A Dangerous World

“At the end of this year, we will be changing to the night shift. But the situation of the Evils is already this bad, even showing themselves during the day, let alone at night!”

Tie Dun’s worries also affected Lu Chen’s thoughts for a moment.

Barbarians were never fond of idlers, even if they were orphans.

The village would only take care of you before the age of 13, and after that, it would all be up to you to take care of yourself.

Either you joined the patrol as a village guard, became a hunter that brought food back to the village, or proved your worth in some other area. All in all, every male barbarian must contribute to live in the village.

Such was the case of Ah’Chen and Tie Dun. The two were orphans and were automatically taken in by the Village Guard Squad.

At the age of 13, they were following the Village Guard Squad in patrolling the perimeter of the village during the day. The village would supply them their food as long as they did their part as a patrol guard.

However, the population had always been a valuable asset in every society. Especially when it came to the barbarians living in the Wilderness, the male barbarians were valued much more. No one tribe would allow their men to be sacrificed away easily.

The villages also imposed protective measures for the weak barbarian teenagers.

Which was why young barbarians like Ah’Chen and Tie Dun were tasked to patrol during the day shifts by the Village Guard Squad. This would greatly reduce the risk and danger Ah’Chen and Tie Dun would have to face.

After all, beasts, even when they were on a rampage, were still easy to handle. But the Evils that lurked at night were much more difficult to take care of. In this world, the night was at least ten times more dangerous than the day.

But at the same time, because the day shift was relatively safer, the rewards given to them were also much lesser.

Patrol during the day is basically not dangerous. I have been patrolling since 13 and now I’m almost 16 already, but I’ve only come across one dangerous incident. If I continue to patrol during the day, the food given to me will not even be enough to fill my stomach.

Furthermore, my Mastery Points come from battles. That seems like I have no choice, for a better future, I will have to go to the night shift.

While Lu Chen was thinking about changing to the night shift, his partner and friend, Tie Dun, was worrying about their future.

“Chen, what do you think we should do? A majority of the Village Guard Squad’s casualties are from the night shift!”

Lu Chen heard Tie Dun and looked back at his decision. It was at this moment that Lu Chen clearly felt the change brought by his prowess.

He and I think differently, I want to change to the night shift, but he is afraid of it. But he can’t be blamed for it. I have the strength that he doesn’t have, that’s why he can only be afraid of the night shift.

However, understanding his situation will not change anything. I don’t want to be like him. I have to grow stronger. In this world, the weak will die.

As Lu Chen was thinking, Tie Dun said again, “Do you know, yesterday, someone was possessed by a specter during the day. He didn’t make it and died.”

“You sure it happened during the day?”

Even Lu Chen couldn’t ignore that piece of news and was shocked.

“En, in bright daylight. Although he is not from our team, it happened during the day patrol.”

After confirming the news, Lu Chen’s face turned gloomy.

It’s not just me, but there’s more, and it all happened during a short span of time. Seems like ‘my’ death was not an accident. Some changes are happening, but I hope it’s only regional, because if it’s the whole world that is changing, then we are in deep trouble.

The moment Lu Chen thought of the world changing and the Evils being able to appear during the day, his heart shuddered. However, even though he felt the pressure, Lu Chen knew very well that there was nothing he could change.

Regional or not, it’s not something I can change now. Now, what I have to do is increase my strength quickly. As long as I am strong enough, I will be able to survive anywhere myself.

While Lu Chen was in distress, so was Tie Dun.

After some time, Tie Dun sighed and said, “Sigh, if only we become a Barbarian Blood Warrior. The Barbarian Blood Warriors’ blood can hurt the Evils.”

“Furthermore, after becoming a Barbarian Blood Warrior, the village will give a huge house to live in and servants to take care of us, and we can also become a squad leader in the Village Guard Squad.”

Tie Dun was all excited when he thought about the benefits of becoming a Barbarian Blood Warrior.

Even Lu Chen also smiled.

Unlike the Central Plains that cultivated Inner Qi, the barbarians in the Wilderness mostly cultivated the crude and simple martial arts with the exception of the mysterious Wus.

Since young, every barbarian would train their body and strength. Once their cultivation reached a certain stage, the Vigor in their body would undergo a qualitative change and further enhance their body strength.

It was their own body and Vigor that the barbarians relied on to fight.

Even so, I have my own path to walk on. But for now, it’s best that I show the prowess of a Barbarian Blood Warrior. That way, I will be allocated more resources and a higher status.

Three days later, I must win the battles. After that, I will level up my Swordsman class and join the night patrol. I need battles, for more Mastery Points.

…

Lu Chen was chatting with Tie Dun while at the same time thinking about his future. On the other hand, the chieftain and Wu had also gathered together.

From their locked brows, one could easily infer that they didn’t meet up because of good news.

“Elder Bai, is Hei Zi’s death an Evil’s work? He died during the day!”

“Sigh!”

Wuzu gave a long sigh and didn’t answer, but the Wild Bull Village’s chieftain already got his answer. His brows couldn’t help but lock further.

After some time, he said, “Elder Bai, do you think, is it possible that a powerful Evil is around us now, and that its presence agitated the other Evils into activity?”

Considering the possibility, Master Wuzu’s face turned gloomy.

“Don’t think too much now. I’ve contacted the nearby villages and the Ancestor’s Ground with the Totem Pillar. Whatever is happening here is also happening elsewhere around us. Many other villages are the same now.”

“The Evils, they had gotten stronger and more abundant in number.”

Even though he knew it would turn out to be this way, Chieftain Da Shi’s face still became extremely gloomy.

If it only happened in one place, they could still ask for help from the Ancestor’s Ground. But when it was happening in every village, even if they had asked for help, they probably wouldn’t be able to wait long enough until the help arrived.

The lack of manpower in Ancestor’s Ground only allowed them to start by assisting the bigger villages first.

“Then what should we do?”

“Tighten the defense, lessen any unnecessary activities outside of the village.”

“But our village won’t last that long. The patrols are seeing a rise in casualties and the hunters have also been attacked more frequently than before. If the Hunting Team doesn’t go hunting, we won’t have enough food.”

Wuzu, of course, was well aware of the village’s situation. But even so, he didn’t have any better plan. If this was the only land that had this problem, they could choose to ask for Ancestor’s Ground’s support or move the entire village somewhere else.

But it was now the same everywhere, the Ancestor’s Ground’s help would not be able to reach them in time and even if they could move the village, where would they go?

After giving it some thought, Wuzu said, “The Ancestor’s Ground is finding ways to help the situation. As for us, there is still a choice. If our village won’t last, neither will the other villages. The winter assembly this year, there will be changes.”

Wuzu didn’t say much, but the chieftain knew what he was talking about.

However, the idea didn’t excite the chieftain. Clearly, the changes that would take place might save the village, but it would inevitably come at a cost.

Looking at the quiet chieftain, Wuzu suddenly remembered something and smiled.

“Although things may be difficult lately, we may still not be completely out of luck yet. Ah’Chen, he might give us a surprise.”

When Lu Chen’s name was mentioned, even a smile broke out on the chieftain’s wry face.

“Elder Bai, do you really think Ah’Chen has awakened the bloodline?”