Preparing the defenses

Night faded and dawn broke, a thin mist shrouding Wushan Town's stone-paved roads with a hint of chill.

Hillman rose at first light and headed straight for the garrison's training ground. After advancing to an eighth-level warrior last night, his battle qi had grown even more concentrated. Every step he took was steady and powerful, carrying a faintly intimidating presence.

Over twenty garrison members were already lined up on the training ground. Most were third- or fourth-level warriors, their spears flecked with rust and their armor badly worn. They stood in loose, crooked ranks, unable to maintain even a basic formation. Only when they saw Hillman approach did they hastily straighten up, a measure of careless respect in their eyes.

Hillman frowned slightly, sweeping his gaze over them with an inward sigh. In this state, the garrison would probably suffer casualties even against a pack of three to five ferocious wild beasts, let alone the scattered magic beasts that occasionally strayed into the outskirts. If the Radiant Church's sinister reach extended to Wushan Town in the future, this force would not withstand a single blow.

"Stand properly, all of you!" Hillman's voice boomed like a great bell through the morning mist, making the men's eardrums tremble. "Starting today, assemble at the hour of the tiger to practice the optimized Basic Battle Qi Circulation Formula! In the afternoon, drill spear techniques and coordinated attacks!"

He paused, his gaze sharp as a blade as it passed over each man. "In three days, I'll exchange the Magic Beast Cores I've saved for refined iron and have your weapons reforged and your armor repaired! Anyone who slacks off or merely pretends to pull his weight will be expelled from the garrison. Wushan Town doesn't feed idlers!"

The men exchanged glances. Hillman had always been strict, but never this demanding. Yet faced with their captain's unquestionable presence, no one dared voice a single complaint. They answered in unison, "Yes!"

"Not loud enough!" Hillman barked.

"Yes!" Over twenty men roared again, this time with more force.

Only then did Hillman nod in satisfaction and begin teaching the optimized battle qi circulation method. This method was the essence of the system's reward, easier to learn than ordinary methods and capable of drawing out the body's potential to the fullest. He demonstrated personally, breaking the obscure verses down into simple breathing movements and correcting the men's postures hands-on. When someone was slow to understand, he explained again and again without losing patience.

After two hours of battle qi cultivation, sweat beaded the men's foreheads, but their faces were ruddy, and every one of them could clearly feel his battle qi flowing far more smoothly than before.

"Next, spear drills!" Hillman picked up a spear and, with a swift movement, began demonstrating in the open space.

Chops, thrusts, upward flicks, sweeps-his spearwork was simple and fierce, every move aimed straight at a vital point. He had also incorporated the essence of Precision Shooting; each tremor of the spearhead locked precisely onto an imaginary target. As he demonstrated, he loudly explained how to exert force. "Power starts in the waist and abdomen. Push off the ground with your legs, transmit that force to your arms, then concentrate it at the spear tip! Remember, the spear is the king of weapons. Precision matters, not brute force!"

After the demonstration, he divided the men into groups of five and taught them coordinated squad attacks. "In each group of five, one leads the attack, two support the flanks, and two cover the rear. Only by working together can the weak defeat the strong!"

The men threw themselves into training, their former laxness swept away as shouts rose and fell across the training ground.

Just then, a system notification suddenly sounded in Hillman's mind:

[Ding! Host detected actively improving the garrison's combat strength. Temporary quest triggered: Military Reorganization and Defense]

[Quest objective: Increase the garrison's overall combat strength by 30% within three days and complete basic coordinated attack formation drills]

[Quest rewards: One hundred jin of refined iron, ten Beginner Healing Pills, 5 Skill Points]

[Failure penalty: None]

Hillman's eyes lit up.

The refined iron was just what he needed to forge weapons, while Beginner Healing Pills were essential supplies for hunting squads going out on hunts and garrison members patrolling and protecting the town. This quest had come at just the right time.

He immediately increased the training intensity, personally joining the men to break down their moves and point out gaps in their coordination. Those unfamiliar with spearwork received one-on-one instruction; whenever he found an opening in a squad's formation, he repeatedly adjusted it and had them drill until they worked together smoothly.

During training, several men ran out of stamina and wanted to slack off for a while, but the moment they stopped, they met Hillman's icy gaze and could only grit their teeth and continue.

Two days passed in a flash.

On the third morning, as thin mist once again shrouded the training ground, the garrison had been transformed.

The men stood in neat ranks, full of vigor. Though their old spears had not been replaced, they had been polished until they gleamed. At a command, the five-man squads swiftly shifted formations, their spearheads flashing coldly. They coordinated smoothly, advancing and retreating in an orderly fashion, faintly resembling an elite force.

Hillman nodded in satisfaction at the sight. After two days of intensive training, not only did these men circulate battle qi more smoothly, but their spearwork and coordinated attacks had also improved considerably. Their overall combat strength had increased by well over 30%.

[Ding! Host has completed the temporary quest Military Reorganization and Defense. Quest rating: Outstanding]

[Rewards distributed: One hundred jin of refined iron deposited in storage space, ten Beginner Healing Pills deposited in storage space, 5 Skill Points awarded]

Delighted, Hillman was about to let the men rest briefly when a garrison member rushed over, panting. "Captain! Lord Hogg sent word asking you to come to the manor. He's found the best blacksmith in town and is waiting to discuss forging weapons with you!"

Hillman's eyes lit up.

He had been worrying about finding a blacksmith to forge the weapons, but Hogg had thought of it first.

"Attention, everyone!" Hillman shouted. "Training is over for today! Assemble on time tomorrow at the hour of the tiger!"

"Yes!" the men answered in unison, their resounding voices carrying an unprecedented confidence.

Hillman turned and headed toward Baruch Manor, his steps light. He glanced at the hundred jin of refined iron in the system's storage space, already forming a plan. It would be enough to forge a batch of sharp spears and sturdy daggers for the garrison.

When he reached the manor gates, Hogg was already waiting there. Beside him stood a burly blacksmith carrying a heavy toolbox.

"Hillman, you're just in time." Hogg greeted him with a smile. "I heard you were reorganizing the garrison, so I brought over Thomson, the blacksmith. His craftsmanship is the best in Wushan Town. Whatever weapons you need, just tell him."

Hillman cupped his fist in salute and smiled. "Thank you, Hogg."

He turned to Thomson and said in a firm voice, "I need twenty refined-iron spears. The tips must be sharp, and the shafts must incorporate resilient ironwood. I also need twenty refined-iron daggers!"

Thomson looked troubled. "Captain, refined iron is already scarce in town, and you're asking for quite a lot. I could gather enough ordinary iron, but refined iron..."

"You don't need to worry about that." Hillman patted his waist, indicating the presence of his storage space. "I have the refined iron. Just focus on the forging. You'll receive your full wages, plus an extra payment for your trouble."

Thomson's eyes lit up, his troubled expression instantly vanishing. He hastily answered, "Good! I'll have it finished within three days!"

With the arrangements settled, the blacksmith took his leave, repeatedly promising before he left that he would put care into the forging.

Hogg drew Hillman beneath the old locust tree by the manor gates and lowered his voice. "Hillman, you're in such a hurry to reorganize the troops. Surely this isn't just to guard against scattered magic beasts outside town?"

Something stirred within Hillman. Hogg was perceptive indeed. He nodded and looked toward the stretches of wooded mountains beyond town, his tone grave. "Wushan Town is remote, and although it's been peaceful for years, peace isn't always ours to choose. We've both seen Linley's talent. He'll surely shine in the future, and when that happens, he'll inevitably attract people with ill intentions. Preparing the troops now is also a way to prevent trouble before it happens."

Hogg's expression instantly darkened. Naturally, he understood the deeper meaning of Hillman's words. The Dragonblood Warrior bloodline had always been a source of trouble. After a moment of silence, he patted Hillman's shoulder. "Come to my study tonight. I have something to show you."

Hillman inwardly tensed, vaguely guessing that whatever Hogg intended to bring out was no ordinary thing. He nodded solemnly. "All right."

The sun sank in the west, and Wushan Town gradually grew quiet again. On the training ground, the departing men held themselves straight and strong, utterly different from how they had been three days earlier.

Hillman stood where he was and raised his eyes toward the distant horizon, a sharp gleam passing through them.

Military Reorganization and Defense was only the first step.

Next, he would raise the garrison's strength another level. More importantly, he would protect Linley as he grew, ensuring his development went smoothly, and help the Baruch Clan avoid those destined calamities.

Because this was his mission, and the meaning of his rebirth.