Everyone's gaze finally turned eagerly toward those ten trade professionals.

These were "living resources" far more precious than any equipment or energy crystals!

Uncle Wu had already spoken with them briefly and now reported to Lin Feng: "Leader, I have asked clearly.

This is Blacksmith Wang, primary level, with two apprentices. He can steadily forge white-quality weapons and armor, and if there are materials, he has a certain success rate for green-quality as well."

He pointed to a sturdy middle-aged man with thick palms and soot on his face.

Blacksmith Wang cupped his hands toward Lin Feng somewhat reservedly.

"This is Tailor Li, primary level, skilled in making leather and cloth armor, and can also produce green-quality items."

A middle-aged woman with a gaunt face and slender fingers bowed her head slightly.

"This is Brewer Zhou. I hear the 'Hundred Herb Brew' he makes can quickly restore stamina and relieve fatigue; it was very popular in the Black Wolf Den."

An old man with graying hair and a bulbous, red nose gave a sheepish smile.

"These four are Carpenter Zhang and his three apprentices. Their craftsmanship is good; they can handle camp repairs and make simple furniture and equipment."

"This is Pharmacist Chen. He knows how to gather herbs and formulate basic hemostatic powder and antidotes, and he can also make this 'Minor Healing Potion'."

Uncle Wu took out a crude little wooden bottle, about the thickness of a thumb, filled with a pale red liquid.

Lin Feng stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the ten people, and he said in a deep voice: "Everyone, the Black Wolf Den no longer exists.

From now on, you are all under my, Lin Feng's, command... As long as you do your best and utilize your strengths, I will ensure your safety, guarantee your food and clothing, and if you make contributions in the future, your treatment will only be better than it was at the Black Wolf Den."

The ten trade professionals whispered among themselves, and finally, led by Blacksmith Wang and Tailor Li, they bowed one after another to indicate their willingness to stay.

"Good!" Lin Feng smiled. "Uncle Wu, arrange for them to rest and get them something to eat and drink."

"Yes, Leader!"

After dealing with the trade professionals and the spoils of war, the atmosphere in the cave completely turned into the jubilation of survivors who had achieved a great victory.

"Leader, your move of 'playing the oriole' was truly brilliant! We sat there watching the show, and in the end, it all fell into our laps!"

Tie Dun hugged his newly acquired great shield, grinning from ear to ear.

"More than that! We even brought back the craftsmen and the pharmacist! We're about to take off!"

Jian Yan stroked his new bow, his eyes shining.

"The key is luck! Even the Nightmare World couldn't stand the Black Wolf Den and helped us fan the flames!"

Zhao Hu held up his round shield, his voice booming like a bell.

Everyone burst into laughter at his words.

Lin Feng also smiled and raised his water skin: "Come, a toast to every brother who fought side-by-side tonight! To our future new home!"

"To the Leader! To our new home!" The cheers rang through the cave.

The cave was filled with laughter and hope. Lin Feng looked at his core team members, now equipped with brand-new gear, looked at the pile of energy crystals, and even more so, looked at the trade professionals who would change the foundation of the team; his heart swelled with pride as his blueprint for the future unfolded.

With the blacksmith and tailor for forging and repairs, the carpenter for building the camp, the brewer to restore stamina, and the pharmacist to ensure medical care, plus sufficient funds (energy crystals) and a core of combat strength, the prototype of a virtuous cycle was already in his hands.

The threat of the Black Wolf Den had been eliminated, and it had even offered up such a generous "dowry."

"Next, it's time to digest these gains, and then..."

Lin Feng looked outside the cave, his gaze seeming to pierce through the rock wall and cast toward the distance, "It's time to seriously consider how to find that Great Qin legion and obtain the Village Establishment Order."

The night was still long, but dawn seemed no longer far away.

The first ray of dark red morning light struggled to pierce through the clouds, casting a faint glow upon the ravaged wilderness.

Hiding in the cave, everyone had long since woken up and was simply gnawing on the dry rations left over from last night. The atmosphere was filled with the exhaustion of the great battle, yet also charged with anticipation and a faint sense of unease for the new day.

Everyone's eyes glanced toward the cave entrance from time to time, waiting for the scouts to return.

Lin Feng leaned against the cave wall, silently feeling the continuous warmth brought by the vitality vine belt, as well as the improved coordination of his body after updating his equipment.

His gaze was calm, but in his heart, he was repeatedly deducing various possibilities.

About an hour later, a slight friction sound came from the cave entrance, and A Wang, along with two agile hunters, slipped in silently like civet cats.

They carried the mixed scent of morning dew and gunpowder smoke, but their faces bore an expression of relief and excitement.

"Leader!" A Wang walked quickly to Lin Feng, lowering his voice and speaking hurriedly.

"We snuck near the Black Wolf Den to take a look. The Skeleton Soldiers... they've all disappeared! Not a single one left! Just like when they appeared, it's as if they drilled back into the ground!"

A chorus of suppressed sighs of relief sounded in the cave. The threat of the Skeleton Soldiers, especially that terrifying, missing Commander of Five Hundred, had always been the biggest stone hanging over everyone's hearts.

"How is it inside the Black Wolf Den?" Zhao Hu asked hurriedly.

A Wang's expression became complex, mixed with shock and lamentation: 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"It's a complete mess... A large section of the western wall collapsed, two arrow towers fell, and there are scorched marks and scattered bones everywhere.

Inside... there are quite a few corpses, some are skeletons, but more are people from the Black Wolf Den, and some unburned houses are still smoking.

However, the core area, like the stone houses in the former artisan district and the warehouses, don't seem to be as severely damaged; the walls are still standing. The water in the moat is shimmering with a black-red color..."

Everyone fell silent. One could imagine what kind of tragic slaughter and destruction took place there last night.

Lin Feng stood up, patted the dust off his body, and his eyes became sharp and firm: "The skeletons have retreated, and the threat is temporarily gone. Although the Black Wolf Den is broken, its foundation remains, and it is ownerless."

He looked around at everyone, "Our camp (Black Wind Camp) is too crude. Although the Black Wolf Den has been through the fires of war, its location, defensive works, and especially those intact artisan houses and warehouses are worth a hundred times more than Black Wind Camp!"

"I have decided, the entire team will move to the Black Wolf Den! We depart immediately to take over the place before any other covetous parties might appear!"

"Yes, Leader!" Everyone responded in a roar, their exhaustion swept away, replaced by the excitement of pioneering a new foundation.

The team quickly packed their gear, took the ten trade professionals and all their supplies, walked out of the cave, and headed rapidly toward the Black Wolf Den, facing the brightening morning light.

Half an hour later, the dilapidated figure of the Black Wolf Den appeared in their field of vision.

Although they were mentally prepared, the shock of seeing it in person still made many people gasp.

The once imposing wooden wall had a huge gap nearly twenty meters wide on the west side, with broken logs scorched and twisted like a hideous scar on a giant beast.

Two arrow towers had collapsed into piles of broken wood, one of which was still emitting wisps of blue smoke.

The surface of the moat was floating with ashes, bone fragments, and unrecognizable debris, its color turbid and foul.

The air was filled with a heavy smell of burning, the scent of blood, and a faint, decaying odor left behind by the dissipating undead.

Crossing the damaged drawbridge and stepping into the camp, the scene was even more miserable.

The previously relatively level open ground was covered with potholes and scattered weapon debris; many wooden sheds had been burned or pushed over, their embers still warm.

Fallen corpses were visible everywhere—some human, some pale skeletons—some entangled together, maintaining the posture of their final struggle.

Flies had already begun to gather, emitting an irritating buzzing sound.

However, just as A Wang had said, the artisan district in the northeast of the camp, which was primarily made of stone, and several large warehouses built with thicker timber, were relatively lightly damaged; the walls were basically intact, though many doors and windows were damaged.

"Quick! Zhao Hu, take people to clear the battlefield immediately, take the corpses... and find a place to bury them properly.

Pile the skeleton fragments together and burn them!" Lin Feng ordered quickly, his voice echoing over the ruins, "Tie Dun, take people to check the wall gap and arrow towers, and assess the difficulty of repairs.

A Wang, take your men to patrol the perimeter and expand the alert range to prevent any stray monsters or other uninvited guests!"

"Blacksmith Wang, Tailor Li, Master Zhou, Pharmacist Chen, Carpenter Zhang, take your apprentices and immediately check your respective workshops and living quarters, take stock of the losses, see how much of your tools and materials remain, and immediately organize ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) whatever can be used!

Uncle Wu, assist Pharmacist Chen in prioritizing the clearing of an area to handle environmental sanitation and prevent disease!"

One command after another was clear and precise. The panicked crowd immediately had a backbone and began to act efficiently.

The busyness of clearing the ruins and the focus on checking the fortifications dispelled some of the dead silence and decay that had shrouded the ruins.