Chapter 39: Crisis of the Di He

Fang Yue turned to look at Niu Niu beside him.

The one who just spoke was not him, but Niu Niu.

Fang Yue was surprised—Niu Niu actually knew about the Gathering Fire Order.

But upon reflection, he understood: after all, Niu Niu was a Reserve Member of the Patrol Team. Though not official, he was still taught the necessary knowledge.

At this moment, Niu Niu also looked at Fang Yue, his face filled with terror.

"Don't panic!"

Fang Yue soothed him, then frowned in thought.

The flame signal that had just risen and exploded in the night sky like fireworks was called the Gathering Fire Order.

The Gathering Fire Order was a rescue signal that only the three Captains of Gu Yue Cun were authorized to send; each appearance signaled a crisis threatening the very survival of Gu Yue Cun!

Chief Captain Chen naturally had the authority to issue the Gathering Fire Order, yet he had been silenced and died without even sending a distress signal inside Chen Fu.

That was why Fang Yue found Chen Fu so eerie and taboo—he dared not even think deeply about it.

And this Gathering Fire Order had been emitted from the direction of the village center.

If Fang Yue remembered correctly, that location was… the Di He!

"The Earth Vein is in danger! The strange entity's target is Gu Yue Village's Earth Vein!"

Fang Yue's expression darkened.

The Di He contains vast amounts of Yang Shou, burning Yang Shou to sustain the Human Soul fires that protect the entire village.

If the Di He is destroyed, the Human Soul fires will go out, exposing everyone in Gu Yue Cun to Cold Night!

At that moment, Yuhan zhi shi will invade their bodies and kill every person in Gu Yue Cun within a single night!

In short—a village wiped out in one night!

Ssshh—

Realizing this, Fang Yuan felt a chill at the strange entity's methods.

No way out at all—how are we supposed to handle this?

The Di He is guarded by Captain Lin Ling.

This Gathering Fire Order was clearly sent by Captain Lin Ling.

If even Lin Ling had to issue the Gathering Fire Order for help, the strange entity he was facing must be extraordinary.

"Should we go help? Or… flee Gu Yue Cun?"

After a brief pause, Fang Yue made his decision.

Outside the village, strange entities lurked everywhere, every step a danger—how perilous.

With Fang Yue's current strength, only within Gu Yue Cun was he truly safe.

"Ye Ge, let's retreat! This is definitely a strange entity attack on the village—these bastards in officialdom are running an event to kill all the players in Gu Yue Village!"

Niu Niu started spouting his monster-attack-on-the-city theory again; Fang Yue's lips twitched but said nothing, instead gripping the torch and pulling him toward the direction of the Gathering Fire Order.

"Ye Ge! Ye Ge, what are you doing, Ye Ge! We're not even close! If you want to die, go alone!"

The Gathering Fire Order had terrified Niu Niu—he'd just barely escaped death and had no intention of rushing into it again.

Fang Yue released his hand and spoke solemnly: "Niu Niu, look at your 【Weizui】. Do you think you can survive outside the village? And look at the crisis the village is facing—if you step up and earn some merit, the higher-ups will surely find a way to cure your 【Weizui】, right?"

This struck right at the core, leaving Niu Niu with no rebuttal.

He suffered from 【Weizui】, and lacked Fang Yue's physique—he could only wait for the elders of Gu Yue Cun to save him.

But without merit or wealth, a mere Reserve Member of the Patrol Team—why should anyone bother saving him? Just because you have a big face?

"I'll just restart my character…"

Even Niu Niu didn't believe that himself.

The Lucky Pack, the innate Heavenly Strength talent—he truly couldn't bear to abandon them, otherwise he wouldn't have struggled so desperately to survive multiple times.

Fang Yue shook his head: "Alright then, go ahead—leave. I'll go support the Gathering Fire Order alone. But think clearly: if you go protect the Di He now and earn great merit, you'll have a chance to gain Yang Shou, equipment, even Martial Dao techniques. This opportunity won't come again."

After saying this, Fang Yuan no longer pressured Niu Niu, and simply raised his torch and ran forward.

He had clearly laid out the opportunity, the benefit, the risk—he had done his duty by the boss.

For an ordinary player who didn't pay, Fang Yue would've abandoned him long ago.

Analyzing the problem and reaching a conclusion also had a cost—it was valuable information.

"Ye Ge? Ye Ge, you're really leaving?! Ye Ge, wait for me! Ye Ge!!"

Seeing Fang Yue run off without looking back, Niu Niu finally panicked and hurried after him.

But before he caught up far, he saw Fang Yue suddenly stop.

"Ye Ge? What's wrong…"

Niu Niu's voice gradually faded.

Because he too saw—around them, clusters of flame lights had appeared.

Each cluster of light represented a six-man Patrol Team.

These flames surrounded them front and back, near and far, drawing closer!

"So many people?! We're surrounded!"

Niu Niu panicked and quickly hid behind Fang Yue.

"Why are you hiding behind me?"

"Your back gives me a sense of security!"

"... I suggest you see a psychologist after you log out."

As they spoke, the flame lights gradually drew nearer.

"Ye Ge, there are too many! What do we do?"

They had just killed Xin Jue, and now they were still being treated as anomalies.

"Break through a blood-soaked path! Find Captain Lin for protection—Captain Lin may be jealous, but he's clear on grudges and debts. Even if he dislikes me, he'll handle things fairly and protect us!"

If Fang Yue hadn't previously interacted with Lin Ling and known her true nature, he would never have dared seek help from a Captain while being treated as an anomaly.

"Break through a blood-soaked path? That means I'm dead for sure?!"

"Good luck to you!"

With so many people, Fang Yue had little confidence.

As the two stood on guard, the first patrol squad to approach drew near.

"Here they come!"

Fang Yue let out a low growl, muscles tensed, ready to strike at any moment.

But then he saw that the patrol squad had over a dozen members!

They ran past right before the two of them, torches in hand, without stopping at all.

While Fang Yue and Niu Niu were stunned, the passing patrol squad suddenly halted; a bald man holding a torch spoke up.

"What are you two standing around for? Follow us! We're heading to support the Gathering Fire Order!"

"Ah… oh, okay!"

Fang Yue snapped to attention, replied, exchanged a glance with Niu Niu, and slipped into the patrol squad.

It seemed the five who had fled from Xin Jue's squad hadn't yet spread word of what they'd done.

Then again, the events had only just occurred, and the night sky had already erupted with the Gathering Fire Order—who had time to care about anything else?

The rescue priority of the Gathering Fire Order is the highest of all orders—it concerns the village's survival!

Before such a grave crisis, everything else can be postponed!

Fang Yue and Niu Niu blended into the ranks, moving with the main force.

Soon they noticed more and more squads joining this large group.

All the earlier flickering lights had been converging toward this force.

Only then did Fang Yue learn from others that the bald man who had invited them to join was none other than Deputy Captain Lao Yang.

Somehow, everyone else was drawn toward Lao Yang's squad, and soon a large force of over a hundred men had formed.

Torches blazed in layers, shadows piled high, the clamor shook the heavens!

"Gathering Fire Order! Save the village!"

"Gathering Fire Order! Save the village!"

"Gathering Fire Order! Save the village!"

(End of Chapter)