Shi Ping possesses Earth-digging Realm cultivation and can bring so many people to help their camp migrate. Before, Zeng Fan always thought that even if his status in the Great Xia wasn’t the highest, it certainly wouldn’t be low.
Unexpectedly, in front of this young man, his demeanor was so humble.
"Minister, could it mean the leader? The Great Xia refers to the leader as Minister, it must be ."
Zeng Fan, who was new here, deduced this in his mind based on previous experience, and concluded that the young man before him must be the leader of the Great Xia.
"Zeng Fan, Kong Ning, I heard that your two families’ residences are both on Four Ape Peak, is that correct?"
When the Minister on the left side spoke, Zeng Fan and Kong Ning hurried to answer.
"Do you know the location of the Three Tigers Camp’s residence?"
Hearing this question, both of their expressions froze slightly.
"My lord, I only know that the Three Tigers Camp’s residence is on Middle Ape Peak, but I’m not sure of the exact location. We usually avoid them, and we don’t dare to look for their residence’s location."
After Kong Ning spoke, the gaze of everyone present focused on Zeng Fan.
Zeng Fan had a hesitant expression on his face and didn’t speak for a long time. Realizing everyone was watching him, he became even more nervous and couldn’t speak.
"Don’t worry, just say whatever comes to mind; it’s okay even if it’s wrong."
Noticing Zeng Fan’s hesitation, Shi Ping immediately spoke to reassure him.
With his assurance, Zeng Fan became a bit bolder, nodded, and spoke:
"Our residence is in a cave under Four Ape Peak. Previously, when I went out to chop wood, I accidentally came across the Hunting Team from Three Tigers Camp. Although I dared not make a sound and hid discreetly, I heard them saying that the camp was only five or six hundred meters away. Because we generally wanted to avoid them and prevent accidentally approaching that side in the future, I remembered that position!"
As soon as Zeng Fan finished speaking, he was startled.
Because the young man on the right, dressed in black form-fitting attire with a sharp expression, seemed like he had been holding back for a long time, and abruptly stood up from the chair with a thud.
"My lord, time is of the essence. Let me take people and set off now!"
Seeing Yuwen Dao eager and impatient, Xia Chuan, the young man on the left, slightly shook his head and gravely asked, "Are you sure Hong Guang has had an accident?"
Yuwen Dao nodded heavily and spoke, "Absolutely. Hong Guang has been with my father for many years and wouldn’t act so rashly. Even if something important required him to stay there, he would have surely sent someone back to report, not just have no news and not return overnight."
Upon hearing Yuwen Dao’s response, Xia Chuan’s expression immediately turned somber.
In the Ice Abyss World, the human activity range is limited, and given the dangers of this unfamiliar environment, under normal circumstances, people indeed wouldn’t stay outside overnight unless in special situations.
Hong Guang is nearly forty, which is considered elderly in the Ice Abyss World, and he wouldn’t be unaware of these rules.
The problem is, he took six members of the Xuanwu Team with him. Even if something important required them to stay outside overnight, he could just send someone back to notify, considering Five Ape Mountain is only ten kilometers from Great Xia. Going back and forth shouldn’t take long.
"A few days ago, Lao Hong mentioned to me that he had news of a large camp, and if followed, it would quickly lead him there. Well-negotiated, they could be brought to Great Xia. I hadn’t thought much about it at that time, but thinking now, he surely got that information from another place about the Three Tigers Camp."
Among the four people below the hall, Meng Yi also stood up, his face extremely grim. The people sitting next to him, Zhu Ling, Zhu Yuan, and Hong Guang’s brother Hong Tian, were also full of worry.
"My lord, let us go and look for them, delaying could cause problems."
Hong Tian, agitated, directly appealed to Xia Chuan.
Although Yuwen Dao didn’t speak again, his eyes were full of plea, clearly worried about Hong Guang just like Hong Tian.
Seeing the five people so eager, Xia Chuan couldn’t say much more.
"Alright, you may go, but be prepared. Bring everyone along and have Zeng Fan lead the way, go ahead!"
"Thank you, my lord, we will set off immediately!"
Yuwen Dao nodded in agreement, gave a signal to Meng Yi and the other three, and immediately led the way out of the house.
Meng Yi and the other three didn’t say a word, grabbed the still-reacting Zeng Fan, and went out straight away to notify people.
After everyone left, Shi Ping walked to Xia Chuan’s side and gravely said:
"My lord, Hong Guang has been quite aggressive recently. Though he did not say, it’s clear that the two camps he brought back were coerced by him. Using such means to increase the camp’s population is not a good thing at all!"
Xia Chuan shook his head, solemnly said, "Indeed, it’s not a good thing. It seems he’s determined to get the Pioneer Department Director position, not understanding the situation and just heading straight for Three Tigers Camp. Let him suffer this time, Yuwen Dao going there shouldn’t lead to any major issues. When he comes back, I’ll have a good talk with him!"
It’s not just not a good thing; it’s downright terrible.
Great Xia has just undergone a merger, internally already not stable, and by using force to coerce other camps to join, not only won’t it strengthen the camp, but it will make internal situations more complicated!
Now that Xia Chuan is the Minister, he certainly understands this. Hong Guang, too, is paying for his actions now, fortunately, Shi Ping today brought Zeng Fan, who knows the approximate location of the Three Tigers Camp.
From the information he gathered, although the Three Tigers Camp is not small, its strength isn’t significant due to its flawed development strategy. Yuwen Dao taking many people there and finding the other party’s residence, rescuing Hong Guang, shouldn’t be too hard.
"You should run over there more recently, this Three Tigers Camp, if everything goes as expected, should be handled by Yuwen Dao. Bring more people from other camps over, there are just twenty days until settlement, make sure not to slip up."
"Yes, my lord, I will certainly put in the effort!"
Shi Ping was full of vigor, nodding heavily.
Xia Chuan remembered something and said, "By the way, inform Qiu Peng to help me prepare ten thousand pounds of Iron Ore, three Longswords, and one Ten-stone Iron Bow. Notify me once it’s done, I’m heading to the North Shore tonight."
Hearing so much was prepared, Shi Ping first showed a surprised expression, but quickly realized something and asked, "My lord, are these supplies for the Xiao He Camp?"
Seeing he guessed it, Xia Chuan didn’t hide it, nodded, and smiled, "This Xiao Kangcheng is too cautious, we need to show our goodwill first, let him understand the strength of our Great Xia Camp, it should make negotiations much smoother."