Chapter 437: Hunting Outside (1/2)

In time, the camp was beginning to take shape. With things like the kitchen and the smithy fully built, only the fortress itself needed to be done. Fortunately, the foundations had been set and the designs were finalized. Over a hundred craftsmen and laborers ran about, bringing supplies and building the structure one stone at a time.

Ming Yue had watched from above, noting the differences between this and the other castles she had seen.

”It's not like the Iron Citadel, there's only one wall. But unlike the North Fort, there isn't as much farmland. Still, it seems to be even more heavily armed than both of them combined”, she thought.

Although Yin Bing's barrier was still active, there was a second and a third, created by the Jadewood Sect. That surrounded the entirety of the camp itself.

The fortress had a mess of things from formations to armaments, all of which were personally overseen by Zi Jing. There were cannons, ballistae, small catapults, all of which were of a design Ming Yue had never seen before.

They were all made from jet-black iron, sleek and simple but sure to carry power.

There were dozens of flags, etchings on the ground, even strange-looking stones that he planted himself.

”If there is even one thing that is not in place, I will have you join the soldiers in their next training session! Just one thing, and you can forget about your rest day!” he shouted out sternly.

Everyone had sweat coming down their foreheads. With the commander breathing down their necks, none of them had a chance to relax.

Ming Yue continued to watch some more before a shadow rose up behind her.

”Hey, it's time to go hunt, the others are waiting.”

Walking up next to her, Xuan Yin had come to get her friend for their task. She had her bow in hand and a quiver filled to the brim with arrows. Her falcon rested on her shoulder, looking at Ming Yue curiously.

The young woman looked at her before standing up. She had already donned her armor and grabbed her sword. Along with Xiao Yin and Hei Yue, the group all headed towards the gate of the camp where a group of other cultivators was.

Among them were disciples of various sects as well as a few lone cultivators. This included those who have sparred against her and those like Jian Yi and her juniors.

However, all of them straightened up and looked at Ming Yue with their undivided attention. She stood in front of them and gave them all a look.

”We're going hunting outside. Please be careful and do not go alone.”

Having never led anything before, she gave these few words before moving on. Many of them looked quite taken aback, half-expecting something more than that. However, that was all she gave them.

With that, this group of twenty or so people walked outside. For many of them, it would be their first time and these marshes were not an easy place to navigate.

From the swamps, the constant bugs, the treacherous ground, in the first hour or so there were several close calls.

Ming Yue led them deeper into these lands, finding them livelier compared to before. Every now and then, something would roar or hiss.

”They must have all fled from the Vore Demons”, she thought, ”Now that they're gone, those beasts are back.”

She looked back and glanced at Xuan Yin, who had her bow ready.

”Where's Liao Mao?” she asked.

The archer pointed up at the sky where both Xiao Yin and Liao Mao, her falcon, flew about, scouting the land from above.

”I see. I never did ask about how you got that falcon”, said Ming Yue.

Xuan Yin chuckled before showing a proud expression.

”When I was traveling around the continent, I found him with an injured wing. He was about to get killed by some Blood Vultures. I saved him, fixed his wing, and nursed him until he could fly again. I had let him go free after he was fully healed but he landed back on my shoulder. After that, he became my hunting partner.”

'Really?”