Just as he was thinking, a sudden commotion came from outside the West Gate.

The sound was distant at first, but it quickly grew closer and more chaotic.

It was mixed with exclamations, cries, and frantic footsteps.

Lin Feng's gaze sharpened, and he strode toward the West Gate.

The sight along the way made his heart sink.

Many working Awakened were running toward the West Gate, faces filled with curiosity and the look of people watching a spectacle. As they ran, they whispered to each other:

"What happened? What happened?"

"I don't know, I heard something happened in the west!"

"It seems like the people from the mine are back..."

Lin Feng quickened his pace, pushed through the crowd, and arrived outside the West Gate.

The scene before him caused his pupils to contract slightly.

Over a hundred people were gathered in the open space outside the West Gate, their clothes in tatters and their faces covered in dust.

Some sat slumped on the ground, some held their heads and wept, while others stared blankly at their surroundings. Everyone carried the terror and exhaustion of having survived a disaster.

They were the miners from the Copper-Tin Mine.

Lin Feng's gaze swept through the crowd and quickly spotted a familiar figure, Zhao Liu.

This man, who had always been in charge of mine management, was now covered in dirt with tear streaks on his face, stumbling toward him.

Upon seeing Lin Feng, he could no longer control himself and fell to his knees with a thud.

"Lord! Lord!" Zhao Liu's voice was hoarse and tearful. "The mine... the mine is finished!"

Lin Feng reached out to help him up, his voice steady. "Stand up and speak. Tell me slowly, what happened?"

Zhao Liu stood up straight but couldn't stop trembling. He took a few deep breaths and spoke with difficulty:

"This morning... just at dawn, many monsters suddenly appeared at the mine!"

"They were types we've never seen before, looking like pangolins but much larger, covered in scales, with exceptionally long claws!"

"They... they didn't hurt people; they just mined frantically! They burrowed into the mine shafts, dug out chunks of ore, and ate them on the spot! Their teeth were harder than iron; the ore was like sweet potatoes in their mouths!" 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Zhao Liu's voice grew more agitated. "The seven Beacon Guards immediately organized a resistance and told us to retreat first."

"They... they fought desperately to block those monsters and buy us time..."

His eyes were red, and his voice choked up. "When we ran out of the mine, we looked back... the seven Beacon Guards were still fighting."

"There were too many monsters, dense and packed, surrounding the entire mine shaft..."

Lin Feng's hand suddenly clenched.

"And then?" His voice was very low.

"Then... after we ran for a few miles, we came straight back to deliver the news." Zhao Liu wiped away his tears.

"What about those seven Beacon Guards?" Lin Feng pressed.

Zhao Liu hurriedly said, "They... they survived! Five who were lightly injured managed to snatch the two heavily injured ones from the swarm of monsters!"

He pointed toward the back of the crowd. "They... they are right behind..."

Lin Feng looked in the direction he pointed.

Behind the crowd, several wooden carts were slowly approaching. Two men lay on the carts, their bodies wrapped in blood-stained strips of cloth, their faces pale.

Five blood-covered Beacon Guards followed alongside; some used Long Halberds as crutches, others were being supported, but they were all still standing.

Lin Feng strode forward to meet them.

On the first cart lay Beacon Guard No. 3, the man who had been the first to have his shoulder slashed by a Bone Eagle's claw on Bone Eagle Cliff yet hadn't retreated a single step.

Now, thick strips of cloth were wrapped around his chest, with blood still seeping through. He opened his eyes, and seeing Lin Feng, his lips moved:

"Lord... the mine... we couldn't hold it..."

Lin Feng placed a hand on his shoulder, his voice deep. "Don't speak. You're back, and that's more important than anything."

Beacon Guard No. 3's eyes reddened, and he nodded vigorously.

On the second cart was Beacon Guard No. 7, a young Garrison Soldier.

A deep, bone-exposing wound had been torn into his left leg, the flesh mangled, but his life was saved.

He kept his eyes closed, his face pale and his breathing weak.

Uncle Wu had already arrived and was kneeling by the cart to check his pulse. Pharmacist Chen was beside him, frantically rummaging through medicine.

Lin Feng looked at the five standing Beacon Guards. Every one of them was injured, the lightest having over a dozen bloody gashes, yet an unyielding light still burned in their eyes.

"Good." Lin Feng said only that single word, then turned to Uncle Wu. "Provide full treatment. Tell me directly what medicine is needed."

Uncle Wu nodded solemnly. "Rest assured, Lord. These two heavily injured brothers will survive. The others have flesh wounds and will recover in a few days."

Lin Feng nodded, his gaze sweeping over those seven familiar faces, the two heavily injured and unconscious Garrison Soldiers, and the five blood-soaked yet still upright warriors.

Then, he turned and strode toward the Council Hall.

Shadow Snake appeared at his side at some unknown point, her gaze even colder than usual.

She didn't speak, simply following silently behind Lin Feng.

Upon returning to the hall, the moment the door closed, Lin Feng slammed a fist into the wall.

Boom!

The wall dented, covered in a web of cracks.

"Baigui County." He spoke each word deliberately, his voice terrifyingly low.

Shadow Snake stood beside him, silent, but within her cool eyes, a never-before-seen fury also burned.

She knew those seven Beacon Guards as well. On Bone Eagle Cliff, they had fought side by side;

During daily patrols, they ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) would also nod to each other in greeting.

Now, two were heavily injured, five were lightly injured, and the mine was destroyed.

All caused by Baigui County.

"Lord." Shadow Snake suddenly spoke, her voice lower and colder than usual. "Let me go."

Lin Feng looked at her.

"Let me go to Baigui County," Shadow Snake said word for word. "I'll kill them all."

Lin Feng was silent for a moment, then reached out and pressed down on her shoulder.

"Calm down."

Shadow Snake's body stiffened slightly, but she didn't pull away.

Lin Feng took a deep breath, suppressing the surging anger in his chest. He closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, his gaze had returned to calm—but that kind of calm was more terrifying than anger.

"This grudge must be avenged." His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an unquestionable resolve. "But not now, and not by you alone."

He looked at Shadow Snake: "If you go to Baigui County now, how many can you kill? Ten? Twenty? And then? You'll be surrounded and die there?"

Shadow Snake was silent.

"For the seven Beacon Guards and the destruction of the mine, I will make Baigui County pay in blood." Lin Feng said each word with weight.

"But we won't impulsively throw our lives away. Do you understand?"

Shadow Snake was silent for a moment before finally nodding slightly.

Lin Feng let go, walked to the window, and looked toward the west.

There lay the direction of the Copper-Tin Mine, and also the direction of Baigui County.

"I need to return to Blue Star for a trip." He turned around. "You stay in town and watch over everything. Don't be impulsive, don't do anything foolish. Wait for me to return."

Shadow Snake looked at him and nodded.