Chapter 12: A Visit from the Masters of Yin and Yang

A month before spring, Lin Shu had already completed the construction of four county towns and nine smaller settlements. The four county towns were North Mountain County to the west of North Mountain, East Mountain County to the east of East Mountain, and two towns on the southern shores of North Sea Lake—East Shore Town in the east and West Shore Town in the west.

Beyond the six towns around North and East Mountain, Lin Shu also established three frontier settlements at the border with the Xiongnu and Donghu tribes, serving as the frontline defense against the Xiongnu.

In the southern region, the stone houses for two counties and six towns had not yet been started. Having completed his tasks, Lin Shu returned to reside in the southern valley.

The wooden palisade at the valley entrance had now become a grand two-story fortress, nine meters tall—a temporary winter residence for Lin Shu.

Siberia was vast and resource-rich, but Lin Shu still preferred to establish his headquarters in Liaodong. After subduing the wild tribes of the East Sea in spring, he would lead his armies south to seize all the lands in inner and outer Liaodong held by the Donghu and the State of Yan.

Endless wind and snow would eventually subside…

With the harsh winter nearly over, only the complete thaw remained before the forty-thousand-strong army would set out on campaign.

As preparations for departure drew near, Lin Shu again summoned his commanders.

“Zhabuletu Turan, after the thaw, begin cultivating these seeds. If you don't know how to farm, trade with the Xiongnu for slaves from the south.” The nomadic cavalry moved like the wind, and the Xiongnu had captured many farmers from the Qin and Zhao borders.

Now the Xiongnu were focused on contending with the Donghu for the grasslands, unable to pay attention to the southern alliance. With their current equipment, Zhabuletu no longer needed to worry about Xiongnu incursions from the north.

“As you command, my lord. The Xiongnu are trying to keep us pacified, so it won’t be hard to exchange for some serfs.”

The Turan priest added, “Rest assured, my lord, our people will guard the grain seeds day and night.”

The fertile lands along the east and west shores of North Sea Lake were ideal for farming, so Lin Shu entrusted half his grain seeds to his two chief commanders.

Potatoes, corn, and sweet potatoes were hardy and easy to grow—once buried in the earth, they were hard to wipe out—so Lin Shu felt comfortable leaving half his precious seeds behind.

He would spend most of his time in Liaodong and had no time to cultivate these grains himself. With two harvests per year, as long as they made it through this year, these crops would feed the snowland tribes. After two years, hunting could be reduced, and in a few years, all the snowland tribes could transition to a semi-agrarian, semi-pastoral life.

Once food was abundant, he could gather large numbers of snowland warriors for expeditions—one hundred thousand armored snowland warriors would be more than enough to sweep aside over two hundred thousand Xiongnu cavalry.

It was another nightfall. Most were asleep, but the great hall on the castle’s ground floor was still ablaze with firelight.

The second floor was habitable, but Lin Shu used it as an office, preferring to sleep in his carriage.

In the far northern snowfields, the night was dark but the ground glowed. At this hour, when all should be at rest, two drifting shadows howled through the cold wind.

“Lunar Goddess, these wild men can build city walls—just who is our target this time?” Dongjun, who had been meeting with Yan Dan, was suddenly dispatched to this desolate northern land.

After investigating the two counties and three towns in the south, their amazement only grew.

The Lunar Goddess smiled proudly—reading the stars was her forte, unmatched even by Dongjun.

“Dongjun, if I knew everything, the Lord of the East wouldn't have sent me here. If both of us are needed, there must be something extraordinary involved.”

The stars to the north were shrouded in mist, yet seemed to harbor a shocking secret. The North Star shone faintly, its light exuding a pressure that seemed to suppress the Milky Way. Not even the Yin-Yang School could ignore the lingering winter—so they immediately journeyed north to investigate.

With a soft laugh, Dongjun pressed no further, having already found the source of the disturbance. The riddle would soon be solved.

Just as Lin Shu was about to converse with Jingni, the voice of the central mind, Heartshadow, sounded.

“Commander, two high-energy targets are approaching. Spiritual energy readings: 2300 and 2200.”

The level-two carriage’s spiritual defense was rated at two thousand; anything above that could not be fully absorbed. Still, no one would unleash their full energy at once.

“Heartshadow, maximize the forcefield and accelerate heat absorption,” Lin Shu ordered, his brow easing at the thought of the forcefield’s massive power.

There was no need to ask—Jingni already sensed something was amiss.

“Husband?”

Lin Shu kissed Jingni’s nose, then stood up. “It’s nothing. Two experts are approaching—they’re stronger than you, so don’t act rashly.”

“What! Could it be them?” Jingni’s face turned cold. She hadn’t even settled scores with the Net yet, and now they dared to come courting death.

Lin Shu also thought they were Jingni’s enemies, since they’d been so conspicuous in the north these past months. “It’s two women, both quite young.”

Two graceful figures drifted through the wind, their cloaks and dresses exuding an ethereal aura…

Lin Shu couldn’t see them, but Heartshadow projected a simulated image onto his retina.

“Two women? Then it’s probably not them.” Apart from her, the Net had no such strong female assassins. Even if they secretly trained some, they wouldn’t send two young female assassins to their deaths.

“If it’s not them, let’s see what they want.” Since they weren’t Jingni’s enemies, Lin Shu saw no reason to act immediately.

Jingni nodded, equally curious—two young female experts were rare even across the Seven States.

None of the warriors on or below the city wall could spot the drifting figures; only a few priests in the valley could see through their illusions.

The massive fortress, built from enormous stones, was unlike anything seen in Qin. Dongjun and the Lunar Goddess exchanged solemn nods, becoming all the more cautious.

“How strange—why is it so cold?” The wide hall blazed with fire, yet not a trace of warmth lingered.

The Lunar Goddess paused, turning to Dongjun, and ventriloquized softly, “This burning carriage must be the so-called divine chariot from the heavens the wild men spoke of. The master should be inside.”

“Let’s pay our respects first. Perhaps we can cooperate.” The carriage was merely larger and fireproof—nothing outwardly miraculous—but Dongjun felt a vague unease.

While the two dallied outside, Lin Shu and Jingni took the initiative and stepped up to the carriage’s driving platform.

A gentle light appeared, illuminating the dim platform.

“Heh, two ladies visiting at this hour—could it be…” Glancing at his chief wife, Lin Shu cut himself off.

Jingni shot Lin Shu a look, then stepped forward, gripping her Jingni Sword tightly and blocking the encroaching energy. “Yin-Yang aura—are you of the Yin-Yang School?”

Jingni had encountered the mysterious Yin-Yang School once before, and since then had never underestimated them.

[High purity spiritual energy absorption in progress~] Heartshadow reported gleefully.

In truth, Jingni didn’t need to block Dongjun’s illusory energy—the carriage could easily absorb it.

“The Jingni Sword—Jingni, assassin of the Net, ranked first tier and rumored to have betrayed the Net and been killed. To think you’re still alive!” Recognizing her sword and murderous aura, the Lunar Goddess smiled faintly.

Dongjun’s eyes glinted. “Heh, the northern snowfields are indeed intriguing!”

Yin-Yang School? Jingni of the Net, first-tier assassin… With realization, Lin Shu finally understood.

“The Jingni Sword? So you really are her!” Lin Shu smiled wryly and shook his head. That meant his chief wife was Jingni Tianyan’s mother—the first generation Jingni!

He had thought that the world of “The Legend of Qin” was merely a fleeting dream, yet now it was real. Lin Shu’s feelings grew complicated.

“Husband, I—” Jingni bowed her head anxiously. She hadn’t meant to hide it, only didn’t want to bring up the past again.