Hu Shu looked at everyone, took a deep breath, and said, "Tomorrow morning, gather in the council hall. We will discuss how to deal with the Chan Sect and the Witch Tribe. Tonight, go back and get some proper rest. Conserve your strength." Everyone nodded and rose to leave. Hu Shu remained where he was alone, gazing up at the night sky as he considered the next day's discussion. He did not know what decisions and challenges awaited the Human Race.
The next morning, the mist over Shouyang Mountain had yet to fully disperse, and a chill seeped into the skin. Hu Shu arrived at the Human Race's council hall early. A massive stone table occupied the center of the hall, with stone stools arranged around it. Night Pearls embedded in the walls emitted a soft glow, brightly illuminating the entire chamber.
Before long, the important members of the Human Race arrived one after another. Their footsteps echoed across the stone floor, and every face was grim. The elite squad members stood neatly to one side as well, their eyes filled with resolve and vigilance.
Hu Shu swept his gaze over the crowd and spoke first. "I trust you all know by now that the Chan Sect has secretly colluded with the Witch Tribe, intending to use them to wipe out our Human Race. We have reached a critical moment of life or death. Tell me, how should we respond?"
No sooner had he finished speaking than a burly Human Race member with bulging muscles sprang to his feet and slammed both hands down on the stone table. "Fight them! Take the initiative and catch them off guard! Destroy their collusion! We can't just sit here and wait to die!" His eyes were bloodshot, filled with rage and determination. His voice boomed through the council hall, making even the light of the Night Pearls tremble slightly.
Immediately afterward, a white-haired elder leaning on a cane slowly rose to his feet. His gaze was wise and steady as he gently shook his head. "We must not act rashly. The Chan Sect and the Witch Tribe are immensely powerful. Compared to them, the Human Race is vastly inferior. Taking the initiative would be like smashing an egg against a stone. In this old man's opinion, we should strengthen our defenses, use Shouyang Mountain's terrain to build a solid defensive line, and wait for the right opportunity." Though his voice was not loud, it carried unquestionable authority.
At once, everyone began discussing heatedly. Those who supported taking the initiative and those who advocated strengthening the defenses each held firmly to their own views, refusing to yield. The council hall grew lively as arguments rose and fell in succession.
Hu Shu listened quietly to their debate, his brow tightly furrowed. He knew that both taking the initiative and strengthening their defenses had advantages and disadvantages. An offensive could seize the initiative, but the risks were enormous. Strengthening their defenses seemed safer, but it might cause them to miss their chance to turn the situation around.
Just then, a young member of the elite squad stepped forward and respectfully said, "Clan Leader, I believe we can pursue both approaches at once. On one hand, we should strengthen our defensive fortifications and organize the Human Race's young and able-bodied members for defense training to ensure Shouyang Mountain's safety. On the other hand, we can select clansmen who are agile and skilled at concealment to secretly infiltrate the Chan Sect's and Witch Tribe's territories and closely monitor their every move. That way, we can ensure our own safety while also keeping timely track of the enemy's movements, allowing us to make more accurate decisions."
Hu Shu's eyes lit up when he heard this. He carefully considered the suggestion and felt that it was indeed feasible. It would both stabilize the Human Race's defenses and gather intelligence on their enemies, providing a basis for their subsequent actions.
After weighing the pros and cons, Hu Shu finally stood and pressed both hands downward, signaling for silence. Once the council hall had quieted, he said gravely, "Everyone's suggestions make sense, but after careful consideration, I have decided to adopt this young brother's proposal. We will first solidify our defenses, set traps along every key route on Shouyang Mountain, increase patrols, and organize the Human Race to prepare for battle with all our strength. At the same time, we will select a group of elites from the elite squad to form a surveillance team and secretly monitor the movements of the Chan Sect and the Witch Tribe."
Everyone nodded in agreement after hearing this. Though the decision was not perfect, under the current circumstances, it was undoubtedly the safest course of action.
Afterward, Hu Shu began assigning tasks in an orderly manner. He laid out the defense work in detail, dividing the Human Race's young and able-bodied members into different groups, each responsible for defending a separate area. At the same time, he personally selected ten members from the elite squad to form the surveillance team.
"You must be extremely careful on this mission. The moment you notice anything unusual, return and report immediately. Remember, you carry the future of the Human Race on your shoulders. You must not let your guard down." Hu Shu looked firmly at the surveillance team members and gave them a stern warning.
"Rest assured, Clan Leader. We will not fail our mission!" the surveillance team members answered in unison, their voices resolute and powerful.
Once the arrangements were complete, everyone dispersed and began carrying out their tasks. Hu Shu watched their retreating backs and silently prayed. Though they had initially devised a response strategy, the Human Race was relatively weak. Could it truly be carried out smoothly? Faced with the overwhelming power of the Chan Sect and the Witch Tribe, could the Human Race really find a turning point?
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