3: Chapter 3, Indistinguishable Truth from Falsehood [Please follow and rate!] 3: Chapter 3, Indistinguishable Truth from Falsehood [Please follow and rate!] “What’s happening?”
Xia Hong couldn’t help but feel deeply anxious at this moment.
Is the one outside a fake?
“Don’t panic, it’s the Deceitful Monster trying to lure us out.
The Deceitful Monster follows the light.
Since we haven’t lit a fire, it doesn’t know someone is inside.
Xia Ding inside the cave seemed frightened too.
Although he was comforting everyone, the panic in his voice was quite evident.
“Brother, what’s going on?”
Xia Hong was bewildered, not realizing until Xia Chuan, who had quietly approached, called him, bringing him back to his senses.
He first bowed his head and thought for a moment, then quietly asked Xia Chuan:
“Did you notice anything unusual when Father came back earlier?”
Realizing the importance of this question, Xia Chuan showed a tense expression and hurriedly recalled the scene when Xia Ding and the hunting team returned.
But after thinking for a while, he still shook his head.
Xia Hong let out a breath, it was within his expectations.
When Xia Ding brought the hunting team back just now, he was indeed present, and there was truly nothing unusual.
The one inside the cave should indeed be their father.
But just as Xia Hong made this judgment, an unexpected event occurred.
The “Xia Ding” outside actually pulled apart the branches at the cave entrance.
It wasn’t yet dawn, but at the moment the entrance was opened, a faint light came in.
The cave, without any fire, in such a pitch-dark environment, even the slightest light was enough to illuminate the fear on everyone’s faces clearly.
And seeing the scene outside the cave, everyone’s fear was magnified several times.
Because standing outside the cave was not only “Xia Ding”.
The twelve members of the hunting team led by Xia Ding were also prominently present.
At this point, everyone was dumbfounded.
Xia Hong and Xia Chuan, the brothers, were even more stunned, their pupils contracting in shock.
They had just greeted the thirteen members of the hunting team outside the cave.
Now, the identical thirteen appeared again, how could they not be shocked?
“Xia Ding” came inside.
The Xia Ding inside the cave hurried with the twelve hunting team members towards the entrance, blocking everyone’s front.
The two Xia Dings looked at each other, first sharing a glance of horror.
Then came fear and rage.
Among the crowd, Xia Hong, although silent, kept his eyes fixed on the two Xia Dings and the people behind them, not daring to miss any subtle details, no matter how slight.
At this point, one thing was a hundred percent certain.
The “Deceit” from Redwood Ridge was standing right in front of them.
Among the two Xia Dings, one must be the Deceit.
According to the “Xia Ding” inside the cave earlier, the Deceit from Redwood Ridge kills by deceiving trust, so identifying the real one would certainly help.
That’s why he tirelessly tried to tell them apart using the faint light from all angles.
Unfortunately, after checking again and again, he hopelessly discovered that there were no differences between the two.
From appearance and clothing to small expressions and various tiny details, the two Xia Dings, including the hunting team members behind them, were exactly the same, indistinguishable.
And amid his distinguishing attempts, the two Xia Dings had each begun fighting with the twelve team members behind them.
The originally spacious cave quickly became cramped with over twenty people fighting inside, and the camp occupants retreated to the back of the cave.
Though Xia Hong retreated, his gaze never left the two Xia Dings, fearing that once out of sight, he wouldn’t be able to tell which was inside or outside the cave.
When the first Xia Ding came back, it was nearly dawn.
Blocking the entrance, extinguishing the fire, and then this fight, after so long, the light outside the cave became more and more apparent.
The white light was bone-chilling; those who hid in the inner cave showed increasingly deep fear on their faces, and their bodies gradually trembled.
Although Xia Hong maintained a calm expression, his heart grew heavier.
Daytime in this world is even colder than nighttime.
Moreover, Cold Beast activity is also more frequent during the day.
If the entrance remains open, even if they luckily withstand the low temperatures, it could very well attract Cold Beasts, resulting in everyone’s death together in the end.
They must find a way, a solution must be found!
And just as he was anxiously hastening through his thoughts, the two “Xia Dings” spoke out.
“Hong, Chuan, it’s almost daylight, take everyone and seal the entrance.
I’m here, the deceit won’t harm you.”
“At this point, it’s still pretending?
Hong, Chuan, don’t listen to him.
Help us drive it away first, drive it away and then seal the entrance.”
Named Xia Chuan, almost reflexively, he rushed to the left.
The one on the left was the “Xia Ding” who came back to the cave first.
Evidently, Xia Chuan was also watching the two Xia Dings closely, able to tell them apart.
However, just as he rushed two steps, he was abruptly pulled back by a hand.
“Don’t act rashly, is he real, are you a hundred percent sure?”
Upon hearing Xia Hong’s question, Xia Chuan was momentarily stunned.
Internally, he leaned towards the Xia Ding who returned to the cave first.
After all, that Xia Ding not only helped the entire camp extinguish the fire, seal the entrance but also informed them about the Deceitful Monster.
But when asked to confirm one hundred percent, he dared not say for sure.
For regardless of the two Xia Dings or the two teams of hunting members, whether in appearance or action nuances, there were truly no differences.
Even the strength they displayed during the fight was identical.
“The Deceit will turn into someone you trust, deceiving your trust, and once you fully trust it, you’ll become a puppet, at its mercy.”
This phrase flashed through Xia Hong’s mind, making his heart skip a beat, rising into his throat.
Whether the Xia Ding who returned to the cave first is genuine or not.
At least this statement, Xia Hong can now confirm as true.
Since the Deceit bothered to stage such a scene.
It proves it indeed needs to completely win over everyone’s trust at the camp.
Faced with two options at the moment:
One: Follow what the Xia Ding in the back says, and seal the cave first.
Two: Help the Xia Ding who returned first to defeat the Xia Ding who came back later.
In such life-and-death stakes, the decision made represents the absolute trust of the camp.
This means, once they choose wrong.
These people would all turn into puppets.
At this point, realizing this, not only Xia Ding.
Xia Chuan and a few others at the camp turned tense.
Many turned their gazes toward Xia Hong.
Placing their hopes in him wasn’t just because of his identity as the leader’s son,
besides Xia Ding and the twelve hunting members, Xia Hong was the strongest in the camp.
The people fighting at the entrance evidently realized this too.
Both Xia Dings wore anxious expressions, seeing that everyone had entrusted the choice to Xia Hong, they hurriedly spoke up to prove their honesty.
“Hong, I returned to the cave first, I’m real, don’t believe him, pure trust in him will lead us all to death.”
“Hong, I’m the real one.
That deceit is best at beguiling people.
First, it turned into me, returned to the cave, intentionally leaked information to you, just to gain your trust now, you absolutely cannot trust him.”
“Hong, last month when you were knocked out by an icicle, I helped apply medicine.”
“Chuan, remember the stone dagger I helped you sharpen last night?”
But such statements only made everyone more confused.
Both could voice out things about Xia Hong and Xia Chuan, even clear about their longstanding injuries.
Xia Hong alone, upon hearing the different things each Xia Ding said about him and Xia Chuan, his body quivered slightly, pulling Xia Chuan’s right hand abruptly.
Xia Chuan looked back puzzled, meeting Xia Hong’s gaze.
Instantly, Xia Chuan’s pupils also shrank sharply.
Evidently, he realized something as well.
PS: Can you tell which one is real and which is fake?
It should be quite obvious, right?