Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely

Chapter 1659: Chapter 524: Fu Tiandu of the Xia People, Gathering Soldiers Drum

The twelfth year of Great Xia, December 30, midnight

One mile south of East Valley City.

Hoo…

Forty black military tents stood firm against the wind, clustered around a wooden observation tower dozens of meters high. At the top of the tower, a large black-golden banner flapped furiously in the gale.

The large golden character “Xia” on the flag shone brilliantly under the strong torchlight, exceptionally dazzling.

At the top of the tower, five soldiers clad in Lei Kui Golden Armor gazed into the distance while idly chatting.

“Tiandu, I’ve heard that our Central Army might not need to fight; we just need to keep watch on East Valley City to prevent the fifty thousand soldiers inside from moving,”

Hearing Meng Tian’s words, Fu Tiandu’s expression froze, then showed a hint of urgency as he asked, “How could that be? Hasn’t Commander Xiang already brought ten thousand troops over? East Valley is just a small city; surely we can capture it?”

Meng Tian shook his head and said, “The Wuchuan army has remained holed up inside the city, indicating they are aware that their strength is inferior to ours. Besieging a city is different from regular combat; a reckless attack might capture the city but risks heavy losses. Marshal Luo surely won’t easily start a siege battle.”

Upon hearing this, Fu Tiandu’s expression darkened.

Not only him, but when Meng Tian said this, his expression was also grim, as were the other three middle-aged soldiers on the tower.

“Just when there was finally a chance for battle, hoping to earn some military merit, we haven’t even fought Wuchuan, nor killed an enemy. This battle wouldn’t just muddle away, would it?”

“Seems likely, Dragon Valley Town has already surrendered, Beishuo Baimu City was breached last night, Yang Jian was killed, Yang Fa captured alive. An hour ago, Vice Director Xu brought the news that Beishuo City was also breached by our Lord leading the troops. Yang Jian, Yang Fa, and all Yang Family members are probably publicly executed by now. The Northern Five Towns have lost two, including the strongest Beishuo Town. The remaining three towns are probably considering surrender…”

“The Left Army sure made a name for itself this time. In the battles of Baimu City and Beishuo City, the Lord personally went to the battlefield and fought. Just four days, and Beishuo is practically conquered. Once this campaign ends, many from the Left Army might be granted titles.”

……

Upon hearing his three comrades’ words, Fu Tiandu’s urgency intensified, even his pupils showed an anxious hue.

“How could we not fight? I’m still 320 military merit points short of the lowest ninth-rank Xuanling Marquis. If I miss this battle, I might stagnate for several more years. Tiger Power Pill, Dragon Carp Pill, Green Cod Pill, Black Death Pill, these pills for enhancing strength… I’m barely able to trade for them, let alone the Red Spirit Pill to improve my Battle Body Talent, and the Sun-Rising Pill afterward…”

Fu Tiandu wasn’t originally from Great Xia; he hailed from Hezang.

The eighth year of Great Xia, on the night of his family’s destruction, he was chased by enemies and escaped chaotically into the family silver vault, unexpectedly encountering a cat-shaped demon monster stealing silver inside.

At that time, Fu Tiandu was only at Cold Resistance Level strength. Normally, the cat demon could easily kill him, but strange enough, it saw something in him and not only spared his life but also offered to help him escape.

The condition was, he had to agree to let the cat demon reside within him.

Desperate to live, Fu Tiandu agreed despite knowing the cat demon was a sinister creature.

His enemies possessed great strength and means, and despite the cat demon’s superb concealment skills, he was hunted all the way. Seeing that Cai Qiu and Chen Cang were unsafe, with the cat demon’s advice and help, he risked crossing the Jiuqu Blood Corridor and fled to the Southern Slope Territory, finally shaking off his pursuers, reaching stability.

Settled now, of course, Fu Tiandu’s next step was to enhance his strength for revenge.

He witnessed his parents, brothers, sisters, all kin and family members slaughtered by his enemies, sustained a revenge-driven fury after being hunted down for half a year, making vengeance his sole motivation to live.

Sadly, having shaken off his adversarial tiger, he fell under the control of the cat demon’s wolfish grip.

After helping him escape Hezang and traverse the Jiuqu Blood Corridor to evade pursuit entirely, upon arriving at Southern Slope Territory, the cat demon began showing its true colors, leading him to various camps to steal silver.

Fu Tiandu’s background wasn’t low, naturally resistant to theft, but being manipulated by the cat demon and tempted with silver, which allowed him to buy cultivation resources, left him little choice but to comply.

Carrot and stick, with threats and temptation, Fu Tiandu could only agree, from reaching Southern Slope Territory, all actions were mostly masterminded and controlled by the cat demon.

Until they finally reached Hongmen City!

Though Great Xia was only Town-level Camp, it possessed the small torch and Yellow Candle, both divine objects against deceitful monsters. The cat demon manipulated his body, only managed to steal silver twice in Hongmen City before almost being caught by Xia people.

The experience frightened him deeply, coupled with the cat demon secretly spreading Cat Plague in Hongmen City, he surmised it was brewing a massive disaster possibly affecting the entire city, feeling both fear and alarm, he even considered breaking ties with the cat demon.