Stronger with More Jobs-Chapter 432 - 229: Thus Begins the Cruel Reality
The ice blue blade aura crisscrossed, the molten rock fist roared, and the swift blade light flickered, drawing the attention of soldiers in the camp, their eyes filled with awe and longing.
Fang Qingyu brought Jiang Wei along.
They slowly paced along the outer edge of the super durable force field shield.
The light film of the force field emitted a faint energy glow in the dim light of heaven, like an invisible wall of sighs, dividing life from stillness.
"Xiaojiang," Fang Qingyu looked at the light film, his eyes like melted gold carrying a hint of inquiry, "There’s a question I’ve never quite understood. Why is it that on the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the activities of the Life Ghosts become so intense? Is there an inevitable connection between the two, or is it merely folklore?"
Jiang Wei was looking down at her tablet and raised her head upon hearing this, a trace of thought flashing through her clear big eyes.
Her little eyebrows furrowed slightly, as if recalling something, before she spoke softly, her voice tender yet carrying a hint of uncertainty:
"This... I’m not really sure either."
"The origin of the Ghost Festival is very ancient, so ancient it’s nearly impossible to trace. However, among the gods, there is a circulating theory..."
She paused, seemingly searching for the right words, then continued: "It’s said that a long, long time ago, there was... or were a few powerful gods who, perhaps for some incomprehensible reason, sided with the Life Ghosts."
"Sided with the Life Ghosts?!"
Fang Qingyu’s pupils shrank slightly.
The gods siding with the Life Ghosts? This completely overturns one’s understanding!
"Yes." Jiang Wei nodded, her little face showing no expression, as if she were speaking of something quite ordinary, "It’s rumored that they betrayed the human race’s camp and offered a very powerful divine artifact to the Life Ghosts, or... some kind of forbidden knowledge. The function of this thing is to greatly weaken the strength of the barrier between reality and the dimension where the Life Ghosts reside at this specific time each year."
"That is, around the Mid-Autumn Festival, the barrier between dimensions becomes significantly weakened."
"The space barrier is weakened?"
Fang Qingyu was thoughtful, "So the Life Ghosts can penetrate more easily, forming the so-called ’Ghost Festival Tide’?"
"That’s probably what it means." Jiang Wei sucked on the lollipop in her mouth, "However, these are all just hearsay, anecdotes circulated in the circle of gods."
"Whether it’s true or not, which god did it, and what exactly was offered... I’m afraid only my dad and the others know some of the inside story."
Fang Qingyu fell silent.
Gods siding with the Life Ghosts? Offering a divine artifact to weaken the space barrier?
This information is vast and filled with strangeness and incomprehensibility.
But Jiang Wei also mentioned that this is just a legend.
Fang Qingyu shook his head, pushing these unverifiable secrets out of his mind for now.
What’s most important right now is to guard this defense line.
The two walked along the force field’s edge, silently memorizing the terrain, possible support routes, and the fire points set by the Fierce Tiger Company before returning to the camp.
...
The campfire was already lit in the camp.
The soldiers sat in small groups, talking in low voices, the atmosphere not entirely relaxed but maintaining the distinct calm of soldiers.
Upon seeing Fang Qingyu and Jiang Wei returning, the conversation instantly quieted, and many eyes focused on them, filled with awe and a bit of restraint.
Fang Qingyu paused for a moment, looking at those young faces that fell silent suddenly, then smiled unexpectedly. He pointed towards the camp exit and half-jokingly said, "Why has everyone stopped talking? How about... we go out for another stroll?"
The camp was silent at first, then erupted into laughter.
The soldiers’ tense nerves seemed to be significantly eased by this joke.
"No need, no need! Captain Fang!"
"Captain Fang is joking!"
The atmosphere revived, still carrying the gravity before a great battle, but that invisible gap due to the difference in strength seemed to have been lightened considerably.
Fang Qingyu pulled Jiang Wei over and casually sat down in an open spot near the campfire.
He looked around at the soldiers, his voice calm yet clear as it reached everyone’s ears:
"Don’t mind us. Our task is to help you guys hold down those most troublesome and dangerous big guys, pin them dead inside the force field."
Fang Qingyu pointed at the light film glowing slightly in the darkness.
"However." He shifted his tone, becoming solemn, "Clearing the battlefield, blocking the stragglers, keeping this valley mouth secure so not a single Life Ghost slips out to harm those outside..."
"These are the real main tasks! So everyone is part of the main force, no need for any restraints."
In his previous life, he had been in the army, fully aware of the pride and valor rooted in these warriors.
Martial Artists have their pride, and soldiers have their dignity.
His words, while outlining responsibilities, entrusted the most crucial "defense line" duty back to the Fierce Tiger Company.
The goal is unified.
Guard the valley mouth, protect those behind!
As for who handles which part, as long as the goal is unified.
A little defiance, instead, can transform into greater combat power.
Indeed, once he finished speaking, the way the soldiers looked at Fang Qingyu completely changed.
No longer merely filled with awe, there was now a sense of recognition and camaraderie among comrades.
Under the glow of the campfire, the tense young faces shed their anxiety, replaced by a more determined light.
"Captain Fang is right!"
"Fierce Tiger Company! Defend our land!"
"Beat the hell out of those Life Ghosts!"
...
The night gradually deepened, the chill between the mountains intensified.
The commotion in the camp also slowly subsided, as the soldiers began taking shifts to rest, conserving their strength for the imminent great battle.
