The Xiaolong River was not far from the apartment.
It was only two blocks away, about a twenty-minute walk under normal circumstances.
When his former self had still been on his own, he often came here to fetch water or, when he had free time and was in a bad mood, to watch the ripples along the Xiaolong River.
"What beautiful scenery." Shen Mu sat atop the white steed standard-issued to Sacred Tree Cavalry, holding the reins as he stood on the riverbank embankment and gazed out at the tranquil river, roughly fifty meters wide, flowing gently by. He could not help but feel moved.
At the foot of the embankment was a platform specially prepared for fishing enthusiasts, which also served as a riverside viewing deck.
It was perfect for fetching water.
The thirty Swadian Recruits had already lined up and gone down. Amid the splashing of water, bucket after bucket of river water was poured into their containers, quickly filling them to the brim.
However, the water still looked somewhat yellowish and murky in the plastic buckets, making it unfit for direct consumption.
That was related to the considerable amount of filth in it.
Likewise,
it had much to do with how the Necromantic Rules, after descending, had contaminated everything in the Blue Star World, including the river water.
Ordinary people from the Blue Star World would suffer vomiting and diarrhea after drinking it. Long-term consumption would bring about all sorts of illnesses, rapidly lowering their Physical Fitness, and could even produce negative effects that led to death.
The only solution was to return home and boil the water over firewood.
Only water that had been boiled by flames could be safely consumed again.
"However, as long as someone becomes a follower of a Spiritual Realm Creature, or in other words, becomes a professional, they can effectively increase their resistance to the Necromantic Rules and drink this freshwater contaminated by the Necromantic Rules directly without any issue."
Shen Mu recalled some information his former self had heard back when he had been a lone wanderer.
He subconsciously turned his head to look beside him.
Ten silent Swadian Heavy Cavalry stood waiting at his side, wearing Flat-Topped Helmets and Heavy Chain Armor, both men and horses fully armored. They held their lances toward the sky, looking imposing and majestic.
A smile immediately appeared on Shen Mu's lips. "Sir, times have changed!" He liked that meme.
Just then, a dialogue box suddenly flashed across Shen Mu's retina.
Ding! The Temporary Mission System has detected an event! Mission Issued: Enemy Outpost. Mission Description: Your castle has been established on an apartment floor, but this has also attracted the attention of malicious villains. Now, he has dispatched his troops to attack your territory. And the Enemy Outpost, eager to claim the credit, has already rushed ahead to kill you. Mission Requirement: Defeat the Enemy Outpost. Mission Reward: ① Swadian Reputation +1; ② Immigrant Tide (Small) ×1 wave; ③ Light Ballista ×1.
Another Temporary Mission from the Mount & Blade System.
"Enemy. Outpost."
Shen Mu frowned slightly. As his gaze swept across those two key terms in the dialogue box, his expression darkened somewhat.
"I knew it. Back when I was still inside the Magic Ball Modifier, I failed to notice the invading Gnolls and Wild Goblin bandits in time. By the time I got down there, I only routed them instead of wiping them out completely. It was like letting a tiger return to the mountains and leaving behind future trouble."
It seemed that they had now returned with men to take revenge.
And indeed,
it was Diesel Company's style.
Only Diesel Company, that notorious organization which regarded most of Balihe Street as its Sphere of Influence, had the ability to assemble a force like this.
The residual memories left behind by Shen Mu's former self were very clear.
On Balihe Street, apart from a lord called Green Leaf Group in the wetland forest park preserved at the border between the city and the Suburbs, which could barely contend with Diesel Company by relying on the complicated terrain,
there was no other force capable of standing in Diesel Company's way!
Moreover, because of the lesson taught by Green Leaf Group, Diesel Company had begun a year ago to send people to frantically seize any Spiritual Realm Mark that appeared on Balihe Street.
This was also why lone wanderers on Balihe Street were now in such dire straits, lacking the strength to contend with Diesel Company.
"In that case." Shen Mu turned to look at the Swadian Recruits, who had finished fetching water and were helping one another carry their filled containers back up the embankment. He shook the reins and ordered, "Return and prepare for battle."
"Yes." The Swadian Heavy Cavalry answered in unison, shaking their reins as well and following after Shen Mu.
They all returned to the castle within the apartment.
Shen Mu also realized that the zigzagging staircase not only delayed the enemy's advance but truly weakened the combat ability of his Swadian troops.
As they headed back to the Central Corridor on the fifth floor, the Swadian Heavy Cavalry actually had to dismount and lead their horses along slowly.
That awkward sight made Shen Mu's expression turn somewhat unpleasant.
But there was no helping it.
For now, Shen Mu was still at an absolute disadvantage in terms of manpower and military strength.
If he gave up such a complicated defensive environment, then once he encountered an attack by a large number of enemies, he feared it would become a case of ants biting an elephant to death.
Besides, Shen Mu did not think he was even an elephant yet, not even a baby elephant.
"I still need to develop." Shen Mu sighed.
During the brief time Shen Mu had been away,
the news of the imminent enemy attack had been passed down, and all the Mount & Blade soldiers had sprung into action.
Within the ten-meter corridor before the Castle Hall, forty-five Swadian Footmen had already formed ranks. They raised the long spears in their hands, holding them level or at an angle, and the densely packed spearheads instantly formed a Pike Square, ready for battle.
Meanwhile, within the castle, aside from ten Swadian Recruits who had gone to the Stronghold Main House to guard the spiral staircase of the tower,
the remaining twenty Swadian Recruits had also assembled in the Castle Hall, serving as a reserve force in case something unexpected happened. When the time came, they would have to risk their lives to fill any gaps in the battle line.
But if it truly came to that, it would surely mean that the ten Lake Rats Veteran Thugs and twenty-five Lake Rats Recruits had run into trouble and been forced into a desperate situation.
The thirty-five Lake Rats Members were all checking the javelins on their backs.
The Lake Rats Veteran Thugs were equipped with ten harpoons.
The Lake Rats Recruits, meanwhile, were equipped with eight Fishing Darts.
Skilled at throwing javelins before charging, wrecking the enemy's shields and armor and even disrupting their formations before rushing in with Woodland Axes and Small Bladed Axes to fight at close quarters, the Lake Rats Members were far more efficient offensively than the line-holding Swadian Footmen!
Furthermore, with the ballistae ready atop the castle's tower and balconies, ten Mercenary Crossbowmen leading twenty Mercenary Sentinels had already taken up advantageous firing positions.
Whether War Crossbows or Light Crossbows, all had their strings drawn and bolts set into their grooves.
Every arrowhead was aimed at the entrance to the Central Corridor, in the direction of the Fire Door!
"However, this time, I won't let those guys escape so easily." Shen Mu turned to look at the Swadian Heavy Cavalry in the Castle Hall, already mounted on their warhorses and arranged in two lines. A smile appeared on his lips.
Charging Heavy Cavalry out of the stairwell had always been his dream!
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