The werewolves were tied up near the shed and naturally saw Yan Xing speeding over in the truck.
This was a magical beast they had never seen nor recognized.
Its body was massive, cloaked in iron armor, with distinct wheeled limbs. When it ran, it emitted a roar they had never heard before, deep yet powerful.
What kind of magical beast was this?
And how powerful must the person be who could tame and command such a beast?
Why would such a powerful Lord appear here?
If their clan went to war with him, what chance did they stand of winning?
The Great Werewolf felt the searing pain on half of his face, where the blood had already clotted from where Yan Xing had struck him with the steel pipe.
I must escape and tell the Clan Leader what happened here, he thought.
But he had no idea what material the rope binding him was made of. It looked thin yet was incredibly sturdy.
While the Great Werewolf pondered how to break the rope, he saw the human Lord with a few farmers carrying several sections of wire mesh walking towards them.
"You few, dig a trench two meters wide and one meter deep around these werewolves," Yan Xing gestured in a circle with his hand and commanded the farmers, "Pile all the soil on our side, tamp it down, set up these wire fences, and encircle the werewolves within."
"Yes, my Lord!" the farmers shouted at the top of their voices as they carried their shovels.
Having eaten and drunk their fill, the farmers, now equipped with new gear, were wholeheartedly devoted to their Lord. Their slogans rang out, and they worked with exceptional zeal.
Wages?
Working for their own Lord... and asking for wages?
Wouldn't that make them ungrateful?
The farmers set to work with great enthusiasm. Shovels swung, dirt flew, and soon a trench took shape.
Yan Xing set up a lounge chair next to the werewolves, erected a parasol, and placed a case of beer beside it.
He put on sunglasses, lay back in the chair, opened a bottle of beer, inserted a straw, and enjoyed the splendid prairie scenery.
Not far away, other farmers were also digging trenches around the shed area.
The trenches were one meter deep and two meters wide.
The soil piled on one side could form a dirt wall one meter high. With the two-meter-high wire fences and the trenches, the drop-off could reach four meters.
Then they laid barbed wire in the trench and also wrapped it around the wire fences.
This would prevent the werewolves from climbing up or jumping over.
As Yan Xing sipped his beer, he said to the Great Werewolf beside him, "Aside from fighting, which is not our farmers' strong suit, they are absolutely handy when it comes to work and construction.
The trench they're digging is perfectly square, more precise than if they'd used a ruler.
If you all manage to return home safely and need a trench dug somewhere... come to me!
For the sake of being neighbors, I'll give you a discount on the labor costs.
HAHAHA..."
The werewolves caught the scent of the beer, sniffing rapidly with their noses.
Yet the Great Werewolf was covertly observing the farmers at work around him.
The weapons in their hands have all been replaced with long-handled shovel-type weapons, and with a thrust and stomp on the grassland, the entire shovel sinks in! Then, they easily pry up large chunks of soil. This sharpness and hardness are definitely not inferior to swords forged from fine iron.
The Great Werewolf knew that the human army had always been famous for its superior weaponry. The reason was that, compared to other races where every citizen was a soldier, humans lacked an entire fundamental class of warriors. The human societal structure separates military and civilian roles. Their peasants work in production and pay taxes, while the rulers use their greater wealth to equip their armies with more and better armor and weapons. But no matter how wealthy human rulers are, they wouldn't be foolish enough to provide peasants with superior weapons. However, the fine iron in the shovels these peasants hold could certainly be forged into a very decent Short Sword. This human Lord allows his peasants to dig with such fine tools! Meanwhile, most of the Werewolf Warriors in my own tribe are still using bone weapons and consider an iron pot a treasure. It's enough to make a wolf die of anger comparing ourselves to these humans!
The Great Werewolf's nostrils twitched involuntarily at the scent of the beer.
At the same time, he responded to Yan Xing, "Lord, your wealth exceeds my understanding of riches. I do not know why someone as wealthy as you would covet this barren land, and the Swamp Tribe has no interest in the disputes between humans, Elves, and Orcs.
But I must remind you that everything you are doing is in vain.
The Swamp Tribe will not allow humans to construct a territory so close to the Thunderous Swamp; your wealth will attract more raiders.
To release us and then leave quietly... would be your wisest choice."
Alas, if I could leave, wouldn't I have gone long ago? Yan Xing thought. Throughout the Wildwind Highlands, there's probably no safer place than this. Always go for the weakest target. And your Swamp Tribe is the weakest.
"What is your name?" Yan Xing, sipping his beer, asked the Great Werewolf, "If you don't have a name, I could come up with one for you. I've recently gained some insight into naming."
The Great Werewolf said, "I am called Steeltooth. Have you seriously considered my suggestion, Lord...?"
"Steeltooth? Fitting, perhaps, but far too common. As for your suggestion... I have no intention of adopting it. This land belongs to neither the swamp nor any other party.
Land without an owner belongs to whoever occupies it first.
You don't need to intimidate me. I've said before... I mean no harm to the swamp, but if you want to fight, I will certainly oblige."
"You are too arrogant, too dismissive of our Swamp Tribe."
"It is you who underestimate the cage I built!"
At this moment, a peasant approached Yan Xing and bowed, saying, "Lord, the prison you mentioned is ready."
"That quickly?" Yan Xing stood up and looked around.
Indeed, a fence made of wire mesh had been erected around the werewolves, with trenches and the mesh all wrapped in barbed wire loops, with only a small door leading outside.
At this moment, Yan Xing and the werewolves were both enclosed in this barbed prison.
"Lord, are you satisfied?" the peasant replied respectfully.
Yan Xing surveyed the prison, which was better than he had imagined.
"Satisfied, very satisfied!" Yan Xing kicked the remaining beer with his foot and said to the peasant, "This beer is your reward. Now go find Eddie and tell him to bring over the prisoners' food. Serve the werewolves their meal; we don't mistreat captives."
"Yes, Lord! Thank you for your generosity!"
The rewarded peasant happily carried away a box of beer, and soon after Eddie arrived with several peasants carrying the werewolves' lunch.
"Lord..." Eddie approached Yan Xing and whispered, "You should leave. It's dangerous here. I can take care of this alone. You lock the door from outside, and they won't dare to harm me."
The werewolves needed to be unbound to eat.
If Yan Xing stayed here, the werewolves might take the Lord as a hostage.
But with just a peasant here, they would behave, knowing that capturing him would be useless.
Yan Xing understood the risks and saw no need to show off.
He threatened the werewolves, "Behave, and I'll treat you well. If you dare harm my people, I'll kill you all and roast your flesh. Now, mealtime!"