After dinner, Lin Luoluo gathered Lin Da and the others in her room.
She took eleven storage pouches out of the Space and placed them on the table.
“These are storage pouches. Prick your fingers and use your blood to recognize them as your masters.”
Lin Da and the others did not fully understand what she meant, but they obeyed Lin Luoluo without question and followed her instructions one by one.
After establishing ownership, their eyes filled with surprise and excitement.
“Thank you, Master, for this reward.”
They immediately dropped to one knee to express their gratitude.
“Get up. Anyone who follows me will never be treated unfairly.”
“I’ve already filled your storage pouches with grain. After you’ve recognized them as your own, I won’t be able to use them anymore. Tonight at midnight, we’ll leave the city to deliver food to the refugees. Stay alert and make sure no one discovers you.”
“Yes, Master!”
Everyone was excited. It was their first time using qinggong to carry out a mission.
After saying everything she needed to say, Lin Luoluo dismissed them.
When midnight arrived, Bai Ling woke Lin Luoluo. After changing into black night clothes, she climbed out through the window. By the time she stepped outside, Lin Da and the others were already waiting beyond the inn.
“Master.”
Everyone saluted.
Lin Luoluo nodded and gestured for them to move out. The group immediately used their qinggong and sped toward the southern gate, stopping beneath a dark section of the city wall.
“In a moment, I’ll lure away the guards above. Lin Da, lead everyone out from here.”
“Yes, Master. Please be careful, and look after the young masters.”
“I know.”
After speaking, she leaped onto the city wall.
She tossed a stone into the distance, drawing the guards toward the other side. Seizing the opportunity, Lin Da and the others quickly flew over and out of the city gate, while Lin Luoluo followed close behind.
Taking advantage of everyone’s deep sleep, they scattered among the refugees, quietly placing sacks of grain beside them before leaving. They pushed Shadow Without Trace to its limits, weaving continuously through the tens of thousands of refugees.
Lin Luoluo arrived in front of a tent where a child was fussing. The little girl’s mother had been unable to sleep because of her and was carrying her outside to soothe her. The two unexpectedly came face to face with Lin Luoluo.
Seeing the black-clothed, masked figure, the woman was so frightened that she dared not make a sound. The little girl, however, was just about to burst into tears. Realizing the situation was bad, Lin Luoluo hurriedly pulled a steamed bun from the Space and stuffed it into the child’s mouth before making a “shh” gesture.
The little girl had only been making a fuss because she was hungry and couldn’t sleep. The moment the bun was placed in her mouth, her eyes lit up. Holding it with both hands, she immediately began devouring it.
The woman wanted to stop her, but it was already too late. Taking advantage of the woman’s distraction, Lin Luoluo tossed down a sack of grain and disappeared.
The woman opened the bag and discovered that it was filled with grain. She quickly covered her mouth in shock before returning to the tent and calling her husband outside to carry it in.
After moving the grain inside, the man hurried to tell several families he knew that kind-hearted people had delivered food that night. They got up to check and found it was true. News spread from one family to another until the entire refugee camp erupted with excitement.
By the time Lin Luoluo and the others had nearly finished distributing the grain, the refugees had all been stirred awake. They did not linger any longer and immediately used their qinggong to leave.
The moment Lin Luoluo returned to the inn, she sensed streams of golden merit light pouring toward her.
Rumble—
The entire Space shook violently.
This upgrade lasted for a full hour. Once everything stabilized, Lin Luoluo immediately flashed into the Space.
After this upgrade, a new mountain forest had appeared inside the Space.
The black farmland remained unchanged.
The thatched hut had transformed into a large blue-brick, tiled-roof house, though everything inside remained the same. The medicine cabinet still could not be opened and would probably require another upgrade. There was also now a hot spring where she could bathe.
Bai Ling bounced out from the mountain forest, happily munching on a Spirit Fruit.
“Master, the Space has upgraded again.”
At this rate, Master will surely be able to return very soon. Hehe…
Bai Ling was overflowing with excitement.
“Tsk… The Space upgraded, yet you don’t seem to have changed at all.”
Seeing that Bai Ling looked exactly the same as before, Lin Luoluo could not help commenting.
Hearing her master’s words, Bai Ling immediately felt dejected.
“Who says I haven’t changed? Master, haven’t you noticed that my fur is whiter and shinier than before?”
Lin Luoluo circled around it, examined it carefully, and then shook her head.
“I really can’t tell.”
After waiting so long and still failing to get her master to notice the difference, Bai Ling became even more discouraged.
“Be good now! Keep helping your master take care of the Space. I’m going out to rest!”
Without giving Bai Ling any chance to respond, Lin Luoluo left the Space.
Early the next morning, everyone got up. Some packed their belongings while others prepared the carriages. Since there were now more than fifty additional children and teenagers, Lin Da purchased several more carriages to ensure everyone could sit comfortably without slowing their journey.
Once everything was ready, they enjoyed a hearty breakfast before setting off.
Just after Lin Luoluo and her group left the territory of Tianyang Prefecture, Chu Chenyu arrived with his army and camped twenty miles outside Tianyang Prefecture City.
“Report!”
“Enter.”
“Reporting to the Marshal, tens of thousands of refugees have gathered outside the southern gate of Tianyang Prefecture City.”
“Go and inform all the generals that we will take a detour tomorrow.”
“Yes!”
After the soldier withdrew, Chu Chenyu wrote another memorial. Once the ink had dried, he summoned Liuyun.
“Liuyun, have someone deliver this memorial to the palace.”
“Yes, Master!”
After Liuyun left, Chu Chenyu took out a handkerchief that Lin Luoluo had used while she was still “alive” and quietly stared at it.
“Luo’er, I’m sorry. This king failed to protect my chastity for you.”
“This king should never have treated you that way before. It was only after you left that This king realized my heart had become empty as well.”
At this moment, he looked like a deeply devoted lover. If Lin Luoluo had been there, she would certainly have thought he was putting on an act.
Early the next morning, Chu Chenyu led his army onward, not daring to waste even a moment. The farther west they traveled, the more desolate the land became. Most of the common people had already abandoned their homes and fled as refugees.
The farther he marched, the more anxious he became. Finally, one month later, they reached the western frontier.
By then, Yuxi Pass had already fallen, and the defending soldiers had retreated to Yun City.
When Chu Chenyu arrived with the main army, the two sides were locked in fierce battle. The soldiers of the Nanxian Kingdom were at a disadvantage, and Yun City was on the verge of being breached.
“Big Brother, I’m afraid we won’t be going back today,” a short soldier said to the comrade whose back was pressed against his.
“Eighteen years from now, I’ll be a hero again! Even if I die, I’ll drag another enemy down with me!”
The stubble-faced man killed another enemy as he spoke.
“General!”
A young deputy general saw General Yan Hua struck through the chest by a Xia Kingdom general and hurried forward, but there were too many enemies blocking his way.
“I’m fine! Watch yourself!”
Yan Hua forcefully knocked his opponent aside and pulled the sword from his chest. Fortunately, the wound was not deep.
Watching his soldiers fall one after another, Yan Hua’s heart filled with grief and fury.
When will the reinforcements arrive? I’m afraid Yun City can’t hold much longer.
Just as Yan Hua covered his wound and struggled to catch his breath, thunderous hoofbeats echoed from the distance.
“It’s reinforcements! The reinforcements have arrived! Yun City has hope now! Hahaha… Excellent!”
“Our reinforcements are here! Soldiers, charge! Avenge our fallen brothers!”
With Yan Hua’s shout, the morale of the Nanxian Kingdom’s soldiers instantly surged.
“Charge! Kill!”
Soon, the army brought by Chu Chenyu clashed with the enemy forces, immediately turning the tide of the battle.
Seeing that the situation had become unfavorable, the Xia Kingdom commanders hurriedly ordered a retreat.
Chu Chenyu did not send anyone to pursue them. Instead, he ordered his troops to remain behind and clean up the battlefield.
“This subordinate, Yan Hua, greets Your Highness!”
Enduring the pain of his injuries, Yan Hua stepped forward to pay his respects.
“There is no need for such formalities, General Yan. You’re wounded. Go and let the military physician dress your injuries. The rest can wait until later.”
Seeing that Yan Hua was injured, Chu Chenyu quickly stepped forward to support him and prevented him from bowing.
They remained busy until the following day before all the wounded soldiers were finally settled.