Chapter 190: Lu Sheng

Contempt, of course, has its reasons.

These twenty-three people before him wore animal-skin clothing and boots, but in craftsmanship, design, and even fabric, they were clearly distinct from those of Great Xia.

Great Xia currently hunts twenty-one types of cold beasts, and if you include intermediate-grade ones, the number is even higher; the camp's acquired pelts are not only abundant in quantity but also diverse in variety.

On this foundation, the Craftsmen Division has begun refining their pelt processing, resulting in garments that are not only more colorful but also superior in texture to before.

Take Yue Feng himself—he wore a brown greatcoat, while Li Yuankun and the others had garments in brown, yellow, black, and blue, far richer than the opposite side's.

Not just color, but texture and craftsmanship were plainly distinguishable by the naked eye.

Of course, the differences weren't limited to clothing—weapons showed even greater disparity.

Yue Feng's group of seventeen each carried a unique primary weapon, a short sword or dagger at their waist, and a ten-stone iron-frame bow on their backs.

The other twenty-three, though armed, carried only a single primary weapon—not as fully equipped as Yue Feng's team; only ten of them carried bows, less than half their total number.

"I am Lu Sheng of the Beehive Camp Hunting Team. May I ask, which camp's hunting team are you? Why are you here at Mirror Immortal's former base?"

With such glaring differences in attire and weapons before them, it wasn't just Great Xia's side that noticed—the other side wasn't stupid.

Upon hearing they were from the Beehive Camp, Yue Feng showed no surprise.

Mirror Valley lies in the southeast of Pingxi Plain; to the north and west lie Beehive Camp's territory. Since Mirror Immortal's camp was wiped out over a month ago, it's no surprise someone came to investigate.

"Thank the Deputy Minister's foresight—we were ordered to prepare early and patrol Mirror Valley frequently. Had we waited longer, Beehive Camp might have seized it, leaving us powerless to protest."

Yue Feng thought silently, his bowstring still taut, and spoke sternly to Lu Sheng: "Mirror Immortal has fully merged into our Great Xia Camp. From now on, this entire valley belongs to Great Xia. Didn't you see our stone marker when you entered from the northern passage?"

Stone marker?

Lu Sheng frowned. He had indeed seen a stone engraved with "Great Xia" upon entering, but he had no interest in it now.

When had a Great Xia camp suddenly appeared in this arrow bamboo forest?

And it had swallowed Mirror Immortal's camp!

Their leader had said He Yuanhun and Yuwen the Guardian were no ordinary men. Mirror Immortal had two Cold-Resistant-level experts and several hundred Digging-Level cultivators—its strength wasn't weak. How could it have been so mysteriously absorbed by Great Xia?

Great Xia's strength…

Lu Sheng looked up, seeing the seventeen men's attire and each carrying three weapons, and his expression softened. He smiled: "Ah, I see. You've misunderstood. Today was our scheduled trading day with Mirror Immortal. When I didn't see them arrive by nightfall, I feared something had happened and came to check."

Trading day?

Yue Feng didn't press for details, but stayed alert, watching Lu Sheng.

Seeing the seventeen still holding their bows, Lu Sheng realized something and turned to his men: "Put down the goods…"

Then he turned back to Yue Feng with a smile: "Earlier, I thought these were unclaimed goods. My apologies for the intrusion."

Though his guard wasn't fully lowered, Lu Sheng's courtesy and the fact he'd abandoned the cold-beast meat made Yue Feng's expression ease. He loosened his bowstring and bowed:

"Great Xia Shanhe Team, Yue Feng!"

After speaking, Yue Feng waved to Li Yuankun and the others.

They immediately understood and lowered their bows.

"Brother Yue, since Mirror Immortal has merged into Great Xia, can your camp continue trading with our Beehive Camp?"

Thinking of the Five Monkeys Mountain barter fair, Yue Feng guessed what the "trading day" meant. After a moment's thought, he replied:

"I can't decide this yet. I must return and report first. If you don't mind, come back in five days—I'll give you an answer then."

Lu Sheng looked at Yue Feng, his expression flickering slightly, then nodded.

"In that case, I won't overstay. Today was purely a misunderstanding. I hope, Brother Yue, you won't hold it against me."

Yue Feng shook his head, indicating no offense, and watched Lu Sheng lead his men toward the northern passage. He noticed two men carried bulging sacks that clinked with each step, and his brow darkened. He spoke sternly:

"Please deliver a message back: Mirror Immortal has merged into Great Xia. Its territory now belongs to Great Xia. I urge Beehive Camp not to trespass into Mirror Valley again. This time, I'll pretend I saw nothing. If it happens again, it won't be so easy."

Lu Sheng paused slightly, turned back, and smiled as he bowed: "Brother Yue, rest assured—I'll deliver your message."

As he watched the twenty-plus men vanish through the northern passage, Li Yuankun finally couldn't hold back: "Captain, those sacks clearly contain iron ore. They've been stealing from the eastern iron mine."

"Absolutely. Two sacks—probably over ten thousand jin. They started digging at nightfall, and with over twenty men working, they must've brought tools—just hid them from us."

"Each took about four to five hundred jin. They definitely had tools—probably no worse than our Great Xia rodent drills."

"They must've come right after we left last night. Found the camp empty, scouted the area, spotted the ore, and started stealing immediately. These guys are truly sneaky!"

…………

"Enough talk. Send two people to find out which mine they stole from."

Yue Feng cut off the chatter, ordered two men to investigate the iron mine, then stared at Lu Sheng's departing direction, his face darkening.

Though they'd been courteous, he wasn't naive.

Courtesy came from strength. Plainly, they didn't think they could take his seventeen. Otherwise, from their reaction to the cold-beast meat and their ore theft, tonight wouldn't have been so calm.

"They stole iron ore—and still ask to keep trading? Do they think we're blind?"

Li Yuankun's casual remark made Yue Feng freeze.

"Delaying time."

They were trying to buy time!

Yue Feng snapped awake, realizing their intent. His face hardened. "Yuankun, take two men, carry the two wounded back. Report everything to the Deputy Minister the moment you reach camp—tell him to bring reinforcements immediately!"

Hearing "delaying time," the others instantly understood.

"Got it. I'm leaving now."

Li Yuankun immediately picked two men and headed toward the wounded.

Soon, the two sent to investigate returned.

"Captain, they stole from Mine #2. It's closest to the valley mouth, and they even marked the entrance. They clearly plan to hold it long-term."

Hearing this, Yue Feng's brow sank deeper.

Lu Sheng's true nature clearly wasn't as open as he pretended.

"All of you, come with me to Mine #2. If I'm right, Lu Sheng will return with reinforcements soon."

Yue Feng led the remaining fourteen toward Mine #2.

There were two iron mines on the east side of Mirror Valley—one south, one near the northern passage. Since Mirror Immortal's merger, both had become Great Xia's property and were numbered accordingly.

"The southern valley mine is nearly exhausted. These two mines are vital to the camp—we can't afford any mishaps. I hope the Deputy Minister arrives soon."

Yue Feng didn't know Beehive Camp's exact location or distance from Mirror Valley. If Lu Sheng arrived before Xia Chuan, his fifteen men couldn't possibly hold them off—it would be madness.

Not because he feared them. From Yuwen Tao's earlier words, Beehive Camp's overall strength was roughly equal to Mirror Immortal's. Great Xia now had no reason to fear.

But if they forcibly seized the mines, reclaiming them would cost Great Xia dearly.

Avoidable trouble must be avoided.

Yue Feng stayed here to claim moral ground—to assert Great Xia's sovereignty over these two mines.

He just didn't know if they'd see his small force and act recklessly.

Yue Feng's mind grew heavier. He glanced at the fourteen others, noticing most wore anxious expressions. After a moment's thought, he whispered: "You can hide on the sides. I'll stand alone."

Declaring sovereignty didn't require so many.

If his guess was right and a large force came, fifteen men wouldn't matter. Better to have just him here.

"Captain, I'm not afraid. Who knows how many they'll bring? We stay together—it's better than you standing alone."

"Right. Mirror Valley is Great Xia's land. These mines are ours. Let them steal a little, fine—but take them whole? No way."

"We're one team—we stand together. If we hide while you stand alone, other teams will laugh at us."

"Defending the land isn't just your duty—it's ours too."

"The Deputy Minister and the Leader won't forget us."

"Yes. We're staying—with you."

One by one, their fears vanished, replaced by resolve to defend Great Xia's territory.

Seeing their determined faces, Yue Feng felt a surge of emotion.

They knew how dangerous staying was.

Yet they stayed without hesitation.

Most of the Shanhe Team had joined the camp only this month. In such a short time, it was unrealistic to expect deep loyalty to Great Xia.

Please... You... Collect_(!)

What drove them was the past half-month of joint hunts—fighting side by side, growing accustomed to sharing life and death.

"No wonder the Deputy Minister said when I formed this team: 'All hunting teams are the camp's absolute backbone. You captains will become Great Xia's pillars!'"

Yue Feng recalled Xia Chuan's words, his spirit sharpening. He realized his choices would shape these men—and a deeper sense of responsibility rose within him.

He looked at them, a surge of boldness rising, and spoke firmly:

"Good! Since none of you fear it, we stay together. No matter how many Beehive Camp sends, if they want these mines, they'll have to walk over our corpses."

The group nodded firmly, their resolve hardening.

Returning to camp from Mirror Valley meant crossing the arrow bamboo forest—roughly an hour round-trip. With Li Yuankun and two others carrying wounded, it might take longer.

Yue Feng glanced at the sky, calculated briefly, then said: "Dawn is half an hour away. The Deputy Minister won't arrive until nightfall again. Prepare yourselves—we'll spend the day inside the mine."

Hearing this, the group relaxed.

Indeed, dawn was near. Li Yuankun's return would take over half an hour. By the time Xia Chuan learned, it would be daylight—and he'd come only after nightfall.

Though unaware of Beehive Camp's exact location, it was surely some distance away. So too, Lu Sheng's return would come only after nightfall.

They could rest safely through the day.

Soon, they lit coal fires inside the mine. At dawn, they sealed the entrance and lay down to rest.

"Pair up. Each pair stands watch for half an hour. I'll take the final half-hour. Rest now—nothing should happen today."

Though daytime danger was unlikely, Yue Feng still assigned watches.

The day lasted four hours. Seven groups covered three and a half hours; he took the last half—perfectly balanced.

The strength of Great Xia is truly no longer what it once was; people's lives have improved greatly compared to the past, but some fundamental things remain unchanged.

Throughout the entire encampment, everyone except the leader Xia Hong still cannot move about during the day, forced to live a nocturnal existence.

"Someday, when I break through to the Cold-Resisting level, I'll be able to see the daytime world of the Ice Abyss like our leader."

Yue Feng closed his eyes, thinking of how Xia Hong could now appear freely under the sunlight, filled with envy and longing.

"Captain, it's nearly nightfall."

After sleeping for an unknown length of time, Yue Feng was awakened by someone.

Through the small opening left in the mine tunnel, he saw the sky outside had grown dim; realizing night was imminent, he quickly rose, signaled the last group to sleep, and moved to the tunnel entrance to stand guard.

A steady stream of chilling air poured in through the narrow opening, no thicker than a thumb; despite the coal fire warming the cave, when Yue Feng reached out and touched the solidified cold air, he couldn't help but shiver.

"Just the cold air is this terrifying—what if one were struck by that cold light…?"

Yue Feng shook his head slightly, withdrew his finger, and quietly watched the outside through the opening while waiting for night to fall.

"Crack… crack… crack…"

Yue Feng had assumed he could wait peacefully until nightfall.

Yet, just as the sky darkened but hadn't yet fully turned night—

A heavy set of footsteps suddenly reached his ears.

The Mirror Immortal outpost had been deserted for a long time, and no cold beasts usually came to this valley; the snow on the ground made every footstep unnaturally clear.

Hearing the sound, he did not wake the others, but first peered through the hole in the tunnel to observe the outside.

At the sight, Yue Feng's pupils shrank sharply.

A white figure was advancing steadily toward the mine tunnel, braving the dim sunlight; though his steps were slow, his target was unmistakable.

Clearly, the stranger had sensed people inside the tunnel.

"Wake up! Someone's coming! Everyone, wake up!"

Seeing the figure now less than ten meters away, knowing he had come for them, Yue Feng shouted outright to rouse the others.

Fourteen men shot awake instantly, without hesitation, snatching their weapons and swiftly nocking arrows, aiming at the tunnel entrance.

After all, they were seasoned hunters who, even while sleeping, remained ever vigilant.

Though their reaction was swift, when they noticed the sky outside had not fully darkened—and recalled Yue Feng's warning of someone approaching—their faces instantly turned grim.

Someone coming here under the cold light… during the day!

The answer was obvious.

This intruder was a Cold-Resisting-level powerhouse!

Boom……

With a thunderous crash, the branches sealing the tunnel entrance scattered in all directions; as the white figure grew clearer at the entrance, everyone's hearts—Yue Feng included—tightened in dread.

"You're from that Great Xia encampment?"

As the intruder kicked open the tunnel entrance, a flood of cold light poured in; Yue Feng and the others were forced to retreat deeper into the mine.

The man appeared middle-aged, with large features and a brow radiating dominance; his appearance matched the commanding, unyielding tone of his question.

He was powerfully built, dressed not in beast hides but in cotton fabric, fitted tightly to his frame, revealing every bulging, knotted muscle—exuding overwhelming pressure.

Though he knew this man was far beyond his power to challenge, Yue Feng gritted his teeth, stepped forward, and bowed: "Yue Feng of the Great Xia Shanhe team, greetings, Elder. May I ask—are you from the Beehive Encampment?"

"Hmph!"

The middle-aged man scowled, let out a cold snort, and casually flicked his wrist toward Yue Feng.

Shhh……

A pebble no larger than a fingernail shot from his hand, piercing straight through Yue Feng's right ear.

Yue Feng's pupils tightened; he touched the blood dripping from his earlobe. Though fury surged within him, he stood frozen, saying nothing.

The man had held back—if he hadn't, piercing the ear—or even the skull—would have been effortless.

"I'm in a good mood today. You're young—I'll teach you how to speak properly. You have no right to ask me questions. I ask, you answer. Understood?"

Though rage boiled inside him, Yue Feng, glancing at the sky outside, clenched his fists tightly beneath his sleeves and growled: "Then… what would you like to ask?"

(End of Chapter)