Yang Guanfeng learned from Xu Guang that this was happening throughout the Tiger Chasing Dynasty, and that even the neighboring dynasties bordering it had seen similar circumstances.
With too many people fleeing disaster, the population capacity of Willow Leaf and White Stone towns quickly reached its limit.
The town gates had been shut, and no more outsiders were allowed in.
The refugees spent every day outside the towns crying to heaven and earth, kneeling in row after row. Even when the army drove them away at blade-point, they refused to leave.
During this time, the Yang Family had also taken in many refugees. Because of the Yang Family's presence, the villages beneath Little Pine Mountain had not been harassed by wild beasts.
But they were only a lineage, after all, and could not compare to a town in scale. Altogether, taking in three hundred people was more or less their limit.
On the twenty-eighth day after the beast disaster erupted, Yang Guanfeng switched shifts with Elder Yu and returned to the Yang Family from the mine.
Inside the Council Hall, Yang Feiyun and Yang Xiaolei reported the situation to him.
"As of today, we have taken in two hundred and thirteen refugee households. They have all been settled properly," Yang Feiyun said.
Yang Guanfeng nodded and asked, "Can we keep taking them in?"
"This... in terms of money and food, the family can indeed still bear the burden. As for space, we can squeeze them in somehow. It's just that we don't have enough land for them to farm."
"Don't let them farm. Give them weapons."
"Give them weapons?" Yang Feiyun was somewhat puzzled.
Yang Xiaolei, standing to one side, considered it. "Big Brother, do you mean to make them clan soldiers with outside surnames?"
"Exactly. The Beast Tide is approaching, and its assault will surely be fierce. If these people have no ability to resist, they will all end up on a dead road!"
Yang Guanfeng rose to his feet. "Leave this matter to you two. Go explain the stakes to them. Those willing to serve my Yang Family may join the clan soldiers. After the Beast Tide, their elderly and children can remain here. Those unwilling may fend for themselves. During the disaster, my Yang Family will provide their rations, but afterward, they can go back wherever they came from."
"Yes, Big Brother. We understand."
Yang Guanfeng realized that this beast disaster was a great calamity for the Yang Family, but alongside the danger lay an opportunity.
If they wanted to grow bigger and stronger, they first needed people.
The river below Little Pine Mountain was called the Linshan River. Some days ago, Elder Yu had taken Ling Rui there and built two wooden bridges and one stone bridge.
The Yang Family and the villages below the mountain were currently all on the north bank of the Linshan River. Yang Guanfeng's original plan had been to develop the land south of the river as well for the Yang Family's use.
But there had not been enough labor at the time, so the plan had been shelved for now.
Now, with large numbers of refugees gathering here, they could absorb a wave of them. Once the Beast Tide passed, they would become fresh strength to reclaim wilderness for the Yang Family.
After the Patriarch's Order was issued, the refugees responded in droves.
The moment they heard they could remain here afterward, eighty percent of the young men and women expressed willingness to become clan soldiers.
After this beast disaster, they had also come to understand that it was best to lean against a great tree for shade.
Training for the new recruits began in full swing. This time, the Yang Family had reached the point of mobilizing everyone; aside from the elderly and children, every person had a duty.
Little Pine Mountain had a steep mountain pass that was difficult for people to traverse, and it was the area where wild beasts most frequently emerged from the mountain.
Yang Lingrui led the clan soldiers of the main family in guarding that place.
As for the Yang Family's other cultivators, Yang Guanfeng had ventured deep alone into Little Pine Mountain to observe the latest developments of the beast disaster.
Elder Yu guarded the mine. The Refined Ore produced there was one of the few resources the Yang Family could steadily exchange for Spirit Crystals, and there could be no mistake.
Linghu and Lingqing, meanwhile, guarded the Forbidden Cliff.
The wild beasts had been attacking frequently some days ago, but over the past few days, things had quieted considerably.
"Immortal Master! The scouts have returned! There was still no activity today!"
The leader of the clan soldiers returned to the tent where Yang Lingrui was stationed and reported.
His name was Yang Tieli. By blood, he counted as Yang Lingrui's uncle, and he had even held him in his arms when he was little.
But now, Yang Lingrui had already embarked upon the immortal path and become an Immortal Master supported by the Yang Family. His status was extraordinary, far surpassing mortals like them.
Yang Lingrui, who was examining a map, gave a slight nod at the sound.
"You've worked hard, Commander Tieli. Continue scouting. We must not let down our guard."
"Yes, I obey the Immortal Master's command!"
After leaving the tent, Yang Tieli passed Yang Lingrui's orders down, and another batch of scouts headed up the mountain.
"Commander, are we really going to take orders from some little kid like this?"
After returning to their own tent, one of Yang Tieli's subordinates raised an objection. "These past few days, we've killed so many wild beasts, while he does nothing but stay in his tent all day."
Soon, someone else chimed in. "Exactly. There aren't even any wild beasts appearing now. I'd say this beast disaster is already nearing its end and will be over soon."
"Presumptuous!"
As the two spoke freely, Yang Tieli suddenly flew into a rage and shouted.
"I think you two have lived long enough! You dare discuss an Immortal Master's faults with me!"
The two immediately hunched their heads at the sight and did not dare utter another word.
Neither of them was very old, only eighteen or nineteen. They had heard Yang Guanfeng's great reputation since childhood like thunder in their ears, but as for how capable this newly emerged young Immortal Master truly was, they still had a question mark in their hearts.
Under the habitual way of thinking of mortals, Yang Lingrui was young, still just a little child, and they truly could not place complete trust in him.
But Yang Tieli was different. He and Yang Guanfeng were of the same generation. When Yang Guanfeng was young, he cultivated under Elder Yu's guidance, and Yang Tieli had personally seen all manner of techniques and divine powers.
He understood clearly that the power possessed by cultivators was beyond the reach of mortals, and had nothing to do with age.
Therefore, he respected Yang Lingrui from the bottom of his heart.
"Get out. Go tell the others: whoever dares discuss an Immortal Master in private, if I find out, every last one will be dealt with according to clan law!"
Under Yang Guanfeng's leadership, the Yang Family's clan laws were exceedingly strict.
At the mention of those words, the two young clan soldiers were visibly frightened. They understood the gravity of it and hurriedly agreed before leaving the tent trembling.
On the cliff north of the Yang Family.
Because their identities had to remain secret, Yang Linghu and Yang Lingqing had been assigned to guard this cliff during the beast disaster.
The cliff's height was deadly to ordinary mortals and wild beasts alike, but Demon Beasts were another matter entirely.
Yang Guanfeng had entrusted Chen Yang to Yang Lingqing.
Of the three children, Lingqing was the one he trusted most.
She had a calm mind, could keep her composure when things happened, and possessed a sense of the larger picture. There could be no more suitable person to entrust with the Exotic Stone.
As it happened, the Mud Dragon Technique Lingqing cultivated excelled at control and defense. With this Exotic Stone making up for her shortcomings, she was now capable in both attack and defense.
"Qing, there's no movement in the forest. Could all the wild beasts have returned to the mountain?"
Yang Linghu asked after circling the area and returning to the Forbidden Ground.
Yang Lingqing shook her head. "They wouldn't withdraw so easily. This is only the calm before the storm. They want us to lower our guard before launching a final all-out attack. It seems there truly are Demon Beasts stirring trouble behind this. Ordinary wild beasts would never understand such tactics."
"That makes sense!"
"I'll make another round. Tiger, you rest for a while."
The two switched shifts, and Yang Lingqing began patrolling the cliff, Chen Yang tucked against her chest.
After walking along the entire cliff without finding anything unusual, she headed into the forest.
After going some distance deeper inside, she took out Chen Yang.
"Good treasure, see whether there are any traces of Demon Beasts around here?"
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