Chapter 54: A Field of Corpses |
Luo Ming's willingness to follow Xia Hong back showed a preliminary level of trust.
This was precisely the degree of trust Xia Hong needed.
All he wanted was for Luo Ming to return to the camp and see for himself.
If nothing had happened at Rogge Camp, that would be ideal—Xia Hong genuinely hoped so.
As they traveled, Xia Hong questioned Luo Ming in detail and finally understood the source of Li Hu's hostility toward him earlier.
Hong Mu's earlier comments had already provoked Li Hu into violence, and by unfortunate coincidence, Xia Hong had then mentioned being tricked four times by the Wood Puppet Abomination.
So his earlier words had inadvertently poured oil on the flames.
Still, Xia Hong shook his head, feeling a trace of disdain toward Li Hu.
Before coming here, upon hearing about Beishuo Town's population of over a hundred thousand, Xia Hong had held some expectations for Yang Ning and Li Hu who hailed from there.
Those emerging from such a beacon shouldn't be lacking either.
Yet according to Luo Ming's account, reality was clearly different.
This Li Hu was not only narrow-minded, hot-tempered, and prone to anger, but also looked down on others with an arrogant demeanor, riddled with flaws.
Of course, Xia Hong didn't assume everyone in Beishuo Town was like this—Luo Ming spoke favorably of Yang Ning, for instance, with no shortage of praise.
"It seems human nature remains consistent across worlds—the saying 'different people from the same rice' holds true everywhere.
A large settlement like Beishuo Town with over a hundred thousand people would naturally have both good and bad."
This realization dispelled some of Xia Hong's idealized notions about Beishuo Town in advance.
"Leader Xia, you've reached the Digging Realm?"
Luo Ming asked this in an astonished tone, almost as a rhetorical question.
Only after running through the snow for so long did he realize that while other Lumberjack Realm individuals trailed over a hundred meters behind, Xia Hong had remained by his side the entire time.
Enhanced foundational strength meant comprehensive physical improvements, including greater control over all aspects of one's power—speed across snowy terrain was no exception for those in the Digging Realm.
That Xia Hong could keep pace could only mean he too had broken through to the Digging Realm.
Xia Hong didn't conceal it, simply nodding in confirmation.
Seeing Xia Hong's impossibly youthful face, Luo Ming inhaled sharply, his shock even giving way to suspicion.
It wasn't that he'd never seen someone so young reach the Digging Realm—Yang Ning and Li Hu were living proof nearby.
The issue was that such individuals absolutely shouldn't appear around Redwood Ridge, especially not from a minor camp like Great Xia, no matter how talented.
Even with Frost Beast meat, Xia Hong shouldn't have been able to cross that threshold.
His own Rogge Camp, despite years of steady Frost Beast meat supplies, had never cultivated someone so young into the Digging Realm.
"Could this Xia Hong be an imposter—a Wood Puppet Abomination in disguise?"
This thought surfaced in Luo Ming's mind as he glanced back at Xia Chuan, Yuan Cheng, and the other five unusually young Lumberjack Realm individuals, then at Xia Hong, his eyes instantly turning wary.
Noticing Luo Ming's expression shift, Xia Hong immediately grasped his suspicion. Though inwardly exasperated, he appreciated Luo Ming's caution.
Truth be told, if their positions were reversed, suspecting his group of being Wood Puppet Abominations wouldn't be unreasonable.
"Leader Luo, don't overthink it. Let's return to camp first—I'm ninety percent certain your camp has already met with disaster!"
To prevent complications, Xia Hong spoke up, effectively giving Luo Ming advance warning.
Luo Ming understood his meaning, his face paling as he immediately quickened his pace.
Soon, the two arrived ahead of the others at the valley mouth where Rogge Camp was situated, with the rest catching up shortly after.
Finding the rubble and wood piles at the valley entrance unchanged since his departure, Luo Ming initially sighed in relief.
But this relief was short-lived. Luo Ming hurried around the left side of the rubble pile, searching through rotten wood until he found the massive log blocking the entrance.
The log measured over five meters in diameter and fifty meters in length—crafted from the heaviest golden frost wood, it normally required multiple people to move. But with his Digging Realm strength, Luo Ming could manage alone.
Seeing him struggle slightly, Xia Hong stepped forward to assist in pulling it out.
The other three Digging Realm members from Rogge Camp joined them.
With five Digging Realm individuals working together, the log's weight became insignificant.
Thud.........
The log was pulled free, crashing to the ground with a tremendous boom.
But as the sound echoed, Xia Hong, Luo Ming, and everyone present instantly paled.
Because dangling from the camp-side end of the log were six blood-drenched arms, surrounded by chunks of flesh and gore.
"Something's happened! Follow me in!"
Luo Ming practically roared these words, his face twisted in terror as he charged through the entrance.
Behind him, all twenty-eight Digging and Lumberjack Realm members from Rogge Camp mirrored his horrified expressions, rushing in after him.
Xia Hong's face also darkened, but he didn't charge in recklessly. First, he retrieved a container of Concentrated Fire Oil from his coat, handing it to Xia Chuan.
"Chuan, stay here. Coat the entire entrance perimeter with this, then guard what remains. Anyone emerging—douse their face immediately."
"Understood, leader!"
"The rest of you, follow me in!"
With that, Xia Hong led Yuan Cheng, Yue Feng, and the other three inside.
Truthfully, upon seeing those six bloody arms, Xia Hong had already anticipated the carnage within.
But when he actually stepped into Rogge Camp's interior—
His scalp prickled uncontrollably.
A field of corpses...
Bodies met the eye everywhere; every step trod in blood.
The stench of blood had coalesced into a visible haze drifting through the valley.
Severed limbs littered the ground; yellow-white chunks of flesh dotted the landscape.
Not a single intact corpse lay among the dead.
Some had half their skulls cleaved off; others were bisected at the waist; still others crawled forward with severed legs...
These victims ranged from adults to infants—even nursing babies, whose fragile bodies had either been smashed to pulp or sliced apart by sharp implements.
The entire valley resonated with weak, agonized wails, yet not a single uninjured survivor could be seen moving among the carnage.
"AHHHHHHHHH—"
Fear, grief, rage, guilt, madness, disbelief...
This horrific howl from Luo Ming, blending countless emotions, pierced through the valley and into the skies.
Xia Hong took a deep breath, watching Luo Ming's group ahead with sympathy in his eyes.
What others might interpret from that howl was unclear.
But to him, it conveyed only profound agony and despair—
Identical to Shi Qing's reaction upon witnessing his own camp's massacre.