints— their goal must be enormous!"

"Cut the roots… they aim to cut our roots!"

A cold thought flashed like lightning through Qian Gui's mind.

Combining the earlier inference that the master was dissatisfied with Zhao Kuangyin's progress, the enemy intends to strike directly, destroying Luochuan's core lifeline for survival and development!

"Quick!"

Qian Gui sprang to his feet, his voice hoarse from urgency.

"Immediately send all this intelligence, together with my assessment, as an urgent report to the Defense Commissioner!"

"Mark the suspected infiltration routes and possible targets— the Artificers' Camp and Thus entries: Thus entries: Anping Granary! Hurry!"

A trusted scout took the organized intelligence dossier and shot out of the courtyard like an arrow from a bow, racing straight to the Defense Commissioner's Manor.

Inside the Defense Commissioner's Manor, Chen Wen was not resting; under the oil lamp he was examining Luochuan's defense map.

Upon receiving Qian Gui's urgent intelligence, his face instantly sank like still water, his eyes sharp as a blade.

"Sure enough, they've come!"

"And they've come so swiftly, so ruthlessly!"

"He hesitated not, immediately issuing a series of orders:"

"Order Shi Dun: the Jing'an Army is to enter combat readiness at once!"

According to Plan No. 3 of Jia, dispatch elite forces to the Artificer Camp, all major granaries, and the water conservancy hub, especially the night watch and hidden posts, doubling the deployment!

Tell him the incoming might be experts; have his men widen their eyes and prick up their ears!

Order Zhang Cheng to immediately organize the militia, assist the Jun Ying in strengthening patrols inside the city and around key facilities, enforce a curfew, allowing entry but not exit!

At the same time, notify Wang Ru to activate the emergency grain and material allocation plan, ensuring rapid support if anything changes.

Order Zhao Lao Nian to have the Artificer Camp's First Character Workshop and core storehouse immediately implement the dispersal and concealment plan, with key artisans and drawings protected by dedicated personnel and transferred to the backup workshop!

If necessary, production may be temporarily halted, with preserving personnel and core technology as the top priority!

Notify the commanders of Thus entries: Thus entries: Anping and Linhe to heighten alert and hold firm, especially the Thus entries: Thus entries: Anping granary; no one may approach without my order, violators will be killed on sight!

Orders cascaded like stones tossed into a calm lake, stirring ripples upon ripples.

The whole of Luochuan and its subsidiary systems, in this deep night, began operating with unprecedented efficiency.

The Jun Ying's mobilizing footsteps, officers' low commands, the militia's noisy assembly, and the creaking of moving carts and horses……

Although he tried to suppress it, that austere, killing tension could no longer be contained, spreading everywhere.

Chen Wen donned armor, hung a horizontal blade at his side, and, escorted by his personal guards, strode toward the city wall.

He needed to go to the front lines himself to steady the troops' morale.

He also needed to see with his own eyes what kind of storm this impending one would be.

Standing atop Luochuan's tall city tower, the night wind flapped, stirring his cloak.

Beyond the city lay a deep darkness; distant mountains were like dark ink, the nearby fields silent.

But in Chen Wen's perception, within that darkness, a cold killing intent was silently approaching.

He knew that Qian Gui's pieced-together intelligence might still be incomplete.

The enemy's exact numbers, precise attack time, and final focus might still be variable.

But this was enough. Sufficient forewarning allowed him to spread his net in advance and stand ready.

"Iron Crow Army… 'Phantom Shade'…"

Chen Wen whispered those two names, his eyes icy.

No matter who they were or what strange methods they used, as long as they dared to stretch their claws onto his land.

Stretching toward his painstakingly built foundation, he was confident and determined to crush this claw and its master behind it!

"Pass the order down!"

Chen Wen said in a low voice to the messenger beside him.

"Tell all the soldiers: tonight, hostile guests may come. Have them sharpen their weapons and rally their spirits. I will make any who dare to attack not return!"

"Yes!"

The messenger shouted his assent, turned and ran down the city tower, spreading this order charged with killing intent everywhere.

Luochuan, this city risen in chaotic times, has now become a beast crouching in the darkness.

Its muscles tensed, claws hidden deep, waiting to deliver a fatal blow to any invader.