Chapter 67: Aftermath of a Pyrrhic Victory |
Strictly speaking, Yang Ning and Li Hu hadn't done anything wrong.
Perhaps their motives for eliminating the Abomination were selfish, and their method of using Luo Ming and the other four leaders as bait was unduly cruel. But the undeniable fact remained that they had stayed at Redwood Ridge to help these people deal with the Wood Puppet Abomination.
Even during the recent battle in the valley, Yang and Li had played crucial roles.
Good deeds should be judged by actions, not intentions.
Regardless of their motives, their assistance was an indisputable reality.
Their mistake lay in their consistently arrogant attitude from start to finish.
Four failed attempts to eliminate the Abomination had long since eroded everyone's trust. After all, in those four attempts, Yang and Li had merely contributed their strength, while Luo Ming and the other leaders had sacrificed the actual lives of their own people.
Though needing their help, everyone had chosen to ignore Yang and Li's arrogance and frequent displays of contempt. This didn't mean they harbored no resentment—they simply endured it out of necessity.
When Yang and Li adopted such an aggressive stance toward Xia Hong, the accumulated grievances naturally erupted.
Moreover, Xia Hong deserved the lion's share of credit for eliminating the Wood Puppet Abomination.
Without his Concentrated Fire Oil and his last-minute command preventing anyone from leaving the valley, it was uncertain whether they could have completely destroyed the Wood Puppet Abomination today.
The people living around Redwood Ridge might be narrow-minded and lacking in knowledge, but they weren't devoid of basic human emotions.
Xia Hong had helped them and played a major role in eliminating the Abomination—even greater than Yang and Li's contributions. Furthermore, they shared regional ties, so they naturally wouldn't stand by while Xia Hong was bullied.
Besides, Xia Chuan hadn't intentionally taken the treasure; he had obtained it by chance.
Nearly two hundred people stood firmly on Xia Hong's side, their resolute expressions making their stance clear. Even Luo Ming and the ordinary people of Rogge Camp remained unmoved, not budging an inch under Yang and Li's furious glares.
Li Hu's chest heaved violently, and his hand gripping the broadsword trembled slightly, revealing the depth of his anger.
Yet even so, he didn't take another step forward.
Beside him, Yang Ning's face was equally dark.
Both knew that attacking Xia Hong was now impossible.
Though strong, they were still within the Digging Realm's limits.
Against nearly two hundred people—including Luo Ming and four other Digging Realm experts, plus dozens of Lumberjack Realm fighters—any attempt at force would be suicidal.
"Xia Hong... leader, isn't it? I'll say this one last time—hand him over to me. In Beishuo Town, he'll have a better life. Perhaps one day, because of him, you might even gain the right to enter Beishuo Town yourselves. If you just—"
"Enough!" Xia Hong interrupted before Yang Ning could finish. "Even if Xia Chuan weren't my brother, I wouldn't hand over anyone from Great Xia Camp to strangers without reason."
Yang Ning's expression stiffened slightly.
Beside him, Li Hu finally couldn't restrain himself and stepped forward, only to be stopped by Yang Ning.
"Stupid and ignorant. There's no point saying more. Let's go."
Yang Ning's tone didn't sound like cursing but rather carried a note of weariness and resignation, as if genuinely believing Xia Hong and Luo Ming's group were fools.
Li Hu was more direct. Before being pulled away by Yang Ning, he turned back and sneered, "A bunch of shortsighted idiots! What good is treasure to you? Born in this shithole, your fate remains the same—you'll all end up as food for Frost Beasts and Abominations. Nothing will change."
These words completely erased any remaining goodwill. Even Luo Ming couldn't help showing anger, let alone the ordinary people.
Xia Hong in the crowd showed no reaction, merely narrowing his eyes as he watched the two retreating figures, committing the names Yang Ning and Li Hu to memory.
With their departure, the calamity brought by the Wood Puppet Abomination finally came to an end.
Everyone, including Xia Hong, heaved a sigh of relief.
Over half the people, realizing they could finally relax, collapsed to the ground as if drained of all strength.
But this relief didn't last long. Within moments, cries and sobs began spreading through the crowd.
"My child is dead, leader... my child is dead..."
"My mother's gone too..."
"My mother's dead, my father was killed... wuu..."
"I need to find my mother's body..."
Every disaster inevitably brings immense suffering.
The cries and sobs weighed heavily on Xia Hong's heart.
This was already the third time.
Great Xia Camp, Boulder Camp, and now Rogge Camp before him.
The Wood Puppet Abomination they'd faced was only a low-level one, yet the aftermath was already so devastating.
How much more terrifying would an intermediate or even high-level Abomination be?
If he encountered one someday, could he handle it?
A sense of urgency surged within Xia Hong.
As time passed, the cries gradually softened, but most people remained steeped in sorrow, silently weeping. Those who had composed themselves mostly wore numb, vacant expressions, as if drained of spirit.
Even Luo Ming was no exception.
Luo Ming stood with his head bowed, staring blankly at a small dagger in his hand, his eyes filled with pain and conflict.
That dagger had been wielded by a puppet that ambushed him in the cabin—the puppet that had once been his eldest son, Luo Yun.
Like the ordinary camp members, Leader Luo Ming had lost his eldest son, his wife, and his father Luo Feng.
Rogge Camp's original population was over 1,300. Though the exact count wasn't yet tallied, Xia Hong estimated the death toll at well over a thousand.
It was no exaggeration to say every household was in mourning.
Xia Hong sighed softly, glanced at the sky, then quickly approached Luo Ming and patted his shoulder. "Leader Luo, accept my condolences. We should gather everyone and return to the valley to organize things. Dawn is approaching—staying out here isn't safe."
Startled from his daze, Luo Ming looked up at the faint light in the sky and shuddered. After giving Xia Hong a grateful look, he turned to address the crowd:
"Everyone, we can't stay here. Let's return to the valley and take care of things.
Shang Ping, lead the others in building makeshift shelters and light the stoves so no one freezes."
"Yes, leader!"
Luo Ming then turned to the other leaders and Xia Hong:
"Gentlemen, dawn is near—you won't be leaving today. Stay here for the night and depart tomorrow evening."
Hong Gang, Huang Zhao, and the other two nodded in agreement.
Xia Hong had even less reason to refuse. He was injured, and Xia Chuan remained unconscious—leaving now wasn't an option.