Chapter 4

The heavy rain still showed no sign of stopping.

It pattered against the broken roof, gathering into streams that flowed down along the hastily patched seams.

Small puddles pooled in the low spots of the indoor floor.

Cold, damp air filled the cramped space, making a few children involuntarily cough softly.

Chen Wen stood by the door, his eyes like a hawk's scanning the outside through the rain curtain.

The news brought by Aunt Wang was like a fire, burning in his chest and making him unable to sit still.

To the north, the direction of the Khitan camp……

If Mother and little sister were really taken there……

Every moment delayed, they faced an extra bit of danger.

But he must not panic, nor become chaotic.

The lives of the dozen or so people inside the house now rested on him alone.

He forced himself to calm down and listen carefully.

Besides the rain, faint discordant noise seemed to come from afar, but was quickly drowned by the downpour.

"Zhang Cheng." Chen Wen called softly.

The boy dozing against the wall jerked awake and hurried over: "Brother Wen, what's up?"

"Your ears are sharp—listen carefully!"

"Besides the rain, is there any other movement outside?"

"Especially to the east, the direction we came from."

Zhang Cheng immediately held his breath, focused, and cocked his ear to listen.

The childishness on his face was replaced by concentration.

After a while, his face slightly changed.

He lowered his voice and said:

"Brother Wen… it… it sounds like footsteps!"

"There are also hushed voices, mixed in with the rain, hard to make out!"

"But they're definitely there—and getting closer!"

Sure enough, they came!

Chen Wen's heart sank—Hu Biao's men had indeed come after them in the rain!

It seems that one-eyed dragon is quite important to them!

Or perhaps they simply must repay a grudge.

They won't suffer a loss!

"Grab weapons! Everyone up! Prepare to meet the enemy!"

Chen Wen gave a low roar, his voice not loud.

Yet it instantly woke everyone in the house who was dozing, and panic spread again.

"Ah? Again… again they've come?"

"Heaven above, will you let us live at all…"

"What do we do? What do we do?"

Chen Wen took a deep breath, suppressing the anxiety in his heart.

He strove to make his voice sound steady.

"Don't fear! This house is easy to defend, hard to attack!"

"With such heavy rain, they can't see inside—we have the advantage!"

He quickly assigned tasks:

"Elders and children, retreat to the innermost corner!"

"Aunt Wang, you watch over them."

"Anyone able-bodied, men grab sticks and stones to guard the doors and windows!"

"Women, find anything that can hold water, catch the rain—I'll have use for it!"

Under the 4× efficiency boost, his leadership now clearly shows.

His orders were clear and decisive, carrying a convincing force.

The people seemed to have found a backbone; though afraid, they still acted as instructed.

Chen Wen himself picked up that blood-stained pointed stick and crouched low.

Hidden behind the breach in the half-collapsed courtyard wall, he stared fixedly at the rain curtain outside.

【System alert: Preparing for enemy, organizing defense, falls under 'guard labor,' Diligence Points (WP) slowly increasing……】

The system's prompt now sounded like background noise; Chen Wen's entire focus was on sensing the enemy.

The footsteps grew clearer, mixed with muttered complaints.

"Damn, this damned weather…"

"Brother Biao really, for a brat and a few old fossils, making us soak in this downpour…"

"Cut the chatter! Quickly find them, chop that kid, loot the stuff and head back to report!"

They're here!

About five or six figures, soaked through and miserable, appeared in the rain curtain.

They were precisely the lackeys who had fled before, this time with two new faces!

Each held a gleaming blade, clearly prepared.

They saw the house with a roof here, and a vicious smile appeared on their faces.

They walked straight toward the courtyard gate that had only a door frame left.

Fat sheep inside, listen up! Come out obediently to meet your death!

Grandpas will give you a quick death!

A bandit shouted arrogantly, trying to poke his head inside to look.

Now!

Chen Wen's eyes flashed with cold light, and four times his strength and speed erupted instantly!

He sprang up from behind the wall like a lurking leopard!

That bandit only felt his vision go dark; a huge wooden staff, whistling with wind, rapidly enlarged in his pupils!

"Bang!"

A muffled thud!

Chen Wen struck with this staff, angry and forceful, smashing it squarely onto the bandit's face!

"Crack!"

Faintly, the sound of breaking bones could be heard.

The bandit didn't even have time to let out a scream.

His whole body flew backward, crashing heavily into the muddy water.

Blood instantly gushed from his mouth and nose; it was clear he was dead.

Silence!

A deathly stillness!

Only the sound of the heavy rain pattering.

The remaining bandits were all terrified stupid, staring blankly at their comrade twitching in the mud.

And they looked at Chen Wen, standing like a death god at the doorway, holding a blood-dripping staff.

A chill shot up from the soles of his feet straight to the crown of his head!

This... this kid, what monster is he?!

Such heavy rain, such a dark night!

How could he react so fast?

His strength is this huge?!

Chen Wen himself was slightly stunned; the effect of four times strength far exceeded expectations.

But he quickly came to his senses; now is not the time to be dazed.

He must take advantage of their shattered courage to crush them completely!

He stepped forward, his foot landing in the mud.

It made a soft "pat" sound, yet it struck those bandits' hearts like a heavy hammer.

"Who else wants to die?!"

His voice was icy, carrying through the rain curtain with a chilling killing intent.

"Ghost... ghost!"

Someone let out a shout, and the remaining bandits' souls fled in terror.

No longer caring about mission or loot, they shouted, dropping helmets and abandoning armor.

Turning around, they fled for their lives into the rain curtain, wishing their parents had given them two more legs.

Chen Wen did not pursue.

"Do not chase a desperate foe," and he also worried this was a ploy to lure the tiger away from the mountain.

He stood in place, breathing heavily, the rain washing the blood from the staff and also washing the coldness from his face.

At that moment, he indeed felt murderous intent. In this chaotic world, mercy is cruelty toward oneself and those behind.

【Defeated incoming enemies, successfully defended the camp, evaluation: effective! Reward Diligence Points (WP)+25】【Current level: 2(27/500)】

WP increased again, but Chen Wen now cared more about actual safety.

"Quick! Ladies, splash the collected rainwater at the doorway and walls, make it muddier!"

"Men, follow me, pile these broken furniture and stones at the doorway and gaps to make some obstacles!"

Chen Wen quickly gave the order.

The survivors, having just escaped death, burst into great enthusiasm and immediately sprang into action.

With fourfold efficiency, Chen Wen almost single-handedly bore the heaviest work.

The makeshift obstacles were quickly piled up; though crude, they could at least delay any possible next assault.

After this joint defense, the team's cohesion seemed stronger.

People's looks at Chen Wen were no longer merely gratitude and reliance.

They now held several parts awe and wholehearted conviction.

The rain gradually lessened, but the sky had become completely dark.

After arranging the night watch shifts, Chen Wen returned indoors and found Wang Ru.

"Aunt Wang, thank you for bringing the news."

Chen Wen's voice was a little hoarse.

"When the sky brightens and the rain stops, I must head north."

Wang Ru seemed to have anticipated his saying that, and sighed:

"Little Brother Chen, I know I can't dissuade you."

That is your closest kin.

But…… the north is too dangerous, the Khitan's main camp…

No matter how dangerous, I have to go.

Chen Wen interrupted her, his tone decisive and resolute.

They are one of the reasons I live.

He paused, looking at the people curled up asleep inside the house:

I won't abandon you. I'll return as soon as possible.

Before I return, this place will be entrusted to you and Zhang Cheng.

Hold this place, gather as much food and water as possible. I will teach Zhang Cheng how to set up defenses better.

Wang Ru looked at the young figure before her, bearing a burden as heavy as a thousand jin.

Finally, she nodded heavily:

You can go in peace, Chen Xiao Ge.

As long as this old woman still has a breath, I'll do my best to watch over this home for you.

You…… must return safely, bring back your mother and little sister!

Chen Wen nodded heavily, saying no more.

He walked to the door, gazing at the pitch-black northern night sky, fists clenched.

The system is his greatest reliance.

Four times the ability, giving him a sliver of capital to walk this chaotic world.

At dawn, he set out.

Heading north, to find kin!