I built a safe house in the eerie night.

Night is about to fall.

Looking at the vibrant and joyful scene before him, Jiang Ning smiled and shook his head, keeping these heartwarming moments in his heart.

He turned and walked toward several low, dilapidated houses in the village.

These wooden houses have crooked walls and sparse roofs that can only provide some shelter from the wind. They would be on the verge of collapse if it were windy or rainy.

But even in such a house, the villagers find their only small comfort in the darkness.

In the past, they would go into the mountains early to harvest the Tai Sui (a type of fungus), and retreat back into their houses as night approached, living in a numb cycle, passing the time in darkness.

They were squeezed dry by the city's regulations, leaving them with no extra thoughts or activities.

The village originally had nearly a hundred people.

Over the past two years, some have died in accidents, while others have chosen to leave these deep mountains and return to the wilderness as refugees, in addition to the group that voluntarily left three days ago.

Now only about thirty people remain.

As arranged by Jiang Ning, everyone was housed together in six or seven relatively intact houses.

Although crowded, huddling together provides warmth and courage even in the darkness.

Jiang Ning used the last remaining Black Tai Sui to upgrade five houses.

A dark light swirled around it, and the wood emitted a faint creaking sound.

Moments later, the dilapidated wooden house was transformed.

The structure is sturdy and stable, and the wood is thick and dense. The interior space has been slightly enlarged, with the addition of a simple bed and storage partitions.

The upgraded house also has improved insulation, wind and rain protection, and can effectively block some of the intrusion of strange external odors.

Only then did it resemble a home that could offer a little peace in the darkness of night.

"Upgrading housing is a must."

Jiang Ning looked at the noticeably changed house and felt at ease.

"If everyone can live a better life, we can be more united and have more energy to work during the day. This is just the beginning. In the future, everyone will live a better life."

Just then, a commotion came from the village entrance.

Wang Fu led the team responsible for harvesting the black jujube back. They carried baskets on their backs, and their faces showed signs of fatigue.

"Young master, we harvested a total of 150 catties of Tai Sui today."

Wang Fu came to Jiang Ning to report, his tone calm.

One hundred and fifty jin.

This number might be insignificant in the eyes of the big shots in Danhua City, who might not even bother to glance at it.

Even for Jiangning, where upgrading buildings often requires thousands of kilograms of resources, it seems like a drop in the ocean.

But looking at the black sea cucumbers that the villagers had harvested with their sweat and risk in those baskets, Jiang Ning felt only satisfaction.

They know this is the best they can do right now.

Jiang Ning was not a harsh person. Having come from the lower class in his previous life, he naturally understood the hardships and difficulties of the lower class.

I understand their sacrifices. What truly needs to be changed is not just the safety of the village, but also their lives and dignity.

"You've all worked hard, everyone should take a rest."

Jiang Ning said, "These resources are the foundation of the village, and I remember every bit of effort everyone has put in."

Wang Fu nodded and turned to make arrangements for everyone.

Only the last vestiges of crimson remained on the horizon, and all the villagers who had gone out returned to the village.

The shirtless, sweaty young men were the first to spot the upgraded house and immediately surrounded it in surprise.

He was someone who touched and looked at everything, praising it with admiration, and occasionally bursting into cheers like "Young Master Jiang Ning is really amazing!"

Yu Niu puffed out his chest, looking quite proud of himself.

"I stayed here last night, it was so warm!"

Jiang Ning couldn't help but smile as he looked at their excited expressions.

On the other side, the relatively composed men did not join in the commotion.

They sat in twos and threes in front of the house, gnawing on black sea cucumbers as food, watching the last rays of sunset on the horizon, and chatting about the day's events and interesting stories.

As he spoke, he slowly released the day's fatigue, his face showing no complaints, only a simple confidence that "tomorrow will be better."

The women gathered together, their eyes following the children running and playing in the afterglow, occasionally laughing and scolding them, their voices filled with a rare tenderness.

The soft glow of the setting sun illuminated the small village, and no smoke ever rose from the chimneys, yet this warmth created a tranquil and harmonious scene.

It seems that the world should be peaceful and tranquil, and life should be serene and peaceful.

All these changes were brought about by Jiangning, by the seven arrow towers outside the village, and by the sturdy barricades.

Jiang Ning stood aside, watching quietly.

Such a scene is incredibly precious in these mountains.

"If only things could always be like this, without darkness or eeriness, working at sunrise and resting at sunset... how wonderful that would be."

A ripple of emotion stirred within him.

This was originally the most ordinary life, but in this rotten and desperate world, it has become an unattainable luxury.

People live in a strange, ever-present shadow, struggling to survive.

Wang Fu had somehow appeared beside him again, gazing at the scene before him, and sighed softly:

"Young master, the village is really getting better little by little."

"Yes." Jiang Ning nodded, but his gaze was already fixed on the last sliver of orange-red on the horizon, his voice very soft.

"This moment is so wonderful."

"It's a pity," he paused, speaking to himself, but also to Wang Fu and everyone else.

"It's getting dark again."

The words fell, turning into an invisible sigh.

The setting sun sank completely behind the distant mountains.

Light was taken away, darkness replaced day, and invaded the world.

The brief, warm atmosphere of life that briefly blossomed in the village at dusk was instantly and ruthlessly erased.

The laughing children were frozen in time, their smiles contorted. They rushed into their mothers' arms, clinging tightly to their parents, their small bodies trembling.

The men who had been sitting and chatting casually with relaxed expressions suddenly stood up, their relaxed demeanor vanishing and replaced by solemnity.

The women held their children tightly, their gazes towards the outside of the village filled with unease.

Everyone, without prior arrangement, turned their gaze to Jiang Ning, who was standing at the front.

They silently stood up and spontaneously and orderly stood behind Jiang Ning.

No one spoke; everyone's face was solemn, and there were followers who had entrusted their own fate to them.

The darkness instilled a primal fear in them.

But the figure standing in front of them gave them the courage to step forward.

Jiang Ning could feel the crowd gathering behind him.

He didn't turn around, but simply said:

"Let's go back inside, it's chilly outside..."

However, no one moved.

They remained standing silently, like loyal rocks, guarding Jiang Ning's back.

It wasn't until Jiang Ning turned around and walked towards his room that he realized what was happening.

Seeing that he had moved, the others, as if receiving a command, began to silently return to their respective houses one after another.

As the setting sun disappears, darkness is no longer an obstacle.

Almost instantly, night fell completely.

In the wilderness, all sorts of indescribable, sharp or low, ferocious roars began to rise and fall.

This desolate land came to life, beginning to reveal its ancient and eternally terrifying true form.

As is customary, everyone should keep their doors tightly shut at this time, enduring the darkness and waiting for dawn.

But Jiang Ning didn't go inside tonight.

He pushed open the door, came out again, and stood in the open space in the village.

The night wind carried a biting chill and a strange, fishy smell.

"Young Master?"

Wang Fu's voice came from behind.

He also came out, holding a thin garment in his hand, and gently draped it over Jiang Ning's shoulders.

"It's cold at night, I'll stay with you."

Jiang Ning nodded gently, not rejecting the concern.

His gaze pierced through the darkness, landing on the defensive line of arrow towers outside the village.

He is very confident in tonight's defense.

But what happened next was both unexpected and expected.

The villagers, who had already retreated back into their houses, seemed to have heard the commotion outside.

"Squeak—"

The door not far behind Jiang Ning was pushed open.

Yu Niu was the first to step forward. He wasn't wearing thick clothes; his thin upper body was bare, and he carried a heavy machete on his shoulder. His usual憨笑 (simple and honest smile) was gone from his face; only a visible fighting spirit remained.

He silently stood a little further behind Jiang Ning.

Next up was Erhu.

The taciturn, chubby boy also came out carrying a large axe and stood next to Yu Niu.

Then, one after another...

The young men and women of the village, including Zhou Lei who usually seemed timid and cowardly, all pushed open their doors and came out carrying all sorts of tools.

Their faces may still show an instinctive fear of the dark, but even more so, a resolute determination.

Instead of retreating back into the relatively safe house, they chose to come out and stand behind Jiang Ning, remaining with him and facing the impending darkness together.

Standing in front of his house, Xiong Meng gently patted his daughter Xiong Qiuqiu's head and said softly:

"Qiuqiu, go back and cheer for Dad and Brother Jiangning with your mother."

Xiong Qiuqiu nodded her little head vigorously, her eyes sparkling.

Xiong Meng released his daughter's hand, picked up his tools, and stood in the darkness behind Jiang Ning.

Finally, all the men in the village, on this night filled with eeriness and fear, came out of their houses and gathered in the small open space behind Jiang Ning.

They knew what this meant.

You will be exposed to the darkness and face unknown dangers.

But their loyalty to Jiangning, and their newly rekindled fighting spirit, led them all to make the same choice.

Since the young master has stepped forward, then we will step forward too.

Jiang Ning finally turned around.

Looking behind him, the figures, blurry yet straight and resolute in the darkness, and the pairs of eyes, burning with unwavering gaze in the dim light, were a testament to his presence.

He suppressed the fleeting pang of sorrow in his heart, which ultimately turned into a soft sigh:

"You guys... really..."

In the crowd, someone spoke first, their voice not loud.

"Young Master, we've always been here."

Then, more people spoke, their voices converging, sounding incredibly faint yet powerful in the dark earth filled with eerie howls, as if they could pierce the night—

"Wherever you are, we will be there!"

Jiang Ning took a deep breath of the cool night air, and the emotions in his chest transformed into a burning, warm current of fighting spirit.

He abruptly turned around, facing once more the boundless darkness beyond the village, his voice rising, clear and powerful, carrying slowly on the night breeze:

"Alright! Then tonight, let's—"

"Face this darkness!"