Organizing Local Militia, Searching the Mountains

Lin Lin's analysis made Xia Da feel as though the clouds had parted and the light had broken through, clearing away all his confusion.

Previously, he had held this compiled intelligence in his hands. He knew it was important, but with his barely literate level of education, he had been unable to make much of it.

He could only tell from the statistics of the missing persons that the situation had become extremely serious.

Yet this young man before him, who appeared to be barely over ten years old, had effortlessly peeled away layer after layer of information to uncover the key details, deduce the approximate location and origins of those culprits, and make clear arrangements accordingly.

This displayed an exceptionally high level of strategic ability and insight.

Moreover, Lin Lin was still so young, yet his martial arts had already reached the level required for promotion to Elite Disciple. Though Lin Lin was far younger than Xia Da, Xia Da could not help but feel heartfelt admiration for him at this moment.

"Senior Brother Lin, rest assured. I'll go notify the local gentry at once."

"Please rest in the guest room for a while, Senior Brother."

With that, Xia Da rose and led Lin Lin to a guest room before turning and leaving to get busy.

Those in high positions used their minds; now it was time for someone in a lower position like him to put in the labor.

Lin Lin glanced in the direction Xia Da had left, but rather than lying down to sleep, he sat cross-legged and closed his eyes to rest his mind, preparing for the work ahead.

If Xia Da could successfully invite representatives of the surrounding local gentry and persuade them to cooperate with his arrangements, then everyone would be happy.

But if Xia Da's trip did not go smoothly, Lin Lin would have to take matters into his own hands and properly explain some physics to these people.

Hundred Flowers Valley was famed throughout the Nine Provinces and known to the world as a Martial Arts Holy Land. It had not earned that reputation by being all smiles and peace.

Meanwhile, Xia Da left the Xia Family Martial Hall and began riding about on horseback.

One landlord and member of the local gentry after another near Hui Ping Town was visited. Lin Lin's status as an Official Disciple of Hundred Flowers Valley was invoked as they were invited to gather at the Xia Family Martial Hall.

Xia Da already possessed considerable fame and prestige around Hui Ping Town, both because his martial arts were not weak and because he had graduated from Hundred Flowers Valley, a Martial Arts Holy Land.

Even an Outer Sect Disciple like Xia Da had such fame and prestige. Not to mention a young hero about to become an Elite Disciple of Hundred Flowers Valley, who had come to help solve their problems—his presence naturally carried immense appeal.

Though it was still midnight, upon receiving Xia Da's message, the local gentry immediately got up and made their way to the Xia Family Martial Hall to visit Lin Lin, this disciple of a renowned sect.

Before long, the clan leaders and Clan Elders of the three largest families near Hui Ping Town had all gathered together.

"Greetings, Young Master Lin."

The eight clan leaders and Clan Elders of the Xu, Shi, and Xia families rose together and bowed when Lin Lin appeared.

Their eyes were filled with urgent hope. So many relatives and acquaintances had been disappearing lately that their scalps had gone numb with fear.

Now that Lin Lin had arrived, they felt as if they had found someone to rely on.

Those living near Hundred Flowers Valley's sect grounds in Fu Liu Province had complete confidence in Hundred Flowers Valley.

"I am Lin Lin, a disciple of Hundred Flowers Valley. Greetings, honored elders. Senior Brother Xia has already explained why you were invited here, correct?"

Lin Lin returned their greeting with cupped fists, fully displaying the gracious social etiquette of a disciple from a prestigious sect.

"He did, he did. Before coming to visit Young Master Lin, we had already sent people to gather our clansmen. Before dawn, our three families can assemble at least five thousand clansmen to serve as Local Militia at your command."

"The eight of us are all the martial artists in this area. If we can wipe out those thieves hiding in the shadows, please give us your orders, Young Master Lin. We will do everything in our power."

"This is but a humble gift. Please do not refuse it, Young Master Lin. Once the thieves here have been eliminated, we will present you with an additional generous gift."

The eight men each spoke a sentence or two.

Though their words were somewhat disorganized, they made all the information Lin Lin wanted to know clear.

At the end, each of them presented Lin Lin with a gift.

Lin Lin briefly looked over the gift lists. They were all medicinal herbs, local specialties, and the like, worth about two hundred taels of silver in total.

Lin Lin had not yet solved their problem.

As a meeting gift, it was fairly sincere.

"There is no need for such courtesy, everyone. I will arrange the tactics from here on."

Lin Lin spoke with a smile and did not dwell on the gifts.

He had come to complete his mission and become an Elite Disciple. Whether these people gave him gifts was an insignificant matter.

Then Lin Lin spread out a map of the terrain and marked points in the east, south, west, and north of Lianyun Mountain. At each point, he stationed over a thousand Local Militia. He had the clan leaders of the three families each lead men to search the east, south, and west, and instructed them to set off specially made fireworks as a signal if they found anything.

Meanwhile, Lin Lin would lead the remaining able-bodied men to search the north of Lianyun Mountain.

The plan was simple and crude, but practical.

However, if the locals had tried to organize this plan themselves, they would not have been able to carry it out, because there were too many conflicts between them.

Furthermore, the entire Divine Continent was essentially in a state of anarchy now. There were no officials who would come organize them.

But under the influence of an outside authority like Lin Lin, they were willing to temporarily set aside their grudges and work together under his command to solve the problem.

Once the plan had been made, everyone dispersed.

The various clan leaders and Clan Elders returned to organize their clansmen, telling them to bring dry rations and weapons and gather at the designated locations.

Once dawn broke, a large number of Local Militia had gathered near Lianyun Mountain. Their numbers exceeded the expected five thousand, reaching more than eight thousand.

People from several villages and towns neighboring Hui Ping Town had also joined voluntarily. Even many who had never studied understood that when the lips were gone, the teeth would grow cold. They did not want Hui Ping Town to be ravaged first, only for the disaster to spread to them next.

Now that they had a chance to solve the problem once and for all at its source, many naturally would not let the opportunity pass.

Lin Lin looked around. The more than eight thousand Local Militia were all dressed in somewhat ragged clothes.

Their weapons were things like kitchen knives and hoes, while their formation was scattered and loose. They looked like a rabble with little fighting strength.

But they were all tall, strong young men, and their hearts burned with a desire for revenge. Their morale could be used.

Lin Lin did not need them to possess much fighting strength. They only needed to help him locate the target; perhaps they would barely need to fight at all.

Therefore, Lin Lin did not waste words. He directly said, "Follow yesterday's plan. Each family searches one direction. The rest of you will search the north with me. Move out."

As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Lin swept his sword through the air and rode ahead at the front.

The other Local Militia exchanged glances, then set off sluggishly under the calls of their respective Clan Elders.