Volume 1, Chapter 18: An Epic Moat

After a while, Zhang Xin strolled over. She held a bright red apple tightly in her hand, her face beaming with a radiant smile as she chirped, "Big Brother, the noodles are ready! My father specifically asked me to come and call you over!"

Hearing this, Lin Yi smiled slightly, reached out to gently pat Zhang Xin on the head, and laughed, "Alright, let's go now! It’s the perfect opportunity to learn more about the situation of those eight women."

At that moment, a gentle breeze brushed past, bringing a hint of coolness. The once bright sky had darkened, yet the enthusiasm of the group remained undiminished.

Everyone gathered together, their gazes falling upon the long, newly constructed table. Lin Yi walked to the table without haste and sat down at the head position without hesitation.

Once he was seated, he noticed that while everyone else stood around the table, no one dared to sit, as if they were waiting for his command.

Seeing this, Lin Yi waved his hand casually and said in a relaxed tone, "Don't be so formal; everyone, please make yourselves comfortable. Today is meant to be a welcome feast for our eight new members, so please, everyone, take your seats!"

With Lin Yi's approval, the other nine people sat down one by one. Zhang Xin sat obediently beside Lin Yi.

However, being young and short, she struggled to reach the dishes on the table even after stretching her arms. Her little face flushed red with frustration, and her mouth pouted in a sulky expression.

Seeing Zhang Xin struggling, Lin Yi was about to reach out to help her when Zhang Guoxing, quick to act, took the bowl from in front of her. With a beaming face, he apologized, "Your Majesty, how could I let you trouble yourself with such a trivial matter? Please, let me handle it!"

Lin Yi, naturally, had no objections. He then fixed his gaze firmly on the newcomers, his eyes sharp as blades.

Before anyone could react, he demanded in an unquestionable tone, "Tell me! How exactly did you fall into the hands of those vile goblins? And how did you end up being brought here?"

Facing Lin Yi’s interrogation, the newcomers chose to remain silent, and the scene fell into an awkward stalemate.

Seeing the tension, Huang Tian stepped forward to smooth things over, saying, "Your Majesty! Perhaps it is a bit too early to ask these questions. Why not let us get settled first, and we can discuss these matters later?"

Lin Yi only gave him a cold glance, not bothering to respond.

In his view, he could not afford to harbor people of unknown origins. After all, they were in a strange land where hearts were unpredictable; the slightest carelessness could bring catastrophe upon himself and his companions.

As the saying goes, "In chaotic times, strike the naive first." One must resolutely eliminate any factors that could threaten one's safety.

Realizing this, Lin Yi’s eyes turned gloomy.

At the same time, an invisible pressure radiated from him—the solemn and dignified aura of a ruler. "He who holds the position cultivates the spirit"—this phrase could not describe Lin Yi more perfectly at this moment.

The Lin Yi who usually appeared gentle and kind now seemed like a completely different person.

Everyone present stared in astonishment at the man before them. They could never have imagined that the usually affable Lin Yi possessed such a cold and ruthless side.

Ignoring their surprise, Lin Yi continued, "I will not harbor anyone of unknown identity here! If you refuse to reveal your origins, you are free to leave once your injuries have healed. Do not entertain any delusions of staying."

He paused, scanning the group with a piercing gaze, and added sharply, "And do not attempt to play the victim to win my sympathy; it will get you nowhere! If you wish to stay, give me an honest account of everything.

"I might as well tell you: if you are sincere, you may one day become my trusted confidants. But if I detect even the slightest hint of deception, do not blame me for being merciless! After all, I do not wish to discover one day that my most trusted confidant has betrayed me."

"Those who do not wish to speak may leave once their wounds are healed. As for whether you live or die, that is no concern of mine."

With that, Lin Yi watched them quietly, waiting for the first response.

Stunned by his words, Zhang Guoxing, Huang Tian, Huang Xiaorong, and Zhang Xin stopped eating and looked at the eight newcomers.

Indeed, Lin Yi was right. "One does not fear a strong enemy, but internal strife." They understood this logic and waited to hear the group’s response.

A pleasant banquet had turned into a trial.

The eight newcomers showed varied expressions: some were hesitant, some terrified, and others utterly lost.

Finally, a woman with a distinct temperament parted her cherry lips and said softly, "I only remember my name is Li Muyun. As for how I was inexplicably captured and brought here, I cannot recall. It feels as if I have lived here all along."

Lin Yi stared at the woman, observing every nuance of her speech and movement. He speculated inwardly: given her demeanor and innate nobility, she must be the daughter of a wealthy, prestigious family.

Such a unique temperament, cultivated from childhood, could not be easily faked.

With Li Muyun breaking the ice, the others seemed encouraged and began to speak up.

Surprisingly, their answers were identical—they only remembered their names.

After repeated questioning and verification, Lin Yi shook his head helplessly. It seemed impossible to extract further useful information, so he had to let it go.

Suddenly, a brilliant, sun-like smile bloomed on Lin Yi’s face as he said enthusiastically, "Welcome to the Skywing Kingdom! From this day forward, this will be your warm and comfortable home."

"And as time goes on, more people will surely join us. I believe that before long, we will grow stronger. Each and every one of you will become my most trusted confidant!"

After a brief pause, Lin Yi turned his gaze to the steaming noodles on the table and laughed, "Eat your noodles! They’ll get cold if you don't!"

"I have some urgent matters to attend to, so please excuse me." With that, Lin Yi hurried away, fearing that his lingering presence might dampen the mood.

Sure enough, the moment he stepped into the castle, he heard laughter and chatter echoing from behind.

Upon entering his room, Lin Yi heard the system's voice: "Ding! Congratulations to the player for achieving the top rank in this invasion. The reward has been issued; please check it."

What? Top rank? Lin Yi was stunned. He opened his phone and saw several messages from Lin Chuan: "Brother, you wouldn't believe it! Your younger brother actually made third place."

The next message: "Brother, what rank are you?"

Lin Yi replied, "Can't you check the leaderboard yourself?"

He then opened his inventory and saw a gift pack.

He clicked to open it without hesitation and found a purple item card: "Epic-Grade Moat. Can be upgraded along with the castle. Effectively defends against monster invasions by creating a massive river to block their advance."

"My goodness! Is it really that strong? It even gave me a moat."

While marveling at it, Lin Yi looked at another colorless card: "Seven-day Resource Reduction Card for upgrades and a Seven-day NPC Spawn Rate Increase Card. Use now?"