191: Full-Scale Gunfire Counterattack

"Hot weapons?"

Dashi was stunned for a moment. He seemed to recall hearing Ningguang and the others mention something about this.

It must have been yesterday in the mines when it was brought up.

"These are newly developed weapons with immense power. With cluster-based combat, a few hundred can annihilate a cold-weapon army of several thousand."

"So, don't feel bad. It's normal that you couldn't win."

Cloud Retainer explained casually, then handed four MP5s to Dashi and the others.

"These were hot weapons Ryen made before he left. Originally, we planned to arm everyone in bulk after the dragon was slain—but then this mess happened."

"They won't be coming back just yet…"

Before she could finish speaking, Ryen's voice came through her communicator.

"Cloud Retainer, what's the situation?"

The gunfire on Ryen's end had already ceased—he must have finished off the dragon.

Cloud Retainer sighed.

"Though we were all injured, luckily there were no casualties. Most of the wolf pack has been wiped out…"

"As long as everyone's safe. Can you hold out? Do you need me to come back with weapons?"

Cloud Retainer glanced at the situation around her and replied with a wry smile:

"Even if I wanted to say we're fine, there are over a hundred enemies outside wielding hot weapons."

"The Qianyan Army built stone barricades, but they keep getting blown apart under the gunfire."

"Do you have any solutions?"

Ryen paused in silence for a moment, then spoke with a somewhat calmer tone.

"So, for now, defense is still manageable, right?"

Cloud Retainer affirmed.

A moment later, Ryen said softly:

"Cloud Retainer, we're still slaying dragons over here at 06. I'll guide you remotely to craft the simplest hot weapons. The mine at the base should have plenty of materials."

"Now's the perfect time to make some for a counterattack."

"But the manufacturing process for hot weapons must not be widely shared."

"Have the Qianyan Army and miners synthesize the materials. You'll craft the weapons personally. Launch the counterattack."

Cloud Retainer understood Ryen's intention and agreed.

Then she turned to the Qianyan soldiers before her.

"Mobilize everyone capable of moving. Set up 100 crafting tables, and activate ten automatic furnaces!"

"Bring out coal and iron ingots. Place one iron ingot in the center, surround it with four coal on all sides to make steel powder!"

"Smelt the steel powder into steel ingots in the furnace and hand them to me. Move quickly!"

"Everyone else, craft bullets on the workbenches using copper ingots and gunpowder."

With that, Cloud Retainer passed along Ryen's instructions to Dashi and the others on how to craft MP5-compatible bullets.

In the next moment, the entire base kicked into high gear amidst the rain of gunfire.

A continuous stream of iron and coal was transported out, processed into steel powder, and smelted into steel ingots.

Cloud Retainer built her workstation on-site and began crafting small steel plates and full plates from the steel ingots.

"First layer: one steel ingot in the center.

Second layer: two small steel plates and one steel ingot.

Third layer: leave the first slot empty, place two steel plates in the second and third slots."

Following Ryen's instructions precisely, a freshly made MP5 was quickly completed.

"Did you memorize that?"

Ryen asked again. Cloud Retainer replied:

"All good. You guys focus on the dragon. I'll guard the base!"

"Thanks. If it becomes too much, hold out until morning—we'll return at dawn."

With that, Ryen ended the transmission and resumed summoning the Ender Dragon.

"Bring me one hundred skilled ranged attackers."

Cloud Retainer shouted, and soon a hundred elite Qianyan soldiers lined up before her.

They were silent, eyes bloodshot.

It was obvious—they had all lost their wolves, and were burning with hatred, ready to let it loose.

Materials poured in nonstop, and before long, Cloud Retainer had crafted one hundred MP5s.

She signaled the miners to stop making steel powder and left only the bullet workshop to keep producing.

Looking at the armed soldiers in front of her, Cloud Retainer spoke calmly:

"Everyone, build obsidian cover structures for shelter. Fire at the enemy from behind the barriers."

"Remember—don't poke your heads out, and don't worry about running out of bullets. When you're out, come back and get more."

"One last warning: No one is to point their gun at an ally. Violation will be judged as a threat to Liyue's public order. Understood?"

The Qianyan soldiers responded in unison:

"Yes!"

Cloud Retainer wasn't good at rally speeches, and this wasn't the time anyway.

She waved her hand.

"Counterattack! Free fire!"

The soldiers dispersed in unison, each accompanied by two miners.

One dismantled the old cobblestone wall, while the other replaced it with obsidian.

They were burning through supplies quickly, but at least obsidian could be replenished.

The only real loss? The bullets. Once fired, they were gone for good.

Moments later, gunfire erupted not only outside but now also inside the base.

The Qianyan soldiers fired at the bandits with deep, seething hatred in their eyes.

And honestly, it was justified.

The bandits had slaughtered their wolves and used a hundred gunmen to suppress their 700–800-strong force all day.

Calling it a blood feud wouldn't be an exaggeration.

The stench of gunpowder filled the entire base in an instant.

This kind of battle had never been seen before—everyone was a little shocked by it.

But no one had time to care.

At first, the Qianyan soldiers struggled to land their shots.

But as experienced warriors, they quickly adapted to the mechanics of the new firearms.

Soon, bandits outside began to fall one by one.

The main gate was the first to be cleared. Dashi put down his weapon and rubbed his shoulder, numb from the recoil.

He looked in wonder at the MP5 in his hands.

To him, this was far more effective than a spear.

Standing at a distance, aiming, pulling the trigger—a few shots, and the enemy dropped.

Wasn't that much safer than melee combat?

Still, the war wasn't over, and now wasn't the time to dwell on it.

Dashi waved his hand and shouted loudly:

"Squads One and Two, open the gates and collect the spoils of war!

Squads Three and Four, flank and encircle them from the sides!

The rest, maintain suppressive fire!"

As soon as the words fell, sixty men with hot weapons quickly gathered at the gate.

When a nearby miner pulled down the lever, the redstone mechanism door opened with a thunderous boom.

The group surged out in an instant.

Half of them ducked their heads to ambush the bandits, while the other half scrambled to pick up the weapons scattered on the ground.

Though not combat tasks, they were enthusiastic about it.

The intense battle earlier had awakened their desire for hot weapons.

Although these bandits weren't as strong as the Qianyan Army, they had all kinds of firearms—far more diverse and effective than just MP5s.

The Qianyan soldiers weren't fools either.

These powerful weapons that could kill with just a twitch of the finger—since Ningguang and the others hadn't authorized them—clearly couldn't be mass-distributed anytime soon.

The danger was simply too high.

So, with that in mind, they decided to make the most of this chance to get in more fighting.

With this mindset, the tide of battle shifted.

Where once the bandits had suppressed the Qianyan Army through superior firepower, now whenever a bandit so much as peeked out, a hail of bullets would follow.

It was as if everyone feared they might shoot too slowly and miss their target.

The large-scale firefight didn't last long. But as the number of enemies dwindled, gunfire became increasingly sporadic, and the battle dragged on.

The Qianyan soldiers were thrilled by the firearm battle, but they also understood—

If a bullet could kill the enemy, it could just as easily kill them too.

Some of the bandits had hidden in the distant forest and were taking potshots from cover.

So, the miners moved out—digging tunnels right where they stood, leading the Qianyan Army into the forest to flush out the hidden enemies.

Soon, fire lit up the surrounding forest.

By around two or three in the morning, the last hidden bandit was finally eliminated.

After clearing the battlefield, everyone returned to the base. Without Cloud Retainer needing to say a word, they voluntarily handed over their firearms.

The Qianyan Army and the miners worked through the night without rest—repairing the walls and the damaged ground.

Many also went out to look for the wolves who had died earlier.

When the first light of dawn broke, everyone gathered once more.

Before them were several large crates filled to the brim with bones.

All that was left of the wolf packs.

The Qianyan soldiers and the miners lowered their heads—many quietly wiping away tears.

The attack had come suddenly. If not for the wolves who rushed in and stalled the enemy, some of them surely would've died.

In other words, their lives had been traded once again—by the wolves.

Those who had been here the longest, like Dashi and the others, were especially affected.

They were the first to settle here, and the first to encounter the wolf pack.

That original small group of wolves—they were the ones who domesticated them, cared for them daily, and watched them grow in number.

To them, these wolves were their children.

And now… only twenty-three remained.

The loss of 420 units of resources wasn't worth crying over. But the destruction of the wolf pack—it was as if the sky had collapsed.

Maybe they could raise more wolves in the future, but to them, the wolves were never just lifeless programs.

They wagged their tails happily when patted on the head, circled around excitedly when fed meat.

They charged at enemies fearlessly, fighting to the death.

They were comrades in arms, trustworthy enough to entrust one's life to.

And now… they were all gone.

Dashi clenched his teeth. A man in his thirties, who hadn't cried out even when a bullet tore through him earlier—

Now stood with head bowed, tears dripping one by one from his face.

The memories of joyful days spent with the wolves were like knives piercing his heart.

Cloud Retainer collected the weapons, then looked around at the base filled with grief and sighed softly.

She was not someone good at comforting others.

"True Lord Cloud Retainer…"

Dashi wiped his tears and said in a deep voice:

"I have a presumptuous request…"

"I know. The bones could be useful to Liyue, and they could be used to breed new wolves."

"But these bones… they are the last things our wolves left us."

"They died protecting us. We can't use their remains for something like that…"

Dashi knelt on one knee, and said solemnly:

"True Lord Cloud Retainer, please—let us keep these remains of our wolves. They deserve the honor of heroes. Let them be buried in the soil of Liyue…"

The other Qianyan soldiers and miners also knelt in unison, pleading:

"Please, True Lord Cloud Retainer"

Cloud Retainer fell silent for a moment, then sighed and said:

"This immortal agrees. These wolves protected you. They are indeed heroes. And Liyue has never mistreated its heroes."

"I will speak with Master Hu of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. Your wolves will be given the proper funeral they deserve."

A funeral—for Minecraft wolves without much intelligence.

It might sound absurd.

But at least to the Qianyan soldiers and the miners…

These wolves had used their lives to protect them, never once betraying their loyalty.

They were not mindless programs. They too, deserved respect.

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