51: Chapter 51: Conflict Resurfaces [Please Follow!] 51: Chapter 51: Conflict Resurfaces [Please Follow!] The camps surrounding Redwood Ridge, although all located on the east side and mostly connected from north to south, do not communicate with each other.
People from the two camps meet almost exclusively on their respective territories, within 500 meters of the outskirts of Redwood Ridge, whether intentionally or unintentionally.
The reasons are quite simple.
Firstly, the outskirts are well-known, making everyone relatively safer.
Secondly, to avoid each camp spying on each other, as human hearts are unpredictable.
Therefore, unless under special circumstances, when traveling from one camp to another, everyone generally enters Redwood Ridge first, then follows the east outskirts, heading south or north according to the destination.
The Great Xia Camp is located at the southernmost part of the east side.
To reach Rogel Camp, one must pass through the territories of Da Shi, Da Chuan, and Huang Zhao, before entering Rogel Camp’s territory.
It’s only about four kilometers, but traversing it feels different.
The old problem persists: night travel is inevitably slow, and out of concern for startling the Cold Beasts, one cannot make too much noise.
Thus, even though Xia Hong is anxious like a fire knowing that Rogel Camp might have faced a misfortune, he can do nothing but travel steadily.
The more you rush, the easier it is to make mistakes, it’s crucial to remain calm.
The Wood Puppet Monster’s cunning surpasses that of a Cold Beast.
A single slip doesn’t just doom oneself but the entire camp.
“Leader, we’ve arrived!”
Xia Hong looked up in the direction Xia Chuan was pointing.
Two towering mountains stood imposingly to the east, approximately two to three thousand meters high, their tops intersected, leaving a valley over a hundred meters wide between them.
“The valley Shi Qing mentioned should be over there.”
“Leader, shall we go directly there?”
Hearing Yuan Cheng’s inquiry, Xia Hong hesitated for a moment, but after thinking for a while, he shook his head and turned his gaze to the interior of Redwood Ridge.
“We’re unclear about the situation at Rogel Camp, rushing over might be disadvantageous.
Let’s first find Leader Luo Ming, along with Yang Ning and Li Hu as Shi Qing mentioned.
Having them around will be more secure.”
Xia Hong has had a few encounters with the Wood Puppet Monster, but technically, he has never faced it directly.
He knows nothing about the opponent’s true strength or any mysterious abilities it might possess.
Though he’s reluctant to witness Rogel Camp being slaughtered, Xia Hong is no fool.
Risking others’ rescue without ensuring their own safety is kind to others but utterly foolish to his people.
According to Shi Qing, Yang Ning and Li Hu repelled the Wood Puppet Monster thrice.
Although Xia Hong suspected it was deliberate, the Wood Puppet Monster couldn’t handle the two at least.
Including Luo Ming and the others, going together is most secure.
“Rogel Camp usually operates within a thousand meters.
You six split into two groups, one heading south, and one north.
I’ll search the inner west perimeter; if located, use the Bone Whistle to signal.
Xia Chuan took Yuan Cheng and Lin Kai south, Yue Feng with Lu Yang and Qiu Peng headed north, while Xia Hong went alone into the interior of Redwood Ridge, as the seven of them began searching separately.
Western inner perimeter of Redwood Ridge
Unaware of Da Shi Camp’s plight, Luo Ming and his group appeared somewhat irritable.
“It’s been over two hours, can we lure it out?”
“The thing’s escaped four times; it wouldn’t be stupid enough to come again, right?”
“Shh… don’t talk nonsense, those two are just behind us.”
I admit to their strength, but truth be told, that Wood Puppet Monster is stronger, do you truly think the previous four times it was beaten back?
I suspect it was intentional.”
“Think about it, that Wood Puppet Monster comes out to kill a few each time, then is chased away by those two, giving us hope, making us keep luring so it can continue killing, right?”
“Hiss… you have a point.”
Luo Ming, paired with Hong Gang and Huang Yong, felt a tinge of unease hearing the discussions ahead.
The last attempt to lure the Wood Puppet Monster, according to Yang Ning, apart from him and Li Hu, everyone else is just prey in its eyes, so they were grouped into sevens or eights across the inner perimeter to lure it.
In unfamiliar terms with the Wood Puppet Monster, Luo Ming follows Yang Ning’s orders.
He brought twenty-eight people, three from the Earth-digging Realm, and twenty-five from the Logging Realm; the other four camps, including the leader, have twenty-four Logging Realm members altogether.
So, including himself, there are fifty-two in total, divided into seven teams, with his being the largest at nine, apart from his Earth-digging Realm, the rest are all Logging Realm.
Hong Gang and Huang Yong ended up in his group by coincidence.
As for Yang Ning and Li Hu, they hid in the shadows, moving around the central part of the teams, ready to rush over if needed.
“Leader Luo, something’s off.”
Listening to their chatter, Huang Yong commented aloud.
“Two hours and it hasn’t shown up; every time before, it would appear in less than half an hour, why not this time?”
Luo Ming’s face darkened, he realized the issue before Huang Yong.
They are the bait, to put it bluntly, prey.
When the hunter shows up is up to him, not the prey.
So, even realizing something’s off, they are helpless.
But what unsettles Luo Ming isn’t just that.
The absence suggests hidden implications, significant ones.
Previously, hearing from Yang Ning and Li Hu, human lives are the lure to the hollow creatures, and the Wood Puppet Monster emerged as bait was set, proving their claim.
But this time, despite deploying many, it did not appear.
Does this mean, the previous times, it might not have appeared either, but deliberately did?
If extending this logic, just as someone ahead said, the Wood Puppet Monster did it all intentionally.
Purposely appearing to kill a few, then being driven away by Yang and Li, giving hope to keep providing bait, so it continues killing?
But now, why hasn’t it come?
Or does the Wood Puppet Monster have more important matters?
A clear slap rang out nearby, awakening Luo Ming.
Following it, came an overbearing scold.
I risk life ridding you of monsters, not thankful but gossiping behind my back, another word, and I’ll deal with you fools before the Wood Puppet Monster arrives!”
Hearing this, Luo Ming’s face immediately grew stern.
Beside him, Huang Yong and Hong Gang shared the same expression.