Chapter 21: Nightfall, Colby is Wounded [Requesting Recommendations and Collections]

"Luna, you'll have to work a little harder for a while longer."

"These farmers need protection. Please patrol the area where they are gathering resources outside the courtyard," Zong Shen instructed Luna.

"As you command, my Lord!"

Without a single word of complaint, Luna struck her fist against her chest in a salute to Zong Shen. Riding her black panther, she stepped slowly out of the courtyard.

Today's task was to construct more than six [Tier 1 Thatched Huts] before nightfall.

The thatched huts were not just resting buildings; they were fundamental structures capable of restoring health. They were highly useful.

As for the basic barracks, there was no rush for now. Zong Shen's farmer population was not large. With the Wolf Cavalry, the Night Hunters, and himself, he had enough to meet the combat needs of the early development stage.

Zong Shen did not intend to idle. With a wave of his hand, he pulled out an iron axe and walked briskly out of the courtyard.

Outside the courtyard, Gou Dan's [Tier 1 Thatched Hut] had already been completed. Since the territory's wood reserves happened to have 10 units left, Zong Shen placed another [Tier 1 Thatched Hut] right next to Gou Dan's.

He patted him on the shoulder.

"Keep working, Gou Dan. I'm counting on you!"

Gou Dan's face instantly slumped, but he couldn't show any displeasure in front of Zong Shen, so he could only force a smile. He turned back toward the phantom image of the thatched hut and continued his hammering. However, no matter how one looked at that smile, it was clearly written with the words "miserable."

Zong Shen didn't mind and merely nodded slightly. These buildings could be placed freely for now; once the territory expanded and the walls were built, they would need proper planning and organization. The Lord's authority allowed for one-click relocation without extra resources, but it would require reassigning people to spend time rebuilding. There was no rush for that.

The construction of several buildings quickly filled the empty space adjacent to the courtyard. It finally looked a bit like a proper territory.

Zong Shen nodded in satisfaction and walked toward the nearest tree. Gripping his axe, he began to chop forcefully at the end of the tree!

Perhaps due to his high Strength attribute, he didn't find it particularly strenuous. He only needed five or six swings to completely sever a tree as thick as a thigh. Then, he only had to drag the wood a short distance to smoothly pull it into the courtyard for conversion.

[Wood +4]

As soon as the tree entered the courtyard, it was converted into wood and automatically entered the territory's storage box. The actual amount of wood converted from trees and other gathered resources depended on the amount gathered. For example, the thigh-thick tree Zong Shen dragged back converted into 4 units of wood, while the arm-thick trees the farmers brought back usually only converted into 2 units.

Zong Shen's overall efficiency was equivalent to the gathering output of four farmers in the same amount of time. The Strength attribute indeed played a significant role; at least Zong Shen did not feel a heavy burden while working.

"Keep going!"

He cracked his neck and headed out of the territory again. His target: those thigh-thick trees!

His efficiency was extremely high, with almost no breaks or slacking. This display of leading by example caused the farmers to inadvertently pick up their pace as well.

In this busy atmosphere, an hour and a half passed. As night approached, the orange-red glow of the setting sun stained the western sky.

"It's getting dark. Bring back the resources you have and call it a day!" Zong Shen shouted to the farmers as he dragged in the last tree. Standing outside the courtyard, he wiped the sweat from his forehead.

"Long live the Lord!" "The Lord is mighty!"

The farmers cheered and returned to the courtyard with their gathered wood. This wave of collective labor yielded significant results. During this time, Zong Shen had added two more [Tier 1 Thatched Huts], leaving him with a wood reserve of 33 units. In just an hour and a half, he and the farmers had gathered a total of 53 units of wood. His individual efficiency alone was equal to four or five farmers.

However, after working at full strength for so long, Zong Shen also felt some fatigue. All the buildings were now complete. Six thatched huts were enough to accommodate 12 farmers. As for Colby, Luna, and Zong Shen himself, as the territory's combatants, they would need to take on sentry duties during the night.

"Time to cook." "But why hasn't Colby returned yet?"

Zong Shen walked to the stove, a faint sense of unease rising in his heart. He began cooking. Due to a lack of seasonings and various ingredients, he could only make Roasted Wolf Meat based on the ingredients he had on hand.

[Roasted Wolf Meat] [Requirements: Wood ×1, Wolf Meat ×1] [Crafting Time: 3m]

In one go, he submitted ten portions of wolf meat and ten units of wood to begin production. He decided to wait another half hour. If the food was finished in half an hour and Colby still hadn't returned, he would send Luna out to search.

The last traces of the sunset glow vanished from the sky. Night fell, the stars filled the heavens, and a silver crescent moon hung high overhead.

The night seemed to be Luna's domain. As long as she stood still, she could enter a state that was almost invisible. It was difficult to spot her with the naked eye. This was the innate ability of the Night Elf race: Stealth! Truly powerful!

"Awoooo~"

Suddenly, a long, melodious wolf howl drifted in.

"Awoooo..." "Awoo..."

Then, one after another, wolf howls rose from all directions across the grassland. Under the cover of night, the grassland was pitch black, like a giant abyss capable of swallowing everything.

"Roar!" "Awoo!" "Boom!"

Following the wolf howls came a series of beastly roars. These howls and roars echoed through the night sky, making it impossible to discern their specific directions. All the farmers showed expressions of terror, instinctively huddling together in groups.

Zong Shen and Luna both stared intently outside. They could both feel many hidden, peering gazes surrounding the territory.

At that moment, a massive silhouette slowly moved through the darkness. Two eyes reflecting blue light in the night appeared before them. Luna had already gripped her Moonblade, and Zong Shen had drawn his sharp Germanic sword. They stood ready for battle!

The figure's speed was not slow, equivalent to a seasoned traveler's horse at a full gallop, and thus it quickly reached the edge of the territory. In Zong Shen's field of vision, a name suddenly appeared above the dark shadow's head.

[Wolf Cavalry Colby]

Zong Shen breathed a sigh of relief and waved his hand toward Luna. "Relax, it's one of ours."

In the next moment, Colby, riding a giant wolf, arrived outside the courtyard. He gradually slowed down, came before Zong Shen, dismounted from the giant wolf's back, and knelt on one knee before him.

"My Lord, Colby has returned!"

Zong Shen looked at Colby and the giant wolf, his eyes narrowing slightly. An arrow was lodged in Colby's shoulder, and his right hand bore a bloody wound from a blade! Fortunately, the bleeding had stopped, having formed a scab.

Colby was actually wounded!