Chapter 127: Arrogant Mirror Immortal Camp

Fifteen people stepped out of the bamboo grove.

Once they saw the fifteen figures—whether Xia Hong, Xia Chuan, Luo Yuan, or anyone else present—every face, regardless of expression, felt a sudden, shared jolt inside.

“How are they all so young!”

“And they’re all wearing full clothing.”

Judging solely by appearance, these fifteen were all roughly the same age as Xia Hong and Xia Chuan.

Though Xia Hong rarely mentioned his age, everyone in the camp knew—from the earliest rumors among Great Xia’s founding members—that he had just turned nineteen.

Xia Chuan was even younger, barely seventeen.

In the Ice Abyss, where average lifespan was barely forty, youth meant greater potential—a universally understood truth.

Xia Hong wasn’t just the camp’s strongest warrior; in terms of age alone, no one here had greater upward potential than him.

Even Xia Chuan, who had received the Wood Puppet Demon’s teachings, couldn’t match him.

Yet these fifteen emerging from the bamboo grove? All of them matched the brothers’ age.

Worse still, their clothing wasn’t leather skirts—it was full outfits. Even the youth who had just questioned them wore a golden-brown fur coat, made from some unknown cold beast.

“I am Xia Hong, leader of the Great Xia Camp at Redwood Ridge. We did indeed drive the gnawer herd into the bamboo grove, but according to our knowledge, no other human camp exists within the arrow bamboo forest. May I ask which camp you belong to?”

As Xia Hong spoke, he lit a torch, then advanced with Xia Chuan, Zhao Long, and the other three men, all holding torches.

If someone had placed a hand on his back, they’d have felt it drenched in cold sweat, trembling at an almost imperceptible frequency.

No choice—it hurt!

The sole pierced through his foot sole, though treated with Golden Wound Powder, was no ordinary wound and wouldn’t heal quickly.

“Great Xia?”

“A Digging Realm leader? Pathetically weak.”

“But you’ve got quite a few people.”

…………

Hearing the mocking tones from the opposite group, Xia Chuan and the other three torchbearers immediately darkened their expressions—but Xia Hong himself showed no reaction, instead rapidly analyzing the hidden meaning in their words.

They’d mentioned “Old Lu,” and knew of Luo Ge’s camp—unmistakably, Lu He had brought his entire Lu Shang camp into this group’s fold.

Fifteen Digging Realm cultivators, each in full clothing, carrying longbows, emerging from the arrow bamboo forest—this camp’s strength was obvious. But what Xia Hong cared most about was their earlier taunt.

“A Digging Realm leader? Pathetically weak.”

Combined with their casual tone when mentioning the Hive Camp, it was clear: this group’s camp must have at least a Cold-Resistant Realm expert.

Large? Massive? Or even more?

“Mirror Immortal Camp, He Meng. Xia Hong… leader. This arrow bamboo forest has belonged to our camp for three months already. Why did you drive the gnawers into it?”

The speaker stood nearly two meters tall, broader and more muscular than Xia Hong, carrying a longbow and a broad-bladed greatsword.

As he spoke, he stepped forward several paces, his voice booming with heavy pressure. When he said “Xia Hong,” he deliberately paused before adding “leader.”

The fifteen were now less than ten meters away; their leader, He Meng, even closer—only five or six meters—torchlight fully illuminating their faces.

Seeing the fifteen show no reaction to the torchlight, Xia Hong’s tension eased slightly.

No fear of fire? As long as they weren’t bound to the supernatural entity, everything was manageable.

It wasn’t paranoia—according to Luo Ming, Ice Stone Trees mature every four months, and cold beasts flood the arrow bamboo forest during that time. That alone proved no human camp could exist here.

These fifteen who appeared out of nowhere—though He Meng claimed they’d taken the forest three months ago—who knew if it was true?

No fear of fire? Probably not connected to the supernatural entity.

But that didn’t mean nothing was wrong.

He Meng’s aggressive tone and the cruel expression now visible under the torchlight made it clear—he intended to punish them for driving the gnawers into the forest.

“If you only took control three months ago, how could Great Xia possibly know? And you suffered no casualties—why be so confrontational?”

He Meng’s group had displayed such arrogance that Xia Chuan couldn’t help stepping forward.

But no one responded. He Meng merely glanced at him with contempt, then fell silent, his gaze locked on Xia Hong.

Xia Chuan’s chest rose slightly, anger flashing across his face—he understood perfectly: they considered him unworthy to speak, only willing to deal with Xia Hong.

Xia Hong raised his hand to stop Xia Chuan from speaking further, his expression darkening as he stepped forward and growled: “If you insist on holding us accountable for an accident, skip the bluster—just lay down your terms!”

He Meng’s eyes lifted slightly, sensing Xia Hong might yield. His contempt deepened. He raised his broadsword and pointed it at the gnawer corpses on the ground, his voice brazen:

“Since you admit fault, these gnawer carcasses are your apology to Mirror Immortal Camp. Now leave—quietly!”

So that’s what they wanted—the gnawer meat.

Xia Hong’s brow relaxed slightly. Their utterly human behavior didn’t anger him—it reassured him completely.

Of course, reassured only because he’d confirmed once again they were human—not because he thought their demand was reasonable.

Before he could speak, Xia Chuan, Zhao Long, and every single Wood-Cutting Realm member behind them erupted.

“You’re dreaming!”

“We worked hard to kill these—why give them to you?”

“We lost lives for these! You want it all?”

“Dream on!”

“Greedy bastards. Shameless.”

“Did you all get hit by Tengjiao poison? Are you insane?”…………

The gnawer corpses on the ground? At least forty to fifty. Add those on the cliff slope and ridge—over eighty total.

Eighty-plus kills, handed over on a whim? No way.

Xia Hong raised his right hand, signaling silence. He stared at He Meng’s group for several seconds, then his face hardened.

“You heard that, didn’t you?”

As soon as the angry jeers began, He Meng’s face had darkened. Now, hearing Xia Hong’s question, his expression—and those of the other fourteen—turned icy.

Xia Hong’s words were phrased as a question.

But they all knew exactly what he meant.

Behind them, over a hundred Great Xia members had already drawn bows, arrows nocked, aimed at them. Add the five Digging Realm warriors ahead.

Xia Hong wasn’t just threatening—he was declaring: these carcasses belong to Great Xia. No one takes them.

“Xia Hong, let me be blunt: your Great Xia is nothing before Mirror Immortal Camp. I warn you—the consequences of crossing us will destroy you.”

=9+ Shu _ Ba

To amplify his threat, He Meng stepped forward again, paused, then raised his voice:

“Fine. Leave half. That’s my bottom line. We pretend this never happened. You leave.”

Swoosh…………

A speeding iron arrow shot forth in reply.

He Meng leapt back several meters, staring at the iron arrow still trembling on the ground—barely a meter from where he’d stood. His face froze.

“Go!”

Xia Hong roared the word at the fifteen.

As soon as he spoke, Xia Chuan and the others beside him, and the hundred-plus behind, echoed him.

“Go!”

Clink……

As they shouted “Go,” all raised their bows at once—the sound of hundreds of arrows scraping bowstrings was unmistakable.

“Fine. Great Xia has guts. Xia Hong—I’ll remember Mirror Immortal Camp!”

As He Meng retreated, he dared take only four or five gnawer corpses along the path—his panic starkly contrasted his earlier arrogance.

“Hah! That’s all the courage you’ve got?”

“A hundred bows? They’re all Digging Realm—can they be stronger than those gnawers?”

“Hah! Thought they were something special.”

“Ran off like cowards—hah!”

…………

Every Great Xia member burst into laughter.

Xia Hong stood firm, unmoved—even as the fifteen vanished into the bamboo grove. He waited over a minute before turning and speaking calmly:

“Start gathering the kills. Carefully collect every iron arrow you can find—don’t leave a single one behind!”

“Yes, leader!”

Everyone responded eagerly, turning to gather the gnawer carcasses and scattered iron arrows.

Xia Chuan also picked up Luo Yuan’s body again.

Xia Hong checked—Luo Yuan’s shoulder wound had been treated with Golden Wound Powder; his breath was stabilizing. He relaxed slightly.

“Big brother, your foot…”

Seeing Xia Hong’s foot wound, Xia Chuan’s face filled with worry—but Xia Hong cut him off with a raised hand.

Seeing Xia Hong gesture subtly toward the bamboo grove, Xia Chuan understood instantly. He nodded silently.

“Take your time gathering. Don’t show fear. Once done, have others carry Luo Yuan ahead. We five will hold the rear.”

“Yes, big brother.”

After a quiet exchange, Xia Chuan found men to carry Luo Yuan and led a group to the northern ridge to collect the kills.

Xia Hong stood still, eyes fixed on the bamboo grove—until every kill and arrow was gathered, he never moved.

“Eighty-three gnawers total. Iron-tipped bows undamaged. Iron arrows: 2,100+ remaining after recovery. Two dead, eight seriously wounded—all from the gnawer king’s final red beam. Minor injuries: only a dozen or so.”

While gathering, Xia Chuan had also tallied the recovered arrows and casualties, reporting them all.

Xia Hong heard the sound but said nothing, only nodded; seeing that most of the others had already packed their rodents and were ready, he spoke at once.

“Let’s head back!”

Over a hundred people all set off on the return journey.

Xia Hong, meanwhile, led Xia Chuan and the other three, lagging behind the group.

“All four of you, keep some distance from the main group and watch our rear at all times!”

“Understood, leader!”

The four understood Xia Hong’s intent immediately and spread out behind the column, becoming alert.

In the Binghe World, the locations of camps must be kept secret, especially when one’s side is still weak.

Under desperate conditions, human nature was something Xia Hong dared not gamble on—and could not afford to gamble.

(End of Chapter)