Chapter 81: A Sharp Awakening, Integrating Redwood Ridge |
The newcomers turned out to be Hong Gang and Huang Yong.
Moreover, behind each of them were three more people.
It turned out that as they had been steadily retreating northward, they had unknowingly reached the middle ground between Great Chuan Camp and Huangzhao Camp.
Although Xia Hong didn’t understand how Hong Gang and Huang Yong had appeared simultaneously, the situation was too urgent for him to ask questions.
“Slaughter these beasts!”
As the eight men approached, Xia Hong immediately drew his great blade and shouted angrily, charging first toward the pack of Frost Wolves.
The others were somewhat confused but quickly followed behind Xia Hong. Li Baihe, leading four others, used the few remaining arrows they had, shooting them all at the wolf pack in one volley.
Seeing the fierce momentum from the group, all the Frost Wolves crouched low, baring their teeth, their front legs pressed down and hind legs ready to spring, as if they were about to pounce at any moment.
But when the arrows flew to within two or three meters of Xia Hong, the entire Frost Wolf pack suddenly rose and fled away in a flash.
Only after confirming the wolf pack had completely vanished did Xia Hong quietly turn around, look at the people nearby, and let out a long breath, his expression finally relaxing completely.
“Phew... That was too close, too close.”
The others had been puzzled for a while. Even with eight people from Huangzhao and Hong Gang’s side coming to help, they had no confidence in dealing with the Frost Wolves. Why had Xia Hong suddenly charged forward?
Seeing Xia Hong’s current reaction, everyone understood that he had been bluffing, but the problem was, he actually scared off the Frost Wolves…
For a moment, everyone looked at Xia Hong with admiration on their faces.
Especially Li Baihe, recalling Xia Hong’s decisiveness when first encountering the Frost Wolves, and the alertness that just now scared them off, a strange light flashed in his eyes.
Xia Hong himself was unaware of the thoughts swirling in others’ minds. He just lowered his head to survey the dozens of corpses on the ground, his expression growing much heavier.
“This place is no good for lingering. Let’s head back first and discuss things later!”
Fearing the Frost Wolves might return, Xia Hong gathered Hong Gang, Huang Yong, and the other eight men, suggesting they return together to the valley first.
Both men, full of curiosity, naturally didn’t refuse and followed the group toward the valley.
“Leader Luo, are you planning to incorporate everyone from Great Xia into Rogge Camp?”
No sooner had they set off than Hong Gang couldn’t help but ask.
At this late hour, so many people from Great Xia Camp were heading toward Rogge Camp together.
There was only one reasonable explanation.
Thinking back to the strength Great Xia had displayed when facing the Wood Puppet Abomination, it was understandable that Rogge Camp wanted to merge with them. Both Hong Gang and Huang Yong had this in mind.
“You both misunderstand. It’s Rogge Camp that will be merged into Great Xia. From now on, around Redwood Ridge, there will only be Great Xia Camp; Rogge Camp will cease to exist.”
But as Luo Ming spoke, Hong Gang and Huang Yong were stunned by the truth.
Rogge merged into Great Xia?
How was that possible?
When Luo Ming explained that he was about to leave Redwood Ridge, they finally understood the reason and looked at Xia Hong with a hint of envy.
It wasn’t jealousy, but admiration.
After the Wood Puppet Abomination incident, Xia Hong’s strength had become well-known around Redwood Ridge. Besides, Hong Gang had benefited from Xia Hong’s kindness and held him in high regard.
Knowing Great Xia would replace Rogge Camp, the two men felt stirred but thought it was inappropriate to congratulate him at this moment, so they simply nodded slightly toward Xia Hong.
“Leader Xia, from now on, Huangzhao Camp will rely on your care.”
“Leader Xia saved my son Hong Mu last time. Although Great Chuan Camp is weak, as long as you give the word, I, Hong Gang, will go through fire and water without hesitation.”
Xia Hong, who was deep in thought, nodded after hearing their words.
Suddenly recalling something, he asked, “By the way, how did you two appear at the same time just now?”
They had been in the middle between Great Chuan and Huangzhao Camps during the danger. Even if alarmed, it was unlikely both would arrive together with so many people.
Hearing Xia Hong’s question, both men’s expressions stiffened slightly.
They exchanged a glance before Hong Gang, seeing Huang Yong nod, looked at Xia Hong with a bitter smile and answered, “We won’t hide it from you, Leader Xia. After the Wood Puppet Abomination incident, both our camps’ lumberjack teams were decimated. Now each camp has only four members left, making even crystal fruit picking and logging a problem.
Helpless, Huang Yong and I discussed merging the lumberjack teams first. Once the time is right, the two camps would combine into one.
Today happened to be our first joint outing to pick crystal fruit, but unexpectedly, we ran into you all on the way back.”
Hearing Hong Gang’s words, Luo Ming’s face showed a trace of guilt. If he hadn’t insisted on cooperating with Yang and Li recently, their camps wouldn’t have lost so many people. He would surely bear some responsibility for the current situation.
“Leader Luo, there’s no need to feel that way. After all, eliminating the Wood Puppet Abomination benefits us all. We agreed to it. Living in the Ice Abyss is never safe; it’s just a matter of dying sooner or later.”
Seeing Luo Ming’s guilt, Hong Gang was the first to offer comfort.
But the self-mocking final sentence was thick with despair.
They had just suffered a disaster, losing so many lives, leaving everyone’s spirits low. Hearing Hong Gang’s words, their faces grew even darker.
Living in the Ice Abyss means life is precarious, just a matter of dying sooner or later.
This saying fit perfectly with the dozens who had just died. When those people left Great Xia Camp at night, they probably dreamed of living better lives once they reached Rogge Camp.
But they never even saw Rogge Camp’s valley before they died.
Who would have thought that outside Redwood Ridge, a pack of Frost Wolves would suddenly appear, organized and disciplined, advancing and retreating in unison? If not for Xia Hong’s bluff at the end, not even the lumberjack-level fighters could have survived.
“Leaders, if you don’t mind, how about merging all your camp’s people directly into Great Xia? From now on, we can live and work together here in Redwood Ridge.”
After a long silence, Xia Hong suddenly asked.
Everyone, who had been walking toward the valley, stopped immediately.
Including Luo Ming, all turned to look at Xia Hong in shock.
Hong Gang and Huang Yong were stunned at first, thinking they had misheard or that Xia Hong was joking. But seeing everyone stop, they looked back at Xia Hong, finding his expression serious and no trace of joking, they froze in place.
“Leader Xia, are you serious?”
Xia Hong said nothing but nodded lightly at them.
Hearing Xia Hong’s definite reply, both men’s faces instantly lit up with wild joy, their bodies trembling uncontrollably.
They stood there, emotionally overwhelmed, unable to say a word for a long time.
After more than ten breaths, they finally calmed down, took a deep breath, and bowed deeply to Xia Hong:
“I, Hong Gang, sincerely thank Leader Xia for the great favor.”
“On behalf of more than two hundred people in my camp, I, Huang Yong, thank Leader Xia.”
Xia Hong quickly stepped forward to help them up, though he was not particularly surprised.
Merging all camps around Redwood Ridge into Great Xia was an idea he had long held; he just hadn’t been in a hurry before.
What happened tonight was a sharp awakening.
One moment, he was still smug about taking over Rogge Camp, the next moment a pack of Frost Wolves appeared. The fact they escaped tonight was purely luck and courage, with no relation to strength.
What if next time it was a pack of Snow Manes that didn’t care about death, or some other Frost Beasts? What would they do then?
They had to accelerate—both the camp’s strength and his own personal power must improve quickly.
Otherwise, similar desperate situations would come again soon.
Xia Hong took a deep breath, said nothing more, and quickened his pace, leading everyone swiftly toward Rogge Camp.