jdhmnovel Chapter 848 Rebirth from the Ashes (Page 12)
Chapter 848 Rebirth from the Ashes (Page 12)
Even after this harrowing battle, their faces remained as pure and ethereal as lotus blossoms emerging from water, like fairies descended to earth; yet, in stark contrast, their eyes were deeper, sharper, and more ruthless than ever before—like those of war gods reborn from the depths of hell after enduring trials and tribulations! The smoke of battle had not yet completely dissipated, and the air was thick with the acrid smell of gunpowder, blood, and dust. Long, distorted shadows of broken walls stretched across the ground in the fading sunlight, and spent shell casings, damaged equipment, and the cold corpses of enemies littered the streets, silently testifying to the brutal fighting that had just ended.
Lin Xiaoyan walked to Lin Xiaohong's side and gently bandaged the wound on her arm that had been cut by an arrow and was now mostly healed. Her movements were gentle, and her eyes were filled with sisterly concern. "Xiaohong, how are you feeling? That was really dangerous." Lin Xiaoyan's voice was gentle, like a clear spring, temporarily dispelling the grim atmosphere of the battlefield.
Lin Xiaohong shook her head, pressing her other hand against the bandaged area. The slight tightness there reassured her. "It's alright, Sister Xiaoyan. This little injury is nothing compared to what we've lost..." Her voice was still somewhat childish, but her tone was exceptionally firm.
Lin Xuan walked to the center of the market and picked up a flag discarded by the rebels. The flag was crudely made, printed with a grotesque skull and crossed bone blades, symbolizing chaos and destruction. Looking at the repulsive design, a cold glint flashed in her eyes, and with a sudden burst of strength, she ripped the flag in half with a "rip," then tore it to shreds with several more swift movements. The tattered strips of cloth fluttered in the evening breeze, like the rebels' doomed fate. Her gaze drifted into the distance, towards the direction of the main rebel force, the outlines of mountains faintly visible in the twilight.
"We survived." Lin Xuan's voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable power, like a boulder thrown into a deep pool, creating ripples. "But the battle is not over yet." Her voice was not loud, but it clearly reached the ears of every sister, invigorating their spirits, which had been somewhat scattered due to exhaustion.
Lin Xiaowan slowly wiped the blood from the short blade in her hand, the sharp edge gleaming with a cold, piercing light in the afterglow of the setting sun. Her movements were light and skillful, as if she were carefully handling a rare treasure, completely unlike the ruthless assassin who had just wielded a sharp blade to kill her enemy.
Her alluring eyes narrowed slightly, a captivating allure emanating from them; her lips parted, a chilling smile playing on her lips: "That's right, these low-class scum are just appetizers. The real big boss is still lurking in the background, and their headquarters... Hmph, we won't let any of them escape! We'll have to give them a good thrashing!" Her voice was clear and melodious, like a nightingale's song, yet the chilling killing intent within was unmistakable, inspiring fear in all who heard it.
Lin Xiaohong, standing to the side, clenched her small fists tightly. Her previously tense face gradually relaxed, revealing a hint of playfulness and cuteness. However, a closer look would reveal a rock-solid, unwavering will hidden deep within that youthful face, as well as an astonishing transformation resulting from countless brushes with death—Lin Xiaohong was no longer the naive young girl she once was!
"Well said! Let's crush these guys! Let's use victory to honor the spirits of our fallen comrades!" Mentioning her fallen comrades, Lin Xiaohong's eyes instantly dimmed, as if recalling some painful past. But in just a moment, the sadness in her eyes was completely swallowed up and overwhelmed by a more surging, raging fire of anger and unwavering conviction. After all, those brothers who had shared life and death with her, who had shared joys and sorrows, now lay forever asleep on this land beneath her feet. How could she allow others to easily erase the deep bond they had forged and the wonderful times they had spent together? Therefore, no matter what, this blood feud must be avenged tenfold!
Bai Jie walked to a dilapidated wall and gently brushed away the dust. Arrow marks and scorch marks remained on the wall. Her movements were light, as if touching a fragile treasure, her eyes filled with complex emotions—sadness, anger, and deep weariness, but above all, an indomitable resilience.
“This… used to be a temple.” Bai Jie’s voice was a little hoarse. She pointed to a corner of the wall, where some blackened Buddha statues could still be seen. “I remember, before the battle started, I could hear the monks chanting sutras every day.” She paused, took a deep breath, as if trying to inhale those beautiful memories along with the cruel reality before her, and then transform them into strength. “Now, there’s nothing left.”
She turned to face her sisters, the sorrow on her face replaced by a quiet resolve. "We're not just avenging our comrades," Bai Jie's gaze swept over each of them, "we're also fighting for these destroyed homes, for the innocent lives lost, for the laughter that will never return. We'll make those bastards who caused all this pay the price."
Lin Xuan nodded; Bai Jie's words echoed her own thoughts. "Bai Jie is right. Our battle is about much more than revenge." She walked to the remains of the map, the simple map they had used to plan their battle, now mostly destroyed by fire. "According to our intelligence, the main force of this rebel army is entrenched in Black Wind Valley, a well-defended and difficult-to-attack place—their stronghold. Their leader, nicknamed 'Poison Scorpion,' is cunning and cruel, commanding several thousand men. While their equipment is inferior to that of a regular army, their fighting strength should not be underestimated."
Lin Xiaoyan took out her first-aid kit and began checking the remaining medicines and supplies. "Although our raid successfully destroyed their outpost, we also suffered heavy losses. Ammunition, medicine, and food all need to be replenished. It's clearly unwise to force our way into Black Wind Valley." Her voice was calm and rational, always able to raise the most practical questions at crucial moments.
Lin Xiaowan sheathed her short blade, walked to Lin Xuan's side, looked at the tattered map, and tapped it with her finger: "Black Wind Valley... I've heard of that place. The valley entrance is narrow, with cliffs on both sides, and only one main road is passable. It is indeed a good place for an ambush. 'Poison Scorpion' set up its lair here, it's quite clever of them."
"You're using your brain in the wrong place," Lin Xiaohong snorted, her eyes filled with disdain. "You only know how to use it for burning, killing, and looting!"
"Alright, now is not the time to talk about this," Lin Xuan interrupted them. "The most urgent thing is to find a safe place to rest, take stock of our supplies, and then formulate our next plan. We can't stay here any longer; the rebels will soon discover the situation here and may send troops back to investigate."
Bai Jie's gaze drifted to the other end of the street, where things were relatively better, with a few buildings that could barely provide shelter from the wind and rain. "Over there, let's go check that out. Let's find a water source and a safe place to hide first."
The group of six acted swiftly and without exchanging a word. Their movements were coordinated and efficient, a testament to their years of combat experience. Lin Xiaowan and Lin Xiaohong led the way, vigilantly searching for any potential dangers; Lin Xuan and Bai Jie brought up the middle, one observing the surroundings while the other kept an eye out for any useful clues or supplies; Lin Xiaoyan and Bai Mei brought up the rear, constantly watching for any activity behind them.
The sun sank completely below the horizon, and night began to fall. Darkness, like a giant net, slowly enveloped the scarred city. Only the occasional, sporadic gunshots in the distance reminded them that danger was never far away.
They found temporary shelter in a half-collapsed neighborhood. The building had a relatively intact courtyard, windows offering a view of the market, and only a narrow staircase leading up to it—easy to defend and difficult to attack. Lin Xiaohong and Lin Xiaowan immediately began setting up a perimeter, installing makeshift alarms at the stairwell and windows. Lin Xiaoyan, meanwhile, carefully assessed their dwindling supplies: each person had only a basic amount of ammunition left, first-aid kits contained only a few bandages and anti-inflammatory drugs, and food consisted of just a few compressed biscuits and half a bottle of water. The situation was more dire than they had imagined.
“Water is the biggest problem,” Lin Xiaoyan said, frowning. “We must find a clean water source as soon as possible.”
“We don’t have much food left,” Bai Jie added. “We need to go out and gather some, but that’s dangerous.”
Lin Xuan leaned against the wall, her eyes closed in deep thought. Moonlight streamed through the broken window, illuminating her face and outlining her resolute features. "Tonight we'll take turns keeping watch and get some rest. Tomorrow morning, we'll split into two groups." She opened her eyes, her gaze sharp. "One group will be responsible for finding water and food, while the other will scout the surrounding area, checking for any rebel movements and looking for other survivors or usable supplies."
She looked at Lin Xiaowan: "Lin Xiaowan, you and Xiaohong are in a group to scout. You two are both agile. Lin Xiaowan, you are experienced, and Xiaohong, you are more familiar with this area. Be careful and don't get into a fight. Focus on scouting."
"Understood!" Lin Xiaowan and Lin Xiaohong nodded simultaneously. Lin Xiaohong's eyes gleamed with excitement. Having just experienced a fierce battle, she was not intimidated at all; on the contrary, she was even more eager for fighting.
"Xiaoyan, Baijie, you two will be in my group and responsible for finding water and food," Lin Xuan continued to give instructions. "Xiaoyan, you know medicine and are quite meticulous, so keep an eye out for any usable medicines. Baijie, you have the best observation skills, so pay attention to the surrounding environment and look for possible water sources."
"Okay." Lin Xiaoyan and Bai Jie nodded in agreement.
After the assignments were distributed, everyone ate some dry rations and drank some water before taking turns on night watch. Lin Xiaowan was on the first shift. Like a vigilant cheetah, she crouched by the window, her eyes scanning the street below with sharp intensity. The night was deep and silent, save for the howling wind, like the weeping of departed souls.
Lin Xuan leaned against the wall, but didn't fall asleep immediately. The day's battle replayed in her mind, the faces of her fallen comrades flashing before her eyes. She clenched her fists tightly, her nails digging deep into her palms. Pain, anger, self-blame… a mix of emotions swirled within her, but ultimately settled into a cold resolve. She couldn't fall. For those who had sacrificed themselves, for her surviving sisters, for this shattered world, she had to lead everyone forward until all darkness and evil were completely eradicated.
After an unknown amount of time, Lin Xiaowan gently woke Lin Xuan; it was her turn to keep watch. Lin Xuan took Lin Xiaowan's place, her gaze fixed on the dark night sky. The stars were obscured by thick clouds, not a single ray of light visible. She knew the road ahead would be even more treacherous, but they had no choice but to continue, step by step.
The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, they set out according to plan. Lin Xiaowan and Lin Xiaohong, like two ghostly shadows, vanished silently around the street corner. Lin Xuan, Lin Xiaoyan, and Bai Jie cautiously searched towards the well they remembered.
The city was now mostly ruins. The once bustling streets were now littered with rubble, abandoned carriages lay overturned, shop signs were shattered, and dried blood and scattered debris littered the ground. The air was thick with the smell of decay, a stench of scorched earth. They avoided open areas, moving swiftly along the shadows of the crumbling walls, their steps as light as felines.
"There seems to be the sound of flowing water over there." Bai Jie suddenly stopped and listened intently.
Lin Xuan and Lin Xiaoyan immediately stopped and listened intently. Sure enough, a faint "whooshing" sound came from not far away. The three exchanged a glance, a hint of joy in their eyes. They covered each other as they made their way towards the source of the sound.
The sound was coming from a well in the courtyard.
"Be careful," Lin Xuan whispered a reminder before stepping inside first.