43: Chapter 43 Deceitful Monster – Humanity’s Common Enemy 43: Chapter 43 Deceitful Monster – Humanity’s Common Enemy The Wood Puppet Monster is a problem that all camps around Redwood Ridge must face; none can avoid it.
If it is not resolved, everyone is just waiting to die, without a doubt.
Hong Gang and the other three understood that even if they left, Luo Ming would not ignore the issue.
So, when they previously proposed to leave, it was not without the thought of leaving the matter to Rogel Camp to solve the problem alone.
But clearly, Luo Ming wasn’t foolish.
Shi Qing wanting to leave is understandable.
Too many have died at Da Shi Camp; if the two don’t leave, the few hundred people there would either starve or freeze to death.
But for the other four camps, the losses were still within an acceptable range.
Luo Ming certainly wouldn’t force them to stay, but he is also not an overbearing person, so he did not resort to coercion to make them stay, hence his words.
You can leave, but as for the Wood Puppet Monster, Rogel Camp will definitely not try to solve it anymore.
Yang and Li could leave if they want, and he, Luo Ming, would not try to stop them.
By then, should the Wood Puppet Monster wreak havoc, everyone will end up suffering together.
Hong Gang and the other three could understand the implication in Luo Ming’s words, hence their collective change in expression.
That last statement from Luo Ming, about taking the camp elsewhere to find a new way of life, was basically a statement made in anger and could be ignored.
Not to mention how far they could travel in one night.
Once outside Redwood Ridge, they would be completely lost.
In an unfamiliar environment, Cold Beasts, Deceitful Monsters, or extreme cold, any one of these could claim all of their lives.
If they could really escape, they wouldn’t have waited until now.
“Leader Luo, we all respect you.
Simply put, we are willing to continue helping to deal with the Wood Puppet Monster, but if it’s like the previous four times, using people as bait and letting our brothers die for nothing, it’s impossible!”
It was the straightforward Hong Gang who spoke up first.
The other three leaders nodded in agreement with Hong Gang’s words as they heard them, showing their stance.
In fact, not to mention these three leaders, Luo Ming also agreed with Hong Gang’s words, but he did not immediately respond.
Instead, with a somewhat troubled look, he turned his gaze towards Yang Ning and Li Hu sitting above.
Although somewhat frustrated, Luo Ming had to admit that in terms of dealing with the Deceitful Monster, it was not up to him; it was up to Yang and Li to decide.
Regardless of whether the two really found some benefit from the Deceitful Monster, they were genuinely helping them, and currently, only these two had the strength to deal with the Deceitful Monster, this was certain.
After pondering for a moment, Luo Ming, still looking troubled, bowed respectfully towards the two and, lowering his head, spoke with a respectful tone:
Luo is sincerely grateful for your righteous action, and I believe everyone else is equally grateful to you both for your selfless help.
However, too many people have died in the past four times, as you both have witnessed.
Hong Gang and the others come from small camps, with limited strength in the Logging Realm, and losing more manpower would genuinely threaten their survival.
Could both of you think of another way to lure out that Wood Puppet Monster?”
After Luo Ming finished speaking, he quietly waited for the two at the head to respond.
The other four leaders also quietly awaited Yang and Li to speak, hoping they could come up with a different way, so they wouldn’t have to use people as bait again.
However, what everyone failed to notice was that from the beginning of their conversation, Li Hu’s expression had already turned extremely impatient.
Even compared to him, the usually calm Yang Ning now furrowed his brow, and his face looked very unpleasant.
Unable to contain himself, Li Hu stood up, intending to vent his frustrations at everyone, as was his nature.
But before he could start, Yang Ning stood up from his seat, stopped him, then turned to face everyone.
After thinking for a moment, he asked a lowly voiced question:
“Do you think that using people as bait to lure out the Deceitful Monster is too cruel, and since it hasn’t been effective in the four attempts, it’s not worth the loss of so many lives?”
Luo Ming didn’t respond, and the four leaders exchanged glances but remained silent.
Of course, silence in itself can be an answer.
Yang Ning naturally understood this, and after glancing around at the five people, he suddenly let out a low laugh, shook his head, and his face showed a hint of helplessness.
“Do you know what it means if the Wood Puppet Monster at Redwood Ridge evolves from a beginner level to an intermediate level?”
When asking this question, Yang Ning’s tone carried a distinct hint of anger, not expecting them to answer, he continued speaking directly.
“An Intermediate Strange Monster, even a Cold Resistance Level powerhouse could easily be killed without understanding its nature.
To an Earth-digging Realm human, it’s not even considered an ant; it could be killed with a wave of its hand.
Therefore, if it evolves, it means not only you small number in Redwood Ridge, but all large and even giant camps in the surrounding area would become its hunting ground;
And if unlucky enough for it to evolve to an advanced level, my Beishuo Town would have to pay a huge price to deal with it.
Do you really think that the two of us stayed here just to save your few worthless lives?”
Yang Ning’s first outburst, with a harsh tone, slightly shook Luo Ming and others, plunging the hall into a deathly silence.
Yet, his speech was not finished:
“The Deceitful Monster, this evil lifeform that evolves through killing, is inherently the enemy of humans.
If it were not for the concern that its growth in strength would bring greater harm to more camps, do you really think the lives of two to three thousand people in your camps would matter to us?
These Deceitful Monsters are devoid of humanity, killing to evolve by instinct, never stopping once strengthened; not eradicating them while they are weak would only bring endless harm.
Do you believe the method I used is deliberately harming you?
The fact is, Deceitful Monsters are bloodthirsty.
Apart from using people as bait, there is no other way to lure them out; this is a consensus among Ice Abyss Humans.
Twenty-nine lives, which might seem a lot to you, but to me, if that Wood Puppet Monster isn’t removed early, once it evolves successfully, that number will turn into 2900, 29000, or even more.
Not to mention my Beishuo Town, which of the nine towns of Moao Mountain hasn’t sacrificed thousands of lives fighting Deceitful Monsters; I’ve personally witnessed more than a hundred Earth-digging Realm people volunteer as bait to encircle an Intermediate Deceitful Monster.”
At this point, Yang Ning seemed to recall something and pointed behind him at Li Hu, saying to everyone with a loud voice: “Li Hu’s father sacrificed himself as bait for Beishuo to hunt a Deceitful Monster.”
Hearing Yang Ning’s words made Li Hu’s face show pride and confidence without any sorrow, along with a profound hatred for Deceitful Monsters.
Hearing this, everyone fell into silence.
Yang Ning, feeling he may have spoken too much, remained silent for a moment before finally shaking his head, sighing: “Never mind, I’ve said all I needed to say.
Tomorrow, we’ll try one last time.
If we can’t destroy the Wood Puppet Monster, Li Hu and I will first return to Beishuo Town to seek assistance.
Until then, you can only hope for the best!”
Upon reaching this point, neither Luo Ming nor the other four leaders found themselves with any words of refutation.
Even if they had such thoughts, they were forced back by Yang Ning’s speech.
These people, being the leaders of their camps, despite not being particularly shrewd, had some ability to judge character.
When Yang Ning made those statements, his emotions were evidently genuine.
At this stage in the conversation, no one could easily refute Yang Ning.
At most, tomorrow they will try one last time.
If they can indeed get rid of the Wood Puppet Monster, then everyone would be delighted.
The meeting concluded, and everyone returned to the accommodations arranged by Luo Ming for rest.
The living conditions at Rogel Camp were decent; each person was given a room, with Shi Dong and Shi Qing brothers being arranged next door to each other.
By now, it was already daylight outside, and everyone was exhausted from the night; as soon as they got to their rooms, they fell asleep almost immediately.
At around noon, when everyone was sleeping most deeply and it was coldest outside.
Shi Dong suddenly opened his eyes while lying in bed in his room.
He got up quietly and gently, opened the door, and walked outside the wooden house.