Chapter 22: Found the Real Leader |
Xia Hong’s style was completely different from the previous lumberjack team. Although it was based on abundant resources, those in the camp who didn’t understand the situation didn’t care.
They simply regarded Xia Hong as capable and, moreover, selfless.
Since that night when the Frost Beast meat was distributed, everyone in the camp showed fervent expressions whenever they saw Xia Hong, respectfully calling him “Leader.”
Respect, admiration—it wasn’t an exaggeration to say it was almost to the level of devotion.
Xia Hong naturally wouldn’t foolishly stop people from behaving this way. Special environment called for special circumstances.
After years of hiding in the shadows, unable to see sunlight, starving, barely clothed, the extreme despair couldn’t even begin to describe the humans’ plight in the camp.
In such a world, having something to rely on in their hearts wasn’t a bad thing.
After all, with a reliance in their hearts, hope naturally arose.
Of course, all of this depended on having enough Frost Beast meat.
Yue Feng and the other four each also received one hundred and twenty pounds. Xia Hong calculated that based on their progress, this batch of meat was still insufficient for their breakthroughs.
So, there was still a shortage of Frost Beast meat; the hunting couldn’t stop.
Fortunately, as long as nothing unexpected happened, there would at least be no shortage of Small Torches.
“The collection of wood can’t stop. As long as Small Torches keep coming, hunting is just a matter of probability. If we encounter something strong, don’t rush in blindly. As long as every time we can attract Frost Beasts, sooner or later there will be gains.”
After distributing the Frost Beast meat, everyone gathered around the campfire to roast the meat.
After a while, the entire cave was filled with the aroma of meat. Those in the camp who hadn’t eaten Frost Beast meat for a long time, or had never tasted it before, all showed expressions of intoxicated bliss.
Seeing everyone’s satisfied expressions, something inside Xia Hong seemed to be gently touched.
A meal of meat was nothing simpler in his past life.
But here, it had become a luxury these people could only dream of.
In his past life, suffering from ALS, he had once despised the world intensely, blaming it for being unfair, and in the end, chose to end his own life.
He thought it was unfair, but what about these people in the Great Xia Camp?
And the other humans living in this terrifying frozen world?
Did they think it was fair?
Those living in the shadows—who were they supposed to blame?
“Maybe I was brought to this world because they want me to do something for them…”
………………
Just as the Great Xia Camp was celebrating cheerfully,
Outside Redwood Ridge, Shi Qing led twelve lumberjacks from Boulder Camp, their expressions growing increasingly grim after searching several circles within Great Xia’s territory.
“Three days in a row, not a single hair found. Hasn’t Old Ding and his group come out to look for food?”
Shi Dong’s temper was bad, and after several fruitless searches, he was getting impatient.
Wang Ming, holding a large blade nearby, also frowned but turned his gaze eastward toward Redwood Ridge, then turned back to speak to Shi Qing:
“Big brother, how about we head over to the Earthen Slope?”
The moment Wang Ming said this, everyone instantly fell silent.
Even Shi Qing did not reply immediately but fell into silence.
For camps as weak as theirs, there was an unspoken rule.
That was to maintain secrecy from each other.
Human nature under resource scarcity was terrifying.
In the early days around Redwood Ridge, there were dozens of camps.
When food was sufficient, it wasn’t a problem.
But once Crystal Fruit and other food sources ran out, when the mountains were at their end and the waters dried,
People themselves became edible.
Moreover, at night, only those at the Lumberjack Realm level could freely go out. A Lumberjack Realm person rashly invading another camp would easily raise suspicions.
So the weaker the camp, the more secretive they were with each other.
Of course, Boulder Camp, being neighbors with Great Xia, was generally known in terms of location, though not precise.
But if, as Wang Ming suggested, they now went over to the Earthen Slope and revealed Great Xia Camp’s location,
The grudge between the two sides would be huge.
It might even escalate into a deadly feud.
“No need. Old Ding has helped us before. I don’t want to do anything serious to him. Just teach them a lesson so they don’t get any more silly ideas.”
Shi Qing shook his head and rejected Wang Ming’s proposal.
Though they were small camps competing, they were basically humble survivors.
They were angry that Great Xia had gotten the better of them by taking the Snow Mane, but objectively, the other side hadn’t harmed them directly.
Moreover, when they had a shortage of hunters, Xia Ding had lent a hand before.
There was no need to make things ugly.
“Hey, someone’s over there. Is that Old Ding?”
While deep in thought, Shi Dong suddenly pointed into the dense forest.
Shi Qing and the others followed his gaze.
Sure enough, deep in the forest, more than ten figures were slowly approaching their position.
Shi Qing, as an archer with excellent eyesight, quickly identified thirteen figures.
Including Xia Ding, the lumberjack team in Great Xia Camp was exactly thirteen people.
Looking more carefully at the leader’s build, Shi Qing immediately confirmed:
“It’s Old Ding! Finally found him! Let’s go, follow me!”
They had finally found the real leader.
Shi Dong, Wang Ming, and the other ten immediately followed behind Shi Qing.
It really was Xia Ding.
Seeing the leader was indeed Xia Ding, the fact that three brothers had died a few days ago and that Great Xia had taken the Snow Mane unfairly suddenly surged in the minds of Boulder Camp’s people, igniting furious anger.
“Old Ding, after being neighbors for so many years, you actually dare to cheat me!”
Unlike Shi Qing’s relatively polite reprimand, Shi Dong and Wang Ming were rude, even excessively so.
“Xia Ding, how much meat is left from that Snow Mane? Hand it over to me, or don’t blame my arrows for not recognizing you.”
“We lost three brothers, and you didn’t even give us a word, just took the Snow Mane away. If you don’t give an explanation today, don’t think you can leave.”
However, after their words fell, neither Xia Ding nor the twelve behind him showed any reaction.
They just stood there, staring blankly at them.
After a long moment, a smile gradually forced itself onto Xia Ding’s face.
But to the people of Boulder Camp, this smile was extremely strange.
Though seemingly normal, it looked like a face whose features were unwillingly forced into a smile by someone uncooperative.
Shi Qing frowned and was about to speak when his younger brother Shi Dong couldn’t hold back any longer, taking two steps forward and shouting angrily:
“Laugh all you want, are you deaf?”
But even being scolded, Xia Ding and his group showed no reaction.
Looking at Xia Ding’s stiff expression and the twelve lumberjacks standing in the shadows behind him, Shi Qing instinctively sensed something was wrong.
Swish...
A sharp sound like a silver needle slicing through the air suddenly rang out.
Shi Qing’s face changed drastically as he swiftly retreated backward, then bent his bow and notched an arrow, shouting at everyone:
“Something’s wrong! Retreat quickly!”
But it was already too late.
The three people who retreated the slowest suddenly stiffened, standing motionless.
Looking more closely, their pupils were dilated, and a tiny red dot appeared in the center of their foreheads.
Blood gradually oozed from the red dots.
The three bodies collapsed silently to the ground.
Shock filled the faces of Shi Qing and the others.
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