Chapter 46: “If Heaven Doesn’t Care, Why Should I?”
????With the Wild Wolf Gang Leader’s command token in hand, the battered Wall held firm once more—if only just.
??But—
??A Unique Treasure had been spent. One of those priceless artifacts, each capable of briefly shoring up the Wall’s defenses—often the final line between life and death.
??“Has the Chen Clan’s Builder arrived yet?”
??The Wild Wolf Gang Leader stood soaked in the downpour, bellowing his question over the storm to his n.
??“We already sent several people to the Chen Clan estate. Still no word back!” his lieutenant shouted, broadsword in hand, wiping the rain from his face.
??“God damn it!”
??Every inch the outlaw, the gang leader glared out at the endless tide of Ghostbeasts beyond the Wall. His grip on his blade was white-knuckled, rage burning in his eyes.
??Tonight.
??In Jiangbei City’s darkest hour.
??Only the Wild Wolf Gang brothers remained on the Wall, joined by scattered allies from the Jiangbei Market and a handful of minor forces. Even the rchants—n who would normally clutch their last Ghoststone to their chests—were now thrusting their entire fortunes at Builders, desperate to construct Arrow Towers.
??All for the sake of holding out tonight.
??And yet—
??Not a single soul from the Jiangbei Chen Clan or the Qiuhe Wang Clan had co to help defend the city.
??He understood their logic well enough. Both clans had higher-grade Walls protecting their own compounds. If Jiangbei City fell, what did it matter to them? As long as their own patch of land stood, let the rest burn.
??Why waste their Ghoststones and Unique Treasures to save Jiangbei City?
??They were one of the Three Major Factions, too. The Wild Wolf Gang had their own Domain, their own Wall. He could just as easily order a retreat, barricade themselves in their territory, and let the city fend for itself.
??But—
??He’d never managed to land any big business all these years. After Jiangbei City fell to the Rainy Season disaster thirty-seven years ago, new powers had risen, and all the best opportunities were always just out of reach. Most days, his gang scraped by collecting protection fees from the local shops.
??And if you take soone’s money, you protect them.
??That’s the rule.
??You get paid, you deliver.
??“Boss, what now?” his right-hand man asked, worry tight in his voice. “It’s obvious the Chen Clan and Wang Clan aren’t coming. Maybe we should pull back too. We can’t hold the Wall alone.”
??“...Hah.”
??The Gang Leader turned to look at the old man standing behind him in the rain atop the Wall—the Wild Wolf Gang’s Builder. A Level 5 Builder, once a wandering retainer, saved from death in the Wasteland and loyal ever since.
??He drew a deep breath, tamping down his anger. “Old Zhu, what do you think?”
??“I follow the boss,” the old Builder replied, a faint, unruffled smile on his lips. “Whatever you order, I’ll carry out.”
??“Good!”
??The outlaw’s gaze swept over the Ghostbeasts—Flesh Maggot Ghosts—charging the Wall through the storm. Suddenly, he grinned. “Since we’ve taken their money, we’ll protect the people behind us. That’s how it’s supposed to be.”
??“If all we do is collect and never deliver, that’s not the Wild Wolf Gang’s way. Right?”
??Lightning split the sky, painting a red gleam across his pale, rain-soaked face.
??“Erhu!”
??“Here!”
??“Open the vault. Bring out every Ghoststone and Unique Treasure the Wild Wolf Gang has left. Tonight, we’ll defend this city to the last man, co hell or high water!”
??“Yes, boss!”
??Opening the vault ant staking everything—gambling the gang’s entire foundation on this single night.
??After this battle...
??Even if Jiangbei City survived, the na of the Wild Wolf Gang would be finished.
??And word spread quickly along the Wall. Inside the city, anyone with even a single Ghoststone in their pocket rushed into the storm, searching for Wild Wolf Gang mbers to hand over everything they had.
??Everyone understood.
??The Wild Wolf Gang was fighting for them.
??The gang could survive even if they abandoned the city—the people had no such escape. If the city fell, they’d die.
??“Dad.”
??In a wooden shack down a narrow alley, a young man in rough hemp clothes hefted his broadsword, grinning at his terrified, reluctant parents. “You always said joining a gang was a dead end, told
to fight for a position with the Chen Clan instead—that was the proper path, right?”
??“Look at us now.”
??“When the city’s about to fall, it’s us who stand to protect everyone.”
??Just then, a firework blossod in the rain-soaked night above the city.
??The young man didn’t linger. He gave a quick goodbye: “The boss just gave the ergency order. I have to go. I’ll be back by dawn.”
??...
??Jiangbei City, Chen Estate.
??Inside the Council Hall.
??Several elders had gathered.
??“The Wild Wolf Gang Leader’s got guts—though not much sense. No matter how this battle ends, there won’t be a Wild Wolf Gang left in Jiangbei City after tonight,” sighed the Grand Elder, shaking his head.
??The Wild Wolf Gang was a latecor, a power that hadn’t survived the disaster thirty-seven years ago.
??They had no idea—when the Rainy Season hits, a city’s fall is inevitable. Even if they survive tonight, what then? There are still more than twenty days left of rain.
??It’s all pointless.
??Now was the ti to conserve resources and defend their own Domain, to grit their teeth and outlast the Rainy Season. That was the only rational move.
??The Second Elder said nothing. He could only think... the family’s grown more chaotic with every passing year.
??The Ghostskin Map clearly showed that Waystation No. 37—once theirs—still held. It was a fact: Chen Fan had beco a Builder, and a high-level one at that. The Builder who should have belonged to the Chen Clan had been driven into the Wasteland by clan infighting.
??But...
??No one dared ntion it now—they all pretended not to know.
??Just then—
??The Chen Clan Head pushed open the doors and entered the Council Hall. He sat down and spoke without preamble.
??“The Wild Wolf Gang has cracked open their vault and staked everything to defend Jiangbei City. They’re ready to live and die alongside the hundreds of thousands here.”
??“Courageous, I’ll give them that.”
??“I respect that man. He has character.”
??“The people’s morale is high. Anyone with a Ghoststone is out in the streets, handing them to the Wild Wolf Gang. With all that support, maybe—just maybe—they’ll survive the night.”
??The Grand Elder mused, “Clan Head, are you suggesting we go and help defend the city too? Make a show of it and win back so reputation?”
??“No.”
??The Chen Clan Head shook his head. “Right or wrong, history will judge my actions. But I can say this: everything I’ve done is for the Chen Clan’s future. I have a clear conscience before our ancestors.”
??“I have no regrets as Clan Head.”
??“Even if the city survives tonight, the Rainy Season still has more than twenty days left. What then?”
??“They’re just squandering the city’s resources.”
??“Effective imdiately, send our Chen Clan disciples out in Wild Wolf Gang uniforms. Go collect every Ghoststone and Unique Treasure offered by the people and the rchants.”
??“Especially near Jiangbei Market.”
??“I don’t care what happens to the people of this city.”
??“Since the Eternal Night began, do you know how many have begged heaven for a way out? How many have died on this land? Has heaven ever answered them?”
??“If heaven doesn’t care, why should I?”
??“There’s only one thing I care about.”
??“The Chen Clan’s rise.”
??“Everything... is for the Chen Clan.”
??“...”
??The elders exchanged uneasy glances. But after a long mont, they bowed as one:
??“As you command, Clan Head.”
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