Upon hearing Zhang Wenhu, Wen Yu promptly said, "I’m here to check the defensive measures, and I also wanted to ask you for a favor, Brother."
"What is it? Just say the word, little brother, and I’ll make sure to get it done!" Zhang Wenhu said with a wide smile.
Wen Yu pondered for a moment, then promptly dragged Zhang Wenhu into a nearby house.
After quite some time, Wen Yu was the first to emerge and directly left the gathering place.
Not much later, Zhang Wenhu emerged from the room, ashen-faced, and issued several orders to Li Shanlin who was beside him.
Hearing Zhang Wenhu’s words, Li Shanlin asked in surprise, "Is this really necessary?"
"The situation is stronger than us; what else can be done?" Zhang Wenhu felt a bitter taste in his mouth as he recalled Wen Yu’s words—half-gentle, half-firm, or more accurately, commands—from earlier.
Watching Wen Yu’s departing figure, Zhang Wenhu muttered to himself, Strength! Strength! Without strength, you are nothing! So...
He turned his gaze towards the bustling gathering place.
No matter what, I can’t give this place up!
Upon returning to the small outpost, Wen Yu quietly sorted through the items in his space ring.
There wasn’t much. Aside from items he couldn’t use for now, there were only some medicinal potions.
Seeing that Sun Ruixing and Sun Aotian were already awake and once again arranging the defensive measures, Wen Yu didn’t meddle. He quietly familiarized himself with his skills and conserved his energy.
All necessary arrangements had been made. Now, all that was left was to wait for the great battle to come.
Time flew by. The day was spent further strengthening the defenses of their stronghold.
The arrangements at the distant camp were also in order.
At least, in Zhang Wenhu’s eyes, their preparations were adequate.
When noon came on the seventh day, the Black Light radiating from the Demon Realm’s Gate had reached its peak!
Wen Yu, along with Sun Ruixing and Sun Aotian, returned to the gathering place.
This was a decision they had made together.
To scout the Demon Tribe’s strength beforehand was always a good idea.
If things looked bad, they could fall back to the outpost. Considering the strength of the three of them, the risk associated with this plan was actually quite low.
Moreover, Sun Ruixing hoped to evacuate the non-combatant survivors to the outpost before the battle began.
Wen Yu had no particular opinions or objections regarding this matter.
In the gathering place, about thirty meters in front of the Demon Realm’s Gate, Zhang Wenhu stood with all the fighting power from the camp, quietly waiting for the gate to open.
Upon seeing Wen Yu and the other two approaching, Zhang Wenhu nodded at Wen Yu but didn’t broach any other topics.
"Right, Boss Zhang, I hope to evacuate the non-combatants from the camp to the rear in advance," Sun Ruixing said.
In Sun Ruixing’s eyes, this was merely informing him, purely out of courtesy.
However, the response was somewhat unexpected.
"No," Zhang Wenhu said, shaking his head seriously without explaining further.
Zhang Wenhu’s words made Sun Ruixing falter.
"Leave it, Old Sun," Wen Yu said calmly, gently tugging Sun Ruixing’s sleeve as he saw him about to speak again.
"But..." Sun Ruixing’s expression showed confusion, and even more, anger.
"There must be reasons he doesn’t want others to know about. Brother Tiger is smart; if he said no, he must have other considerations."
"Brother Wen Yu understands me," Zhang Wenhu said, grinning at Wen Yu. Without sparing Sun Ruixing a glance, he turned his attention back to the Demon Realm’s Gate before them.
Seeing the reluctant expression on Sun Ruixing’s face, Wen Yu advised in a low voice, "It could be about the arrangements in the camp, or it could be other things. In any case, Zhang Wenhu isn’t someone incapable of distinguishing right from wrong."
Wen Yu paused briefly before continuing, "You can go check the rear. All the non-combatants have been settled there. When things get bad, you take them and leave."
These words were merely meant to placate him.
When the Demon Realm’s Gate first appeared, Sun Ruixing hadn’t immediately evacuated the non-combatants, considering the need to establish defensive lines in the camp.
After all, lacking combat power didn’t mean they lacked stamina! They were the ones who had prepared all sorts of traps and defenses in the camp.
Sun Ruixing had timed his request perfectly. It wouldn’t expose these non-combatants directly to the Demon Fiends, and it also served as due notice to Zhang Wenhu.
Unfortunately, with Zhang Wenhu refusing to relocate the people, the survival of these non-combatants in the camp became a significant problem.
Even if things went bad, they wouldn’t be able to escape!
Sun Ruixing clearly understood this; he stood rooted to the spot, his brow tightly furrowed.
Seeing Sun Ruixing’s expression, Wen Yu couldn’t help but shake his head.
Wen Yu now held Sun Ruixing in high regard, appreciating both his character and his strength.
Moreover, it wasn’t an overstatement to say that Sun Ruixing had saved Wen Yu’s life.
So, Wen Yu decided he would intervene in this matter.
"How about this, Brother Tiger? Tell Old Sun the reason. Otherwise, it’ll always be a thorn between you, won’t it?"
Zhang Wenhu looked at Wen Yu, then glanced at the indignant Sun Ruixing behind him. After some hesitation, he nodded.
"It’s due to my profession," Zhang Wenhu said, then reluctantly shared his class information with Wen Yu and Sun Ruixing.
"Skill One: Territory (S-Class, Active Ability): Establish a Territory within one’s controlled domain. Within this Territory, the defense capabilities of all structures are enhanced, and the combat strength of all members of the same race increases! The size of the Territory is linked to the host’s strength! Once the Territory is established, it cannot be altered!
"Skill Number Two: Leader’s Will (S-Class, Passive ability): Takes effect after a Territory is established. Within the Territory, it provides enhancements to the host based on the number of fellow race members. For every ten members of the same race, the host’s physical attributes are enhanced by one percent, and the physical attributes of other professionists within the Territory are enhanced by 0.1 percent! However, if the Territory is destroyed or the number of people within it falls below 10, the Leader dies!
"It’s like the old saying: ’The Son of Heaven guards the state’s gate; the monarch dies with the state!’ Or, put another way, ’So long as the man stands, the tower stands!’"
Seeing Zhang Wenhu’s abilities, Wen Yu and Sun Ruixing instantly fell silent.
It was obvious. Zhang Wenhu must have designated this gathering place as his Territory. The nearly one hundred non-combatants in the rear would provide Zhang Wenhu with about a ten percent enhancement. Moreover, by keeping them hidden in a secret place, in Zhang Wenhu’s eyes, it would also prevent the number of people in his Territory from dropping below ten. For the sake of his own life, he couldn’t possibly let them leave!
"Forget it," Wen Yu said, breaking the silence. He clapped Sun Ruixing on the shoulder and then said to Zhang Wenhu, "No wonder you’re determined to make a desperate stand here. I’ll help you as much as I can; consider it a way of repaying Brother Tiger’s hospitality over the past few days! But let me be clear: if things look bad, I will definitely leave!"
Zhang Wenhu nodded. "I won’t say much else," he said directly. "When you leave, take my son with you."
"Alright," Wen Yu replied.
Sun Ruixing listened to Zhang Wenhu and Wen Yu’s conversation, silent for a long moment. Old Sun gave a bitter smile but still said nothing more.
Given Wen Yu’s stance, Sun Ruixing’s opinions and suggestions were of no consequence.