"This Signal Smoke Vat is even worth a mage refining? What extravagance."
"Ordinary signal smoke can't carry in strong winds. What's more, it can be blocked by witchcraft. This magically refined signal smoke is not only pitch-black and stable, but can also interfere with witchcraft, allowing people farther away to sense it."
"Let's hope we never need to use it."
"Yeah. The new Signal Smoke Vats have already been distributed among the River Guard Army divisions. Let's hope they are never needed."
"But now the higher-ups all use Communication Talisman Discs. Signal smoke hasn't been used for years. This thing is only suitable for nearby, small units calling for aid."
"That's precisely because Signal Smoke Vats are rarely used. Once one is used, disaster must have struck."
"With those powerful mechanisms and Explosive Talisman Vats, there's no need to fear the Demon Race at all!"
"Ordinary demons aren't frightening. Beyond-Rank ones are what we should fear..."
After the group passed, Li Qingxian continued his nighttime inspection, noting down what deserved praise and what fell short, so people could maintain or correct it tomorrow.
Once his midnight inspection was over, Li Qingxian was just about to sleep when his Communication Talisman Disc rang. It was Song Yanxue.
"Qingxian, are you there? How is Taigu City? I'm on night watch today and wanted to learn about the situation in the north."
Back then, Song Yanxue had taken good care of him. Later, she left the Night Guard for the south, supposedly joining Prince of Jin's command. They had not been in contact for a long time.
"Sister Yan Xue, I'm doing quite well now. How about you?"
"Everything is well."
Li Qingxian sensed a hint of heaviness in Song Yanxue's voice.
So Li Qingxian first slowly recounted his experiences along the Great