Chapter 86: Beast Trap |
Given the perilous nature of Great Xia's relocation, during the next two nights when Huang Zhao and Great Chuan camps were moving, Xia Hong brought all twenty-six Lumberjack Realm members to ensure safety.
Fortunately, nothing happened on either night. All four hundred twenty-seven people from both camps safely reached the valley by early morning of the third day.
As soon as Xia Hong returned to the valley, he handed all merger affairs to Xia Chuan and eagerly headed toward the Iron Smelting Furnace.
On the furnace, a half-meter-long circular serrated beast trap was glowing red-hot, with seven silver-white forging patterns already visible on its side wings.
Xia Hong picked up the Grinding Stone nearby and continued the hammering he hadn't finished the previous night.
Clang... clang... clang...
Half an hour later, Xia Chuan arrived with a grave expression, accompanied by Yuan Cheng, Luo Yuan, Huang Yong, and Hong Gang.
"Chieftain, we've completed the full inventory. After merging the two camps, our total population is now 902. Not counting you, we have 36 Lumberjack Realm members; 302 people between thirteen and thirty years old; and 392 under thirteen years old. According to our previously established meat distribution rules, excluding the chieftain, the camp's monthly Frost Beast meat consumption would be approximately..."
Xia Chuan paused here, his expression growing even more solemn as he continued:
After Xia Chuan spoke this number, Luo Yuan, Huang Yong, and Hong Gang simultaneously turned their gazes toward Xia Hong's face.
Over twenty thousand jin would conservatively require fifteen Frost Beasts.
Fifteen Frost Beasts every month, averaging one kill every two nights.
However one looked at it, this seemed impossible.
Xia Hong's previously boasted four-tier meat distribution system was destined to fail.
The three of them had helped with the population count, so they already knew this number. Though they didn't believe Xia Hong could actually achieve it, they still wanted to see how he would react upon hearing this number firsthand.
Everyone, including Xia Chuan, expected Xia Hong to show surprise, disbelief, or even embarrassment upon hearing this number.
Clang... clang... clang...
Yet surprisingly, Xia Hong showed no expression at all. He remained focused on hammering the circular serrated iron ring in his hands, only pausing to turn and nod at Xia Chuan: "Alright, I understand. You all go rest now. Rest well during the day, and when night falls, we'll go out hunting."
Xia Chian opened his mouth several times as if to speak but held back when he saw Xia Hong return to his forging. Luo Yuan and the other two exchanged glances, clearly startled by Xia Hong's unusually calm reaction.
Could he actually do it?
Impossible!
Luo Yuan shook his head inwardly. The others didn't know, but he understood clearly.
Rogge Camp previously had five Digging Realm members and over thirty Lumberjack Realm members—far stronger than Great Xia's current strength. Even so, they could only hunt seven or eight Frost Beasts per month at most, and that was with sufficient weapons and equipment.
Currently, Great Xia only had about ten weapons total, and only Xia Hong had reached Digging Realm. Forget fifteen—even seven or eight would be a major challenge.
Xia Hong was strong, true, but could he really be stronger than five Digging Realm experts?
What gave this new chieftain such confidence?
Instead of leaving, Luo Yuan turned to watch the circular serrated iron ring in Xia Hong's hands for a moment, then couldn't help saying: "Chieftain, you're making a beast trap, right? It's useless..."
Seeing Xia Hong look up, Luo Yuan continued: "Rogge Camp previously tried setting beast traps too, but Frost Beasts don't move at night at all. Setting traps is pointless. They occasionally step on them during daytime, but these traps can only injure them at most—impossible to keep them. And those Frost Beasts are cunning, each more clever than the last. Without using real human bait, they won't take the hook."
They could use people as bait at night, but Frost Beasts don't move at night; they can't set bait during daytime, so Frost Beasts won't take the hook. Even if a Frost Beast accidentally steps on one, without anyone nearby, it will eventually escape, possibly even taking the trap with it—losing both beast and trap.
Xia Hong naturally understood Luo Yuan's point, but he showed no reaction. However, Xia Chuan beside him clearly thought of something, his eyes slightly lighting up as he looked at the beast trap.
"Don't worry, I have a method. You all go rest well. When night falls, I'll call you. Also, regarding the lumberjack team matters tonight, Huang Yong and Hong Gang will lead and arrange it."
Seeing his persuasion had no effect, Luo Yuan could only leave helplessly. Huang Yong and Hong Gang also went to rest, leaving only Xia Chuan staying behind. He waited until Xia Hong finished forging the beast trap before approaching.
Seeing his persuasion had no effect, Luo Yuan could only leave helplessly. Huang Yong and Hong Gang also went to rest, leaving only Xia Chuan staying behind. He waited until Xia Hong finished forging the beast trap before approaching.
"Big brother, there are only two hours left until nightfall. You rest first while I prepare torches. I'll wake you when night comes."
Hearing Xia Chuan's words, Xia Hong knew he had understood his plan. He nodded, put away the beast trap, and lay down right beside the furnace to rest.
Two consecutive nights of running around, plus non-stop forging of the beast trap, had truly exhausted him.
They still needed to hunt tonight—he absolutely needed rest.
Xia Hong understood Luo Ming's departure because he knew the difficulties of being a chieftain, especially for weaker camps where the chieftain had to contribute more.
Logging, hunting, forging, and excavation—for current Great Xia, the only thing Xia Hong could truly delegate was logging. The other three tasks not only required his involvement but particularly forging and excavation could only be done by him.
Without dedication and willingness to contribute, one simply couldn't be a chieftain.
This was true for current Great Xia, and hadn't it been the same for former Rogge Camp?
Giving up was human nature, especially since Luo Ming had persevered for so many years.
"Just persevere a bit longer. Once Frost Beast meat supply stabilizes, the situation will immediately improve!"
Xia Hong rubbed his swollen arms, only able to encourage himself silently in his heart.
Xia Hong rubbed his swollen arms, only able to encourage himself silently in his heart.
Night soon fell again. When Xia Hong woke, Xia Chuan and the other eleven were already fully armed and waiting for him.
Xia Hong looked around the camp but didn't see Huang Yong and others, showing confusion.
Noticing this, Xia Chuan quickly stepped forward to explain.
"Chieftain, Hong Gang and Huang Yong have already taken the others out logging first. Mu Dong said building new houses requires Golden Frost Trees, so they took all ten saws with them."
Xia Hong nodded, finally remembering the logging matter. Now he didn't need to worry about it, feeling slightly relieved.
Looking at the dark sky outside the wooden house, he waved to everyone.
"Move out!"
With Xia Hong leading, the group of thirteen took advantage of the night to open the valley entrance. Under the gaze of everyone in the camp, they walked out of the valley toward Redwood Ridge.
"Do you think what the chieftain said earlier about everyone getting Frost Beast meat is true or false?"
"How could it possibly be true? It was probably just exaggerated to reassure us. If they could really hunt that many Frost Beasts, why would Great Xia agree to merge with us?"
"True. The chieftain just reached Digging Realm after all. Even Rogge Camp couldn't achieve everyone getting Frost Beast meat before—how could Great Xia possibly do it?"
"I don't expect it daily—I just hope for one or two jin per month."
………………
Unlike the newly merged people, most of the original Great Xia lumberjack team reserves didn't participate in the discussions. They simply focused on training their strength nearby or helped Mu Dong and others transport lumber, using the opportunity to exercise.
Even when they heard others' discussions, these people didn't explain anything, just smiled slightly without speaking.