Two weeks had passed since Lin Chu returned to the Lin Manor with news about a war with Crystal Phoenix Sect. The time felt too short.
Now he was at the border of the Purple Dragon Sect again, planning its defense in the city of Thousand Swallows. Specifically, in the command center, repurposed from the meeting hall of the city's governor, Jia Cai. It was large enough for the army's senior officers, the governor, and, of course, Lin Deng.
Or, as he preferred to be called now, Great General Lin Deng.
'If this room was any smaller, Lin Deng's ego wouldn't have fit in. Then he'd have to stay outside and the average intelligence here would double. The idea of putting him in charge of this army was disastrous,' Lin Chu thought.
He refocused and looked down on the map spread across the large, low table in front of him. Wooden figurines showed the position of enemy forces and his own. Rain was drizzling outside, covering the sun, and several lanterns were lit inside the room to compensate.
"The enemy has approximately the same forces as ours. From the banners, there's only one clan of the Crystal Phoenix Sect—Tao. They came here earlier than us, but didn't attack or besiege the city yet, limiting themselves with raids upon nearby villages…"
"The Crystal Phoenix Sect likes to talk about itself like they are the most righteous people in the world, cousin. They must be waiting to fight us honorably… Let's give them what they want! We will crush them and bring many prisoners to sacrifice to the Divine Dragon!" Lin Deng said enthusiastically.
Lin Chu hated it, but was inwardly agreeing with Lin Deng.
"The army of Crystal Phoenix Sect will have an easier time fighting us outside of our walls. They don't have our cavalry, but have plenty of archers and crossbowmen. They will have a massive advantage if we come out and try to attack their camp. Which is why they want us to come at them."
"And we will give them what they want! You don't suggest we stay inside our walls like cowards, cousin?"
Lin Chu wanted to do exactly this. Too bad that he was merely the second-in-command, and could only suggest. He closed his eyes and imagined wrangling Lin Deng's neck until it snapped.
One day, one day… Maybe the Tao clan will do the honors in Lin Deng's stead. Lin Chu would've happily let Lin Deng kill himself upon an enemy's sword, but he knew that if Elder Xiao had the slightest reason to suspect that it was Lin Chu's fault, he would have his head on a pike.
He had to be extremely careful about this, and keep Lin Deng in check enough that after this war, Lin Chu still had a clan to return to.
Besides, the lords of the main sect and other clans were already looking favorably upon Lin Chu.
"No, Great General Lin Deng. It was merely an observation," Lin Chu said with a cold politeness that showed none of his thoughts. "I only advise that we wait until the rains end and the ground dries up. It won't be glorious at all to fight in the rain."
"Practical as ever, cousin. Still a bore, though! But you are right this time—the Lin clan's colors will be much more striking when not covered by mud." Lin Deng looked at the officers in the room. "You heard it. We prepare to meet the Tao's army as soon as the weather gets better! Do your usual stuff until then."
The officers saluted with fists to their chests. Most of them were eager for a fight, and it showed in their voices. Good—morale was important.
Lin Chu looked at the map again and frowned. Thousand Swallows city was blocking Crystal Phoenix's advance deeper into the Lin Clan's territory. To both sides of it were forests and mountains, which an army will have a hard time traversing. But a small group, especially with cultivators, could go around…
"We should improve the city's defenses, just in case the Tao clan makes a surprise attack," Lin Chu said. "Several Circles of Hungry Spirits placed near the weakest points of the wall will make them regret any night attacks."
And Ru Yujin might learn something from seeing it done. His talent in cultivation and mastering techniques still made Lin Chu doubt his own memory a little. Not just a fertile ground for knowledge, but…
Lin Chu tried to make a comparison, but drew a blank.
'Either way, the more I teach him, the more rewards I will reap from him later. Taking him away from the sacrificial altar was a great idea.'
But Lin Chu wasn't about to tell him that outright and feed the youth's ego. Lowborn disciples were much more obedient when they were grateful to the Lin clan for picking them up.
Lin Deng shrugged.
"Sure, do your Netherworld rituals. As long as that doesn't prevent our preparations for the actual battle. A pity we don't have any undead soldiers—that would put fear in the hearts of our enemies!"
If only things were that easy. Any undead created without imbuing them with Qi won't last for long. And imbuing anything with Qi meant permanently taking it from your own reserves.
It was much, much easier to train more normal soldiers. Death techniques usually served other purposes.
"Then, with your blessing, Great General Lin Deng, I will oversee our defenses. Bring me a map of the city, governor."
With the main plan decided and Lin Deng growing steadily more and more bored and distracted, the rest of the meeting went smoothly. Afterward, Lin Chu went to inspect the walls. From them, the enemy's camp was easily seen with his Qi-enhanced eyesight. He could even make out small dots of Qi belonging to enemy cultivators.
Lin Chu folded his hands in his sleeves. The rain became stronger again, but droplets hit an almost invisible barrier around him and fell down—a Water technique too weak for his level of fights, but good for moments like these.
'If Elder Xiao cared more about his clan than about his cultivation, we wouldn't have needed to bring the army here. We wouldn't have needed to march. A single rapid strike with his support could've decapitated the army of the Tao clan.'
These were ideas that would've branded Lin Chu as a person of great dishonor. But that was because HE, Lin Chu, was only at the Qi Condensation stage. If he was Golden Core, they'd just bow.
Lin Chu scoffed and went to make preparations for the Circle of Hungry Spirits. First, he needed sacrifices. Second, he needed to draw the ritual circles with bone meal and blood. And third, Lin Chu had to find his disciple.