Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely

67: Chapter 67: Tying up after a Pyrrhic Victory 67: Chapter 67: Tying up after a Pyrrhic Victory Strictly speaking, Yang Ning and Li Hu did nothing wrong.

Perhaps they had private motives for executing the deceit and used Luo Ming and the other four leaders as bait too harshly, but staying at Redwood Ridge to help them deal with the Wood Puppet Monster is an undeniable fact.

Even in the recent great battle in the valley, the roles played by Yang and Li were crucial.

Good deeds should be judged by actions, not intent.

No matter their motives, the fact is they helped.

Their mistake was their arrogant attitude from start to finish.

Four failed attempts to eliminate the deceit had long worn out everyone’s trust.

After all, in these four attempts, Yang and Li only exerted force, while Luo Ming and the other four leaders gave their own lives.

Though needing their help, everyone chose to ignore their arrogance and occasional disdain, but this didn’t mean they had no thoughts; they only endured because they sought help.

Their aggressive stance toward Xia Hong caused everyone’s accumulated resentment to erupt, which was perfectly natural.

If not for Xia Hong’s timely warning, no one at Rogel Camp would have survived, and the Wood Puppet Monster might have successfully advanced to the Intermediate level.

By then, no one could have escaped.

Moreover, Xia Hong deserves the most credit for killing the Wood Puppet Monster.

Without his Solidified Fire Oil and his timely command for everyone to stay in the valley, it’s uncertain if they could have completely eliminated the monster today.

The people living around Redwood Ridge may be shallow with little knowledge, but they do not lack genuine human emotions.

Xia Hong has done them a favor and exerted greater efforts than Yang and Li in eradicating the deceit.

Furthermore, there is a shared regional bond; they naturally won’t stand by if Xia Hong is bullied.

Moreover, the treasure wasn’t taken intentionally by Xia Chuan; it was obtained inadvertently.

Nearly two hundred people stood firmly with Xia Hong, their determined expressions showing their attitude.

Even Luo Ming and the ordinary people of Rogel Camp stood resolutely, not moving an inch under the furious glare of Yang and Li.

Li Hu’s chest heaved, his hand gripping the broadsword trembling slightly, showing the extent of his inner rage at this moment.

Yet, he did not take even half a step forward.

Beside him, Yang Ning’s face was equally gloomy.

Both of them understood that it was impossible to attack Xia Hong.

Though their power was strong, they were still within the realm of the Earth-digging Realm.

Nearly two hundred people, including the four Earth-digging Realm fighters of Luo Ming and dozens of Logging Realm fighters, attacking forcibly would be a death wish.

“Xia Hong…

Leader, right!

One last time, hand him over to me.

Once he’s in Beishuo Town, he can have a better life and maybe one day, even you could gain eligibility to enter Beishuo Town because of him, as long as you…”

“Enough, my lords, no need for more words.

Even if Xia Chuan weren’t my younger brother, I would not hand over any ordinary person from the Great Xia Camp to any stranger without reason.”

Yang Ning’s words were cut off, his face slightly stiff.

Li Hu next to him finally couldn’t hold back from wanting to speak, but as soon as he took a step forward, Yang Ning stopped him.

“Ignorant and benighted, words are useless, let’s go!”

When Yang Ning said this, his tone didn’t sound like cursing; instead, it was filled with helplessness and fatigue, appearing genuinely feeling that Luo Ming and Xia Hong were very foolish from the bottom of his heart.

Li Hu was even more direct.

Before being pulled away by Yang Ning, he turned to the crowd, coldly sneering and cursing, “A bunch of shortsighted fools.

So what if you got the treasure, being born in such a place, your end is to become food for Cold Beasts and Deceitful Monsters, never changing.”

This statement completely erased the last bit of goodwill remaining in the crowd.

Even Luo Ming couldn’t help but show anger, let alone the ordinary people.

Among the crowd, Xia Hong didn’t react much, just squinting his eyes slightly, watching the two’s backs as they left, remembering the names Yang Ning and Li Hu in his mind.

As Yang and Li departed, the great disaster brought by the Wood Puppet Monster officially ended.

Everyone, including Xia Hong, collectively breathed a sigh of relief.

More than half of the people realized they could completely relax and their bodies, as if suddenly emptied, directly collapsed to the ground.

But this relief didn’t last long.

Less than ten breaths later, cries and sobs began to echo intermittently from the crowd.

“Wuwuwu, my child is dead, Leader, my child is dead.”

“My mother is gone too…”

“My mother is dead, and my father was killed too, wuwu…”

“I have to go back and find my mother’s body…”

…

Every disaster inevitably accompanies massive pain.

The cries and sobs echoing in Xia Hong’s ears weighed heavily on his heart.

This was already, the third time.

From the Great Xia Camp, to the Da Shi Camp, and now at Rogel Camp.

The Wood Puppet Monster they faced was only a Primary Monster, yet the outcome was already so tragic.

What would an Intermediate or even Advanced Deceitful Monster be like?

If encountered in the future, could he deal with it?

A strong sense of urgency immediately arose in Xia Hong’s heart.

As time passed, although the cries and sobs gradually diminished, most people had not emerged from their sadness, only shedding silent tears.

A small portion who woke up were all with blank and numb expressions, like their essence, energy, and spirit were drained.

Even Luo Ming was no exception.

At this moment, Luo Ming was lowering his head, staring blankly at a small dagger in his hand, his expression dazed, his pupils full of pain and struggle.

That small dagger was previously used by a puppet which ambushed Luo Ming in a wooden cabin, which was Luo Ming’s eldest son, Luo Yun.

Like the ordinary people of the camp, Leader Luo Ming also lost his eldest son, wife, and his father, Luo Feng.

Rogel Camp had a total population of over thirteen hundred.

Though not yet fully counted, Xia Hong estimated that the death toll before and after combined was at least over one thousand.

It’s not an exaggeration to say it was mourning in every household.

Xia Hong sighed slightly, turned his head to glance at the sky, then quickly walked to Luo Ming’s side, patted his shoulder and said, “Leader Luo, my condolences.

It’s best to calm everyone and return to the valley to tidy up.

It’s almost dawn, and it’s unsafe to stay outside.”

Luo Ming was awakened by the pat, immediately turned his head to look at the sky, finding that the dawn light indeed appeared.

He shivered, first showing a grateful look at Xia Hong, then turned solemnly toward the crowd:

“Everyone, don’t stay here anymore, go back to the valley and clean up first.

Shang Ping, you take the others to set up a temporary wooden house, then light the stove to avoid everyone from freezing.”

“Yes, Leader!”

After saying this, Luo Ming turned to the other leaders and Xia Hong:

“Five of you, it’s almost dawn, you can’t leave today.

Make do at my place for the night, and leave tomorrow night when it’s dark.”

Hong Gang and Huang Zhao nodded in response.

There was even less reason for Xia Hong to refuse.

He was already injured, and Xia Chuan had not yet woken up.

He couldn’t leave now, even if he wanted to.