Living In Another World With A Farm Chapter 8359: Waiting _1

Zhao Hai accepted the Jade slips and quickly reviewed their contents. With a nod, he addressed the gathered elders, "It is time to act. Proceed to these designated islands and command an immediate evacuation. The defensive arrays protecting these locations are flawed; while they might hold temporarily, they will inevitably fail. Since the Thirteen Family Alliance is launching a full-scale assault, forcing our people to defend to the death would only result in senseless loss of life. Order them to fall back." The elders signaled their understanding and departed at once.

Turning his gaze toward the remaining group, Zhao Hai spoke with gravity, "You may now carry out the tasks I assigned. The Thirteen Family Alliance is currently at the height of its momentum, and we are not yet fully prepared to meet them head-on. We will yield ground for now while we devise a counter-strategy. I have already informed the Sect Master that he will not hold anyone accountable for the loss of a few islands during this phase of the conflict. However, if the enemy still occupies any of our territory once this war concludes, the Sect Master will hold me responsible. And if that happens, I will hold you responsible. Consider this a threat if you wish, but be certain that I will deal with you long before the Sect Master deals with me. Now, move!"

The group acknowledged his words and dispersed, though several individuals wore expressions of mockery. Zhao Hai remained indifferent to their attitude. As long as they executed his orders without error, their personal feelings mattered little. However, should they dare to ignore his commands or commit acts of sabotage, he would show them no mercy.

Once the crowd had cleared, Yan Bei finally spoke up, "Little Hai, do you truly believe they will follow your lead? It looked to me like those fellows don't respect you much." Yan Bei had observed that while the cultivators who had witnessed the Sect Master’s endorsement were loyal, those who hadn't were filled with doubt and even contempt.

Zhao Hai gave a thin smile. "Their opinions are irrelevant. As long as they perform their duties, I don't care what they think. If they fail to obey, I will not be polite." He looked at Yan Bei and added, "I apologize that Big Brother Yan has to endure this difficult situation with me."

Yan Bei dismissed the apology with a wave of his hand. "What grievance? I have always been loyal and wished to fight at your side. Besides, as the commander of the Western Defense line, you need someone you can trust. It is only right that I am here."

Zhao Hai nodded, his gaze shifting toward the area outside the hall. "The Thirteen Family Alliance is reacting with surprising speed," he noted solemnly. "Not only did they strike first, but the intensity of their offensive is remarkable. It appears they have been planning this for a very long time."

Yan Bei snorted in derision. "The Thirteen Family Alliance wouldn't be this arrogant without the backing of other major Sects. Combined with the traitor in our midst, it was unavoidable that we would start at a disadvantage. Little Hai, we must retaliate when the moment is right, or they will assume we are easy targets."

Zhao Hai chuckled softly. "There is no rush. Let us step outside and observe. This conflict will be grueling; it is essentially our Sect standing alone against several others. Fortunately, we have our puppets. I’ve heard the other major Sects have managed to acquire some of them, but luckily they lack the knowledge to replicate them. If they could manufacture them, our troubles would be far greater."

Yan Bei nodded, and the pair walked out. Outside, the island was a hive of frantic activity. Cultivators were congregating, supplies were being hauled, and preparations were underway to receive disciples retreating from the outer islands. The entire area was in a state of constant motion.

Looking at the bustling disciples, Yan Bei remarked, "Not bad. Even if those leaders doubt you, they don't dare disobey. It looks like your plans are being implemented." Yan Bei was encouraged by the sight, but Zhao Hai’s expression remained clouded.

To Zhao Hai, the scene was one of chaos. Many disciples seemed to be running aimlessly without a clear understanding of their tasks. It was a sharp contrast to the Sea Exploration Sect, where preparations were always orderly and efficient. He knew, however, that little could be done. These were Sect disciples, not trained soldiers. Zhao Hai had no intention of enforcing strict military discipline yet. Unlike the lower realms, he was merely a commander here, not the Sect Master. Overstepping his authority to impose such training might breed resentment. While he had the power to execute people to establish dominance, doing so would only alienate the various factions within the Sect—something he wanted to avoid if he intended to stay within the Blood Massacre Sect. He would tolerate the disorder as long as the essential work was completed.

As Zhao Hai watched from the hall, a flash of white light erupted from the teleportation plaza. Batches of disciples began to emerge, many of them bloodied and wounded from combat. Their arrival sent the already frantic atmosphere into a state of near-panic.

Zhao Hai’s frown deepened. He projected his voice across the island, "Silence! Do not panic. Prioritize the wounded and move them to safety. The rest of you, follow the guides to your assigned quarters and rest. Whoever is in charge of this group, report to me immediately!" Though he didn't scream, his voice carried a weight that reached every ear on the island.

The commotion died down instantly as eyes turned toward Zhao Hai in surprise. Soon, the crowd began to organize. The injured were escorted to nearby courtyards, and the able-bodied were led away. Two cultivators in the Refinement Realm flew toward Zhao Hai’s position.

Upon landing, the two bowed respectfully. "Greetings, Commander. We led this detachment. An hour ago, the Thirteen Family Alliance’s fleet attacked us with nearly a hundred large-scale magic weapons. They targeted the specific weak points of our defensive array with total precision. We attempted a counter-siege, but their numbers were overwhelming and their experts were too strong. We were forced to retreat and seek reinforcement."

Zhao Hai nodded calmly. "I understand. Go and recover; this loss is not your fault. The fact that the Thirteen Family Alliance is striking with such desperation suggests they feel pressured. If they don't seize territory now, they fear they will lose their window of opportunity. Go rest." The two commanders didn't fully grasp his reasoning, but they bowed and withdrew.

Once they were gone, Yan Bei spoke up, "Are you suggesting they are attacking now because they fear we will fix the arrays after Han Lei’s death? They want to capture as many islands as possible before we can reinforce the defenses, using them as forward bases for a long-term war?"

"Exactly. It’s a strategy we’ve used ourselves," Zhao Hai confirmed. "They realized the urgency, which is why the assault began so quickly. This is just the beginning; the violence will escalate. We will likely have to surrender half of the Western Defense line to stabilize our front. Only then can we launch a true counter-attack. Big Brother Yan, issue an order: disciples on the islands are forbidden from using puppets for now. If they must use them, they are never to let them fall into enemy hands. If a puppet is at risk of capture, it must be self-destructed immediately. I will forgive a destroyed puppet, but if an enemy captures one intact, I will take the life of the disciple responsible!"

Yan Bei nodded and left to disseminate the command. He was well-acquainted with the elders. Despite Han Lei’s previous failings, a basic administrative structure had been established out of necessity to avoid punishment. Temporary Island Masters and a chain of command were already in place, which simplified Zhao Hai's logistical burden.

Still, as a new commander, Zhao Hai was unfamiliar with many of these subordinates. He needed time to assess them before making structural changes. As Yan Bei had noted, Zhao Hai currently lacked a core group of trusted subordinates, which limited his ability to make bold maneuvers.

Watching Yan Bei depart, Zhao Hai pulled out a Jade slip to study its data. He then took a blank one, recorded specific instructions, and sent it off. He followed this by sending a second message via a spatial Jade slip. With those tasks finished, he sighed and looked back toward the teleportation array as another flash of light signaled more arrivals at Blood Bone Island.

Yan Bei returned shortly and signaled his success. "The orders have been delivered to all the elders. However, you know our numbers are thin. If we restrict the use of puppets, our casualties will surely rise."

"They can retreat to other islands to recover if they are overwhelmed, but the puppets must stay hidden for now," Zhao Hai stated firmly. He knew the time for his trump card had not yet arrived; he was waiting for the perfect moment.