Bab 35: Farmer Li
The sun had barely risen when Farmer Li stormed into the village square, his face red with anger. He marched straight up to the Gu Yue Clan guards stationed there and started ranting.
"Can you believe it? Those damn wolves have attacked my fields again! This is the third time this week! I can't afford to lose any more crops, or my family will starve."
The guards listened sympathetically, but they knew that there was little they could do. The wolves had become increasingly bold in recent months, venturing closer to the village and attacking livestock and crops with increasing frequency.
As Farmer Li left, grumbling and muttering to himself, a group of hunters arrived, looking equally disgruntled. They too had suffered at the paws of the wolves, losing valuable furs and meat to the pack.
"Something has to be done," one of the hunters said, shaking his head in frustration. "We can't keep living in fear of these beasts. They're getting bolder by the day."
The guards nodded, understanding the hunters' plight. However, they also knew that the wolves were a formidable foe, and taking them on directly could be risky. They needed a plan, a strategy that would not only protect the villagers but also ensure that the wolves didn't starve and turn to attacking humans out of desperation. However, complaints like these were multiplying and every wolf they killed would be replaced by three wolves the next day.
As the hunters and guards huddled together, discussing their options, a young Gu Master approached them, her eyes scanning the area for any signs of danger.
"Excuse me," he said, "but I couldn't help overhearing your conversation. I may be able to help. I am Gu Yue Yao Hong"
The hunters and guards looked at her skeptically, but after hearing her name, they all bowed in respect. After all, Yao Hong was the comrade of Gu Yue Qing Shu, the first disciple of Gu Yue Bo, the current clan leader. She also happened to be a middle stage rank 2 Gu Master with a lot of skills, having completed many missions for the clan in the past.
She began to explain wolves' behavior and habits and had some ideas on how to deal with them.
"I suppose we could make decoys to lure the wolves away from the village and into the areas full of boars. That way, the wolves would be busy hunting the boars, and would not harm cattle. Meanwhile, I will report the situation to the clan so that they send Gu Masters to hunt them down. Believe me, your sufferings will end soon"
As soon as the young Gu Master suggested her plan to deal with the wolf attacks, Farmer Li stepped forward and gathered the farmers from the village. He then continued and started to lead the farmers in the effort to build traps and decoys. Despite the losses he had suffered from the wolf attacks, he was determined to work with his fellow farmers to protect their crops and ensure that their families had enough to eat.
"Listen up, everyone," he called out, his voice ringing with authority. "We're going to build traps and decoys to keep those wolves away from our crops. We've got a lot of work to do, so let's get started!"
The farmers nodded in agreement, impressed by Farmer Li's determination and leadership. They split up into groups, each working on a different task. Some farmers started building traps, using wooden stakes and chicken wire to construct cages that would hold the wolves safely until the hunters could come and take them away. Others worked on decoys, using animal hides and scents to create convincing bait that would lure the wolves away from the village.
Farmer Li worked tirelessly alongside his fellow farmers, directing them and ensuring that everything was being done efficiently. His experience as a farmer had given him a good eye for detail, and he was quick to spot any mistakes or weaknesses in the traps and decoys that needed to be fixed.
As the day wore on, the farmers' hard work began to pay off. The traps and decoys took shape, and the farmers worked together to set them up in strategic locations around the village. They also added extra measures, such as noise-making devices and bright lights, to further deter the wolves from venturing too close.
By the time the sun began to set, the farmers had completed their work. They gathered around Farmer Li, exhausted but satisfied with what they had accomplished.
"We did it," Farmer Li said, his voice filled with pride. "We worked together and built something that will keep our village safe. Let's hope it works."
The farmers nodded in agreement, feeling a sense of camaraderie and community that they had not experienced before. They knew that the wolf attacks were not over yet, but they were determined to face them together, with Farmer Li leading the charge.
However, before Yao Hong had been too slow. Just as she was returning to the clan in an attempt to gather Gu Masters and solve the crisis of wolves in the South of the village, a rank 2 [Silver Fur Wolf] broke through into the village. Farmers, who were not even Gu Masters, tried to pick up weapons and tools. However, they could not even scratch the fur of the monstrous beast.
When the Gu Masters from the Gu Yue Clan arrived at the scene a day later, the village had been completely sacked, and the farmers slain, leaving a gruesome scene. Nothing but human bones had been left. Men, women, elderly, children...None had been spared.
The realization hit them hard - it could only mean one thing: the dreaded beast tide had started.
Everyone, including the gu masters, was filled with fear at the mention of a beast tide. Every few years, these tides would sweep through the land, leaving destruction and death in their wake. While some were small, others were catastrophic, like the boar beast tide from two decades ago that claimed the lives of two rank 3 elders.
The memory of that terrible event was still fresh in everyone's mind, and the mere mention of the words "beast tide" was enough to induce terror in even the bravest of souls.
Thus, the news of the beast tide's arrival marked the beginning of an era of terror, as the people of the clan braced themselves for the worst.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone