Chapter 66: Virtue Wins Support, Vice Loses It |
If asked who had the easiest time during tonight's perilous battle against the Wood Puppet Abomination?
It certainly wasn't the strongest fighters Yang Ning and Li Hu.
Rather, it was Xia Chuan, who had been guarding the valley entrance the entire time.
The commotion from within the valley was tremendous, especially those final earth-shaking impacts that could be heard clearly even hundreds of meters away.
Xia Chuan heard all these sounds with growing anxiety.
Pacing outside like an ant on a hot pan, he worried about Xia Hong and the safety of Great Xia Camp's members. Countless times he nearly rushed in to help—in fact, early on, he'd entered the passageway several times already.
By sheer coincidence, one time when he was about to enter, a pile of rubble fell from above, blocking the inner passage entrance and preventing his advance.
When the passage later cleared, Xia Chuan hesitated about entering again.
Remembering Xia Hong's instructions before entering, he ultimately stayed put.
Even if he entered, he likely wouldn't be much help.
Better to follow his elder brother's orders and keep guarding the entrance.
Barging in might disrupt Xia Hong's plans and make things worse.
With this mindset, even when the valley's commotion subsided, Xia Chuan remained at his post outside.
Until moments ago—sensing movement in the passageway, he immediately perked up, approaching the entrance with heightened alertness.
As he neared, he could hear Xia Hong's voice inside.
Hearing his brother tell people not to exit, echoed by three other voices, he instantly understood his responsibility.
Sure enough, seeing figures retreat back into the valley while one sneaky individual crept toward the exit, Xia Chuan prepared himself.
Unfortunately for the intruder, just as they reached the exit, their foot suddenly burst into flames.
The instant the fire ignited, Xia Chuan—hidden to the side—charged out without hesitation, swinging his stone axe viciously at the figure's head.
Following Xia Hong's earlier instructions, he'd coated the exit with Concentrated Fire Oil. The spontaneous combustion confirmed the intruder's identity as the Abomination.
"You little bastard! Stop right there!"
Before his axe struck home, Xia Chuan heard Li Hu's furious roar.
But Xia Hong had ordered attacks on anyone emerging—especially since he knew this was the Wood Puppet Abomination.
Combined with his existing dislike for Li Hu...
There was no chance Xia Chuan would stop.
As the axe split the figure's skull, thick black smoke erupted from the wound. Before Xia Chuan could retreat, three golden lights shot from the smoke into his forehead, vanishing instantly.
The golden lights brought excruciating pain. Clutching his head, Xia Chuan instinctively tried calling for his brother.
But before any sound escaped, a powerful kick slammed into his chest.
Boom...
Xia Chuan flew back five to six meters like a cannonball.
Between the skull-splitting pain and this kick, he immediately lost consciousness, collapsing motionless.
"STOP, YOU SON OF A BITCH!"
Xia Hong, just emerging from the tunnel, saw Xia Chuan get kicked flying by Li Hu. Rage erupted in his heart.
With a furious curse, Xia Hong hurled his greatsword at Li Hu before rushing to Xia Chuan's side. Checking the boy's pulse and finding him merely unconscious, he sighed in relief.
Li Hu casually deflected the thrown sword, his face still contorted with anger. His gaze at the Xia brothers even held traces of murderous intent.
Not just him—even Yang Ning beside him stared fixedly at Xia Chuan, cold light flickering in his eyes.
Huff...
Xia Hong exhaled slowly, meeting their gazes with a mocking tone:
"Gentlemen, it seems those treasures weren't meant for you after all."
Though still furious about the kick, Xia Hong could barely contain his elation.
Who could've guessed that Xia Chuan—who'd contributed nothing the entire battle—would stumble upon such fortune?
Judging by Yang and Li's reactions, those golden lights must be unimaginably precious. Coming from Beishuo Town with over 100,000 residents, they'd surely seen countless treasures.
Yet even they coveted these lights desperately.
Xia Chuan had hit the jackpot.
"Not meant for us? You think you trash can stop me?"
Of course, they still had to survive this confrontation first!
Provoked by Xia Hong's taunt, Li Hu stepped forward with icy menace, his contemptuous gaze belying the murder in his voice.
He seemed ready to attack.
But Yang Ning suddenly held him back.
After several uncertain glances at unconscious Xia Chuan, Yang Ning seemed to reach a decision. Pointing at the boy, he commanded Xia Hong imperiously:
"Hand him over. I'm taking him to Beishuo Town."
"Impossible!"
Xia Hong's instant refusal visibly stung Yang Ning's pride—this wasn't a request but an order.
Yang Ning glared. "Then I'll have to kill him."
"Let me do it, brother! These fools don't deserve such treasures. Left with them, the Abominations will just take it eventually!"
Li Hu advanced two more steps. He'd long disliked Xia Hong, and remembered Xia Chuan and Yuan Cheng contradicting him at Redwood Ridge. Now he ached to strike.
A cold glint flashed in Yang Ning's eyes as he subtly withdrew his restraining hand—no longer stopping Li Hu.
Li Hu grinned savagely, stepping forward.
"Thanks to you both for helping eliminate this Abomination. But since the treasure has found its owner, why insist?"
Luo Ming, silent until now, finally spoke.
Li Hu and Yang Ning turned to see Luo Ming and Shang Ping's group standing with Xia Hong's people. Their expressions darkened.
Xia Hong, touching his wounded shoulder, relaxed slightly.
Now he could finally breathe easier.
"Luo Ming! You're siding with them?"
Li Hu's furious use of Luo Ming's full name made the camp leader stiffen.
Luo Ming's face turned cold:
"Without Captain Xia today, we might not have defeated the Wood Puppet Abomination. I appreciate your help—ask anything within my power, and it's yours."
"When the Abomination self-destructed, you two seized treasures first. Neither Captain Xia nor I objected. But since fortune favored another, you should accept it."
"If you bully others with your strength—even contemplate murder for treasure—I cannot allow it."
Li Hu's rage intensified. Seemingly done talking, he stepped forward again, clearly preparing to attack.
But then Huang Yong of Huangzhao Camp and Hong Gang of Dachuan Camp moved beside Xia Hong, staring down Li Hu:
"Captain Xia saved our lives. We won't allow this!"
"Dachuan Camp owes Captain Xia too much to stand by!"
Leaders Lu He and Chen Ying from the other camps, plus over a hundred ordinary survivors rescued from the wooden house, all gathered around Xia Hong—some even shielding him physically.
"Blame your own incompetence for losing the treasure! We won't let you bully Captain Xia!"
"We won't stand by either!"
"Captain Xia saved me in that house. Never!"
......
Watching Li Hu halt and Yang Ning's grimace behind him, Xia Hong inwardly shook his head, recalling an ancient adage:
Virtue wins support; vice loses it.
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