[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-endless-winter-my-camp-infinitely-upgrades":3,"chapter-endless-winter-my-camp-infinitely-upgrades-endless-winter-my-camp-infinitely-upgrades-chapter-182":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Endless Winter: My Camp Infinitely Upgrades",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2266608,4425,"Chapter 182: Three Tigers Fall: Observations and a Fluttering Heart [Happy New Year]","endless-winter-my-camp-infinitely-upgrades-chapter-182",182,"\u003Cp>“It’s so warm here!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why does everyone here wear animal-skin clothes, and why are the colors different?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So much coal, Uncle Yuan, look over there—there’s tons of coal!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Iron ore, so much of it, just lying on the ground.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So many weapons, and raw frost-beast meat—what’s that red stuff?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They don’t live in caves, Sister. This valley isn’t even lit with fire, yet it’s so warm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Look, even the children have clothes on, Sister, look!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……………………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite having prepared themselves mentally, when Xiao Yuan, Xiao Ning, and Xiao Yu finally arrived at the Great Xia Valley with Xia Chuan’s group, they were stunned by what lay before them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Surveying everything in the valley, their pupils widened with shock and awe; they froze in place, unable to move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come on, the three of you—keep moving forward!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only when Xia Chuan called out from ahead did they snap back to reality. Seeing the smiles on Xia Chuan and the others’ faces, they flushed with embarrassment and hurried to catch up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like those who had previously joined Great Xia, they needed no introduction from Xia Chuan’s group—merely the dazzling array of supplies and structures within the Great Xia Valley left Xiao Yuan and the others speechless for a long time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After walking over a hundred meters and taking in the general state of the entire valley, their expressions grew even more moved; along the way, not a single one of them asked a single question, as if they had forgotten why they had come.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Chuan, leading the way ahead, was about to speak when someone suddenly rushed over and bowed deeply to him:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Captain Zhu Qing of the Heroic Squad, bows to the Deputy Director…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing three strangers behind Xia Chuan, Zhu Qing paused, then leaned close to Xia Chuan’s ear and whispered a few words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Understood. Tell Zhu Yuan to wait for me in the main hall—I’ll be there immediately!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hearing this, Xia Chuan frowned but gestured for Zhu Qing to go ahead, then turned to Xiao Yuan and the others with a smile: “Uncle Xiao, I have urgent business to attend to. Let Qiu Peng show you around. Feel free to ask him anything, alright?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yuan quickly bowed, speaking with utmost respect: “My lord, you’re too kind. Please attend to your urgent matters—we’ll explore on our own.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Chuan nodded, gave Qiu Peng a glance, then walked straight toward the wooden house on the left; Shi Ping and the others followed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qiu Peng remained behind, smiling at Xiao Yuan and the others:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The three of you, please follow me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qiu Peng was the Director of the Supply Department, in charge of all camp supplies and contribution records—there was no one better suited to guide Xiao Yuan and the others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>………………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Temporary wooden house, left side, main hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as Xia Chuan and the others entered, they saw a row of strangers kneeling on the ground, bound by ropes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were seventeen of them—all middle-aged, dressed in full animal-skin garments. Though wounded, their faces were defiant, radiating a fierce aura; as soon as Xia Chuan entered, their gazes snapped toward him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though they concealed it well, Xia Chuan sensed the faint, lurking malice deep in their eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially the two at the front—the one on the left bore a fresh scar across his eyebrow, the one on the right had lost his left arm; their eyes blazed with the most obvious hostility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My lord…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yuan, seated on the chair, immediately rose to bow as Xia Chuan entered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The seventeen kneeling men, seeing this, instantly stiffened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Xia Chuan first walked in, they had assumed he was just an ordinary member of the camp due to his youthful appearance—yet now they saw Zhu Yuan’s profound respect for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hours earlier, they had fought Zhu Yuan and knew just how terrifying his strength was. This young man could command such deference from Zhu Yuan—his power and status must far exceed their wildest guesses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Xia Chuan had already guessed the identities of the seventeen, he still sat down and turned to Zhu Yuan:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What happened? Who are these people? Has Yuwen Tao not returned?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yuan nodded and quickly recounted everything that had transpired when Yuwen Tao led the mission to find Hong Guang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Last night, with Zeng Fan as their guide, Yuwen Tao’s group swiftly located the Sanhu Camp. Eager to rescue Hong Guang, Yuwen Tao seized a lone man, interrogated him, confirmed Hong Guang was being held captive there, and immediately attacked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the Sanhu Camp had over two thousand people, their strength was pitiful—only forty-odd Digging Earth cultivators, including the so-called Three Tigers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuwen Tao brought his own Long Wu Squad, plus the squads of Hong Tian, Zhu Ling, Zhu Yuan, and Meng Yi—thirty-five men total, fully armed and unafraid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Xia Chuan’s face twisted with confusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Human camps in the Five Ape Mountains were indeed far behind Great Xia in both strength and weaponry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But even so, how could Yuwen Tao, with only thirty-four men, have simply overrun a camp of over two thousand?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Normally, it shouldn’t have gone this smoothly. Sanhu Camp had over two thousand people. Though they had few Digging Earth cultivators, they had many Woodcutting Earth ones. My lord hesitated—should he return to report to the Deputy Director before rescuing Hong Guang and the others…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Xia Chuan’s confusion, Zhu Ling immediately explained—but as he spoke, his tone turned furious. He glanced at the seventeen kneeling men, then faced Xia Chuan:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“These bastards are utterly despised. The man Yuwen my lord  first captured, upon hearing we planned to attack Sanhu Camp, immediately betrayed them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He not only told us where the three leaders lived, but also revealed that only twenty-odd Digging Earth cultivators truly supported the three leaders, along with a hundred or so of their family members. Everyone else held a grudge against them. If we eliminated the leaders first, the rest would join us in attacking them…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Chuan listened, frowning; by the time he heard the full account, his gaze toward the seventeen men had grown icy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed the rumors he’d heard were mostly true.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Sanhu Camp was indeed a poison in the Five Ape Mountains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Zhu Ling finished, he continued: “These bastards built a massive prison in their camp to imprison the families of Digging Earth cultivators and those who disobeyed. They used this to threaten others into becoming slave laborers—anyone who caused trouble, their family members had limbs severed and used as bait for hunting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those with some value suffered this fate; those without value fared worse. Men were killed at will, women raped without restraint. Not just the prison—every corner of the camp was a hellhole.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were twenty-three of them total. Last night we killed five, one escaped, and these seventeen were captured alive. When we took them, the others nearly tore them apart—had my lord not intervened and ordered they be brought back for the Deputy Director’s judgment, they’d be dead already.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their hundred-plus family members? No need for us to lift a finger—they were beaten to death by the rest of the camp.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Zhu Ling’s account was not exhaustive, even just hearing it, Xia Chuan could feel just how monstrous Sanhu Camp’s crimes were.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My lord, I am Liu Erhu. If I’m not mistaken, you’re the leader of the Great Xia Camp, correct?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Xia Chuan’s gaze turned utterly cold, the leader among the kneeling men suddenly spoke up to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Surprisingly, Liu Erhu’s voice was firm, carrying an air of equality—there was not a trace of submission from a prisoner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Ling had spoken vaguely; they had only deduced his title as Deputy Director and assumed he was the leader.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Chuan sat on the chair, turned his head to look at Liu Erhu, said nothing, and simply watched him, waiting to see what he would say next.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not receiving a response, Liu Erhu’s expression tightened slightly, but he quickly adjusted his demeanor and spoke with confidence: “My lord, we didn’t realize your camp’s strength was so formidable, so we dared to offend you. We beg your forgiveness…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he begged for mercy, his words carried not a hint of remorse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing he was clearly setting up for what came next, Xia Chuan said nothing, merely nodded slightly—as if encouraging him to continue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Liu Erhu’s face brightened. “Great Xia Camp is surely short on manpower now. I, Erhu, am willing to lead my brothers into your service—henceforth, we will follow only your orders!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I, Sanhu, also wish to join.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I wish to join your camp too!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I as well!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the other sixteen gradually speak up, begging to join Great Xia, Xia Chuan lowered his gaze and said nothing. He turned again to Zhu Ling:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Five killed, one escaped—was it Da Hu?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sanhu Camp had Erhu and Sanhu present—only Da Hu was missing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Xia Chuan had guessed, Zhu Ling wasn’t surprised. He nodded: “Liu Da Hu has begun using beast blood, but he still couldn’t match the Deputy Director. Still, he had a very powerful staff—made of some unknown material, incredibly resilient yet unbreakable. It even deflected the Deputy Director’s sword. He escaped in the end.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not a match for Yuwen Tao—just a powerful weapon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Xia Chuan relaxed considerably. He had feared Da Hu was too strong and might disturb his brother’s cultivation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’re short on manpower. The camp still has over two thousand people. My lord feared a mass migration would be unsafe, so he ordered me to bring these prisoners back first, report to the Deputy Director, then send more people to safely relocate the rest.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two thousand people, over ten kilometers away—Yuwen Tao’s thirty-odd men couldn’t guarantee safety, especially with Liu Da Hu still on the loose. If he slipped in and caused trouble, the situation would turn dire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Liu Da Hu is deeply attached to his two brothers. He’ll surely try to rescue them. On our return journey, my lord escorted us for a stretch—but the bastard never took the bait.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To leave evil unextinguished invites endless trouble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, Yuwen Tao understood this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Liu Da Hu was cunning—he hadn’t taken the bait.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Chuan glanced at the seventeen kneeling men, then suddenly asked: “By the way, how is the Xuanwu Squad?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Guang was surely rescued, but according to Qiu Peng’s report last night, Yuwen Tao had been furious—something must have happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Xia Chuan’s question, Zhu Ling’s expression darkened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tian Yu and Liu Zhuang are dead. Hong Guang and four others were tortured all night, severely injured—I brought them back. They’re recovering now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two dead, five injured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Xuanwu Squad had only seven members total.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Xia Chuan’s face turned icy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Ling’s face twisted with fury. He stepped forward and kicked Liu Erhu hard, then continued: “Hong Guang was tricked by this bastard. The night he came, this bastard pretended to negotiate, invited him to stay overnight. Hong Guang knew it was inappropriate and refused outright. But this bastard was cunning—he suggested sending someone back to report. Hong Guang fell for it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Chuan shook his head slightly, disappointed in Hong Guang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, Liu Erhu had deliberately split their forces. Without doubt, the men Hong Guang sent back to report were Tian Yu and Liu Zhuang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tian Yu and Liu Zhuang were sent back to report, but were ambushed and killed en route. Hong Guang and the other four were surrounded and captured. These monsters even tried to follow Hong Guang back to Great Xia. Had Hong Guang and the others not held firm and refused to speak, they might have been killed before we even arrived.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Ling’s final words brought Xia Chuan slight comfort—somewhat restoring Hong Guang’s image in his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My lord, Erhu is sincere in my loyalty. If Great Xia will accept us, I will go persuade my elder brother—he’s powerful, he can become your right hand!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My lord, I am truly loyal. I beg you to spare us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Deputy Director, Erhu is sincere!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kicked to the ground by Zhu Ling, Liu Erhu seethed with rage—but finally realized Xia Chuan’s earlier reactions had been deliberate mockery. Though fury burned within him, he kept pleading for mercy, desperate to secure even a sliver of hope.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Xia Chuan ignored him entirely, only looking at Zhu Ling and saying:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go rest for now. Tomorrow night, notify Yuwen Tao. The day after, I’ll send someone to bring back those two thousand people. But that night, there’ll be an exchange fair at Five Ape Mountain—eleven medium camps will send representatives. I’ll…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Ling listened to Xia Chuan’s instructions, nodding occasionally, his eyes growing brighter until he finally wore an expression of approval.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Liu Erhu below had not yet stopped speaking. After a while, Xia Chuan’s complete silence finally broke his act. He looked up and roared: “Don’t take kindness for weakness, you dog! Even if your Great Xia is strong, what of it? With my brother’s strength, you’ll never catch him. If you dare kill me, he’ll avenge me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Liu Sanhu beside him also roared: “You won’t dare kill us! Last night, that man didn’t kill me because he was scared of my brother! What does it matter if you drag us here? If you won’t kill us, then be smart and let us go…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even more absurdly, the fifteen men kneeling behind them began speaking up too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the seventeen men, their faces fierce and their words thick with brutality, Xia Chuan—interrupted—grew icy. His gaze, along with those of Zhu Ling, Shi Ping, and everyone else in the hall, darkened sharply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The seventeen’s furious shouting continued. The temporary wooden hut was no wider than fifty meters; the main hall had been hastily partitioned, and already, many nearby people had been drawn by the noise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After more than ten breaths, seeing the seventeen still unrelenting, Xia Chuan’s expression grew indifferent. He raised his head slightly, signaling to Shi Ping and the Yunjiao squad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Ping and eight others immediately drew their blades and stepped behind the group.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Click… click… click…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A series of crisp, clean slicing sounds instantly silenced the entire main hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Erhu and Liu Sanhu, the two in front, turned to see the fifteen behind them decapitated. Their bodies froze cold, pupils wide with terror, trembling uncontrollably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In one glance…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Killed. All killed…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could he dare? How could he dare…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My lord, spare us! My lord, spare us! We were wrong!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I was wrong! My lord, spare me! We were wrong!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t kill me! I can help you catch my brother!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Spare me! Spare me! My lord, please, spare my life!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pfft… pfft…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Chuan roared. Shi Ping instantly understood, pulled two iron arrows from his back, and shot them left and right—driving them straight through the two men’s mouths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mmm… mmm… mmm…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The main hall fell silent. Xia Chuan listened to their muffled noises, shook his head: “These two beasts still have some use. Take them somewhere and lock them up. Bring them to Five Ape Mountain the day after tomorrow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Ping nodded and dragged them out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>………………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a side wooden hut, not far from the main hall, inside a room designated for wounded, Hong Guang lay on his bed, covered in wounds, staring blankly at the ceiling, lost in thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Yu, who had just applied gold-creating powder to his father, sat beside the bed. Seeing his father’s expression, he knew what he was thinking. After a pause, he said gently:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Father, Tian Yu and Liu Zhuang were accidents. Don’t blame yourself too much!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Guang’s eyes remained vacant, fixed on the ceiling without moving, as if he hadn’t heard his son.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Hong Guang still silent, Hong Yu opened his mouth to speak again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thump…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A hand, clad in a black sleeve and luminous as jade, suddenly landed on his shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Yu turned and, seeing the figure, froze for a moment—then his expression flared with excitement. He quickly stood, ready to bow in salute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But before he could bend his waist, the man stopped him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No need for formalities. Hong Guang, I’ve come to see you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the voice, Hong Guang’s vacant eyes snapped back to life. He turned his head and saw the young black-clad man beside the bed. He struggled to sit up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re in this state—why bow? Just lie down!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Guang’s face flushed with shame. “Leader, I was a fool this time—deceived by others, caused two brothers to die, and dragged Commander Xia to send so many to rescue me. Hong Guang accepts any punishment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black-clad man was naturally Xia Hong. As soon as he learned of the camp’s deaths, he could no longer stay secluded. After learning the situation, he came straight to Hong Guang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Hong Guang’s remorse, Xia Hong’s expression softened slightly, but he remained stern: “Your foolishness isn’t just about being deceived!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Guang froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The two camps you brought in recently—you coerced them, didn’t you? Used force to drag them here, correct?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Leader, the people at Five Ape Mountain are too wary, too hard to communicate with. I forced them to come to camp first. Once they see the benefits, they’ll naturally integrate into Great Xia. Isn’t that acceptable?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If that’s the case, why do I need you and your men at all?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Hong’s single sentence left Hong Guang stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Yu, standing beside them, also stiffened—but quickly understood. He looked at Xia Hong with a flash of reverence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment, Hong Guang slowly grasped the meaning, and his expression changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn’t stupid—he understood exactly what Xia Hong meant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If brute force alone could bring people in, why didn’t the Leader go himself? Would anyone on Five Ape Mountain dare resist?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Jingxian family, over three thousand people, already caused so much internal strife. Five Ape Mountain has nearly twenty small camps. If I forcibly absorbed them all at once, Great Xia’s ranks would be a chaotic mix. Just resolving internal unity would take years—and might still fail. What use is such growth?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Listening to this, Hong Guang’s face was filled with regret.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Yu, beside him, broke into a cold sweat. Xia Hong’s first words had been a direct jab at his father’s ambition to become Chief of the Frontier Division—he understood perfectly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d thought the Leader had been sealed away in seclusion. But he’d known everything all along.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A single Three Tiger Camp—six Digging-Level hunters, plus you, a Digging-Level Apex—nearly wiped out. Tian Yu and Liu Zhuang died in your place. You should feel guilty.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Hong’s tone grew harsher. To him, the Three Tiger Camp was pitifully weak. For Hong Guang to fail so easily was unforgivable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“From now on, you’ll support the families of Tian Yu and Liu Zhuang. Don’t let them know—deduct the cost monthly from your contribution points. You’re no longer competing for the Frontier Division Chief position. Also, the Xuanwu Squad is disbanded effective today. The five of you remaining will be reassigned to other hunting squads.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three punishments, each heavier than the last.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially the last: hearing the Xuanwu Squad was dissolved, Hong Guang’s face twisted in panic. He opened his mouth to speak—but his lips trembled for a long time, unable to utter a single word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Are you dissatisfied with how I handled this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Guang shook his head on the bed. After a long silence, he spoke slowly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No. I accept my punishment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good. Rest well and heal. When you break through to Cold-Resisting Level, I’ll give you a chance to rebuild the Xuanwu Squad.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Hong Guang’s expression flared with excitement. He instinctively opened his mouth to thank him—but when he looked up, Xia Hong had vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Yu, who had stood beside Xia Hong, was utterly stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d only lowered his head for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that moment, Xia Hong was gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Leader’s strength… is terrifying!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Yu’s admiration for Xia Hong surged to its peak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Father, do you think Yuwen Tao could last three strikes against the Leader?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing his son’s question, Hong Guang looked startled—then recalled something and immediately shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuwen Tao? Three strikes?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What nonsense!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Hong had once killed He Yuanhun!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though only over ten days had passed, Hong Guang clearly felt Xia Hong’s power had grown even more terrifying than before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>………………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind the valley, beside the forge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Ning and Xiao Yu, the two sisters, watched people entering and exiting the forge, carrying various weapons, tools, and large iron ingots. Their faces were filled with awe and longing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Those big iron pieces are for building that wooden tower. I just heard Qiu Peng say that once it’s done, everyone in the camp can live inside.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yu continued: “Those two wooden towers were just temporary shelters. I can’t imagine what it’ll look like once the tower’s finished.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Ning nodded, recalling what she’d just learned, still feeling disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A cold beast tide of over five hundred beasts—and Great Xia held it off? Their strength is too immense. That Leader—Xia Chuan’s older brother—what kind of person is he? I wish I could see him with my own eyes!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yu’s eyes also glowed with yearning. To her, Xia Chuan was already a towering figure. His brother was like a god among Great Xia’s people—she couldn’t imagine his grandeur.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uncle Yuan was taken to see Brother Xia Chuan. Xiao Yu, unless something goes wrong, we’ll be living in Great Xia from now on!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yu nodded eagerly, her spirits lifted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to the desperately scarce resources of Xiao River—or rather, all of Five Ape Mountain—Great Xia’s camp was impossibly wealthy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All kinds of wooden goods, leather products, clothing, tools, medicine, weapons, beast meat, beast blood…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only wealthy, but powerful, with a safer, more comfortable environment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most crucially, the camp’s entire operational system was brilliantly rational.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We both have Digging-Level cultivation. Under Great Xia’s rules, we’ll join the Hunting Division, be assigned to a hunting squad, and earn contribution points ourselves. We can exchange them for finished weapons—and even raw iron ore, to commission custom weapons from the forge.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Xiao Yu’s excitement, Xiao Ning smiled softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She saw further than her sister.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The most important thing is the cold beast meat. One contribution point gets you two catties of meat. That means, from now on, we’ll never lack meat for cultivation. If Father and the others knew, they’d be overjoyed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yu nodded, remembering how scarce beast meat was near Five Ape Mountain. Her excitement deepened, her eyes filled with longing to join Great Xia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I heard the contribution point system was created by Brother Xia Chuan and his older brother together. So brilliant! With this system, Great Xia’s growth is only a matter of time. If we join now, we might witness the rise of a colossal power!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yu didn’t catch the deeper meaning in Xiao Ning’s words—only noticed the admiration on her sister’s face when she mentioned Xia Chuan. She smirked teasingly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sister, you seem impatient. Are you falling for someone? Is that why you’re so eager to join?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing her sister’s tease, Xiao Ning’s cheeks flushed crimson. She raised her hand as if to strike—but suddenly froze, lifting her gaze toward the wooden hut on the left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What's wrong, sister?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yu had already moved ahead; she turned back to see Xiao Ning standing in place, followed her gaze—and saw nothing at all. She hurriedly asked, \"What is it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It feels... like someone's watching me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No one's there at all.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Xiao Yu's words, Xiao Ning frowned slightly, but after several glances, she saw it was merely a wall. Remembering this was the Great Xia encampment, where no danger could exist, she lowered her guard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Maybe it's just a new place—I'm being overly cautious!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",3992,"2026-06-19T20:30:15.201Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","7b20aac86ab8fa73c5089b1d2bca4b850f3aec440e5ffe9888a97359cf64957b","endless-winter-my-camp-infinitely-upgrades-chapter-183","endless-winter-my-camp-infinitely-upgrades-chapter-181",521,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fendless-winter-my-camp-infinitely-upgrades-cover.jpg"]