Chapter 2: A Terrifying Moment [Comments Wanted!]

Strange entity?

Although Xia Hong and Xia Chuan had never heard the term “strange entity” before, seeing the fear on their father’s and the others’ faces, they too felt an inexplicable heaviness.

Their father, Xia Ding, seemed too panicked to notice their confusion; he quickly ordered the twelve woodcutters to carry six large trees into the cave.

Without the slightest hesitation, he led all the camp members to completely seal the cave entrance.

After the entrance was sealed, Xia Ding stared at the camp’s central bonfire, a look of hesitation crossing his face.

But soon, he made his decision.

“Extinguish the bonfire. Everyone, put on every piece of clothing you have, huddle together for warmth. Only if someone truly can’t endure it, may you light the fire once—and only for ten minutes!”

“What? Extinguish the bonfire?”

“We’ll freeze to death.”

“Chief, no! My son is still young—he can’t take it!”

…………

His words sparked a storm; nearly sixty percent of the camp erupted in protest.

The remaining forty percent—aside from the woodcutters who knew the truth—remained silent, clearly the more composed types, waiting to hear Xia Ding out.

Xia Ding raised his hand; when everyone fell quiet, he spoke in a low, steady voice:

“The strange entity from Redwood Ridge has emerged. Everyone from the Iron Peak and Shen Ju camps is already dead. Extinguish the fire, and we still have a chance to survive. If that thing finds us, we all die.”

Upon hearing only the word “strange entity,” most in the camp showed no reaction.

Clearly, they didn’t understand what it meant.

But when they heard that all the people from the Iron Peak and Shen Ju camps were dead, every face in the camp—Xia Hong included—was instantly filled with horror.

Each of those two camps had over three hundred people.

Redwood Ridge had nine camps total; only Luo Ge was a medium-sized camp, the other eight were small like Da Xia.

Even among small camps, strength varied.

Both camps were stronger than Da Xia.

Iron Peak’s leader, Iron Hawk, was even a Digging-Level powerhouse.

And Xia Ding just said over six hundred people from both camps were dead?

What level was this strange entity?

“Hurry and put on your clothes. Extinguish the fire. Dawn is coming soon. Just hold out four hours. If someone truly can’t take it, I’ll light the fire—judiciously. Don’t worry.”

The crowd hesitated, then quickly obeyed Xia Ding’s orders.

Xia Hong rushed back to his family’s section inside the cave, gathered every piece of clothing he owned, and tossed the thickest fur coat directly to his younger brother, Xia Chuan.

“Brother, you wear it. I have enough clothes.”

“I’m stronger than you, and my body’s tougher. I’m fine.”

Blocking Xia Chuan’s attempt to return the coat, Xia Hong turned and ran straight to where his father, Xia Ding, stood.

The camp members moved swiftly; within barely two minutes, everyone was dressed and gathered in the center of the cave.

Seeing all assembled, Xia Ding nodded to the four men standing beside the bonfire, each holding animal hides to smother the flames.

They lunged forward, and the two-meter-tall fire was instantly extinguished.

The cave entrance was already sealed; without the fire’s light, darkness swallowed the interior.

With the darkness came cold.

The moment the fire died, the cave’s temperature dropped at a rate perceptible to human skin.

The two hundred-plus camp members weren’t just huddled randomly.

The youngest children were in the center, women surrounded them, adult males formed the outer ring, and the thirteen woodcutters stood at the very edge.

Elders?

No elders. Not just in Da Xia—nearly every camp had none.

In this winter’s end-times, ordinary elders couldn’t survive.

As the leader’s sons, Xia Hong and Xia Chuan received no special treatment; they were placed in the outer ring.

Time passed slowly. Within an hour, the temperature had dropped more than double what it was with the bonfire.

The children in the inner circle began shivering, their teeth chattering audibly.

The women in the middle layer started trembling.

The adult males on the outer ring fared slightly better—only slight shivers.

The most steady were the thirteen woodcutters at the very edge.

“Chief, maybe we should light the fire…”

A woman, watching her child’s lips turn blue from cold, finally couldn’t hold back and spoke to Xia Ding.

Unfortunately, her words were cut short by Xia Ding.

“Let me tell you about the strange entity from Redwood Ridge.”

Though cold, everyone raised their heads toward Xia Ding in the darkness at the mention of “strange entity.”

Even though they knew Xia Ding was trying to distract them, to help them endure longer, the long-held mystery was finally about to be solved—Xia Hong strained his ears, listening intently.

“I’ve never seen the strange entity from Redwood Ridge myself. I heard about it from an old friend in Luo Ge camp. In fact, not just me—of all nine camps around Redwood Ridge…”

“Only one person has seen that strange entity and lived.”

“Who?”

Xia Chuan, still young, brimmed with curiosity and couldn’t hold his tongue; while everyone else listened, he blurted out the question.

Of course, he’d spoken for them all.

“Luo Ge camp—Luo Feng!”

Whoo…

At the name Luo Feng, the huddled crowd erupted.

Even Xia Hong couldn’t suppress a look of shock.

Luo Feng, former leader of Luo Ge camp, was rumored to be Redwood Ridge’s first Digging-Level powerhouse.

More than twenty years ago, Luo Ge camp was much like Da Xia—a small camp of just over two hundred people. Under Luo Feng’s leadership, it grew steadily until it became a medium-sized camp.

The crowd was stunned for two reasons: first, Luo Feng was famous.

Second, he was rumored to be insane.

Fifteen years ago, word suddenly spread through Luo Ge camp that Luo Feng had gone mad from cultivation, and had killed his own son. The incident caused a huge uproar.

Could his madness be linked to the strange entity?

“You’re right. Luo Feng went mad because of that strange entity.

He encountered it while leading a hunting party.

His entire team of twenty men died—only he escaped.

But back at Luo Ge camp, one night, for no reason, he suddenly went mad and killed his youngest son. When he woke up, he was insane.

Before he lost his mind, he warned the hunters of Luo Ge camp: never venture deep into Redwood Ridge. He also shared some details about the strange entity.

So a few people in Luo Ge camp know about it—and I learned from them.”

“What does that strange entity look like?”

Again, it was Xia Chuan who couldn’t help asking.

Xia Ding didn’t answer immediately. He paused, then spoke.

“It has no fixed form. It’s said the strange entity can take on any person’s appearance.”

Take on any person’s appearance?

That’s divine magic, isn’t it?

The Seventy-Two Transformations?

Though they knew this was a world of the extraordinary, the idea of freely changing appearance still stunned Xia Hong.

“Can’t you tell the difference?”

Xia Hong couldn’t help asking aloud.

Xia Ding seemed surprised by the question. He fell silent for a moment before answering.

“No way to tell. No method works.”

“If it takes someone’s form, what does it do?”

Another asked the critical question. Xia Hong listened closely.

Xia Ding’s voice grew suddenly grim. “It’s said it takes the form of someone you know, gains your trust. Once you fully trust it, it instantly turns you into a human pillar.”

“Human pillar?”

“A person standing perfectly still—like a pillar.”

“And then?”

“It uses a small knife to slice off every bit of flesh from your body. No matter how much pain, as long as even a scrap of flesh remains, you won’t die.”

Hisss…

Everyone involuntarily drew in a sharp breath.

How much pain—and yet you can’t even die.

Is this strange entity really this monstrous?

The entire cave fell silent, shaken by Xia Ding’s words.

Then, at that moment, a clear voice came from outside the cave.

Why seal the cave entrance so early? Open up, we’re back!

With a swift rustle, everyone huddled inside the cave trembled at the sound, nearly in unison.

Including Xia Hong.

Open the entrance, did you hear me?

Another voice came again, and in the pitch-black cave, every pupil widened in shock.

Without speaking, all turned their eyes first to the cave entrance.

Then they swiftly turned to look at Xia Ding, who had been speaking just moments before.

The astonishment on their faces slowly turned to deep fear.

For the voice outside the cave,

was also Xia Ding’s voice…

PS: Reader retention is crucial during the new book phase—please, dear readers, take a moment to flip through. Consider it watering the book—begging for your support!

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(End of Chapter)