Moreover, Shen Mu's return to Deherim was also due to the three rewards he had obtained from the golden treasure chest, which he had not yet used.
It was the Evening Breeze from Sunuo Plain, which would blow across the entire area enveloped by the Mount & Blade Rules.
For example, it was an enhanced version of the breeze from Sunuo Plain.
However, compared to the breeze that would blow every 20 minutes, the Evening Breeze from Sunuo Plain would blow every evening.
It would last for about an hour.
Not only could it promote plant growth, but it could also boost the morale, courage, and mental resilience of the soldiers.
This was perfect for countering the soul-level deterrence of the death spirit rules that would appear once night arrived.
Later, when Shen Mu’s Mount & Blade Rules began to cover vast stretches of land, his troops would need to actively leave the city walls and go out on patrol to eliminate those Undead Monsters.
This would change from strategic passive defense to strategic active defense.
And it was also an active offensive at the tactical level.
Therefore, the Evening Breeze from Sunuo Plain could perfectly provide a final boost to Shen Mu's Mount & Blade Rules at dusk, when the death spirit rules were about to stir, and the blue star rules and spirit world rules could no longer suppress the death spirit rules, allowing them to face the impending death spirit rules and Undead Monsters with greater resilience.
That was why Shen Mu was quite satisfied with the Evening Breeze from Sunuo Plain.
Besides, he had two other rewards.
The Gift of Natural Food and Caravan Acceleration.
The Gift of Natural Food allowed his fields and crops to quickly grow to a harvestable state.
Caravan Acceleration allowed caravans to quickly complete a trade run.
All of these required Faith Power.
And if the number of crops or the relative quantity was too large, the Faith Power consumed would be an astronomical figure.
But for Shen Mu, this was ultimately a good opportunity to accelerate crop growth.
And a good opportunity to speed up the movement of caravans.
Crop growth could provide critically important food.
The movement of caravans could bring much-needed various consumables, including food and some raw materials Shen Mu needed.
So, this was extremely crucial.
Thus, a night passed.
Nothing happened.
Except that in the darkness, some low-level Undead Monsters, similar to Skeleton Soldiers or zombies, swayed their way to the city wall, having detected human habitation and seemingly seen the exposed bonfires on the wall.
Nothing else happened.
Moreover, even these Skeleton Soldiers or zombies, for the Viki Guerilla Shooters on the city wall, initially felt a sense of novelty and used their Nomadic Bows to shoot them down outside the city wall.
But after a while, seeing more and more wandering Skeleton Soldiers and zombies outside, they grew bored and had no further thoughts.
Because they also found that the combat power of these Skeleton Soldiers and zombies was even weaker than that of farmers.
Using their Nomadic Bows and feathered arrows to shoot these Skeleton Soldiers and zombies was equivalent to wasting their feathered arrows.
After all, these feathered arrows were also quite valuable consumables.
After each battle, they would actively go out to search for the shot arrows, and as long as they saw arrows that could still be used and were still intact, as long as there were no major flaws or they were completely unusable, they would collect them.
After all, there was no way to actively produce arrows, including crossbow bolts, in New Rivadin at the moment.
These were all military consumables.
'Buzz!'
As it approached 6:00.
Perhaps a little more time.
But it was always around this time, as the first rays of dawn rose in the sky with the sun, instantly tearing apart the darkness and gray mist.
This represented the rules belonging to the spirit world and the native Blue Star World, which, like sharp swords, tore apart the death spirit rules that had originally enveloped the darkness.
It can be said that in just a brief instant.
The death spirit rules that were torn apart and expelled from the Blue Star World, along with the Undead Monsters, were completely flung away, leaving the scope of the Blue Star World.
Only those Undead Monsters that hid underground could continue to lurk during the day, relying on the remaining death spirit rules in the darkness and mist in places where the sun could not reach or where there was no light, and would not be expelled by the native blue star rules.
Of course, these were old tunes.
Even Bestour and Lezalit, who had just arrived, now understood the subtle relationship between the blue star rules and the death spirit rules.
They also understood how the death spirit rules and blue star rules each occupied the night and day.
"Alright, Aleron, I'll leave this to you."
Shen Mu finished breakfast in the Lord's Castle hall, then did a final check of the city defenses of Vikia Castle, and only then did he nod with satisfaction, completely entrusting the castle to Aleron.
After all, this was his military stronghold.
It not only bore the responsibility of whether Shen Mu's forces could obtain a continuous supply of troops and large-scale recruited units in the future.
It also bore the mission of suppressing the eastern outskirts of Eight Mile River.
After all, right here in Su Family Village, beneath the station, there were still two evil forces, Hell Devil and Skeleton Legion, which could pose a threat to him.
Therefore, this Vikia Castle, New Rivadin, had to be located here, essentially guarding the Su Family Village Station and any more potential threats that might appear around it for Shen Mu.
To prevent the Skeleton Legion or Hell Devil from invading the surface and then posing more threats to Shen Mu's Deherim from the east.
"This is truly a bit of a self-inflicted wound," Shen Mu said with a wry smile.
Originally, he had intended to turn this place into his backup base, but he didn't expect that after setting up this castle here, it didn't become a backup base, but instead became an outpost castle.
It was precisely because of this outpost castle that the Su Family Village Station could be blocked.
And it also happened to discover the Hell Devil.
Otherwise, if the Hell Devil from Angang Street really appeared on Bali River Street, forming a siege around him.
That would be the real danger to his Deherim.
"My Lord, I will firmly guard this place and not allow any enemy to conquer our castle," Aleron replied very firmly at this time.
"Hmm, I still trust you." Shen Mu nodded, feeling quite confident in this strongest warrior of the good alignment in the Mount & Blade World, who was also of noble birth, a noble knight with good tactical and strategic training.
This was also why he chose Aleron to stay here.
Perhaps Aleron was not strong in commanding troop types, and his understanding of various tactics was quite shallow, only staying on the surface.
But Aleron himself was good at fighting; he was a brave general.
At the same time, precisely because he understood a little about all tactics, he could also understand how to execute various tactics.
Including siege defense, reconnaissance, defensive counterattacks, and dispatching cavalry to seek aid at critical moments.
Aleron understood all of these quite well.
Essentially, he was a low-spec version of Lezalit.
An all-rounder warrior.
But just as Lezalit was better at training soldiers.
Aleron's own combat power was quite strong; his fighting skills and combat experience were very abundant. Therefore, with the 10 Holy Tree Knights, 1000 Viki Guerilla Shooters, 300 Vekia Archers, 100 Hired Crossbowmen, and 200 Kujit Steppe Bandits that Shen Mu left him.
A regular force of 1600 people, all of them ranged archers.
To defend this not-so-large Vikia Castle, New Rivadin, was absolutely more than enough.
After all, New Rivadin now had various castle defenses built.
As long as they used the city walls and various defensive structures to hold off the enemy's attacks, that would be enough.
Moreover, those 1300 Vekia ranged archers could switch to two-handed battle axes for offense, a powerful troop type with high attack and low defense.
Coupled with the 200 Kujit Steppe Bandits who could rush out of the city gates at any time to launch active tactical offensives.
Holding off the enemy's attacks would definitely not be a problem.
Besides, there were also two light ballistas and two light catapults placed on the arrow towers and watchtowers.
There was no need to worry about defensive work.
"Alright then, let's go." Shen Mu did a final check of the castle, making sure he found no oversights.
So he took Lezalit and Bestour, along with 100 Swadian Heavy Cavalry, 315 Steppe Bandit Elites, and 100 Holy Tree Knights, and rode away from Vikia Castle, New Rivadin.
They quickly galloped towards Deherim in the west.
It was early morning at this time.
Sunlight poured onto the earth, all darkness and gray mist had been removed, and no Undead Monsters were appearing.
It looked like the Blue Star World was still the Blue Star World.
No different from before.
Of course, if one didn't consider the clearly gray reinforced concrete buildings in the distance, that would be even better.
"How come I feel that in just these two or three days since we last met, the buildings in this part of Bali River Street, Long City, feel even grayer?"
Shen Mu, riding at the very front, looked at the reinforced concrete buildings, tall or short, appearing before him, which were native Blue Star structures, and couldn't help but frown slightly.
At the same time, he also saw many collapsed buildings, or rather, more than half of the buildings still standing there.
They looked like the remnants of something that had just been eaten, and just looking at them made him feel a pang in his heart.
That's right, remnants.
Shen Mu's description was very vivid.
As he approached a remnant, looking at what should have been a 2-story building built by the provincial road, about half of the area from the middle to the left was gone. Now, with the collapsed part, a lot of bricks and concrete fragments were exposed.
It looked as if it had been forcefully struck by something.
But just by looking at the collapsed part, and the exposed bricks and fragments of gravel and clay underneath, it was clearly a desert plot of about 200 square meters that had assimilated the surrounding Blue Star land.
One could understand that this was clearly the remnants left after being swallowed whole by a Spiritual Realm scene that descended from the sky!
Compared to these originally appearing Blue Star buildings, those Spiritual Realm landmasses that directly crashed down were equivalent to devouring a part of those Blue Star buildings upon impact.
What was left wasn't the remnants of food?
Blue Star buildings were food.
“Or rather, the entire Blue Star World has already become food for the Spiritual Realm.”
Shen Mu suddenly had this thought in his mind.
It certainly seemed that way now.
Even in Shen Mu's heart, there was a feeling that the current Blue Star World was becoming increasingly unsustainable.
It was as if it could barely hold on before, but as this arduous struggle continued for longer and longer, the Blue Star World also became weaker and weaker.
It was about to give up.
“So, the buildings in Long City in the distance are starting to look hazy, and I always feel like Blue Star… is about to be finished.”
Shen Mu frowned slightly.
Because that hazy appearance truly gave Shen Mu the feeling that this Blue Star World was indeed very weak, as if it was holding its last breath, about to die.
“If that’s truly the case, then I must accelerate my development speed again.”
Shen Mu sighed.
The current development absolutely could not stop; it had to be faster and faster, making the snowball roll bigger and bigger.
Especially when Shen Mu suddenly thought of the increasingly expanding black tide appearing on the eastern horizon.
His heart couldn't help but feel an even greater tremor.
That constant tremor in his heart was the source of the sense of crisis that Shen Mu had always felt.
“But thankfully.”
Shen Mu looked up, watching himself quickly advance along the original county road, heading straight towards Bali River Street.
At the end of his vision, the outline of Deherim had already appeared there.
This gave Shen Mu a sense of security.
After all, Deherim was his confidence and self-assurance, and also his greatest reliance for existing in the Blue Star World.
At the same time, Shen Mu also turned his head to look at the 100 Holy Tree Knights closely following him, as well as Lezalit leading 100 Swadian Heavy Cavalry, and Bestour leading 315 Steppe Bandit Elites.
The tremor in his heart and the oppressive feeling suddenly began to subside significantly, and a faint smile even appeared on his lips.
“At least I’m still developing; at least everything is getting better.”
Shen Mu also smiled at this moment.
Then he shook the reins again, making his warhorse gallop forward quickly, leading all the cavalry behind him rumbling towards Deherim.
Then they arrived at the east gate of Deherim.
“Lord Shen Mu is back!”
“Open the city gate! It’s Lord Shen Mu!”
Above the east gate, the burly Lake Rat Gang Destroyers, even from a distance, spotted Shen Mu and his cavalry unit rapidly approaching.
So they quickly shouted, lowered the drawbridge in front of the moat, and also opened the iron portcullis and the true city gate.
Welcoming Shen Mu's return.
Then Shen Mu led his cavalry unit in single file, directly rushing into the Town Area of Deherim.
However, when he entered the Town Area, his expression also subtly changed.
“Hmm!?” Because Shen Mu now saw that the Town Area was not crowded with his Mount & Blade Soldiers and mount & blade civilians, but rather with Blue Star Humans, each looking at him with confusion and surprise.
And a small number of Spiritual Realm Followers belonging to these Blue Star Humans.
In this Town Area, whether in the houses or on the streets, and especially looking up at the large open space that originally belonged to the trade district, including the light industry area to the south, it was already fully occupied by many Blue Star Humans, all having set up tents.
Shen Mu nodded gently.
Very good.
So many Blue Star Humans moving in; to him, these were all human-shaped machines that generated Faith Power.
They were valuable resources.
Especially now that he greatly needed Faith Power to accelerate his plant growth time, speed up his building construction time, and also shorten his caravan round-trip time.
Seeing so many Blue Star Humans already integrated and living in his Town Area, how could he not be satisfied?
At the same time, he was quite satisfied with his decision to authorize Zhang Caidong to manage these Blue Star Humans.
After all, they were managed in an orderly fashion now; although crowded, it was not chaotic.
The middle of the street still allowed him and the cavalry to quickly pass through.
He was increasingly satisfied.
They arrived at the Noble Residence in the Town Area.
At this time, Swadian Sergeants holding long spears had surrounded the area, appearing very well protected.
When they saw Shen Mu approaching, they quickly took a few steps forward, respectfully bowing their heads and saluting with a hand over their chest.
“Greetings, Lord Shen Mu!”
“Hmm, very good.” Shen Mu nodded at this moment.
Then he dismounted, looking at the cleared street around him, and was quite satisfied.
He didn't want so many Blue Star Humans sleeping near his Noble Residence.
So he waved his hand and instructed the Kujit Steppe Bandit Elites and Swadian Heavy Cavalry who had followed him: “You are to immediately proceed to the Castle District to settle down; someone there will arrange your living quarters.”
“Understood.” Lezalit and Bestour nodded at this moment, as they, being the commanders of these Heavy Cavalry and Steppe Bandit Elites, should go and coordinate.
“Hmm, you may go.” Shen Mu nodded, indicating for Lezalit and Bestour to go to the Castle District in the north.
At this moment, he had already seen Bandak, his own tribune and defense commander of the Castle District, who had discovered their arrival earlier and was rushing over.
“Lord Shen Mu!” Bandak quickly came over to salute and greet him.
“Hmm.” Shen Mu didn't stand on ceremony and directly said to Bandak: “You’ve arrived just in time. You will be responsible for the arrangement of these light cavalry and heavy cavalry, and also for showing Lezalit and Bestour, these two new friends who have joined us, around our Deherim.”
“...Yes.” At this moment, Bandak had already spotted Lezalit and Bestour, and his expression changed slightly, seemingly showing some disgust, but he still responded after hearing Shen Mu’s command.
“The two of you, follow me.” Bandak said blandly, looking at Lezalit and Bestour, whose expressions were also somewhat disdainful.
And he turned and led them towards the Castle District.
His attitude, however, was not very good.
There was nothing he could do about it.
Shen Mu was well aware of this.
Bandak, this tribune, was a genuinely good-aligned general, absolutely righteous.
Otherwise, it would have been impossible for Bandak to refuse to become a noble lord when titles could be granted later, choosing instead to call himself a tribune, taking the protection of commoners as his duty.
And it should be known that throughout the continent of Calradia, or rather, throughout the entire Mount & Blade World with its medieval setting.
People who could refuse to become nobles, refuse to join the noble class.
Instead, remaining loyal to the commoner class.
And pitying and caring for commoners.
They were extremely rare!
Or it could be said that in the entire Mount & Blade World, only Bandak could achieve this!
This also demonstrated Bandak’s kindness and integrity.
Therefore, he certainly had a strong dislike for Lezalit and Bestour, who belonged to the evil alignment.
There was nothing he could do about this, as Lezalit himself was a cold-blooded instructor who only recognized money and not people, extremely selfish.
To train a qualified army for the king and nobles, he would often take new recruits to rob caravans and burn villages under the guise of Bandit suppression, even pretending to be Bandits, committing all sorts of atrocities, and even secretly controlling certain villages or areas outside towns, plundering passersby and merchants.
As a Kujit, a nomadic people, Bestour was even more of a natural Bandit and robber.
Normally, he would graze his herds on the Kujit Steppe.
If given the chance to moonlight as a horse Bandit, venturing into the territories of other kingdoms, using the strong endurance of his Steppe Horse and its high mobility for long-distance raids to earn some pocket money, that was perfectly acceptable.
Therefore, Lezalit and Bestour had committed acts of robbing commoners and burning villages many times on the continent of Calradia.
And Bandak, who had always taken it upon himself to protect commoners and villages, naturally disliked the two of them greatly.
It was only because Shen Mu had given the order that he grudgingly led the two of them on a simple tour.
But this was just work.
Since Shen Mu had instructed him to familiarize Lezalit and Bestour with the environment of Deherim and understand its city defenses, he would do as told.
From now on, work was work, and personal feelings were personal feelings; Bandak would absolutely not have any involvement with these two robbers and Bandits.
And Bandak also believed that Fatis and Aleron, as well as James and Manid, who had come here before, shared the same mindset as him.
