Chapter 77: Luo Ming’s Request |
“Leader Luo, why have you come?”
The visitor was none other than Luo Ming. Although Xia Hong was somewhat surprised, seeing the tense expressions on everyone’s faces in the camp, he hurriedly went to the cave entrance and led Luo Ming inside.
After Luo Ming entered the cave without any unusual incidents, the tension on everyone’s faces in the camp immediately vanished.
Xia Hong, who had brought Luo Ming to the side of the smelting furnace, finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Although he had suspected there was probably no problem when Luo Ming entered the cave, it was better to be cautious.
The Level 2 smelting furnace was said to be able to intimidate and injure low-level Abominations within a hundred-meter radius, but it could not handle mid-level or high-level Abominations.
“Brother Xia Hong, what were you celebrating just now?”
As soon as Luo Ming sat down by the furnace, instead of answering Xia Hong’s question, he asked what they had been celebrating earlier.
Xia Hong was a little confused, but Xia Chuan beside him cheerfully explained the matter of dividing the meat, seemingly a bit boastful since he had already discussed the meat distribution with Luo Ming before.
The four-tier division by Xia Chuan was originally something Luo Ming had discussed with him, so that was no surprise. However, when he heard the two final modifications Xia Hong made—loosening the age limit for recruiting reservists and giving children under thirteen five jin of meat every month—Luo Ming’s eyes instantly flashed with a different light.
As the leader of Rogge Camp, Luo Ming understood the purpose behind those two additions.
Although these measures might not show immediate effects and might even increase hunting frequency to meet the extra demand for Frost Beast meat, maintaining them long-term would make Great Xia Camp’s future development boundless.
More importantly, Xia Hong was willing to allocate so much Frost Beast meat to ordinary people in the camp, and Xia Chuan and others didn’t oppose him. That was truly admirable.
Only after Xia Chuan finished speaking did Luo Ming turn to Xia Hong, his eyes full of admiration and respect, exclaiming, “Brother Xia Hong, what boldness you have!”
Xia Hong smiled and paid no mind, only curious about Luo Ming’s purpose for coming.
Just as he was about to ask, Luo Ming’s expression froze, and Xia Hong noticed his gaze shifting to the Jinghan Blade hanging from his waist.
“Brother Xia Hong, this blade...”
Thinking Luo Ming was interested in the blade he had just forged, Xia Hong directly handed over the Jinghan Blade.
Luo Ming took the blade, seeing the sharp cold gleam of the edge and the brand-new forging patterns on the side. His mouth dropped open, his face full of disbelief.
“New? Leader Xia, you didn’t just forge this using the iron ore I gave you, did you?”
Xia Hong roughly guessed why Luo Ming was so shocked and didn’t hide it, nodding to confirm it was indeed newly forged.
Upon hearing Xia Hong’s confirmation, Luo Ming’s heart churned violently.
It wasn’t just an ordinary ten-forged weapon that stunned him; it was the time frame.
He had given Xia Hong four thousand jin of iron ore just two days ago.
How could a single Digging Realm cultivator like Xia Hong possibly forge a ten-forged weapon in only two days? It was simply inconceivable.
At Rogge Camp, forging a ten-forged great blade required at least two Digging Realm cultivators working together, taking three to five days alternately.
In fact, when Luo Ming gave the four thousand jin of iron ore, he never thought Xia Hong could forge a weapon; he assumed Xia Hong would only manage to make some ordinary iron tools at best.
How had Xia Hong done it?
“Leader Luo, you still haven’t said why you came tonight.”
Seeing the shock on Luo Ming’s face and fearing he would ask about the great blade, Xia Hong took the initiative and asked about his purpose.
Although the system building was not a secret within the camp, it was naturally inconvenient to disclose to outsiders. After all, wealth attracted attention, and while robbery wasn’t a big fear, unexpected trouble was undesirable.
Apparently realizing Xia Hong didn’t want to say more, Luo Ming immediately suppressed his curiosity, recalled his purpose, and his expression suddenly turned solemn.
He stood up from beside the furnace and walked in front of Xia Hong.
Then, unexpectedly, he knelt down.
This kneel shocked Xia Hong deeply.
He hurriedly stood up, intending to help Luo Ming up.
The awkward thing was, Luo Ming’s strength was greater than his.
Moreover, Luo Ming used his strength intentionally to prevent Xia Hong from helping him up.
Xia Hong had no choice but to let go, his face full of confusion.
“Leader Luo, what are you doing...?”
Luo Ming took a deep breath, continuing to kneel without moving, looked up at Xia Hong, and spoke earnestly: “Brother Xia Hong, Luo Ming has suffered the tragic loss of his father, wife, and children, and no longer has the heart or strength to manage Rogge Camp.
Right now, I only have my youngest son, Luo Cheng. The environment here in Redwood Ridge is harsh, and my own strength is lacking. Therefore, I want to take my son and move to a larger, safer camp, but I cannot bear to leave behind the more than a hundred people remaining in the camp.
I came today to ask Brother Xia Hong to accept the more than one hundred people left in Rogge Camp and lead them to continue surviving!”
After saying this all in one breath, Luo Ming paused, then added:
“Of course, I know this is difficult, so I am willing to hand over everything that belonged to Rogge Camp. There is an iron mine on the south side of the valley near the base that hasn’t been fully exploited, and within Redwood Ridge’s territory, there is also a coal mine that can be directly mined. Brother Xia Hong, as long as you agree, all of these will belong to Great Xia from now on.”
After Luo Ming finished speaking, the entire area beside the furnace fell completely silent.
Xia Chuan, Yuan Cheng, Yue Feng, and some ordinary people had already gathered around Luo Ming when he knelt. Hearing Luo Ming’s words, everyone immediately quieted down, looking at Xia Hong with inexplicable expressions.
No wonder, no wonder...
Xia Hong instantly understood why Luo Ming had previously sent him so much coal and iron ore, why he had talked so much with Xia Chuan, and why they had discussed the meat division.
It seemed the Wood Puppet Abomination disaster had devastated Rogge Camp badly; coupled with the deaths of his father, wife, and eldest son, Luo Ming was truly disheartened and unwilling to put his heart into the camp anymore—he only wanted to protect his only youngest son.
He was leaving with his son to go to a larger, safer camp.
Given the previous events, Xia Hong was not surprised by Luo Ming’s choice to escape.
What was more, Luo Ming hadn’t just left without a word but chose to come to him, with a humble and sincere attitude, seeking survival for those more than a hundred people in the camp.
Xia Hong actually admired this. At least it showed that even though Luo Ming chose to escape, he still had a sense of responsibility.
“Since you know the locations of other camps, why not take the people and go together?”
Yuan Cheng’s question immediately drew strange looks from everyone.
The problem was that question was too blunt.
Migration was extremely difficult for any camp.
Moreover, the more people in the camp, the greater the risk.
Besides, Redwood Ridge was already isolated from the outside world. Since Luo Ming had decided to leave, there must have been some secret safe route. If it was a secret route, then it certainly couldn’t accommodate too many people.
Luo Ming didn’t mind the question and explained: “Brother Xia Hong, rest assured. I will only take twelve people this time. Among the remaining one hundred seventy-three people in the camp, there are also seventeen Lumberjack Realm cultivators who can assist Brother Xia Hong!”
Seventeen Lumberjack Realm cultivators!
Hearing this, Xia Chuan, Yuan Cheng, and the others’ eyes lit up. They looked at Xia Hong, seemingly eager to persuade him to agree.
Xia Hong remained silent, tightly frowning in thought.
Seeing him not speak, everyone else fell silent, quietly watching him.
Meanwhile, Luo Ming remained kneeling on the ground, firmly determined not to rise unless Xia Hong agreed.
The entire cave fell into a heavy silence.