Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely

Chapter 963: Chapter 354: Volunteering for Danger (Part 4)

“From here, if you walk fifteen kilometers west, you’ll reach Baiyang. Liu Kai should be familiar with the route, so you take the two of them back!”

In the past three years, Xu Ning had explored over one hundred and fifty kilometers of the Xing River North Bank area. Besides Wuyuan and Songyang, Great Xia had set up another Baiyang Station on the eastern side of Songyang Ridge.

There are direct paths connecting the stations, so as long as the three of them reach Baiyang, someone will meet them, making their return to Wuyuan easy and effortless.

Upon hearing Xu Ning’s assignment, Liu Kai seemed to have guessed something. He slightly raised his head and saw Xu Ning’s resolute expression, choosing not to say anything.

“What are you going to do? Are you planning to go to Qinghe Village alone, to scout at Dajue Temple?”

Evidently, not only Liu Kai had guessed, but Hong Qiaoru immediately understood her husband’s intention. After questioning fiercely, seeing Xu Ning unmoved, she angrily said, “The Dajue Temple is deemed dangerous even by the Lord, who ordered you back. Why are you going?”

Despite his wife’s angry reprimand, Xu Ning’s expression remained unchanged and he calmly began, “The Lord hasn’t personally seen the situation here. It’s normal to be concerned about my safety.

During the half year at Lower River Village, I haven’t been able to gather any specific information about Dajue Temple. Leaving just like that, I feel deeply unwilling. As the Five Originals Guardian personally appointed by the Lord, Dajue Temple concerns Great Xia’s future endeavor to expand eastward. If I retreat at the mere sight of danger now, what face will I have to return to meet the Lord and Minister in the future?”

Hong Qiaoru clearly did not understand the eastern expansion endeavor. She only saw Xu Ning’s determined face and her eyes brimmed with tears, as she spoke with a sob, “You don’t think about me, but consider Xiao’an, Xiao Ping, Xiao Ying. If anything were to happen to you, what would become of the three of us?”

Hearing the names of the three children, Xu Ning’s face froze, a hint of hesitation appeared in his eyes before quickly being replaced by resolution.

Seeing his wife’s tear-stained face, Xu Ning knew he couldn’t persuade her, so he signaled to Liu Kai with a glance, turned away, and swiftly headed east.

“Xu Ning, come back to me, come back!”

“Xu Ning, you bastard, you absolute bastard.”

……

“Don’t worry, I will certainly return!”

Hearing his wife’s angry shouts from behind, Xu Ning sighed slightly in his heart, and then sprinted towards Qinghe Village as per the map ingrained in his mind.

“Qinghe Village is mid-way, roughly north of Lower River Village, about twenty-one kilometers away, and I should reach it soon.”

This place is named Qinghepu because a small river flows down from Twin Dragon Mountain in the north, then into the Xing River to the south, where it redirects to flow west.

The names of Upper River and Lower River Villages arise from their respective locations along the small river, whereas Qinghe Village sits between them, occupying the best spot. It holds the greatest power and largest population, with a total of eleven thousand people.

Of course, Xu Ning isn’t particularly interested in a mere camp of eleven thousand. His reason for heading to Qinghe Village is that Dajue Temple lies just three kilometers east, in a place called Red Dragon Lake.

“Red Dragon Lake is a water area, living on it isn’t simple. I estimate it would be hard for me to get close to Red Dragon Lake. Therefore, the approach should start with Qinghe Village as it’s only three kilometers away. There should be several Bhikkhus from Dajue Temple living in Qinghe Village. It’s worthwhile to at least interact with a few and get a sense of their strength.”

Xu Ning slightly inhaled, pulled out a silver jade pendant from his bosom, examined it for a moment, then continued speeding north.

Soon, he saw the left side of the riverbank in the distance where a four or five-meter-high wall emerged. Inside the wall, there were many buildings, among which several fires burned, confirming it was a village settlement.

Xu Ning first looked east, a trace of vigilance appearing in his eyes, then brushed aside curiosity as he patiently circled Qinghe Village. He finally chose a rundown section of the wall on the west side, observed for a long time, and confirmed no one patrolled behind the wall before swiftly slipping through it.