Chapter 248: Cause and Effect, Pattern, Return to the Hive

The sudden appearance of Great Xia's fifteen Cold-Resisting Realm experts destined that Longshan's siege aimed at Xia Hong could only end in failure.

But there was one person who clearly didn't want to give up yet!

Swoosh...

Xia Hong passed through the gap and ran out of the iron gate. The sound of an iron arrow breaking the air came to his ears, and a feeling of danger rose in his heart again.

Only this time, surrounded by Xia Chuan and the fifteen others, Xia Hong was not as rushed as before.

His gaze knit together. He directly set up the Divine Arm bow Xia Chuan had just given him, drew a silver iron arrow, looked up, drew the bow, nocked the arrow, and fired. The whole set of actions was done in one go, firing directly at a giant stone on the stone wall.

At the same time, he suddenly waved the Divine Arm bow, hit the iron arrow shot from above his head, and then, in the blink of an eye, reached out and grabbed the iron arrow directly.

Bang...

The arrow shot by the other party was caught by him.

And the arrow he shot had accurately and without error hit a giant stone above the stone wall, making a loud noise.

The stone wall shattered a piece, and broken stones fell one after another, mixed with a slightly panicked black shadow that also fell from mid-air and arrived beside Li Ying Xuan Ling and the others.

The sharpshooter who had been hiding above the stone wall finally revealed his true face.

It was also a middle-aged man dressed in black, with a slightly thin face, a slender figure, and those sharp eyes, which indeed fit the stereotypical impression of a sharpshooter in the minds of ordinary people.

"That is a bowstring?"

However, Xia Hong's first attention was on the stringless bow in the other party's hand, as well as the large bundle of snow-white silk threads on his back.

"It's snow bamboo silk. A single strand of snow bamboo silk has extremely strong toughness. If many strands are kneaded together, it can indeed withstand a draw weight of more than ten *zong* for a short time. This person should be changing the string once for every arrow shot!"

Qiu Peng, as the Administrator of the Supplies Department, was very familiar with all kinds of materials. He recognized at a glance that what the person was carrying on his back was snow bamboo silk, and at the same time, he immediately analyzed why he could shoot arrows with such great force.

Hearing this, Xia Hong revealed a trace of disappointment on his face. Having just experienced the iron arrow with 14-*zong* force, he thought there might be some new discovery. It turned out to be just a one-time consumable using snow bamboo silk as a string. The cost was too high, and it simply couldn't be applied on a large scale.

And having to change it once after using it once was also too troublesome.

"Young Lady, we'll meet again!"

Bringing the Great Xia crowd to run out of the iron gate, Xia Hong looked back at Li Ying Xuan Ling, whose face was ugly, and didn't forget to tease her, then stared at Hou Tong and the others deep in the valley entrance, and finally turned and left.

Xia Chuan and the fifteen others, although looking at Longyou with indignation, also understood that Xia Hong's decision was the correct one, and followed closely behind.

Not until running more than a kilometer did Xia Hong slow down, turn his head to look at the group of people behind him, reveal a smile on his face, and then his gaze brightened slightly, asking:

"Did you guys already take down the Hive?"

Xia Chuan nodded heavily. Having not seen Xia Hong for four months, his mood was clearly very excited. He first bowed and performed a great salute to Xia Hong, saying incomparably excitedly: "Pay respects to the leader!"

"Pay respects to the leader!"

Luo Yuan, Qiu Peng, and the other fourteen also followed behind him, bowing to Xia Hong in unison and shouting in unison to pay respects.

Looking at Peng Bo and Chen Yingyuan, who actually followed Xia Chuan and the others to bow and pay respects, Xia Hong's gaze moved slightly, looking at Xia Chuan, waiting for his answer.

"Leader, we didn't just take the Hive, there's also Wu Shuang..."

From receiving Xia Hong's message to later coincidentally encountering Zhaoyang attacking the Hive, to destroying Hou Ming's group, taking the Hive, exploring Yanglu, attacking Wu Shuang... Xia Chuan told Xia Hong everything that happened in the series of events that followed, word for word.

"Yesterday, I saw Wu Xiong's abnormality and chased him all the way to the position of the Longshan large army. Unfortunately, Li Ying Xuan Ling and that group of people didn't believe me, forcibly saved him, and were even bewitched by him, thinking it was Great Xia that ruined Longshan's affairs at Yanglu, and chased me all the way.

As soon as I returned to Wu Shuang, I sent people back to Xia City to get Condensing Fire Oil. Later, at night, the scouts discovered the Longshan large army had movements, so I immediately brought people to follow up, and then I saw Eldest Brother being besieged by Li Ying Xuan Ling and the others..."

Not only taking the Hive from Zhaoyang's hands but also attacking Wu Shuang at the same time.

Connecting the series of events Xia Chuan narrated, Xia Hong immediately realized where today's siege aimed at him came from.

From the moment Xia Chuan sent Qiu Peng on a diplomatic mission to Longshan, Li Ying Xuan Ling and the group not only completely knew about Great Xia's existence but also linked Great Xia with the Hong Xia he had disguised himself as.

Li Ying Xuan Ling must have sent people to notify Hou Hu, which also made Hou Hu realize in hindsight the connection between him and Great Xia.

It seemed Hou Hu still didn't want to tear his face with him. Otherwise, just now in the Cold-Qiong Gourd Valley, Hou Tong shouldn't have just led people to retreat to the inner valley, but should have made a move with Li Ying Xuan Ling and the others to besiege him.

This Hou Hu could also be considered a smart person, knowing who the biggest enemy was!

After Xia Hong deduced the reason for his danger, he immediately put his thoughts on what happened at the Yanglu station.

Using the Broken Illusion Eye to see Wu Xiong's abnormality just now, there was indeed a problem.

"Not right, you guys look at me!"

Recalling the fire-red substance lingering around Wu Xiong's body before, and Xia Chuan's description of the infection characteristics of the white dew drops, Xia Hong immediately realized a trace of something wrong, then wiped his left face near the eyebrow wound with his hand, wiped the bloodstains clean, and signaled everyone to look.

Seeing Xia Hong's wound, everyone's faces changed instantly.

"There are dew drops."

"The leader has also been infected."

"That Wu Xiong should be the Bai Lu Strange transformed."

"Eldest Brother, quickly smear it with Condensing Fire Oil."

Xia Hong took the Condensing Fire Oil, crushed it into liquid, and smeared it on the facial wound. The feeling of alternating cold and heat came from his face, which not only made him immediately understand Yuan Cheng's inferences but also made his expression a bit strange.

This dew drop's touch, why does it feel a bit familiar...

Before he had time to think carefully, he had already arrived at the giant rock station of Wu Shuang with Xia Chuan and the others.

It was night, and at the entrance of the giant rock station, many Great Xia members were guarding. Seeing Xia Chuan and the others walking from afar, everyone hurriedly stood up to pay respects, but before they could open their mouths, they discovered the person behind Xia Chuan was Xia Hong, and their expressions instantly became excited.

"Leader?"

"It's the leader! The leader is back!"

"It really is the leader! The leader is back, hahaha..."

"Pay respects to the leader!"

"Pay respects to the leader!"

"Pay respects to the leader!"

One wave of cheers after another resounded through the entire Wu Shuang station, not only making the people inside the Wu Shuang station but also Peng Bo and the four others following behind Xia Chuan see again how high the status of Xia Hong, this leader, was in the hearts of the Great Xia crowd.

Among the four, Peng Bo and Chen Yingyuan had the most complex expressions.

After all, both had been leaders before. The heartfelt fanatical and reverent emotions that these 1,400-plus Earth-Digging Realm experts of Great Xia held for Xia Hong, they could all feel.

Just now at the Cold-Qiong station, the fanaticism Xia Chuan and the others showed for Xia Hong had already shocked them, but the problem was that they only realized at this moment that the emotions of these Earth-Digging Realm experts were even more exaggerated.

The two even suspected that if Xia Hong opened his mouth to let these people die, they would follow suit without hesitation. No wonder the two's moods were complex. As leaders, the status they held in their respective encampments was simply too far behind compared to Xia Hong.

"Alright, no need for formalities, all get up!"

Pale golden armor, every person holding a four-system Xia blade... Seeing the familiar Great Xia intermediate hunting team attire, Xia Hong was also in a good mood. After waving his hand to signal, he rushed to the Wu Shuang main building with Xia Chuan.

"The Bai Lu plague has completely spread in Wu Shuang and the Hive. When Meng Yi returned to Xia City to deliver a message during the day, he brought more than 3,000 pieces in advance. We gave priority to the Earth-Digging Realm experts, and the remaining people have all taken strict isolation measures. We have to wait for the subsequent Condensing Fire Oil to be delivered before we can give it to them."

Xia Hong had just sat on the main seat when he heard Xia Chuan's report.

According to Xia Chuan's previous statement, he also discovered Wu Xiong's abnormality during the day, sent Meng Yi back to Xia City to report the news, and let Xia City mobilize a large batch of Condensing Fire Oil. The speed definitely couldn't be this fast.

Condensing Fire Oil also had weight, each piece about 5 jin. Large-scale dispatching couldn't rely on a few Cold-Resisting Realm experts; it had to use trailers for transport.

"When will the remaining Condensing Fire Oil be delivered?"

"From Xia City to Mirror Valley, one can take the Xia straight road, which is not affected during the day, but the road from Mirror Valley to the Hive and then to Wu Shuang won't work. It should have arrived at Mirror Valley before nightfall. Counting them starting from Mirror Valley after nightfall, it should be about at the Hive now. Without accidents, Meng Yi should send people to deliver it soon."

Xia Hong nodded and said in a deep voice: "Up to now, have those infected ordinary people shown any other symptoms?"

!

Xia Chuan turned his head to look at the back of the crowd, where a batch of intermediate hunting team captains who had just rushed over were standing. Currently, they were responsible for guarding the people of Wu Shuang, so they naturally knew better.

Zhu Shun was the first to stand out, bowing and saying: "Report to the leader, people have started dying after nightfall. Those dew drops become extremely active after nightfall. Infants and children with weak constitutions, and some people with poor health, have already started to explode and self-ignite.

We have followed Meng Yi's instructions to split everyone up as much as possible, not letting them huddle together. Fortunately, it hasn't caused large-scale casualties yet. Up to now, the death toll is about 2,000-plus, but the number is constantly rising, and ordinary young and strong people have started to lose their lives!"

Xiao Kangcheng also stood out and arched his hands: "Report to the leader, because the situation was urgent, we just gave priority to the remaining 1,000-plus pieces of Condensing Fire Oil to infants and children, so most of the 2,000-plus people who died were basically elderly or those with underlying diseases. The population loss is not considered too large."

The blue flames after the dew drops exploded would quickly ignite the dew drops infected on other people.

Thanks to the information Yuan Cheng brought back, Meng Yi told Xia Chuan when he came during the day, so the people here at Wu Shuang could make timely responses, which avoided a large number of casualties.

But even so, hearing the reports of the two, everyone present, including Xia Hong, had their expressions become a few points more solemn.

How long had it been? Wu Xiong only came in the morning, and now it was just after nightfall. Added together, it was only four hours or so. The power of this Bai Lu plague was simply too terrifying.

"Captain Xiao did very well. Children are the future; giving priority to ensuring their survival is the most important. In addition, we can't wait here. Xia Chuan, bring three Cold-Resisting Realm experts to stay here. The rest of you immediately rush to the Hive with me, do your best to take a portion of Condensing Fire Oil first, don't let too many people die. These lives will all be counted on that Bai Lu Strange..."

Xia Hong's words immediately made everyone's expressions tighten.

Strange monsters grow by killing people. With such a high-efficiency killing method as the Bai Lu plague, the improvement speed of that strange monster was only afraid to be far beyond their imagination.

Wu Xiong had already mixed into the Longshan large army camp. According to the news Yuan Cheng brought back, there were at least several thousand or even ten thousand people who ran out of Yangyuan Peak. For every minute delayed, the strength of that Bai Lu Strange would only be more powerful.

"No time to lose, set off now. I also want to go to the Hive to see Yu Wentao and Yuan Cheng!"

Previously, Xia Hong's focus had always been on the hegemony of Longyou, but now that he knew the news of the Bai Lu Strange, he immediately shifted the focus of his attention.

No way, the previous two strange monsters, the Wood Puppet Strange and the Mirror Immortal, had caused too much shadow in his heart.

Leaving the strange monster alone would not be solved by just dying a few people.

Xia Hong was resolute and vigorous. As the words fell, he immediately took eleven Cold-Resisting Realm experts and rushed out of Wu Shuang, heading toward the Hive.

"Leader, Longshan and Zhaoyang are still fighting. Looking at the situation of Wu Xiong's infiltration, the large armies of the two families are highly likely to have all been infected. If we don't care, really let that Bai Lu Strange kill so many people..."

On the way, hearing Qiu Peng's reminder, a trace of appreciation rose in Xia Hong's eyes, and he couldn't help but feel happy for Qiu Peng's growth in his heart.

He was in a hurry to get the Condensing Fire Oil, not just for the 30,000-plus people in Wu Shuang. He was also considering the people in the Cold-Qiong station and the Longshan large army.

This was a question of pattern!

Longshan and Zhaoyang's current hegemony, Great Xia wanting to be the fisherman, the best way was naturally to sit and watch the two families fight to the death, preferably being able to exhaust the foundations of both families, at which time Great Xia could unify the entire Longyou land without any effort.

But compared to this matter, dealing with the Bai Lu Strange was undoubtedly more important.

The harm of strange monsters was far more important than territory and hegemony.

Especially at present, when Great Xia's strength was not yet enough to deal with strange monsters, once the Bai Lu Strange was allowed to grow, Great Xia would suffer the same fate.

Qiu Peng being able to jump out of the hegemony thinking and base his gaze on more important things was enough to prove that his pattern had far exceeded many people.

"Take the Condensing Fire Oil first. Longshan and Zhaoyang naturally have to be managed, but the premise is to ensure the safety of our own people. By the way, do you have a count of the inventory of Condensing Fire Oil?"

"The inventory when I left was 92,183 pieces."

Being the Administrator of the Supplies Department, Qiu Peng's count of important materials like Condensing Fire Oil was almost blurted out.

More than 90,000 pieces, brought to Longyou, was definitely enough.

Xia Hong's mood relaxed a lot, and he also accelerated his pace.

The group soon entered the territory of the Hive.

Only walking less than a kilometer to the southeast, they bumped into a trailer team of about 20 people rushing in the snow.

Seeing Hong Tian in the lead from afar, Xia Hong immediately rushed up.

"Lord Luo, Lord Qiu... Leader, why are you here?"

Seeing Xia Hong in the crowd, Hong Tian was instantly happy and hurriedly bowed to pay respects.

Only Xia Hong clearly had no intention to talk much with him, waved his hand, looked at the trailer, and immediately asked about the quantity of Condensing Fire Oil.

"Mirror Valley sent a total of 50,000 pieces of Condensing Fire Oil. We left 20,000 at the Hive. Here is a total of 30,000 pieces. We are planning to send them to Wu Shuang."

"Peng Bo and Chen Yingyuan, come back to the Hive with me. You all cooperate with Hong Tian and send the Condensing Fire Oil to Wu Shuang at the fastest speed!"

Xia Hong deployed, and took the two Chen and Peng directly to the Hive.

The remaining people nodded in obedience, directly following Hong Tian, two people were split to clear the snow road, and the rest pushed the trailer and galloped forward together.

With the addition of nine Cold-Resisting Realm experts, the speed of the team's advance instantly became several times faster, galloping toward Wu Shuang.

And Xia Hong here had already arrived at the Hive with the two Chen and Peng.

Walking into the underground along the giant rock passage and entering the main area iron gate, Xia Hong soon saw Meng Yi stationed here, as well as a group of Great Xia troops.

"Where are Yu Wentao and Yuan Cheng? Bring me to see them."

Before Meng Yi and the crowd could pay respects, Xia Hong directly interrupted him.

Meng Yi also realized the situation was urgent and immediately led him to see Yu Wentao and Yuan Cheng.

In the main building of the Hive main area, Xia Hong soon saw the unconscious Yu Wentao and the scarred Yuan Cheng beside him.

"Leader, why are you here?"

Yuan Cheng was very excited and immediately stood up.

After he rescued Yu Wentao's batch of people from Yanglu, because his injuries were too heavy, he had been staying at the Hive to recuperate.

Xia Hong's arrival first made him overjoyed.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 249 =====