Chapter 143 The Eve of the War
In the tense atmosphere of preparation for war, the time of the Jianghu Alliance passed slowly like the fine sand in the hourglass, but it seemed to carry an invisible pressure. Every minute and every second that passed made the shadow of the war heavier, like a huge dark cloud, weighing heavily on everyone's heart.
Lin Feng was like a tireless spinning top, constantly shuttling back and forth in the camp. His figure sometimes appeared on the city wall, carefully checking the newly set up fortifications, tapping the bricks and stones with his hands to check whether they were solid; sometimes he appeared in the training ground, observing the training of the disciples, stopping from time to time to personally demonstrate some moves and correct their mistakes; sometimes he would appear in the warehouse, counting the supplies with Li Yifeng to ensure that everything was ready. His eyes were full of anxiety and expectation. He was worried that any slight omission would become a fatal weakness, and he was looking forward to the decisive battle as soon as possible, and ending this long and painful wait as soon as possible.
Chen Fei devoted himself to the training of the recruits. His face turned red due to long shouting, and his voice was hoarse, but he was strict with every action and refused to relax. On the training ground, he stared at the young recruits with a sharp gaze. "This is not a game, this is a battle of life and death! Every mistake you make may wipe us out!" His roar echoed over the training ground, deafening. Under his strict teaching, the recruits dared not slack off. They gritted their teeth and repeated the movements over and over again. Their clothes were soaked with sweat, but no one complained.
Li Yifeng seemed to be trapped in a maze of numbers and supplies in the warehouse. His eyes were bloodshot, but he still focused on every number in the account book, and the pen in his hand kept writing and drawing on the paper. He personally climbed up the high shelves to check the storage of each weapon to ensure that they would not be damaged by moisture or collision. He was particularly careful about the storage of food, calculating the daily consumption and surplus to ensure that there would be no danger of food shortage during the battle. His forehead was covered with beads of sweat, which kept flowing down his cheeks, but the pen in his hand never stopped, as if it was his most powerful weapon in this war.
Zhao Ling led a team of masters from the Jianghu Alliance to carefully survey the terrain in the mountains and fields outside the camp. Sometimes they squatted down to check the footprints and ruts on the ground to determine the possible route of the enemy; sometimes they climbed up the treetops and looked into the distance to find valleys and trails that might be used by the enemy; sometimes they inserted marks at some key locations, planning where to set traps and where to arrange ambushes. Zhao Ling's expression was serious and focused. He knew the importance of this work. Any slight negligence could lead to irreversible consequences.
At this time, the atmosphere in the camp was extremely depressing. Some disciples sat silently in the corner, wiping their weapons. Their eyes were focused and firm, and the cloth in their hands moved slowly on the swords, as if performing a silent ceremony. Every wipe was carried with awe of the battle and desire for victory. But deep in that determined look, there was also a hint of fear that was difficult to conceal.
Some people sat together and whispered to each other. Their voices were very low, as if they were afraid that a loud voice would disturb the impending doom. "I heard that the enemy has invited a very powerful master this time. Can we do it?" A young disciple said in a trembling voice. "I don't know, but we have no way out, so we can only fight." Another disciple replied, with a hint of helplessness and determination in his eyes.
A young disciple walked in front of Lin Feng, holding the hilt tightly in his hand. His lips trembled slightly, and his voice was obviously trembling: "Master, I... I'm scared." His eyes were full of confusion and fear, like a child lost in the dark.
Lin Feng stopped and patted him on the shoulder gently. His eyes were full of understanding and comfort, and he said in a gentle but firm voice: "Child, fear is normal. Facing such a war, no one will not be afraid. But we fight for justice, to protect our loved ones and homes, even if we are afraid, we must face it bravely. Think about those eyes behind us who are looking forward to our victory, think about our mission and responsibility. As long as we are united, nothing can defeat us." The young disciple listened to Lin Feng's words and nodded slightly. The fear in his eyes seemed to be reduced a little, and he became more determined.
At this moment, a spy hurried into the camp, his breathing was rapid, and his face was covered with sweat and dust. "Master, it's not good! The enemy is only ten miles away from the camp, and it is expected to arrive tomorrow morning." His voice became intermittent because of running and tension.
This news was like a heavy bomb, and it instantly exploded in the camp. The already tense atmosphere became more solemn, as if the air was about to solidify.
"So soon? We are not ready yet!" Someone couldn't help but exclaimed, his voice full of panic and despair.
"Why panic? We have done everything we can. All that is left is a fight to the death!" Chen Fei shouted angrily when he heard the exclamation. His eyes were burning with anger, as if he wanted to burn away all the fear and retreat.
As night fell, the camp was brightly lit. Lin Feng called everyone to the open space in the center of the camp for the final pre-war mobilization. He stood on a makeshift platform and swept his eyes over everyone's face.
"Brothers, tomorrow will be a fierce battle, a battle that determines our life and death. The enemy is strong, this is an undeniable fact. But we are fearless! Behind us are our relatives, friends and homes, the land we live on and the beliefs we uphold. We can't retreat, we can't fail! Because once we retreat, everything will be gone. Our relatives will suffer, and our homes will be trampled. As long as we unite as one and obey the command, we will be able to defeat the enemy! Let us use our courage and blood to write our glory!" Lin Feng's voice was passionate and powerful, like a war drum, echoing in everyone's ears and hitting their hearts.
Everyone shouted in unison: "Fight! Fight! Fight!" The sound resounded through the sky, as if to break through the dark night sky.
However, in this seemingly firm shout, some people were still full of uneasiness.
A senior disciple quietly found Li Yifeng after the crowd dispersed. His face was full of worry, and he said in a low voice: "The enemy is coming fiercely this time. Can we really win? I have experienced too many battles, and this time feels very different."
Li Yifeng looked at him, and a trace of determination flashed in his eyes. He put his hand on the disciple's shoulder and said solemnly: "No matter what the result is, we must fight to the last moment. As long as we stick to our beliefs, there is hope. Every battle is unknown, but it is precisely because of the unknown that we have the opportunity to create miracles. Believe in our brothers, believe in our preparations, and believe in the justice we uphold."
It was late at night, and most people couldn't sleep. Lin Feng stood alone on the city wall, looking at the darkness in the distance. The night wind blew his clothes, and his figure looked lonely and determined. He prayed silently in his heart: "May God bless us, and may our sacrifice be exchanged for peace and tranquility."
The next morning, the sun had not yet risen, and the earth was still immersed in a hazy gray. The sound of the enemy's horn came from a distance, the sound was low and distant, as if it was a call from hell. The war was about to break out, and everyone in the Jianghu Alliance held their weapons tightly, waiting for the moment that would decide their fate...