Chapter 16: The Rainy Season Cos Early
????“But it’s only the beginning of October, and the rains have already started. I’ve already sent word to the clan, asking them to send people to help with the evacuation. Station Master Chen, I’ve more or less figured out your situation. The Chen Clan definitely won’t be sending anyone to fetch you.”
??“What I’m saying is, why don’t you co with us? I won’t report your true identity to the clan. I’ll just say you’re a distant relative, working under .”
??“…”
??Chen Fan’s brow furrowed. He was beginning to sense that this storm was far from ordinary. “Station Master Wang, let’s talk inside. I’m not sure I understand what you’re trying to say.”
??“Huh?”
??Wang Kui blinked, montarily thrown by Chen Fan’s ignorance. He followed Chen Fan back into the wooden hut, exhaled deeply, and explained patiently, “Station Master Chen, maybe you don’t know: out here in the Wasteland, every ti the rainy season arrives…”
??“The Ghostbeasts beco more active and aggressive than ever. Even if you stay close to the Ghostfire, you’re not truly safe.”
??“Those things will even throw themselves straight into the Ghostfire.”
??“The rainy season usually lasts for about a month.”
??“And as soon as it ends, winter begins. The Ghostbeasts in winter aren’t as crazed as during the rains, but they’re still far more violent than after spring cos. It’s a dangerous stretch for all the waystations.”
??“But the rainy season has always begun in early November. That’s never changed in decades. This year, it struck out of nowhere at the start of October. Just last night, nine waystations were wiped out by Ghostbeasts.”
??“I was lucky—no Ghostbeasts broke into my station last night. Still, I clung to my Ghostskin Map all night, not daring to close my eyes. As soon as dawn broke, I hurried here. I wanted to bring you with .”
??“The last ti the rainy season ca early was thirty-seven years ago. That year, a Ghost Tide swept across the Wasteland. Every waystation that failed to evacuate was annihilated—no survivors. No one knows what happened in the chaos. Now, it’s happening again.”
??“We don’t have much ti. If we don’t leave today, we may not make it out at all.”
??Wang Kui was visibly shaken, a far cry from his usual calm and shrewd self. He was truly anxious. With only his own two legs, he’d never make it out of the Wasteland in a single day—he needed the Wang Clan to send a rescue party.
??But his Sound transmission talisman had yet to deliver any reply, leaving him tense and uneasy.
??“Are the odds of dying that high?” Chen Fan asked quietly.
??“Extrely high!”
??“Even with these two Arrow Towers, I couldn’t hold out?”
??“Not a chance!”
??A shadow flickered in Wang Kui’s eyes. “If it were a normal rainy season, and you were lucky, maybe you could survive. But with the rains arriving early, a Ghost Tide is almost guaranteed. Those towers won’t be enough!”
??“Very well. I’ll go with you!”
??Chen Fan didn’t hesitate in the slightest. He felt no regret for the Farmland and Arrow Towers he’d just built. If the danger was truly this great, staying would be suicide. As long as the mountains endure, there will always be firewood.
??But then—
??Wang Kui’s face suddenly drained of color. His lips trembled before he forced out, “Station Master Chen, is there any chance… you could upgrade your Arrow Towers again?”
??“If you could get them to Level 3, maybe we’d have a fighting chance.”
??“Oh?”
??Chen Fan raised an eyebrow, sensing the abrupt shift in Wang Kui’s attitude.
??“The clan replied. They said they can’t send anyone. The rainy season struck too quickly—they only have ti to evacuate the waystations on the Wasteland’s edge. My station, deep in the Wasteland, is beyond reach.”
??“One day isn’t enough to get in and out. No one knows what will happen tonight.”
??“They just told
to look after myself. And thanked
for my years of service.”
??“…”
??Chen Fan stood silent, his expression unreadable. If evacuation had been possible, he would have chosen to leave. The Ghostbeast frenzy during the rainy season could be an opportunity, but it was also an imnse risk.
??He wasn’t yet strong enough to weather such a crisis.
??But since escape was no longer an option, he would have to find another way.
??After a long silence, he finally spoke.
??“Station Master Wang, I won’t hide it from you. I’m actually a Builder.”
??“Mm…”
??Wang Kui’s lips twitched. He’d suspected as much for so ti, so this was no surprise.
??“My mother left
a Builder’s legacy before she died. That’s my foundation. Our only hope now is to put our trust in . I’ll do everything I can to fortify this camp, so we can survive.”
??“But—”
??“I’ll need your resources. And your help.”
??“No problem.”
??Without hesitation, Wang Kui took a deep breath and pulled out his pouch. “There are 137 Ghoststones in here—my entire life savings. I’m handing it all over to you, Young Master. From now on, Xiao Qiu and I are at your command. No complaints, no questions.”
??“And from this mont, I am no longer part of the Wang Clan. If we make it through to spring, I’ll serve you alone, Young Master.”
??Off to the side, Crippled Monkey was busy burying corpses in the Farmland, rain pouring down around him. He frowned at Wang Kui. “Young Master” was his na for Chen Fan—he’d been with him from the very beginning. Even if Wang Kui wanted to pledge loyalty, he shouldn’t call Chen Fan that.
??“I have so as well,” Xiao Qiu chid in, fumbling in his coat for his own pouch. “Not much, just seventeen Ghoststones.”
??“Good!”
??Chen Fan glanced at the Ghostskin Map, then issued his orders: “I have two tasks for you. First, return to your camp and bring over everything useful—food, water, bedding, carts, anything you can carry.”
??“Second.”
??“The Wang Clan can’t evacuate you, which ans the other nearby waystations probably can’t leave either. Go to the neighboring stations as quickly as you can. Bring their people and supplies here. Tell them this camp can provide shelter.”
??“We’ll need plenty of hands for what’s coming, and all those people can help.”
??“But don’t share too much information. There’s no need to force anyone. If they wish to co, they’ll have to undergo a full inspection before entering, and surrender any Sound transmission talismans or other ans of outside communication.”
??“Yes, sir!”
??Wang Kui nodded firmly. He didn’t say another word, just grabbed Xiao Qiu and raced off into the driving rain toward his own camp.
??The rainy season had co far too suddenly.
??He’d always wanted to pledge himself to Chen Fan, but he’d been waiting for the right mont. He never imagined that mont would co so soon. But… if he survived this, it could be the greatest fortune of his life.
??Assuming, of course, he survived.
??…
??“…”
??Chen Fan watched the two figures fade into the rain, then slowly closed his eyes, breathing in the scent of rain on earth.
??This rainy season was both a trendous opportunity and a dire crisis.
??If he could survive—
??Then, for the next six months, no one would be able to interfere with his growth. By then, he would have gathered enough strength to return to the Chen Clan and reclaim all that was rightfully his.
??He glanced at the two pouches on the floor.
??Wang Kui’s pouch held twelve greenish Ghoststones and seventeen milky-white ones. The System Panel identified the greenish stones as Level 2 Ghoststones, each worth ten ordinary—Level 1—Ghoststones.
??The two n had shown true sincerity.
??Altogether, they had handed over 154 Ghoststones—a considerable sum.
??Adding the 46 Ghoststones he already possessed, Chen Fan now had exactly 200 Ghoststones.
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