Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely

Chapter 581: Chapter 249: Secret Passage, Han Feng, First Step_3

Xia Hong paused, his tone mildly stern, ”Hou Hu’s provocation has already pierced through the Longyou Alliance. In my view, a divided and mutually hostile Longyou poses no less a threat to humanity than the sinister creatures. Just now, I indeed allowed those creatures to kill, but if the sacrifice of this small group can bring a faster end to Longyou’s current division, then it benefits many more people who remain. Do you understand?”

”You mean, the one to unify Longyou in the future is Great Xia?”

How could Han Feng not understand Xia Hong’s meaning? Yet the more he understood, the more he sneered. He didn’t doubt Xia Hong’s personal strength, but to suggest that the unremarkable Great Xia could deal with both Long Mountain and Zhaoyang, ultimately unifying the Longyou Land, he simply couldn’t believe it.

”It certainly will be, and can only be, Great Xia!”

Xia Chuan’s voice suddenly came from the rear of the passage, answering Han Feng.

”Big brother!”

”Leader.”

......

Coming from the back of the passage were not only Xia Chuan, but Luo Yuan, Zhao Long, and three others.

The six of them, seeing Xia Hong unharmed, immediately breathed a sigh of relief and quickly bowed, then turned to look at Han Feng on the other side of the passage, their eyes showing a hint of coldness as they drew their weapons and slowly approached him.

”Forget it, let him go.”

Xia Hong waved his hand slightly, stopping them from acting. Seeing Han Feng’s somewhat bewildered expression, he shook his head and said, ”You will understand me someday!”

Then Xia Hong remembered something, took out a small package from his bosom, and tossed it directly to Han Feng, saying, ”This stuff applied to the skin can cure Dew Drops.”

Han Feng caught the package, gave Xia Hong a deep look, cupped his fists, and, though instinctively wanting to express thanks, held his words back and turned away directly.

”Big brother, who is this person?”

Xia Chuan, having apparently only come near, heard Han Feng’s last question. Seeing Xia Hong let the person go, he immediately asked curiously.

Xia Hong slightly shook his head, not answering him, and instead asked Xia Chuan, ”Didn’t I tell you to meet up with them in the southwest? How did you end up here?”

Xia Chuan immediately nodded, ”We rendezvoused over ten thousand people southwest, already sent someone to lead them to the Wushuang Camp. Too much time had passed, and we were worried you were in danger, so we came to Hanqiong to find you. Then we discovered a secret passage on the top floor of the main building and followed it here.”

”Over ten thousand people, including the Earth-digging Realm from the three families?”

Hearing this question, Luo Yuan immediately answered excitedly:

”Leader, we assisted a total of 17,421 people, of which 2,931 are Earth-digging Realm. After a preliminary inquiry, there are people from Long Mountain, Zhaoyang, and Hanqiong among them. The remaining 14,490 are all Hanqiong’s people. Only a few still carry Dew Drops, so we have distributed Solidified Fire Oil. Once confirmed free of Dew Drops, they’ll be allowed into the Wushuang Camp.”

Seeing the excitement on Luo Yuan’s face, Xia Hong said with a strange expression, ”Why so excited? You don’t think all three thousand Earth-digging Realm will become Great Xia’s people, do you?”

Luo Yuan was taken aback by these words, and Xia Chuan and the others also showed confusion.

”These people’s lives were saved by the leader. If they don’t join Great Xia, what, do they intend to return to their original camps?”

”I’ve just inquired clearly, Li Xuanling, Hou Tong, and the others, they abandoned these people outright. If they still want to return to their original camps, their minds must be muddled?”

Upon hearing Xia Chuan and Zhao Long’s words, Xia Hong immediately shook his head.

”A life-saving grace is a life-saving grace. I don’t doubt these people are grateful to me, but I’m not overly optimistic about how many would change allegiance because of it. Even if there are, they would be scarce as phoenix feathers or unicorn horns.

Most of these Earth-digging Realm are not young, many have families, and they grew up in their camps, living not poorly. Their relationships with the core figures of their camps are extremely complex. It’s impossible for them to casually change allegiance, and even if some did, it wouldn’t be to the extent of ignoring their families. So...”

Upon hearing Xia Hong’s explanation, Xia Chuan and the others immediately realized, their expressions turning not so optimistic.

It’s manageable for Hanqiong’s people, since their camp is gone, and besides joining Great Xia, they have no other options.

But the Earth-digging Realm of the other two families...

Qiu Peng pondered for a moment, a harsh look flashing in his eyes, and said sternly:

”If you ask me, the leader shouldn’t have saved these Earth-digging Realm. Letting them return to their own camps might mean confronting our Great Xia later, it’s better to let that White Dew Gu kill them all!”

Zhao Long was even more aggressive, continuing, ”No, we shouldn’t let the two families’ Earth-digging Realm go. Directly bring them to Great Xia, throw them into the mines, and make them mining slaves like in the Beehive!”

Hearing this, everyone’s eyes immediately lit up.

Even Xia Chuan thought it was a good idea, quickly turning to look at Xia Hong, ”Leader, this is feasible. Like the Beehive, put them in iron chains and let them stay in the mines forever...”

”Vision, you need to look further ahead!”

Xia Hong directly interrupted Xia Chuan’s words, speaking with some depth, and seeing everyone’s puzzled expressions, he shook his head and said:

”The Beehive’s approach is killing the chicken to get the eggs. There’s no need for us to mimic. Letting this group go back is actually Great Xia’s first real step in taking Longyou. Think over it slowly; for now, let’s return to Wushuang!”

Xia Hong had no intention of explaining further, only letting them think it over on their own, then led the way toward the passageway entrance.

”Seal this passage and prepare to send people to take over Gourd Valley.”

”Yes, Leader!”