Start with a red name

Yuanzhou.

River dredging project site, siltation area of ​​the ancient Zhushui River channel.

Tens of thousands of strong laborers, carrying all sorts of tools, were digging or transporting materials. From the sky, they looked like a swarm of worker ants, trying to carve a tunnel out of the earth with their frail bodies.

Through their efforts, the gap gradually widened from nothing to something, from small to large.

The ultimate goal of this "gap" is to merge with a giant lake dozens of miles away.

Around that giant lake, tens of thousands of people also gathered.

They were scattered around the giant lake like ants.

Felling trees, clearing mountains, building extensions, constructing dikes...

There was also a lakeside workshop that was many times larger than the one Geng Xuan had seen that day.

More simple, yet costly tools made from materials such as bamboo, wood, rattan, and coarse hemp.

Like flowing water, it disperses into bustling work sites, where it is rapidly consumed under high-intensity use.

More fishing boats ventured into various parts of the giant lake.

Whether casting nets alone or trawling together, they catch the fish, shrimp, crabs, and snails that have lived peacefully here for who knows how long.

They were sent into those kitchens, where flames burned constantly and steam rose, as if they were never satisfied.

If one had eyes that could see the entire area, one could also see that further away, at the junction of the giant lake and the downstream river, and in the surrounding mountains and forests, many strong laborers were also freely sweating and exerting their energy.

Besides this relatively concentrated labor area, about 800 to 900 miles to the south lies Qingyuanji, which is currently under reconstruction.

More than a hundred miles further south, near Santongji, near the massive Wufang camp, a Xuanyou cavalry of about fifty riders was galloping along the dry ancient riverbank.

More than thirty miles downstream from this ancient riverbed, in the direction from which this mysterious cavalry came, a group of strong laborers, numbering around a thousand, were repairing a section of the riverbed riddled with cracks and gaps.

More than forty miles ahead of this cavalry, another group of about two thousand strong laborers was "optimizing" a section of the river, straightening it.

The new river channel was complemented by sturdy and wide roads on both sides, allowing two vehicles to travel side by side.

Along this long ancient riverbed, there are far more than just these two construction sites.

Occasionally, people would drive horse-drawn carriages to interact with nearby neighborhoods and markets.

He rode even faster, mounted the fine horse from Yuanzhou, and spurred it on.

Even faster were the mystical horse teams.

In addition, homing pigeons would occasionally take off and land in these places where people gathered.

They may come from afar or go to afar.

Their speed far surpasses that of these mysterious horse teams.

By varying their speeds, different levels of networks are interconnected to form a vast network covering thousands of miles.

The slower the speed, the more it leans towards matter.

Tools, food, the movement of people, and so on.

The closer the range, the better; the less the consumption, the better.

The faster the speed, the more it tends to be informational.

The most extensive coverage is the giant net formed by tens of thousands of homing pigeons.

Although this giant network uses construction sites as nodes and hubs, it is not limited to these.

Not only were all the surrounding markets and neighborhoods easily included in this network.

The Moon Dew Plains, which are farther away and cover a larger area, are also entirely covered by this net.

Further afield, this network extended to Yuanjing, and using Yuanjing as a springboard, it spread to various parts of Yuanzhou.

Through this network, it can be seen that, with the area around the silted-up section of the Zhushui River as the core and the downstream banks as the root, many "man-made black holes" have appeared out of nowhere.

They seem to have an inexhaustible need for strong laborers.

Among them, the most affected are the nearest surrounding markets and neighborhoods.

From the fourth episode in the south, to the fifth episode in the east, to the eighth episode in the north...

As can be seen, many able-bodied men have been attracted to participate in this endeavor.

More able-bodied men are arriving one after another, either on their way or preparing to depart.

Even those who remain in their respective neighborhood markets, seemingly not participating, are also deeply involved in another way.

From complex tools and instruments forged in a blazing furnace to simple hemp ropes and straw sandals.

Copper coins and silver coins flowed out of the logistics department, and then these goods flowed in from all over the country like a stream.

Finally, they were put into various work sites.

The high intensity of labor leads to high intensity of wear and tear, which means that the vast majority of the tools and equipment that are put in are consumables.

As the field of vision expands further, more and more people are being drawn to the area surrounding Moon Dew Plain, consciously or unconsciously flocking to these areas.

Yes, some people just want to sell their labor for a good price and earn a few more meals.

They were drawn to it naturally, like flies drawn to filth.

Some, through various channels, realized that these regions held immense potential benefits and opportunities.

They are like moths drawn to a flame, willing to take the risk even if it means facing danger.

Further afield, in the densely populated areas east of Yuanjing, around Yuanjing, and in the populated areas north of Cenling.

People who had run out of food or were about to run out of food began to leave their hometowns in despair after trying every possible means.

As the old year draws to a close and the new year approaches, a time that should be filled with celebration, we embark on a journey into the vast unknown.

At first, their movement may have been aimless.

But soon, through various intentional and unintentional interventions, their goals became clear—

The source of the ancient Zhushui River channel.

Those "intentional" interventions came from the official members of the Giant Bear Gang who had left and were scattered throughout Yuanzhou, as well as the original and newly recruited temporary members.

Their main task is to eradicate the remaining influence of Wuyou Palace throughout Yuanzhou. As their operation progresses, the ripples they have created are spreading and stirring up various parts of Yuanzhou.

In addition to this main task, they also had to provide assistance and guidance to the surrounding famine-stricken people who had fled the famine.

In addition, there are the Bloodfang Gang, the Xu family, and other forces and organizations connected with the Giant Bear Gang.

These interventions all took place openly, guiding these starving refugees while providing them with appropriate porridge and food to prevent them from starving to death on their way.

There are also many interventions that occur in the shadows.

It was as if an invisible giant hand was guiding the famine that was about to break out in various parts of Yuanzhou to the area where the Giant Bear Gang was located.

Those who carried out these actions were all hidden behind the scenes, their true identities unknown.

They simply used various tangible and intangible forces to drive the starving people out of their homes and lead them to the area where the Giant Bear Gang was located.

As for food or other supplies, there was none at all.

They didn't care whether those starving people who set off empty-handed could reach the Giant Bear Gang alive.

If one dies halfway there, the hidden worries are eliminated in advance.

If they arrive alive, these starving people will become "blood leeches," frantically sucking blood from the giant bear gang.

If this tactic were used against a force like the Palace of No Worries, it would only invite ridicule.

And it won't have any effect.

But for the Giant Bear Gang, which has inherited the spirit and will of Meng Tiexin, this is their most powerful move!
……

After noon, the once bustling scene of labor gradually began to change.

At first, this change was not very noticeable.

Moreover, they are scattered in various places and have not yet become a significant force.

However, Guo Zian, Luo Qing, and the others noticed this change immediately.

As the sun began to set and night fell...

This change is so obvious that everyone can notice it.

—Although the project continued day and night, Luo Qing and others felt that the arrangements were not strict at all.

Almost all jobs operate on at least two shifts, day and night. Some particularly strenuous and physically demanding jobs even require three shifts a day.

Furthermore, the shift change times for each process are staggered to avoid confusion and disruption caused by too many people changing shifts at the same time.

Therefore, it is not the case that everyone on site is so tired that they cannot move.

The only reason this is happening now is that they don't want to continue.

If this had happened at any other time, the frontline managers led by Luo Qing and others would have intervened as soon as such signs appeared.

If things get even more serious, Luo Qing, Guo Zi'an, and others will have to personally step in for a "heart-to-heart talk."

Going a step further, it would be the iron fist of the Security Department, led by Hong Quan.

So far, not even a hint of such a thing has appeared.

But today, after noticing these signs, Luo Qing, Guo Zian, and the others all chose to acquiesce.

Seeing that things weren't going well, Luo Qing simply called off the teams on site one by one, letting them return to their camps and enjoy the sumptuous dinner that he had specially ordered the kitchen to prepare.

But only ordinary able-bodied men without any cultivation level obeyed the order to return to camp.

Those cultivators who possessed cultivation and were the core backbone of their respective labor teams did not return to their camps, but instead spontaneously gathered in a nearby area.

……

As the last rays of the sun disappeared from the horizon.

On the night of the thirtieth day of the twelfth lunar month, the moon was hidden and the stars were faint.

The earth did not fall into darkness; instead, it was illuminated as bright as day by clusters of roaring bonfires.

The valley, which was originally lush with vegetation and had been filled with rubble and loose soil several meters to tens of meters below the surface due to the landslide, has now been completely cleared.

It has been transformed into a vast, open plain with stunning views.

In the future, if the silted-up section is completely cleared, the rushing river will connect with the open plains via the orderly stone steps that ascend step by step.

On the innermost part of the open plain, on the steep slopes where the mountain collapsed.

In just a few days, a large stone building, simple yet majestic, has been erected on the steep slope.

Like a giant bird perched on a precipice, watching the ceaseless flow of the river below.

At this moment, all eyes are focused on the building.

This is the most closely watched project of all.

From Luo Qing and Guo Zi'an to every ordinary able-bodied man, everyone was paying close attention to the construction progress of this place called "White Emperor Temple." The manpower, material resources, and mental effort invested were also the greatest.

At this moment, all other locations have gradually ceased operations.

Only here, under the watchful eyes of everyone, are the final touches still being put on.

As the chief engineer of the entire project, Guo Zian, who has devoted more than 90% of his energy to this project, is supervising the completion of the final procedures along with Jiang Yizhi, Su Mingxu, and several others.

In the distance, Luo Qing, who had deliberately hidden himself in the darkness, stayed with Ji Cong, who had just arrived from over a hundred miles away, and silently watched everything.

After a long while, Ji Cong finally spoke:

"Given the current situation, the White Emperor Shrine should be completed on time... I think the only thing everyone is concerned about now is whether the gang leader can return on time?"

As he spoke, Ji Cong looked at Luo Qing, his expression filled with anticipation.

That look again.

Luo Qing felt a sense of despair.

Everyone believed that he was the gang leader's most trusted and confidant.

Before he left, he must have given himself some special, extra instructions.

But only he knew that none of this existed.

You ask me, who should I ask?
At this point, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and tell everyone that the leader would return on time.

Just then, there was a commotion in the distance.

"Could it be that the gang leader has returned?"

With that thought in mind, Luo Qing quickly turned his head to look.

Soon, my heart, which hadn't settled down at all, was in suspense again.

He said to Ji Cong, "It must be someone from Yuanjing. Let's go take a look."

After establishing a smooth information network through carrier pigeons, Tang Caizhu, Xue Zhiheng, and others, who were in Yuanjing and occupied the Wusou Palace Fortress, would regularly communicate with them.

These days, after learning of the urgent needs here, Yuanjing has already made a trip, taking advantage of the Xuanyou horse's rapid mobility, bringing a large number of urgently needed tools.

Otherwise, no project team would dare to expand to this scale.

However, compared to the terrifying demand here, the tools that had been urgently procured were far from sufficient.

According to Yuan Jing's letter, after the first batch was quickly transported by Xuan You horse, Xue Zhiheng and the Xu family began the second round of fundraising, which was more extensive, more in-depth, and naturally more numerous.

Roughly estimated, once the tools raised this time are delivered, they will be able to meet the labor needs of 100,000 people.

Based on their departure time and travel itinerary, they should arrive around tonight.

Luo Qing guessed that Yuan Jing had set the time for their second arrival at this moment because he knew the gang leader would be returning tonight and had deliberately timed their arrival accordingly.

Thinking about this, Luo Qing felt even more pressure.

He was genuinely worried about how to handle the current situation if the gang leader couldn't return on time.

Anyway, there's nothing he can do about it.

All he could do was try to hold on and maintain control of the situation until the final moment arrived.

Look at who's gathered around the Baidi Temple now.

Official members of the Giant Bear Gang.

Except for a very small number who joined before the Battle of Qingyuanji, the vast majority were forced to join after the Battle of Qingyuanji.

There were also more than two thousand people who were taken out of the "Ochre-Red Eyes".

Its composition is so complex and its sources so diverse that it's impossible to count them all on ten fingers.

They were willing to obey Geng Xuan's orders, bending down without any resentment to perform "lowly" labor.

Besides Su Ruiliang's formidable power, it was also because Geng Xuan explicitly promised that those involved in this matter would receive rewards and recognition.

Among these people, there are several hundred more.

Previously, because he had gone to the "Ochre-Red Eye" basin, he missed the last opportunity to receive a reward, and his emotions had been festering inside him.

They were already on the verge of exploding.

Geng Xuan made a clear promise that he would fulfill his promise immediately after the completion of the Baidi Temple, and that there would be additional compensation.

This finally calmed them down.

Besides these "our own people," there were also practitioners from the surrounding neighborhoods and markets.

From actively organizing manpower and allocating resources to participating in management and frontline work after arriving at the site, nothing was overlooked.

Since a promise has been made to our own people, we cannot neglect them or show favoritism.

In addition, there were many official members who arrived in the last two days, as well as newly recruited temporary members.

The earliest of them, ten days ago, received the mission to wipe out the remnants of Wuyou Palace in the camp outside Qingyuanji, and set off for various places in Yuanzhou.

Although this matter is far from over, some who are closer to the end, and those who are too eager to receive the reward, want to claim it in stages.

Even the temporary followers they painstakingly cultivated played a positive role in the campaign to eliminate the remnants of Sanssouci Palace.

They, too, were looking forward to this moment.

In addition, there is this group that arrived from Yuanjing right on time.

Luo Qing thought to himself that although the matter of bestowing blessings and rewarding merits was not sent through carrier pigeons, it was very likely that it had already been sent through the Xu family's line of communication.

Compared to their efforts to wipe out the remnants of the Worry-Free Palace elsewhere in Yuanzhou, this group had far more compelling reasons.

They were the ones who gnawed through the toughest bones.

Even now, they still fight wits and courage, life and death, with those remnants of the Wuyou Palace hiding in Yuanjing City every day.

There's no reason to leave them out.

Luo Qing couldn't help but think that this might be the reason why the other party arrived tonight under the pretense of escorting a large number of tools.

The sources are numerous and varied, and the motivations are different for each individual.

There is only one reason why such a complex group of people can be brought together.

With these thoughts swirling in his mind, Luo Qing had already met up with a group of people who were heading this way.

But then they saw Chen Zhan, Han Jian, and Hong Quan accompanying them as they walked ahead to them.

He had seen some of them before, such as that Granny Xu.

Some of them I've never met but I know who they are, like Tang Caizhu and Xue Zhiheng.

And the only two remaining peak-stage Marrow Refinement cultivators of the Xu family, Xu Ziming and Xu Qiwen.

"They've all come!"

Although he had expected it, Luo Qing was still taken aback when he saw the group appear in such a well-organized formation.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Xu Qiwen, the oldest among them, looked at Luo Qing and asked directly:
"I've always heard that Chief Su and Protector Luo hold each other in high regard. But do you know anything about his movements these days?"

—Now, the gang's reforms, spearheaded by Fang Jintang, have been fully implemented within the gang.

Within the Giant Bear Gang, the formal title of "Guardian" no longer exists.

Now, this has become an honorary title exclusively for Luo Qing, Wang Bi, and Ding Yong.

The other party's cultivation level was far higher than Luo Qing's, but upon hearing the question, Luo Qing replied directly:

"You should be familiar with the gang leader's methods."

Do you think it's something I should be concerned about regarding his movements these days?

Even if I truly knew, and he hadn't told you, could I speak up without his consent?

"Uh—" Xu Qiwen was speechless.

He didn't expect Luo Qing to be so disrespectful, not even respecting the custom of treating guests from afar, and directly shutting him down.

Although he was somewhat annoyed, there was nothing he could do to Luo Qing at this time and place.

He said dejectedly:

"I just want to know if Chief Su can return on time."

"It's natural."

As the time drew closer, Luo Qing felt increasingly uneasy, yet his initial anxiety subsided, replaced by a sense of calm.

He said these words without a trace of guilt or fear in his heart.

Xu Qiwen nodded and said nothing more.

No one else said anything.

I simply gazed at the Baidi Temple in the distance, waiting quietly.

After a while, Guo Zian arrived with Jiang Yizhi and Su Mingxu.

He glanced at the others and whispered to Luo Qing:

"It's done."

Luo Qing nodded slightly.

Seeing that many eyes were on him, he simply said:

"What's the rush? It's not midnight yet!"

It hasn't arrived yet.

It is around 9 p.m., and there is about one hour left until midnight, which is the first day of the Lunar New Year.

Many of the looks directed at Luo Qing gradually took on a different meaning.

However, no one said anything more; some simply waited quietly.

Some would occasionally look up at the sky.

Although the moon is hidden and the stars are faint, there are still stars to be seen.

For many people, that's enough.

Time seemed to pass very slowly, making it an extremely agonizing experience.

But it also seemed to pass very quickly, in the blink of an eye.

According to the celestial phenomena, the time in the heavens and earth is gradually approaching midnight.

suddenly--

"You're not late, are you?" (End of Chapter)